Top 10 Grossest Things Beetlejuice Did in the Movies and Cartoons

“Beetlejuice” (1988)

Right after we learn about the trickster demon’s bad reputation from caseworker Juno, we see it for ourselves in the Zagnut scene. Trapped in the model of the town (his prison), BJ spots a fly hovering over the graveyard section. With a sweet, beckoning voice and a chocolate bar as bait, Betelgeuse lures the fly to come closer. In mere seconds, he grabs the insect through a crack and we hear a cry for help. Gross, right? We’ll assume that the squeaky cry was the fly being devoured by Betelgeuse. The fact that he prefers a helpless fly over a crunchy candy bar is clear indication that this titular miscreant is downright nasty.

"Pat on the Back"

The animated version of the ghoulish troublemaker might be a toned-down version of the character, but he’s still a sleazeball. In the first season, Beetlejuice claims he deserves a pat on the back and a purple-hued, Irish-accented creature literally pops out on his shoulder. And guess what, the little guy’s name is Pat. This pun-filled moment is classic “Beetlejuice” humor and a big reason fans love the franchise. But let’s be real, the idea of a living thing sprouting out on someone's body is an absolutely disturbing sight, even for someone as naturally unsettling as Beetlejuice.

“Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” (2024)

The wedding between the mischievous personality BJ and his unwilling bride, which nearly happened in the original film, almost comes true in the 2024 movie. After exposing Rory as a liar using truth serum, Betelgeuse takes over his place as Lydia’s groom. Decked out in his original wedding suit, with Lydia in her iconic red gown, history is about to repeat itself. As this bizarre ceremony ensues, everyone gets possessed by the “Ghost with the Most" and starts reciting the lyrics of “MacArthur Park” by Richard Harris. And to make things even weirder, out of a Betelgeuse-themed cake flows slimy green icing. Yuck! For any cake lover, this is a sickening sight. Why does everything about BJ have to be so gross?

“Beetlebones”

In the 15th episode of the animated series’ fourth season, Lydia and Beets face a new challenge. BJ’s sophisticated skeleton has had enough of his messy, smelly body and decides to run away to form a life of its own. Now, it’s up to Lydia and her ghostly friend to find it before the skeleton crew does. The moment where this snobby skeleton rips away from Beetlejuice is pretty graphic. But can we really blame the poor skeleton for making such a bold move? When was the last time this undead guy even had a bath? Disgusting or not, this episode is packed with so much fun and definitely worth revisiting, no bones about it.

“Scummer Vacation”

Beetlejuice is this weird and nasty guy and nearly everything he does is like the direct opposite of normal or clean. So, it’s no surprise when he pulls out some truly unappealing food during his picnic with Lydia in the Neitherworld. Though she sounds like she appreciates his otherworldly cuisine, seeing him serve up grimy, rotten food that’s clearly inedible is stomach-churning. BJ calls them delicious treats, but they can only appeal to those with morbid tastes, like his alienated teenage friend. This is exactly what you’d expect from Beetlejuice: turning what should be a simple picnic into a freaky fest with his unappetizing menu.

“Beetlejuice” (1988)

Adam and his ghostly wife probably knew they were making a huge mistake by enlisting the lecherous ghost. But they summoned him anyway and quickly learned their errors within seconds of meeting him. Throughout his limited screen time, the eponymous character was mostly this obnoxious pervert lifting skirts, forcing kisses, and groping girls. Barbara, in particular, suffers the most from his lewd acts. He constantly pesters her and grabs her when she least expects it. It’s no wonder, the Maitlands couldn’t keep up with his erratic behaviors and wanted him gone. Betelgeuse may be an iconic character, but if he were real, he’d likely be dragged to court more than a few times.

“Beetlejuice” (1988)

With Betelgeuse’s over-the-top antics that mix crude gestures with adult language, Tim Burton’s classic isn’t quite as family-friendly as you might remember. After Adam and Barbara vanish back to their home, a furious Beets kicks a tree over and drops the F-bomb. Then he makes a honking sound while grabbing his crotch. Something tells us that’s not the first time he’s done that. And as if that weren’t enough, Betelgeuse even visits what looks like a strip club at some point to find some action. There are no two ways about it, BJ is a creepy creep.

"Critter Sitters"

When we last saw the chaotic, bug-eating ghost in the film, he was being devoured by a sandworm. Fast forward to the animated series, which feels like an alternate universe, and the morbid creature is summoned again by Lydia. He bursts onto the screen with green, foul-smelling gas coming from his mouth and flashes a grin full of bugs. What a way to make an entrance… a pretty disturbing one. Beetlejuice’s obsession with bugs continues. (xref) Even in the original movie, he chomps down on a live bug in front of Lydia. It’s on-brand but still totally gross. (xref) Even worse, in one episode, he picks bugs from leftover chicken and chews them. Honestly, we don’t blame the chicken for haunting him.

“Beetlejuice” (1988)

This is the height of BJ’s lecherous behavior. Towards the ending of Burton’s hit horror-comedy, Otho unintentionally performs an exorcism that causes the Maitlands to shrink. Horrified, their human friend turns to the self-proclaimed bio-exorcist for help. Seizing the opportunity, Betelgeuse manipulates this young lady into marrying him, an ancient ghost. This shows just how twisted and perverted BJ truly is, with no regard for the fact that Lydia is both mortal and, well, a teenager. And if you think this is horrible, the original script had even worse plans for Lydia and Betelgeuse. Regardless, there’s no justification for his outrageous behaviors. Charismatic or not, this crude demon is simply a Creepy Old Guy.

“Beetlejuice” (1988)

Remember the famous scene where BJ morphs into a giant snake to scare the Deetzes? In case you somehow don’t, it happens after Otho stumbles on the miniature town, thinking it’d be a great business opportunity. But things go south when the reality warper, now a large, slithering creature lashes out at Otho and the Deetzes, causing them serious harm. This moment shows that BJ’s menace knows no bounds. One minute he’s this mischievous ghost and the next, a vicious serpent. Is he still the zany ghoul he started as? Well, it’s still impressive when you realize this snake was a stop-motion creation designed to look like Michael Keaton’s Betelgeuse. But even so, it’s still downright terrifying and disturbing.


Is Beetlejuice a creepy demon or the playful character he’s popularly known for? What do you think? Let us know in the comment section.