Tim Burton’s 10 Best Movies According to Rotten Tomatoes' Audience Score

Tim Burton is arguably one of Hollywood’s most innovative and respected directors, serving as a major trailblazer for goth culture on the big screen. Even if his career as of late hasn't experienced the highs of his '80s and '90s productions, Burton has still proven time and time again that he is a master visionary with a unique perspective on storytelling, making his cinematic debut back in 1985 with Pee-wee’s Big Adventure.

He would go on to direct some of the cinema’s most beloved pictures including Beetlejuice, Batman, Edward Scissorhands, and Sleepy Hollow, cementing his status as an influential and revered filmmaker. His frequent collaborations with Johnny Depp has led to a lucrative and beloved partnership, with the pair joining forces on 8 exhilarating projects. Let’s take a look at Tim Burton’s 10 greatest movies, according to Rotten Tomatoes’ audience scores.

10 Batman Returns - 73%

Batman Returns

Release Date

June 19, 1992

Director

Tim Burton

Cast

Michael Keaton, Danny DeVito, Michelle Pfeiffer, Christopher Walken, Michael Gough, Michael Murphy

Rating

PG-13

Genres

Action, Fantasy

In Tim Burton's highly-anticipated 1992 sequel Batman Returns, Michael Keaton once again returned as the masked superhero vigilante as he battles it out against diabolical crime boss The Penguin (Danny Devito) to keep Gotham City safe, while also facing off with the cutthroat and corrupt industrialist Max Shreck (Christopher Walken). The caped crusader crosses paths with the vengeance-seeking, fierce feline Catwoman, iconically portrayed by the phenomenal Michelle Pfeiffer, who ultimately becomes both an aly and an enemy to Bruce Wayne in his quest to keep the city safe.

What Makes It Great

Both audiences and critics were blown away by Burton's brilliant blend of humor and darkness, as well as the film's intricate set design that transported fans to a wonderfully Gothic and fantastical universe. The addition of Pfeiffer and DeVito to the cast also garnered widespread acclaim, as the villains ultimately ended up stealing the show and becoming the most exciting aspect of the sequel. Burton was given complete creative control in the follow-up and his grotesque signature style helped make Batman Returns a major success at the box office while cementing its status as a knockout superhero picture.

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9 Tim Burton's Corpse Bride - 77%

Corpse Bride

Release Date

September 12, 2005

Director

Tim Burton, Mike Johnson

Cast

Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Emily Watson, Tracey Ullman, Paul Whitehouse, Joanna Lumley

Rating

PG

Genres

Animation, Fantasy, Musical, Romance

Burton teamed up with stop-motion animator Mike Johnson to direct the 2005 spellbinding dark fantasy musical Tim Burton's Corpse Bride, which follows the timid-yet-kind Victor Van Dort (Johnny Depp) as he finds himself anxiously awaiting an arranged marriage to the beautiful Victoria Everglot (Emily Watson), an impending union that gets derailed after he is shockingly transported to the land of the dead. Victor becomes the object of desire for the lonely and naïve eponymous character Emily (Helena Bonham Carter), a revenant who yearns for love and wants the young man to be her betrothed.

What Makes It Great

Corpse Bride was Burton's third stop-motion picture he produced but the first he actually directed (as Henry Selick helmed both The Nightmare Before Christmasand James and the Giant Peach), and he fully delivered on depicting a bittersweet love story and delightfully macabre alternate world full of unforgettably strange characters. The film was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature and took home the same accolade by the National Board of Review, earning praise for its stunning animation, soundtrack, and impressive vocal performances.

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8 Pee-wee's Big Adventure - 79%

Pee-Wee's Big Adventure

Release Date

July 26, 1985

Director

Tim Burton

Cast

Paul Reubens, Elizabeth Daily, Mark Holton, Diane Salinger, Judd Omen, Irving Hellman

Rating

PG

Genres

Adventure, Comedy, Family, Fantasy

Burton made his feature-film directorial debut with the 1985 adventure comedy Pee-wee's Big Adventure, with offbeat comedian Paul Reubens bringing his cult character to the big screen as his kooky alter ego embarks on a cross-country journey to locate his beloved stolen bicycle. Pee-wee unsurprisingly becomes caught up in an array of hilarious misadventures along the way and meets some colorful character, serving up a side-splitting and memorable dance performance to "Tequila" in the fan-favorite flick.

