The “Beetlejuice” sequel, which grossed $264 million at the global box office in its first two weeks, was initially considered for a Warner Bros. streaming release. Platform Max internally, however, the idea was quickly rejected, co-chair Pamela Abdy told the New York Times.
“That would never work for Tim,” Abdi said. “You’re talking about a visionary artist whose films need to be seen on the big screen.” The decision comes after Warner Bros. and Burton spent a decade trying to make the sequel a reality, Because Warner Bros. and Burton explored different concepts, including the now-scrapped Beetlejuice Goes to Hawaii idea. (Notably, Burton directed four of Netflix’s eight episodes Wednesday.)
Despite an initial push for a streaming release, Abdi and her co-chairman Michael DeLuca worked with Burton to make the film an exclusive theatrical release. The decision was related to budget constraints, with the film’s initial estimated cost reaching $147 million due to star salaries and producer fees. DeLuca and Abdi convinced Burton to lower the budget to $99 million (less than the required $100 million cap) in exchange for the cast and crew receiving back-end deals related to their performances in the film.
The decision to release Beetlejuice paid off, with the film grossing $264 million worldwide in its first two weeks. The film grossed more than $190 million domestically and topped the U.S. box office for two consecutive weekends. According to box office analysts, the film is expected to top $200 million at the domestic box office in the coming days.
DeLuca described the mood at Warner Bros. following the film’s release: “[We were] Dancing in the hallways with a smile on your face. There is truly nothing that boosts morale like a success.
The movie continues to be exciting, and the 4K iron box version of “Beetlejuice” has been pre-ordered and will be available on September 9. 》DVD box set.
