Beetlejuice – Characters & Collectibles
Very few designs are recognised without a face. The black-and-white stripes are one of them.
Techbox, Thessaloniki
The stripes – the design that works alone
There is a reason Beetlejuice products work even when no character is visible.
The black-and-white vertical stripes have become so bound to the film that they are recognised on their own. A striped t-shirt, a mug, a phone case – they work with no face at all.
The same is true of the sandworms, which carry the same pattern.
Commercially this means something practical: the category does not depend on figures. The designs work on apparel, accessories and home items just as well.
Two films, thirty-six years apart
The first film came out in 1988. The second in September 2024. In between, nothing.
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice took $451 million worldwide, on a budget of one hundred million.
It is Tim Burton's second highest-grossing film in the United States – and the reviews were positive.
Michael Keaton returned as Beetlejuice and Winona Ryder as Lydia. The new face: Jenna Ortega, as Lydia's daughter.
Two audiences, not one. Those who saw the first film as children in the 1980s are now in their forties and fifties. Those who discovered the series in 2024 are teenagers. They are not the same people.
A detail fans appreciate: the second film was made largely with practical effects rather than digital ones – exactly as the first was.
Is a third film coming? – the honest answer
You will find it written everywhere as a certainty. It is not.
Warner Bros. has said a third film is in development.
Tim Burton, however, when asked about it, said nobody had told him – and joked that perhaps he had been replaced.
And Jenna Ortega has said she would not take part without him.
In other words: there is intent from the studio, but no agreement with the makers. There is no date.
Given that the previous wait lasted thirty-six years, we would not suggest holding your breath.
What age it is for
Beetlejuice is a comedy, but its comedy is macabre: walking corpses, a shrunken head, the bureaucracy of the afterlife.
It is not for young children. It suits twelve and up – and its audience is mainly teenagers and adults.
The products are of course innocent. Just do not assume that because it is a film comedy, it is for children.
What to choose
- Funko POP: Beetlejuice, Lydia and the rest – the most popular category.
- Figures: from simple to collector pieces.
- Apparel: with the stripes alone or with characters – both work.
- Home items: mugs, lamps, decor.
- Posters & gifts: art prints, keyrings, phone cases.
A useful connection: if someone loves Wednesday, they are very likely to like Beetlejuice too – the same lead actress, the same director.
See also Gremlins – the same era, the same blend of horror and humour.
Frequently asked questions
- Is a third film coming?
- It is not certain. Warner Bros. says one is in development, but Tim Burton said nobody had told him, and Jenna Ortega said she would not take part without him. There is no date.
- How many films are there?
- Two. The first in 1988 and Beetlejuice Beetlejuice in September 2024, thirty-six years later. The second took $451 million.
- Why do the striped products sell?
- Because the black-and-white vertical stripes are so bound to the film that they are recognised with no character at all. They work on a t-shirt, mug or case equally well.
- Is it suitable for children?
- Not young ones. It is a comedy, but a macabre one – with corpses and frightening imagery. It suits twelve and up.
- Where can I find Beetlejuice products in Thessaloniki?
- At the Techbox store (Al. Papanastasiou 100) and online at techbox.com.gr. You can order online and collect from the store with no shipping cost.