What Makes It Great

Reubens' outing as the eccentric and earnest man-child dazzled audiences across the world and helped make Pee-wee's Big Adventure a respected cult classic that still serves up some serious laughs nearly forty years later. The zany flick highlights both Burton and Reubens' love of all things whimsical and weird, and was an early example of the filmmaker's unique approach to storytelling that would further be displayed in his 1988 follow-up Beetlejuice.

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7 Sleepy Hollow - 80%

Sleepy Hollow

Release Date

November 19, 1999

Director

Tim Burton

Cast

Johnny Depp, Christina Ricci, Miranda Richardson, Michael Gambon, Casper Van Dien, Christopher Walken

Rating

R

Genres

Horror, Mystery, Fantasy

Burton once again joined forces with frequent collaborator Johnny Depp for the 1999 gothic supernatural horror film Sleepy Hollow, a loose interpretation of the celebrated Washington Irving short story that centers on the savvy but perpetually anxious Ichabod Crane as he is tasked with going to the remote titular village to investigate a series of gruesome murders that locals believe were committed by the legendary figure known as the Headless Horseman. While interacting with the many suspicious townsfolk of Sleepy Hollow, Ichabod finds himself enamored by the beguiling Katrina Van Tassel (Christina Ricci) as he attempts to solve the case.

What Makes It Great

Anytime Burton and Depp team up, movie magic naturally ensues and Sleepy Hollow was no exception. The adaptation showcased the leading man's gift at completely embodying a character and making them his own, going against the grain and making Ichabod less courageous and more fearful. Depp told Entertainment Weekly, "I always thought of Ichabod as a very delicate, fragile person who was maybe a little too in touch with his feminine side, like a frightened little girl." His knack for transforming himself for a role is just another reason he's one of the cinema's most entertaining and talented performers.

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6 Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street - 81%

Sweeney Todd

Release Date

January 25, 2007

Director

Tim Burton

Cast

Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Alan Rickman, Timothy Spall, Sacha Baron Cohen, Jamie Campbell Bower

Rating

R

Genres

Drama, Documentary, Horror, Musical, Thriller

Johnny Depp showcased both his acting and singing skills when he headlined the 2007 slasher musical Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, once again sharing the screen with Helena Bonham Carter as the demented serial killer and barber who brutally murders his clients with the help of his equally devious assistant Mrs. Lovett, turning their corpses into meat pies. Todd sets his sights on getting revenge against the corrupt Judge Turpin (Alan Rickman), and goes on a bloody rampage on his quest to achieve retribution against the cruel authority figure.

What Makes It Great

With dazzling musical numbers including "No Place Like London" and "My Friends", Depp and Bonham Carter (along with the rest of the dynamic cast) further proved themselves to be a jack-of-all-trades and Depp took home the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor, with the lively film also winning the accolade for Best Motion Picture– Musical or Comedy and the Oscar for Best Art Directon. Sweeney Todd has since been regarded as one of the greatest musicals of the 21st century. A gorgeous 4K UHD edition was recently released in the glorious Paramount Scares, Vol. 1 box set.

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5 Beetlejuice - 82%

Beetlejuice

Release Date

March 30, 1988

Director

Tim Burton

Cast

Alec Baldwin, Geena Davis, Annie McEnroe, Maurice Page, Hugo Stanger, Michael Keaton

Rating

PG

Genres

Comedy, Fantasy

Michael Keaton established himself as a bona fide superstar when he portrayed the scheming poltergeist in the 1988 fantasy horror comedy Beetlejuice, focusing on the recently deceased married couple Barbara and Adam Maitland (Geena Davis & Alec Balwdin) as they attempt to scare their home's new residents away by calling upon the wily bio-exorcist to get the job done. The beloved Halloween classic also features the additional talents of Winona Ryder, Catherine O'Hara, and Jeffrey Jones.

What Makes It Great

Beetlejuice is undeniably one of Burton's most acclaimed and cherished movies and was both a critical and commercial smash hit, earning over $74 million at the box office and winning an Oscar for Best Makeup and three Saturn Awards including Best Horror Film. Keaton delivered arguably one of his most iconic performances in the '80s juggernaut, and the actor along with Ryder and O'Hara are set to reunite in the buzzed-about upcoming sequel Beetlejuice 2.

