Warner Bros. wasn't thrilled with the name 'Beetlejuice' and urged Tim Burton to change it. When executives suggested 'House Ghosts', Burton sarcastically countered with 'Scared Sheetless'. To his horror, the studio actually considered it seriously before ultimately sticking with the original title.
Tim Burton's Joke Title That Almost Became Real
In the pantheon of perfect movie titles, Beetlejuice sits near the top. It's weird, memorable, and somehow captures the chaotic energy of Michael Keaton's bio-exorcist. But Warner Bros. executives in 1988 weren't so sure about it.
Studio heads found the name confusing. What was a Beetlejuice? Would audiences even know how to spell it? Their brilliant alternative suggestion: House Ghosts.
Burton's Sarcastic Backfire
Tim Burton, already developing his reputation for creative stubbornness, wasn't about to let his film be saddled with something so generic. So he did what any frustrated artist might do—he got sarcastic.
"Scared Sheetless," he offered, presumably with an eye-roll. It was the kind of groan-worthy pun you'd find on a Halloween decoration at a dollar store. A joke. Obviously a joke.
Except Warner Bros. didn't get the memo.
When Executives Miss the Sarcasm
According to multiple accounts from the film's production, studio executives genuinely warmed to "Scared Sheetless." They liked the wordplay. It was accessible. People would get it.
Burton was reportedly mortified. His throwaway quip was being discussed in actual meetings as a serious contender for his quirky supernatural comedy. The film that would launch a franchise, inspire a Broadway musical, and cement itself in pop culture history nearly went out into the world sounding like a straight-to-video sequel.
How Beetlejuice Survived
Fortunately, cooler heads prevailed—or perhaps Burton dug in his heels hard enough. The original title stuck, and the rest is history. Beetlejuice became:
- A $73 million box office success on an $15 million budget
- A cult classic that defined 80s supernatural comedy
- The launching pad for Burton's collaboration with Michael Keaton
- A title so iconic that 36 years later, the 2024 sequel kept it
The Name Game in Hollywood
This wasn't the only time Burton clashed with studios over titles. But the Beetlejuice incident became one of his favorite stories to tell, a perfect example of the disconnect between creative vision and corporate thinking.
The irony? "Beetlejuice" was itself a play on words—a corruption of Betelgeuse, the red supergiant star in the constellation Orion. But that reference sailed right over the executives' heads while they seriously considered a pun about bedsheets.
Sometimes the best creative decisions happen when artists simply refuse to take bad suggestions seriously. And sometimes, the joke lands a little too well.