Happy belated Halloween! Since it's still October, I thought it'd be fun to do another Halloween themed list, this time focusing on Hollywood's Halloween King, Tim Burton.
Although he's not a full blown horror director, Burton embodies the spirit of Halloween as well as any director, reveling in macabre visuals that are reminiscent of other horror films. Whether it's direct homage to a classic horror film or a vibrant use of blood, Burton never shies away from incorporating horror techniques into his films.
In addition, Burton has a tendency to utilize classic Halloween figures in. Across his twenty-one films, Burton has incorporated Halloween staples such as vampires, skeletons, werewolves, monsters, mummies, zombies, witches, ghosts, giants, aliens, clowns, gothic castles and even candy. Indeed, there's a reason Burton's films are heavily rewatched this time of year, as he employs horror figures in fun and exciting ways.
That being said, which of Tim Burton's films really lend themselves to this holiday? While some are perfect for the season, others are poor watches for October (or any other month). As such, I aim to rank every Tim Burton film by how apt they are for the spookiest of seasons.
Of course, I must clarify what makes a great Halloween film. In addition to employing general scares, a good Halloween film delves into both the spooky and the supernatural.
It doesn't need to be terrifying, but any Halloween film should have an eerie atmosphere, otherworldly sense of danger, and some Halloween staple.
Also, a good Halloween film reminds you of the holiday itself. Perhaps it features some amazing costume design that reappears annually in Halloween stores or revels in the candy delivered on Halloween night. Either way, a Halloween film that respects the holiday is always welcome.
Lastly, I'm trying to avoid ranking these films by their quality. Although a film that has fun with its supernatural and horror elements is better for the holiday, the core staples of Halloween are what I'm mostly looking for.
I did include every Burton directed film, as well as The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) because it's inextricable from his vision. I also counted both Beetlejuice films as one entry because they're nearly the same in terms of Halloween content, while the Batman duology are not.
Without further ado, here's every skeleton infested, B-movie imitating, ridiculously violent, Danny Elfman scored, and Johnny Depp led Tim Burton movie ranked by their Halloweenness.
20. Big Eyes (2014)
Despite being Burton's best film of the 2010's, Big Eyes features virtually no Halloween elements. It tells the story of Margaret Keane, a fascinating painter, but poor subject for the holiday. The only part that's really scary is when her swindling husband, Walter Keane (Christoph Waltz), becomes abusive and almost lights their house on fire. However, this scary is more traumatically realistic than it is ghoulish or delightful, so Big Eyes finishes last.
19. Dumbo (2019)
One of Burton's worst films, this live action Disney remake is horrifying in all the wrong ways. Besides the film's quality, there's no significantly horrific elements here. We do get an elephant rampage as well as some slight magic, but they're ultimately sparse. Due to its slightly supernatural protagonist, Dumbo barely escapes last place.
18. Pee-wee's Big Adventure (1985)
Despite being a hit, Burton's first film unsurprisingly lacks much of his signature visual style. The film is instead hinged on Pee-wee (Paul Reubens) and his increasingly goofy antics. However, Pee-wee's Big Adventure does feature one of the greatest jump scares outside the horror genre, courtesy of Large Marge (Alice Nunn) and some goofy CGI. Sure, it's just one scene, but the eerie lighting and visual punch are enough to save this from the bottom.
17. Planet of the Apes (2001)
One of Burton's four remakes, this Mark Wahlberg movie might be the worst thing he's ever done. In addition to being a scary watch, the proposition of living on an ape run planet is also terrifying. The apes themselves are never scary like zombies or aliens, but their overbearing society and brutal tactics inspire a fair amount of dread. That being said, a number of goofy scenes cut many of the tenser moments weakening the apes' frightening potential that later adaptations would explore.
16. Batman (1989)
One of Burton's crowning achievements, Batman marked a turning point for the superhero genre and Burton's own career. It's also the first film that's a decent Halloween watch.
While there's relatively few horror moments or monsters, it does feature one terrifying villain, the Joker (Jack Nicholson). Building his stylish but comic accurate look, Burton's Joker relishes in cartoonishly brutal violence. He electrocutes a man to a crisp and allows many people to laugh themselves to death. Sure, he's no slasher villain, but Joker's kills are unhinged to a frightening degree.
In addition, Burton's iconic costumes are ripe for trick or treating. The rubbery Batsuit and stylish purple Joker attire have both been worn to death. His designs aren't the definitive one for either character, but they are instantly recognizable.
With some solid costume choices and vile antagonist, Batman is a decent Halloween film that still pales in comparison with Burton's spooky filmography.
