Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

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Screenwise Verdict

Look, this is a Tim Burton movie through and through—visually creative, delightfully weird, and narratively kind of a mess. If your teen loved Wednesday or Corpse Bride, they'll probably enjoy the gothic aesthetic and dark humor here.

But let's be real: Beetlejuice as a character is problematic. He's crude, sexually inappropriate, and behaves like a predatory creep (that's literally the character). The movie leans into death and the macabre in ways that are genuinely unsettling, not Marvel-sanitized.

The intergenerational family story has some emotional depth, but with a 6.6 IMDb and mixed reviews, most audiences found it visually cool but story-wise forgettable. It's a nostalgia play that works better for parents who remember the original than for kids discovering it fresh.

Bottom line: If you've got a Burton-loving 13+ teen who can handle horror-comedy and inappropriate humor, go for it. Just know you're getting spectacle over substance, and you'll need to have some conversations about why Beetlejuice's behavior isn't actually okay IRL.

Age Fit

This is solidly for teens 13+ who can handle Burton's dark humor, scary visuals, and inappropriate ghost antics. Younger kids will be frightened or confused; older teens and adults who enjoy gothic comedy will get the most out of it, though even they might find it a bit underwhelming story-wise.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

45

This sequel leans heavily into Tim Burton's signature dark humor and macabre aesthetic. While there's family bonding across three generations of Deetz women, the tone is cynical and death-obsessed rather than emotionally nurturing. The original Beetlejuice character is a crude, inappropriate ghost who makes sexual jokes and behaves inappropriately—not exactly modeling kindness or cooperation. The pacing is Burton-chaotic with his typical frenetic energy.

Imaginative

72

Tim Burton's visual creativity remains strong—the Afterlife portal concept and the gothic, surreal production design offer genuinely imaginative world-building. The premise of multiple generations dealing with the supernatural invites curiosity about death, the afterlife, and family legacy. However, it's a sequel relying on nostalgia rather than truly original storytelling, which caps the score. The Letterboxd 3.2/5 and mixed critical reception (75% RT critics, 62 Metacritic) suggest it's visually inventive but narratively familiar.

Safe

35

Common Sense Media rates this at 13+, and for good reason. Beetlejuice as a character is inherently unsafe for younger viewers—he's a predatory ghost with sexual undertones, crude humor, and inappropriate behavior. Expect scary imagery, death themes, potentially disturbing afterlife sequences, and Burton's signature creepy-grotesque visuals. The 'family tragedy' opening likely involves a death scene. This isn't Marvel-level predictable action; it's genuinely unsettling horror-comedy that could frighten or confuse younger kids. Not something you'd want an 8-year-old stumbling into.

Enriching

48

There's some thematic depth around intergenerational trauma, mother-daughter relationships, and confronting the past. The story explores how families deal with loss and legacy across three generations. However, with a 6.6 IMDb and 3.2 Letterboxd rating, audiences found it only moderately engaging. It's more about spectacle and nostalgia than meaningful character growth. Some discussion value about grief and family dynamics, but it's wrapped in so much Tim Burton weirdness that the enrichment is diluted. Entertaining for Burton fans, but not particularly insightful.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Visually stunning Burton aesthetic with creative Afterlife world-building that's genuinely imaginative
Explores intergenerational family dynamics and how trauma/grief echo across generations
Strong nostalgia factor for parents who loved the 1988 original
Michael Keaton returns as Beetlejuice with his signature manic energy
Could spark conversations about death, the afterlife, and family legacy in a less heavy-handed way than drama

⚠

What to Watch For

Beetlejuice is an inappropriate, crude character—expect sexual jokes, boundary violations, and predatory behavior played for laughs
Scary imagery, disturbing afterlife sequences, and death themes throughout—this is horror-comedy, emphasis on horror
Opening family tragedy likely involves an on-screen death
The 6.6 IMDb rating isn't great—many viewers found it visually cool but story-wise disappointing
Definitely not for sensitive kids or anyone under 13

Conversation Starters

"What do you think happens after we die? How was the movie's version of the Afterlife different from what you imagine?"
"Why do you think Lydia is still haunted by Beetlejuice after all these years? What does it mean to be 'haunted' by your past?"
"The movie shows three generations dealing with the same supernatural problem—do you think family issues get passed down like that?"
"Beetlejuice is funny but also really inappropriate. Why do you think people laugh at characters who behave badly?"
"If you could open a portal to any other world, where would it lead?"

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