Exploring the Best and Worst of Tim Burton's Filmography: A Ranking of His Movies

With the release of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, I decided to rewatch all of Tim Burton's movies. Tim Burton is one of my favorite directors. Even though a fair chunk of his movies are not great, I still get excited any time I see something new from him as he has such a unique style. Tim Burton stands as a director for his spooky yet not overly scary storytelling style with unique characters that are generally outcasts from society. I also like his usage of practical effects and stop-motion animation especially in his older movies. He also has a lot of consistent actors in his films such as Johnny Depp, Danny DeVito, Michael Keaton, Helena Botham Carter, and many others, that are just very fun to watch. With all that said, here are my thoughts and ranking of the 20 movies of Tim Burton.

20. Planet of the Apes

2001's Planet of the Apes is easily the worst film that Tim Burton has fun. Tim Burton normally has a unique style to his movies but this one just did not work. The story was seriously lacking in quality with an uncompelling plot moving the story forward. This movie also loses the magic of the original film by having it be on another planet instead of a future Earth. The characters are all pretty bland and forgettable. There are too many of them and none really get any sort of story arc. The movie has the character just be on the run the entire movie with several characters tagging along that have no reason to be there. Finally, the ending makes no sense and essentially sets up a cliffhanger that will never be resolved. While there are many issues with this movie, most of them are not Tim Burton's fault as the production was just super rushed to meet a certain release date. Overall, this was a big misfire and failed to do any sort of reboot to the Planet of the Apes franchise. 

Score: 4.5/10 Grade: C-

19. Dumbo

Dumbo is one of the two Disney remakes that Burton has done. I really enjoy the cast of this film. Michael Keaton, Danny DeVito, and Colin Ferrell are all a lot of fun to watch. I also really enjoy the first half of this film as it tells a sweet story about Dumbo learning how to fly. The addition of the two kids was also a nice touch as it adds a new perspective to Dumbo's adventure. However, this film really comes down for me in the second half. There was not enough source material to make a full-length movie and the second half is evidence of this. The movie feels like two different films. The first half is a sweet film about Dumbo learning how to fly. The second half goes full on Tim Burton and takes us to this amusement park show and ends with such an over-the-top ending that literally ends the film in flames. I do not think Tim Burton was the right choice to direct this film as his darker style of filmmaking just does not fit with Dumbo. Overall, this is a movie that has some sweet moments but goes way over the top in the Tim Burtonisms to be an effective Dumbo story.

Score: 6/10 Grade: C+

18. Dark Shadows

Dark Shadows is one of Tim Burton's movies that Sarah really likes but I just do not care for. This movie isn't completely unwatchable but it definitely isn't good. On the positive side, this movie delivers a lot of Tim Burton weirdness that fans of his will definitely enjoy. This movie also brings in lots of monster mayhem with moments from vampires, witches, and werewolves. You also get some solid actors in the mix like Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfeifer, and Helena Bonham Carter, three mainstays of Tim Burton's movies. However, beyond that, this movie just has all the wrong combination of elements to make for a good story. There are drastic tonal shifts throughout the movie. One moment will have a light-hearted song with a montage of the Collins family rebuilding their home, and then next cuts to Barnabas Collins eating a bunch of innocent people. The movie also has way too many plot lines it wants to focus on. The movie is based on a 1200-episode soap opera and feels like it tried to combine aspects from many different episodes instead of just focusing on one or two good moments. In the end, this just has too many issues to make for a good film but is at least still a watchable one.

