Beetlejuice (1988)
Kernel Score: 84% · 8,314 ratings · Rated PG
Genres: Fantasy, Comedy
Released: 1988-03-30
Runtime: 92 minutes
Is Beetlejuice worth watching?
Worth watching. Tim Burton's afterlife comedy is weird, messy and inventive, with Michael Keaton as a grubby, manic ghost for hire. The effects are handmade and charming, and it's more fun than scary.
Watch it if you
- like gothic comedy with a handmade look
- enjoy Michael Keaton at full tilt
- want a short, strange, funny film
Skip it if you
- dislike chaotic or silly humour
- want a tidy plot
Best for: Family movie night
Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.
Where to watch Beetlejuice
- Stream: HBO Max
- Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
US availability, updated 2026-10-23.
Overview
A newly dead New England couple seeks help from a deranged demon exorcist to scare an affluent New York family out of their home.
Beetlejuice parents' guide: ages 8+
Parents need to know that Beetlejuice is a PG fantasy comedy about a deceased couple hiring a deranged ghost to scare off new homeowners.
- Violence & scariness: Some — Involves ghosts, death themes, and a 'deranged demon exorcist' character, but played for dark comedy per its PG rating.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official PG rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like Beetlejuice
If you liked Beetlejuice, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- Ghostbusters (1984) — 90%: Another supernatural comedy that treats ghosts as a job.
- Edward Scissorhands (1990) — 86%: Burton's gentler gothic fairy tale.
- Corpse Bride (2005) — 86%: Burton's stop-motion afterlife romance with macabre jokes.
- The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) — 88%: Burton-produced stop-motion with spooky charm.
- Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024) — 77%: The sequel, with the original cast returning.
- Addams Family Values (1993) — 77%: Spooky family comedy with a dark, funny edge.
Director
Cast
- Alec Baldwin as Adam
- Geena Davis as Barbara
- Winona Ryder as Lydia
- Catherine O'Hara as Delia
- Jeffrey Jones as Charles
- Michael Keaton as Betelgeuse
- Glenn Shadix as Otho
- Sylvia Sidney as Juno
- Patrice Martinez as Receptionist
- Dick Cavett as Bernard
Beetlejuice FAQ
Is Beetlejuice worth watching?
Worth watching. Tim Burton's afterlife comedy is weird, messy and inventive, with Michael Keaton as a grubby, manic ghost for hire. The effects are handmade and charming, and it's more fun than scary.
Where can I watch Beetlejuice?
In the US you can stream Beetlejuice on HBO Max and rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.
Is Beetlejuice OK for kids?
Beetlejuice is rated PG. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 8+. Parents need to know that Beetlejuice is a PG fantasy comedy about a deceased couple hiring a deranged ghost to scare off new homeowners.
What movies are like Beetlejuice?
If you liked Beetlejuice, try Ghostbusters, Edward Scissorhands, Corpse Bride and The Nightmare Before Christmas.