Tim Burton is arguably the king of Halloween, so many of his films and characters have become icons during spooky season. So, it makes sense to grab yourself some pumpkin spice goodies, a hot chocolate, and curl up with a good Tim Burton Halloween film.
Best Tim Burton Halloween Movies
1. Dark Shadows
It’s not Halloween without at least one vampire movie, and Tim Burton had to dabble in the vampire realm.
Barnabas gets on witch, Angelique’s bad side, and she turns him into a vampire and buries him alive. Two centuries later he escapes and is out for blood.
You might also like these vampire books and movies.
2. Beetlejuice
Beetlejuice became an iconic Halloween movie, while Winona Ryder’s Lydia Deets is hailed as one of the best gothic figures in pop culture.
A deceased couple can’t stand the new family who moved into their home, and hire a particularly malevolent spirit to help drive them out.
3. Corpse Bride
If you like Coco, then you’ll love Corpse Bride as the land of the dead is just as colour… but less happy and Disneyesque.
As Victor is practicing his vows for his arranged marriage to Victoria, he meets the Corpse Bride whom he accidently married.
4. Sleepy Hollow
I’ve always thought that Sleepy Hollow is one of the most underrated Tim Burton Halloween movies. Maybe it’s because it doesn’t star Winona Ryder or Helena Bonham Carter? Regardless, it does star Wednesday Addams herself, Christina Ricci which is an excellent reason to watch.
Detective Ichabod Crane is sent from New York to Sleepy Hollow to investigate murders committed by the headless horseman, and discovers that something isn’t quite right with the small town.
5. Frankenweenie
Like vampires, it was inevitable that Tim Burton was going to take a stab at Frankenstein. In the Disney x Tim Burton version, the monster is replaced with a dog which hits right in the feels.
When Victors dog, Sparky, get hits by a car he does everything he can to bring him back.
Best of all (for me) Frank Iero from My Chemical Romance had a song in the soundtrack which made me happy.
6. Sweeney Todd
Sweeney Todd is one of the best Tim Burton Halloween movies, and one of his best movies ever. (And a lot of the Harry Potter cast appear in it).
Benjamin Barker returns to London after several years in prison. The barber takes on a new identity as Sweeney Todd. He finds that his wife is dead and his daughter has been taken in by the perverted Judge Turpin. He moves in with Miss Lovett and the two hatch a deranged plan to save his daughter, get revenge, and bake the best pies in London.
7. The Nightmare Before Christmas
The top spot on this list of Tim Burton Halloween movies had to go to The Nightmare Before Christmas. The festive classic doubles as both a Halloween and Christmas movie.
Jack, the pumpkin king, is sick of doing the same old thing and after the Halloween festivities come to and end, he leaves Halloweentown. On his venture, he accidently uncovers Christmastown. Feeling inspired, he takes the holiday for his own.
What are your favourite Tim Burton Halloween movies? If you like Tim Burton then you’ll love his prose & poetry book, The Melancholy Death Of Oyster Boy.