History YMMV / Beetlejuice

* CrossoverShip: There is a rather large base of fans who ship Wednesday Addams (''Franchise/TheAddamsFamily'') and Lydia Deetz around the internet, with it being especially popular on [=AO3=]. This is mainly because they are both goths in BlackComedy franchises who have dry senses of humor and a fascination with death.

--->'''Betelgeuse''': You know, you look like somebody I can relate to. Maybe you could help me get out of here, you know, because I got to tell you, this dead thing... it's just too creepy. See, here's my problem. I got these friends I said I'd meet, and it's the kind of thing where I have to be there in person, so could you help me get out of here?\\
'''Lydia''': I want to get in.\\
'''Betelgeuse''': ''(genuinely surprised)'' Why? ''(pause)'' You know, hey, you probably got your reasons. I can't do anything from here. If you could get me out, then maybe we could talk or something.
*** FridgeBrilliance sets in when you remember that in the original script, Betelgeuse had committed suicide - there was supposed to be a subplot which revealed that he hanged himself after being rejected by a woman. Plus, he worked with Juno, so even without that subplot, he knows exactly what awaits someone who commits suicide. Given that Lydia is (by his own admission) the only one that he likes at all, it makes sense that he would try to help her avoid that.

** "Jump in the Line," used at the very end to great effect. Chances are you'll be tapping your foot to the tune.

** Sylvia Sidney plays a smoking ghost with a hole in her throat which emits smoke. Sidney died from throat cancer in New York City - at the age of 88.

* MemeticMutation: "NICE FUCKING MODEL!" *HONK HONK* [[labelnote:Explanation]]A crude joke Betelgeuse makes at the expense of a plastic tree that he knocks down while conversing with the Deetzes from their model town in the attic. The bit saw a boost in popularity from [[WebVideo/{{Vinesauce}} Vinesauce Vinny]] thanks to how surprisingly raunchy it is for a PG-rated movie (featuring a PrecisionFStrike and crotch-grabbing), and since then, it has been popular to quote in reference to both the film and the character. It also gained traction from fans of WebVideo/Civvie11, who uses it as a RunningGag making fun of low-quality game models.[[/labelnote]]

* {{Woolseyism}}: The charades scene is decently translated in French--Lydia, upon seeing the giant beetle, calls it "bête" (a beast), while the word "jus" is pronounced much the same as its English counterpart. Thus, her guess becomes "Bête-les-jus", which is very close in pronunciation to the Ghost with the Most's name.

* SugarWiki/AwesomeArt: Compared to most other cartoons of the late 80s, Nelvana ''really'' knew what they were doing with ''Beetlejuice''. Not only is the animation super fluid, but the art style captures the creepy tone of the show perfectly.

** In "Forget-Me-Nuts," the heroes accompany Dr. Zigmund Void into BJ's brain. The words "Bukowski Was Here" are scrawled on one of the cranium walls; Creator/CharlesBukowski was a writer who was known, among other things, for his newspaper column "Notes of a DirtyOldMan."
** In "Robbin Juice of Sherweird Forest," Alan Airedale sings a continuous ballad either describing BJ's antics or telling him what to do next. The ballad's tune is a slightly up-tempo rendition of "Greensleeves."

--->'''Zigmund Void:''' Aha! It's worse than I thought! We are dealing with an Eat-A-Bus (Oedipus) Complex!
--->''(cuts to a shot of a school bus with a MASSIVE bite taken out of it)''

** When Claire Brewster loses the election for class president in the episode "Running Scared," she immediately demands a recount. This became funnier in light of the 2000 Presidential election, when a whole lot of hubbub erupted over how close the votes were in Florida, with Gore's campaign calling for a manual recount. Twenty years later, following the 2020 Presidential election, it arguably became even ''funnier'' when Trump's campaign did the same thing.
** The RunningGag in "Robbin Juice of Sherweird Forest," in which there are repeated comments about Beej's {{wanted poster}}s, may remind modern viewers of the similar gag in ''WesternAnimation/{{Tangled}}''.
* IdiosyncraticShipNaming: "Beetlebabes" is one ship name for Beetlejuice/Lydia, referencing how Beetlejuice calls Lydia "babes."
* JerkassWoobie: Beetlejuice himself, in "It's a Wonderful Afterlife." It's not hard to understand why most of his neighbors would be enjoying much better circumstances without him on hand to wreak havoc (and keep them humble in the process), and he does begin the episode by complaining about everything and being generally annoying. Nevertheless, you can't help but feel sorry for the guy when he feels like nobody wants him around.

* {{Squick}}: You think Beetlejuice's crush on Lydia is creepy? In the episode "Pest O' The West," Lydia gets the unwanted attentions of an anthropomorphic bull ghost who wants to marry her. Beetlejuice even sees what Lydia's future will be like if he doesn't go back to rescue her. [[NauseaFuel No wonder he starts screaming]] - in his vision, there's ''little baby heifers'' running about all over the place.

