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Frankenweenie

Play trailer Poster for Frankenweenie PG Released Oct 5, 2012 1h 27m Kids & Family Fantasy Animation Play Trailer Watchlist
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87% Tomatometer 222 Reviews 70% Popcornmeter 50,000+ Ratings
Young Victor Frankenstein (Charlie Tahan) is a science nerd and outsider at school, but he does have one good friend: his dog, Sparky. But then, tragedy strikes, and Sparky shuffles off this mortal coil. Victor is heartbroken, but his science teacher (Martin Landau) gives him an idea of how to jolt old Sparky back to life. The experiment is successful, and all goes well, until Victor's fellow students steal his secret and use it to resurrect other dead animals -- with monstrous consequences.
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Frankenweenie

Frankenweenie

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Critics Consensus

Frankenweenie is an energetic stop-motion horror movie spoof with lovingly crafted visuals and a heartfelt, oddball story.

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Critics Reviews

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Mar Diestro-Dópido Sight & Sound Admittedly less eccentric and more classic in style than some of Burton's acclaimed earlier works, Frankenweenie is still chock-full of the filmmaker's old dark magic. Jul 12, 2018 Full Review Candice Frederick Reel Talk Online ... Frankenweenie beautifully merges the old with the new as it also celebrates filmmaking both literally and fictionally with its relatable protagonist. Rated: B+ Sep 7, 2017 Full Review Tom Charity CNN.com Tim Burton's most enjoyable movie in a long time. Jan 7, 2013 Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy The stop-motion animation looks especially crisp in the film’s black-and-white world. Rated: 3/4 Feb 15, 2023 Full Review Sean Axmaker Stream on Demand [Tim] Burton mixes in a love of horror movies with an innocently ghoulish sense of humor and harmless gross-out gags, capturing that childhood fascination with monster movies and the macabre. Jan 7, 2023 Full Review Brian Eggert Deep Focus Review Burton has set aside his usual, increasingly cloying commercial drives to tell a story that means something to him. Rated: 3/4 Sep 23, 2022 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Krystal W My son enjoyed this movie. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 11/26/21 Full Review natasa p Tim Burton's Frankenweenie is a masterful blend of gothic charm and emotional depth, showcasing the director's unique ability to transform macabre themes into endearing narratives. Utilizing black-and-white stop-motion animation, Burton pays tribute to classic horror films while infusing his signature whimsical touch. The meticulous craftsmanship and attention to detail bring the story of a boy and his resurrected dog to life in a visually stunning and emotionally resonant way. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/06/25 Full Review Alex C. Easily Tim Burton’s best movie. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/30/25 Full Review TheMovieSearch R Frankenweenie is one of those Disney films that completely surprised me. On the surface, it looks like just another quirky animated movie, but once you sit down with it, you realize it’s much darker, stranger, and far more heartfelt than you’d expect from the studio. The story follows a young boy, Victor, who is devastated when his dog Sparky dies. Unable to cope with the loss, he turns to science in a Frankenstein-inspired experiment to bring his beloved pet back to life. What unfolds is equal parts touching and macabre, with the film leaning into its gothic style and horror influences. For a Disney production, it’s shockingly dark at times. But looking back at when it was released, it made sense—we were in that era of Corpse Bride, Coraline, and The Nightmare Before Christmas, where studios were leaning into stop-motion, gothic aesthetics, and stories that danced on the line between children’s entertainment and adult themes. Tim Burton was absolutely the right choice to helm this, and he delivered exactly the kind of movie only he could make. It’s not sanitized Disney fluff—it’s layered, eerie, and deliberately filled with undercurrents of mortality and even violence. The thing about Burton’s work is that he knows how to create worlds where the darkness has purpose. In Frankenweenie, it isn’t just about the shock value of a dead dog being reanimated—it’s about grief, love, and the sometimes desperate things we do when faced with loss. There are moments that almost play out like parodies of classic monster movies, while others hit with genuine emotional weight. That balance makes the movie memorable, and