Career Timeline of Tim Burton: Major Achievements and Milestones
How Tim Burton built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.
Tim Burton is an acclaimed American filmmaker, artist, and producer, renowned for his contributions to gothic horror and dark fantasy films, thereby popularizing Goth culture within American cinema. His work has earned him an Emmy Award, a Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement, and nominations for Academy Awards, Golden Globe Awards, and BAFTA Awards. He was also awarded the Order of Arts and Letters by the Culture Minister of France.
5 hours ago : Tim Burton's 'Sleepy Hollow' Resurges as Streaming Sensation and Subject of Historical Analysis
Tim Burton's 'Sleepy Hollow' (1999) experiences a streaming resurgence, captivating audiences over 25 years later. The film is celebrated and examined through historical and movie review lenses for its brutality and horror elements.
1981: The Fox and the Hound
In 1981, Tim Burton worked as an animator, storyboard artist, graphic designer, art director, and concept artist on films such as The Fox and the Hound.
1982: Release of Vincent
In 1982, Tim Burton made his first short, Vincent, a six-minute black-and-white stop motion film based on a poem written by Burton, with Vincent Price providing narration.
1982: Tribute to Vincent Price
In 1982, Tim Burton paid tribute to Vincent Price in his short film Vincent.
1982: Tron
In 1982, Tim Burton worked as an animator, storyboard artist, graphic designer, art director, and concept artist on films such as Tron.
1983: Hansel and Gretel Aired
In 1983, Tim Burton's first live-action production, Hansel and Gretel, a Japanese-themed adaptation of the Brothers Grimm fairy tale for the Disney Channel, aired once and was then shelved.
1984: Release of Frankenweenie
In 1984, Tim Burton's live-action short film, Frankenweenie, was released. It is about a young boy who tries to revive his dog after it is run over by a car.
1985: Directing Alfred Hitchcock Presents
In 1985, Tim Burton directed episodes of the revival of Alfred Hitchcock Presents and Shelley Duvall's Faerie Tale Theatre.
1985: Pee-wee's Big Adventure
In 1985, Tim Burton made his directorial film debut with the comedy Pee-wee's Big Adventure.
1985: The Black Cauldron
In 1985, Tim Burton worked as an animator, storyboard artist, graphic designer, art director, and concept artist on films such as The Black Cauldron.
1986: Directing Faerie Tale Theatre
In 1986, Tim Burton directed an episode of Shelley Duvall's television series Faerie Tale Theatre.
June 1989: Batman Release
In June 1989, Tim Burton's film Batman was released, backed by a major marketing campaign and starring Michael Keaton and Jack Nicholson.
1989: Batman Release
In 1989, Tim Burton directed the superhero film Batman.
1990: Edward Scissorhands
In 1990, Tim Burton created a drawing which inspired the film Edward Scissorhands, which he directed and starred Johnny Depp and Winona Ryder.
1990: Burton Considers Making Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
In 1990, Tim Burton first considered making "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice".
1992: Batman Returns Release
In 1992, Tim Burton directed the superhero film Batman Returns.
1993: The Nightmare Before Christmas Production
In 1993, Tim Burton produced The Nightmare Before Christmas for Disney, which was directed by Henry Selick and written by Caroline Thompson.
1994: Ed Wood Release
In 1994, Tim Burton directed the biographical drama Ed Wood.
1994: Production of Cabin Boy and Ed Wood
In 1994, Tim Burton produced the fantasy-comedy Cabin Boy, starring Chris Elliott. He was also offered Ed Wood, a smaller-scale film about director Ed Wood, starring Johnny Depp. Danny Elfman did not score Ed Wood, and Howard Shore took on the assignment instead.
1994: Departure from Batman film series
In 1994, Warner Bros. and Tim Burton mutually agreed that Burton would not direct a third Batman film due to Batman Returns being considered too dark. Joel Schumacher was chosen to direct the third film, with Burton producing. Michael Keaton resigned from the lead role and was replaced by Val Kilmer. Filming for Batman Forever began in late 1994.
1996: Release of James and the Giant Peach
In 1996, Tim Burton and Henry Selick reunited for James and the Giant Peach. Burton served as a producer. The film was a combination of live action and stop motion footage and starred Richard Dreyfuss, Susan Sarandon, and others. The film was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Musical or Comedy Score.
1996: James and the Giant Peach Co-Production
In 1996, Tim Burton collaborated with Henry Selick again for James and the Giant Peach, which Burton co-produced.
June 1997: Superman Film Enters Pre-Production
In June 1997, Tim Burton's Superman film, starring Nicolas Cage, entered pre-production after Wesley Strick rewrote Kevin Smith's script.
1997: The Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy & Other Stories Release
In 1997, Tim Burton released several books including The Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy & Other Stories.
April 1998: Superman Film Put On Hold
In April 1998, Warner Bros. put Tim Burton's Superman film on hold due to budgetary reasons, after ordering another rewrite from Dan Gilroy. Burton then left to direct Sleepy Hollow.
