History of Tim Burton in Timeline
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.
August 25, 1958: Timothy Walter Burton's Birth
On August 25, 1958, Timothy Walter Burton, who became an American filmmaker, artist, and producer known for his gothic horror and dark fantasy films, was born.
1958: Burton's Younger Years
In 1958, Tim Burton was in his younger years.
1971: Reference to "Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory"
In 2005, with the release of "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory", there was a reference to the 1971 adaptation, "Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory", as Burton's adaptation took a more faithful approach to the source material.
1976: Burton's Younger Years
In 1976, Tim Burton was in his younger years.
1976: Enrollment at CalArts
In 1976, after graduating from Burbank High School, Tim Burton attended the California Institute of the Arts in Valencia, Santa Clarita, to study character animation.
1977: Burton During CalArts and Walt Disney
In 1977, Tim Burton was attending CalArts and working with Walt Disney.
1979: Reference to the Broadway musical Sweeney Todd
In 2007, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street film was released, which was based on the 1979 Broadway musical of the same name.
1979: Studies at CalArts
Until 1979, Tim Burton studied character animation at the California Institute of the Arts.
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: Burton During CalArts and Walt Disney
In 1984, Tim Burton was attending CalArts and working with Walt Disney.
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.
1984: Reference to the short film Frankenweenie
In 2012, the full-length stop motion film, Frankenweenie, was released, which was a remake of Tim Burton's 1984 short film with the same name.
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.
1985: Burton Beyond Burbank
In 1985, Tim Burton's career moved beyond Burbank.
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".
1991: Marriage to Lena Gieseke Ends
In 1991, Tim Burton's marriage to Lena Gieseke ended after four years.
1992: Relationship with Lisa Marie Begins
In 1992, Tim Burton began a relationship with model and actress Lisa Marie, who acted in his films from 1992 to 2001.
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.
2001: Relationship with Lisa Marie Ends
In 2001, Tim Burton's relationship with Lisa Marie ended.
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: Birth of Son
In 2003, Tim Burton and Helena Bonham Carter had a son.
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: Lisa Marie Auctions Burton's Belongings
In 2005, Lisa Marie held an auction of personal belongings that Tim Burton had left behind, much to his dismay.
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.
2005: Release of Batman Forever DVD with deleted scenes
In 2005, Warner Bros. released the DVD of Batman Forever that contained scenes that were originally requested to be deleted by Schumacher so the film did not have the same tone as its predecessor, Batman Returns.
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: Birth of Daughter
In 2007, Tim Burton and Helena Bonham Carter had a daughter.
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.
November 22, 2009: Tim Burton Retrospective Opens at MoMA
From November 22, 2009, Tim Burton had a retrospective at the MoMA in New York with over 700 drawings, paintings, photographs, and other works.
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: Promotion of 9 and Alice in Wonderland at Comic-Con
In 2009, Tim Burton appeared at Comic-Con in San Diego, California, to promote both 9 and Alice in Wonderland.
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.
March 15, 2010: Receives Chevalier of Arts and Letters
On March 15, 2010, Tim Burton received the insignia of Chevalier of Arts and Letters from then-Minister of Culture Frédéric Mitterrand.
March 2010: Alice in Wonderland Material Incorporated into ACMI Exhibition
In March 2010, additional material from Tim Burton's "Alice in Wonderland" was incorporated into the "Tim Burton" exhibition at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) in Melbourne.
April 26, 2010: Tim Burton Retrospective Closes at MoMA
On April 26, 2010, Tim Burton's retrospective at the MoMA in New York closed.
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".
October 10, 2010: Tim Burton Exhibition Closes at ACMI
On October 10, 2010, the "Tim Burton" exhibition at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) in Melbourne closed.
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.
October 31, 2011: "The Art of Tim Burton" Exhibition Closes at LACMA
On October 31, 2011, "The Art of Tim Burton" exhibition closed at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA).
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.
December 12, 2012: "Tim Burton at Seoul Museum of Art" Exhibition Opens
On December 12, 2012, "Tim Burton at Seoul Museum of Art" exhibition, promoting Hyundai Card, opened at the Seoul Museum of Art in Seoul, South Korea, featuring 862 of Burton's works.
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.
April 15, 2013: "Tim Burton at Seoul Museum of Art" Exhibition Closes
On April 15, 2013, "Tim Burton at Seoul Museum of Art" exhibition at Seoul Museum of Art in Seoul, South Korea, closed.
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.
August 8, 2014: "Tim Burton and His World" Exhibition Closes in Prague
On August 8, 2014, "Tim Burton and His World" exhibition closed at the Stone Bell House in Prague, Czech Republic.
December 2014: Burton and Bonham Carter Break Up
In December 2014, it was announced that Tim Burton and Helena Bonham Carter had broken up amicably earlier that year.
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.
February 4, 2016: "Tim Burton and His World" Exhibition Premieres in São Paulo
On February 4, 2016, "Tim Burton and His World" exhibition premiered at the Museu da Imagem e do Som in São Paulo, Brazil.
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.
November 5, 2016: "Tim Burton and His World" Exhibition Opens in Hong Kong
On November 5, 2016, "Tim Burton and His World" exhibition opened at Artis Tree in Taikoo Place, Hong Kong.
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.
January 23, 2017: "Tim Burton and His World" Exhibition Closes in Hong Kong
On January 23, 2017, "Tim Burton and His World" exhibition closed at Artis Tree in Taikoo Place, Hong Kong.
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.
August 11, 2019: "Tim Burton and His World" Exhibition Closes in Brasília
On August 11, 2019, "Tim Burton and His World" exhibition closed at the Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil in Brasília.
October 2019: Lost Vegas: Tim Burton Exhibition Opens
In October 2019, "Lost Vegas: Tim Burton", Burton's first exhibition in the United States in nearly a decade, opened at The Neon Museum in Las Vegas.
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: Meets Monica Bellucci at Lyon's Lumière Film Festival
In October 2022, Tim Burton met Italian actress and model Monica Bellucci at the Lyon's Lumière Film Festival.
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.
February 2023: Relationship with Monica Bellucci Reported
In February 2023, Tim Burton's relationship with Italian actress and model Monica Bellucci was reported.
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.
June 2023: Bellucci Speaks Publicly About Relationship
In June 2023, Monica Bellucci first spoke publicly about her relationship with Tim Burton.
September 2023: Report that Burton and Bonham Carter Were Married
In September 2023, The Independent reported that Tim Burton and Helena Bonham Carter had indeed been married for years before their separation.
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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