 After the success of Pee @-@ wee 's Big Adventure , Burton was sent several scripts and became disheartened by their lack of imagination and originality . When he was sent Michael McDowell 's original script for Beetlejuice , Burton agreed to direct , although Larry Wilson and later Warren Skaaren were hired to rewrite it . Beetlejuice was a critical and commercial success , grossing $ 73 @.@ 7 million from a budget of $ 15 million . It won the Academy Award for Best Makeup and three Saturn Awards : Best Horror Film , Best Makeup and Best Supporting Actress for Sylvia Sidney , her final award before her death in 1999 . 
