Beetlejuice 3 is on the way, but Warner Bros. should hold off on releasing the next sequel in order to hit a fun franchise anniversary. Aside from Beetlejuice 3‘s confirmation, nothing else is known about the story or whether director Tim Burton is set to return. Surely, there will be a push to bring back the filmmaker of the first two franchise entries. It’s also safe to ᴀssume many of Beetlejuice 2‘s cast will make a return for another movie, especially Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, and Jenna Ortega.
Based on Beetlejuice 2‘s box office performance, earning over $451 million worldwide, it’s not a surprise that a third movie would be greenlit. Tim Burton’s original movie from 1988 has only become more popular as the years have gone by. It may have taken 36 years for Beetlejuice 2 to happen, but the box office and continued interest justify that the franchise still has a future. While Warner Bros. may want to fast-track Beetlejuice 3, that shouldn’t be the case.
Beetlejuice 3 Should Release In 2028 To Celebrate The Original Movie’s 40th Anniversary
WB Can Close Out The Main Story On A Big Anniversary
Seeing as Beetlejuice 2 was set in the present day, the long-awaited sequel was able to incorporate how much time had pᴀssed into the story by introducing another generation into the narrative. Though it used many beloved elements of the original movie, as seen through Beetlejuice 2‘s Easter eggs and references, there were still an ample number of aspects that modernized the franchise. The trilogy entry should take the same approach, but this time, Beetlejuice 3 should aim for a 2028 release to honor the original movie’s 40th anniversary.
In 1988’s Beetlejuice, Lydia was the angsty teen pulled into the conflict involving the afterlife and Betelgeuse. The 2024 sequel saw Lydia’s teenage daughter, Astrid, get caught up in a similar mess, with Jeremy acting as Beetlejuice 2‘s villain. A lot happened between the two Beetlejuice movies, though the foundational story remained the same. Beetlejuice 3, which already has the perfect тιтle option available, would benefit from finishing out the main story while also honoring the franchise’s beginnings four decades prior. It would also be an extra special way to pay tribute to Burton, as his return would mark the filmmaker’s first movie trilogy.
Why Warner Bros. Shouldn’t Rush Beetlejuice 3
Beetlejuice 2 Proved That Patience Is Key
Considering the box office and the overwhelmingly positive reception to Beetlejuice 2, it makes sense why Warner Bros. would want to get the ball rolling on another sequel. Granted, there’s no major need to rush Beetlejuice 3 after the success of the 2024 sequel. If Beetlejuice 2 taught us anything, it’s that the interest will remain high no matter how long a sequel takes. Fans waited nearly 40 years for a sequel, so what’s another few years for Beetlejuice 3?
It would also be more intriguing to return to Lydia and Astrid’s story a few years after the events of Beetlejuice 2, allowing Beetlejuice 3 to take the core characters in completely different directions.
Rushing a third movie could actually do more harm than good since it could risk revisiting the characters too soon. That doesn’t mean waiting decades again, like the gap between the original movie and the sequel, but giving the next sequel time to develop leans into prioritizing the quality of the story over focusing on repeated box office potential. It would also be more intriguing to return to Lydia and Astrid’s story a few years after the events of Beetlejuice 2, allowing Beetlejuice 3 to take the core characters in completely different directions.
