Beetlejuice sequel poised for massive $100 million opening

"Beetlejuice Beetlejuice" – the sequel to the cult film from the '80s "Beetlejuice" – was expected to be a hit, but the film's success at the Venice Festival and positive reviews suggest that it might be one of this year's biggest cinema hits.

The black comedy directed by Tim Burton will hit theaters on the first weekend of September, just after the summer season. During this period, Hollywood studios rarely release high-profile titles. September is usually the weakest month of the year in American cinemas. This season, however, will be different. According to recent forecasts, "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice" could make over $100 million during its premiere weekend.

Only two productions have surpassed the $100 million mark at the start of this year in American cinemas: "Deadpool & Wolverine" ($211.4 million) and "Inside Out 2" ($154.2 million).

It is worth noting that just a month ago, cinema market analysts predicted that "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice" would earn around $50 million during its first screening weekend. However, after pre-premiere press screenings, the film's prospects soared, and the latest substantial boost came after the gala screening at the Venice Festival, where the director and actors Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, Catherine O'Hara, and Jenna Ortega received a storm of applause and a standing ovation.

After the Venice premiere, a journalist from "The Hollywood Reporter" praised the director's fresh take on the revived topic. "'Beetlejuice Beetlejuice' is an honest, intelligent form of entertainment based on nostalgia for when Tim Burton shocked viewers with a clown-from-hell sensitivity. Even if we are dealing with cashing in on the past, the pleasure of watching the film and its characters make up for it," wrote the critic.

Let's recall that "Beetlejuice" became one of the biggest box office hits of 1988 (the tenth best result in the USA). For movie lovers, it quickly became a cult classic, a masterpiece of black comedy. Its protagonists were a pair of deceased ghosts who wanted to expel new, living tenants from their homes. To do this, they summon Beetlejuice, a bio-exorcist from the afterlife.