Summary
Certain murder mysteries and dark fantasy movies probably would have been much better if they had been directed byTim Burtonwhen the person who did direct is evidently trying to capture some of Burton’s signature aesthetic. As I assume it is for many people,I gradually became familiar with Burton’s repertoire during my youth through watching movies likeEdward ScissorhandsandCorpse Bride.In my case, the experience was also intertwined with going on the Haunted Mansion ride at Disneyland when it was dressed up asThe Nightmare Before Christmas.
Like everybody else, I became a vehement fan ofBurton’s best movies, including and especially the one following the unsatisfied King of Halloween (although this movie was conceptualized by Burton but directed by Henry Selick). Meanwhile,other movies were released that attempted to impart some of Burton’s sweetly macabre tone— and some succeeded, such asCoraline. Others clearly needed the man who created the aesthetic behind the camera. On the other hand, some adventure movies felt completely generic to me and might have benefited from Burton’s touch to turn them into something more interesting.
9 Movies That People Mistakenly Think Tim Burton Directed
Tim Burton has one of the most distinctive styles of any major Hollywood filmmaker, and these movies are often mistaken as part of his filmography.
8Roald Dahl’s The Witches (2020)
Directed By Robert Zemeckis
Roald Dahl’s The Witchesis the strongest example I’ve seen of late of something that is trying to be a Tim Burton movie and failing. Being released in 2020,The Witchesrelies upon CGI for some of the bizarre things described in Roald Dahl’s book,with some moments landing firmly in the uncanny valley. The book was previously adapted in 1990 into a movie more reliant on practical effects; additionally,2020’sThe Witchesmakes some changes from the novel, proving that the filmmakers were comfortable making changes and could have tweaked some things for them to look better on screen.
All the tacky monsters and magic makeThe Witchesfeel more cartoonish than unsettling and bittersweet, which is what it is supposed to be.
All the tacky monsters and magic makeThe Witchesfeel more cartoonish than unsettling and bittersweet, which is what it is supposed to be. It is a story about witches killing children and the main child character being sentenced to life as a mouse.As strange as hisCharlie and the Chocolate Factoryis, Burton still manages to capture a slightly disturbing, psychedelic storythat ends with the kind child protagonist living happily, despite the darkness still present in his life. Directed by Burton,The Witchescould have been a creepy, nostalgic mix of computer and practical effects.
Robert Zemeckis, the famous director and creator ofBack to the Future, understands how to make a movie with a goofy charm. However, it is possible that he only really understands this in the context of the 1980s. These classic pop songs don’t have any place in a movie about children-hunting witches and witch-hunting children, undermining the tone of the original story.The filmmaking decisions behindThe Witcheshurt the adaptation, giving it more levity than any of Dahl’s stories really have,which showcase children’s wonder in the face of evil adults and grim circumstances.
The Witches
The Witches is a reimagined adaptation of Roald Dahl’s classic novel, helmed by Robert Zemeckis (Back to the Future), and tells the darkly comedic but heartwarming tale of a young orphaned boy who goes to live with his loving Grandmother. The two soon begin to run into devious and calculating witches, prompting her to take him away to a resort. However, they arrive at precisely the same time that the world’s Grand High Witch has gathered her fellow witches from around the globe—undercover—to carry out her nefarious plans.
7The Amazing Spider-Man (2012)
Directed By Marc Webb
As a major Andrew Garfield fan, I didn’t take as much issue with his version of Spider-Man as some people did, and was sad to see him go when Tom Holland stepped into the role. I have a better understanding now of whatThe Amazing Spider-Mandidn’t get right about the main character, andI think Burton would have created a Peter Parker who was more of a nerdy outsider.Burton’s experience as a superhero director shouldn’t be taken for granted; his iconic additions to the DC canon are among thebestBatmanmovies.
Seeing Burton’s take on a different superhero — a Marvel hero and its most famous one — would have been fascinating,even if the MCU would likely eventually have gotten the rights to the character anyway. Spider-Man has some creepy, horror-adjacent nemeses that play right into Burton’s wheelhouse, and he could have made the fight sequences with the Lizard (and possibly the Green Goblin in the sequel) even better.The Amazing Spider-Manisn’t necessarily a bad movie, it’s just not a great adaptation; Burton possibly still could have directed Garfield in a version truer to the comics.
The Amazing Spider-Man
The Amazing Spider-Man follows high school student Peter Parker as he uncovers the mysteries of his parents' disappearance. As Peter discovers new aspects of his father’s past and faces the dangerous Lizard, he must make significant decisions about his identity and role as the superhero Spider-Man.
