Beetlejuice

Beetlejuice is a name popularized by the title character of the 1988 American gothic comedy horror film Beetlejuice, directed by Tim Burton. The film stars Michael Keaton as the obnoxious ghost Betelgeuse (credited as “Betelgeuse”), who is hired by a recently deceased couple to scare new inhabitants out of their house. The name appears as “Beetlejuice” in much of the movie's marketing and other media, though the credits use “Betelgeuse.”

Etymology

Beetlejuice is a variant of Betelgeuse, the name of the star marking the right shoulder of the constellation Orion. Betelgeuse derives from Arabic يد الجوزا (yad al-Jawzā), meaning “the hand of Jawza,” with Jawzā meaning “central one,” an old Arabic name for Orion (also used for Gemini). The spelling “Beetlejuice” phonetically resembles the star's pronunciation and humorously evokes the insect “beetle” and the word “juice,” fitting the character's mischievous and grotesque nature.

Cultural Significance

The film Beetlejuice became a cult classic, known for its dark humor, Danny Elfman's soundtrack, and Harry Belafonte's Jump Up Calypso song “Day-O (The Banana Boat Song).” The film won the Academy Award for Best Makeup and grossed $84 million against a $15 million budget. The character Betelgeuse, with his chaotic behavior, became iconic, and the name Beetlejuice has since been used in popular culture references, including a 2018 stage musical and an upcoming sequel. The alternative spelling with “J” (Beetlejuice) is now largely associated with the film, while the astronomical name stays with the star.

• Meaning: Variant of Betelgeuse (Arabic “hand of Jawza”)
• Origin: Popular Culture, from the 1988 film
• Usage regions: English-speaking countries, Popular Culture
• Gender: Masculine (character and name)