Beetlejuice

| 1988

Directed by: Tim Burton

Main Plot

Beetlejuice follows the story of a recently deceased couple, Adam and Barbara Maitland, who find themselves trapped in their idyllic home as ghosts. When a new family, the Deetzes, moves in and begins to renovate the house, the Maitlands become desperate to scare them away. Unable to effectively haunt the living, they seek the help of a mischievous and chaotic spirit named Beetlejuice. As Beetlejuice wreaks havoc in an attempt to help the Maitlands, his antics spiral out of control, leading to increasingly bizarre and comedic situations. The Maitlands must navigate the challenges of their afterlife while dealing with Beetlejuice's unpredictable behavior and the Deetz family's growing attachment to their home. The film blends dark humor with supernatural elements as it explores themes of life, death, and the importance of finding one's place, even in the afterlife.

Characters

  • Alec Baldwin plays Adam Maitland, a recently deceased ghost who, along with his wife, tries to scare away the new inhabitants of their former home.
  • Geena Davis plays Barbara Maitland, a recently deceased ghost who, alongside her husband, tries to scare away the new inhabitants of their former home.
  • Michael Keaton plays Beetlejuice, a mischievous bio-exorcist ghost hired by a recently deceased couple to scare away the new living inhabitants of their home.

Ending Explained

In the ending of Beetlejuice, the main conflict reaches resolution as the Deetz family prepares to renovate the Maitlands' home, unaware of the spirits residing there. Adam and Barbara Maitland, the deceased couple, initially struggle to scare the new inhabitants away. However, after several failed attempts, they decide to enlist the help of the mischievous ghost Beetlejuice to achieve their goal. As Beetlejuice wreaks havoc, his chaotic nature becomes evident, leading to unintended consequences. The Maitlands realize that they cannot rely on him to solve their problems. In a climactic moment, they manage to outsmart Beetlejuice, trapping him in a miniature model of the house, effectively neutralizing his threat. The resolution comes when the Maitlands embrace their role as guardians of the home, allowing the Deetz family to coexist with them peacefully. Lydia, the Deetz's daughter, becomes a bridge between the living and the dead, accepting the Maitlands and their presence. The film concludes with a sense of harmony, as the Maitlands find contentment in their afterlife, and the Deetz family learns to appreciate the supernatural elements of their home, highlighting themes of acceptance and coexistence.

Tim Burton Comedy Fantasy Alec Baldwin Geena Davis Michael Keaton