While Tim Burton occasionally veers into self-parody in his later work, he remains one of the most visually distinctive and emotionally resonant filmmakers of his generation. Emerging from early, uneasy experiences at Disney, Burton developed a fully formed aesthetic and recurring themes—most notably, tender portraits of lonely outsiders and misfits that resonate deeply with introverted audiences.
In this Movie List, The Film Magazine counts down every film in Burton’s filmography, ranking them from worst to best. So don your striped attire, muss up your hair, and join us on a long, elaborate tracking shot through the Burton-verse.
20. Planet of the Apes (2001)
Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Helena Bonham Carter, Tim Roth, Michael Clarke Duncan, Paul Giamatti
Plot: An astronaut crashes on a planet ruled by evolved apes who have enslaved humanity. He befriends a chimp who protests the treatment of humans, and together they spark a rebellion.
Often cited as Burton’s most notable misstep, Planet of the Apes is visually striking—no surprise for Burton—but emotionally thin. Where the original film flourished on bold ideas and breathing room for those concepts, Burton’s version feels rushed and confused. Rick Baker’s makeup work stands out, and Helena Bonham Carter and Tim Roth do their best, but overall the film lacks the thematic weight and memorability of the classic franchise entries.
19. Alice in Wonderland (2010)
Starring: Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Mia Wasikowska, Anne Hathaway, Stephen Fry
Plot: Alice Kingsleigh, independent but alienated in Victorian society, returns to Wonderland having forgotten her childhood adventure and finds it diminished and in need of rescuing.
Many expected this to be ideal Burton material. Portions that capture Lewis Carroll’s nonsense succeed, but those moments are mostly flashbacks. The main storyline turns Alice into a fantasy epic burdened by clunky exposition about prophecy and destiny—an ill fit for Carroll’s playful, surreal world. Mia Wasikowska is a determined, believable Alice, and Stephen Fry brings a perfect smug Cheshire Cat, but the overall world often feels too artificial and over-reliant on greenscreen spectacle instead of tangible setcraft.
18. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)
Starring: Johnny Depp, Freddie Highmore, David Kelly, Helena Bonham Carter, Noah Taylor
Plot: Poor but optimistic Charlie Bucket finds a golden ticket to tour the reclusive Willy Wonka’s whimsical factory and meets its eccentric creator.
Burton’s adaptation is more faithful to Roald Dahl than the Gene Wilder film, and his visual flair makes an impression. Yet the film’s tonal choices are uneven: the grab-bag of cinematic references, some questionable portrayals in the fantasy sequences, and Johnny Depp’s eccentric Wonka—played as a man with unresolved paternal issues—leave a mixed taste. Still, the production design and moments of imagination are unmistakably Burtonian.
17. Dark Shadows (2012)
Starring: Johnny Depp, Eva Green, Michelle Pfeiffer, Chloe Grace Moretz, Helena Bonham Carter
Plot: Centuries-old vampire Barnabas Collins awakens in the 1970s and attempts to restore his family’s fortunes while seeking revenge on the witch who cursed him.
This is mid-to-low-level Burton: technically competent, watchable, and occasionally inventive, but not particularly memorable. It contains some striking effects—especially when the witch’s powers crumble—but much of the film leans on broad sexual humor and Johnny Depp’s familiar affectations rather than emotional depth.
16. Dumbo (2019)
Starring: Colin Farrell, Michael Keaton, Danny DeVito, Eva Green, Alan Arkin
Plot: A baby elephant with oversized ears becomes a circus sensation and draws the interest of a showman who sees profit in his abilities.
In concept, Dumbo suited Burton, yet the film doesn’t reach his best work. It blends a faithful remake of the 1940s animation with a modern continuation that feels uneven. The elephant is endearing, Danny DeVito reliably amiable, and Michael Keaton chews scenery in a showy role, but the emotional core and many supporting characters fail to register strongly.
15. Mars Attacks! (1996)
Starring: Jack Nicholson, Pierce Brosnan, Sarah Jessica Parker, Glenn Close, Natalie Portman
Plot: Martians invade Earth and a disparate cast of characters, including the president, struggle to mount an effective response.
Once a revelatory, darkly comic sci-fi satire, Mars Attacks! now feels like a film that hasn’t aged gracefully. Its sprawling ensemble and stunt casting—Jack Nicholson plays multiple roles and several big names appear in brief, memorable bits—offer clever subversions, but the comedy is broad and uneven, landing better for some viewers than others.
