Beetlejuice Themed Party Ideas

A Beetlejuice themed party is a fantastic way to bring the iconic 1988 Tim Burton film to life. Whether you’re hosting a birthday party, a dinner party, or a Halloween party, these Beetlejuice party ideas will help make your event a success.

Last Halloween, I decided to take a leap into the extraordinary world of Tim Burton by hosting a Beetlejuice-themed party.

The idea was to create an experience that was not only unique and entertaining but also a celebration of one of the most iconic films of the ’80s.

So I came up with all kinds of black and white decorations (with some pops of purple and green), spooky lighting, theme-inspired food and drinks, and a music playlist that all go with the theme.

Which created an over-the-top party experience that everyone loved!

And I thought I would share the highlights in case you’re looking for some ideas.

Invitations

If you want to let everyone know in advance that you’re having a blow-out Halloween party, invitations are the way to go.

This Halloween party invitation* uses the purple and green colors often associated with the theme.

I designed this handbook-inspired invitation for my party (you can find it here in my shop).

In both cases, all of the details are customizable and you can download it to send digitally or have it printed.

Don’t forget to include all the necessary details like date, time, location, and any costume requirements.

Costumes

Speaking of costumes, this is one party theme that is very easy to dress up for.

Guests can come as their favorite Beetlejuice character (such as Lydia Deetz, one of the Maitlands, Miss Argentina or Beetlejuice himself).

Or just opt for a black and white striped outfit that goes with the color scheme.

Click the images to find out where to buy the costume.

Outdoor decorations

For my parties, I like to set the tone before people get in the house by decorating outside as well as in.

Putting up a graveyard is a good place to start.

Green flood lights make it look more spooky at night. (I use these ones for all of my holiday decorating since you can change the color to whatever you want).

Then add some Beetlejuice-specific props like this 9-foot inflatable sandworm.

A Beetlejuice sign that I hung from a mailbox post.

And skeletons dressed up like Adam and Barbara Maitland.

For more ideas, see all of our Beetlejuice outdoor decor ideas.

Indoor decorations

The entrance

For indoor decorations, I started with the entrance.

Everyone had to walk through a paper lantern arch with a DIY turnstile to get into the waiting room. (Just like the Maitlands in the movie).

I like decorating with paper lanterns because they are re-usable and you can put them up days (or even weeks) in advance. But you could also use balloons (which are less expensive).

Then I recreated the waiting room scene by dressing skeletons up as the small-head man, a man with a shark attached to his arm and the camper with a rattlesnake in his sleeping bag.

And hung more paper lanterns from the ceiling.

I always like to decorate the ceiling for my parties since it adds an unexpected element that enhances the party atmosphere.

Black and white decor

To go with the Beetlejuice theme, I used a lot of black and white.

I hung black and white striped curtains across the walls. With this free printable Beetlejuice banner across the back wall.

And created a dance floor by hanging strips of black and white fabric across the ceiling to make a tent.

Then covered the back of my bookshelves with black and white striped material.

And put down a black and white checkered runner in the hallway.

Beetlejuice backdrops

To bring the Beetlejuice theme to the buffet area, I hung up a piece of plywood, covered it with stick-up black and white striped wallpaper and hung these DIY silhouette pictures of Beetlejuice characters on it.

A black Beetlejuice Halloween tree filled up the corner beside the buffet table.

And a store-bought photo backdrop really makes the candy buffet stand out.

Lighting

Lighting is another important element for making your party decor stand out.

I used a lot of black lights. They really make the stripes pop.

Purple and green lights created a spooky ambience in other parts of the house.

For more details, stay tuned for an upcoming post on all of our Beetlejuice decorations.

Sources

Click the image to find out where to buy the products.

beetlejuice party quotes

I love party themes that have lots of quotes associated with them. They make really easy DIY party decorations.

And Beetlejuice has so many iconic quotes that there are a lot to choose from:

• It’s showtime!
• I’m the ghost with the most, babe!
• Never trust the living
• I myself am strange and unusual
• Go ahead, make my millennium!
• Beetlejuice! Beetlejuice! Beetlejuice!

The absolute easiest way to decorate with them is to print the sayings off, put them in an inexpensive frame and hang them on your walls.

But you can also use them to make cupcake toppers, tree ornaments, and printable banners that all add to the Beetlejuice party theme.

Table decor

For the dinner table, I used a black and white striped tablecloth.

Then created a centerpiece with black and white pumpkins, gold candleholders with black and white striped candles and a vase of faux black and white flowers.

You could also use these sandworm candleholders* (I had them on the candy buffet).

Food

For the menu, I tried to find black and white food to mimic Beetlejuice’s striped suit and then mixed in some pops of green.

