WARNING! This article contains major SPOILERS for Beetlejuice Beetlejuice!
This article also contains references to profanity.
Tim Burton’s sequel moving up to a PG-13 rating meant another Michael Keaton f-bomb was inevitable, and I’m elated with the moment that they chose to use it for inBeetlejuice 2. While the movie itself isn’t too different from the maturity and macabre violence of the 1988 original,Beetlejuice 2’s PG-13 ratingdeparts from the original movie’s PG label. However,Beetlejuicegetting a PG rating in 1988 has long been a point of confusion and controversy, as many believe the horror-comedy’s sexual innuendo and notable f-bomb by Michael Keaton should have warranted a harsher label.
As expected,Beetlejuice 2did turn out to have an incredible f-bomb moment saved in its pocket – and it wasn’t the one that was teased in the movie’s trailers. One of the final trailers released beforeBeetlejuice 2’s premiere concluded with Monica Bellucci’s Delores bursting into the Winter River church, followed by a rattled Betelgeuse uttering “What the f*ck.”This f-bomb itself is bleeped in the trailer, and, as it turns out, is also censored in the real movieduringBeetlejuice 2’s ending, as Burton reserved the sequel’s sole f-bomb for another crucial moment.
Beetlejuice 2’s Trailer Reveal Was A Red Herring For Michael Keaton’s Real F-Bomb Moment
Betelgeuse’s “What The F*ck” Is Still Bleeped Out In The Movie
It seemed as ifBeetlejuice 2’s wedding f-bomb from the trailer would be Keaton’s only use of the word in the sequel, but I’m glad that wasn’t the case. Whilethe trailers leading up to the movie’s release spoiled some key plot details and moments, such as the big dance scene, the sandworm’s return at the wedding, and, subtly,Delia Deetz’s death, there were plenty of surprises still in store forBeetlejuice 2. This includes Jeremy being a ghost, Charles Deetz’s ghost returning with the head and shoulders bitten off by a shark, and Michael Keaton’s real f-bomb scene.
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Considering the trailers suggested that Keaton would fully use the f-bomb during the wedding, this red herring made the real moment all the more unexpected and exciting. Tim Burton saved Keaton’s true f-bomb for the perfect moment, which happens when he agrees to help Lydia and Astrid get rid of Jeremy. When Jeremy goes up to the immigration station inBeetlejuice’s afterlife realm, Betelgeuse, of course, happens to be the attendant.Betelgeuse then stamps his passport with the words “Sht Out Of Luck, tells the murderous ghost “Later, fcker,” and sends Jeremy to the afterlife’s fiery pits below.
Keaton brilliantly executes the scene while living up to the iconic nature of the original movie’s boundary-pushing f-bomb.
Betelgeusesending Jeremy to what can only be perceived as another form of death for the dead is the perfect context forBeetlejuice 2’s one f-bomb moment. Keaton brilliantly executes the scene while living up to the iconic nature of the original movie’s boundary-pushing f-bomb. Though, this time, it comes at a point when Betelgeuse serves as an unlikely hero. Betelgeuse himself is the great original trickster demon, so it’s fitting that he’s the one defeatingBeetlejuice 2’s new manipulative ghost characterJeremy while expressing his distaste for Jeremy by calling him a “f*cker.”
Betelgeuse’s “Later, F*cker” Mirrors The Original Movie’s F-Bomb Scene Tone
Michael Keaton’s New F-Bomb Moment Feels True To Beetlejuice’s “Nice F*cking Model” Line
Another reason why I’m glad thatBeetlejuice Beetlejuice’s f-bomb moment isn’t the bleeped-out word during the wedding scene is thatKeaton’s “Later, fcker” line feels more similar to the tone of the original movie’s “Nice fcking model!” delivery. Both are great moments that highlight important aspects of Betelgeuse’s complex character, with the line toBeetlejuice 2’s Jeremyunderscoring hispenchant for chaos and enjoyment in helping others when it means he gets to frighten another. Meanwhile, the original movie’s f-bomb showed Betlegeuse’s frustration at working with naive ghosts and his general lack of social graces.
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The wedding scene’s “What the fck” moment wouldn’t have felt as fitting for Betelgeuse to be worth the movie’s sole f-bomb usage. That response could have easily been uttered by any of the other characters, whereas “Later, fcker” is completely in character for Betelgeuse as he sends Jeremy to a fiery eternity.Technically, Tim Burton cleverly got two f-bomb moments inBeetlejuice 2, but he saved the full use of the profane word for the right scene.
Beetlejuice 2’s Second Bleeped F-Bomb Perfectly Plays With The Tim Burton World’s Rules
The Bleeped-Out F-Bomb Doesn’t Feel Jarring In Beetlejuice’s Bizarre Afterlife
The bleeped-out f-bomb fromBeetlejuice 2’s trailer is still bleeped out in the final cut of the movie, with the primaryreasoning behind this seemingly being that another f-bomb would bringBeetlejuice 2up to an R rating. Therefore, censoring Betelgeuse’s “What the f*ck” works as a meta nod to audiences. WhileBeetlejuice 2can’t technically include that word again, viewers hilariously know exactly what Keaton is saying.
Beetlejuice Beetlejuiceis rated PG-13 by the MPA for “violent content, macabre and bloody images, strong language, some suggestive material, and brief drug use.”
With the complexrules ofBeetlejuice 2’s afterlife world, it’s alsovery believable that Betelgeuse bleeped out his own words during the wedding. It would make sense for that bleep to be audible to theDeetz family members, Rory, and others in the church rather than the actual f-bomb. Perhaps Betelgeuse wanted to bleep it out with Astrid being right there, keeping his wedding to Lydia more kid-friendly inBeetlejuice 2.
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
Cast
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is the sequel to the original Tim Burton classic that starred Michael Keaton and Wynona Rider in a horror-comedy that involved ghosts trying to scare off new homebuyers from taking their house. The sequel brings back Michael Keaton as the hilarious and sleazy ghost with selfish intentions, now joined by Jenna Ortega in a new role.
Beetlejuice
Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice stars Michael Keaton as the titular “bio-exorcist”, an obnoxious spirit who specializes in driving living occupants out of homes. When Barbara (Geena Davis) and Adam Maitland (Alec Baldwin) die suddenly, they pass into the spirit realm, and must stay in their home. However, in the living world, the Deetz family purchases the house and moves in, prompting the Maitlands to enlist the help of Beetlejuice to drive them away.
