One of the most celebrated American directors of the 1990s and beyond,Tim Burtonhas maintained a certain type of brand awareness throughout his career that few of his kind ever manage. His films have influenced generations and shaped the way that we consume certain genres and pastiches for time immemorial. And with his recent breakout success on theNetflix TV showWednesday, his star is rising higher than it has in quite some time. It might seem like a new renaissance of Burton content may be upon us, but it’s important to recognize where the auteur came from.
Burton is famous for having jump-started theBatmanfilm franchise, elevating it beyond its slapstick origins, and harboring an incredibly unique visual style that became instantly iconic. Across all 19 feature films of his, he has created an instantly recognizable milieu of aesthetics and characterization. There are elements of films likePee-wee’s Big Adventurethat will never leave from the time you’re a child to the time that you show the film to your child. You might be wondering, however, what his best films are. Which leads us to this very list: the best Tim Burton movies, according to theirRotten Tomatoesscores.
10Big Fish (2003) — 75%
On the lower end of the Tomatometer is Burton’s adaptation of the Daniel Wallace novel of the same name.Big Fishis an incredibly personal work of Burton, as it was a book that he not only liked, but decided to adapt after the death of his own father (the death of a father is a main plot point of the novel). The movie follows a man as he attempts to decipher what from the life of his recently deceased father was fact and what was fiction. It’s an ultimately heartwarming film that deals with accepting the shortcomings of your parents, while still being thankful for all the gifts they’ve given you.Big Fishmight be the least Burton of the films on this list, even if it leans into his big of tricks in some moments. The film is one of the few in his filmography that has a decidedly different tone and visual sense, and it might be part of the reason as to why it was so successful: for being so different from his usual thing.
Related:Tim Burton’s Most Personal Movies, Explained
9Batman Returns (1992) — 81%
The secondBatmanfilm made by Burton and star Michael Keaton,Batman Returnsis often remarked as the bestBatmanadaptation (alongside 2008’sThe Dark Knight). The fusion of Burton’s neo-gothic aesthetic with Keaton’s bravura performance, Michelle Pfieffer as Catwoman, and Danny DeVito’s absolutely unhinged performance as the Penguin all coalesce into one of the most unique blockbuster films of all time. There is also an argument to be made that the film is acertified Christmas filmas well, although that’s neither here nor there. Regardless,Batman Returnsis one of Burton’s most celebrated works, even moreso than the originalBatman.
8Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005) — 83%
An adaptation of the Roald Dahl book of the same name,Charlie and the Chocolate Factorymight just be Burton’s most successful foray into the family/fantasy genre. Maintaining the whimsy and terrifying core of Dahl’s original text, Burton created a film that stands up to the first adaptation of the novel —1971’sWilly Wonka and the Chocolate Factory— and actually improves on it in some areas. There is a more defined backstory for the character of Willy Wonka and a more modernized soundtrack of original songs conceived by Danny Elfman and Burton. There is still a lot of the original film in this one’s DNA, but Burton adds so much of his own flair that it stands on its own.
7Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride (2005) — 84%
Another of Burton’s forays into stop-motion animation, which he cited as his first love during an exhibition of his art withMoMA,Corpse Brideis another intriguing fusion of all his obsessions. You have the oddball, outsider protagonist attempting to find companionship and kindness in a world that frequently pushs them away, fused with a dark visual style and a goofiness at heart. The film features two common Burton collaborators in Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter, who would later reunite for Sweeney Todd.Corpse Bridemight be his least successful stop-motion animated film, but it is still one of his most celebrated works (again, according to Rotten Tomatoes).
6Beetlejuice (1988) — 85%
1988’sBeetlejuicemight be one of the most Tim Burton films ever made, even though he had nothing to do with the script. There is something just instantly iconic about the manner in which Burton created the visual style and direction of the film that feels incredibly him, even to this day when his aesthetics are so permeated and familiar. Regardless,Beetlejuiceis among Burton’s best: a dark comedy through and through that boasts a career-best performance from its lead antagonist, the titular Betelgeuse (played by Michael Keaton). It’s one of the most notable films of the 80s, one of the most influential dark comedies of all time, and one of Burton’s undeniably best films.
5Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007) — 86%
Tim Burton adapting the Steven Sondheim play about a barber who was cast out from society only to return and exact revenge against all who scorned him seems like an obvious pull — and it was. 2007’sSweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Streetwas Burton’s first foray into musicals and the results speak for themselves. The film itself was a success, with decent box office returns and a few Academy Award nominations to boot. While some might not be prepared for the dark tone and imagery matched with fairly classical musical theater conventions, the mix is one that Burton got very right. Not only is it one of Burton’s best, but it could easily be considered one of thebest movie musicalsof the 21st Century so far.
Related:10 Times Tim Burton Hid Easter Eggs in His Films
4Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure (1985) — 87%
Pee-wee’s Big Adventurewas Burton’s first film as director, but that didn’t stop him from pulling all he had in his bag of tricks. Heralded as one of the most inventive and goofy studio comedies of the 80s, the film would go on to be fondly by generations of people who enjoyed Pee-Wee’s optimism in the face of danger and Burton’s propensity for choosing the oddest choice at every single turn. The film follows man-child Pee-Wee Herman as he chases after the people who stole his prized bicycle, which leads Pee-wee through various obstacles and crosses paths with a whole host of odd characters. Considering that this is Burton’s first film, it is notable that it still remains one of his most celebrated.
3Frankenweenie (2012) — 88%
Originally conceived by Burton in the 80s as hisfirst short filmfor Disney, he would eventually be able to turn his old idea into a full length feature in 2012.Frankenweenieis a stop-motion animated film about a young boy whose dog is suddenly killed, so he uses his technical prowess and ingenuity to bring his beloved dog back to life. It’s a clever little flip of the classic Mary Shelley story,Frankenstein, and Burton is able to mine a lot of emotional weight out of the relationship between a boy and his dog. What makes the film truly special, however, is itswonderful stop-motion animationthat brings a certain hand-made, well-loved quality to all the visuals. While the film deals with dark subject matter as most Burton films do, the playfulness and tactility of its visual style give it a certain lightness that is needed.
2Edward Scissorhands (1990) — 89%
One of the most unique dramas of the 90s,Edward Scissorhandsis a story that could’ve only been told by someone like Burton. Depicting suburban life as one of turmoil, misunderstood intention, and heartbreaking sincerity, Burton’s film was beautiful and haunting recognition of the weirdos of everyday life. It’s another Burton/Depp collaboration and among one of the best they ever worked on together. The film itself follows Edward, a young man whose creator never finished working him, leaving him with sharp scissors for hands, going against the boy’s uncommonly gentle nature. He ends up being taken in by a well-meaning stranger (Diane Wiest) and falling in love with her daughter (Winona Ryder). It’s a heartwarming, if not a bit dark, story about never judging a book by its cover and always keeping kindness in your heart.
1Ed Wood (1994) — 93%
First, Burton’s most acclaimed film,Ed Wood, is his 1994 biopic about Ed Wood Jr., the “worst director of all time” and director of such common fodder asPlan 9 From Outer Space. Wood Jr. is wonderfully portrayed by Johnny Depp, with the supporting cast being rounded out by career best performances by the likes of Sarah Jessica Parker, Martin Landau, Patricia Arquette, Bill Murray, and more. Burton is able to inject the film with a sense of unbridled wonder where it could easily feel like an exploitative mess of finger pointing and laughing. Behind the camera, Burton never takes the piss out of his subjects, as he sees a lot of himself in characters and people like Ed Wood. The film was a critical success, won two Academy Awards, and remains Burton’s most acclaimed film (according to Rotten Tomatoes).
