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Corpse Bride

  • 2005
  • PG
  • 1h 17m
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
314K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,303
36
Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter in Corpse Bride (2005)
Trailer for Tim Burton's Corpse Bride
Play trailer0:31
5 Videos
99+ Photos
Dark FantasyStop Motion AnimationAnimationComedyDramaFamilyFantasyMusicalRomance

When a shy groom practices his wedding vows in the inadvertent presence of a deceased young woman, she rises from the grave assuming he has married her.When a shy groom practices his wedding vows in the inadvertent presence of a deceased young woman, she rises from the grave assuming he has married her.When a shy groom practices his wedding vows in the inadvertent presence of a deceased young woman, she rises from the grave assuming he has married her.

  • Directors
    • Tim Burton
    • Mike Johnson
  • Writers
    • Tim Burton
    • Carlos Grangel
    • John August
  • Stars
    • Johnny Depp
    • Helena Bonham Carter
    • Emily Watson
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.4/10
    314K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    3,303
    36
    • Directors
      • Tim Burton
      • Mike Johnson
    • Writers
      • Tim Burton
      • Carlos Grangel
      • John August
    • Stars
      • Johnny Depp
      • Helena Bonham Carter
      • Emily Watson
    • 614User reviews
    • 270Critic reviews
    • 83Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Oscar
      • 9 wins & 30 nominations total

    Videos5

    Tim Burton's Corpse Bride
    Trailer 0:31
    Tim Burton's Corpse Bride
    A Guide to the Films of Tim Burton
    Clip 2:11
    A Guide to the Films of Tim Burton
    A Guide to the Films of Tim Burton
    Clip 2:11
    A Guide to the Films of Tim Burton
    Tim Burton's Corpse Bride
    Clip 1:00
    Tim Burton's Corpse Bride
    Tim Burton's Corpse Bride
    Clip 0:31
    Tim Burton's Corpse Bride
    Tim Burton's Corpse Bride
    Clip 1:14
    Tim Burton's Corpse Bride

    Photos168

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    + 163
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    Top cast17

    Edit
    Johnny Depp
    Johnny Depp
    • Victor Van Dort
    • (voice)
    Helena Bonham Carter
    Helena Bonham Carter
    • Corpse Bride
    • (voice)
    Emily Watson
    Emily Watson
    • Victoria Everglot
    • (voice)
    Tracey Ullman
    Tracey Ullman
    • Nell Van Dort
    • (voice)
    • …
    Paul Whitehouse
    Paul Whitehouse
    • William Van Dort
    • (voice)
    • …
    Joanna Lumley
    Joanna Lumley
    • Maudeline Everglot
    • (voice)
    Albert Finney
    Albert Finney
    • Finis Everglot
    • (voice)
    • …
    Richard E. Grant
    Richard E. Grant
    • Barkis Bittern
    • (voice)
    Christopher Lee
    Christopher Lee
    • Pastor Galswells
    • (voice)
    Michael Gough
    Michael Gough
    • Elder Gutknecht
    • (voice)
    Jane Horrocks
    Jane Horrocks
    • Black Widow Spider
    • (voice)
    • …
    Enn Reitel
    Enn Reitel
    • Maggot
    • (voice)
    • …
    Deep Roy
    Deep Roy
    • General Bonesapart
    • (voice)
    Danny Elfman
    Danny Elfman
    • Bonejangles
    • (voice)
    Stephen Ballantyne
    Stephen Ballantyne
    • Emil
    • (voice)
    Lisa Kay
    Lisa Kay
    • Solemn Village Boy
    • (voice)
    Gary Martin
    Gary Martin
    • General Wellington
    • (voice)
    • (uncredited)
    • …
    • Directors
      • Tim Burton
      • Mike Johnson
    • Writers
      • Tim Burton
      • Carlos Grangel
      • John August
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews614

    7.4313.7K
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    Featured reviews

    8baileycrawly

    Horribly Under-Appreciated

    Corpse Bride gets slammed a lot because it's not in the same vein as the bright, kid-friendly, constantly moving Nightmare Before Christmas. Sure, they were both created by Tim Burton, they both have a similar look and they're both stop-motion, but that doesn't mean that Corpse Bride is going to be the exact same movie done a second time. This movie is the result of Tim exploring other venues within his dark imagination, and the final result of this one is quite satisfactory.

