‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’ Revives Beloved Franchise with $145M

Somebody said his name three times because Beetlejuice is back! Warner Bros.' highly anticipated sequel "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice" grossed $110 million domestically and $145.4 million globally in its opening weekend. The comedy-horror film's domestic haul marked the third-biggest debut of the year and the second-largest September opening ever, trailing only 2017's "It."

Released some 36 years after the original 1988 cult classic, "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice" reunites Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder and Catherine O'Hara with their iconic roles, while introducing a talented new cast including Jenna Ortega, Willem Dafoe, Justin Theroux and Monica Bellucci. The film follows the Deetz family as they return to the haunted town of Winter River, where Ortega's character unwittingly opens the portal to the afterlife, allowing the mischievous Beetlejuice (Keaton) to reenter the real world.

"In 1988, 'Beetlejuice' was an offbeat story that started slowly and over subsequent weeks became a hit," says David A. Gross of Franchise Entertainment Research. "This time, audiences know what to expect and offbeat looks even better next to the usual storylines. It's a mainstream smash."

Critics and audiences alike have embraced the sequel, with an 82 percent audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. ABC News praised Keaton's "funniest role of his career," while the San Francisco Chronicle declared it "Tim Burton's best movie in 20 years." Mashable championed the film as "pure Burton, passionate, untethered, and indulgent," noting that "fans of the original movie will have plenty of reason to cheer, and even more to cackle."

With its perfect blend of nostalgia, horror and humor, the long-awaited sequel has proven itself a spooky sensation that's sure to delight audiences for years to come.

“Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” is playing in theaters now and will be available for licensing from Swank soon.