Tim Burton has had plenty of hit films over the years, many of which have gone on to become
classics…but as with any filmmaker, he's also had some misses, too. From vampire flicks
and lackluster remakes to biopics and modern-day fairy tales, here are Tim Burton's films ranked
from worst to best.
Adapting a beloved television show into film is usually a pretty big risk, and unfortunately
for Burton, taking on this particular 1960s series didn't work out very well. In 2012,
Burton took on Dark Shadows, which was based on a Gothic soap opera that originally aired
from 1966 to 1971. Dark Shadows tells the story of Johnny Depps's Barnabus Collins,
an ancient and immortal vampire who attempts to assimilate into 20th century society.
Burton has worked with Depp many, many times, but Dark Shadows is easily one of their least
successful collaborations. The film garnered terrible reviews, and despite benefiting from
Burton's signature cinematic flourishes, Depp's silly performance and the insanely outlandish
plot really drag the movie down. Dark Shadows probably seemed like the perfect adaptation
for Burton, but in the end, it proved one of his weakest efforts to date.
The final shot of the original Planet of the Apes is one of the most iconic scenes in film
history, and in 2001, Burton made the daring choice to helm a remake of this classic movie.
With Mark Wahlberg taking on Heston's role, Burton crafted a relatively loose adaptation
of the original, where an astronaut named Leo Davidson lands on an entirely new planet
inhabited by apes and tries to overthrow their tyrannical rule.
Despite the film's otherwise sterling cast, it performed poorly with critics and won multiple
Golden Raspberry Awards thanks to a terrible lead performance by Wahlberg and a weird,
bizarrely confusing ending. Even though it performed well at the box office, Burton said
he would rather "jump out a window" than direct a sequel, due in large part to the overbearing
studio interference he endured on the project. Fox, the parent studio of the film, didn't
pursue the option either, simply rebooting the entire franchise ten years later with
2011's Rise of the Planet of the Apes.
As far as classic Disney films go, Dumbo is still a firm fan favorite, and in 2019 Burton
helmed a live-action remake of the original 1941 film. The movie tells the story of Dumbo
from a human perspective, focusing on a World War I amputee who takes on a job as an animal
caretaker for a traveling circus, where his main responsibility is caring for a pregnant
elephant who eventually gives birth to a baby with extraordinarily large ears.
But this classic tale didn't seem to translate with a live-action cast, and it fared poorly
with critics and at the box office. The overall critical conclusion was that the film failed
to capture the magic of the original, thanks in part to an unnecessarily expanded story…which
isn't hugely welcome in a film nobody was clamoring for in the first place.
Lewis Carroll's classic novels Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass
have inspired generations of artists and readers alike since their initial releases in 1865
and 1871. And considering that Burton has always gravitated towards dark and fantastical
stories, it's probably not surprising that he chose to adapt Carroll's signature work
in 2010. But even though Alice in Wonderland seemed like the ideal project for a filmmaker
like Burton, the movie just didn't land. Despite a star-studded cast and Burton's typical stylistic
flair, the film earned mediocre reviews thanks to its sub-par CGI effects, a number of bizarre
changes to Carroll's story and Depp's cringeworthy dance number at the end of the film.
However, this didn't stop Burton from carrying on his Carroll-inspired narrative. In 2016,
he produced Alice Through the Looking Glass, which saw the original's cast reprise their
roles. Let's just say that film didn't fare particularly well with critics, either.
With Mars Attacks!, Burton took the potentially risky decision to base a film on a popular
trading card game, and, well, it didn't really work out. The campy story finds the residents
of Earth and Mars meeting officially for the first time, though things go sour pretty quickly,
and ultimately, the humans must find a way to defeat the Martians. Upon its initial release,
the film received fairly lukewarm reviews, but in the end, pacing issues, a squandered
cast, and a concept that seemed great on paper but doesn't work in the final execution makes
this one of Burton's less successful outings. However, in the years since its debut, it's
become a cult classic, proving that Burton's instincts were certainly right for certain
audiences.