15. Alice in Wonderland (2010)
Like Batman, this billion dollar Disney hit succeeds in Halloween terms off of one metric: costume design. In updating the 1951 animated classic, Burton designed a number of striking costumes that are simultaneously colorful and dreary.
As such, these costumes tend to make a reappearance every October especially since the property is a popular party theme. Whether it's Alice, the Mad Hatter, or the Queen of Hearts, these costume designs remain an enticing choice. Unlike Batman, which has seen three more adaptations since Burton's take, his Alice in Wonderland designs remain the most recent and, therefore, most popular.
As for the movie itself, there's a decent amount of dark imagery and supernatural elements. Most notably, the Jabberwocky is a fairly terrifying monster for a family film. Again, it's never horror, but the supernatural forces and violent villains cement this as a fine Halloween film.
14. Batman Returns (1992)
One might expect that Burton's first sequel belongs right next to its predecessor especially since it's similar in design, atmosphere, and tone. However, it sets itself apart in two major ways, again starting with the costume design.
Although Batman's costume remains mostly the same, there are now two villains for him to square off with, Catwoman (Michelle Pfeiffer) and Penguin (Danny DeVito). Both of their costumes are iconic with Catwoman's remaining a frequent choice over thirty years later.
More importantly though, the characters in Batman Returns lend themselves better to the holiday. Among Penguin's crew are a number of circus freaks, many of which feature an unsettling design and love for chaos.
Ultimately though, it's the Penguin himself whose disfigured monstrosity best embodies the holiday. Every bit as despicable as the Joker, Penguin never shies away from his animalistic instincts, inflicting violence in gruesome ways. With a monstrous entity at its core, Batman Returns brings a sturdy amount of horror to this superhero flick.
13. Big Fish (2003)
If you're like me, an avid storyteller, then Big Fish is probably your favorite Burton film. It's tremendously moving, opting to sidestep much of Burton's usual stylings for an introspective look at the relationships in our lives.
While it's more concerned with Edward Bloom's (Ewan McGregor and Albert Finney) life and relationship with his son Will (Billy Crudup), Big Fish features a number of supernatural encounters.
Throughout the film, Edward tells his tall tales with a knack for suspense and adamant belief in their truth. Among these tall tales include an encounter with a witch who predicts your death, a meeting with a giant who has wreaked havoc on the town, and working for a werewolf who runs a carnival.
Under Burton's direction, these scenes seem like tributes to the horror genre, utilizing the supernatural in a fun way. Being stories, the tales somehow enliven themselves, feeling like sly glimpses into a magical world that just might exist.
Although the film's overall message is about the power of storytelling and how it bridges generations, these ghost stories are reminiscent of campfire Halloween fun. They're never the focus, but Burton slyly sneaks them in, supposing that a good horror story can bring anyone together.
12. Ed Wood (1994)
Often considered his best film, Ed Wood proved that Burton was capable of serious dramatic work. As such, one might not expect a biopic about the cross dressing and poorly received director, Ed Wood (Johnny Depp), to have much Halloween content at all. However, it does.
Although it's a completely realistic film, Ed Wood is a horror director at heart, who strives his best to deliver exciting pictures despite his limited talents and relentless obstacles. Following Wood's life, we get a behind the scenes look at what it takes to get a horror movie made. The resulting films are always schlocky, such as the abysmal but fun Plan 9 from Outer Space (1957).
While Wood's films are as B-movie as they come, they not only reflect his vision, but love for cheesy sci-fi horror. Burton's film showcases the joys of the genre at every level from acting to directing. Wood might be regarded as the worst director of all time, but the community that he assembles shows the magic that the horror genre can bring anyone.
11. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)
Just missing out on the top ten is Burton's strange, yet endearing Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. It features virtually no horror elements, rendering some to wonder why it's so high. The answer, obviously, is candy.
None of Burton's films, nor most of Hollywood's output, have ever dedicated as much time to sweets as this remake. From the exciting chocolate rapids to that first candy room, Burton goes through exhaustive efforts to make every set in this film look delicious.
To some, candy might be a miniscule part of Halloween, especially as you grow up. However, it's everything to a kid who's trick or treating and garnering sweets that he doesn't get any other time of the year.
Burton's film fixates on the world of sweets, bringing in a cast of children who get to wander through his delectable halls. Of course, strange fates befall them, but it's still any kid's dream to venture through the Wonka chocolate factory.
10. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children (2016)
Kicking off the top ten is this often forgotten family fantasy adventure film, Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children. While it's unlikely anyone's favorite Burton film, it does feature a strong amount of his directorial trademarks, much of which is ripe for Halloween.