it’s why it stands apart from other family films of its time. The voice cast is also terrific. Catherine O’Hara, as always, steals every scene she’s in with her unique voice and comedic timing. Winona Ryder and Martin Short add layers to the supporting characters, giving the town its own quirky personality. The performances elevate the already strong script, adding just the right mix of humor and tension. It’s that kind of ensemble that makes Burton’s animated projects feel so alive, even when dealing with subjects like death and resurrection. What I admire most is how underrated this movie has become. It never really got the mainstream recognition it deserved, overshadowed by Burton’s earlier classics. But when you revisit it, especially around the Halloween season, you realize how carefully crafted it is. The screenplay is tight, the stop-motion animation is gorgeous, and the themes are timeless. Yes, it may be a little too dark for very young kids—the whole “just electrocute your dead pet, and they’ll come back” idea is not exactly family-friendly messaging—but older audiences will pick up on the metaphor and appreciate the depth beneath the spooky visuals. Personally, I’ve revisited this film several times, and it still holds up. Even with its slightly morbid concept, there’s a heartwarming undercurrent about love, loss, and cherishing the time we have with those we care about. It’s one of those movies that sticks with you, and while it may never be as iconic as The Nightmare Before Christmas, I think Frankenweenie deserves a lot more respect than it gets. And maybe that’s part of its charm—it isn’t trying to be a cultural juggernaut. It’s a smaller, more personal story that sneaks up on you with its quiet power. It doesn’t rely on endless spectacle or gimmicks, but rather on genuine emotion wrapped in Burton’s signature gothic style. That balance of intimacy and strangeness is what makes it so rewatchable, especially during spooky season. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 09/29/25 Full Review Claudio C Frankenweenie (2012) Adorable Tale of Loyalty and Friendship (11,948 – 23 Jan 2013 / 29 Sep 2025 – by Claudio Carvalho) In New Holland, the boy Victor Frankenstein is a bright but outcast student without any friend but his dog Sparky. When the newcomer science teacher, Mr. Rzykruski, challenges the students to participate in the science fair, Victor's father forces him to play baseball; otherwise, he would not sign the necessary authorization for his son. During the game, Sparky chases the ball and is hit by a car. Victor recalls Mr. Rzykruski's class about the effects of electricity and successfully resuscitates Sparky using lightning. Victor hides Sparky in the attic but the weird Edgar sees the dog in the garden and blackmails Victor to learn how to bring the dead to life. Edgar does not keep the secret and soon Victor's envious schoolmates revive several creatures to win the science fair contest. When the town is invaded by the monsters, Victor and Sparky are the last chance to rescue the girl Elsa van Helsing from the claws of Mr. Whiskers. "Frankenweenie" is another stop-motion animation by Tim Burton in black and white with a great tribute to Mary Shelley's Frankenstein with a happy ending. The story is actually an adorable tale of loyalty and friendship, and it is delightful to see the frolic of Sparky. My vote is eight. Title (Brazil): “Frankenweenie” My Blog: https://maniacosporfilme.wordpress.com/ Rated 4 out of 5 stars 09/29/25 Full Review Gareth v Poignant, spooky, and visually stunning, this is one of Burton’s most touching and underrated works. One of 2012's best movies. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 08/07/25 Full Review Read all reviews
Frankenweenie

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Movie Info

Synopsis Young Victor Frankenstein (Charlie Tahan) is a science nerd and outsider at school, but he does have one good friend: his dog, Sparky. But then, tragedy strikes, and Sparky shuffles off this mortal coil. Victor is heartbroken, but his science teacher (Martin Landau) gives him an idea of how to jolt old Sparky back to life. The experiment is successful, and all goes well, until Victor's fellow students steal his secret and use it to resurrect other dead animals -- with monstrous consequences.
Director
Tim Burton
Producer
Tim Burton, Allison Abbate
Screenwriter
John August
Distributor
Walt Disney
Production Co
Walt Disney Studios
Rating
PG (Scary Images|Action|Thematic Elements)
Genre
Kids & Family, Fantasy, Animation
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 5, 2012, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 8, 2014
Runtime
1h 27m
Sound Mix
Datasat, Dolby Digital
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