1Then: Michael Keaton as Beetlejuice
Warner Bros.Can a character be both the villain and the star of a movie? Guess so, because Beetlejuice exists. The titular ruler of the haunted house is both creepy, funny, and consistent—and has facial features that are recognizable to anyone. He is played by Michael Keaton, both in 1988 and the 2024 version.
2Now: Michael Keaton
Axelle/Bauer-Griffin//Getty ImagesSince his role in the original film, Keaton has gone on to star in plenty of movies, both live action and animated. While you can catch him in The Founder, some Batman movies, and Need for Speed, you might also remember that he was nominated for an Oscar in 2015 for his lead role in Birdman.
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3Then: Geena Davis as Barbara Maitland
Warner Bros.Barbara may be a ghost, but she definitely isn't scary! She's kindhearted in nature and can always be heard sharing bits of optimism, even after she dies. She does happen to get a bit defensive over her house, though, so she won't mind staying around to haunt it. Geena Davis embodied this particular character.
4Now: Geena Davis
Derek White//Getty ImagesYou've likely seen Davis in plenty of other movies and some shows. She won an Oscar in 1989 for her supporting role in The Accidental Tourist and was nominated again in 1992 for her leading role in Thelma & Louise. (Though, she was just as memorable in the Stuart Little movies, too!)
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5Then: Alec Baldwin as Adam Maitland
Warner Bros.Following the peaceful nature of his wife (Barbara), Adam (played by Alec Baldwin) is also pretty nice, even though his human life was cut short. He's an artsy soul, and loves sculpting things for his home and town. That explains the gentle side of his persona.
6Now: Alec Baldwin
John Lamparski//Getty ImagesBaldwin was nominated for an Oscar in 2004 for his supporting role in The Cooler, but his career has contained so much more than just that. While his list of credits is long, it's worth noting that you can catch him in The Departed, Notting Hill, and My Sister's Keeper.
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7Then: Winona Ryder as Lydia Deetz
Warner Bros.Like most teens, Lydia is pretty emotional and angsty. So, it's no surprise that she somehow ended up in a bit of a frenzy with Beetlejuice, also putting her entire living family in jeopardy. Hey, it wasn't totally her fault that her family decided to move into a home with some looming spirits.
8Now: Winona Ryder
Theo Wargo//Getty ImagesRyder has been nominated for an Oscar twice (two years in a row) in 1994 and 1995. These were for her roles in The Age of Innocence and Little Women. These days, however, you might recognize the actress for her role as Joyce Byers in the hit Netflix show Stranger Things.
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9Then: Catherine O'Hara as Delia Deetz
Warner Bros.If there's one thing about Delia, it's that she will over dramatize everything. So it doesn't help that she ends up in one of the most haunted homes in America after already having a stressful move. How is she going to have time to do her hair now?
10Catherine O'Hara Now
Gabe Ginsberg//Getty ImagesIt seems like Catherine O'Hara is everywhere these days! For one, she played the mother in the Home Alone franchise, where her frantic behavior was more relatable than not. She also recently starred in the hit series, Schitts Creek.

Josiah is the Digital Content Producer for the commerce team at Popular Mechanics, Best Products, Runner’s World, and Bicycling Magazine. He also writes for “BIO Buys”—a column on Biography.com—giving readers the lowdown on what products their favorite celebs are using. In another life, Josiah was an editor at ThePioneerWoman.com, where he sharpened his expertise on all things lifestyle, food-news, and entertainment. Outside work related matters, he’s a fan of Studio Ghibli films, unimportant reality TV drama, and melancholy Lorde songs.
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