Score: 6/10 Grade: C+

17. Mars Attacks

Mars Attacks is one of those movies that loops around from being so bad it's good which I feel was part of Tim Burton's intention when making this movie. It is a wildly entertaining movie with lots of funny moments. The movie has this absurdist humor to it with elements that are so ridiculous that you can't help but laugh. This movie feels like Tim Burton's tribute to the old-time alien invasion movies. It feels a lot like one of those movies just with slightly better special effects. The biggest standout of the movie is the stacked cast. Most of these actors have no business being in a movie like this yet somehow Tim Burton talked them into it. There are Jack Nicholson, Glen Close, Natalie Portman, Pierce Brosnan, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Christina Applegate. Danny DeVito, Annette Benning, Martin Short, and Michael J. Fox with most of them having limited screen time and just getting killed off. As evident by the cast list, this movie has way too many characters and way too little plot to really work on a story level. The movie is more focused on jumping from actor to actor than it is telling a compelling story. Overall, while this is not a good movie, I still had quite a bit of fun with it and could see myself watching it every once in a while.

Score: 6/10 Grade: C

16. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is another of Tim Burton's poor reboots/adaptions. It is not unwatchable and I am still entertained by it but it definitely is not a good movie. The visual style fits well with the story and the movie as a whole has this 21st century style slickness to it but that is about the only positive I have. This movie takes the subtle weirdness of Roald Dahl and the original film cranks it to 11 and takes it too far. We lose all the charm of the original film and instead gain a lot of Johnny Depp and Tim Burton style that just doesn't fit. The movie also gets way too bogged down on backstory. I guess what they thought was missing from the original film and book was Willy Wonka's daddy issues because this movie devotes a whole subplot to that. We spend a ton of time on Willy Wonka's issues and not enough on the awe and charm of the factory. In the end, this film had some great potential and I feel that Tim Burton could have made a good film here but he just didn't have anyone to reign him in.

Score: 6/10 Grade: C+

15. Alice in Wonderland

Alice in Wonderland is the second remake directed by Tim Burton. I really enjoy the premise of this film. Instead of remaking the original, it decides to do something new with the characters. The central conflict is more interesting as it makes Wonderland into more of a dystopian society with resistance. I found this a very interesting and fun direction to take the film. I enjoyed seeing all of the Alice in Wonderland characters in live-action form. Johnny Depp is a lot of fun as the Mad Hatter. He plays the character a bit creepier than in the original but it fits well with Tim Burton's tone. I also really enjoyed the action sequences. There are a few battle sequences that are a lot of fun. Unfortunately, while the film does do something different than just remake to original, the new story feels like a generic adventure story. It has the generic prophecy plot line where our main character is the chosen one and ends with her fulfilling said prophecy. The movie really lacks the craziness and whimsy that the original story is so well known for. In the end, while I can appreciate that it does something new, what it decides to do is a bit generic for an Alice in Wonderland story.

Score: 6/10 Grade: C+

14. Frankenweenie

Frankenweenie is the weaker of Tim Burton's two stop-motion films. As the name would imply this movie takes the classic Frankenstein story and brings the twist of making the monster a dog. The thing I like the best about this movie is how it pays homage to the classic monster movies of the 30s and 40s. The movie is black and white and references the other monster movies, especially in the 3rd act. I thought the core story was well done. When the movie focuses on Victor and Sparky's relationship and Victor's drive to bring back Sparky, I think the movie shines well. What loses me with this movie is how it loses interest in the main story about halfway through to create a big finale with all sorts of monster references. Sparky doesn't really feel like he adds much to the second half until the very end and the movie largely focuses on these side characters as they try to win the science fair. I feel that it detracts from the sweet boy and his dog story. Overall, while this movie does a good job with its tribute to classic monster movies, I think doing so takes a bit of focus away from the true story of the movie.

Score: 6.5/10 Grade: B-

13. Sleepy Hollow

Sleepy Hollow is one of Tim Burton's more horror geared movies. This movie has a decent enough slasher murder mystery vibe to it. We get to see Johnny Depp in one of his last roles before he goes full Jack Sparrow on everything he's in. I like the whole mystery that is built in surrounding the headless horseman. I also like all the detective work that we see from Ichabod Crane. The movie also does a nice job of going all in on its horror aspects. There are some quite spooky moments as well as a lot of intense beheadings. The movie also has a lot of solid older actors with Dumbledor and Venom Dursley from Harry Potter, Emperor Palpatine from Star Wars, Alfred from Batman as well as Christopher Walken. The main issue that keeps this movie back is that the whole side conspiracy really bogs the movie down. When the movie starts getting into the reveals about who is doing the killings, I thought the explanation was a bit unnecessarily complicated. They really could have simplified things and toned down the town-wide conspiracy part a bit. Overall, this is a decent enough horror mystery film that gets a little bogged down in the details to be a great film.

