Edward Scissorhands

Play trailer

2:00

Edward Scissorhands

PG-13

Released Dec 7, 1990

1h 45m

Holiday

Fantasy

Comedy

Drama

Romance

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

90%

Tomatometer

69 Reviews

91%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ Ratings

A scientist (Vincent Price) builds an animated human being -- the gentle Edward (Johnny Depp). The scientist dies before he can finish assembling Edward, though, leaving the young man with a freakish appearance accentuated by the scissor blades he has instead of hands. Loving suburban saleswoman Peg (Dianne Wiest) discovers Edward and takes him home, where he falls for Peg's teen daughter (Winona Ryder). However, despite his kindness and artistic talent, Edward's hands make him an outcast.

Watch on Peacock

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

The first collaboration between Johnny Depp and Tim Burton, Edward Scissorhands is a magical modern fairy tale with gothic overtones and a sweet center.

Read Critics Reviews

Henry Sheehan

Chicago Reader

Edward Scissorhands is a flashy and entertaining apologia from an artist who has not accumulated enough work to justify such self-concern.

Rated: 3/4

May 24, 2022

Full Review

Marc Lee

Daily Telegraph (UK)

Burton's modern fairytale has an almost palpably personal feel: it is told gently, subtly and with infinite sympathy for an outsider who charms the locals but then inadvertently arouses their baser instincts.

Rated: 5/5

Dec 17, 2014

Full Review

Jonathan Rosenbaum

Chicago Reader

An original movie, though not Tim Burton's best.

Jun 17, 2008

Full Review

Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

With equal portions of humor and heart, this inventive, touching, poetic fairy tale is highly memorable.

Rated: 8/10

Nov 8, 2024

Full Review

Cory Woodroof

For the Win (USA Today)

For a guy who has made some really great movies, this is very much one of Burton’s best and most heart-wrenching.

Sep 5, 2024

Full Review

Alan Jones

Radio Times

The finale packs an unforgettable emotional wallop, assisted by Danny Elfman's gloriously magical score.

Rated: 5/5

Jul 9, 2024

Full Review

Read all reviews

Kevin P

A very charming ugly duckling fish out of water story with such a unique character conception Edward Scissorhands. A man who visually seems designed to destroy everything he touches, yet has a true calling to creating art. A sweet albeit obvious metaphor for Tim Burton's own childhood trying to fit in California suburbia. The score is hauntingly beautiful and memorizing, much like the bittersweet storyline. I like the subversion where the superficial suburbanites actually take a liking to Edward Scissorhands much earlier in the story than I anticipated. Takes the story in a much more interesting and unpredictable direction. Great art design and direction with making the seemingly normal and mundane suburbia look so outlandish and unnatural in contrast to the more dark and gothic design of the protagonist and his grim home from up above. Admittedly most of the characters are pretty flat suburban caricatures, but they serve their purpose well enough even if they could’ve had more depth during the somewhat-rushed climax. The ending is really sweet too and definitely leaves a lasting impact with that annual “snowfall in California”. It isn’t perfect, but it’s stylish imagery and emotional investment in the lead character are more than enough to let this shine above Tim Burton’s typical “goth loner vs pastel suburbia” tropes.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

12/09/24

Full Review

Audience Member

Absolutely wonderful, the amount of feelings that were a mix of some anger, sadness, happiness, and made me slightly giggly at some parts, truly a product of tim Burton

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/08/24

Full Review

Eric A

Perfect. I couldn't ask for a better movie.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/05/24

Full Review

Cristhian R

An odd Tim Burton movie that feels like Halloween, but also like Christmas, with romance but in a typa mysterious way…

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

10/27/24

Full Review

Ronald R

Great Movie!!! Highly Recommended!!! A++ 🍿🎥🍿

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/26/24

Full Review

Felix B

It mixes Tim Burton with modern society making a great story and at some times, it feels like a modern fairytale.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

10/22/24

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Tim Burton

Director

Johnny Depp

Edward Scissorhands

Winona Ryder

Kim Boggs

Dianne Wiest

Peg Boggs

Anthony Michael Hall

Jim

Alan Arkin

Bill

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

Love Potion No. 9

25%

43%

Love Potion No. 9

Watchlist

The Scout

32%

21%

The Scout

Watchlist

Drive Me Crazy

29%

53%

Drive Me Crazy

Watchlist

Lucas

76%

70%

Lucas

Watchlist

William Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet

74%

77%

William Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet

Watchlist

TRAILER

for William Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Tim Burton’s 10 Best Movies

Parental Guidance: Halloween Edition

Five Favorite Films with Tim Burton

Edward Scissorhands: Trailer 1

2:00

View more videos

View more photos

Synopsis

A scientist (Vincent Price) builds an animated human being -- the gentle Edward (Johnny Depp). The scientist dies before he can finish assembling Edward, though, leaving the young man with a freakish appearance accentuated by the scissor blades he has instead of hands. Loving suburban saleswoman Peg (Dianne Wiest) discovers Edward and takes him home, where he falls for Peg's teen daughter (Winona Ryder). However, despite his kindness and artistic talent, Edward's hands make him an outcast.

Director: Tim Burton
Producer: Denise Di Novi, Tim Burton
Screenwriter: Caroline Thompson
Distributor: 20th Century Fox
Production Co: Twentieth Century Fox
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Holiday, Fantasy, Comedy, Drama, Romance
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 7, 1990, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 21, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA): $54.2M
Runtime: 1h 45m
Sound Mix: Surround

Most Popular at Home Now