Frankenweenie

Play trailer

Frankenweenie

PG

2012

1h 27m

Kids & Family

Fantasy

Animation

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

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.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

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

Read Critics Reviews

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

Krystal W

My son enjoyed this movie.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/26/21

Full Review

Stephen C

Based on a short film in 1 hour and 27 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Dubbed and subtitled in worldwide studios!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/30/25

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 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 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 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

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Tim Burton

Director

Catherine O'Hara

Mrs. Frankenstein

Martin Short

Mr. Frankenstein

Martin Landau

Mr. Rzykruski

Charlie Tahan

Victor

Atticus Shaffer

Edgar

Coraline

91%

74%

Coraline

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Coraline

Tim Burton's Corpse Bride

85%

77%

Tim Burton's Corpse Bride

Watchlist

Hotel Transylvania

45%

72%

Hotel Transylvania

Watchlist

James and the Giant Peach

91%

66%

James and the Giant Peach

Watchlist

The Odd Life of Timothy Green

36%

67%

The Odd Life of Timothy Green

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

3 Family-Friendly Halloween Movie Alternatives to Goosebumps 2

Cats vs Dogs: Who Have The Best Movies?

3 Movies like Coco That Deal with Death and Loss from a Kid’s Perspective

View more photos

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

Most Popular at Home Now