Score: 6.5/10 Grade: B-

12. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

Sweeny Todd is the second of the two more horror-gated films. This movie was a bit different than Tim Burton's other films as this one is a full-on musical. This movie has great performances from Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, and Alan Rickman. I have never seen the original musical but this movie feels like a pretty accurate adaption of the musical with how it is laid out. The movie has a good mix of both horror and tragedy built into it. You really feel Sweeny Todd's loss and his longing for revenge and totally understand what drives him to do what he does. The horror aspect is also done very well with all the kills that Sweeny Todd does to his customers. The story is also incredibly simplistic and doesn't get too bogged down by side plots The biggest issue I have with the film is that it feels more like a stage play than a movie. You can definitely feel that this is based on a stage play with the way the story is structured and the level of character depth. In the end, I can see what Tim Burton was going for, and while it works well as a play but needed a bit more tinkering to become a great movie.

Score: 6.5/10 Grade: B-

11. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

Along with the last four, Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children is one of the more middle-ground Tim Burton films. One of the best things about this movie was all the world-building and establishing of these unique characters. I like how they all have their own powers with a story that is mostly isolated from the rest of the world. I also like how we get to spend a lot of time exploring the house where all these children live and wish we could have gotten more of it. The biggest issue I had was that the ending felt a bit rushed. I wish we could have had more time to spend at the house so that the big climax could be built up better. Also, I thought the idea of the villain was good but felt that Samuel L Jackson was the wrong person to play him. He just feels out of place in this film. Finally, I thought that the final moments of the movie didn't make a ton of sense in terms of what Jake decides to do with the various relationships he has. Overall, I thought the movie had a great premise but I wish it would have spent more time at the house building up these characters.

Score: 7/10 Grade: B

10. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is the newest film from Tim Burton and is kind of right in the middle quality-wise. This movie does a great job of recapturing the magic of the original film while also bringing something new. Of course, it is great to see Michael Keaton again as Beetlejuice. He brings the same energy that he did 40 years ago. I thought that Jenna Ortega fit very well into this world and is a great fit for Tim Burton. I also liked that the movie decided to go in a direction where they bring living characters into the afterlife. It also us to see more aspects of this world. The movie also tackles some themes about family, moving on, and grief that give it a bit more maturity than the original. Even with that, it is still just as wacky and crazy as the original. The big issue with this movie is that there are just way too many plots going on. The whole Monica Belushi was implied to be the major plot of the film and just kind of goes nowhere as it essentially bookends the film. I think pulling that subplot out and focusing more on the adventure in the afterlife would have knocked this movie up a ton on this list. Overall, while this movie was a lot of fun, it tries to do a bit too much which really brings it down on the list.

Score: 7/10 Grade: B

9. Corpse Bride

Corpse Bride is one of Sarah's favorites. I find some level of enjoyment in it, but this type of film isn't really my thing. I can really appreciate the craft and style that went into making a film like this. I know that stop-motion films are incredibly hard and time-consuming to make. The story itself is interesting enough. The plot moves at a very brisk pace but still allows for time to expand on the characters and rules of the world. This film moves very quick at less than 80 minutes long and has a very simple story but still tells an effective one. I also thought the songs were all pretty good however none of them were super memorable. There aren't a ton of flaws with this movie, what is there is just the bare bones of the story which doesn't leave much room for extra fluff that could bog the story down. These types of movies just aren't really my thing. I can appreciate the art that goes with it but I'm just not a huge fan of these stop-motion films. In the end, I am just not a huge fan of these types of films. It is just a bit too weird for my taste and isn't really something I would find myself putting on by myself.

