Tim Burton (born August 25, 1958) is an American film director, producer, artist, writer, animator, puppeteer, and actor.
He is known for his gothic horror and fantasy films, such as Beetlejuice (1988), Edward Scissorhands (1990), Ed Wood (1994), Sleepy Hollow (1999), Corpse Bride (2005), Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007), Dark Shadows (2012), Frankenweenie (2012), and Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024).
He is also known for blockbuster films, such as the adventure-comedy Pee-wee's Big Adventure (1985), the comic book films Batman (1989), and Batman Returns (1992), the science fiction films Mars Attacks! (1996), and Planet of the Apes (2001), the fantasy-drama Big Fish (2003), the musical adventure film Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005), the fantasy film Alice in Wonderland (2010), and film adaptations of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children (2016), and Dumbo (2019).
Feature film Year Title Director Story ProducerNote 1985 Pee-wee's Big Adventure 1988 Beetlejuice 1989 Batman 1990 Edward Scissorhands 1992 Batman Returns 1993 The Nightmare Before Christmas 1994 Ed Wood 1996 Mars Attacks! 1999 Sleepy Hollow 2001 Planet of the Apes 2003 Big Fish 2005 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Corpse Bride Co-directed with Mike Johnson 2007 Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street 2010 Alice in Wonderland 2012 Dark Shadows Frankenweenie 2014 Big Eyes 2016 Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children 2019 Dumbo 2024 Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
Producer only Cabin Boy (1994) Batman Forever (1995) James and the Giant Peach (1996) 9 (2009) Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter (2012) Alice Through the Looking Glass (2016)
Acting roles Year Title Role Notes 1979 The Muppet Movie Muppet Performer Uncredited 1985 Pee-wee's Big Adventure Thug in alley 1992 Singles Brian Hoffa Corpse Uncredited 2012 Men in Black 3 Alien on TV Monitors 2016 Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children Passenger on an Attraction 2024 Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Baby Beetlejuice
Other roles Year Title Role 1978 The Lord of the Rings Inbetween artist 1981 The Fox and the Hound Animator 1982 Tron 1985 The Black Cauldron Animator: The Horned King / Conceptual artist 1992 Stay Tuned Design consultant Review of Stay Tuned from Variety 1996 Mary Reilly Participant 2004 Catwoman 2009 Waking Sleeping Beauty
Short film Year Title Director Writer Producer Notes 1971 The Island of Doctor Agor Prehistoric Caveman Houdini: The Untold Story 1972 Tim's Dreams 1974 1997 1979 Doctor of Doom With Jerry Rees King and Octopus Animation Stalk of the Celery Monster Also animator 1982 Luau Vincent Also production designer 1984 Frankenweenie Also storyboard artist 2013 Captain Sparky vs.The Flying Saucers
Acting roles Year Title Role 1971 The Island of Doctor Agor Doctor Agor Houdini: The Untold Story Houdini 1972 Tim's Dreams Tim 1979 Doctor of Doom Don Carlo Stalk of the Celery Monster Dr. Maxwell Payne (voice) 1982 LuauThe Supreme Being / Mortie 2012 Vampire's Kiss/Blood InsideVan Helsing
Television Year Title Director ExecutiveProducer Writer Designer Notes 1983 Hansel and Gretel TV special 1986 Alfred Hitchcock Presents Episode: "The Jar" Lambert, David. "Alfred Hitchcock Presents - What's the Release Date for 'Season 6' DVDs? How About...TODAY!," TVShowsOnDVD.com (Nov. 08, 2013). Faerie Tale Theatre Episode: "Aladdin and His Wonderful Lamp" ASIN: B001AZIRV8 1987 Amazing Stories Episode: "The Family Dog" 1989–1991 Beetlejuice Also developer 1993 Family Dog 2000 Lost in Oz Unaired pilot - The Wizard of Oz at the Museum of Computer Adventure Game History - Telarium Corporation at Adventureland Stainboy 6 web shorts,Also producer 2022–present Wednesday Directed 8 episodes
Acting roles Year Title RoleNotes 1990 In the Director's Chair: The Man Who Invented Edward Scissorhands HimselfMockumentary television film2025 Wednesday Parrot (voice)Episode: "If These Woes Could Talk"
Other venues Commercials Year Title SubjectRoleNotes 1998 "Garden Gnome" Hollywood Chewing GumDirectorThe commercial is inspired by Snow White. The voiceover is done by Anne Meson. 1999 "Kung-fu"Timex wrist watchDirector 2000 "Mannequin"DirectorThe commercial features Lisa Marie Smith, Burton's girlfriend at the time.2013"Meeting with Tim Burton"Samsung Mobile USAActor
Music videos Year Artist Title Director Producer Writer 2006 The Killers "Bones" 2012 Linkin Park "Powerless" The Killers "Here with Me" 2025 Lady Gaga "The Dead Dance" 2026 A$AP Rocky "Don't Be Dumb" Actor: "Himself"Artwork designer
Video game YearTitleNotes 2004 The Nightmare Before Christmas: Oogie's Revenge Creative consultant
Critical reception Critical, public and commercial reception to films Burton has directed as of August 2026.
Year Film Rotten Tomatoes Metacritic CinemaScore Budget Box office 1985 Pee-wee's Big Adventure 78% (115 reviews) 47 (14 reviews) $7 million $41 million 1988 Beetlejuice 83% (115 reviews) 70 (18 reviews) $15 million $84.6 million 1989 Batman 77% (141 reviews) 69 (21 reviews) $35 million $411.5 million 1990 Edward Scissorhands 92% (71 reviews) 74 (19 reviews) $20 million $86 million 1992 Batman Returns 81% (93 reviews) 68 (23 reviews) $80 million $282.8 million 1993 The Nightmare Before Christmas 95% (107 reviews) 82 (31 reviews) ~$18 million $108.8 million 1994 Ed Wood 92% (73 reviews) 70 (19 reviews) $18 million $5.9 million 1996 Mars Attacks! 57% (90 reviews) 52 (19 reviews) $70 million $101.4 million 1999 Sleepy Hollow 71% (129 reviews) 65 (35 reviews) $100 million $206.1 million 2001 Planet of the Apes 42% (203 reviews) 50 (34 reviews) $100 million $362.2 million 2003 Big Fish 76% (221 reviews) 58 (42 reviews) $70 million $122.9 million 2005 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory 83% (228 reviews) 72 (40 reviews) $150 million $475 million 2005 Corpse Bride 85% (200 reviews) 83 (35 reviews) $40 million $118.4 million 2007 Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street 86% (232 reviews) 83 (39 reviews) $50 million $153.4 million 2010 Alice in Wonderland 51% (279 reviews) 53 (38 reviews) $200 million $1.02 billion 2012 Dark Shadows 35% (263 reviews) 55 (42 reviews) $150 million $245.5 million 2012 Frankenweenie 87% (222 reviews) 74 (38 reviews) $39 million $87 million 2014 Big Eyes 72% (198 reviews) 62 (40 reviews) $10 million $29.3 million 2016 Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children 65% (258 reviews) 57 (43 reviews) $110 million $296.5 million 2019 Dumbo 46% (371 reviews) 51 (54 reviews) $170 million $353.3 million 2024 Beetlejuice Beetlejuice 76% (389 reviews) 62 (61 reviews) $100 million $452 million Total 72,85% 64 $ $
See also Tim Burton's unrealized projects
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