6The Hobbit (2012)
Directed By Peter Jackson
I wholeheartedly believe thatGuillermo del Toro should have directedThe Hobbit; his plans for a two-part adaptation instead of a three-parter would have been much better for the relatively short story, while his characteristic vision of a dark fantasy world would have made the movies satisfyingly different enough fromThe Lord of the Rings. However,Burton also would have been a good choice to directfor similar narrative and aesthetic reasons. He excels with standalone, tight fantasy narratives — if Warner Bros. had agreed to a shorter story — and specializes in unique monsters and magic.
Burton’sThe Hobbitwould have been a little bit creepier and more like a fairy tale,rather than a second, poorerLord of the Ringstrilogy. Under his direction, the scenes with Smaug in particular would have been terrifying. Peter Jackson succeeded with creatures like Gollum and Shelob because of his horror experience; allowing another director to infuseThe Hobbitwith his expertise would have been beneficial. However, Burton’s experience of how to twist fairy tales would only have worked forThe Hobbitif Warner Bros. weren’t determined to carry out the vision of another fantasy epic.
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
As Bilbo Baggins celebrates his 111th birthday, he recounts the extraordinary journey that changed his life. Guided by the enigmatic wizard Gandalf, Bilbo joins a band of Dwarves on a perilous quest to reclaim their homeland from the fearsome dragon, Smaug. Along the way, they face treacherous foes, unearth long-buried secrets, and discover unexpected courage within themselves. With danger lurking at every turn, Bilbo’s adventure unfolds in a tale of friendship, sacrifice, and the enduring power of hope.
Directed By Joachim Rønning & Espen Sandberg
Among the movies it has been suggested Burton should direct isPirates of the Caribbean, suggesting that he should have directed a past installment or should direct a future sequel. This is largely because Johnny Depp is one of Burton’s most famous collaborators andpeople want to see Burton take a shot at Depp’s biggest franchise, especially when that franchise has been struggling for so long.Few would dispute that Gore Verbinski was the right director for the first movie; the second is decent, while the third completes the trilogy that certainly belongs to him.
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Talesis the point where the franchise could have benefited from Burton’s direction.Jack Sparrow’s character was in decline and could have used some help from someone with a different perspective on Depp’s talents,while the overall story needed a new director to shake things up. Burton also knows how to work with the concept of ghosts and the undead. Burton’sPirates of the Caribbeanwould have been something completely different from the rest of the franchise, but this would have been for the best.
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales
The fifth installment in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, Dead Men Tell No Tales follows young Henry Turner as he enlists Captain Jack Sparrow to release his father, Will Turner, from the curse binding him to the Flying Dutchman. Their quest puts them in the path of ghostly pirate-hunter Captain Salazar, with whom Sparrow has a storied past. To save his old friend, Sparrow must confront his own past to reunite Will with his long-lost son.
10 Movies Tim Burton Would Be Perfect For After Beetlejuice 2
Tim Burton is known for his dark, gothic visuals, and there are several movies that vision would be a perfect match for after Beetlejuice 2.
4Enola Holmes (2020)
Directed By Harry Bradbeer
Burton is one of the quintessential directors for murder (or missing persons) mysteries— I am tempted to think that he should have been involved withKnives Out, but I think I can safely say that the franchise is in good hands with Rian Johnson as its creator and regular director. Meanwhile, Millie Bobby Brown is setting herself up for a strong post-Stranger Thingscareer with theEnola Holmesmovies. The first two installments have been well received as the chronicles of a young female detective whose adventures overlap with the early movement for women’s suffrage.
However, — and maybe it’s just me —I foundEnola Homesto be lacking — just a tad.The movies utilize a quirky breaking-the-fourth-wall approach, while I think some of Burton’s spooky accents would have emphasized the severity of Enola’s cases.Enola Holmes 3is not confirmed, and neither is director Harry Bradbeer’s return, so it could still happen. Brown should definitely work with Burton at some point, and Helena Bonham Carter is also a regular collaborator of his (they have worked together since their divorce).
Enola Holmes
Adapted from the first book in Nancy Springer’s The Enola Holmes Mysteries series, Enola Holmes follows the titular heroine, the younger sister of famous London detective Sherlock Holmes, as she attempts to solve the disappearance of her mother and unwittingly gets drawn into a mystery that could threaten all of Great Britain. Millie Bobbie Brown stars as Enola, with a cast that includes Henry Cavill, Sam Claflin, and Helena Bonham Carter.
3Oz The Great And Powerful (2013)
Directed By Sam Raimi
Oz the Great and Powerfulis sadly nowhere near as impactful of a story asWicked, despite being based upon a different perspective of the same narrative.Great and Powerfulwould have been much better if characters like Oz and Glinda weren’t as amicable,while the wicked witches weren’t just straightforward villains. It could have been a much more complex story with hints that none of them are completely in the right with the lies they tell to Oz to maintain power and order, which is whatWickeddoes.