In 2016, Burton adapted the popular children's novel Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children,
which, thanks to its supernatural bent and emotional core, must have been right up his
alley. The film focuses on a home run by Miss Peregrine that houses paranormally gifted
children and helps to hone their abilities as best as possible. Miss Peregrine and her
children hide themselves in a time loop that she created, allowing them to evade unwanted
and negative attention, but as they mess with time more and more, the children and Miss
Peregrine wind up separated.
Critics didn't exactly love the narrative of Miss Peregrine but still praised Burton's
visual stylings, and ultimately, the film earned decent reviews. In the end, using a
children's novel rather than an original concept failed Burton here, as the story itself just
isn't gripping enough to rank among the director's stronger efforts, resulting in a fairly forgettable
film.
Almost everyone will be familiar with Roald Dahl's classic novel Charlie and the Chocolate
Factory, not least because it's been adapted a fair few times over the years. In 2005,
Burton and Johnny Depp took on this cherished tale, with Depp as Willy Wonka alongside his
Finding Neverland co-star Freddie Highmore.
One of Burton's crucial additions to this film came in the form of Wilbur Wonka, Willy
Wonka's father, which the director felt gave new dimension to a well-known character. And
while critics enjoyed Burton's more in-depth look at Willy Wonka, as far as fans of the
original are concerned, it's pretty much impossible to replace Gene Wilder's iconic original performance.
Sadly, Depp's quirkier go at the role indeed felt off-kilter next to Wilder's portrayal.
"Haha."
By adding new songs, mixing up the narrative, and providing Wonka with a full backstory,
Burton missed the mark on what made Dahl's book and the Wilder film so popular in the
first place. Consequently, as the years have gone by, audiences have largely forgotten
Burton's take on Wonka.
In 1984, during his tenure at Disney, Burton crafted a short film called Frankenweenie,
a clever re-telling of the classic Frankenstein story about a boy's beloved dog who is brought
back to life, only to be hunted down by the boy's terrified neighbours. Disney ended up
firing Burton after he presented them with the film, since they believed it was hugely
unsuitable for children, but in 2012 he returned to the project and made it into a feature
length animated film.
Ironically, Disney ending up producing the movie, which proved to be both a critical
and commercial success for the director and studio alike. Earning over $81 million at
the worldwide box office, the film thrilled critics and audiences and even scored nominations
at the Academy Awards and Golden Globes. It also holds the distinction of becoming the
first black and white film, and the first stop-motion film, to be released in IMAX 3D.
Tim Burton doesn't usually go for biopics or historical dramas, but with 2014's Big
Eyes, he made a film that sat firmly in both categories. Telling the true story of artist
Margaret Keane, Big Eyes is a stylistic yet harrowing portrait of a woman who's overshadowed
by her less-talented husband, Walter.
Starring Amy Adams and Christoph Waltz as Margaret and Walter, the film ended up
doing pretty well critically. Much of the praise heaped on the film came largely thanks
to Adams and Waltz, two performers at the top of their craft. Burton's fantastical,
colorful visuals didn't exactly hurt, either.
By handling Margaret Keane's struggles with empathy and care, the film presents a rare
glimpse into this artist's well-known work, even though she went without credit for years
thanks to her conniving husband. It was also a rare awards season favorite for Burton,
earning a Golden Globe for Adams and a nomination for Waltz.
Based on a 1998 novel by Daniel Wallace, Burton's 2003 adaptation of Big Fish became one of
his signature films, and thanks to its fantastical imagery, whimsical premise, and extraordinarily
sharp script and performances, it's easy to see why. The movie follows the fanciful and
imaginative life stories of a traveling salesman named Edward Bloom, told to his son while
Edward is on his deathbed.
Burton was drawn to the project thanks to his own strained relationship with his parents,
both of whom he lost in the early 2000s. As such, he wanted to help tell an intimate story
of a parent and child's reconciliation before the former's passing. All told, Big Fish is
still one of Burton's most beloved movies, likely due to the young Ewan McGregor's anchoring
performance and the visual feast that the film offers up, which strikes an incredible
contrast to the grounded story that's instantly relatable to anybody with family issues of
their own.
