Michael Keaton's Limited Screen Time in 'Beetlejuice Beetlejuice'

Michael Keaton's Brief Yet Significant Role

In Tim Burton's 1988 film Beetlejuice, the eponymous character, portrayed by Michael Keaton, is on screen for just 17 minutes. This limited screen time was maintained in the sequel, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. Co-screenwriter Miles Millar recently explained this creative decision, stating, He's such a fun character to write, but he's not the protagonist of the movie. Millar further elaborated, It was tricky in terms of keeping the right balance. People love him so much. It's called 'Beetlejuice Beetlejuice' for a reason, so he needs to play an essential role in the movie. It makes you think harder about what those scenes are going to be, and what his contribution to the story is.

Exploring Beetlejuice's Backstory

Despite Beetlejuice not being the main character, his presence is more significant in the sequel. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice delves into his backstory, revealing how he was killed by his ex-wife Delores (Monica Bellucci). However, this exploration doesn't overshadow the film's primary focus on Lydia Deetz (Winona Ryder), her stepmother Delia (Catherine O'Hara), and the sceptical teenager Astrid (Jenna Ortega).

Lydia's Encounter with Beetlejuice

In the sequel, Lydia is still grappling with trauma from her encounter with Beetlejuice in the original film. However, he mostly remains a secondary character until later when Astrid finds herself in trouble. At this point, Lydia summons him by saying his name thrice, hoping he can help her family out of their predicament. Beetlejuice then arrives, and the characters embark on an adventure in the afterlife.