third Beetlejuice film are endless. The chances of Burton making another Beetlejuice movie are high, especially given the second installment's incredible box office run and reviews. Also, since the second film ended with Lydia Deetz still haunted by Betelgeuse, the door has indeed been left open for a sequel following her ongoing experiences with the mischievous bio-exorcist.

While it's anybody's guess what a third Beetlejuice movie would present, it needs to have a distinctive, new take on the franchise to justify its existence and stand out to audiences. However, one small character in the The Nightmare Before Christmas.

Beetlejuice 3 Should Be A Christmas Movie

A Christmas-Themed Beetlejuice Can Provide A Fresh Follow-Up To The Second Film

Betelgeuse looks happy at his wedding in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
Warner Bros. Pictures

Similar to another 2024 horror hit, Terrifier 3, a third Beetlejuice film could step away from the Halloween-heavy aesthetic of its predecessors to deliver a frighteningly funny story set during Christmas. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice already presented a tale set on Halloween night, so doing it again would seem too repetitive. However, having the threequel's story take place during the holiday season can help distinguish it from the rest of the franchise.

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What Happened To Otho In Beetlejuice 2 & Why He's Not In The Sequel

Though Beetlejuice Beetlejuice featured the return of many beloved characters, Otho Fenlock was unfortunately absent from Tim Burton's sequel.

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A Christmas-themed Beetlejuice movie could also provide several narrative possibilities for Burton and his team of writers. Even though Tim Burton's long-awaited sequel took almost 40 years to be made, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice expanded the world of the franchise by introducing new characters and concepts in the Afterlife. Since the franchise hasn't lost its steam, a third Beetlejuice could further develop its world with new characters and ideas centered around Christmas. It can even allow the writers to come up with some hilarious holiday jokes.

The Afterlife's Santa Proves How A Beetlejuice Movie Set During Christmas Could Work

One Small But Festive Cameo In The Afterlife Hints At How A Beetlejuice Film Would Look On Christmas

Astrid staring at a burned spirit dressed as Santa Claus in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice

Astrid encounters a burnt spirit dressed as Santa Claus in the Afterlife waiting room in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, saying "Merry Christmas" to him before moving on. This moment alone may be a brief bit of humor, but it proves a sample of what a Christmas-themed Beetlejuice movie could look like. With several spirits appearing all dressed up for the holidays, Beetlejuice 3 could end up presenting a Christmas movie unlike any other.

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice has already established how the holidays could factor into a third film with the deaths of Charles and Delia. Lydia and Astrid may want to their dead loved ones for Christmas, and a holiday spirit similar to Santa may help with that. Though Charles and Delia took the Soul Train to the Great Beyond at the end of the second film, they could still link Lydia and Astrid to the Afterlife and help them reunite. This connection could also draw in Betelgeuse once more for another wacky journey through the spirit world.

A Christmas Beetlejuice Movie Could Give Tim Burton Another Holiday Movie After The Nightmare Before Christmas

Beetlejuice 3 Could Actually Be The Long-Awaited Sequel To The Nightmare Before Christmas

If Burton does decide to make a Christmas-themed Beetlejuice movie, this would be the director's first holiday movie since 1993's The Nightmare Before Christmas. Though Burton didn't actually direct the latter, he did create the film's story, and it shows with its wacky and macabre style. Plans for a sequel to The Nightmare Before Christmas have been discussed for decades now, but no such film has been made so far.

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Beetlejuice 3 Can Finally Revive An Original Lydia Deetz Detail That The 2024 Sequel Forgot

Amid Lydia Deetz's reunion with Betelgeuse and chaos in the afterlife realm, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice ignored a notable part of her original story.

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The Nightmare Before Christmas doesn't need a sequel, as it achieved a satisfactory conclusion with just one film. It's difficult to see where this beloved holiday-themed franchise can go from there. Instead of possibly tarnishing the film's sequel with a lackluster sequel, Burton could create a spiritual successor by making Beetlejuice 3 a Christmas movie, with Betelguese taking on Jack Skellington's role of creating his terrifying wonderland for the holidays.

Considering the success of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, a sequel to this film seems more likely than a follow-up to The Nightmare Before Christmas. However, a third Beetlejuice movie could satisfy fans of the latter by delivering a spooky Christmas comedy that continues the Deetzs' experiences with the Afterlife. Tim Burton has already teased what the holidays would look like in the world of Beetlejuice, so a feature-length film exploring the concept seems like the next logical step for the franchise.

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Film Poster

Your Rating

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
PG-13
Comedy
Supernatural
Fantasy
Horror
Release Date
September 6, 2024
Runtime
104 Minutes
Director
Tim Burton

WHERE TO WATCH

Writers
Alfred Gough, Miles Millar, Mike Vukadinovich, Seth Grahame-Smith, Michael McDowell, Larry Wilson
Main Genre
Comedy
Studio(s)
KatzSmith Productions, Tim Burton Productions, Warner Bros. Pictures, Plan B Entertainment
Distributor(s)
Warner Bros. Pictures