Frankenweenie

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Krystal W My son enjoyed this movie. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 11/26/21 Full Review Alexander S Frankenweenie is an absolute Halloween treat breathing new life into Tim Burton's older short film, combining the eerie and whimsical elements reminiscent of Nightmare Before Christmas and Corpse Bride, all presented in a striking black and white aesthetic that evokes the classic monster movies, resulting in an undeniably fun and entertaining experience. Grading: B+ Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 10/20/25 Full Review Spencer B While many fans beg for a theatrical sequel to The Nightmare Before Christmas, they might overlook its spiritual successor. Burton’s Frankenweenie remake clearly sprang from passion, and it shows. A loving homage to the Universal Monsters and classic creature features, the film oozes with heart, humor, and standout performances. I can’t count how many times I returned to the “You should be a scientist” speech while earning my biology degree; it gave me the motivation and advice I needed when the going got tough. What holds it back, though, is its mixed messaging. Yes, I get it, Disney needs a happy ending, but it clashes with the film’s themes of tampering with the natural order and learning to live with grief and loss. Still, as a whimsically morbid monster movie, it’s undeniably entertaining and one of Disney’s sleeper hits. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 10/11/25 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 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/06/25 Full Review Alex C. Easily Tim Burton’s best movie. Rated 5/5 Stars •  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 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 09/29/25 Full Review Read all reviews

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