Beetlejuice Review: A Wild Broadway Musical for Ages 15+
Original Broadway Cast of Beetlejuice
This outrageous, heartfelt, and hilariously spooky musical brings the beloved film to life with explosive energy and surprising emotional depth. Beetlejuice is a wild ride from start to finish—packed with chaos, comedy, and a touching story about family, loss, and finding connection in the most unexpected places.
What Makes Beetlejuice Special:
Outrageous humor and high-energy performances
Spectacular production design with wild visuals
Surprising emotional depth beneath the madness
Rock-and-roll score that drives the energy
Themes about blended families and overcoming grief
Our reviewers absolutely loved the wild ride. "A big musical. Wackadoo. A wild exciting ride, but in the best way possible. I think I like the musical more than the movie."
The highlight? The audience energy became part of the experience. "The audience actually made the show better. Definitely one of those shows where it has a cult following. It was fun. So, I feel like the Gen Z vibe in the audience was even part of the show."
Beyond the chaos, the show offers real heart. "The other theme was having a mixed family. So, I do think that's a lot of kids go through, whether it's divorce or death. It would resonate with a lot of families, especially families that are kind of merged families."
Your Family Guide to Beetlejuice
Theatre for Family Audiences (TFA) Rating: Teen & Up
Recommended Age: 15+
Conversation Starter: After
Marvelous Family Pick: ⭐ Yes (for older teens)
What Parents Need to Know
While the show has tremendous heart and deals with meaningful themes, the content is best suited for high school audiences who can handle mature humor and spooky elements.
Content to be aware of:
Mature humor throughout
References to sex, drugs, and rock and roll
Death and the afterlife as central themes
Loud show with lots of bright, flashing lights
Fast-paced with a lot happening in the first five minutes
What Makes This Special for Families
"If you're a Tim Burton fan, this is the show for you." The show works on multiple levels—pure entertainment on the surface, but with genuine emotional resonance underneath.
Great for families who:
Appreciate rock-and-roll musical theater
Have older teens ready for edgier content
Want to explore themes about blended families and grief
Enjoy high-energy, cult-following type shows
Important Themes to Discuss
Despite the wild exterior, Beetlejuice offers meaningful conversations about family and connection. "Through all the sex and drugs and rock and roll of it all, I think that there's a beautiful message of what it means to connect. At the end of the day, this really is about a family that's reforming and coming together again."
Topics to explore:
Navigating blended families after loss
Finding connection in unexpected places
Dealing with grief and change
What it means to truly see and support each other
The Bottom Line
"High school 15 and up. I have a seven-year-old and a five-year-old. I would have to explain a lot about death, sex, and drugs in the first like 5 seconds."
"Cult following, a lot of fun and a lot of energy. It would be a fun like familial bonding for older family members." Beetlejuice delivers exactly what it promises—a spectacular, wild, and surprisingly heartfelt Broadway experience for the right audience.
