Tim Burton's Corpse Bride poster & wallpaper
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Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Emily Watson, Richard Grant, Albert Finney ... see more see more... , Tracey Ullman , Richard E. Grant , Jane Horrocks , Christopher Lee , Joanna Lumley , Deep Roy , Danny Elfman , Enn Reitel , Lisa Kay , Paul Whitehouse , Stephen Ballantyne , Michael Gough , Paul Watson

Tim Burton returns to the dark but fanciful animated style of The Nightmare Before Christmas with this stop-motion black comedy. Victor (voice of Johnny Depp) lives in a small European village in the ... read more read more...19th century, where he is pledged to marry Victoria (voice of Emily Watson), a partnership arranged by their parents. The two only meet the day before their scheduled nuptials, and Victor performs disastrously in the wedding rehearsal. Later that evening, while he is walking through the woods and hopelessly practicing his vows, he puts Victoria's wedding band on what looks like a branch. Victor quickly discovers this was a big mistake; as it happens, he has put the ring on the skeletal finger of the enchanted Corpse Bride (voice of Helena Bonham Carter), who then whisks him off to a dark and mysterious netherworld where they are now married. Victor is frightened in the land of the dead, and even realizes that he has fallen in love with his true fiancée, Victoria, so he searches for a way back to his own world. Directed by Tim Burton in collaboration with animator Mike Johnson, Corpse Bride features a stellar voice cast, including Albert Finney, Christopher Lee, Richard E. Grant, Joanna Lumley, and Danny Elfman (who also composed the film's musical score). ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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76% liked it

509,816 ratings

Critics

84% liked it

184 critics

PG, 1 hr. 14 min.

Directed by: Tim Burton, Mike Johnson, Mike Johnson

Release Date: September 16, 2005

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DVD Release Date: January 31, 2006

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Flixster Reviews (35,471)

  • xXGiNoBiLiPRXx
    April 17, 2012
    xXGiNoBiLiPRXx
    There's been a grave misunderstanding.

    Good animated film. Great story and animation. Loved the voices and i hope Tim Burton and Johnny Depp keep on making these fantastic fantasy movie magic films filled with pure originality and tons of crazy. Go see it!

    Blue-tinted, eye-ball... read more-popping, maggot-infested beauty Emily has become known as the Corpse Bride after waiting for her fiancé where the couple planned to rendezvous before getting hitched. When her groom arrives, he kills her, and she rests in the ground to wait for her soul mate, whether he knows he is the Corpse Bride's groom or not. It's a cold dark night, the moon is full, the stars are bright and the forest is a little bit creepy. Wandering through the black mangled trees, Victor just can't memorize his wedding vows. Victor's hesitance towards marriage causes him to jumble the words. Two prominent families have arranged their children to be married in order to overcome financial difficulties. As the objects of betrothal, Victor and Victoria met for the first time the night before their wedding. It only makes sense that Victor, a groom with cold feet, would have trouble remembering tedious wedding vows. Thus Victor ends up in the dark forest ringing his hands and muttering his vows, the vows that the Corpse Bride hears, bringing her out of the grave. Victor suddenly finds himself married to another woman, a voluptuous bombshell bride who also happens to be dead. Whisked away to the Land of the Dead, Victor finds out that living amongst corpses is not as easy as it seems. Heads easily loose their owners and eyes never seem to stay in their sockets, an adjustment that Victor seems reluctant to accept. Once taken into the Land of the Dead, it is nearly impossible to return, causing Victor to choose between risking Victoria's life or giving up his own.
  • LWOODS04
    February 21, 2012
    LWOODS04
    Cast: Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Emily Watson, Tracey Ullman, Paul Whitehouse, Joanna Lumley, Albert Finney, Richard E. Grant, Christopher Lee, Michael Gough, Jane Horrocks, Enn Reitel, Deep Roy, Danny Elfman, Stephen Ballantyne, Lisa Kay

    Director: Tim Burton, Mike Jo... read morehnson

    Summary: This animated Tim Burton tale set in 19th-century Europe centers on Victor (voiced by Johnny Depp), a young man who, just as he's about to wed Victoria (Emily Watson), is sucked into the underworld by a Corpse Bride (Helena Bonham Carter) who desires him for herself. Victor is fascinated by the Land of the Dead, but nothing can stop him from trying to return to his true living love.

    My Thoughts: "I enjoyed this dark tale. I thought it was a nice touch how the living, in a sense, wasn't really living, with the scene being so dark and dreary. The dead were more alive with all their bright colors and crazy character's. The film wasn't as funny as I had thought it would be. But the character's and the great animation made up for it."
  • paulsandberg
    December 2, 2011
    paulsandberg
    Take an imaginitive idea and a famed director and you get... underwhelmed. I don't know why exactly, but the story seemed so dirivative (and how often can you say that about a guy marrying a corpse by accident) - it just seemed like this tred on such time proven ground - very Di... read moreckensian in a sense... and in spite of the bizarre premise, everything went just about exactly as one would expect.