14. Pee-wee’s Big Adventure (1985)
Starring: Paul Reubens, Elizabeth Daily, Mark Holten, Diane Salinger, Damon Martin
Plot: An exuberant, childlike man—seen by society as an odd outsider—sets off on a cross-country quest to recover his stolen bicycle.
Burton captures the manic, bubblegum spirit of Pee-wee’s Playhouse and lets Paul Reubens run wild in a colorful road movie. The film feels like an extended TV episode—indeed, some viewers will love its anarchic charm while others may find it overlong—but it remains a joyful, energetic early Burton effort that showcases his fondness for eccentric protagonists.
13. Frankenweenie (2012)
Starring: Winona Ryder, Catherine O’Hara, Martin Short, Martin Landau, Charlie Tahan
Plot: A boy genius brings his deceased dog back to life with unintended consequences for his town.
Frankenweenie is a lovingly crafted stop-motion feature and an expanded take on Burton’s own short film, but the material stretches thin over feature length. The character design—Sparky, the returned dog, in particular—is charming, and the film overflows with affectionate references to classic monster cinema. Still, emotionally it can feel a touch distant and underdeveloped.
12. Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children (2016)
Starring: Eva Green, Asa Butterfield, Samuel L. Jackson, Judi Dench, Terence Stamp
Plot: A lonely outcast boy follows clues from his grandfather to a time-locked mansion where children with unusual powers hide from dark forces.
Miss Peregrine’s showcases some of Burton’s best visual effects, including a spectacular climax set on Blackpool Pier. The film embraces macabre imagery for younger audiences—its villains literally consume children’s eyes to avoid becoming monsters—and it balances gothic elements with magical realism. Eva Green stands out as a memorable, slightly unhinged governess, while the young cast each gets distinct moments to shine.
11. Big Eyes (2014)
Starring: Amy Adams, Christoph Waltz, Danny Huston, Krysten Ritter, Terence Stamp
Plot: In the 1960s, Margaret Keane’s sentimental paintings of big-eyed children become a cultural phenomenon—but her husband takes credit for the work. This is the true story of the artist who fought to reclaim her name.
Amy Adams gives a nuanced, vulnerable performance as Margaret Keane, conveying emotional fragility as her life and work are co-opted. Burton blends restrained realism with surreal flourishes that echo the artist’s inner life. Christoph Waltz’s portrayal of the manipulative husband sometimes reads too broadly, and a final act that strains for melodrama curtails some of the film’s emotional power, but Adams’s performance anchors the piece.
10. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024)
Starring: Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, Jenna Ortega, Catherine O’Hara, Justin Theroux, Willem Dafoe, Monica Bellucci
Plot: Three decades after her first encounter with the bio-exorcist Betelgeuse, Lydia Deetz struggles to keep her family together while a fresh round of supernatural chaos unfolds.
Reviving a cult classic after 36 years was risky, but Burton largely recaptures the mischievous macabre tone of the original. The film expands the netherworld with affectionate horror references and playful pastiches. Michael Keaton’s Beetlejuice remains electrifying, and Winona Ryder’s chemistry with Jenna Ortega—playing her skeptical daughter—adds genuine emotional grounding.
9. Batman Returns (1992)
Starring: Michael Keaton, Danny DeVito, Michelle Pfeiffer, Christopher Walken, Michael Gough
Plot: Batman returns to Gotham to confront two troubled, animal-themed villains—Penguin and Catwoman—who threaten the city.
Batman Returns doubled down on Burton’s gothic sensibility and gave rise to some of the most unforgettable comic-book performances: Danny DeVito’s grotesque, tragic Penguin and Michelle Pfeiffer’s iconic, dangerous Catwoman. Although the film’s darker tone worried studio executives and its third act veers into more cartoonish territory, the character work and Burton’s atmospheric Gotham make it a standout superhero film of the era.
8. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)
Starring: Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Alan Rickman, Timothy Spall, Sacha Baron Cohen
Plot: A barber returns to London to exact revenge on the judge who ruined his life, enacting a bloody plan that intertwines murder and meat pies.
Burton’s tracking shots and smoky Victorian production design amplify this dark, bitter musical. Helena Bonham Carter is extraordinary as Mrs. Lovett—hilarious, fragile, and heartbreakingly human—and deserves equal recognition with Johnny Depp. The film’s macabre humor and ensemble performances bring Stephen Sondheim’s grim, witty score to life, with “A Little Priest” a particular highlight.
