The Essential Tim Burton

In Burton’s 1984 short film, a parody of the classic Universal horror movie, Shelly Duvall and Daniel Stern play the parents of the young Victor Frankenstein, who is distraught when his beloved dog Sparky is killed when he’s hit by a car. But the inventive youngster brings him back to life thanks to a special machine that sends a bolt of lightning into the dog. But the Frankensteins’ neighbors are less than thrilled with the reanimated monster dog. Burton later remade the film as a feature-length stop-motion animated movie in 2012. [Where to stream Frankenweenie]

Burton’s first feature film was the big-screen debut of America’s favorite man-child, Pee-wee Herman (as played by Paul Reubens, who co-wrote the film with Phil Hartman and Michael Varhol). Loosely based on the classic Italian movie The Bicycle Thief, Burton’s directorial debut follows the wacky Pee-wee as he sets out on a cross-country adventure to retrieve his stolen bike. The film was a massive success, spawning a sequel and the beloved TV series, Pee-wee’s Playhouse. [Where to stream Pee-wee’s Big Adventure]

Burton’s follow up to Pee-wee was the irreverent horror comedy starring Michael Keaton as the gruesome poltergeist Beetlejuice, who is contacted by a recently deceased couple (played by Geena Davis and Alec Baldwin) to scare away the family that has taken residence in their home. The dazzling comic fantasy also sparked Burton’s collaborations with Keaton as well as his other frequent stars, Winona Ryder, Catherine O’Hara, and Jeffrey Jones. [Where to stream Beetlejuice]

The success of Pee-wee and Beetlejuice earned Burton the chance to take on an honest-to-goodness blockbuster in the big-screen adaptation of the classic DC comic. Keaton re-teamed with Burton to play the caped crusader, who battles a delectably over-the-top Jack Nicholson as the Joker. Burton’s visual sensibilities mixed well with the dark tones of the Batman comics (particularly Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns), blending in elements of Art Deco, German Expressionism, and Film noir. [Where to stream Batman]

Based on a story Burton co-wrote with screenwriter Caroline Thompson, Edward Scissorhands marked Burton’s first collaboration with his frequent star, Johnny Depp. Depp plays the titular character, a robotic man whose eccentric inventor dies before he has the chance to finish him, leaving him with scissors for hands. When he is taken in by the local Avon lady, he tries to blend in with her and her family’s idyllic suburban community — but his obvious difference sparks tension despite his extreme tenderness. [Where to stream Edward Scissorhands]

Burton’s follow-up to the first film in the Batman franchise ups the ante, bringing in two villains to face off against Gotham’s superhero. Joining Michael Keaton are Danny DeVito as the Joker and Michelle Pfeiffer as Catwoman, the latter providing a femme fatale-style love interest for Batman / Bruce Wayne. Both DeVito and Pfeiffer would work with Burton again, as would Christopher Walken, who plays the devious Max Schreck. The sequel feels more like a Burton film, balancing more of his dark human and aesthetics than its predecessor. [Where to stream Batman Returns]

Though it was directed by Henry Selick, The Nightmare Before Christmas has Tim Burton’s fingerprints all over it. Not only did he come up with the story and characters (once again, Caroline Thompson penned the screenplay based on Burton’s inspiration), but Burton also served as a producer and production designer. Originally conceiving it as a holiday special à la Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer during his days as a Disney animator, returning to the project in the ’90s as a full-length movie musical, which featured his regular collaborator Danny Elfman not only scoring the film but also providing the singing voice of Jack Skellington. [Where to stream The Nightmare Before Christmas]

Perhaps Burton’s most acclaimed film, Ed Wood stars Johnny Depp as the infamous B-movie director, whose Plan 9 From Outer Space is considered by many to be one of the worst movies ever made. But Burton’s ode to the genre filmmaker is a touching, thoughtful look as an artist whose personal life and queer tendencies (Wood’s identity as a transvestite influenced his other infamous movie, Glen or Glenda) made him a longtime subject of jokes within the filmmaking community. Martin Landau won an Oscar for his portrayal of horror movie legend Bela Lugosi. [Where to stream Ed Wood]

Following the critical disappointment Mars Attacks!, Burton adapted the classic Washington Irving story into a lush, equally gorgeous and gruesome gothic thriller starring Johnny Depp as the iconic Ichabod Crane. Once again, Burton balances dark, moody themes with gross-out comic elements, producing one of his most visually stunning — if slightly formulaic — blockbusters. [Where to stream Sleepy Hollow]

Before eventually settling into mediocre, CGI-heavy blockbusters like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Alice in Wonderland, and Dark Shadows, Burton directed this charming and crowd-pleasing drama about a young man who must reconcile his father’s tall tales on the eve of his death from cancer. Albert Finney and Ewan McGregor pull double-duty as the old and young Edward Bloom, whose fantastical life provides an incredibly heartwarming and inventive ode to storytelling and family history. [Where to stream Big Fish]

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