The film explores the story of Jake (Asa Butterfield), a normal kid who discovers a secret hidden world of peculiar children with remarkable gifts. He eventually realizes that he not only has powers himself but that there's a supernatural evil seeking the peculiar children.
While it's a family friendly film, there are tinges of horror at every corner, starting with the kids themselves. Every peculiar has a super power and while some are familiar like superstrength or levitation, others are slightly horrific.
For instance, Claire (Raffiella Chapman) has a monstrous mouth on the back of her head, Enoch (Finlay MacMillan) can raise the dead, and the Twins turn people to stone. Sure, none of them are evil, but their powers are certainly uncomfortable.
Besides the kids though, there's the evil chasing them, known as the Hollows. Their backstory is a little complex, but they are basically large faceless monsters with elongated limbs and tentacles pouring from their mouths. As for their goal, the hollows aim to eat the eyes of peculiars to recapture their lost humanity.
With incessant, grotesque monsters, Burton's family film manages to unnerve constantly. Throw in an elongated scene with reanimated corpses and this film is prime for the holiday.
9. Edward Scissorhands (1990)
Despite not being a horror film, Edward Scissorhands possesses a wealth of dark imagery in an enchanting way. It's hardly surprising that Burton's film has become one of his most beloved and rewatched films especially during October.
The film tells the story of Edward (Johnny Depp) a lab creation stuck with scissors for hands after his maker dies. He tries to acclimate to suburbia but ultimately fails, instead opting to live his days out in the castle he grew up in.
Overall, there's a horror design throughout much of this film starting with Edward's enormous gothic castle. Comically juxtaposed against a perfect neighborhood, the castle serves as an homage to classic horror films that usually took place in a similarly immense structure of brooding darkness.
Speaking of classic horror, Burton wisely casts one of the greatest horror actors, Vincent Price, as Edward's creator. It's a perfect role, as Price would often play mad scientist roles in the horror films of the 50's. By including Price, Burton nails his story to the fun horror films of the past, allowing his characters to flourish from the familiar genre.
While the rest of the film doesn't have much horror, (it eventually turns into a love story), the tenants are enough for the story to feel magical. It's hardly surprising that Edward has become a perennial Halloween costume choice, as the film slides into the season perfectly.
8. Mars Attacks! (1996)
One of Burton's most confounding films, Mars Attacks! is a ridiculous send up of science fiction. Touted as an alien spoof, the film subverts every genre convention, forcing a number of A-listers and Oscar winners to contend with overtly violent CGI aliens.
At the end of the day though, Mars Attacks! is as much a horror film as it is a science fiction one. These green Martians are cruel beyond compare and have the means to wipe out humanity. As they "ack ack" through humanity, it becomes terrifyingly clear that these aliens are beyond humanity in every way.
Of course, everything is done in a tongue and cheek way that's always over the top. Whether it's lasering Congress to death or lighting cows on fire, the Martians' penchant for carnage always makes for a good laugh. Sure, the situation is terrifying for the characters, but the bulging eyes and primitive CGI all reinforce the comedic spine of the film.
While some might scoff at the visuals or ridiculous plot, Burton's homage to cheesy 50's science fiction makes this a one of a kind experience. The contrast between the talented cast and goofy visuals results in some consistently great comedy. With no shortage of violence, Mars Attacks! excels as a Halloween flick, especially when the Martians show off their disturbing surgical skills. Ack ack indeed.
7. Dark Shadows (2012)
On the surface, Dark Shadows hits every Halloween movie checkmark. This adaptation of the Gothic soap opera of the same name follows Barnabas (Johnny Depp), an 18th century vampire who awakens in 1972 and tries to save his family name. In addition to the central vampire, the film also includes a vengeful witch, a haunting spirit, and a werewolf.
With so many Halloween figures, Burton ushers in supernatural fun, darkly comedic dialogue, and even a few raunchy vampire scenes. Most of all though, the film is surprisingly violent, as Barnabas seeks to quench his blood lust with innocent victims repeatedly. Some of his kills are disturbing, but the overt bloodshed plays into the genre well.
In addition, the witch, Angie (Eva Green), proves to be a despicable, yet terrifying villain. She murders Barnabas' parents and lover, before transforming him into a vampire and cursing his bloodline. Her wickedness is disturbing, but her adoration for Barnabas makes her an intriguing villain.
That being said, the film often feels like it's struggling to have fun with these characters. There are funny and violent moments, but the story as a whole doesn't exude Halloween fun. As such, I had to rank it lower, though it's definitely anchored in the horror genre.
6. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)
Burton has many strong suits, but his utilization of music might just be his most underappreciated. Whether he's collaborating with Danny Elfman on another spine tingling score or completely reshaping the meaning of a Harry Belafonte track, Burton shines a bright light on his soundtracks.
As such, it's no surprise that Burton's able to turn the stage classic Sweeney Todd into a macabre survey that's darkly funny, disturbing yet romantic, and pleasurably music centric. Most of all though, Burton's directorial staples ensure that this violent tale receives attention every Halloween.
Visually, Burton heavily uses grey tones to reflect the morbid material. It's not black and white, but Burton walks the composition about as close as he possibly can, allowing the darkness to engulf his characters' violent urges.
Speaking of which, Sweeney Todd is genuinely one of Burton's most disturbing films. While his past films have used violence to comedic effect, Burton plays it far more seriously here, emphasizing Todd's (Johnny Depp) warped mind. The consistent flowing of blood is morbid enough, but the sound of Todd's victims thudding against the floor like slabs of meat churns the stomach. The end product of meat pies is the perfect cherry atop a grotesquely visceral plot.
In many ways, Todd is the most sympathetic slasher villain, a man who's lost his family and only wants revenge. However, his blood thirst transforms into a true monster, one who causes pain for countless innocent souls. As terrifying as his kills are, the tragic ending terrifies in an entirely different way, showing that Burton can easily scare the soul.
5. Corpse Bride (2005)
No stranger to stop motion animation, Burton has helmed some of the most beautifully animated films. All three made it to the top five, but the first is the alluringly luminescent Corpse Bride.
From the premise alone, you can tell that this is going to be a fine Halloween film. When an already engaged Victor (Johnny Depp) accidentally places a ring on a a corpse's hand, he becomes betrothed to Emily (Helena Bonham Carter), who is undead. Victor then gets to see a vibrant underworld before realizing that he has to remedy his mistake without hurting anyone's feelings.
Although it's not scary, Corpse Bride finds the joy in death. Victor's world is dreary and grey, but the underworld he finds is full of color and, ironically, brimming with life. As the music serenades the dead, the skeletons dance like there's no tomorrow. Even the dead have more life than Victor, prompting him to evolve as a character.
In addition, the Corpse Bride herself is a beautiful spin on the macabre. Obviously, she's dead, but she radiates beauty in a way that few other characters can match. She's ultimately a tragic figure, but Emily reminds us that there's beauty everywhere, even in death.
Burton's film is certainly unusual for Halloween, as there's no horror, scares, or monsters. But with a few skeletons, he spins a fantastic romance out of the macabre, one filled with loneliness and severe longing. Brilliant at every corner, Corpse Bride finds the fun in death, the beauty in the forgotten, and the color in a life that's begging for vibrancy.
4. Frankenweenie (2012)
Burton's most recent animated feature, Frankenweenie is about as charming as horror can be. The film manages to spin the gothic horror Frankenstein into a heart wrenching tale about a boy losing his dog. Unsurprisingly, this lighthearted take results in a solid Halloween film for the whole family.
Of course, this retelling thrives on its parallels to Mary Shelley's iconic story. When young Victor's (Charlie Tahan) dog dies tragically, he decides to reanimate him through the use of science. Against all odds, he succeeds, but other kids find out, leading to chaos.
While the Frankenstein references are obvious, Burton doesn't stop there. After word gets out about Victor's skills, other children bring the pets to become transformed. This results in an array of mutated pets, including an invisible fish, a vampire cat, a mummy hamster, a kaiju turtle, and some Black Lagoon-esque sea monkeys.
Funnily, Burton packs every classic Universal monster here, albeit in pet form. The monsters soon run amok, causing chaos and terror, much like their counterparts. By referencing each monster, Burton creates this family friendly version of the classic horror films he grew up on. Their antics are indeed terrifying, but they're also silly enough to laugh at.
Ultimately, Frankenweenie encapsulates the terrifying terrain of growing up. There's central loss that's unavoidable, but also the fun thrills of monsters and science. While never being scary, Frankenweenie offers an array of Halloween classics toned down for everyone, but never muted in its raw emotions.
3. Sleepy Hollow (1999)
Halloween has many traditions, but among its finest are telling scary stories, specifically ones with ghosts. It's no surprise then that Burton adapted the finest American ghost story, Sleepy Hollow. Based on Washington Irving's "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow," Burton's film captured the original's spirit, while updating it with some truly horrific details.
