20 Hit Horror Movies NOBODY Saw Coming

Though Tim Burton's 1988 horror-comedy Beetlejuice is a firm cult classic, there was absolutely no guarantee that audiences would show up for a sequel released almost 40 years later.

Considering not only the track record of belated comedy sequels but Burton's own diminishing industry stock in recent years, it seemed entirely probable that this $100 million tentpole would struggle to turn a profit.

But Beetlejuice Beetlejuice was a surprise box office smash, ultimately grossing $452 million and in turn outpacing even the most optimistic of predictions.

As for why it overperformed so much? There are a few factors here - well-mined nostalgia for the original combined with Gen-Z appeal per Jenna Ortega's casting, a return to practical filmmaking for Burton, a prime September release date, and yes, even good reviews too.

This was basically a perfect storm of circumstances for Beetlejuice Beetlejuice to blow past expectations, and though Warner Bros. has already talked-up a third film as a result, Burton doesn't sound so sure.