Tim Burton: career profile

The films of Tim Burton have established him as a unique talent. His mix of the macabre with romance or comedy, coupled with his creative visual style, has ensured Burton’s continued box office success.

Burton developed his drawing skills and love of horror from an early age. He made two shorts for Disney that encapsulated the themes of his later work: "Vincent" (1982) and "Frankenweenie" (1984). But neither was to Disney’s taste and the films were not released.

However, "Frankenweenie", a re-telling of "Frankenstein", courted some industry attention and resulted in Burton directing the imaginative comedy "Pee-wee's Big Adventure" (1985). The film was a commercial success and established Burton as an inventive film maker. The supernatural comedy "Beetlejuice" (1988) followed earning an Oscar for make-up. "Batman" (1989) dispensed with the camp of earlier versions for a more sinister approach and became one of the most successful films of all time.

Burton cloaked the tale of "Edward Scissorhands" (1990) in breathtaking visuals and although "Batman Returns" (1992) looked fantastic, it didn’t pack a punch like the first. "Ed Wood" (1994), Burton’s affectionate tribute to the ‘The Worst Director of All Time’, failed commercially but earned Burton high critical praise. "Mars Attacks!" (1996), a spoof on 50s alien invasion movies was followed by the beautifully shot "Sleepy Hollow" (1999), which picked up an Oscar for art direction.

In of "Planet of the Apes", Burton will no doubt monkey around with the look and feel of this 70s classic. Another hit? Absolutely!

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