Nostalgia roared for the Tim Burton-directed sequel with Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, and it slayed with $110 million domestically. That’s the third-best opening of the year behind Inside Out 2‘s $155 million and Deadpool & Wolverine‘s $211 million, and the largest Warner Brothers opening since Barbie last year.
Beetlejuice 2 returned with the original cast members Michael Keaton, Catherine O’Hara, and Winona Ryder while adding Jenna Ortega, Monica Bellucci, and Willem Dafoe. A B+ from CinemaScore and positive reviews from critics will keep the multigenerational event humming along domestically. I’d be one to argue that Tim Burton has set the template for modern pop culture and the general Hollywood tentpole. Think along the lines of Batman in 1989, when it tore through with $411.6 million worldwide. Sleepy Hollow was more of a redemption act after Batman Returns said, “Gah, this is not for the children!” with a lower total of $266.8 million. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory roared back in with $475.8 million worldwide with a more appealing approach, and Johnny Depp’s simpering performance brought in more questions than none.
Then, we turn to the mediocre work of the live adaptation of Alice in Wonderland, which earned $1.025 billion in 2010. Now, we return with the Michael Keaton-led sequel that makes Burton a five-time decade winner in delivering box office attraction with smashing numbers. If he doesn’t want to remain at the top of the mountain, then it looks like his legacy will keep him steady up there. This latest sequel will probably earn around $280 million domestically while crawling to $400 million worldwide (as the overseas tally looks like a Twisters redux).
In other titles, Deadpool & Wolverine suffered a significant fall this weekend thanks to Burton’s overperformance, which earned it $7.2 million in its seventh weekend. By next weekend, it will pass $1.3 billion worldwide, even if Black Panther‘s $1.35 billion is a bridge too far. It should also challenge The Avengers and The Last Jedi sometime by next weekend in domestic numbers. Speaking of Disney, Inside Out 2 has passed $1.675 billion worldwide and $650 million domestically (eeking to pass Jurassic World‘s domestic run any day now).
Reagan continues to please audiences in a notorious election year, earning $5.23 million in its second weekend and adding sixteen theaters. It’s on pace to climb to $30-35 million domestic. Alien: Romulus has passed $315 million worldwide, while It Ends With Us fell behind in the cinematic duel with $309.3 million. The Forge has passed $20 million domestically.
Twisters has passed $365 million worldwide, Blink Twice will pass $35 million globally any minute now, and Despicable Me 4 keeps legging like a champ as it’ll pass $930 worldwide by the end of the day. Oh, and Trap roared back with an additional $1.34 million despite heading to PVOD, as it’ll pass $80 million globally now.
Next weekend sees the release of Speak No Evil, The Killer’s Game, My Old Ass, and Uglies.

