Beetlejuice (soundtrack)

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Beetlejuice (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) is the album of Danny Elfman’s score for the 1988 Tim Burton film Beetlejuice, starring Michael Keaton. The soundtrack was released by Geffen Records on June 7, 1988, runs 36 minutes and 42 seconds, and was produced by Elfman. This was Elfman’s second collaboration with Burton, after Pee-wee’s Big Adventure (1985).

Elfman began composing before the film’s rough cut, and he says the project ended up with a different energy than he initially imagined. Burton gave him creative freedom to experiment, steering the score away from a traditional approach toward something more unconventional and offbeat to match the film’s tone. The process could be challenging at times; some orchestra players found the music difficult to play, and a conductor in England reportedly called the score unplayable.

In addition to Elfman’s score, four Harry Belafonte songs appear in the film, but only two are included on the soundtrack: Day-O (The Banana Boat Song) and Jump in the Line (Shake, Senora). The other two Belafonte tracks, Man Smart, Woman Smarter and Sweetheart from Venezuela, are not on the album.

A remastered vinyl edition was released by Waxwork Records on December 7, 2018.

Reception: critics praised the score. AllMusic’s Heather Phares called it a perfect mix of silliness and spookiness and one of Elfman’s strongest scores. Filmtracks.com gave it 4 stars, noting its entertaining and unique style for fans. Maintitles rated it 3 out of 5. Jonathan Broxton of Movie Music UK described it as a zany, quirky adventure that deserves a place in any serious Danny Elfman collection. IndieWire commented on the main title’s restraint and hidden power. The soundtrack is widely regarded as one of Elfman’s best works and earned a Saturn Award nomination for Best Music plus a BMI Film Music Award win.