The 81st Venice Film Festival opened Wednesday with the world premiere of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, a sequel to the 1988 classic Beetlejuice, starring Michael Keaton as the chaos-causing ghoul. The screening was followed by a nearly four-minute standing ovation.
The sequel reunites the original cast, including Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, and Catherine O'Hara, alongside newcomers like Jenna Ortega, Monica Bellucci, Justin Theroux and Willem Dafoe.
The plot follows the Deetz family returning to their old home, leading to the reopening of the portal to the afterlife and the return of Keaton's mischievous Betelgeuse character.
The development of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice was a lengthy process, with multiple script ideas considered over the years until writer Seth Grahame-Smith joined in 2011. The sequel was officially announced in 2022.
Early estimates indicate the film may earn between $65-80 million during its opening weekend in the U.S.
Reviews for "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice" have been mixed, with some praising its brilliant short film-like sequences but also criticizing its clunky sentimentality and uneven acting. The original "Beetlejuice" was a critical success.
Many attendees at the Venice International Film Festival wore dark, gothic colors or black-and-white costumes, referencing the original film's aesthetic.
The festival, runs until September 7, is back in full swing after a lower-key event last year.
Other notable premieres include Joker: Folie à Deux, directed by Todd Phillips and starring Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga, and Maria, directed by Pablo Larraín and starring Angelina Jolie.
The festival also features The Room Next Door by Pedro Almodovar (starring Julianne Moore, Tilda Swinton, and featuring Robert De Niro), Leurs Enfants Après Eux, The Brutalist, Campo di Battaglia, and Iddu (Sicilian Letters).
Independent films at the festival include documentaries about the Ukraine war and a film based on the correspondence between Albert Einstein and Sigmund Freud on the topic of war.
This article was written in collaboration with Generative AI news company Alchemiq
Sources: Observerbd, Deadline, Telerama, Naharnet, Digital Journal, Times of India, The Hindu, The Guardian, Independent, Reuters, Washington Post, NYTimes, BBC, Forbes, ABC News, South China Morning Post (SCMP).