Betelgeuse (Beetlejuice)

Within the film's in-universe afterlife cosmology, Betelgeuse is described as a former assistant to an afterlife caseworker (Juno) who became a freelance 'bio-exorcist.' This is presented as part of the movie's invented bureaucratic system for handling the recently deceased rather than as a real-world mythological origin.

In the film he is portrayed in human form by actor Michael Keaton but is shown to be capable of transformation. On-screen examples include assuming a giant snake form and having his head physically altered (shrunk) by another waiting-room ghost. He is also encountered inside a scale model of the town in the Maitlands' attic.

All abilities are presented as events in the film: he can be summoned into the mortal realm by uttering his name three times; he offers to frighten or remove living occupants for the recently deceased (the Maitlands employ him for this purpose); he can shape-change (notably into a giant snake in one sequence); he can occupy or be contained within the attic town model; and he is subject to counters shown in the film, such as being banished back into the model, being reprimanded/limited by afterlife authorities, and ultimately being devoured by a sandworm on Titan.