1999: Sleepy Hollow Release
In 1999, Tim Burton directed the supernatural horror film Sleepy Hollow.
1999: Release of Sleepy Hollow
In late 1999, Sleepy Hollow was released. Starring Johnny Depp as Ichabod Crane and Christina Ricci as Katrina van Tassel, the movie paid homage to Hammer Films. The film grossed $207 million worldwide and won an Academy Award for Best Art Direction, as well as two BAFTAs.
2000: DVD release of Pee-wee's Big Adventure
In 2000, Paul Reubens stated on the audio commentary of the DVD release of Pee-wee's Big Adventure that he chose Tim Burton to direct the film after seeing Frankenweenie.
2001: Planet of the Apes Release
In 2001, Tim Burton directed the science fiction film Planet of the Apes.
2002: Disney Considers Sequel to The Nightmare Before Christmas
In 2002, The Walt Disney Company considered producing a computer-animated sequel to "The Nightmare Before Christmas", but Tim Burton convinced them to drop the idea to preserve the film's purity.
2003: Release of Big Fish
In 2003, Tim Burton directed Big Fish, based on the novel Big Fish: A Novel of Mythic Proportions by Daniel Wallace. The film stars Ewan McGregor and Albert Finney as Edward Bloom, along with Jessica Lange and Danny DeVito. It received four Golden Globe nominations and an Academy Award nomination.
2005: Release of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Corpse Bride
In 2005, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, directed by Tim Burton and starring Johnny Depp, was released. The movie was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Costume Design. Simultaneously, Burton worked on Corpse Bride (2005), his first full-length stop motion film as a director, featuring the voices of Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter.
2005: Corpse Bride and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Releases
In 2005, Tim Burton directed the animated film Corpse Bride and the musical Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
2005: Production of 9
In 2005, Tim Burton showed interest in producing a feature-length adaptation of Shane Acker's short film 9. The full-length film was produced by Burton and featured the voice work of Elijah Wood, John C. Reilly, and Jennifer Connelly.
2006: Direction of "Bones" music video
In 2006, Tim Burton directed his first music video, "Bones", for the American indie rock band The Killers. The song "Bones" is from their second studio album, Sam's Town, and the video stars Michael Steger and Devon Aoki.
December 21, 2007: Release of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
On December 21, 2007, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street was released. The film won the National Board of Review Award for Best Director and an Academy Award for Best Art Direction. Johnny Depp was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role as Sweeney Todd.
2007: Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Release
In 2007, Tim Burton directed the musical Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.
2007: Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement
In 2007, Tim Burton was honored with the Venice International Film Festival's Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement.
May 2008: Filming start date for Alice in Wonderland
In May 2008, the original start date for filming Alice in Wonderland was scheduled. Filming took place in Torpoint and Plymouth from September 1 to October 14.
2009: The Art of Tim Burton Released
In 2009, "The Art of Tim Burton", a compilation of Tim Burton's drawings, sketches, and other artwork, was released.
2009: Henry Selick Considers Nightmare Sequel
In 2009, Henry Selick stated that he could make a sequel to "Nightmare Before Christmas" if he and Tim Burton could create a good story for it.
2009: Vincent Displayed
In 2009, Tim Burton's short film Hansel and Gretel went on public display at the Museum of Modern Art.
March 5, 2010: Release of Alice in Wonderland
On March 5, 2010, Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland was released. Starring Mia Wasikowska as Alice and Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter, the film grossed $1 billion worldwide. It won two Academy Awards.
July 19, 2010: Burton Announced as Director of Monsterpocalypse
On July 19, 2010, Tim Burton was announced as the director of the upcoming film adaptation of "Monsterpocalypse".
2010: Alice in Wonderland Release
In 2010, Tim Burton directed the fantasy film Alice in Wonderland.
2010: Order of Arts and Letters
In 2010, Tim Burton was given the Order of Arts and Letters by the Culture Minister of France.
May 2011: Filming began for Dark Shadows
In May 2011, Tim Burton began filming Dark Shadows, a feature film adaptation of the 1960s television series of the same name, starring Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter.
November 2011: Negotiations to direct Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children
In November 2011, Tim Burton entered talks to direct a film adaptation of the novel Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs.
2011: Burton briefly attached to direct Maleficent
In 2011, Tim Burton was briefly attached to direct "Maleficent" for Walt Disney Pictures, but chose to pursue "Dark Shadows" and "Frankenweenie" instead.
2011: Art Exhibit at LACMA
In 2011, Tim Burton's short film Hansel and Gretel was shown as part of the Tim Burton art exhibit at LACMA.
2011: Burton Working on Hunchback Adaptation
In 2011, it was reported that Tim Burton was working on a live-action adaptation of "The Hunchback of Notre-Dame" starring Josh Brolin, but the project did not move forward.
May 11, 2012: Release of Dark Shadows
On May 11, 2012, Dark Shadows was released. The film was directed by Tim Burton and starred Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter.
