Check out these freaky facts about Beetlejuice (1988), the spooky comedy that’s just as fun as it is strange. From weird worms to cool costumes, these Beetlejuice facts will give you either an introduction or appreciation for Tim Burton’s ghostly classic. Whether you have already seen the movie, or are keen to give it a watch, hopefully this list will inspire you and have you looking forward to the sequel!
Beetlejuice is hardly in the movie!
Michael Keaton, who played Beetlejuice, only had 17 minutes of screen time in the whole movie, even though the entire movie is named after him! He doesn’t even appear until 25 minutes in! Do you know any other movies where the titular character only appears for a short time?
Winona Ryder was just 17
Winona Ryder, who played Lydia, was only 17 years old when she filmed Beetlejuice. She wasn’t much older than many of her fans! Her first breakout role was in Lucas (1986) when she was just 15. Imagine having to do your schoolwork AND acting!
A star is born
The title Beetlejuice comes from a real star in the night sky called “Betelgeuse.” It’s part of the constellation Orion which can be seen in winter skies in the Northern hemisphere. See if you can spot it!
Iconic costumes
The iconic black-and-white striped suit, that Beetlejuice wears was actually a last-minute decision by the film’s costume designer, Aggie Guerard Rodgers Burton. It’s now one of the most recognisable movie costumes ever. It was supposed to look like a mash-up of many different eras, to show how long Beetlejuice has been around. Can you tell which eras?
Worm-spiration!
The creepy, stop-motion sand worm in Beetlejuice was inspired by the classic horror movies that director Tim Burton loved growing up. It also took inspiration from the sci-fi film Dune. Funny how things worm their way in… *mic drop*.
Jack Skellington makes an appearance!
At one point during the movie, Beetlejuice wears a hat with a skull on top that looks like Jack Skellington from The Nightmare Before Christmas. Tim Burton had been working on the character since since 1982 and he was eventually the lead character in The Nightmare Before Christmas which came out in 1993.
Best Oscar goes to…
Beetlejuice won the Best Makeup and Hairstyling Oscar at the Academy Awards 1989. Michael Keaton, who played Beetlejuice, helped with his character’s makeup design – they used crushed foam and moss to make his moudly hair and face. Burton wanted a fine balance between creepy and cartoonish, to keep the audience from being too scared!
