Michael Keaton’s Beetlejuice 2 debuts to record box office

The long-awaited sequel to Ghosts Have Fun (1988) has arrived with a bang and is already dominating the box office in the United States and Canada. In its opening weekend, the film grossed an impressive US$110 million, establishing itself as the second biggest September opening in history, behind only It: The Thing (2017), which grossed $123 million. This triumphant return shows that even after 36 years, the franchise Ghosts Have Fun continues to delight audiences, with its renewed strength through videos, TV and streaming.

International performance: astonishingly good!

Outside the United States, Beetlejuice 2 grossed $35 million in 69 markets. Although the 1988 original was not widely distributed in other countries, the sequel took major box office leads, especially in the United Kingdom ($9.6 million), Mexico ($6.5 million) and Australia ($2.6 million). And that’s just the beginning! Major markets like France, Germany and Japan have yet to receive the film, and the expectation is that these international numbers will only increase in the coming weeks.

Tim Burton and the all-star cast

With Tim Burton’s magical direction, the film brings back Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder and Catherine O’Harain addition to new big names such as Jenna Ortega, Monica Bellucci and Willem Dafoe. The story revolves around Lydia Deetz (Ryder) and her daughter Astrid (Ortega), who, after a family tragedy, end up opening a portal to the afterlife. The mix of nostalgic appeal with the popularity of Ortega, known for the series Wandinhaattracted both old fans and a new generation of viewers, ensuring even greater success for the production.

Critical and public approval

The new Beetlejuice 2 received solid approval from audiences, with a B+ CinemaScore and a 76% acceptance rating on Rotten Tomatoes. These numbers are in line with the reception of the original film, but the sequel has already surpassed the opening of the first, which grossed US$74 million in 1988. The good critical reception and success among fans show that the franchise has not lost its essence, but has gained new life.

Investment and winning strategy

With an estimated budget of $100 million and a robust marketing campaign, including a prestigious screening at the Venice Film Festival, Warner Bros. ensured that Beetlejuice 2 reached the public with full force. The strategy was brilliant: no other major studio released a major film on the same weekend, which allowed the sequel to dominate more than 4 thousand movie theaters, an impressive number, even larger than the entire circuit of theaters in Brazil.

Competition at the box office

Even with the triumphant arrival of Beetlejuice 2the movie Deadpool & Wolverine fell to second place at the box office, still holding a respectable $7.2 million in its seventh week of release. The film’s global total is an impressive $1.257 billion, proving that there’s still room for big superhero productions.

The rest of the Top 5

The independent drama Reagan continues to surprise, taking third place with $5.2 million, for a 10-day domestic total of $18.5 million. In fourth place, Alien: Romulus added another $4 million, bringing its global total to $314.4 million, solidifying the franchise’s success. Rounding out the Top 5, This is how it ends grossed $3.8 million, surpassing the $300 million mark globally, showing that audiences still love a good melodrama.

The future of the franchise

With the overwhelming success of Beetlejuice 2the question remains: will there be a third film? With the renewed fan base and solid box office performance, it’s possible we’ll see even more ghostly shenanigans in the future. Tim Burton and his team certainly have more tricks up their sleeves, and audiences seem ready to see what comes next.

The triumphant return of Ghosts Have Fun

It is clear that the legacy of Ghosts Have Fun has only grown stronger over time. Whether due to nostalgia or the appeal of new generations, the franchise has managed to reinvent itself brilliantly, proving that well-told stories and memorable characters transcend time. Now, all we can do is wait for the new adventures of Beetlejuice and company!

Summary for those in a hurry:

• Beetlejuice 2 grossed $110 million in its opening weekend in the US and Canada.
• The sequel surpassed the original film’s box office gross, showing the strength of the franchise after 36 years.
• Tim Burton directs the film, with the return of Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder and the addition of Jenna Ortega.
• The film topped international box office charts in countries such as the United Kingdom, Mexico and Australia.
• It received a B+ CinemaScore and a 76% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
• Warner Bros. dominated the weekend with more than 4,000 theaters showing the film.