20 Best Tim Burton Movies Ranked (2020)

Whether or not you're a fan, there is no mistaking the mark of Tim Burton. When you see a film by Tim Burton, you can't help but wonder where his imagination has taken him, and you are guaranteed a visually stunning and unique film.

20. James and the Giant Peach (1996) (Produced by Burton, Directed by Henry Selick)

Box Office: $29M (worldwide)

Movie Budget: $38M

Story:

James Henry Trotter, a young orphan, is forced to live with his horrible aunties after his parents are killed by a rhinoceros. James dreams of escaping to New York City.

Interesting Fact:

Roald Dahl was initially hesitant to adapt the book for the screen, believing it was too difficult to translate. After his death in 1990, his widow, Felicity, pushed for the film adaptation and made sure it was completed.

19. Dark Shadows (2012)

Box Office: $246M (worldwide)

Movie Budget: $150M

Story:

Set in 18th-century Maine, Barnabas Collins, played by Johnny Depp, is a rich and powerful playboy, When he breaks the heart of a witch named Angelique, played by Eva Green, she turns Barnabas into a vampire and buries him alive. Barnabas escapes from his tomb 2 centuries later in 1972 and finds his town of Collinsport a very different place.

Interesting Fact:

Jonathan Frid, the actor who played Barnabas Collins in the original Dark Shadows television series made a cameo appearance in the film. However, it was bittersweet, because Frid died a few weeks before the release of the movie.

18. Mars Attacks! (1996)

Box Office: $101M (worldwide)

Movie Budget: $70M

Story:

A fleet of Martian spacecraft shows up at the world's major cities, claiming to "come in peace." U.S. President James Dale, played by Jack Nicholson, is assured by science professor Donald Kessler, played by Pierce Brosnan, that the Martians genuinely are on a friendly mission. But when their peaceful meeting ends in the total devastation of the U.S. Congress, the military calls for a full-scale nuclear retaliation.

Interesting Fact:

The movie "Mars Attacks!" was based on a controversial 1960s series of Topps trading cards that featured graphic depictions of Martian invasions and violence. These were so disturbing to parents that the cards were discontinued.

17. Ed Wood (1994)

Box Office: $13.8M (worldwide)

Movie Budget: $18M

Story:

This biopic is about film director Ed Wood who is a Hollywood outcast. His strange and oversized dreams were brought to life with the help of his devoted cast and crew, made up of other Hollywood misfits, who believed in his vision. Despite a lack of critical or commercial success, Ed and his friends managed to create an oddly endearing series of ultra-low-budget films.

Interesting Fact:

The film "Ed Wood" cost more than all of the real Ed Wood's films combined. Ed Wood was known for his very low cost B-movies which cost significantly less than Tim Burton's tribute film to him.

16. Big Fish (2003)

Box Office: $123M (worldwide)

Movie Budget: $70M

Story:

William travels to be with his father, Edward Bloom when he falls ill. William's relationship with his father has been strained because of his father's "tall tales." William has always felt that his father wasn't honest with him. Even now, on his deathbed, Edwards speaks of fantasy. Deeply bothered by his father's tales, William, a journalist, starts to investigate his father's stories, and finally begins to understand his father and his stories.

Interesting Fact:

Spielberg and Zemeckis were considered before Burton took over.

15. Sleepy Hollow (1999)

Box Office: $206M (worldwide)

Movie Budget: $100M

Story:

In 1799, "Sleepy Hollow" was based on Washington Irving's classic "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow." The film mixes horror, fantasy, and romance, and characters that dabble in the supernatural.

Interesting Fact:

After the film wrapped, Johnny Depp decided to adopt Ichabod’s horse from the film after he learned it was going to be put down. The horse's name was Goldeneye, he was a one-eyed horse whom Johnny Depp brought to live on his 41-acre Kentucky farm for the rest of his life.

14. Frankenweenie (2012)

Box Office: $82M (worldwide)

Movie Budget: $39M

Story:

When young Victor Frankenstein, a science nerd and outsider at school, loses his best friend and dog, Sparky, his science teacher gives him an idea of how to jolt old Sparky back to life. The experiment is successful. But when Victor's fellow students steal his secret and use it to resurrect other dead animals, monstrous consequences occur.

