Among historic piazzas and winding canals, the 81st Venice Film Festival kicks off tonight on the Lido di Venezia with the Opening Ceremony and the highly anticipated world premiere of Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.
The red carpet was brimming with talent, marking a stark contrast to last year’s event, which saw a notable absence of celebrities due to the SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes.
Cast at the premiere included Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, Catherine O’Hara, Jenna Ortega, Monica Bellucci, Willem Dafoe, Justin Theroux, and director Tim Burton who all walked the red carpet for the out-of-competition film at the Grand Théâtre Lumière, on Wednesday, August 28. Other guests included Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement honoree, Sigourney Weaver and Taylor Russell, Cate Blanchett, Patti Smith, director of the Venice Film Festival, Alberto Barbera, Jury President Isabelle Huppert, Jury members James Gray, Zhang Ziyi, and many more.
The sequel returns after an unexpected family tragedy, three generations of the Deetz family return home to Winter River. Still haunted by Beetlejuice (Michael Keaton), Lydia’s (Winona Ryder) life is turned upside down when her rebellious teenage daughter, Astrid (Jenna Ortega), discovers the mysterious model of the town in the attic and the portal to the Afterlife is accidentally opened. With trouble brewing in both realms, it’s only a matter of time until someone says Beetlejuice’s name three times and the mischievous demon returns to unleash mayhem.
Burton directs, from a screenplay by Alfred Gough & Miles Millar, story by Gough & Millar and Seth Grahame-Smith, based on characters created by Michael McDowell & Larry Wilson.
A Warner Bros. Pictures presentation, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice will be released only in theaters and IMAX on September 6, 2024, nationwide, and internationally beginning 4 September 2024.
Films this year competing for the Golden Lion award include Pablo Larraíns’ Maria, starring Angelina Jole as Maria Callas; Todd Phillips’ Joker: Folie à Deux, starring Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga; Luca Guadagnino’s Queer, starring Daniel Craig; Pedro Almodóvars’ The Room Next Door, with Tilda Swinton and Julianne Moore; Halina Reijn’s erotic thriller Babygirl, starring Nicole Kidman and Justin Kurzel’s The Order with Jude Law and Nicholas Hoult.
The 81st Venice International Film Festival runs from 28 August to 7 September 2024.
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“Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” Opening Red Carpet – The 81st Venice International Film Festival
Image Credit: Getty Images Jenna Ortega and Winona Ryder
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“Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” Opening Red Carpet – The 81st Venice International Film Festival
Image Credit: Getty Images Jenna Ortega and Winona Ryder
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“Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” Opening Red Carpet – The 81st Venice International Film Festival
Image Credit: Getty Images Jury members Giuseppe Tornatore, Julia von Heinz, James Gray, Agnieszka Holland, Abderrahmane Sissako, Isabelle Huppert, Zhang Ziyi, Kleber Mendonça Filho and Andrew Haigh attend a red carpet for the movie “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” during the 81st Venice International Film Festival
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“Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” Opening Red Carpet – The 81st Venice International Film Festival
Image Credit: Getty Images Jenna Ortega, Winona Ryder and Tim Burton
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“Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” Opening Red Carpet – The 81st Venice International Film Festival
Image Credit: Getty Images Michael Keaton
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“Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” Opening Red Carpet – The 81st Venice International Film Festival
Image Credit: Getty Images Michael Keaton
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“Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” Opening Red Carpet – The 81st Venice International Film Festival
Image Credit: Getty Images Winona Ryder
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“Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” Opening Red Carpet – The 81st Venice International Film Festival
Image Credit: Getty Images Winona Ryder and Scott Mackinlay Hahn
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“Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” Opening Red Carpet – The 81st Venice International Film Festival
Image Credit: Getty Images Jenna Ortega
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“Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” Opening Red Carpet – The 81st Venice International Film Festival
Image Credit: Getty Images Jenna Ortega
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“Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” Opening Red Carpet – The 81st Venice International Film Festival
Image Credit: Getty Images Jenna Ortega
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“Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” Opening Red Carpet – The 81st Venice International Film Festival
Image Credit: Getty Images Catherine O’Hara
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“Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” Opening Red Carpet – The 81st Venice International Film Festival
Image Credit: Getty Images Director Tim Burton and Monica Bellucci
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“Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” Opening Red Carpet – The 81st Venice International Film Festival
Image Credit: Getty Images Monica Bellucci
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“Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” Opening Red Carpet – The 81st Venice International Film Festival
Image Credit: Getty Images Justin Theroux
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“Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” Opening Red Carpet – The 81st Venice International Film Festival
Image Credit: Getty Images Willem Dafoe and Giada Colagrande
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“Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” Opening Red Carpet – The 81st Venice International Film Festival
Image Credit: Getty Images Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement honoree Sigourney Weaver
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“Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” Opening Red Carpet – The 81st Venice International Film Festival
Image Credit: Getty Images Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement honoree Sigourney Weaver
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“Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” Opening Red Carpet – The 81st Venice International Film Festival
Image Credit: Getty Images Cate Blanchett
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“Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” Opening Red Carpet – The 81st Venice International Film Festival
Image Credit: Getty Images Patti Smith
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“Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” Opening Red Carpet – The 81st Venice International Film Festival
Image Credit: Getty Images Patti Smith and Cate Blanchett
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“Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” Opening Red Carpet – The 81st Venice International Film Festival
Image Credit: Getty Images L-R) Catherine O’Hara, Willem Dafoe, Michael Keaton, Monica Belluci, Tim Burton, Winona Ryder, Jenna Ortega, Justin Theroux and Arthur Conti attend a red carpet for the movie “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” during the 81st Venice International Film Festival at on August 28, 2024 in Venice, Italy
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“Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” Opening Red Carpet – The 81st Venice International Film Festival
Image Credit: Getty Images Zhang Ziyi
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“Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” Opening Red Carpet – The 81st Venice International Film Festival
Image Credit: Getty Images Zhang Ziyi
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“Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” Opening Red Carpet – The 81st Venice International Film Festival
Image Credit: Getty Images Jury President Isabelle Huppert
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“Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” Opening Red Carpet – The 81st Venice International Film Festival
Image Credit: Getty Images Jury member James Gray
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“Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” Opening Red Carpet – The 81st Venice International Film Festival
Image Credit: Getty Images Taylor Russell
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“Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” Opening Red Carpet – The 81st Venice International Film Festival
Image Credit: Getty Images Taylor Russell
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“Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” Opening Red Carpet – The 81st Venice International Film Festival
Image Credit: Getty Images Bárbara Paz
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“Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” Opening Red Carpet – The 81st Venice International Film Festival
Image Credit: Getty Images President of the 81st Venice Film Festival Pietrangelo Buttafuocco and actress Sveva Alviti
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“Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” Opening Red Carpet – The 81st Venice International Film Festival
Image Credit: Getty Images Actress and host of the opening ceremony Sveva Alviti attends the red carpet of the opening film “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice”
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“Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” Opening Red Carpet – The 81st Venice International Film Festival
Image Credit: Getty Images Director of Venice Film Festival, Alberto Barbera (R) and his wife Julia Barbera