Beetlejuice: Is it REALLY a Family Movie?

Okay, so, Beetlejuice. I know it's a classic, and Tim Burton's style is SO recognizable, but I'm always a little hesitant when people recommend it as a family movie. We finally watched it with the kids (ages 8 and 11) last night and, whew, it's definitely got some moments! Let's be real, Beetlejuice himself is… a lot! Michael Keaton is absolutely fantastic, but the character is gross and makes some really inappropriate jokes. The scene where he's trying to force himself on Lydia (Winona Ryder) is definitely not okay, and we had to do some fast-talking there. My 11-year-old was like, 'Mom, why is he trying kiss her?!' Yikes! The Handbook for the Recently Deceased scene was also kinda creepy for the younger one. I did think Adam and Barbara (Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis) were adorable and their desperate attempts to be scary were genuinely funny without being too intense. The 'Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)' dinner party scene is still iconic. Overall, I think it's a movie that needs some parental guidance and definitely isn't for all kids. While the special effects are dated, they're still pretty creative and my kids were really fascinated by the sandworms. I think the story of dealing with grief and change resonated with them, too, but we had a good discussion afterward about what's acceptable behavior and what's not (thanks, Beetlejuice!). So, is it a family movie? Maybe, with a HUGE asterisk. Proceed with caution and be prepared to pause and explain... and maybe have some ice cream ready for anyone who gets spooked! What did you guys think? Did your kids love it or were they too creeped out?