I love this film. Barbara and Adam Maitland, a young couple madly in love (played by Geena Davis and Alec Baldwin) discover that they are not only dead but trapped in their home as ghosts waiting for the bureaucracy of the afterlife to set them free. When a New York couple (Catherine O'Hara and Jeffrey Jones) and their teenage daughter Lydia (wonderfully macabre Winona Ryder) move into their beloved house, the Maitlands want nothing more than to remove them. The problem is, the Maitlands are too nice to truly scare anyone. They meet a rogue ghost, the ribald, disgusting Beetlejuice (Michael Keaton) who promises to drive the family away, with a few strings attached. Lydia, whose goals aren't that far from the Maitlands and who has a morbid, poignantly sad outlook, discovers the ghosts and tries to help them. But Beetlejuice has his own agenda.

The casting for this movie is perfect, with only Alec Baldwin's performance less than memorable. Michael Keaton is suitably slimy and decadent, while Geena Davis plays the earnest innocence of her character equally well. The most startling performance is a young Winona Ryder, who shows tremendous range in her role as the morbid but good-hearted Lydia.

One of the most hilarious, dark scenes ever filmed is contained in this movie, when the New York couple throws a pretentious dinner party and the Maitlands take over. Director Tim Burton uses sight gags, situational comedy, and one-liners that all bear his trademark quirkiness to make this film inventive and, even years after its release, fresh. What's most amazing in this film essentially about the weirdness of being dead is the emotional drive of it. The Maitlands' yearning to reclaim their home even in death and Lydia's wounded, lonely adolescence lend humanity to an otherwise wild comedy.

I highly recommend this off-beat film for its hilarity and irreverence. Parents of young children should be warned that the film contains off-color humor as well as images and ideas that might disturb young minds.

I use to watch this movie all the time when I was a kid and never get sick of it. It's one of my favorite movies of the 80's. Michael Keaton was hilarious as Beetlejuice. I can't even find this movie anywhere in stores now. It could be out of stock or it could be that they are making a new DVD release to Beetlejuice. I can't wait for that one. But I hadn't seen this movie in along time and really want to see it again. I'll probably just try ordering it off Amazon then just waiting for it in stores to come. Thanks a lot to Amazon!

Just watch it. Who give's a rat's hindquarters about deep hidden meanings and symbolism? It ain't here, OK? Beetlejuice is simply a highly enjoyable film, funny as hell and completely bizarre ... but in a totally followable and almost delightful sort of way. Good acting, great special effects, and a script that pretty much keeps you guessing throughout the film. Definitley worth owning!
PS: Amazon, you're sleeping on the job! Not one but TWO "reviews" give away the entire film, including the ending...

Michael Keaton shines here as Beetlejuice. I just remembered him being in the film more than the short 15 minutes or so that he was. This is truly a memorable and funny performance. This is one of Tim Burton's best and it really plays to his strenghts. Add this one to your collection and watch it every Halloween.

How can you ignore a movie with Michael Keaton as a exorcist demon ghost and Winona Ryder as a gothgirl? Great music, great fun, great effects with one criticism.....the ending sucks with all it's joy and happiness? What's with that?
If you like scary, funny films with an all star cast that actually perform to their abilities, then Beetlejuice will deliver to the max!