Beetlejuice Beetlejuice reunites the title bio-exorcist with the Deetzes, and though its ending left a couple of questions, it’s a lot better if a third movie never happens. Over three decades after Tim Burton introduced the world to the chaotic ghost Betelgeuse (Michael Keaton), he returns to bring more chaos in both the afterlife and the world of the living in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. The sequel reunites viewers with Lydia (Winona Ryder), Delia (Catherine O’Hara), and Lydia’s estranged daughter Astrid Deetz (Jenna Ortega) as they return to Winter River after Charles Deetz’s death.
Back in Winter River, Astrid is tricked by a new friend into entering the Neitherworld, which puts her in great danger. With no other choice left, Lydia summons Beetlejuice one more time to help her rescue Astrid and he agrees, but only if Lydia finally marries him. Their marriage will not only break Beetlejuice’s curse but also keep him away from his angry and vengeful ex-wife Delores (Monica Bellucci). Beetlejuice Beetlejuice gave a proper ending to its main characters, though it also left some big questions, but it’s a lot better this way, and it would be ruined if Beetlejuice 3 happens.
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’s Ending Being Ambiguous Makes It Great
The Ambiguity Of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’s Ending Is For The Best
Beetlejuice ended with the Maitlands and the Deetzes agreeing to coexist in the same house, while Beetlejuice was sent back to the Neitherworld’s waiting room, where he was going to wait for a long time until his turn was up. It was a pretty clear ending for all the main characters, but Beetlejuice Beetlejuice went for something more ambiguous – and it works perfectly. At the end of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, a sandworm eats Delores and Rory (Justin Theroux), Astrid finds a clause in the Handbook that annuls Beetlejuice and Lydia’s agreement, and Lydia defeats him by saying his name three times.
Lydia later ends her supernatural talk show to spend more time with Astrid, and they travel to Dracula’s castle. There, Astrid meets a young man named Vlad, who she marries and later gives birth to her first child… and that’s where it takes a twist. Astrid gives birth to the monstrous baby Beetlejuice from earlier and the sequence is revealed to be Lydia’s dream (or more like a nightmare) within a dream, and she wakes up next to Beetlejuice before waking up for real.
The ambiguity of the ending is fitting with Beetlejuice, as even after two movies, he’s still a mystery and quite unpredictable.
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice leaves the audience wondering if Beetlejuice is trying to communicate with Lydia again like he did at the beginning of the movie or if Lydia is having nightmares as a result of all the trauma. Whatever the case, the ambiguity of the ending is fitting with Beetlejuice, as even after two movies, he’s still a mystery and quite unpredictable.
Beetlejuice 3 Would Have To Ruin The Ambiguity Of The Movie’s Ending
Beetlejuice 3 Wouldn’t Be The Best Idea
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is perfect as it is, but it can also easily set up a third movie. Among the biggest questions left by the ending of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is where the bio-exorcist is now, as he simply exploded when Lydia said his name three times and he wasn’t shown again in the Neitherworld like in the first movie. Beetlejuice 3 would confirm he’s still around and end the ambiguity of the second movie’s ending by confirming if Lydia’s nightmare was just that or if Beetlejuice was trying to get to her again.
There really is no way in which Beetlejuice 3 could leave the ending of the second movie intact, so as fun as the return of the Neitherworld’s most chaotic ghost would be, it’s better to leave the world of Beetlejuice with two movies with a perfect ending and leave the mystery of Lydia’s nightmare, Astrid’s future, and Beetlejuice’s fate.
Is Beetlejuice 3 Likely?
The Future Of Beetlejuice Is Currently Unclear
At the time of writing, Beetlejuice 3 hasn’t been confirmed, and Tim Burton hasn’t expressed interest in it – however, given the critical and commercial success of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, a third movie could happen. Beetlejuice 2 took decades to happen because the script went through rewrites in the early 1990s and Burton and Keaton ended up being too busy with Batman Returns. Burton told EW in 2024 that they went through different ideas for the sequel for decades, including Beetlejuice Goes Hawaiian, Beetlejuice and the Haunted Mansion, and Beetlejuice Goes West before finally landing on the story that made it to the big screen.
A third Beetlejuice movie doesn’t have to go through the same long and tedious process and could be made a lot sooner if that’s what Burton decides, but so far, Beetlejuice 3 isn’t going to happen. On top of that, Tim Burton already has another project lined up for the near future with the remake of Attack of the 50 Foot Woman, so there might not be space for Beetlejuice 3 anytime soon.
Source: EW.
