Tim Burton Movies Ranked

Having established himself in the early 90’s following the box office and critical successes of “Batman” (1989), “Edward Scissorhands” (1990) and “Batman Returns” (1992), Tim Burton became synonymous with darkly gothic fairy tales. His unique visual style and fascinatingly spooky world building saw Burton become a huge hit with audiences, garnering a cult like status within the industry.

To this day Burton continues to to stick close to his roots, however, the quality of his output has diminished over the years, with his latter projects failing to recapture the fantastical elements of his iconic earlier releases. Burton did find success however with his Netflix series “Wednesday”, with Jenna Ortega starring as the eponymous Addams Family teenager. Ortega has reunited with Burton for his latest project, the long-awaited sequel to his beloved cult classic dark comedy “Beetlejuice” (1988).

Having loved the original so much as a kid, I found “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” somewhat underwhelming despite recapturing the energy of its predecessor, and seeing the likes of Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder and Catherine O’Hara return. Regardless of my views, the film has become a box office smash for both Burton and Warner Bros. having grossed $110 million in its opening weekend in the U.S. alone, the second biggest opening of the 66-year-old director’s career.

To celebrate this landmark achievement for such a cinematic icon, I have listed my personal ranking of all 20 feature length movies directed by Burton to date. This excludes the likes of “The Nightmare Before Christmas”, which despite his heavy involvement, was not directed by Burton but by Henry Selick.

20. Dumbo (2019)

Cast: Colin Farrell, Michael Keaton, Danny DeVito, Eva Green, Alan Arkin

Synopsis: Holt, a circus performer, is tasked with caring for a baby elephant with oversized ears, Dumbo. But when it is discovered that Dumbo can fly, a few wicked men try to take advantage of the situation.

19. Planet of the Apes (2001)

Cast: Mark Wahlberg, Tim Roth, Helena Bonham Carter, Michael Clarke Duncan, Kris Kristofferson, Estella Warren, Paul Giamatti

Synopsis: During a routine space mission, Captain Leo Davidson heads out to look for his missing partner in the middle of an electromagnetic storm. However, he crash-lands into a planet dominated by apes.

18. Dark Shadows (2012)

Cast: Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfeiffer, Helena Bonham Carter, Eva Green, Jackie Earle Haley, Jonny Lee Miller, Chloe Grace Moretz, Bella Heathcote

Synopsis: Rich playboy Barnabas earns the wrath of Angelique, a witch, when he breaks her heart. She turns him into a vampire and buries him alive. Two centuries later, Barnabas escapes to settle old scores.

17. Alice in Wonderland (2010)

Cast: Johnny Depp, Anne Hathaway, Helena Bonham Carter, Crispin Glover, Matt Lucas, Mia Wasikowska, Alan Rickman, Stephen Fry, Michael Sheen, Timothy Spall

Synopsis: Alice, now 19 years old, follows a rabbit in a blue coat to a magical wonderland from her dreams where she is reunited with her friends who make her realise her true destiny.

16. Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children (2016)

Cast: Eva Green, Asa Butterfield, Chris O’Dowd, Allison Janney, Rupert Everett, Terence Stamp, Ella Purnell, Judi Dench, Samuel L. Jackson

Synopsis: When his beloved grandfather leaves Jake clues to a mystery that spans different worlds and times, he finds a magical place known as Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. But the mystery and danger deepen as he gets to know the residents and learns about their special powers…and their powerful enemies.

15. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)

Cast: Johnny Depp, Freddie Highmore, David Kelly, Helena Bonham Carter, Noah Tayler, Missi Pyle, James Fox, Deep Roy, Christopher Lee

Synopsis: Charlie, a young boy from an impoverished family, and four other kids win a tour of an amazing chocolate factory run by an imaginative chocolatier, Willy Wonka, and his staff of Oompa-Loompas.

14. Big Eyes (2014)

Cast: Amy Adams, Christoph Waltz, Danny Huston, Jon Polito, Krysten Ritter, Jason Schwartzman, Terence Stamp

Synopsis: The husband of Margaret Keane, a phenomenal painter, wrongfully claims credit for her works and enjoys her success until a legal battle between the two reveals the truth to the world.

13. Pee-wee’s Big Adventure (1985)

Cast: Paul Reubens, E.G. Daily, Mark Holton, Diane Salinger, Judd Omen

Synopsis: Pee-wee Herman feels disheartened when he loses his bike and journeys across America in order to find it, thereby encountering various people and unexpected situations.

12. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024)

Cast: Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, Catherine O’Hara, Justin Theroux, Monica Bellucci, Jenna Ortega, Willem Dafoe

Synopsis: Three generations of the Deetz family return home to Winter River after an unexpected family tragedy. Still haunted by Beetlejuice, Lydia’s life soon gets turned upside down when her rebellious teenage daughter discovers a mysterious portal to the afterlife. When someone says Beetlejuice’s name three times, the mischievous demon gleefully returns to unleash his very own brand of mayhem.

11. Frankenweenie (2012)

Cast: Catherine O’Hara, Martin Short, Martin Landau, Charlie Tahan, Atticus Shaffer, Winona Ryder

Synopsis: Victor invites trouble when he revives his dead pet dog Sparky after it is hit by a car. Now, Sparky looks like a monster and terrifies Victor’s neighbours.

10. Mars Attacks! (1996)

Cast: Jack Nicholson, Glenn Close, Annette Bening, Pierce Brosnan, Danny DeVito, Martin Short, Sarah Jessica Parker, Michael J. Fox, Rod Steiger, Tom Jones, Lukas Haas, Natalie Portman, Jim Brown, Lisa Marie, Sylvia Sidney

Synopsis: An army of aliens from Mars visit Earth and meet the president of the United states under peaceful pretences. However, they reveal their true intentions when they start attacking cities.

9. Batman Returns (1992)

Cast: Michael Keaton, Danny DeVito, Michelle Pfeiffer, Christopher Walken, Michael Gough, Pat Hingle, Michael Murphy

Synopsis: The evil Penguin wants to take control of Gotham City and uses Max Shreck to reach his goal. Meanwhile, Batman does everything in his power to stop the Penguin while Catwoman has an agenda of her own.

8. Sleepy Hollow (1999)

Cast: Johnny Depp, Christina Ricci, Miranda Richardson, Michael Gambon, Casper Van Dien, Jeffrey Jones

Synopsis: Ichabod Crane, a police officer, gets transferred to the Westchester County hamlet of Sleepy Hollow, New York for using unacceptable methods of investigation.

7. Batman (1989)

Cast: Jack Nicholson, Michael Keaton, Kim Basinger, Robert Wuhl, Pat Hingle, Billy Dee Williams, Michael Gough, Jack Palance

Synopsis: Batman, a masked vigilante from Gotham City, fights against evil to keep its citizens safe. He must battle Jack Napier, who turns into the Joker and threatens to take over Gotham City.

6. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)

Cast: Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Alan Rickman, Timothy Spall, Sacha Baron Cohen

Synopsis: Benjamin Barker returns to London under the alias Sweeney Todd. He reopens his barber shop and kills his customers with the hope of killing the man behind his false conviction and his wife’s death.

5. Edward Scissorhands (1990)

Cast: Johnny Depp, Winona Ryder, Dianne Wiest, Anthony Michael Hall, Kathy Baker, Vincent Price, Alan Arkin

Synopsis: Edward, a synthetic man with scissor hands, is taken in by Peg, a kindly Avon lady, after the passing of his inventor. Things take a turn for the worse when he is blamed for a crime he did not commit.

4. Ed Wood (1994)

Cast: Johnny Depp, Martin Landau, Sarah Jessica Parker, Patricia Arquette, Jeffrey Jones, Bill Murray

Synopsis: Ed Wood, an eccentric film-maker who is criticized by the mainstream media for his bizarre low-budget films, soon manages to establish an underground culture and a cult following.

3. Beetlejuice (1988)

Cast: Alec Baldwin, Geena Davis, Jeffrey Jones, Catherine O’Hara, Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton

Synopsis: The ghosts of Barbara and Adam, a married couple, continue to live in their home. When Barbara’s sister sells the house to new people, they do their best to drive them out.

2. Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride (2005)

Cast: Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Emily Watson, Tracey Ullman, Paul Whitehouse, Joanna Lumley, Albert Finney, Richard E. Grant, Michael Gough, Christopher Lee, Jane Horrocks

Synopsis: A shy young man inadvertently brings a deceased woman to life when he practises his wedding vows near her grave. Trouble ensues when she thinks he is married to her.

1. Big Fish (2003)

Cast: Ewan McGregor, Albert Finney, Billy Crudup, Jessica Lange, Helena Bonham Carter, Alison Lohman, Robert Guillaume, Marion Cotillard, Steve Buscemi, Danny DeVito

Synopsis: Will Bloom returns home to care for his dying father, who had a penchant for telling unbelievable stories. After he passes away, Will tries to find out if his tales were really true.

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