Tim Burton fans are thrilled that the auteur is helming a new Addams Family series focused on Wednesday, which is due to come out sometime in 2022 and no doubt will feature some of his recurring trademarks. Burton is a director who has made an illustrious name for himself with his depiction of the whimsical and weird, and his fans adore him for it. That said, there are plenty of movies out there that rely on a particular love for the bizarre.
Burton isn’t the only eccentric director, he’s just arguably the most successful. With films like Edward Scissorhands, Batman, and Beetlejuice having such a prominent effect on pop culture, it’s understandable that other filmmakers would take notes from the master of the strange and unusual.
The Adventures Of Ichabod And Mr. Toad (1949)
Anyone remotely familiar with Tim Burton’s work knows that he’s done several projects for Disney in the past. In fact, he got his start in the film industry working as a Disney animator. Seeing how his adaptation of Sleepy Hollow took several notes from the original 1949 adaptation, logic only dictates that fans of the film revisit the original.
Don’t be fooled by its swinging musical score, its bright colors, or the name Walt Disney in the opening credits, the animated adaptation has all the hallmarks of a Burton production. The encounter with the Headless Horseman in the third act was practically recreated for Burton’s 1999 horror film, including the flaming pumpkin.
A Series Of Unfortunate Events (2004)
Although the Netflix series based on the Lemony Snicket books series would also be considered very Burton-esque, the 2004 film adaptation starring Jim Carrey is leagues more in line with Burton’s typical work. From the strange and unusual eccentricities of Count Olaf to the twisting and curling set designs, it definitely feels like something Burton would have made.
In retrospect, Burton should have been the first director that the studio went to in order to more perfectly adapt the series. With short films like Vincent and works like The Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy under his belt, he has the experience for the material.
The Addams Family (1991)
With his upcoming Wednesday series arriving on Netflix, Burton’s previous projects will likely inspire the show. They’re creepy and they’re kooky, mysterious, and spooky, and they’re just about everything that describes some of Burton’s classic characters.
Monsters, pinstripes, and iconic gothic imagery are all in Burton’s wheelhouse, and that’s precisely the bedrock the Addams Family is built on. It’s a great watch for fans wanting a mix of silly with their spookiness, and fans of Burton’s comedic works like Beetlejuice and Ed Wood will certainly enjoy it.
The Imaginarium Of Doctor Parnassus (2009)
While the movie might be something of an acquired taste for some, it definitely captures a certain brand of weirdness that Burton helped bring to the mainstream. It even comes with an appearance from Johnny Depp for an extra dose of Burton flavor. As strange as it is, fans of the director’s work will be more than able to pick out his influences.
The titular doctor and his band of performers lead their audience into various planes of the imagination. Throw in a deal with the devil and one of the final roles of Heath Ledger, and it’s certainly more than a memorable experience.
Pan’s Labyrinth (2006)
Guillermo Del Toro’s most iconic creature feature has several elements of a Tim Burton production, but for a decidedly more mature audience. Like Burton, Del Toro’s reimagining of fairytale elements is what made him so iconic. Although Fauns and fairies don’t populate Burton’s realms, both directors have a particular love for beasts and boogeymen.
Monsters in a world of fantasy blending with monsters of a fascist regime are the motif of the day in this Del Toro classic. With Burton’s love for monsters prevalent throughout many of his films, Del Toro’s work is a great companion for those fans hungry for more.
House On Haunted Hill (1959)
Tim Burton has made his love of Vincent Price and his work abundantly clear since 1982’s Vincent and House on Haunted Hill features the master of horror at his best. While there are plenty of other contenders such as House of Wax, Masque of the Red Death, and Roger Corman’s Poe Cycle, the kitschy William Castle production features all the makings of a horror classic.
With a creepy old mansion, an eccentric host obsessed with ghosts, and spooky surprises around every corner, it’s easy to see where Burton Picked up some of his filmmaking influences. Fortunately, the director was able to work with his hero for two of his projects.
Hocus Pocus (1993)
Many of Burton’s best films feature Halloween as a prominent fixture in the setting – just look at his work on Sleepy Hollow and The Nightmare Before Christmas. The director has always had a love for pumpkins, skeletons, vampires, and witches, and this Disney classic cult film would certainly make him proud.
The tale of the Sanderson Sisters rising from the grave on Halloween night has become a beloved tradition for fans of all things spooky, even rivaling Jack Skellington’s Christmas ride. To say the film is spellbinding would be a glorious understatement.
James And The Giant Peach (1996)
An honorable mention, since Burton had a producing credit, this adaptation of the Roald Dahl story is primarily a Henry Selick project. That being said, Burton does have a certain penchant for stop-motion animation. The Jack Skellington cameo is certainly reason enough to draw the comparison.
Talking bugs, skeleton pirates, and magical crocodile tongues all sound like the key ingredients in a bit by Burton, and his collaborator, Henry Selick, definitely brings Dahl’s story beautifully to life. Weird is wonderfully praised in this underrated gem.
ParaNorman (2012)
Ghosts, zombies, witches, and social outcasts are common tropes seen in movies like Beetlejuice and Edward Scissorhands, which makes ParaNorman an excellent pairing for the Ghost with the Most. With characters that can commune with eccentric dead and a town that doesn’t understand them, it already meets the bare minimum for a Burton Project.
When a town is beset by a witch’s curse, Norman and his friends must contend with a host of the undead and a long-buried secret to lay a vengeful spirit to rest. The stop-motion medium greatly serves a story like that presented in the film, and it only makes the creepy visuals stand out all the better.
Coraline (2009)
Coraline is a film that Burton fans have enjoyed so much that it’s often mistakenly confused for one of the director’s original creations. To an extent, it’s easy to see how viewers can make that mistake. Henry Selick, Neil Gaiman, and Tim Burton all have similar attributes in their projects, and Coraline has more than a few key elements.
A stop-motion film concerning an alternate reality hidden in a creepy old house with ghosts, monsters, spiders, rats, and circus folk, and billed as “From the director of The Nightmare Before Christmas” fits the description of something Burton would create. Simply put, it’s a case of similar but not congruent.
