Dark Shadows

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Dark Shadows

PG-13

Released May 11, 2012

1h 52m

Comedy

Fantasy

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Popcornmeter

35%

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260 Reviews

46%

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250,000+ Ratings

In 18th-century Maine, Barnabas Collins (Johnny Depp) presides over the town of Collinsport. A rich and powerful playboy, Barnabas seals his own doom when he breaks the heart of a witch named Angelique (Eva Green). Angelique turns Barnabas into a vampire and buries him alive. Two centuries later, Barnabas escapes from his tomb and finds 1972 Collinsport a very different place. His once-grand estate has fallen into ruin, and the dysfunctional remnants of his family have fared little better.

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Critics Consensus

The visuals are top notch but Tim Burton never finds a consistent rhythm, mixing campy jokes and gothic spookiness with less success than other Johnny Depp collaborations.

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J. Hoberman

ARTINFO.com

Sad to report, the [Tim] Burton opus is an unnecessarily complicated tale involving too many characters, not to mention an unresolved moral conundrum that has us happily rooting for an unapologetic mass serial killer.

Feb 25, 2019

Full Review

David Thomson

The New Republic

The only reason to see Dark Shadows is to discover how dire and pointless-how flat-out dreadful-a movie can be even when it has Tim Burton, Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Helena Bonham Carter attached to its flimsy pretext.

Jun 17, 2013

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David Stratton

The Australian

Certainly delivers the goods on several levels without quite rising to the heights to which it aspires.

Rated: 3.5/5

May 16, 2012

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Michael Leader

Den of Geek

With its overstuffed script and uncertain direction, Lay The Favourite is unlikely to change Rebecca Hall’s fortunes.

Rated: 2/5

May 3, 2024

Full Review

Ezequiel Obregón

EscribiendoCine

... A good opportunity to find a filmmaker having fun with his dark dolls, like a child in his favorite toy store. [Full review in Spanish]

Rated: 6/10

Jun 27, 2023

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

Dark Shadows takes the easy way out by lampooning its source material, simplifying its ‘70s setting through parody, and handling most of the characters like comic relief in an overall treatment that’s beneath everyone involved.

Rated: 2/4

Nov 20, 2022

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guglielmo d

Yet another badly reviewed movie, it is an awkward film yes, much out of the ordinary. But good, very good! So don't let the bad reviews fool you! Go and watch it is very entertaining!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

05/07/25

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xpig332 B

It had it’s dumb parts, but I enjoyed it overall! Depp is a decent actor!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

04/08/25

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Cudalbu R

The movie wasn't bad and the cast did their best, but there was just too much left unexplained and the ending was rushed.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/28/25

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Diaulas F

Eu gosto muito desse filme. Queria que fosse mais um pouco terror e menos comédia. Mais ver Pfeiffer trabalhar com Burton novamente me encheu de alegrias.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/01/25

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Jesse V

Underrated. Tim Burton films are usually great or not good. This one is not the greatest but still good. I’d recommend it

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/02/25

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Liam D

Based on the TV show of the same name. While not one of the weakest movies from Tim Burton’s filmography but for a comedy it takes itself way too seriously but the film looks nice and the cast is fun to watch

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

09/01/24

Full Review

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Tim Burton

Director

Johnny Depp

Barnabas Collins

Michelle Pfeiffer

Elizabeth Collins Stoddard

Helena Bonham Carter

Dr. Julia Hoffman

Eva Green

Angelique Bouchard

Jackie Earle Haley

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Synopsis

In 18th-century Maine, Barnabas Collins (Johnny Depp) presides over the town of Collinsport. A rich and powerful playboy, Barnabas seals his own doom when he breaks the heart of a witch named Angelique (Eva Green). Angelique turns Barnabas into a vampire and buries him alive. Two centuries later, Barnabas escapes from his tomb and finds 1972 Collinsport a very different place. His once-grand estate has fallen into ruin, and the dysfunctional remnants of his family have fared little better.

Director: Tim Burton
Producer: Tim Burton, Richard D. Zanuck, Graham King, Johnny Depp, Christi Dembrowski, David Kennedy
Screenwriter: Seth Grahame-Smith
Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co: Infinitum Nihil, Warner Bros., GK Films, Zanuck Company
Rating: PG-13 (Language|Comic Horror Violence|Sexual Content|Smoking|Some Drug Use)
Genre: Comedy, Fantasy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 11, 2012, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 15, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA): $79.7M
Runtime: 1h 52m
Sound Mix: SDDS, Dolby Digital, Datasat

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