Following its release in early September, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice grossed a whopping $110 million on its premier weekend. Directed by the acclaimed Tim Burton, the film is the sequel to the ’80s classic Beetlejuice and has fans raving across the country due to the familiar faces and Michael Keaton’s stunningly comedic performance.
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Besides Keaton’s performance, many other factors make this a great movie. Out of bias, we at American Songwriter believe the best aspect of the movie is of course the soundtrack. Despite being overall just a great wholesome box office movie, the soundtrack of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice leans into the very thing making the movie so marketable and enjoyable—nostalgia.
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice and The Nostalgic Appeal
Warner Bros. Pictures are the distributors of the sequel, and it comes as no surprise. It comes as no surprise given that as of recently Warner Bros. Pictures have banked off remaking classic films to sell out movie theaters in hopes of making a return on their investment and some more. Even though this formula possibly hinders creativity, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice acknowledges it and they do so through various factors including the soundtrack.
In addition to the original orchestra pieces composed by Danny Elfman, the soundtrack also includes songs by ’80s legends the Bee Gees, Donna Summer, and Jimmy Buffett. The use of these ’80s artists’ music pays homage to the original film which was released in 1988. It doesn’t go so far as to take one back to the ’80s, but with the help of the songs one can dream about spandex and MTV while the watch the film.
Without Giving Spoilers…
From Buffett’s “Margaritaville” to “Tragedy” by the Bee Gees, the movie and its soundtrack implement the music in the best possible ways. In hopes of not spoiling the film, Deadline says Jenna Ortega has quite the dance number to one of the cult-classic songs in the movie. But, that’s all we’ll share.
Regardless, the movie does a terrific job of accepting what it is. Which is seemingly a movie merely created to sell tickets based on its sentimentality toward older generations. Nevertheless, it is still a great movie and it knows that too.
Between Burton’s directing and Keaton’s performance, it is a fun movie that’s conducive to escaping the outside world. And lastly, its soundtrack just helps all the more. The film is showing in theaters now and is worth the watch.
Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
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