Tim Burton's Corpse Bride

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Tim Burton's Corpse Bride

PG

Released Sep 23, 2005

1h 16m

Kids & Family

Fantasy

Animation

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

84%

Tomatometer

196 Reviews

77%

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250,000+ Ratings

Victor (Johnny Depp) and Victoria's (Emily Watson) families have arranged their marriage. Though they like each other, Victor is nervous about the ceremony. While he's in a forest practicing his lines for the wedding, a tree branch becomes a hand that drags him to the land of the dead. It belongs to Emily, who was murdered after eloping with her love and wants to marry Victor. Victor must get back aboveground before Victoria marries the villainous Barkis Bittern (Richard E. Grant).

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Critics Consensus

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

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J. R. Jones

Chicago Reader

This may be light family entertainment, but it’s also a pleasingly perverse celebration of Victorian morbidity.

Jun 29, 2022

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Dave Calhoun

Time Out

As fun as the film occasionally is, it just plays like a compilation of greatest hits.

Aug 16, 2007

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Kim Newman

Empire Magazine

If Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was Burton's big picture for 2005, this is his miniature.

Rated: 4/5

Apr 1, 2006

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Petrana Radulovic

Polygon

It is a romance first and foremost, dressed up with Halloween-y scares, spooky supernatural elements, and Tim Burton's usual Hot Topic aesthetic (I mean this in a very good way).

Oct 20, 2021

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

A fine mix of rot and romance.

Rated: 3/4

Sep 18, 2021

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Charlotte Harrison

Charlotte Sometimes Goes to the Movies

The animation is exquisite, the songs captivating and the macabre story is told with just the right amount of sweet and spook.

Nov 6, 2020

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Gareth v

Elegantly morbid and visually enchanting, Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride is a dark fairy tale brought to life with stunning stop-motion animation and Burton's gothic aesthetic.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

08/07/25

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Stephen C

Success in 1 hour and 16 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated PG for Brief Mild Language, Action and Some Scary Images!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $53,400,000.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Happy 20th anniversary!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/22/25

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Gabriela A

Hello, my name is Ana Alzate. In this film, I want to say that it reflects unrequited love and how marriages in ancient times were arranged and how Tim Burton manages to find us again with a masterpiece that is this film.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

07/15/25

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Audience Member

It's one of my favorite movies because it features a different animation and drawing style. It has a strange plot, but that doesn't take away from the fact that it's good. In the movie, they tell us a phrase: "Emily, always the godmother, never the bride." It shows us that not all people are made for love or marriage. I recommend it.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/15/25

Full Review

Audience Member

I loved it because it’s different — a little dark but very beautiful. The story of Victor and the Corpse Bride is sad, but also full of love and tenderness. The ending made me really sad because it didn’t turn out the way I expected, but it made me think about the true meaning of love and sacrifice. Linette De La Hoz

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/15/25

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little r

I rewatch this movie every year it's so good. I especially love the ending because Emily is finally freed and it's super pretty. This is my favourite movie of tim Burton's.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/11/25

Full Review

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Tim Burton

Director

Mike Johnson

Director

Johnny Depp

Victor Van Dort

Helena Bonham Carter

The Corpse Bride

Emily Watson

Victoria Everglot

Tracey Ullman

Nell Van Dort

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Synopsis

Victor (Johnny Depp) and Victoria's (Emily Watson) families have arranged their marriage. Though they like each other, Victor is nervous about the ceremony. While he's in a forest practicing his lines for the wedding, a tree branch becomes a hand that drags him to the land of the dead. It belongs to Emily, who was murdered after eloping with her love and wants to marry Victor. Victor must get back aboveground before Victoria marries the villainous Barkis Bittern (Richard E. Grant).

Director: Tim Burton, Mike Johnson
Producer: Allison Abbate, Tim Burton
Screenwriter: Pamela Pettler, Caroline Thompson
Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co: Warner Bros., Tim Burton Animation Co., Will Vinton Studios
Rating: PG (Brief Mild Language|Action|Some Scary Images)
Genre: Kids & Family, Fantasy, Animation
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 23, 2005, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 21, 2008
Box Office (Gross USA): $53.4M
Runtime: 1h 16m
Sound Mix: SDDS, Dolby SRD, DTS, Surround
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.37:1)

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