Summary
This article contains mentions of strong language.
The latestBeetlejuice 2trailer reveals the sequel’s replacement scene for a questionable Michael Keaton moment in the 1988 original movie.For a PG movie, Tim Burton’sBeetlejuicewas able to get away with crossing boundariesof what’s suitable for kids in his 1988 horror-comedy, though it makes sense given the PG-13 rating had only recently been introduced in 1984. Still, for thoserewatchingBeetlejuicetoday, there are inevitably questions about how the sexual innuendo, dark and mature subject matter, and Michael Keaton’s iconic f-bomb passed PG requirements.
Michael Keaton dropping an f-bomb in a PG movie may seem somewhat controversial today given current guidelines for ratings, buthis character yelling “Nice f***ing model!” remains one ofBeetlejuice’s most iconic moments. Proving the impactful nature of that scene, the 2024 sequel isn’t dropping the franchise’s adult themes and strong language to fit into a PG rating again. Instead,Beetlejuice 2is confirmed to have a PG-13 rating. This rating generally allows a movie one use of the f-word, withBeetlejuice 2’s new trailer already confirming when that shocking moment will come in the story.
Beetlejuice 2’s Trailer Reveals Michael Keaton’s New F-Bomb Scene
Michael Keaton’s Beetlejuice Drops The F-Bomb Again In The Sequel
Michael Keaton proves he still has the juice 36 years later, and his comedic timing is better than ever as he closes outBeetlejuice 2’s second trailerby teasing the sequel’s replacement f-bomb moment. Instead of kicking over a tree and sarcastically saying “Nice fing model,” Michael Keaton’s return inBeetlejuice 2sees thetitular character reply “What the f?” during the sequel’s new wedding scene. Of course, the profane word is bleeped out in the trailer, but that isn’t likely to be the case whenBeetlejuice 2releases in theaterson September 6.
When Delores finally finds Beetlejuice, it seems his first reaction will be a surprised “What the f***?”
It’s unclear exactly what causes Beetlejuice’s use of the f-word in the 2024 sequel, but the context of the trailer hintsit’ll happen when Monica Bellucci’s Delores, Beetlejuice’s ex-wife, interrupts his wedding to Lydia Deetz. The trailers so far have revealed thatBellucci’sBeetlejuice 2characteris angrily searching for Beetlejuice throughout the afterlife in the 2024 sequel, with Willem Dafoe’s afterlife detective Wolf Jackson tracking both of them down. When Delores finally finds Beetlejuice, it seems his first reaction will be a surprised “What the f***?”
Beetlejuice 2 Cast & Returning Character Guide
Several iconic actors from the original are returning for Beetlejuice 2, and they’ll be joined in the sequel by exciting new additions to the cast.
WhileBeetlejuice 2being rated PG-13 means it’ll maintain the dark humor and mature charm of the original, it could potentially end up hindering its box office draw.Beetlejuice’s original PG rating meant younger audiences could be targeted more to attend the film, which may have contributed to the 1988 horror-comedy’s box office success. While the main target demographic forBeetlejuice 2will likely be audiences between the ages of 20–55 given its nostalgic focus, aPG rating could have boosted its commercial prospects with more family-friendly horror movies before Halloween.
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Notably,Disney’s 2023Haunted Mansionremake bombedin theaters after jumping from the original’s PG rating to a PG-13 label, butBeetlejuicealso has a loyal cult following that may combat this potential disadvantage. Additionally, Warner Bros’ 2023Barbiemovie made over $1.4 billion at the box office with a PG-13 rating. With the exception ofJaws, thetop highest-grossing horror movies of all time have R or PG-13 ratings, soBeetlejuice 2’s box office shouldn’t be hurt too much by its departure from the original film.
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is rated PG-13 for “Violent content, macabre and bloody images, strong language, some suggestive material and brief drug use.”
