‎Edward Scissorhands (1990) directed by Tim Burton • Reviews, film + cast • Letterboxd

Edward Scissorhands

1990 Directed by Tim Burton

His scars run deep.

A small suburban town receives a visit from a castaway unfinished science experiment named Edward.

Johnny Depp Winona Ryder Dianne Wiest Alan Arkin Anthony Michael Hall Vincent Price Kathy Baker Robert Oliveri Conchata Ferrell Caroline Aaron Dick Anthony Williams O-Lan Jones Susan Blommaert Linda Perri John Davidson Biff Yeager Donna Pieroni Alan Fudge Brett Rice Marc Macaulay Stuart Lancaster Steven Brill Gina Gallagher Aaron Lustig Peter Palmer Kathy Lockwood Nick Carter Tim Rerucha

105 mins More details at IMDb TMDb Report this film

Popular reviews

Review by Naughty aka Juli Norwood ★★★★ 10

A modern day FRANKENSTEINesque flick by director Tim Burton featuring one of my favorite actors Johnny Depp! Normally I can't stomach romance films but when you season it with a smidgeon of goth here and a pinch of fantasy there and a dash of sci-fi horror there it's a lot easier to swallow!

A real visual feast for the eyes! Breast milk for the melancholy!

Naughty Approved!
Review by suzie jenkins pendragon ★★★★★ 2

why did vincent price think it was okay to give this man scissors for hands
Review by Dragonknight ★★★★ 9

Film #5 of Project 90

”Before he came down here, it never snowed. And afterwards, it did.”

Tim Burton is at his most creative and his fantasy is at its most pleasant here, a nice and poetically glorious film with an innocent character whose only wish in life is to be loved and accepted as a member of the society. A smart and quite precise observation of how people deal with individuals who are special in one way or another (artists?), a dark fairytale and a bitter yet incredibly romantic love story, Edward Scissorhands’ main strength is that it mixes all these stories together, adds a bit of Gothic exaggeration (which is a part of Burton’s fantasies) and presents something…
Review by DirkH ★★★★★ 11

Part of Dastardly Difficult December: film nr.18

Sometimes in a film every aspect of all talents involved seem to merge and peak together to reach a hitherto untapped potential for greatness. In this, Burton’s masterpiece, this potential is fulfilled completely, making this a unique and off beat film that has no equal in his repertoire.

So, a confession I probably have to make is that I somehow never managed to watch this film in its entirety, always only catching bits and bobs, but never the entire thing. I even own the film, but it was just never a film I grabbed when deciding what to watch. Up until now that is.

I’ve always had a bit of a love/hate relationship…
Review by Sally Jane Black 9

CW: rape, violence

An awkward teenage Frankenstein just-so story sculpted out of suburban ennui and Gothic romance, Edward Scissorhands draws as much from German child's tales as from Burton's vividly cold imagination. This is Euro-fairytale transposed to American pastiche. Is it the 80s with the fire-sprayed van? Is it the 70s with those garish carpets? Is it the 50s with the neat little cookie cutter lawns? It's some never been decade, a cross-section of historical dreams meant to represent the eternal essence of Everywhere, USA. It's a facade.

The film is Burton's visual masterpiece. Contrast of color and tone (town and castle), of bumbling comedy and fumbling tenderness, of genuine family affection and insincere community feeling, of nice and good,…
Review by Josh Larsen ★★★★★ 2

The gentlest middle finger in the history of FU, outsider cinema.

Recent reviews

Review by Geoffrey McPhail ★★★★½

Danny Elfman’s score is perfect. This is definitely one of Tim Burton’s best! The ending still makes me tear up every time.
Review by Dustin Hansen ★★★★

“Hi, George Monroe. Woah. That's a heck of a handshake you got there, Ed.”
Review by EthanBrundeen ★★★★½

Ethan's Roulette Film #196
Edward Scissorhands (1990)
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While in many ways the Burton Asthetic® grows old fast, I feel that Edward Scissorhands may be when it is best executed. Also, it seems that when Johnny Depp doesn't speak he is a lot more tolerable.
Review by AlbiePompeo ★★★★½

Wow.

The fucking scenery
The fucking script
THE GOD DAMN MOTHA FUCKIN SCORE

My thoughts in a haiku. What even is a haiku? Bullshit people pretend is art? Something attention seekers write? Who knows

9/10

Watching this movie is like living through a dream, that is also a nightmare? Yet so real at the same time?
Review by OurMagicClem ★★★★

Crazy to think there was a time when Johnny Depp was a good actor
Review by B ★★★★★

true perfection *mwah*
Review by Aidan Callahan ★★★★½

This was a truly stunning movie. Johnny Depp was amazing in the title role, the visuals were astounding and Danny Elfman’s score was hauntingly beautiful. I’m in awe at what Tim Burton did here, it’s so original and so him. There’s a lot of beauty in this film and it doesn’t go unappreciated.
Review by Kielan Ellis ★★★½

Film History #something

Charming, honest and campy as hell - but in a seemingly purposeful way. I need to think about it a bit, but I think I really enjoyed it! It’s not a masterpiece, it’s good, but I enjoyed it a lot!

67/100
Review by ben jeffries ★★

man oh man do i not get this one

the acting (aside from johnny depp, who i thought was great) was DREADFUL. all of the family members, particularly winona ryder (i dont know how she's still employed), were so cheesy and cliche, with an abusive leather jacket-wearing boyfriend to boot.

the script was terrible as well. again, cliche, which makes me sort of understand why this is such a "classic family film".

i actually liked the cinematography and set design. tim burton did a good overall job with that stuff in general. however, that doesn't make up for everything else wrong with this film. far too campy, too long, and just too much.

40/100