Beetlejuice 2 Was Almost A Max Streaming Movie

The Beetlejuice sequel, which grossed $264 million worldwide in its first two weeks, was initially considered for a streaming release on Warner Bros.' platform Max. However, co-chair Pamela Abdy told the New York Times that, internally, the idea was quickly rejected.

"That was never going to work for Tim," Abdy said. "You're talking about a visionary artist whose films demand to be seen on a big screen." The decision followed a decade-long effort to bring the sequel to life, as Warner Bros. and Burton explored different concepts, including the now-scrapped idea for Beetlejuice Goes Hawaiian. (It's worth noting that Burton directed four of the eight episodes of Netflix's Wednesday.)

Despite an initial push for a streaming release, Abdy and her co-chair Michael De Luca worked with Burton to make the movie an exclusive theatrical release. The decision was tied to budget constraints, as the film's initial projected cost reached $147 million due to star salaries and producer fees. De Luca and Abdy convinced Burton to lower the budget to $99 million--below the $100 million ceiling required--in exchange for cast and crew members receiving back-end deals tied to the film's performance.

The decision to release Beetlejuice Beetlejuice theatrically paid off, with the film grossing $264 million worldwide within its first two weeks. Domestically, the film has earned over $190 million and topped the U.S. box office for two consecutive weekends. According to box office analysts, the film is projected to cross $200 million domestically in the coming days.

De Luca, describing the mood at Warner Bros. after the release said, "[We were] dancing in the hallways, smiles on faces. There is really nothing better for morale than a hit."

Excitement continues to build for the film, with pre-orders already live for the Beetlejuice Beetlejuice 4K Steelbook Edition, available September 9. Fans of the original can also pick up the classic Beetlejuice movie on 4K Blu-ray, and a DVD boxset of the beloved Beetlejuice animated series is also available.