Ed Wood

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Ed Wood

R

1994

2h 4m

Biography

Comedy

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

92%

Tomatometer

74 Reviews

88%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

Because of his eccentric habits and bafflingly strange films, director Ed Wood (Johnny Depp) is a Hollywood outcast. Nevertheless, with the help of the formerly famous Bela Lugosi and a devoted cast and crew of show-business misfits who believe in Ed's off-kilter vision, the filmmaker is able to bring his oversize dreams to cinematic life. Despite a lack of critical or commercial success, Ed and his friends manage to create an oddly endearing series of extremely low-budget films.

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Critics Consensus

Tim Burton and Johnny Depp team up to fete the life and work of cult hero Ed Wood, with typically strange and wonderful results.

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Harper Barnes

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

The sweet center of the movie is Wood's resurrection of horror actor Bela Lugosi, a despairing drug addict who is played brilliantly by Martin Landau.

Jan 19, 2024

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Jonathan Rosenbaum

Chicago Reader

Ed Wood doesn’t really give us the inside of Wood’s head, but it does treat imaginatively a number of Wood movies that retain a certain fascination ...

Rated: 3/4

Jun 7, 2022

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Owen Gleiberman

Entertainment Weekly

Ed Wood [is] a comedy of the ridiculous in which the ridiculous turns unexpectedly sublime.

Rated: A

Nov 9, 2018

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Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

... Tim Burton’s loving film biography... is perhaps the most loving portrait of a filmmaker ever put on screen.

Apr 26, 2025

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Philip Bagnall

Loud and Clear Reviews

It champions the power of, and passion for, filmmaking by exploring it through the eyes of one of the worst filmmakers to have ever made a motion picture. Burton uses some truly terrible films to inspire what may be his best work.

Aug 16, 2024

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Malcolm Johnson

Hartford Courant

While Ed Wood probably won't do the kind of business enjoyed by Edward Scissorhands, this deliciously bizarre bio-pic should instantly become a movie cultist's treasure.

Rated: 3.5/4

Jan 19, 2024

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Patrick C

A delightful homage to bad movie making and the endearing enthusiasm and self-delusion of also-rans with a vision and a low budget. Martin Landau gives the performance of a lifetime as Bela Lugosi, who adds pathos to the film's offbeat humour. A wonderful achievement by Tim Burton and all involved.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/09/25

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Claudio C

Ed Wood (1994) The Best Movie by Tim Burton (11,955 – 01 Oct 2025 – by Claudio Carvalho) Until the 80’s, I did not know Ed Wood; until the day I participated in a promotion and won a collection of imported VHS from this director. “Ed Wood” (1994) is a great homage from Tim Burton to this director and his cast. The lack of money was maybe his greatest problem associated to the fame of “the worst director of the world”. Therefore, despite his lack of talent, there was the budget problem. It is amazing the resemblance of the cast selected by Tim Burton with Ed Wood’s friends. It is beautiful to see his respectful treatment to the addicted Bela Lugosi, forgotten by the cinema industry after many years of glory. Tim Burton also shows Ed Wood’s fetish for wearing women’s clothing and his two important women, Dolores Fuller (Sarah Jessica Parker) and Kathy O'Hara (Patricia Arquette). My vote is nine. Title (Brazil): “Ed Wood” My Blog: https://maniacosporfilme.wordpress.com/

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

10/01/25

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Kenny A

An inspiring, albeit romanticized, biopic that celebrates the art of filmmaking and encourages you to pursue your passions and dreams.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

07/16/25

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Stephen C

Funny in 2 hours and 4 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $5,900,000.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/10/25

Full Review

Nick O

Part satire, part biopic, Tim Burton takes us through the life of Ed Wood as he hustles to make Plan 9. A fun, spooky ride through Hollyweird in the 1950’s.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/31/25

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Garrett B

A good biography comedy drama.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/16/24

Full Review

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Tim Burton

Director

Johnny Depp

Edward D. Wood, Jr.

Martin Landau

Bela Lugosi

Sarah Jessica Parker

Dolores Fuller

Patricia Arquette

Kathy O'Hara

Jeffrey Jones

Criswell

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Synopsis

Because of his eccentric habits and bafflingly strange films, director Ed Wood (Johnny Depp) is a Hollywood outcast. Nevertheless, with the help of the formerly famous Bela Lugosi and a devoted cast and crew of show-business misfits who believe in Ed's off-kilter vision, the filmmaker is able to bring his oversize dreams to cinematic life. Despite a lack of critical or commercial success, Ed and his friends manage to create an oddly endearing series of extremely low-budget films.

Director: Tim Burton
Producer: Tim Burton, Denise Di Novi
Screenwriter: Scott Alexander, Larry Karaszewski
Distributor: Buena Vista Pictures
Production Co: Touchstone Pictures
Rating: R
Genre: Biography, Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 28, 1994, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 1, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA): $5.9M
Runtime: 2h 4m
Sound Mix: Surround, Stereo, Dolby Digital

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