Beetlejuice 2 Wouldn’t Work With A PG Rating
Beetlejuice Would Lose Its Macabre & Darkly Humorous Charm With A PG Rating Today
The MPA rating system was still going through some major changes with the lines between a PG movie and a PG-13 movie in the late 1980s, and by some miracle,Beetlejuicepassed under the less restricted rating. However, the 1988 movie’s language, themes, and content wouldn’t fly under a PG rating today, sotrying to attain this rating in 2024 would mean cutting some of the most beloved factors of 1988’sBeetlejuice. Additionally, a PG rating today would likely emulate a less intense “Disney” version ofBeetlejuice– which certainly doesn’t fit the franchise.
Beetlejuice 2’s New Trailer Confirms It’s Jenna Ortega’s Wednesday Replacement Before Season 2
The latest trailer for Beetlejuice Beetlejuice shows that Jenna Ortega’s character has a lot in common with her most iconic role, Wednesday Addams.
To really feel likeBeetlejuice, Tim Burton’s sequel still needs the original’s somewhat subtle adult themes, dark humor regarding many of the afterlife characters' deaths, and perhaps frighteningly macabre design of many figures more fit for a PG-13 label. An R-ratedBeetlejuice 2would feel too overblown and untrue to the original film’s appeal, whereasa PG-13 sequel stays authentic to the 1988 movie’s dark but easily digestible boundary-pushing charm. With only one f-bomb typically being permitted, this also allows Michael Keaton to drop another shocking f-bomb that’s strategically reserved for the right time in the movie.
As purposefully reprehensible as he is, getting rid of those factors in favor of a PG rating would arguably ruin Beetlejuice’s character.
More importantly,Michael Keaton’s Beetlejuice is not a PG character– his perverted behavior and lewd comments, harsh and strong language, and macabre, scary tricks are better suited for PG-13 and above. As purposefully reprehensible as he is, getting rid of those factors in favor of a PG rating would arguably ruin Beetlejuice’s character. Beetlejuice’s unforgivable traits underscore his villainous nature in the franchise, with the long-dead ghost humorously and disgustingly being almost completely devoid of his humanity and any conformity to social graces.
Beetlejuice 2’s F-Bomb Shows How It’s Using Nostalgia Right
Beetlejuice 2 Is Updating The Original’s Memorable Gags With A Perfect Dose Of Nostalgia
With a 36-year gap between movies, a substantial portion ofBeetlejuice 2’s appeal will be its nostalgic return to Tim Burton’s beloved horror world. However, there’s always a risk of prioritizing a sequel’s nostalgia factor too much, potentially leaving it with a lackluster plot, half-baked character development, and a hollow meaning. Based on the trailers and teases so far,Beetlejuice 2appears to be properly balancing its nostalgia with a compelling, earned sequel return.
Tim Burton has often noted that he didn’t return to Beetlejuice 2 until it felt right and deserved storywise to follow these characters again.
While there will inevitably be callbacks to the original movie, the 2024 film’s nostalgia feels authentic to this world andBeetlejuice 2’s returning characters. Michael Keaton’s teasedBeetlejuice 2f-bomb is a great example of this, asTim Burton honors the original’s iconic moments without overtly repeating them. Had it simply been an uninspired, direct recreation ofBeetlejuice’s original f-bomb scene, the nostalgia factor would have been cheapened.
Beetlejuice 2doesn’t have Keaton yelling “Nice f***ing model!” again when he returns to Adam and Barbara Maitland’s town model. Instead, it pays homage with Keaton still getting the sequel’s allocated f-bomb but in a completely different context. It’s similar to how “Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)” is hauntingly sang by a choir atCharles Deetz’s funeralinBeetlejuice 2, as the iconic song returns in a meaningful way to highlight how impactful that possession dance was on his life after the original film’s ending.
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
Cast
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is the sequel to the original Tim Burton classic that starred Michael Keaton and Wynona Rider in a horror-comedy that involved ghosts trying to scare off new homebuyers from taking their house. The sequel brings back Michael Keaton as the hilarious and sleazy ghost with selfish intentions, now joined by Jenna Ortega in a new role.
