The Best Movies Directed by Tim Burton

Over 500 Ranker voters have come together to rank this list of The Best Movies Directed by Tim Burton
Reference reranked 6 of 19 total items on The Best Tim Burton Film. Check out the original list to vote on it yourself!
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  • Edward Scissorhands
    1
    207 votes
    Johnny Depp, Winona Ryder, Dianne Wiest
    In the peculiar and captivating film Edward Scissorhands, Edward (Johnny Depp), a gentle creation with scissors for hands, navigates life in suburbia after being taken in by Peg (Dianne Wiest). His unusual appearance and talent for topiary artistry stir both fascination and fear among the townsfolk. The eccentric inventor (Vincent Price) who created him passes away before he could complete Edward's hands, leaving Edward to grapple with his incomplete nature. Directed by Tim Burton, this blend of fantasy and romance won a BAFTA for Best Production Design.
  • Beetlejuice
    2
    202 votes
    Michael Keaton, Alec Baldwin, Geena Davis
    In Tim Burton's quirky comedy-horror, Beetlejuice, a recently deceased couple Adam and Barbara Maitland (Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis) find their idyllic afterlife disrupted when an obnoxious new family moves into their former home. Desperate to reclaim their peaceful existence, they enlist the help of a raucous spirit named Beetlejuice (Michael Keaton). However, they soon realize that this mischievous ghost may be more trouble than he's worth. The film, known for its unique blend of humor and horror, won the Academy Award for Best Makeup.
  • Batman
    3
    175 votes
    Jack Nicholson, Michael Keaton, Kim Basinger
    In the heart of Gotham City, a shadowy vigilante known as Batman (Michael Keaton) emerges from the darkness to battle crime. Our caped crusader, tormented by his past, is drawn into a complex web spun by The Joker (Jack Nicholson), a deranged villain with a macabre sense of humor. As the city descends into chaos, Batman must navigate through a labyrinth of deceit and danger to save it. This action-packed superhero film, steeped in noir aesthetics, unravels an intricate tale of justice, fear, and redemption. Winning an Academy Award for Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Batman redefined the genre with its darkly stylized vision and compelling characters.
  • Batman Returns
    4
    155 votes
    Michael Keaton, Danny DeVito, Michelle Pfeiffer
    In the 1992 classic Batman Returns, Gotham City is once again under threat, this time from a trifecta of villains. Batman (Michael Keaton) must face off against the sinister Penguin (Danny DeVito), a grotesque man-bird hybrid who emerges from the city's sewers with a vengeful agenda. Simultaneously, he battles the enigmatic Catwoman (Michelle Pfeiffer), a former secretary turned feline vigilante after a near-death experience. This Tim Burton-directed sequel weaves a darker web than its predecessor, offering an intricate narrative that explores themes of identity and duality. Until today, it remains a noteworthy entry in the iconic superhero franchise.
  • Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
    5
    162 votes
    Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Alan Rickman
    In the shadowy, grimy corners of 19th-century London, Sweeney Todd (Johnny Depp) emerges from the ashes of a shattered life. He's a barber, with a blade as sharp as his thirst for revenge. Helena Bonham Carter plays Mrs. Lovett, an entrepreneurial pie-maker who becomes Todd's unlikely accomplice. Together, they embark on a macabre business venture that leaves no throat unslit in this musical thriller directed by Tim Burton. The film, a gothic tale laced with dark humor and chilling performances, won the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy in 2008.
  • Corpse Bride
    6
    177 votes
    Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Emily Watson
    Set within the realm of the living and the dead, Corpse Bride is a stop-motion animated musical fantasy. The film revolves around Victor Van Dort (voiced by Johnny Depp), a young groom who mistakenly weds a deceased bride, Emily (Helena Bonham Carter), in the underworld. In this tangled tale, Victor must navigate his way between his betrothed, Victoria Everglot (Emily Watson), in the land of the living and his accidental wife in the afterlife. Noteworthy for its macabre and humorous narrative, Corpse Bride was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.