June 22, 2012: Release of Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter
On June 22, 2012, Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, co-produced by Tim Burton, was released. The film starred Benjamin Walker as Abraham Lincoln.
July 2012: Burton working with Seth Grahame-Smith on Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
In July 2012, it was announced that Tim Burton was working with Seth Grahame-Smith on "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice", a project he had been considering since 1990.
October 5, 2012: Release of Frankenweenie
On October 5, 2012, Tim Burton's feature-length stop motion film, Frankenweenie, was released. The film was distributed by Walt Disney Pictures and met with positive reviews.
2012: Burton to Work with Valve on Deep
In 2012, Shane Acker confirmed that Tim Burton would work with Valve to create his next animated feature film, "Deep", set in a post-apocalyptic world.
2012: Direction of "Here with Me" music video
In 2012, Tim Burton directed a second music video for The Killers, "Here with Me", which starred Winona Ryder.
2012: Frankenweenie and Dark Shadows Release
In 2012, Tim Burton directed the animated film Frankenweenie and the fantasy film Dark Shadows.
2012: Showcased at Seoul Museum of Art
In 2012, Tim Burton's short film Hansel and Gretel was shown at the Seoul Museum of Art.
July 17, 2013: Addams Family Stop Motion Film Scrapped
On July 17, 2013, Tim Burton's 3D stop motion animation adaptation of "The Addams Family" was scrapped, though it had been confirmed by Christopher Meledandri.
2013: Acker Focuses on Beasts of Burden
In 2013, Shane Acker, who was working with Tim Burton on "Deep", focused on another project called "Beasts of Burden", and there have been no further mentions of "Deep" since then.
2013: Filming began for Big Eyes
In mid-2013, filming began in Vancouver, British Columbia, for Tim Burton's Big Eyes, starring Amy Adams and Christoph Waltz.
December 25, 2014: Release of Big Eyes
On December 25, 2014, Tim Burton's biographical drama film Big Eyes was released in U.S. theaters. The film is about Margaret Keane, whose work was fraudulently claimed by her husband.
2014: Big Eyes Release
In 2014, Tim Burton directed the biographical drama Big Eyes.
2015: The Napkin Art of Tim Burton: Things You Think About in a Bar Released
In 2015, "The Napkin Art of Tim Burton: Things You Think About in a Bar", a follow-up to "The Art of Tim Burton", containing sketches made by Burton on napkins at bars and restaurants, was released.
September 30, 2016: Release of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children
On September 30, 2016, Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, directed by Tim Burton, was released in theaters. The film starred Asa Butterfield, Eva Green, and Samuel L. Jackson.
2016: Release of Alice Through the Looking Glass sequel
In 2016, Tim Burton produced the sequel to Alice in Wonderland, Alice Through the Looking Glass, which was directed by James Bobin.
October 2017: Mike Vukadinovich Hired to Write Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Script
In October 2017, Deadline Hollywood reported that Mike Vukadinovich was hired to write a script for "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice" in time for the film's 30th anniversary.
March 29, 2019: Release of Dumbo
On March 29, 2019, Tim Burton's live-action adaptation of Dumbo was released. The film starred Colin Farrell, Danny DeVito, Eva Green, and Michael Keaton.
April 2019: Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Sequel Shelved
In April 2019, Warner Bros. announced that the sequel to Beetlejuice, "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice", had been shelved.
February 2021: Directing and Producing Wednesday
In February 2021, it was announced that Tim Burton would direct and produce "Wednesday", a series for Netflix based on The Addams Family. This marked his first television directing role since the 1980s.
September 2021: Production of Wednesday Begins
In September 2021, production began on the first season of "Wednesday", the Netflix series directed and produced by Tim Burton. The series was scheduled for a November 2022 release.
February 2022: Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Sequel Announced Again
In February 2022, the sequel to Beetlejuice, "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice", was announced again, produced by Brad Pitt's studio Plan B Entertainment, alongside Warner Bros.
October 2022: Burton States He Will Likely Not Work with Disney Again
In October 2022, Tim Burton stated that he would probably never work with The Walt Disney Company again after "Dumbo", citing creative differences and Disney's focus on Pixar, Marvel, and Lucasfilm.
November 2022: Release of Wednesday
In November 2022, Tim Burton's "Wednesday" series was released on Netflix to critical acclaim.
2022: Directing Wednesday
Starting in 2022, Tim Burton directed several episodes for the Netflix series Wednesday, for which he received a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series.
May 10, 2023: Shooting of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Officially Starts
On May 10, 2023, shooting for "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice" officially started in London, with Tim Burton as director and with original cast members Keaton and Ryder reprising their roles, and with Ortega and Justin Theroux joining the cast.
September 6, 2024: Release Date for Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Announced
The release date for "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice" was announced as September 6, 2024, with Tim Burton as director.
2024: Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Release
In 2024, Tim Burton directed Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, the sequel to the 1988 film.
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