    Musical numbers in stop motion animation... I guess that was original in 2005, but drawn animation had been doing that for decades. The first tune, something about things going exactly as planned, was clever, but the corpse bride bit of Tin Pan Alley just didn't do much.

    Burton's direction was clever - nice use of camera angles and such, but the entire Victorian era above ground was shot in shades of grey which, while artistic, perhaps wasn't a good all around choice.

    The voice acting - well what can you say... with the exception of Depp who seemed just too wimpy, the rest came up aces. It was wonderful to hear Joanna Lumley "Stoly-Boly" anyone?, and Albert Finney, and of course Tracey Ullman ad libbed some of the funnier little throwaway lines.

    But that's the thing... the humor only existed in those throwaway lines - the rest was way too ernst and what little was written in didn't really work (like the constant complaining about the carriage driver coughing) - but I will say there was a nice touch when Christopher Lee (in a nice bit of casting as the overbearing Bishop) bellowed at the dead in his stentorian voice. One of the skeletons mutters "be quiet, we're in a church". I just wish there was more of this kind of levity; it would have helped.
  • skeletonking101
    October 26, 2011
    skeletonking101
    Burton is a master when it comes to doing films that involve stop motion, such as his short story Vincent, which would've been on here except its just a short film but not a theatrical released film. Anyway, Corpse Bride has some spectacular visuals, characters, and songs, Danny ... read moreElfman does his usual great job as the composer for this film, and for the voice of Bonejangles, and all the other actors do fantastic jobs, Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Joanna Lumley, Emily Watson, Christopher Lee, Michael Gough, they all do fantastic jobs and for a film only 72 minutes, it does a good job at pacing and telling its story.
  • phubbs1
    October 21, 2011
    phubbs1
    On looks this is amazing, just like 'Nightmare' plus of course its Burton's work which is a winner for me. But this just doesn't hit the mark, the songs aren't catchy and the characters don't have the same appeal, didn't like all the skeletons, they aren't characters, just skelet... read moreons, nothing much appealing about them.
    The human characters were much better than the dead ones, the old Victorian style of costume used really looked good and added that gothic feel. The voice work was great, again using a perfect of cast of kooky character actors/actresses to make the magic.

    Its visually where the film is best of course, the colours used are all faded and almost black and white, wonderful palette which always looks good but its missing the magic and indepth imagination of 'Nightmare'. Close for more genius but not quite the gothic dream I hoped for.
  • aquateen2
    October 1, 2011
    aquateen2
    Its a typical Tim Burton movie really. Its not really memorable as The Nightmare Before Christmas not living up to the bar it set in terms of imagination, setting and music.
  • DreamExtractor
    August 7, 2011
    DreamExtractor
    A new and fun kind of film. The films animation was a stroke of genius because it took me back to the days of ghreatness like with Nightmare Before Christmas, another Tim Burton film. The plot of the film is memorable I think, it is very rare you see a animated film about a guy... read more who marries a dead woman just by putting a ring on a grave. Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter are good voice actors, but Burton puts his wife Helena in almost everything he does nowadays, haha. My one problem was the songs, maybe its just me but i didn't find them as good as everyone claims, they weren't bad just not amazing, at least not as great as The Nightmare Before Christmas. Overall a really good movie, but I haven't seen it in a long time, I need to watch again soon.
  • CreedsDelight
    July 2, 2011
    CreedsDelight
    Fine, enjoyable.
  • murphmann93
    June 24, 2011
    murphmann93
    It's a nice animated film!
  • BEACHBUNNI
    November 16, 2010
    BEACHBUNNI
    It is the story of a pre-arranged marriage between Victor (Johnny Depp) and Victoria (Emily Watson). These two don't know each other, but are to wed since both sets of parents feel they will be gaining something out of it, little do any of them know, nobody stands to gain a thing... read more out of the marriage, except the engaged couple. Victor has trouble with the vows during the dress rehearsal and is ordered to practice. So he does and he heads out to the woods and inadvertently marries the Corpse Bride (Carter) when he says the vows out loud Victor find himself pulled down into the world of the dead..............
    The Corpse Bride is bewitching and i think Magical too~!

