Tim Burton’s films are a beloved part of the goth subculture, but some of his movies are more suitable for those who like to walk on the macabre side of life. From the outset, Tim Burton established himself as a filmmaker unlike anything seen before, and his movies have a distinct style that hasn’t been replicated.
Inspired by the German Expressionist films of the 1920s, Burton often utilizes the extremes of light and shadows to create larger-than-life images on screen. His history as an animator also lends a particular flair to his live-action works, and many of his movies are as visually compelling as they are humorous or frightening.
Being something of a goth, Burton’s films immediately found a fanbase within the subculture, and it’s easy to see why. Many of his characters are pallid and morose, and his storytelling philosophy involves quite a bit of gallows humor. On the other hand, Burton has also made plenty of films that are mainstream as well.
Notall of Burton’s filmsconform to his gothic approach, and some are almost unrecognizable as a Tim Burton production at all. On the other hand, many of his classics are so deeply ingrained in the goth lifestyle that they can draw out the inner goth in every viewer, showing that the macabre can be fun as well as spooky.
8Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children (2016)
Though it got decent reviews and earned quite well,Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Childrenisn’t a well-known part of Tim Burton’s filmography. Probably due to the fact that it was released during the director’s infamous cold streak,the quirky fantasy film slipped by with little fanfare, and is only now starting to earn some recognition.
The film is quintessential Burton, and allowed the director to return to his roots as he creatively brought the strange youngsters to life.His penchant for the creepy and esoteric was not wasted, and it’s one of his most visually appealing movies of the 21st century. Furthermore, it marks a return to his gothic roots both figuratively and literally.
There is a gothic undertone to the entire film, from its costuming and sets all the way to its creepy Victorian plot. Like most goths in real life,the children at the titular schoolare actually quite normal under their radical exteriors, andthey must learn to embrace their differences while fighting for acceptance too.
7Frankenweenie (2012)
Decades after his live-action short film of the same name,Tim Burton’sFrankenweeniefinally solidified a theme he had been chipping away at for his entire career. Putting a clever spin on theFrankensteinmythos, the movie concerns a lonely little boy who uses science to resurrect his dead dog.
With its gloomy black-and-white design and dark concept, the movie was bound to be a goth favorite.Its macabre sense of humor never goes too far, and it’s a family-friendly story that nods toward more mature themes. Thematically,Frankenweenieis a lot like other Burton classics in that it’s all about accepting the darker side of life.
6Dark Shadows (2012)
There’s no denying thatDark Shadowsis a deeply flawed film, butit has appeal for those looking for a modern movie with gothic sensibilities. Adapting the soap opera from the ’60s and ’70s,Dark Shadowsis a pseudo-parody that spends a lot of time poking fun at the characters and the kooky situations usually found in the classic show.
The film continuesBurton’s collaborations with Johnny Depp, and the latter is hilarious as the head vampire, Barnabas. Visually,Dark Shadowsis a feast for the eyes for any gothic movie fan, and it has beautiful sets and plenty of sallow and creepy characters. The pitch-black sense of humor is also a plus, though some of the jokes fall flat.
5Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street (2007)
Despite being the director most associated with Victorian gothic culture,Sweeney Toddis the only live-action Tim Burton film that takes place exclusively during that time. The film adapts the musical of the same name, andcasts Johnny Depp in the lead role as the bloodthirsty barber from Hell. Frequent collaborator Helena Bonham Carter also joins in on the fun.
The story itself is quintessential goth, witha morose anti-hero out for revenge against a system that wronged him years before. From a design standpoint, Burton didn’t pull any punches and leaned even more into his Victorian goth sensibilities. The costumes are exaggerated andthe gloomy streets of London are like something from a goth’s best nightmares.
Unfortunately,Sweeney Todddoesn’t really do the musical justice, and the grandeur of the music itself is sacrificed in favor of style. However,it has a certain appeal to audiences who aren’t particularly keen on musicals, because it focuses on the story instead of the aural spectacle.
4Corpse Bride (2005)
The common misconception is thatTim Burton directedA Nightmare Before Christmas, and while he didn’t helm that animated flick, he did directCorpse Bride. Resurrecting his classic character, Victor, who debuted decades earlier in an animated short film,Corpse Brideis like a Tim Burton overload. Every minute detail has Burton’s fingerprints, even down to the macabre story.
Corpse Bridewas nominated for Best Animated Feature at the Academy Awards.
The movie has unique character designs anda ton of moments that have inspired goths for the last 20 years. Victor is hollow-eyed and pale, and the titular deceased bride pushes the gothic fantasy to its absolute limits. Though it will never supplantA Nightmare Before Christmasin popularity,Corpse Brideis Burton’s true gothic love letter.
3Sleepy Hollow (1999)
Sleepy Hollowis the closest Tim Burton has come to making a true horror film, and it is just as frightening as it is quirky. Washington Irving’s classic story of the Headless Horseman is given a dose of Burton-esque style as the 18th-century New England setting is made nightmarish and strange.
Johnny Depp once again stars as Ichabod Crane, and the movie pairs him up with an all-star cast of Burton regulars. The Headless Horseman is a truly terrifying foe, and when combined with the foggy environs, isa one-two punch that’s enough to give anyone nightmares. It’s still quirky, but the humor is nearly drowned out by the horror elements.
Sleepy Hollowis also perfect for subculture because of its atmosphere and costuming, andChristina Ricci’s Katrina has certainly inspired more than a few self-styled goths. Crane, like a lot of Burton’s heroes, is an outsider in town and symbolically represents the struggle of the abnormal against the strictures of so-called civilized society.
2Edward Scissorhands (1990)
With only his fourth feature film, Tim Burton established his thesis statement withEdward Scissorhands,and it set the tone for the rest of his career.Marking the first collaboration between Burton and Johnny Depp, the fantasy romance story has all of Burton’s gothic trademarks. However, those trademarks are intentionally juxtaposed against the normal world.
Edward is the perfect Tim Burton protagonistbecause he’s shy and well-meaning, but is rejected by society because of the way he looks. For decades,Edward Scissorhandshas inspired those who view themselves as a little different, and bridges the gap between goths and everyone else. It also has a compelling plot, which makes for an even better viewing experience.
1Beetlejuice (1988)
WhilePee Wee’s Big Adventureintroduced Tim Burton to the world,Beetlejuiceis where he hit his stride. The eclectic dark fantasy film has everything that Burton fans would come to love, including a lot of dark humor, goth-inspired style, and one-of-a-kind design elements straight from the mind of the filmmaker.
Lydia Deetz (Winona Ryder) is the audience surrogate, andshe herself happens to be strange and unusual. This not only allows the viewer to see the world through her eyes, but that perspective is teeming with goth sentiment.Tim Burtonputs himself into his stories, andBeetlejuicehas long been one of the cornerstones of his contributions to the subculture.