Score: 7/10 Grade: B

8. Batman Returns

Batman Returns is the Batman movie that goes full-on with the Tim Burton aesthetic. One of the best things about this movie is the great villains. Danny DeVito does a great job as the Penguin and Michelle Pfeiffer does a great job as Cat Woman with both people diving deep into the roles and going all out with them. The action in this movie is also a lot of fun. Cat Woman has a lot of great sequences with all of her acrobatic work. There are also some solid action moments with Batman. The music in this movie is also really great with a fantastic score by Danny Elfman. This movie as a whole just has this creepy and tragic vibe that just really works for the story they are trying to tell. The main hang-up with this movie is that it gets a bit too weird at times. There are a lot of moments that just feel creepy and "kinky" and just feels like Tim Burton went a bit too far at times. I also felt that the plot was a bit scattered. The Penguin's whole plan seems a bit unfocused and unclear. We also don't get a ton of Batman in this film as a lot of the screen time is used for Cat Woman and the Penguin. Overall, while it is still a good movie, there were just a few odd choices that kept it out of the top of the list.

Score: 7.5/10 Grade: B

7. Big Eyes

Big Eyes is one of Tim Burton's lesser-known films. Tim Burton does a great job of telling a time capsule story that takes place during the 1950s. We get a deep look inside the mind of Margaret Keane and her struggles with her husband. I found Margaret Keane to be one of Tim Burton's more relatable protagonists. Throughout the movie, you really feel bad for her struggles of not being recognized for her work and wanting her to succeed on her own. Amy Adams and Christoph Waltz are both great as the leads of the film. Amy Adams portrays this timid character so well while Christoph Waltz can balance being charming with being unhinged and cruel. He gives a true two-sided performance with shows how great of an actor he is. The story is also very easy to follow not getting bogged down by too much going on. The biggest issue is that the movie moves a bit too quick at times. It clocks in at about 100 minutes but could have easily been closer to two hours and explored more of Margaret's life and how cut off she felt. In the end, this is a great lesser-known Tim Burton film that really just needed a little more time to breathe and grow.

Score: 8/10 Grade: B+

6. Big Fish

Big Fish is another one of the lesser-known Tim Burton films. Big Fish follows Will Bloom as he listens to his father, Ed, tell his larger-than-life story and try to determine fact from fiction. While this movie is less weird than a lot of Burton's other films, it still has Burton's signature style and feel. This movie features a fun performance from Ewan McGregor as we experience this Forrest Gump-esque telling of Ed's life. This movie has a very fun way of telling its story with a lot of little short stories taking us along and tying together in the end. It features a lot of fun characters throughout, each adding something new to Ed's story. The movie also has a lot of funny moments as well as some surprisingly emotional times. The main thing keeping this out of the top five is that the movie slowed down quite a bit during the current-day parts. It feels like two separate movies at times. In the end, this is a very fun film from Tim Burton that I recommend you check out if you want Burton's version of Forrest Gump.

Score: 8/10 Grade: B+

5. Ed Wood

Ed Wood is probably the most grounded and normal of Tim Burton's films. Ed Wood centers around the infamous director Ed Wood as he attempts to make it in Hollywood. This is Tim Burton's one biopic film and one that he does rather well. I like how the movie handles the story of Ed Wood. In real life, Ed Wood was largely inept at writing and directing, producing some of the worst movies of all time. Instead of making fun of him, the movie focuses on him as a person and hones in on his ambitions. We see film production through his eyes where he thinks he is actually doing good work when we can obviously tell he is doing a terrible job. Johnny Depp is great in the lead role. He plays a character so different than what he is known for which really speaks to his talents as an actor. The standout of the movie was Martin Landau in the Oscar-winning performance as Bela Lugosi. He is on such a different level than the rest of the cast as he portrays Bela's struggles and regrets as a washed-up actor. The thing keeping it from higher on this list is that it just doesn't feel as much like a Tim Burton movie. It doesn't have as much of a distinct style as many of his other films. Overall, this is a very unique Burton film that delivers an interesting story and great performances.

