Cinema enthusiasts were left gobsmacked to discover that a legendary Hollywood horror figure graced the screen for a mere 17 minutes in a film named after him.
Despite this brief appearance, the character’s impact was so profound it spawned an animated series and a sequel film years later.
The actor’s portrayal has become a defining moment in his career, hailed as one of his most memorable performances despite how short it was.
The revelation sent shockwaves through the r/TodayILearned subreddit, where movie buffs shared their astonishment, prompting discussions about the surprisingly limited screen time of other iconic villains.
The post that sparked the conversation stated: “TIL that Michael Keaton only had 17 minutes of screen time even though the movie was called Beetlejuice.”
This led to fans exchanging tales about Keaton’s involvement in the film, including speculation that the Batman star himself may have had something to do with the brevity of his presence.
One commenter claimed: “Supposedly one of his requirements to agree to do the sequel was to have the exact same screen time as the first movie. He knew that too much of that character would change the dynamic of the movie.”
Another added: “The thing about Beetlejuice is that it isn’t about Betelgeuse.
“It’s the story of a young couple in a country town who put a lot of work into making the perfect home dying and being forced to haunt the house when it gets sold to New Yorkers who renovate it into a ghastly postmodern museum. The thing about Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is it isn’t about anything.”
A third user wrote: “17 minutes of pure gold. Keaton’s presence with that character was intense. Stoked to see the new one.” Keaton reprised his role as Beetlejuice in the follow-up film, which released last year.
Movie buffs have heaped accolades on another of Keaton’s films where his screen time was similarly brief. In his second outing as Batman in Batman Returns, Keaton graced the screen for a mere half-hour, despite the film’s star-studded cast.
One enthusiast commented: “Keaton had 32 minutes of screen time in Batman Returns, too.” To which another responded: “Perfect amount, imo. That movie really works as a great ensemble piece of Keaton, DeVito, Pfeiffer, and Walken.
“Despite the limited screen time, Keaton nails Batman and Bruce Wayne. I think Keaton’s more grounded, reclusive version of Bruce Wayne is the best portrayal of the character ever.”
While some argue that Keaton deserved more screen time in both Batman Returns and Beetlejuice, fans concede that the actor maximises every moment he appears.
A fan expressed their opinion online, saying: “After a certain point, it’s not so much how much screen time you get as it is what you do with it. I do agree that the movie Beetlejuice could have benefitted from MORE Keaton scenes.”