Perhaps the main reason why Tim Burton has become one of the most renowned directors of modern times is his distinctive aesthetic that runs through every one of his films, making them immediately recognizable. Burton has managed to handle most film genres through hits such as Beetlejuice and Sleepy Hollow, as well as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Big Fish, and Batman, all very different but with one thing in common: a gloomy aesthetic influenced by German Expressionism, with shapes and color palettes embodying his trademark style.
Update August 25, 2023: In honor of Tim Burton's birthday, this list has been updated with even more great characters from the iconic filmmaker.
Aided by his outstanding ensemble cast, which includes frequent collaborators Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, and Winona Ryder, among others, Burton manages to give life to characters that go straight to the viewers' hearts. Usually, the main characters in his films tend to be social outcasts due to who they are, or they stand out for being eccentric and misunderstood by everyone around them, often drawing inspiration from the director's own life. Although they are unusual characters, they are also very human, which helps the audience to immediately empathize with them. Aided by this group of peculiar characters, Burton succeeds in fusing the frightening, the whimsical, and the mundane in each of his films to create a unique journey for each viewer. These are Tim Burton's best movie characters.
15 Alma Peregrine — Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children
Tim Burton's 2016 movie Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, based on Ransom Riggs's 2011 novel of the same name, has quite a few interesting characters. But one of the most memorable ones has to be Miss Alma LeFay Peregrine, the headmistress of a safe haven/ home for peculiar children who is a peculiar adult herself. With the ability to turn into a peregrine falcon and control time, she is a character who is strict, cunning, and loving. Played by Eva Green, the character of Miss Peregrine invokes respect and awe, not just from the children of her school but the audience as well.
14 Sparky — Frankenweenie
This character is the core of the 2012 film Frankenweenie, which is inspired by the 1984 short film also created by Burton. Sparky is the energetic pet dog of Victor Frankenstein, a lonely scientist boy. This bull terrier was his most unconditional friend until he was hit by a car, leaving Victor alone and heartbroken. Even though this tragic story has a happy ending, with Victor bringing Sparky back to life, it is inspired by the director's early memories of losing a pet. Indeed, Sparky resonates with anyone who has ever felt both the genuine love that can only be given by a pet and, later on, the never-ending sadness of losing it.
13 The Headless Horseman - Sleepy Hollow
The Headless Horseman is one of the most iconic figures in American folklore, and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow is one of the most famous ghost stories that everyone knows the tale. Tim Burton's 1999 Sleepy Hollow was a reimagining of the story that turns everything audiences think they know on its head, as the Horseman is now no longer just a costume to scare Ichabod Crane but, in fact, a vengeful spirit. Played both by Christopher Walker and Darth Maul actor Ray Park, the Headless Horseman is Tim Burton's version of a slasher movie villain and is ruthless, dangerous, and one of the best takes on the character yet.
12 The Joker — Batman (1989)
The Joker is arguably Batman's biggest nemesis and every director that brought him on-screen had their own interpretation of the character. Tim Burton's Joker, played by Jack Nicholson in his 1989 movie Batman, is a sociopathic man named Jack Napier who is the second-in-command of Gotham City's crime lord Carl Grissom. The character of Joker is truly fear-inducing, and the maniacal smile is something that the audience can never forget. The actor cast such a large shadow over the role it would be nineteen years until the release of The Dark Knight that anyone could imagine anyone else in the role.
11 Willy Wonka — Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
In Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Depp is Willy Wonka, the most famous chocolatier and owner of The Wonka Factory. As a very peculiar literary character that had already been adapted to the big screen (by Gene Wilder for Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory), the Burton-Depp duo faced the difficult task of recreating him, but they were up to the task: Burton Wonka is weird, always pretending to be jolly, with a cocky attitude and poor social skills that attempt to disguise the darkness that surrounds him. Beneath his well-groomed image as an eccentric businessman hides a lonely little boy who dreamed of a magical world of chocolate, who, due to his now-defunct relationship with his uptight father, persuaded himself that being alone was his best option.
10 The Penguin — Batman Returns
In the 1992 film Batman Returns, Burton introduced one of the most iconic villains in cinema, but with a twist: Oswald Cobblepot, better known as The Penguin. Played by Danny DeVito, highly praised for his performance, the Penguin is inspired by the DC comic book supervillain but raised to an even darker note. Cobblepot was born into a wealthy family, but because of his deformities, they abandoned him, and he ended up being raised by penguins. The Penguin is violent, fearsome, and determined to take revenge and destroy the society that ostracized him for being different.
9 Lydia Deetz — Beetlejuice
Lydia Deetz is one of the protagonists of the 1988 film Beetlejuice. Brilliantly interpreted by Winona Ryder, Lydia is the embodiment of Burton's aesthetics in a young gothic girl with a great sensibility for all the arts. Misunderstood by her family, Lydia is serious, sensitive, and gifted with a great sense of humor and an absolute fascination for anything paranormal, which leads her to connect straightaway with Adam and Barbara Maitland, the deceased former owners of her new home, who become parental figures for her. Ryder is set to reprise her role in Beetlejuice 2, set for release in September 2024.
