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Beetlejuiceis one of the most underrated horror-comedy films of the 80s when the subgenre had just started to make a mainstream splash. It also remains a lesser-known collaboration between director Tim Burton and actor Michael Keaton, best known for their work together on theBatmanfranchise.
After decades, the film is finally receiving a sequel, making fans reflect on the original film’s success or the lack of it at the box office. WhileBeetlejuicecertainly did not set the box office on fire, it still performed relatively well. As a result, the film’s box office numbers can often deceive fans, and here is why the horror comedy was a major commercial success.
How Much Money Did Michael Keaton’sBeetlejuiceMake at the Box Office?
Beetlejuiceis a 1988 fantasy horror comedy film directed byTim Burtonand starringMichael Keatonin the titular role. It tells the story of the titular bio-exorcist from the Netherworld, who is summoned to scare away the new inhabitants of a house.
In 2024, the film will receive a much-anticipated sequel titledBeetlejuice Beetlejuice, with Burton and Keaton reprising their duties from the first film. As a result, some moviegoers might wonder if the original film was financially successful enough to warrant a second installment in the first place.
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Beetlejuicewas released in theaters on July 12, 2025, and wasreportedlyproduced on a budget of approximately $15 million. It collected $8.03 million on its opening weekend and went on to gross a total of $74.7 million at the worldwide box office. As a result, the film became the 14th highest-grossing film of the yearworldwideand the 10th highest-grossing filmdomestically.
WhyBeetlejuice‘s Box Office Numbers Can Be Deceiving Especially For a Horror Comedy?
At first glance,Beetlejuice‘s numbers might not seem impressive by the standards of modern-day blockbusters. However, considering the film was a horror comedy made in the 80s, its box office numbers are certainly above par. For instance, Sam Raimi’s Evil DeadII,another horror comedy, was released a year prior. It managed togrossonly $5.9 million at the box office.
Meanwhile, installments of blockbuster franchises such asA Nightmare on Elm Street 4andRambo III, also released in 1988, struggled at the box office, grossing$49.3 millionand$53.7 milliondomestically. Hence,Beetlejuicecertainly overperformed at the box office, especially when compared to existing franchises.
Similarly, the film’s numbers look all the more impressive when compared to action blockbusters such asDie Hard, which was also released the same year. Made on a relatively higher budget, the filmgrossed$85.8 million domestically, which is almost on par withBeetlejuice, which made most of its $74.7 million collection at the domestic box office.
Beetlejuice 2 Trailer is Proof That Michael Keaton’s Stubborn and Gutsy Move to Go Against Hollywood’s Norm Paid Off
Of course, when compared to some of the other horror comedy blockbusters of the 80s, such as 1984’sGhostbusters, whichminted$295.2 million worldwide,Beetlejuicewas by no means a monster hit. However, given its moderate budget and box office numbers, it is safe to say thatBeetlejuicewas commercially successful.
Beetlejuice Beetlejuiceis slated to be released on June 17, 2025, whileBeetlejuicestreaming on Max.
Pratik Handore
Content Writer
Articles Published :1774
With a keen interest in comic book movies and blockbuster franchises, Pratik usually covers news and updates on the DCU, MCU, Star Wars, and more.A die-hard fan of George Lucas and Steven Spielberg, Pratik spends most of his time exploring different storytelling mediums that invoke a sense of wonder and adventure. Other filmmakers whose works have deeply influenced him include Alfred Hitchcock, James Gunn, and Guillermo del Toro.
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