Summary
Lydia’s new career inBeetlejuice 2serves as an excellent callback to a character from Tim Burton’s underappreciated biopic from 1994, which still holds his highest score on Rotten Tomatoes. Despite picking up well over 30 years later, thereturning cast and characters inBeetlejuice 2don’t seem too different from their appearances in Tim Burton’s 1988 original movie. This is certainly the case forWinona Ryder’s Lydia Deetz, who still maintains her gothic edge and stylewhile now being the mother to a teenage daughter of her own in the 2024 sequel.
Newdetails aboutBeetlejuice 2reveal that after becoming a surrogate daughter to Adam Baldwin and Geena Davis’ Adam and Barbara Maitland in the 1988 horror-comedy, Lydia Deetz has turned her gift into a career as an adult. InBeetlejuice 2,Lydia is the host of an afterlife-related investigative TV talk show, with the film’s synopsis describing her as a “paranormal empath.” With her costumes, style, and horror TV horror hosting gig, Lydia Deetz is greatly reminiscent of a character from Tim Burton’s 1994 drama movie inspired by real horror filmmakers from the 1950s.
Lydia’s Ghost Show In Beetlejuice 2 Mirrors Vampira In Tim Burton’s Ed Wood
Lydia Deetz is very reminiscent of Ed Wood’s Vampira
It’s difficult to see Lydia Deetz hosting a ‘50s-style paranormal TV show and notthink back to Tim Burton’s 1994 movieEd Wood. Frequently regarded as thebest Tim Burton movieyet,Ed Woodwon two Academy Awards as it documented the life and career of the titular director, who was best known for making cult classic sci-fi and horror B-movies in the 1950s, as well as his friendship with actor Bela Lugosi. One notable character featured in the movie is Vampira, aka Maila Nurmi, the real-life host of the 1954 seriesThe Vampira Show.
Thirty years later,Beetlejuice 2’s Lydia emulatesEd Wood’s Vampira with her new horror talk show hosting gig. However, Vampira wasn’t using a gift to see and speak with ghosts in her show, which seems to be the basis for Lydia’sGhost House with Lydia Deetztalk show. Still, given how similar Lydia looks to Vampira and her successor, Elvira, it wouldn’t be surprising if Tim Burton included a more direct nod toEd Wood’s TV host character in the upcomingBeetlejuicesequel.
Beetlejuice 2 Kills A Huge Part Of Winona Ryder’s Character From The Original Movie
Tim Burton’s new comments about Lydia Deetz changes in Beetlejuice 2 reveal a huge difference from Winona Ryder’s character in the 1988 movie.
Why Ed Wood Is Still Tim Burton’s Highest-Rated Movie On Rotten Tomatoes
Ed Wood has a 92% score from critics on Rotten Tomatoes
AlthoughEdward Scissorhands,Beetlejuice, andBatmanare among the most recognizable and beloved Tim Burton movies, they don’t hold his highest score from critics on Rotten Tomatoes. Rather, that accomplishment goes to his 1994 biopicEd Wood. The Johnny Depp-starring filmboasts a 92% score on Rotten Tomatoes, bestingEdward Scissorhands’ 90% rating by a close margin. Part of whyEd Woodis his highest-rated movie is thatBurton didn’t actually directThe Nightmare Before Christmas, which holds his highest producer score at 95% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Tim Burton’s 30-Year-Old Box Office Bomb Beat Martin Scorsese To 1 Oscars Record By A Decade
Tim Burton managed to achieve one Oscars record a decade before Martin Scorsese, even though Burton’s film was a major flop at the box office.
Furthermore,Ed Woodis arguably Burton’s greatest showcase of filmmakingwith his black-and-white medium, stellar cast performances, and love letter to Hollywood outcasts excelling in horror and sci-fi.Ed Woodsees Burton relate his passion for Wood’s movies and the genre in more depth than many of his other film subjects. The entertainment value, industry significance, poignancy, and evocative nature ofEd Woodelevates many of the best parts of Burton’s stylistic accomplishments inEdward Scissorhandsonly four years prior.
88%
86%
77%
90%
82%
92%
56%
70%
Planet of the Apes(2001)
43%
75%
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory(2005)
83%
84%
50%
35%
72%
65%
46%
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
Cast
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is the sequel to the original Tim Burton classic that starred Michael Keaton and Wynona Rider in a horror-comedy that involved ghosts trying to scare off new homebuyers from taking their house. The sequel brings back Michael Keaton as the hilarious and sleazy ghost with selfish intentions, now joined by Jenna Ortega in a new role.
