Winona Ryder’s $451M Gothic Sequel Returns as a Streaming Hit After Making 4.5x Times Its Budget

by

After 36 years, Winona Ryder’s quirky horror comedy is popular on streaming again, currently gaining traction on HBO Max.

According to data from FlixPatrol, the Beetlejuice sequel unexpectedly climbed back into the top 10 movies on HBO Max in the U.S. yesterday, May 26, 2026, landing at number 9. This is notable considering the film was originally released in 2024, and demonstrates continued audience interest in both it and the original Beetlejuice. Winona Ryder returned as Lydia Deetz, alongside Michael Keaton as Beetlejuice and the late Catherine O’Hara as Lydia’s stepmother, Delia Deetz.

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Remains a Smash Hit Even 2 Years After Successful Box Office Run

More than thirty years after the original film, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice catches up with Lydia as she navigates motherhood and tries to hold her family together. Of course, Beetlejuice makes a comeback to stir up some trouble and provide plenty of laughs. The sequel features returning cast members alongside some exciting new faces, including Willem Dafoe, Monica Bellucci, and Justin Theroux.

Released in 2024, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice was a highly anticipated film, especially for fans who had waited decades for a sequel. It performed exceptionally well in theaters, earning 4.5 times its $100 million production budget, according to data from The Numbers.

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice quickly became a success, earning $111 million during its opening weekend. This was the second-highest opening weekend of director Tim Burton’s career, behind another of his films which earned $116.1 million. It was also the third-biggest movie opening of the year, surpassed only by the huge hits Deadpool & Wolverine and Inside Out 2.

Beyond being a box office hit, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice received widespread praise from both movie critics and viewers. It currently has a ‘Certified Fresh’ rating of 75% on Rotten Tomatoes, based on reviews from over 375 critics.

Critics generally loved the film, highlighting Michael Keaton’s energetic performance as the mischievous ghost. They praised it as a fun and creative return to classic Tim Burton style, blending impressive practical effects with spooky humor for a thoroughly enjoyable experience.

Viewers are really loving this film – 78% of over 10,000 user reviews are positive. People on Rotten Tomatoes are calling it a fun and well-acted sequel, and generally agree it lives up to expectations.

Will There Be a Third Beetlejuice Movie?

Despite the success of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, a third movie isn’t likely to happen soon. While the cast has said they’d be up for returning, director Tim Burton joked that, considering it took 35 years to make the sequel, he’d be 105 years old by the time a third film could be made, and admitted the chances are slim.

Despite any hesitation from the studio, the director still had a great time making the sequel. He explained that they approached it similarly to the original, allowing the actors to improvise. It was wonderful to work with returning cast members, including Jenna, but he acknowledged the challenge of recapturing moments like the iconic Wednesday dance. He cares deeply about the characters, though isn’t sure about revisiting this world again.

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is now streaming on HBO Max.

Read More

2026-05-27 18:09