Despite Burton's occasional misses, the director is clearly well-suited for the horror genre,
and he made that very clear in 1999's Sleepy Hollow. Very loosely based on the classic
Washington Irving short story, the film follows Ichabod Crane, a police constable sent to
investigate the haunting of the titular small village by the mysterious ghost of the Headless
Horseman.
A perfect film for any Halloween season, Sleepy Hollow presents an extraordinarily strange
but ultimately successful take on Irving's original tale, adding in a few extra elements,
including a new twist on the Horseman's role in the story. Burton had already made his
mark in filmmaking by 1999, but this movie definitively proved that, when it came to
classic horror, he was capable of doing things no other director could.
Featuring vocal performances by Burton regulars Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter, the
touching stop-motion film Corpse Bride tells the tale of the titular bride Emily, who inadvertently
marries a nervous, human man, Victor, just before his actual wedding to another human
named Victoria. As Victor and Emily take an unexpected journey through the realms of the
living and the dead, things begin to get complicated, and more than a little bit creepy, too.
Thanks to the imaginative animation and the emotional story, Corpse Bride garnered hugely
positive reviews. And although it harkens back to the otherworldly look of the Burton-produced
The Nightmare Before Christmas, Corpse Bride succeeds by utilizing an entirely new plot
that bears all of Burton's signature touches and flourishes. Between the groundbreaking
animation techniques, bittersweet story, and exceptionally beautiful visuals, Corpse Bride
quickly became one of Burton's most well-loved films.
Based on the classic musical by Stephen Sondheim, Sweeney Todd tells the gripping and bloody
story of a vengeful barber named Sweeney Todd, who returns to London to avenge the loss of
his wife and daughter at the hands of a corrupt judge.
The cast features plenty of Burton regulars, as well as a few stand-out newcomers like
Sacha Baron Cohen. Sondheim himself enjoyed the adaptation, and it performed well enough
critically. Plus, casting choices like Baron Cohen, Alan Rickman, and Helena Bonham Carter
paired perfectly with Burton's more macabre sensibilities. Clearly, the Golden Globes
agreed, considering the film was nominated for several awards at the 2008 ceremony, nabbing
Best Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy, as well as an award for Depp's performance as
Todd.
After the monumental success of Burton's first Batman film, it makes sense that he agreed
to come back for a sequel. So in 1992, both he and Michael Keaton returned for, uh...
well, Batman Returns. In this installment, Danny DeVito, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Christopher
Walken play a trio of grotesque villains: the Penguin, Catwoman, and conniving executive
Max Shreck.
The film was actually a struggle for Burton to get produced. Burton and Keaton only agreed
to come back after Keaton got a significant raise and Burton was assured that it wouldn't
have to be too much of a sequel to the first movie. In the end, Batman's return marked
a darker, deeper take on the Caped Crusader, and gave the world a genre-defining performance
from Pfeiffer as the seductive, psychotic Catwoman. Sadly, Burton and Keaton both passed
on a third film, leaving the world…with this.
"What killed the dinosaurs? The Ice Age!"
For Burton's feature film debut as a director, he took on the beloved children's character
of Pee-wee Herman. After Paul Reubens' TV show about Pee-wee proved to be a huge success,
a full-length movie was an inevitability, and Reubens himself wrote the script alongside
comedy legend Phil Hartman, known for his work on The Simpsons and Saturday Night Live.
Using a book about screenwriting as a guide, Reubens crafted a tight script for his project.
As he later told a crowd during a panel at South by Southwest:
"It's a 90-minute film, it's a 90-page script. On page 30, I lose my bike, on page 60 I find
it. It's literally exactly what they said to do in the book."
Burton was more than ready to prove himself, and helped along by Reubens' considerable
talents, he certainly did. Critics adored the movie's whimsical attitude and the continuity
behind Reubens' signature character, and helped along by a number of clever jokes, the film
just ends up working from beginning to end. As a director, Burton was clearly off to a
great start.
