Beetlejuice (1988) Parents Guide: Is the movie OK for kids?

Name: Beetlejuice
Director: Tim Burton
Released: 1988
Duration: 92 min
Rating: 7.4

Age Rating, Sex, Violence & Language

A newly dead New England couple seeks help from a deranged demon exorcist to scare an affluent New York family out of their home.

Rated PG • 1988 • 1h 32m

Directed by Tim Burton

7.4

5K+

Average rating by Bontent members

Age

12+

A recently deceased couple haunts their former home — and hires a rogue 'bio-exorcist' to frighten away the new owners. Michael Keaton, Geena Davis, Alec Baldwin, Winona Ryder. PG rating — more intense and weird than modern PG films.

Cast

Alec Baldwin

Geena Davis

Winona Ryder

Catherine O'Hara

Jeffrey Jones

Michael Keaton

Glenn Shadix

Sylvia Sidney

Patrice Martinez

Dick Cavett

Robert Goulet

Maree Cheatham

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Is Beetlejuice appropriate for kids?

Content severity in Beetlejuice

Sex None 0/10

Violence Strong 6/10

Language Moderate 3/10

Substances None 0/10

Themes Moderate 4/10

What happens in Beetlejuice, moment by moment

0:08 🔥 Mature Themes 4/10
0:15 💬 Language 3/10
0:18 ⚔ Violence & Gore 5/10

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Sex and nudity in Beetlejuice

There is no actual sex or nudity depicted in the film. The content remains consistent with its PG rating, focusing on comedic haunting rather than romantic or sexual situations. A few moments involve suggestive dialogue or a character's lecherous behavior, but these are played for dark humor.

Violence and gore in Beetlejuice

Ghosts with various deformities. A man's head shrunk. The Sandworm. Tim Burton's visual horror is imaginative rather than graphic.

Language in Beetlejuice

The film contains moderate language that is somewhat stronger than what is found in modern PG movies, including a notable use of the 'f-word' as a punchline. Other profanities such as 'damn,' 'hell,' and 'shit' are used sporadically throughout the dialogue. The verbal intensity is generally timed for comedic effect during moments of frustration or chaos.

Drugs, alcohol, and smoking in Beetlejuice

There is no significant use of illegal drugs or alcohol shown in the movie. The story focuses on the afterlife and the struggle between the living and the dead rather than substance-related themes. Background characters in social settings may be seen with glasses, but there is no emphasis on consumption or intoxication.

Mature themes in Beetlejuice

Death depicted as a bureaucratic inconvenience — the film's central comic concept. Michael Keaton's Betelgeuse is one of cinema's great unhinged performances. Winona Ryder's gothic teenager finding her tribe among the dead.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Beetlejuice appropriate for kids?

Bontent's parent guide suggests Beetlejuice is best for ages 12+. It's rated PG. A recently deceased couple haunts their former home — and hires a rogue 'bio-exorcist' to frighten away the new owners. Michael Keaton, Geena Davis, Alec Baldwin, Winona Ryder. PG rating — more intense and weird than…

What age rating does Beetlejuice have?

Beetlejuice is officially rated PG. Bontent's independent parent guide recommends it for ages 12+.

What is Beetlejuice about?

Is there sex or nudity in Beetlejuice?

How violent is Beetlejuice?

Ghosts with various deformities. A man's head shrunk. The Sandworm. Tim Burton's visual horror is imaginative rather than graphic.

Is the language in Beetlejuice appropriate for kids?

Are drugs, alcohol, or smoking shown in Beetlejuice?

What mature themes appear in Beetlejuice?

How long is Beetlejuice?

Beetlejuice runs 92 minutes, directed by Tim Burton, released in 1988.

Where can I read the full Beetlejuice parent guide?