Tim Burton's Corpse Bride

2005

Tim Burton's Corpse Bride

Critics Consensus

As can be expected from a Tim Burton movie, Corpse Bride is whimsically macabre, visually imaginative, and emotionally bittersweet.

84%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 191

77%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 553,193
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Movie Info

Tim Burton returns to the dark but fanciful animated style of The Nightmare Before Christmas with this stop-motion black comedy. Victor (voice of Johnny Depp) lives in a small European village in the 19th century, where he is pledged to marry Victoria (voice of Emily Watson), a partnership arranged by their parents. The two only meet the day before their scheduled nuptials, and Victor performs disastrously in the wedding rehearsal. Later that evening, while he is walking through the woods and hopelessly practicing his vows, he puts Victoria's wedding band on what looks like a branch. Victor quickly discovers this was a big mistake; as it happens, he has put the ring on the skeletal finger of the enchanted Corpse Bride (voice of Helena Bonham Carter), who then whisks him off to a dark and mysterious netherworld where they are now married. Victor is frightened in the land of the dead, and even realizes that he has fallen in love with his true fiancée, Victoria, so he searches for a way back to his own world. Directed by Tim Burton in collaboration with animator Mike Johnson, Corpse Bride features a stellar voice cast, including Albert Finney, Christopher Lee, Richard E. Grant, Joanna Lumley, and Danny Elfman (who also composed the film's musical score). ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Cast

Johnny Depp
as Victor Van Dort
Helena Bonham Carter
as Corpse Bride
Emily Watson
as Victoria Everglot
Tracey Ullman
as Nell Van Dort/Hildegarde
Paul Whitehouse
as William Van Dort/Mayhew/Paul the Head Waiter
Joanna Lumley
as Maudeline Everglot
Albert Finney
as Finnis Everglot
Richard E. Grant
as Barkis Bittern
Christopher Lee
as Pastor Galswells
Michael Gough
as Elder Gutknecht
Enn Reitel
as Maggot/Town Crier
Deep Roy
as General Bonesapart
Danny Elfman
as Bonejangles
Jane Horrocks
as Mrs. Plum
Stephen Ballantyne
as Emil
Lisa Kay
as Solemn Village Boy
Nick Ingman
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Critic Reviews for Tim Burton's Corpse Bride

All Critics (191) | Top Critics (41)

View All Critic Reviews (191)

Audience Reviews for Tim Burton's Corpse Bride

  • Oct 31, 2016
    Made-for-Halloween movie with weak plot and many slow moments but at least provides a great and easy new costume option for women haha.
    Letitia L Super Reviewer
  • Sep 20, 2016
    Coming in at a mere 77 minutes, Corpse Bride is a short-little-fun adventure, even though there could have clearly been some more room for character development. One of the things I love most about Tim Burton's films is the promise of an epic adventure. Corpse Bride is a far more contained story than his previous effort, Big Fish, but it does have some adventurous moments. In fact, it's kind of like a cross between Edward Scissorhands and Beetlejuice. But to me, there was just something missing. The voice talent is strong here with frequent Burton collaborators Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter tackling the groom and the "corpse bride" respectively. But I didn't find either character to be all that compelling. Victor Van Dort (Depp) is a shy groom with a lack of confidence, and he doesn't have the charisma to get me to root hard for him. On the other-hand, the corpse bride has an intriguingly tragic backstory, but also falls victim to bland dialogue. To me, the most interesting characters are the ones in the background who come and go with eccentric scenery. A film is only as good as its leads, and although it's impressively animated by Laika, the characters end up taking second fiddle to a gothic underbelly of strange characters feasting on the inexperience of the bride and the groom. I like the attempt of Burton and crew, and there certainly is some joy to be had here, but the execution just isn't there. Style over substance. To put it bluntly, the film itself is more dead than it is alive. +Eccentric side characters -Imaginative but lacks thought out characters -Incomplete execution 5.3/10
    Thomas D Super Reviewer
  • Jul 27, 2013
    Tim Burton's Corpse Bride is a morbidly whimsical animated film with a unique visual style. The story follows a reluctant groom who's arranged to be married, but is whisked away to the underworld by the Corpse Bride; a young woman who was murdered while eloping and continued to look for a groom throughout her afterlife. The plot's rather weak and doesn't have a clear focus or fully developed characters. However, the performances by Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, and Emily Watson are fairly good. And, the stop-motion animation is quite impressive, and is full of interesting character designs. Danny Elfman's score is also especially well-done, though the songs are rather mediocre and unmemorable. A dark and surreal comedy, Tim Burton's Corpse Bride is entertaining but ends up being more style than substance.
    Dann M Super Reviewer
  • Aug 05, 2012
    Possibly better than A Nightmare Before Christmas, I rarely watch a film twice in a roll but I certainly did for this film. It was a beautiful but yet dark fairytale. One of the best animation to date, totally Burton like. Quirky as usual, featuring Depp as the voice for Victor. Most importantly, it's a musical, you can't help but like this film.
    Sylvester K Super Reviewer
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