I don’t know if Burton’s direction would have resulted in a different narrative forGreat and Powerful,or the same one with some slightly spookier versions of certain scenes and characters. However, I am inclined to believe that it would generally have been a more interesting movie. Some of his bittersweet endings suggest he wouldn’t have been completely committed to everything working out perfectly for the Wizard in the end, including his romance with Glinda.
All three of the witches' characters needed to be further developed, and I like to think Burton could have drawn the figures of Mrs. Lovett fromSweeney Todd, Emily fromCorpse Bride, or the real-life-inspired Margaret Keane inBig Eyesto make this happen. While I believe that Mila Kunis was a good cast, some of Burton’s regulars might have ended up in lead roles; Winona Ryder in particular would have made an intriguing and less conventional version of Glinda. Overall,Great and Powerfulturned out very bland and more unique direction would have made all the difference.
Oz the Great and Powerful
Oz the Great and Powerful follows Oscar Diggs, a circus magician and con artist, who is transported from Kansas to the mystical Land of Oz. There, the inhabitants believe he is the prophesied wizard destined to liberate them from evil forces.
2Any Harry Potter Movie
Directed By Chris Columbus, Alfonso Cuarón, Mike Newell, & David Yates
Burton seems like an obvious choice to direct aHarry Pottermovie,especially one of the ones based on the first three novels, which are all spooky, relatively low-stakes and self-contained stories. Yet he has directed no movies in the franchise to date; as far as I know, he was never in the running to direct any of them. WithFantastic Beasts’future in flux and David Yates as the director sinceHarry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, the odds of this perfect match ever happening are slim (but maybe he could get involved with the reboot).
With so much magic, monsters, and delightfully twisty set pieces involved, Burton and Harry Potter should have been a given.
The first twoHarry Pottermovies' more whimsical tone overlaps with Burton’s approach;Chris Columbus started the franchise strong, while Alfonso Cuarón brought more stylization toPrisoner of Azkaban. Letting Burton take a turn withChamber of Secretscould have worked out when it is often called theworstHarry Potterbook— but maybe Burton’s magic would have improved it. With so much magic, monsters, and delightfully twisty set pieces involved, Burton andHarry Pottershould have been a given.
Harry Potter
Harry Potter is a multimedia franchise about an orphaned boy who enrolls at Hogwarts School of Wizardry, where he learns the truth about himself, his family, and the terrible evil that haunts the magical world. Adapted from the novels, Harry Potter is an eight-episode film saga that follows the journey of Harry Potter and his friends, Hermoine Granger and Ron Weasley, as they navigate the tricky world of growing up, school life, and magic. Starting from year one and moving to their seventh year, the films chronicle the students' time at Hogwarts while unfurling a sinister plot that centers around the unsuspecting Harry. With the return of the dark wizard, Voldemort, the students and professors at Hogwarts will fight to carry on as the world around them may change forever. Harry Potter has expanded beyond the world of its films and novels with several video games, a spin-off film series titled Fantastic Beasts, and even attractions at Universal Studios.
10 Directors Who Turned Down Harry Potter Movies
J.K. Rowling’s franchise about a certain boy wizard is beyond popular. But a few famous filmmakers declined the chance to direct a Harry Potter movie.
1Maleficent (2014)
Directed By Robert Stromberg
When I first saw the trailers forMaleficent, I was genuinely terrified. I thought the whole movie would be about embracing one of the most deliciously evil villains in Disney’s lineup, never knowing when she would strike, with Angelina Jolie’s magnificent evil laugh sending chills down my spine. However, as it has often been pointed out,Maleficentmade the mistake of turning Maleficent into a hero.The movie would have been empty with no backstory justifying her villainy; however, she is not really scary at all, being perfectly kind to Aurora whenever they interact.
Burton has been known to direct movies where the villain is the star character; where the protagonist is decidedly an anti-hero, who does selfish things but is still human and relatable.Burton’sMaleficentwould have actually been scary, allowing her to be a wonderful villain,which only makes her character more powerful in the story and in the real world.Maleficentin particular is a movie that left me disappointed, which is why it is one that I certainly wish Burton had directed.
Maleficent
A live-action reimagining of the fairytale of Sleeping Beauty, Maleficent follows the titular fairy witch (Angelina Jolie) in a dark fantasy origin story. After falling in love with a human, Maleficent is betrayed when he steals her wings. Swearing revenge, she curses his infant daughter, Princess Aurora, leading to a retelling of the beloved fairytale from an alternate perspective.