In Burton's film, Ichabod Crane (Johnny Depp) investigates the titular town as inexplicable murders continue around him. A man of science, Crane resolves to find a rational explanation for the killings, while the town firmly believes in the legend of the Headless Horseman. Eventually, Crane comes face to face with the Horseman, finally realizing that there's an unnatural evil at work.
On the one hand, this is Burton's most violent film. As soon as the Horseman starts killing, Burton lets us see in graphic detail. Heads roll often, and Burton never relents on letting blood fly as they do, often to comedic effect. There are some truly memorable kills here, including the skewering of a mayor.
Still, the film's true magic isn't its violence, but willingness to tread the line between murder mystery and supernatural horror. There's obviously killings going on, but the film takes its sweet time before confirming that there's a specter at work. Once it does though, Burton delves deep into the Horseman's lore, revealing chilling details about his death and resurrection (no spoilers here, but it gets dark fast).
The result is a supernatural horror with excessive violence and chilling undertones. It's a perfect Halloween throwback, one that celebrates the ghost story's inherent eeriness, as well as our own inclination to believe such horrifying tales.
2. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
For many people, this film will be their favorite film that they watch from October through December. That's because Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas is the ultimate mashup of everyone's two favorite holidays, (sorry Thanksgiving). From the animation to the music, Burton's film is tremendous, but it certainly excels as a great way to kick off the holiday season.
Set in the fictional Halloweentown, The Nightmare Before Christmas follows Jack Skellington (Chris Sarandon) as he struggles with his own purpose. He eventually stumbles upon Christmastown and takes it upon himself to become Santa Claus, which doesn't go well.
Burton's film is rife with Halloween imagery, especially since it includes nearly every Halloween figure. In addition to Jack, there's Sally (Catherine O'Hara), a Frankensteinesque rag doll, Doctor Finkelstein (William Hickey), a mad scientist, and the dreaded Oogie Boogie (Ken Page), a boogeyman with a creepy, crawling center. There are also vampires, werewolves, ghosts, and zombies, all ready to celebrate Halloween.
In addition, Burton's film features some iconic Halloween songs. "Jack's Lament" and "Oogie Boogie's Song" are perfect tracks to get in the holiday spirit. Still, the opening tune, "This is Halloween" is a must have on any Halloween playlist, as it captures each resident's excitement for the upcoming holiday.
Arguably, there's not a Burton film that features more Halloween imagery than this one. However, there's one caveat keeping it from the top spot: it's really more of a Christmas film. Yes, there's an abundance of Halloween figures and tons of spooky elements, but it's Christmas that ultimately drives the plot and Jack's character development.
I won't spin this into another Die Hard debate, but The Nightmare Before Christmas is a dual holiday movie at the very least. It's a fantastic Halloween watch, but Burton has one other project that slightly edges it.
1 Beetlejuice (1988)/Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024)
At the end of the day, there can only be one Burton film that is most apt for Halloween. Well, there are two actually, the dark comedy Beetlejuice and it's surprisingly good sequel.
A ghost story unlike any other, Beetlejuice launched Burton as the director for all things spooky. The story reverses the traditional haunted house formula, as Adam (Alec Baldwin) and Barbara (Geena Davis) are ghosts trying to rid their house of the living. They fumble around the best they can but ultimately call on Betelgeuse (Michael Keaton), a bioexorcist who does far more harm than help.
At every turn of this film, there's a Halloween delight ranging from frightening practical effects to Betelgeuse's goofy antics. In addition to the titular ghost, we get to see a colorful underworld, some darkly comedic ghosts, and a bizarre amount of sandworms.
Of course, the dinner scene exemplifies the film's supernatural wackiness. As Adam and Barbara figure out how to haunt, they possess a number of adults at dinner, forcing them to dance along to "Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)," before scaring them with some grisly shrimp hands. It's a shock to see, but the humorous take makes it one of the film's best moments.
In the sequel, the fun underworld is expanded upon nicely, as is the titular ghost. We get to meet a number of new spirits, including Betelgeuse's vengeful ex, Dolores (Monica Belucci), who feeds on people's souls. Moreover, the film even takes place on Halloween, making it a perfect addition to the film's spooky legacy.
Ultimately, Beetlejuice and its sequel embrace the supernatural with an unlimited sense of fun. There are some slight scares, but it's the wacky and excessive supernatural elements that strengthen both films. There's no blood, nor Halloween figures beyond a few ghosts. However, the innate color and whimsy of the world of the dead, as well as the macabre allure of its title character make Beetlejuice and Beetlejuice Beetlejuice two of the greatest Halloween films of all time.