Interesting Fact:

Based on a live action black and white short film Tim Burton directed in 1984 while working at Disney. He was fired from Disney from the short film because they felt like it was a waste of company resources, as it was not appropriate for the target audience. Only for Disney to make the stop-motion 2012 feature film with Burton.

13. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children (2016)

Box Office: $296M (worldwide)

Movie Budget: $110M

Story:

This film was based on the novel "Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children," written by Ransom Riggs. When his grandfather leaves, Jake discovers a mystery that spans different worlds and times, a magical place known as Miss Peregrine's School for Peculiar Children. Mystery and danger increase as he gets to know the people of this place and learns about their powers and their enemies. Jake discovers that his own unique peculiarity is the only way he can save his new friends.

Interesting Fact:

One of Burton’s last collaborations with 20th Century Fox before Disney acquired the studio.

12. Planet of the Apes (2001)

Box Office: $362M (worldwide)

Movie Budget: $100M

Story:

Set in the late 1950s and early '60s, artist Walter Keane earns fame and success with portraits of saucer-eyed waifs by taking credit for his wife's work. Margaret is horrified when she discovers Walter is passing off her work as his own, but she is too meek to protest too loudly. It isn't until their divorce, and the lawsuit follows that the truth finally comes out.

Interesting Fact:

The real artist, Margaret Keane, makes a cameo appearance in the film, sitting on a park bench reading a book in the background as the scene of Amy Adams' character painting is filmed. This appearance allowed Keane to participate in the project about her life and work. Also, a photo taken during the filming of that scene was included in the end credits. 

11. Big Eyes (2014)

Box Office: $29M (worldwide)

Movie Budget: $10M

Story:

Set in the late 1950s and early '60s, artist Walter Keane earns fame and success with portraits of saucer-eyed waifs by taking credit for his wife's work. Margaret is horrified when she discovers Walter is passing off her work as his own, but she is too meek to protest too loudly. It isn't until their divorce, and the lawsuit follows that the truth finally comes out.

Interesting Fact:

The real artist, Margaret Keane, makes a cameo appearance in the film, sitting on a park bench reading a book in the background as the scene of Amy Adams' character painting is filmed. This appearance allowed Keane to participate in the project about her life and work. Also, a photo taken during the filming of that scene was included in the end credits. 

10. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)

Box Office: $475M (worldwide)

Movie Budget: $150M

Story:

Charlie Bucket, played by Freddie Highmore, and his Grandpa Joe, played by David Kelly, join a small group of Golden Ticket contest winners who get to tour Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory. With his Oompa Loompa workers' help, Willy Wonka, played by Johnny Depp, has a hidden reason for the tour, one that he will reveal only after the children show their true nature.

Interesting Fact:

The screenplay writer, John August, did not watch the 1971 Willy Wonka before working on this film. Tim Burton encouraged him not to, instead just read the books. After finishing Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, John watched the 1971 Gene Wilder film and was shocked at how dark the film was.

9. Corpse Bride (2005)

Box Office: $118M (worldwide)

Movie Budget: $40M

Story:

While Victor is in a forest practicing his vows for his arranged marriage to Victoria, a tree branch becomes a hand and drags him into the dead land. He meets Emily, a bride who was murdered for eloping with her lover, who now wants to marry Victor. Victor must escape the land of the dead before his Victoria marries the villainous Barkis Bittern.

Interesting Fact:

First animated film to be shot entirely in digital still photography.

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

Box Office: $153M (worldwide)

Movie Budget: $50M

Story:

A London barber is wrongly accused of a crime and transported to Australia so the evil Judge Turpin can steal their lovely wife. Returning after 15 years, the now madman calls himself Sweeny Todd, and revenge is on his mind. He applies his razor to unlucky customers and shuttles their bodies down to Mrs. Lovett, who uses them in her meat-pie shop. Though many fall to his blade, he will not be satisfied until he slits Turpin's throat.

Interesting Fact:

Won the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture (Musical/Comedy). This is based on a stage play where typically the actors play their own instruments and sing.

7. Batman Returns (1992)

Box Office: $267M (worldwide)

Movie Budget: $80M

Story:

Penguin, played by Danny DeVito, joins up with businessman Max Shreck, played by Christopher Walken, to take down Batman once and for all. But when Shreck's timid assistant, Selina Kyle, finds out, Shreck tries to kill her. She is then transformed into the sexy Catwoman and teams up with the Penguin and Shreck to destroy Batman, but sparks fly when she confronts him.