Like these black and white skewers (made with black olives and mozzarella balls) in front of a bowl of green grapes.

And white cheese served with black crackers in front of some homemade guacamole and chips.

Then of course, you can’t have a Beetlejuice party without serving shrimp cocktail as a nod to the iconic dinner party scene in the film.

The black and white pasta salad is super easy to make and tastes delicious!

Other food ideas to try

• Sandworm Hotdogs: – Twist puff pastry around hot dogs and bake them to create “sandworm” hot dogs. Add olive slices for eyes to complete the look.
• Maitland’s Ghostly Dip: Create a ghostly white dip using cream cheese, sour cream, and herbs. Serve with black tortilla chips for dipping.
• Deetz’s Delightful Finger Sandwiches: Create an assortment of finger sandwiches, such as cucumber and cream cheese or smoked salmon, cut into spooky shapes like bats or ghosts.

The candy bar

Since my party was for Halloween, candy was a given.

So I created a candy buffet with black and white sweets, cupcakes frosted with green and purple frosting, and some of Beetlejuice’s favorite Zagnut chocolate bars.

Putting it on a black and white striped tablecloth and mixing in some Beetlejuice decorations makes sure that it goes with the theme.

That way it doubles as both a dessert option and part of the decor.

Other desserts to try

• Haunted Graveyard Pudding Cups: These layered chocolate pudding cups are decorated with an edible cookie tombstone, Oreo cookie “dirt” and gummy worms to look like a mini graveyard.
• Beetlejuice-themed cake: This can serve as both a delicious dessert and a decorative centerpiece.
• Death By Chocolate Coffins: Bake death by chocolate zucchini bread and cut the slices into coffin shapes using a cookie cutter.

Drinks

The same black and white theme works for the drinks.

• Halloween Sangria: This sangria recipe is made with red wine and blackberry brandy so it has a very dark color. Floating a ghost (made from pear slices) on top adds the contrasting white.
• Black and white striped pudding shots: These pudding shots combine the two Beetlejuice colors so they go with the decor perfectly. Since you don’t have to wait long for each layer to set, they’re much faster to make than using Jello.
• Haunted Hot Chocolate: Serve homemade hot chocolate with a dollop of whipped cream and a sprinkle of edible black glitter or black cocoa powder.
• Black Halloween cocktail: This blackberry rum cocktail tastes great and is a true black color that goes perfectly with the Beetlejuice theme.

Music

Music plays a vital role in setting the mood for any party, and a Beetlejuice-themed party is no exception.

• “Beetlejuice Main Theme” by Danny Elfman: This iconic theme is a must-have for any Beetlejuice party.
• “Jump in the Line (Shake, Senora)” by Harry Belafonte: Featured in the film’s ending, this song is sure to get everyone dancing.
• “Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)” by Harry Belafonte: This is the song from the Beetlejuice dinner party scene. Another classic from the film that can add a fun and lively touch.
• Gothic Rock and Post-Punk Playlist: Consider adding songs from bands like Bauhaus, Siouxsie and the Banshees, or The Cure to give a dark and moody vibe.
• Classic Halloween Hits: Mix in some Halloween favorites like “Monster Mash,” “Thriller,” and “Ghostbusters” to keep the party fun and festive.
• Tim Burton Film Scores: Include other scores from Tim Burton films, such as “Edward Scissorhands” or “The Nightmare Before Christmas,”.
• Dark Cabaret Playlist: Songs from artists like Amanda Palmer, The Dresden Dolls, or Voltaire add a theatrical and whimsical touch.
• Classic Rock with a Dark Twist: Consider adding tracks like “Sympathy for the Devil” by The Rolling Stones or “Hotel California” by The Eagles.
• Orchestral Pieces with a Mysterious Flair: Include classical pieces like “Danse Macabre” by Saint-Saëns or “Night on Bald Mountain” by Mussorgsky for an elegant yet eerie vibe.
• 80s New Wave and Synthpop: Since “Beetlejuice” was released in the ’80s, you might want to include hits from that era, such as songs by Depeche Mode or New Order.
• Jazz with a Spooky Twist: Jazz tracks like “I Put a Spell on You” by Screamin’ Jay Hawkins or “Witchcraft” by Frank Sinatra add a sophisticated yet spooky touch.

Other Halloween party ideas you might like

• The Best Halloween Party Themes For Adults
• 14 Spooky Halloween Haunted House Ideas
• Fallen Angels and Demons Halloween Party Ideas

Or browse all of our Halloween party ideas.

Have comments or questions about our Beetlejuice themed party ideas? Tell us in the section below.