Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is on track to be one of the biggest films of the year. The anticipated sequel made a splash during its opening weekend, and has already grossed over $250 million at the global box office. It's safe to say that Warner Bros. is happy they brought Tim Burton, Michael Keaton and the rest of the gang back for another bizarre adventure.
That said, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice could have gone a completely different route. In fact, it nearly did. The sequel was originally intended to be a direct-to-streaming release for Max, meaning it would've skipped a theatrical release and failed to generate a fraction of its earnings. Thankfully, wiser heads prevailed.
The film was originally intended for Max
Warner Bros. co-chair Pamela Abdy told The New York Times that director Tim Burton balked at the streaming option and insisted that his film be given a theatrical release. In more blunt terms, he just refused to make a streaming exclusive. "You’re talking about a visionary artist whose films demand to be seen on a big screen," Abdy noted.
Burton got his way, but not without a few sacrifices. It may seem counterintuitive, but the director would have actually gotten a bigger budget if he'd agreed to make Beetlejuice Beetlejuice for Max. Abdy claimed the budget hiked up to $147 million at one point, but when Burton learned that he'd be able to secure a theatrical release with a smaller budget, he got to slashing.
Burton slashed the budget to ensure a theatrical release
Burton and the cast agreed to work for less money upfront in exchange for back end deals. The final budget for the film was $99 million, meaning it has already made its money back and will likely result in hefty paydays for all involved.
At a time when box office hits are hard to come by, we're grateful that Burton and the rest of the Beetlejuice Beetlejuice team rolled the dice on getting it on a big screen. It made for a delightful premiere in Austin, and frankly, a delightful viewing experience for anybody who has seen it.