** Percy the Cat in "Bewitched, Bothered, & Beetlejuiced."

*** Beej himself in the same episode is either this or a JerkassWoobie.

** The song "Creepy Old Guy" in the musical, where everyone scams Beetlejuice into thinking Lydia ''really does want to marry him.'' And about how it's [[SarcasmMode totally okay]] for a girl her age to marry a creepy old guy if that's what she really wants.
---> '''Mr. Deetz:''' Have you guys seen ''Lolita''? This is just like that, but fine.
*** Later in the song even [[DirtyOldMan Beetlejuice]] acknowledges [[EvenEvilHasStandards how messed up child brides are]].

* MisaimedFandom: The song "Creepy Old Guy" in the musical takes the piss out of the Beetlejuice/Lydia ship, putting attention on the AgeGapRomance, comparing it to ''Literature/{{Lolita}}'' and noting how creepy it is that child brides are allowed in some cultures[[note]]including many US states, though there is a recent reform movement and many laws have been adjusted in recent years. As of January 2023 there are still multiple states with no minimum age requirement for marriage[[/note]]. It also makes it abundantly clear in context that neither party of the ship wants to get married out of love, with Beetlejuice only doing it as a "green card thing" and Lydia doing it [[spoiler:so she can kill Beetlejuice when he comes to life]]. Nevertheless, there are some Beetlejuice/Lydia shippers that take the song at face value as supportive of the ship.

* MemeticMutation: "NICE FUCKING MODEL!" *HONK HONK* [[labelnote:Explanation]]A crude joke Betelgeuse makes at the expense of a plastic tree that he knocks down while conversing with the Deetzes from their model town in the attic. The bit saw a boost in popularity from [[WebVideo/{{Vinesauce}} Vinesauce Vinny]] thanks to how surprisingly raunchy it is for a PG-rated movie (featuring a PrecisionFStrike and crotch-grabbing), and since then, it has been popular to quote in reference to both the film and the character. It also gained traction from fans of WebVideo/Civvie11, who uses it as a RunningGag making fun of low quality game models.[[/labelnote]]

** Ginger and Prudence were played by Creator/TabithaStGermain, and Claire and Bertha were played by a young Creator/TaraStrong, in some of their first voice acting roles.

** Betelgeuse's line about ''Film/TheExorcist'' getting funnier every time he sees it became even funnier when Creator/GeenaDavis was cast in [[Series/TheExorcist the TV series that served as a sequel to the first film]].

** Ginger, Prudence, Bertha and Claire were played by Creator/TabithaStGermain and a young Creator/TaraStrong, respectively, in among their first voice acting roles.

* OneTrueThreesome: A surprising one has developed among fans who ship [[HappilyMarried the Maitlands]] and Beetlejuice. The musical shows several moments of Beetlejuice being outwardly attracted to ''both'' of them, such as the joke about Barbara's "jugs" and Beetlejuice making several passes at Adam in general. Adding fuel to the fire is how in "Creepy Old Guy" ''both'' pretend to be romantically interested in Beetlejuice, and Adam even makes out with him. As if to drive this home, in this iteration, at the point where Beetlejuice introduces himself by forcefully kissing Barbara, this version also opts to address the ValuesDissonance by having him kiss ''Adam'' as well in the exact same manner. It also helps that Beetlejuice in the musical adaptation is confirmed to be pansexual by WordOfGod.

** The famous "Banana Boat Song" scene is changed to all the actors actually singing. Given the difference in format, this makes sense, but it's also not as funny or creepy as having Creator/HarryBelafonte's voice coming through the characters.

* TrueArtIsIncomprehensible: Delia's sculptures.

* {{Squick}}: You think Beetlejuice's crush on Lydia is creepy? At least BJ is relatively human, and genuinely attached to her. In the episode "Pest O' The West," Lydia gets the unwanted attentions of an anthropomorphic bull ghost who wants to marry her. Beetlejuice even sees what Lydia's future will be like if he doesn't go back to rescue her. [[NauseaFuel No wonder he starts screaming]] - in his vision, there's ''little baby heifers'' running about all over the place.

* RetroactiveRecognition: Lydia was played by a pre-''Series/TheBigComfyCouch'' and ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil2'' Creator/AlysonCourt, while Ginger, Prudence, Bertha and Claire were played by Creator/TabithaStGermain and a young Creator/TaraStrong, respectively, in among their first voice acting roles.

** Averted in the Spanish dub, where BJ and Lydia decide to play the game in English for some reason.

*** Likewise, Betelgeuse joking that he went to Juilliard when Adam asks for his qualifications becomes this post-Broadway, since Alex Brightman, the actor who originated the role for the musical, actually ''did'' go to Julliard. The line, of course, stayed in.