Finding Beetlejuice
in Venice

Venice was the last place I ever expected to see Beetlejuice. The sequel to the 1988 horror-comedy, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, opened the Venice Film Festival in 2024. Some of the original cast were there, namely Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, and the late Catherine O'Hara. Not to mention the director who started it all, Tim Burton.

I never thought the Venice Film Festival highlighted films like this before. Weren't European film festivals all about serious indies or works by grand auteurs? Well, I do consider Tim Burton an auteur. He may not have had a big hit in a while, but you can't deny that he's still an incredible filmmaker.

And I'm not just saying that because Beetlejuice is one of my favorite movies. I truly believe Tim Burton belongs in the ranks of Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, and yes, even the great Martin Scorsese. Don't even think about arguing with me because I won't budge.

You only have to watch Beetlejuice, Edward Scissorhands, Batman Returns, Sleepy Hollow, and his Alice in Wonderland adaptations for Disney to see what I’m talking about. Burton has a vision that's all his own, and that uniqueness deserves as much praise as the other big directors I mentioned. You'll know a Tim Burton film when you see one, and I've always loved that about him.

So while I was initially confused about a very commercial, mainstream, family-friendly American movie premiering at the prestigious Venice Film Festival, I eventually knew why. Scorsese, Tarantino, and more have had many of their films premiere in those sorts of glossy festivals; why not Burton? He deserves this high-profile treatment, too, and I'm glad he finally got it here.

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice opened the 81st Venice Film Festival on August 28, and I was there to see all the action.

I'm a YouTuber who talks about movies and media, and I got the chance to go to the Venice Film Festival for the first time that year. I was most excited to see the new Beetlejuice sequel, so I took the chance to get the original cast and Tim Burton to finally sign my movie poster.

My channel isn't all that big or anything like that. In fact, I still spent a lot of my own money on this trip, but I didn't care. I knew the opportunity alone was worth every cent, but getting the chance to be one of the first to see Beetlejuice Beetlejuice was the bigger reward for me.

And you know what? That night was everything I thought it'd be and more. I actually met Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, Catherine O'Hara, and Tim Burton that night, and got their autographs. Keaton and Burton in particular stopped to sign for fans along the carpet. They were only quick interactions, but I still saw how nice and accommodating they were to a small-time YouTuber like me. With Catherine O'Hara gone now, her signature means more to me than I ever expected.

Though the most memorable was definitely Michael Keaton, Beetlejuice himself. There's really something in him that makes him perfect for the iconic character. It's not just that he's a good actor, either. I felt something unique and slightly zany about him when he signed my poster, and I shook his hand afterward.

The fact that he did a great job in the sequel more than 30 years later is solid proof enough. Actually, everyone did an amazing job in the movie, both the original and the new cast members. I honestly think Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is one of the better sequels we've had in a while.