Top 10 Things You Missed Callbacks in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice

The original 1988 film opened with Danny Elfman’s iconic musical score as we’re given a bird’s eye view of Winter River, Connecticut, which is revealed to be Adam Maitland’s model of the town. The sequel mimics its predecessor’s opening credits, but with a few notable additions. Although Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis don’t reprise their roles, the credits do allude to the car accident that turned Adam and Barbara into ghosts. In addition to paying homage, the opening offers something of a mini-recap. Later in the film, Lydia’s daughter Astrid is seen riding her bike through Winter River, passing by several familiar landmarks. This includes Miss Shannon’s School for Girls, which Lydia attended in both the original film and the “Beetlejuice” animated series.

The sequel builds to another wedding between Betelgeuse and a reluctant Lydia. Their second wedding has more than a few nods to the first film. When Betelgeuse gets rid of the influencers in attendance, he sucks them into their phones. This visual is similar to Adam Maitland’s stretched-out face. Betelgeuse has also saved his betrothed’s red wedding dress. White might be the traditional color for the living, but Betelgeuse upholds the saying, “Married in red, you’ll wish yourself dead.” Like the original, the wedding is capped off with somebody being devoured by a sand worm. Instead of Betelgeuse, though, Delores and Rory are swallowed whole. Betelgeuse and Lydia might not tie the knot, but their exes are bounded til digestion do they part.

Catherine O’Hara returns as Lydia’s stepmother Delia, who has made a name for herself in the art world. While she’s expanded her craft beyond sculpting, Delia’s older works still hold a special place in the film. Astrid attends a private school that received a sizable donation from the Deetz Arts Center. Outside the center is the same sculpture that ensnared Delia over 35 years ago. The sculpture doesn’t come to life this time, although we doubt it’s any less dangerous. Considering the Deetz family’s past experiences, keeping the sculpture outside is probably safer. Reportedly, somebody stole the actual sculpture from the sequel’s set. The Vermont State Police tried saying the sculpture’s name three times, but that sadly didn’t make it appear.

If you’re wondering why actor Jeffrey Jones wasn’t invited back to play Charles Deetz, it’s safe to say you haven’t heard about the sex offender case that essentially ended his career. With that in mind, killing Charles off was a smart move. Since this franchise revolves around the afterlife, though, Charles’ ghost had to show up. This is where the film gets creative. In an animated flashback, we learn that Charles survived a plane crash, but a shark left him without a head. It’s a clever way of keeping Charles in the movie without Jones. Charles isn’t the franchise’s first shark victim. Shaping Charles’ grave like a shark fin is a nice - albeit morbid - touch, as is the rendition of “Day-O” at his funeral.

Annie McEnroe is perhaps best known for her role as Jane Butterfield, the nosy realtor who wants to sell the Maitlands’ home. Jane gets what she wants after the Maitlands have an unfortunate accident. Jane is also seen alongside her daughter, who’s simply known as Little Jane. Big Jane doesn’t return for the sequel, but Little Jane follows in her mother’s footsteps. In the first film, Rachel Mittelman played Little Jane, which remains her only screen credit. In “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,” Amy Nuttall steps in as a not-so-little Jane. In fact, “Little” Jane now has a Littler Jane. The house on the hill is still prime real estate, although Jane is even more hung up on selling a murder house that Astrid is naturally drawn to.

The murder house in question belongs to Astrid’s love interest Jeremy, played by Arthur Conti. Before the big reveal, the film drops several hints that Jeremy is a ghost. His James Dean costume is perhaps the most inspired clue. Jeremy models his Halloween costume after Dean’s character in “Rebel Without a Cause.” This serves as a warning that Jeremy is trouble like Jim Stark. More significantly, Dean died in a car crash only a month before “Rebel Without a Cause” hit theaters. Watching Dean give his career-defining performance was like seeing a ghost. Something similar can be said about Jeremy, who’s putting on a performance for Astrid. Jeremy and Jim Stark are both rebels, although one’s a murderer whereas death merely follows the other.

The “Beetlejuice” stage musical has been praised for honoring the source material while taking it in a fresh direction. In the stage version, Lydia ventures to the Netherworld in search of her dearly departed mother. Despite not getting what she set out for, the experience brings Lydia closer to her father as she accepts her mother’s death. This subplot wasn’t in the 1988 film, but the sequel brings things full circle. In this case, Astrid is taken to the afterlife in search of her late father Richard. Astrid and Lydia are briefly reunited with Richard, giving the family closure. Whether intentional or not, this storyline borrows more than a few notes from the musical while still singing a different song.