7. Sleepy Hollow (1999)
Starring: Johnny Depp, Christina Ricci, Miranda Richardson, Michael Gambon, Casper van Dien
Plot: An unconventional constable, an outsider by temperament, investigates a series of supernatural murders in a remote village.
Sleepy Hollow is an enjoyably lurid gothic mystery and one of Burton’s most rewatchable films. With lavish period detail, splatter elements, and a fine supporting cast—Michael Gambon, Michael Gough, and Richard Griffiths among them—the film blends supernatural thrills with Burton’s trademark visual flourish. Depp’s Ichabod Crane, a rational man confronting occult horrors, makes for compelling contrast.
6. Batman (1989)
Starring: Michael Keaton, Jack Nicholson, Kim Basinger, Michael Gough, Pat Hingle
Plot: Gotham’s mysterious protector, Batman—secretly lonely billionaire Bruce Wayne—faces a cunning villain tied to his past.
The 1989 Batman redefined the modern superhero movie. Burton’s gothic Gotham, Danny Elfman’s thrilling score, Jack Nicholson’s unhinged Joker, and Michael Keaton’s brooding duality created a compelling, stylish blockbuster that still holds up as a landmark in comic-book cinema.
5. Ed Wood (1994)
Starring: Johnny Depp, Martin Landau, Sarah Jessica Parker, Bill Murray, Jeffrey Jones
Plot: The earnest but inept director Ed Wood pursues his dreams in Hollywood and befriends a faded horror icon along the way.
Ed Wood is a loving tribute to an unorthodox outsider and a testament to passionate, if flawed, filmmaking. Martin Landau delivers a heartrending performance as Bela Lugosi, and Burton tempers his usual stylization with mature, restrained storytelling that highlights the humanity in eccentric ambition.
4. Edward Scissorhands (1990)
Starring: Johnny Depp, Winona Ryder, Dianne Wiest, Kathy Baker, Vincent Price
Plot: An isolated, gentle creation with scissors for hands is taken in by a suburban family and becomes the town’s fascination.
Edward Scissorhands is the archetypal Burton film: a melancholy fairy tale about an outcast unable to touch or belong. Depp’s tender turn and his chemistry with Winona Ryder, combined with Burton’s vivid, storybook production design, make this an enduring, emotional fable about acceptance and the cruelty of conformity.
3. Beetlejuice (1988)
Starring: Michael Keaton, Geena Davis, Alec Baldwin, Winona Ryder, Catherine O’Hara
Plot: A recently deceased couple enlist a devious ghost to rid their house of an unbearable living family while bonding with a lonely teenager.
Beetlejuice turns the afterlife into bureaucratic domesticity and mines endless comic possibilities from that premise. Michael Keaton’s manic performance anchors the film, which balances macabre humor, satire, and everyday concerns—mortgage problems and redecorating—within a delightfully off-kilter visual world. It’s Burton at his most inventive and funniest.
2. Big Fish (2003)
Starring: Ewan McGregor, Albert Finney, Helena Bonham Carter, Danny DeVito, Billy Crudup
Plot: A son struggling to connect with his ailing father revisits the tall tales that defined the elder’s life, searching for truth and meaning behind the stories.
Big Fish is Burton’s most grounded, emotionally mature film—a tender exploration of father-son estrangement, storytelling, and the boundary between myth and reality. Ewan McGregor and Albert Finney deliver warm, layered performances, and Burton’s trademark imagery is used to amplify rather than overshadow the film’s aching human core.
1. Corpse Bride (2005)
Starring: Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Emily Watson, Tracy Ullman, Paul Whitehouse
Plot: Victor Van Dort, an awkward, lonely outsider betrothed to a woman he has never met, accidentally proposes to a long-dead bride and is taken into the afterlife.
Corpse Bride stands as Burton’s most fully realized animated work: a witty Victorian comedy of manners that contemplates death, memory, and acceptance. Burton’s living world is austere and colorless; the underworld, by contrast, is raucous and welcoming. Danny Elfman’s songs—especially the Gilbert-and-Sullivan-tinged “Wedding Song”—are catchy, and the stop-motion characters are imbued with heartfelt personality. The film combines macabre humor and genuine emotion to create perhaps the most emblematic Burton masterpiece.
Tim Burton’s remarkable five-decade career has gifted cinema with eccentric visions and unforgettable moments. Which films or scenes stand out to you? Share your thoughts and tell us whether you agree with this ranking.