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4 Batman - 84%

Batman (1989)

Release Date

June 23, 1989

Director

Tim Burton

Cast

Michael Keaton, Jack Nicholson, Kim Basinger, Robert Wuhl, Pat Hingle, Billy Dee Williams

Rating

PG-13

Genres

Action, Fantasy

Michael Keaton once again showed off his range as a performer and ability to dominate any genre when he was cast as the iconic DC superhero in the 1989's Batman, the first cinematic adaptation of the comic book series that follows the caped crusader/Bruce Wayne as he takes on his arch nemesis the Joker (the exceptional Jack Nicholson) as the legendary villain attempts to take control of Gotham City's dangerous criminal underworld and spread violence. Burton was brought on to direct the picture after the immense financial success of his other films Pee-wee's Big Adventure and Beetlejuice.

What Makes It Great

Nicholson's outing as the psychopathic supervillain the Joker was revered by passionate fans of the comics and critics were thoroughly impressed by his interpretation of the demented criminal, with the actor earning a Golden Globe nod for his stellar efforts. Keaton also was able to break away from his typecast as a goofy comedian and showed off his edgy and serious side, and has since been regarded as one of the greatest performers to don the iconic batsuit.

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3 Ed Wood - 88%

Ed Wood

Release Date

September 27, 1994

Director

Tim Burton

Cast

Johnny Depp, Martin Landau, Sarah Jessica Parker, Patricia Arquette, Jeffrey Jones, G.D. Spradlin

Rating

R

Genres

Biography, Comedy, Documentary, Drama, History

Tim Burton set out to direct an engrossing biography on the life of the eponymous cult filmmaker with 1994's Ed Wood, once again enlisting the talents of Johnny Depp to portray the offbeat Hollywood figure who produced a series of campy low-budget flicks in the '50s. The dramedy focuses on the relationship between Wood and cinema great Bela Lugosi (Martin Landau) as they teamed up to create the movies Glen or Glenda, Bride of the Monster, and Plan 9 from Outer Space while delving into the director's personal life.

What Makes It Great

The Oscar-winning picture touts sensational performances by Depp and Landau, and while it failed to dominate the box office was ultimately lauded by critics for its charming look at the zany filmmaker's Tinseltown career and for Burton's masterful storytelling and tribute to Wood and his friendship with Lugosi. Rolling Stone declared the dramedy, "Burton's most personal and provocative movie to date" and it is considered one of his greatest creations.

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2 Big Fish - 89%

Big Fish

Release Date

December 25, 2003

Director

Tim Burton

Cast

Ewan McGregor, Albert Finney, Billy Crudup, Jessica Lange, Helena Bonham Carter, Alison Lohman

Rating

PG-13

Genres

Adventure, Documentary, Drama, Fantasy

Touting a decorated ensemble cast led by Ewan McGregor, Albert Finney, Billy Crudup, and Helena Bonham Carter, the 2003 fantasy drama Big Fish focuses on the strained relationship between William Bloom and his father Edward as the younger man comes to his parent's side when he falls ill, and is forced to confront Edward's constant storytelling and wondrous anecdotes. William goes on a mission to discern what is fact and fiction, learning more and more about his larger-than-life dad in the process.

What Makes It Great

The movie held a special place in Burton's heart as he was dealing with the death of his own father in 2000, and found comfort in directing a drama centering on the reconciliation between a parent and his child. The wholesome and uplifting film is jam-packed full of humor, emotional depth, and stunning visuals, with Burton earning a BAFTA Award Best Director nod for his moving adaptation of the Daniel Wallace novel.

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1 Edward Scissorhands - 91%

Edward Scissorhands

Release Date

December 5, 1990

Director

Tim Burton

Cast

Johnny Depp, Winona Ryder, Dianne Wiest, Anthony Michael Hall, Kathy Baker, Robert Oliveri

Rating

PG-13

Genres

Drama, Documentary, Fantasy, Romance

Fans all across the world couldn't get enough of the endearing love story between the titular artificial humanoid and a kind-hearted teenager in Burton's 1990 Gothic romantic fantasy Edward Scissorhands, which features Johnny Depp and Winona Ryder as star-crossed lovers who develop an unlikely bond when he is taken in by her suburban family and Avon saleswoman mother (Dianne Wiest). The gentle-spirited Edward finds a sense of belonging with the Boggs, though his razor-sharp hands cause him to become an outcast in the close-knit community.

What Makes It Great

Edward Scissorhands marked the first collaboration between Depp and Burton and launched an enduring and successful personal and professional friendship between the two, and the picture allowed the actor to shed his teen idol status and emerge as a major leading man. Lauded for its themes of isolation and self-discovery, the fantasy flick features a commanding performance by Depp and includes a winning blend of comedy, romance, and a poignant message. Many consider Edward Scissorhands to be Burton's best film.

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