Gotham's Dark Knight has been rebooted a countless number of times since he made his comic book
premiere in 1939, but the Caped Crusader made his official Warner Brothers film debut in
1989, with Tim Burton along as director. Batman is widely regarded as one of the best Batman
movies ever made and the genesis of the modern superhero movie, meaning you've partially
got Burton to thank for those comic book movies Marvel and DC are releasing every seven hours.
With Michael Keaton in the titular role, alongside Jack Nicholson's thrilling turn as the Joker,
the film was a critical and commercial success, earning over $400 million total worldwide
and remaining was the highest-grossing DC comic book film of all time, until its successor,
The Dark Knight, knocked it off its pedestal in 2008. Thanks to a winning cast and Burton's
sharp direction, the film was universally lauded by critics and fans alike.
Those fans were particularly thrilled to see a gritty, dark superhero story brought to
the big screen, and one that ended up changing the genre for years to come. The other secret
to the film's success was, undoubtedly, Nicholson's performance as the Joker. His performance
set a new standard of villainy for generations of Jokers, inspiring everyone from Heath Ledger
to Joaquin Phoenix, and is still widely-regarded as one of the movie's ultimate highlights.
"If you gotta go, go with a smile."
Surprisingly enough, one of Burton's best films is one of his most grounded and realistic
projects to date. A biopic of filmmaker Ed Wood, who was famous for making cult films,
1994's Ed Wood stars Johnny Depp as the titular director and focuses on a period of Wood's
life where he befriended the actor Bela Lugosi.
Critics loved the film, in large part due to Depp and Martin Landau's stunning performances,
the gorgeous cinematography, a number of perfect one-liners, and Burton's straightforward yet
creative approach to the biopic. To be sure, Ed Wood is an unusual movie that nobody knew
they needed, but it's cemented itself as one of the director's most important and well-regarded
films. Thanks to Burton's incredibly earnest approach in his biography of Wood, who is
regarded as one of the worst directors in history, he conversely managed to cement a
legacy for himself as a great one.
Burton's comedy-horror classic Beetlejuice has been a cult favorite since its release
back in 1988, and with good reason. As Burton's breakout film, it tells the terrifying yet
hilarious story of a young undead couple who end up haunting their former home and trying
their best to torment its new human inhabitants. Unfortunately, they're also accompanied by
a particularly irritating poltergeist named Beetlejuice.
But critics fell in love with the film long before it became a cult classic. Those critics
lavished praise on the movie, which also marked the first ever collaboration between Keaton
and Burton. Led by Keaton's delightfully bombastic yet carefully crafted performance as Beetlejuice…"
"It's showtime!"
...the film allowed Burton's spookier sensibilities to play out freely, resulting in a movie that
still holds up as a classic today. In the aftermath of its theatrical debut, it ended
up winning an Academy Award for Best Makeup, and even spawned a few spin-offs, including
a handful of video games and even a Broadway musical.
When people think of Tim Burton, it's likely that their minds will go right to Edward Scissorhands.
And honestly, it's pretty easy to see why. Released in 1990, this signature Burton film
tells the incredible and tragic tale of a manufactured human named Edward who remains
unfinished, with crude scissors serving as his hands. When he wanders out of his home,
he finds sanctuary with the suburban Boggs family. With the help of this new family,
Edward does his best to fit in, but soon discovers that society has never been kind to outcasts
and weirdos.
Thanks to its fantastical imagery, a superb performance by Depp, and a wide array of larger-than-life
set pieces, Edward Scissorhands remains the one movie that best displays Burton's signature
style and unparalleled directorial flourish. Suitably enough, it's also a favorite of Burton's
too, with the director admitting in the past that it was the most personal film he had
ever made.
Check out one of our newest videos right here! Plus, even more Looper videos about your favorite
movies are coming soon. Subscribe to our YouTube channel and hit the bell so you don't miss
a single one.