Score: 8/10 Grade: B+

4. Batman

Batman 89 is a classic of the genre and truly laid the ground for superhero movies to come. This movie gives us an iconic look at Batman and Gotham City and has a style that will continue to be used for many movies, video games, and TV shows to come. This movie has an iconic score by Danny Elfman that continues to be known as the Batman theme. This movie also delivers a lot of great action sequences which, given this was the 80s, were all very practical. We also get to see some really cool Batman vehicles such as the classic Bat Mobile and Bat Wing. Michael Keaton gives a great performance as Batman. You can totally buy into him being the weird billionaire and crime-fighting hero. Of course, no Batman is complete without his Joker and Jack Nicholson does a great job as the Joker. He gives such a manic performance and really does a great job as the character. While this movie does have a lot of nostalgia to it, there are a few significant issues that hold back. The biggest issue lies with the plot and script structure. The whole plan with the Joker feels super disjointed and unconnected. The movie also struggles to decide who the lead is in the film with Michael Keaton and Jack Nicholson competing for screen time. In the end, while it does have its flaws, this is still a classic Batman and superhero movie.

Score: 8/10 Grade: B+

3. Pee Wee's Big Adventure

Pee Wee's Big Adventure is Tim Burton's first film and, in my opinion, one of his best. This movie is just a fun little road trip story about a grown man trying to find his bike. Paul Reubens is great as Pee Wee. He manages to portray the character as being naive and innocent while not coming across as stupid or annoying. He is a bit clueless at times but is still competent enough to get himself out of unpleasant situations. Normally, stories like this are at risk of being too clunky and episodic as the character moves from place to place. However, this movie manages to handle all the different segments more organically. You feel a natural progression as Pee Wee moves from place to place instead of just jumping around. I also thought the movie was incredibly funny. There are so many over-the-top hilarious moments that just work within the context of the movie. Everything about this movie is just so charming. There are no annoying moments or unlikable characters. I don't really have any issues with this movie. I just like the other movies higher on this list more. Overall, this is a very fun comedy that is just so charming from beginning to end.

Score: 8.5/10 Grade: A-

2. Edward Scissorhands

Edward Scissorhands is easily at the peak of Tim Burton's filmography. This is easily one of Tim Burton's most emotional and sweet movies. This is such a great story about a scared loner who is just trying to fit in with suburban society. The tragedy within the story is just handled so well that we see a community that used to love Edward turning against him after a misunderstanding. This movie not only probably has the sweetest story but also the best-written characters. Of course, Johnny Depp is great as Edward in a role that is so different than most of the others he has done but the movie also has Wynona Ryder as a character who slowly warms up to Edward. You can really relate and feel for both of these characters and want to see them come together. The score is also great in this movie. Danny Elfman does a great job of setting the tone for each scene and helping aid in the transition from romantic to funny to tragic. In the end, while there isn't much wrong with this movie, it is probably Tim Burton's best-made movie, I just like the number one film a little bit more.

Score: 8.5/10 Grade: A-

1. Beetlejuice

Beetlejuice is one of my favorite movies to watch every Halloween as well as my favorite Tim Burton movie. This movie just so much in both its story and characters. Barbra and Adam are just so likable that you really want them to be happy. Lydia is also a really strong character as you really want her to be able to connect with people and not be so alone. But of course, the standout of this film is Michael Keaton as Betelgeuse. Betelgeuse is just so much fun as a character. He brings such high energy and chaos to the movie. Even though he is only in the movie for about 15 minutes, he really steals the show and makes the movie so memorable. I will watch just his scenes on YouTube because I like him so much. Besides the character, the story is just really fun. It moves at a very fast pace but is still easy to understand and so entertaining to watch. Finally, this movie has so many iconic songs and scenes with the standout being the Day-O dance. This movie is just a lot of fun from beginning to end and is the pinnacle of Tim Burton's filmography.

Score: 9/10 Grade: A