Beetlejuice is a 1988 American fantasy horror comedy film directed by Tim Burton, written by Michael McDowell, Warren Skaaren, and Larry Wilson, produced by The Geffen Company, distributed by Warner Bros., and starring Alec Baldwin, Geena Davis, Jeffrey Jones, Catherine OHara, Winona Ryder, and Michael Keaton as the title character. The plot revolves around a recently deceased couple who, as ghosts haunting their former home, contact Beetlejuice, an obnoxious and devious "bio-exorcist" from the underworld, to help them scare away the new living inhabitants of their house.
The film deals with serious themes such as death, suicide, and the afterlife, and contains strong language, smoking, drinking, and references to Valium. Despite its darker themes, Beetlejuice is also known for its bizarre and creative imagery, and has been praised for its originality and balance of bizarreness, comedy, and horror. Michael Keatons performance as Beetlejuice has been particularly praised, and is considered one of the most iconic performances of all time.
