Tim Burtonis one of the most well-known and well-regarded filmmakers working today. His movies have become known for their quirky misfit characters and memorable aesthetic; many people quickly think of his black-and-white color palette, eerie designs, andwhimsical scores from Danny Elfmanwhen thinking of his movies.
Update July 29, 2025: Tim Burton movies make for great Halloween watches, so in honor of the season this article has been updated with even more great performances across the director’s filmography.
He has directed 19 movies in his nearly 40-year career, many with frequent collaborators who delivered excellent performances. From playing iconic superheroes to famous Broadway roles, Burton has gotten great performances out of some of the best actors of all time. Here are the best performances in his movies, ranked.
15Alan Rickman – Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Streetis an adaptation of Stephen Sondheim’s musical about a barber determined to get revenge against all the people who wronged him.Alan Rickmanplays Judge Turpin, who falsely convicted Benjamin Barker, sexually assaulted Barker’s wife, and now has Barker’s daughter as his ward. Rickman captures all the depths of Turpin’s evils, from his abuse of the law to his sexual thoughts about his ward. He makes Turpin fully vile and repulsive, a strong villain deserving of the harsh death Todd gives him.
14Amy Adams and Christoph Waltz – Big Eyes (2014)
Big Eyesis a biopic of Margaret Keane (Amy Adams), who produced paintings of children with big eyes in the 1950s and ‘60s. However, as the movie tells us, Margaret didn’t get the credit right away, as her outgoing husband, Walter (Christoph Waltz), pretended the paintings were his. The movie is elevated by both actors, who are great together. Adams shows Margaret’s shy nature and how she falls for Waltz’s charm as Walter; Adams then shows Margaret’s shift into confidence as Waltz brings Walter’s violence to life in tense, heartbreaking ways.
13Helena Bonham Carter – Corpse Bride (2005)
The stop-motion movieCorpse Bridefocuses on Victor, a young man engaged to Victoria. While practicing his vows, he accidentally marries Emily (Helena Bonham Carter), a dead woman murdered by her fiancé. With solely a voice performance, she gives Emily everything she needs. We can see the anger she feels, along with her heartbreak and loneliness, particularly when she sings about still having tears left to shed. She brings real emotion to Emily’s pain and eventual freedom from her torment.
12Danny DeVito – Batman Returns (1992)
Danny DeVitobecomes theiconic Batman villainin the sequelBatman Returns, which sees the Penguin take on Michael Keaton’s Caped Crusader. DeVito shows the pain of his origin story, as he was abandoned at the zoo due to his penguin-like features, and then gives in to his evil side. From his rasping voice to his waddling walk, he really becomes the Penguin. Not only does he stand out as a great villain, but he’s also a great character in every sense.
11Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter – Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)
Johnny Depptakes on the title role in the musical film, while Carter is Mrs. Lovett, who becomes Sweeney’s business partner and puts the people he kills into her meat pies. Depp, with no singing experience, was seen as a risky casting choice. However, he performs the songs well, and does an excellent job showing the pain that went into Sweeney’s anger; he develops the character beyond just a killer. Carter is his perfect match, bringing a darkly humorous touch while effectively showing her own secrets, and both make it anexcellent musical adaptation.
10Vincent Price – Edward Scissorhands (1990)
The story about a humanoid with scissors for hands,Edward Scissorhands, marks the final performance of legendary actorVincent Price. With only a few scenes as the inventor who creates Edward, Price brings life and emotion to the movie. The audience can see his love for his creation and how this kindness is then carried on in Edward. He is a strong presence in Edward’s life, and it’s easy to see how his death leaves Edward lonely. It’s only a small part, but the movie wouldn’t be the same without him.
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9Michael Keaton – Batman (1989)
Most people think ofBatmanas Jack Nicholson’s show, and with good reason, as Burton was more intrigued with exploring the film’s villain than the titular character. However, Burton’s decision to cast hisBeetlejuicestarMichael Keaton, is one of the boldest moves. The casting was so controversial at the time many wrote letters to the studio to have Keaton fired because they thought it would be a silly performance.
Burton’s directorial cues for Keaton about his character helped the actor mold every single trope we would getin modern Batman adaptations. Keaton gave Batman the raspy voice, the stoic, intimidating presence, and the flair of mystery that would lay the groundwork for other offerings of the caped crusader. There is a reason why, after all these years, Keaton is still considered by many to be the best Batman.
8Ewan McGregor – Big Fish (2003)
InBig Fish,Ewan McGregorplays the young version of Edward Bloom, who tells fantastical stories to his son. While the old version of Edward – played perfectly by Albert Finney – is dying, Will reminisces on all the stories his father told him. McGregor plays Edward for the flashbacks of his stories, showing how Edward came to be the man he is. He’s a charming and likable character to follow through the fantastical settings, grounding it all with emotion. He gives us an understanding of Edward and makes his reconciliation with Will even more poignant.
7Paul Ruebens – Pee-wee’s Big Adventure (1985)
Pee-wee’s Big Adventureis the film that launched Tim Burton’s career, and even early on the director is showcasing his talent from the first frame.Paul Ruebensstars as the lead Pee-wee Herman, an eccentric man-child obsessed with his bicycle. Fellow man-child Francis Buxton decides to mess with Pee-wee by having his bike stolen. Since this was Burton’s debut as a director, he didn’t give Ruebens any cues on how to act as Pee-wee (as the character was Rueben’s creation). However, we can see a lot of the trademark humor of the director in the most outstanding scenes in the films, such as Pee-wee’s dance in the motorbike club and the rescue of the animals in the pet store.
6Johnny Deep – Ed Wood (1994)
The second collaboration between Tim Burton and Johnny Deep, with the director approaching Deep at a time when he was disenchanted with the prospect of Hollywood stardom. Burton sold the pitch ofEd Wood’scharacter in less than 10 minutes, and Deep would get only minor cues from the director, who would shape his interpretation of Wood by looking at reels of some of the most optimist actors in the industry, such as Mickey Rooney, Ronald Reagan, and Casey Kasem.The final result speaks for itself, as the movie has gained an enduring cult classic status.