8 Pee Wee Herman - Pee-wee's Big Adventure
While Tim Burton did not create Pee Wee Herman, actor Paul Reubens chose Burton to helm the film Pee-wee's Big Adventure after seeing his short Frankenwennie and decided he was the right man to bring his beloved character to the big screen. Rebuens identified Burton's style immediately, and the director clearly saw something in Pee-wee Herman, the character. Like many classic Burton characters, Pee-wee is a social outcast and a colorful character living in a normal world.
Burton's style helped make the movie a hit, which eventually led to Pee-wee's Playhouse, and Rebeun identifying Burton's style launched the director's career. There is likely no Tim Burton film career without Pee-wee Herman and likely no Pee-wee's Playhouse without Tim Burton. Reubens recently passed away, and Tim Burton gave a loving tribute to his friend.
7 Sweeney Todd — Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Dreamworks
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street is a musical slasher film directed by Tim Burton where Johnny Depp plays the role of Sweeney Todd. Previously known as Benjamin Barker, Todd was a man who was falsely accused and driven off to Australia in exile. He lost his family and lusted for revenge. Fifteen years later, with help from his friends Nellie Lovett (Helena Bonham Carter) and Anthony Hope (Jamie Campbell Bower), he returns to London and becomes a demonic barber who kills his victims ruthlessly in search of revenge. The movie is filled with amazing characters, but the character of Sweeney Todd truly takes the cake.
6 Sally — The Nightmare Before Christmas
Sally stands as the voice of reason in The Nightmare Before Christmas. In a town that is enthusiastic about every decision made by the popular Pumpkin King, the rag doll played by Catherine O'Hara has to stand up for what she believes is right, even if it means confronting her beloved Jack. Sally truly cares about others and treasures her few moments of freedom, as her creator, Dr. Finkelstein, is constantly trying to keep her imprisoned. However, her resourcefulness and strong curiosity for the outside world aid her in finding innumerable ways to break out of her tower.
5 Ed Wood — Ed Wood
As one of his many collaborations with Burton, Depp played the titular filmmaker in the biographical comedy-drama film Ed Wood. In this Burton ode to Wood, he explores a question that drives most artists: "What if I'm no good?" Depp does a great job conveying Wood's ambition, ability to dream, and his love for each little detail of his bizarre and odd films, as well as the quirkiness that made him such a beloved character.
4 Emily — Corpse Bride
In Corpse Bride, Emily is a bride who was snatched from her life by Barkis Bittern, her former fiancé, just before walking down the aisle. With all her hopes and dreams gone, this character, played by Helena Bonham Carter, was left with no other choice but to wait patiently in the Land of the Dead to be rescued by her true love, who by mistake ends up being Victor Van Dort (Depp). Emily, once kind, gullible, and sweet, preserved her traits even after her death, but the events leading up to it also made her a bit aggressive and completely obsessed with achieving whatever she wanted.
3 Betelgeuse — Beetlejuice
Michael Keaton is Betelgeuse, also known as Beetlejuice, in the eponymous 1988 film. This ghost, who needs to be summoned three times in order to materialize, is rude, crude, filthy and misaligned. He tends to be an annoyance to those around him, and while he may seem funny, he is not: everything he does is for his own enjoyment, and that often means making others suffer. In the film, this ghost tricks the Maitlands by presenting himself as a bio-exorcist who could get rid of the Deetz family, yet the couple quickly regrets hiring him as his tactics are rather questionable. Keaton will reprise his role in the upcoming Beatlejuice 2.
2 Jack Skellington — The Nightmare Before Christmas
While The Nightmare Before Christmas was directed by Henry Selick, it was created and produced by Tim Burton, so his trademark is imprinted all over the film. This 1993 production was inspired by one of Burton's poems, and features, among other things, a number of interesting characters. Among them, the best known, and probably the one who is most commonly related to Burton, is Jack Skellington. He is in charge of Halloween celebrations in Halloween Town, which turned him into a town idol.
However, Jack grows tired of reprising the same celebration year after year, and his curiosity leads him to seek out new ones. In spite of his enthusiasm and charisma, Jack is often selfish in his decision-making, causing him to almost ruin Christmas for everyone. Yet, like any good hero, Jack is willing to make amends for his mistakes and do what's right.
1 Edward Scissorhands — Edward Scissorhands
The titular hero in Edward Scissorhands ranks first in this list as the character that perfectly sums up Burton's concept and vision. Edward, interpreted by Depp in one of his best performances, was created by The Inventor, who passed away before he could attach hands to him. This left Edward isolated and unhappy for many years, living in his gloomy castle, incapable of interacting with society until Peg Boggs finds him.
Unlike what his appearance might suggest, Edward is a kind, caring young man whose innocence is often taken advantage of. Edward doesn't belong to the world that surrounds him, and he is misunderstood by most, who label him as violent after some initial curiosity. Only a few people understand Edward's true, innocent nature, and they help him escape from the town and return to his castle. Edward is a misunderstood person who just wants to fit in, which feels like Burton channeling how he felt as a kid growing up in Burbank. The fact that this is also the first movie he made with Johnny Depp, his long-time friend and collaborator, makes this not only Burton's best character but also his most personal one.