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Critic Reviews

Richard Roeper
September 26, 2005
Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper

They just keep going through the same things over and over again. The songs are forgettable. Full Review

Teresa Wiltz
September 23, 2005
Teresa Wiltz, Washington Post

Based on a Russian folk tale, Corpse Bride makes for breathtaking viewing. Full Review

Ruthe Stein
September 23, 2005
Ruthe Stein, San Francisco Chronicle

Corpse Bride has the look and feel of the best puppet show ever. Full Review

Roger Moore
September 23, 2005
Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel

The sweetness, the visual flourishes and inspired pieces of casting carry the Corpse Bride, if not all the way down the primrose path, then at least across the threshold. Full Review

Bruce Westbrook
September 23, 2005
Bruce Westbrook, Houston Chronicle

Amazingly fluid and drop-dead gorgeous, Tim Burton's Corpse Bride is the best-looking, stop-motion animation film ever. Full Review

Terry Lawson
September 23, 2005
Terry Lawson, Detroit Free Press

There's a happy Halloween in store even for children who aren't allowed to trick or treat, and it's courtesy of Tim Burton's animated Corpse Bride.

Robert Denerstein
September 23, 2005
Robert Denerstein, Denver Rocky Mountain News

Tim Burton's Corpse Bride has just about everything I look for in an animated feature: visual wit, high-flying displays of imagination and lots of rotting flesh.

Michael Booth
September 23, 2005
Michael Booth, Denver Post

Corpse Bride will win your heart, if it doesn't rip it out of your chest first. Full Review

Wesley Morris
September 23, 2005
Wesley Morris, Boston Globe

Burton has rarely been in brisker, friskier form. Full Review

Chris Vognar
September 22, 2005
Chris Vognar, Dallas Morning News

Corpse Bride isn't merely eye candy; it's a masterpiece of motion, color and texture that never stops dazzling. Full Review

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Facts

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    • Corpse Bride: I spent so long in the darkness... I'd almost forgotten how beautiful the moonlight is!
    • Maggot: If I hadn't just been sitting in it, I'd say you've lost your mind.
    • Victoria Everglot: Oh, Hildegarde, what if....what if Victor and I don't....like each other?
    • Maudeline Everglot: Ha! As if that has anything to do with marriage. Do you suppose your father and I "like" each other?
    • Victoria Everglot: Surely you must, a little....
    • Maudeline Everglot: Of course not!
    • Finis Everglot: Of course not!
    • Maudeline Everglot: Get those corsets laced properly. I can hear you speak without gasping.
    • Finis Everglot: Marvelous news, Victoria, there'll be a wedding after all.
    • Victoria Everglot: You found him?
    • Maudeline Everglot: Make haste, my dear, our relatives will arrive at any moment. We must have you looking presentable for Lord Barkis.
    • Victoria Everglot: Lord Barkis?
    • Maudeline Everglot: He will make a fine husband.
    • Finis Everglot: Aye. A fortuitous turn of events indeed.
    • Maudeline Everglot: A far better prospect this time.
    • Victoria Everglot: But I do not love him. You cannot make me do this!
    • Finis Everglot: We must.
    • Victoria Everglot: Please, I beg of you! There must be another way!
    • Finis Everglot: Without your marriage to Lord Barkis, we shall be forced penniless into the street. We are destitute.
    • Victoria Everglot: But...Victor....
    • Maudeline Everglot: Victor Van Dort is gone, child.
    • Finis Everglot: You shall marry Lord Barkis tomorrow. *with Maudeline* According to plan!
    • Victor Van Dort: Victoria!
    • Victoria Everglot: Victor? I'm so happy to see you!! Here, come by the fire. Where have you been? Are you all right?
    • Victor Van Dort: I....I...oh, dear.
    • Victoria Everglot: You're as cold as death! What's happened to you? Your coat!
    • Victor Van Dort: Victoria, I confess. This morning I was...terrified of marriage. But then, on meeting you, I....felt I should be with you always, and that out wedding could not come soon enough!
    • Victoria Everglot: Victor....I feel the same....
    • Victor Van Dort: Victoria, I s-s... I seem to find myself married. And you should know it's unexpected!
    • Corpse Bride: My darling, I just wanted to meet.....darling! Who's this?
    • Victoria Everglot: Who is she?!
    • Corpse Bride: I'm his wife.
    • Victoria Everglot: Victor?
    • Victor Van Dort: Victoria, wait, you don't understand. She's dead. Look!
    • Corpse Bride: Hopscotch!
    • Victor Van Dort: No, no! VICTORIAAAAA!!
    • Victor Van Dort: Victoria?
    • Victoria Everglot: [hugs Victor] Oh, Victor... I never thought I'd see you again...
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Tim Burton's Corp... : Watch Free on TV

Tim Burton's Corpse Bride Trivia

  • Name the movie from the quote: "Tell me... can a heart still break once it has stopped beating?" (hint: it's a tim burton film)   Answer »
  • Which actor voiced the character of Victor in Tim Burton's Corpse Bride?  Answer »
  • True or false: The puppets used in Tim Burton's 'Corpse Bride' were made from stainless steel armatures covered with silicone skin.  Answer »
  • Name the actor ~ Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (PG-13, 2006) The Libertine (R, 2006) Deep Sea 3D (G, 2006) Tim Burton's Corpse Bride (PG, 2005)  Answer »
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