Director Tim Burton opens up about the reasons he won’t watch his own movies. Burton’s first big break came with directing Pee-wee’s Big Adventure in 1985. The director then had a string of successful films that not only established him as a talent in Hollywood but also his displayed unique tone and style. Burton’s 1988 film Beetlejuice is considered a classic, which he immediately followed up with Michael Keaton’s Batman, which saw the director legitimize superhero movies for the big screen.
Burton continued churning out memorable films, with Edward Scissorhands, Batman Returns, and Ed Wood all making their mark in the early 1990s. Not all the director’s films were lauded, though, with his remake of Planet of the Apes garnering less than favorable reviews and movies like Dark Shadows missing with audiences entirely. However, Burton’s unique style has seen a legion of loyal fans follow his work through the years, with films like Corpse Bride, Big Fish, and Sleepy Hollow.
While speaking with Deadline, Burton spoke about why he doesn’t enjoy watching his own films. According to the director, he sees each film as part of his life, filled with meaningful moments, which makes watching feel like “your life flashing before your eyes.” Burton then compares the experience to a funeral, but “in a beautiful way.” Check out Burton’s comments on not watching his own movies below:
“I don’t really watch my movies. It was strange seeing the clips. I got quite emotional. It feels like each film you do is part of your life and is very deep and meaningful so it’s like watching your life flashing before your eyes – that’s why I likened it to a funeral in a way, in a beautiful way, it captures moments of your life.”
Tim Burton Is Not Alone In Avoiding His Own Work
Burton is far from the only person in Hollywood who doesn’t care to watch their own work. For example, Adam Driver hates hearing or seeing his own work, even notoriously storming out of an interview when he was asked to watch a clip from Marriage Story. Joaquin Phoenix has also stated that he’s only seen two of his films, Her and The Master, to help critique himself, but he routinely avoids seeing his own films. Even the most accomplished actors, like Meryl Streep, often dislike revisiting their projects, with Streep only viewing each of her movies once, making the distinct choice to focus on what’s next.
So while Burton is far from alone, it is rare for directors to avoid the fruits of their labor. Through the editing process and post-production, Burton is likely exposed to several cuts of his projects. However, once he has locked picture, he seemingly steps away, which many directors tend not to do. While there are numerous examples of directors hating their own films, like Tomas Alfredson with The Snowman or Tony Kaye with American History X, there aren’t many examples of directors refusing to watch their movies. So while Burton may not be alone in Hollywood, his aversion to his own work is another unique quirk of the director.