Interesting Fact:

There was a lot of backlash for how dark and grotesque the film was, for its time, causing McDonald's to pull Happy Meal toys. This conflict is a leading reason why Tim Burton did not return for Batman Forever.

6. Alice in Wonderland (2010)

Box Office: $1.025B (worldwide)

Movie Budget: $200M

Story:

As a sequel to the original Alice in Wonderland animation, Alice Kingsleigh, played by Mia Wasikowska, is now a teenager with no memory of the place aside from her dreams. While at a garden party for her fiancé and herself, she spots a particular white rabbit and falls into a hole after him, where she becomes reunited with her friends, the Mad Hatter, played by Johnny Depp, and others. Alice discovers it is her destiny to end the Red Queen's reign of terror.

Interesting Fact:

Tim Burton was not a fan of the original story. Burton said, “It was always a girl wandering around from one crazy character to another, and I never really felt any real emotional connection.”

5. Edward Scissorhands

Box Office: $86M (worldwide)

Movie Budget: $20M

Story:

Edward, an animated human being made by a scientist, is suddenly orphaned when the scientist dies before finishing assembling Edward, leaving the young man with a freakish appearance accentuated by the scissor blades he has instead of hands. A kind and loving suburban saleswoman, Peg, discovers Edward and takes him home. But, despite his kindness and artistic talent, Edward's hands make him an outcast.

Interesting Fact:

Edward Scissorhands was inspired by a picture Tim Burton drew in high school, attending Burbank High. The image was a representation of his feelings of his own isolation at that age.

If I were basing this on my own preferences, I would probably put this one in the top spot.

4. Beetlejuice (1988)

Box Office: $81M (worldwide)

Movie Budget: $15M

Story:

After Barbara and Adam Maitland die in a car accident, they find themselves stuck haunting their country residence, unable to leave the house. When the Deetzes and their teenage daughter Lydia, buy the home, the deceased Maitlands attempt to scare them away. Their efforts attract Beetlejuice, who quickly puts Lydia and the Maitlands in danger.

Interesting Fact:

Beetlejuice won an Oscar for Best Makeup, which helped pave the way for him to direct Batman in 1989.

3. Pee-Wee's Big Adventure (1985)

Box Office: $41M (worldwide)

Movie Budget: $7M

Story:

Pee-wee Herman is an eccentric child-like man who loves his red bicycle and will not sell it to his envious neighbor. While Pee-wee is on holiday visiting his friend Dottie, the bike is stolen. Believing his bike is at the Alamo, Pee-wee sets off on a trip, where he meets many interesting people. Eventually, Pee-wee discovers that his bike is being used in a movie and tries to recover it.

Interesting Fact:

Tim Burton was chosen to direct this film by Warner Bros. Executives, after they watched his short film Frankenweenie.

2. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

Box Office: $108M (worldwide)

Movie Budget: $18M

Story:

Jack Skellington, Halloweentown's beloved pumpkin king, has become bored with the same old routine of frightening people in the "real world" year after year. But when Jack stumbles on Christmastown, he gets a new lease on life, and he plots to bring Christmas under his control by kidnapping Santa Claus and assuming the role. However, Jack soon discovers that even the best-laid plans can go awry.

Interesting Fact:

Most people believe Burton directed this film, but it was actually Henry Selick. Tim Burton did create the story and characters, but did not direct.

1. Batman (1989)

Box Office: $411M (worldwide)

Movie Budget: $35M

Story:

After witnessing his parents' tragic murder as a child, millionaire philanthropist Bruce Wayne, played by Michael Keaton, chooses to fight crime in Gotham City disguised as Batman, striking fear into criminals' hearts. But when a deformed madman, "The Joker," played by Jack Nicholson, takes control of Gotham City's criminal underworld, Batman must face his most ruthless enemy ever while protecting his identity and his love interest, Vicki Vale.

Interesting Fact:

Warner Bros. Merchandising for Batman was groundbreaking, with toys, shirts, and collaborations with cereal. The merchandising alone shaped the film industry because it made more money than the film.