Tim Burton’s long-awaited sequel Beetlejuice Beetlejuice has already been a resounding success at the cinema, as if no time has passed since the first film appeared on the silver screen 36 years ago.

From Warner Bros., the first event picture of the fall season topped the chart Friday with $41.5 million, including $13 million in previews. The studio is forecasting a $97 million opening, but rival studios are showing Beetlejuice Beetlejuice and earned over $102 million, in line with pre-release expectations.

The comedy horror film is on track to deliver the second-biggest September opening of all time, behind Warners’ R-rated blockbuster It ($123 million), not adjusted for inflation.

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice sees the return of Michael Keaton as the creepy prankster, alongside Winona Ryder and Catherine O’Hara. Franchise newcomers include Jenna Ortega, Justin Theroux, Monica Bellucci, Arthur Conti and Willem Dafoe. This time around, Lydia Deetz (Ryder) and her family return home after a tragedy, only to discover that her daughter, Astrid (Ortega), has opened a portal to the afterlife. (The teaser trailer appropriately has Keaton telling a surprised Ryder, “The juice is loose.”)

The film is winning across all age groups and families, a testament to the cult classic status of the first film. The film is 54 to 58 percent female and is doing well in all parts of the country. More than a third of its revenue comes from Imax and other big screens. Another boost: Hispanic consumers, who are the most frequent moviegoers.

The sequel received a B+ CinemaScore, equaling a new Rotten Tomatoes critic score of 76 percent and an improvement over the B CinemaScore given to the original. Beetle juice(It is not uncommon for horror films or titles with horror elements to receive lower CinemaScore scores.)

“By tapping into the maniacally playful spirit of one of his enduring golden-era hits, the director seems reborn. He also serves up similar tonics for two actors who were not only a big part of the original film Beetle juice but also from Burton’s Batman movies and Edward Scissorhands: Michael Keaton and Winona Ryder, respectively,” writes The Hollywood Reporter chief film critic David Rooney in his review.

The second largest September opening so far is in 2019 Chapter Two ($91.1 million), followed by Marvel Studios’ Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings ($75.4 million), which was released in 2021 during the pandemic. Its next-biggest September opening is around $50 million.

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice The production reportedly cost $100 million, not including a major marketing investment, including the film’s world premiere at the glitzy Venice Film Festival.

Burton directed the sequel from a script by Wednesday showrunners Alfred Gough and Miles Millar, with Seth Grahame-Smith as the film’s main storyteller.

The first Beetle juice grossed $74 million at the domestic box office, a huge sum at the time, or over $195 million after adjusting for inflation.

No other major studio film dared to compete Beetlejuice 2which is being shown at 4,575 locations. The only other new wide offering is the psychological horror film from indie distributor A24 The Front Roomthat is failing to find its feet and may struggle to generate sales of more than $1.4 to $1.5 million from 2,095 locations.

Back at the top of the chart, Deadpool and Wolverine will come in second place, followed by Reagan, Alien: Romulus And It ends with us.

Estimates will be updated on Sunday morning.