One of the biggest surprises of the year was Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. Everyone knew this movie was going to be successful due to nostalgia but the surprising part is how much it resonated with everyone. Old fans and new fans made this movie the 4th highest-grossing movie of the year and the biggest movie of September. It is also the first time in a long time that Tim Burton felt like Tim Burton.
The man has had hits and misses but no one can deny he has a one-of-a-kind style that many fans have loved and appreciated for years. With the recent release of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice on Blu-Ray and DVD, I think it’s time to take a look at Burton’s filmography. These are the top ten best Tim Burton movies.
Runner Ups
- Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
- Big Eyes
- Mars Attacks!
- Batman Returns
10. Sleepy Hollow
Sleepy Hollow for some reason seems to be forgotten when it comes to talking about movies made by Tim Burton. It has its fans but whenever I mention it, I usually hear “Oh yeah”. This one deserves its recognition.
Johnny Depp is great as Ichabod Crane. We get Christopher Walken as the Headless Horseman. There is a great blend of horror and dark comedy throughout. The set pieces are fantastic and Burton’s gothic aesthetic runs deep in this one. The movie is pretty gory as well. There are some fun kills in this one. It’s a great Burton film to watch during the spooky season too.
9. Corpse Bride
Corpse Bride is a pretty great animated film. The stop motion is incredible in this. For a movie that’s less than 80 minutes long, it truly packs a lot. The voice acting is so good between Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter. The movie has a heartfelt plot about love and loss as well as good humor throughout. It’s definitely worth a watch.
8. Pee-wee’s Big Adventure
Tim Burton’s directorial debut holds up and shows the talent this young filmmaker had. The plot is pretty simple. Pee-wee believes that his bike has been stolen and goes on an adventure to find it. That’s it. Along the way, he goes on an exciting adventure filled with memorable scenes and characters.
The movie is pure innocence with quirky humor and imagination. It still holds up to put a smile on your face.
7. The Nightmare Before Christmas
I have to admit that it feels like cheating to put this on the list. It is a huge misconception that Tim Burton directed this movie. He did not. So even though this isn’t a Tim Burton-directed movie per se he is all over it. He produced it, He created the story and character designs as well.
The movie is known all over and watched by many during the Halloween and Christmas seasons. It has memorable characters, beautiful stop motion, and catchy songs. Burton might not have directed it but it’s his movie.
6. Sweeney Todd
Sweeney Todd may easily be the best film that Tim Burton has directed in the past two decades. Johnny Depp once again is exceptional here. There is even more Johnny Depp to come so get used to it.
The story is very dark and the setting is truly beautiful. The score and musical performances are also done fantastically. I love it when Burton goes dark because he mixes gothic elements with horror elements very well. The violence in this is brutal and vibrant throughout. It truly has a little bit of everything for everyone and it is so creative.
5. Batman
Even though the movie was released more than 30 years ago, this is still said to be a lot of people’s favorite Batman movie. A lot of the credit goes to Tim Burton. The movie is filled with Burton’s flare.
The movie captures the spirit of Batman and the city of Gotham is unique to Burton’s style. The casting is also pretty fantastic. Many people were very upset with Keaton being chosen to play Batman, but now he is said by many to be their favorite. Jack Nicholson is a fantastic Joker as well. The movie is a fun time that still holds up.
4. Beetlejuice
What is left to say about Beetlejuice that hasn’t already been said? The movie is iconic and it’s a great time throughout. The characters are memorable. The score is enticing and Keaton once again is magical. This is the movie that got him Batman.
The costumes and creature designs are magnificent especially once we enter the land of the dead. Seeing how everyone has passed is a nice touch. It was just a very weird, zany idea for a film and it works completely. The movie and characters have so much merchandise now. The movie spawned not only a sequel but also an animated series as well as a musical.
3. Big Fish
This has to be the Tim Burton film with the most heart. Big Fish is a beautiful father-son story that is filled with magical elements that not only are thought-provoking but also leave the audience to interpret things on their own.
The story is about a man talking about his father’s exaggerated stories and it is really compelling. The film does a great job last blending fantasy and reality while feeling relatable. The visuals are once again impressive and the performances are spectacular. Especially from Albert Finney. Big Fish is one to watch again and again.
2. Ed Wood
I honestly think that Ed Wood is one of the best biopics ever made. The movie stars Johnny Depp and Martin Landau and tells the story of eccentric director Ed Wood who did all that he could to make his movies.
If you don’t know who Ed Wood is, he was a director who was an outcast in Hollywood and he made pretty bad movies. The movie shows how he, Bela Lugosi, and others made a few low-budget films and all that it took. The cast and look of the film are so great and this is easily one of Depp’s best performances.
I love movies about making movies and this is one of the better ones because it deals a lot with hope. Ed Wood might not have been a good director but he accomplished what he said out to do. You can feel the passion come right off the screen and this is a beautiful movie.
1. Edward Scissorhands
Edward Scissorhands, to me, is Tim Burton’s best movie simply because it embodies all his unique traits in the best way. The dark humor is there. The eccentric characters are there. The gothic set designs are there. The movie is filled with many wonderful elements and every time you watch it you can take something different from it. One moment it’s a whimsical fantasy and the next it’s a heartbreaking tale of love and loss.
Every performance is perfect. We get to see the late great Vincent Price and even though his role is small, it leaves a mark for sure. The music from Danny Elfman is amazing and adds to the characters and story. The movie is one of Burton’s best-reviewed and was a box office smash.
Its themes of loneliness and beauty are skin-deep is timeless and the movie truly is a cinematic achievement. It tells a story that makes us sympathize with the monster and Burton pulls out all the stops here for sure.
What is your favorite Tim Burton movie? Let us know in the comments below.