    This film, while technically a kid's movie (and a musical), is a lot darker, in virtually every way possible. Still, just like with Nightmare, the sets for this film are exquisitely detailed, immaculately constructed with love and attention put into every minute detail. There isn't a single moment of the film that features something that doesn't look like it's right where it needs to be, and that's a testament to the brilliance of Tim and his team. The stop-motion moves with such fluidity that it's easy to lose yourself in the action of the film. Even the fast-moving scenes are handled with such careful precision and professionalism that this film is truly a joy to watch.

    Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter work fantastically off each other in this film; the former playing Victor Van Dort, a lovable yet clumsy young man forced into an arranged marriage with Victoria Everglot (Emily Watson), only to wind up unwittingly proposing to a Corpse Bride (HBC).

    It's a fun, upbeat - albeit creepy for younger viewers - trip to the underworld, a ticket to experience the world of the dead, complimented perfectly with the music of Oingo Boingo's Danny Elfman, who also did the music on Nightmare. Yet again, his score is hauntingly beautiful, creating the exact emotions within the viewer that Tim intends with each scene. The songs he's crafted are irresistibly catchy and, when they need to be, slower, heart-felt and moving.

    This is a movie with a lot of heart, which is a little bit weird to consider for anyone who may not be accustomed to the world of Tim Burton.

    While it's not a perfect movie, and it can't be viewed on the same level as The Nightmare Before Christmas, this movie stands perfectly well on its own and is a must-see for Burton fans.
    tedg

    Chopin's Grave

    I liked this a lot, and a large part of the reason is that it is pure a Burton film as we are likely to find.

    And when I say Burton, I mean that oddly successful collaboration between him and Elfman colored by commercial realities.

    The big picture is that there are very few filmmakers with the skills and courage to be unique, to make movies that only they could. This goes beyond style into the nature of the soul.

    If you do not have an interesting soul, you cannot be an artist. If you do not have the courage and ability to reveal that soul in some way to us, you cannot either. So hurrahs for the few in the world of film that do.

    In a way, this film is a notion expanded around Ub Iwerks' (yes, that's a real name) "Skeleton Dance" done for Disney and quoted in a couple more hip Betty Boop cartoons. In another way, it is a simple date movie: boy gets girl, boy loses girl by misunderstanding, boy gets girl back and the thing ends in a wedding.

    And also in a way, it is a love poem to his girl friend. I'm fascinated by these things, where a talented director (usually a man) can shape the image of the woman he loves. Films DO influence how we think of love, but this is more genuine and powerful than any of them, this real love that shines through purely cinematic means. Just think about casting the woman you love as a corpse! She is as alluring here as she has even been.

    But beyond that is something that is more lasting, the business between Depp and Burton. Johnny is a fine actor, but many fine actors don't get the opportunity to explore new and unknown corners of darkness. He has and is better off for it. And so are we, though whenever this happens we end up with a new character template that inevitably becomes a stereotype. Depp already mines that stereotype in his Pirate movies.

    But what concerns us here is how Burton/Elfman deepens what he has with Depp. He introduces the character as a pianist, and does so with a piano piece. That piece is a skillful blend of Chopin and pop, but more on the Chopin side. For many, Chopin is the most nakedly emotional yet dark soul they will encounter. No humor, only intimacy and passion.

    So two clever things were done with this. The first is that the Depp persona (though an animated avatar here) was made deeper by reference to our deepest pianist. The second is that a few musical scenes and effects are set up, all of which reference the scene in some way. There's a sweet musical duet with Helena where they do fall in love. There may be few things more lovely than making love via music played to each other -- with each other.

    Ted's Evaluation -- 3 of 3: Worth watching.
    10classic_sara

    Makes You Feel Better About Death

    Tim Burton's Corpse Bride was one of the best animated movies I've ever seen. My mother and I are so happy that he made another beautiful and original animated film since The Nightmare Beofre Christmas because we waited for it for 10 years. I'm glad to say that the wait was worth it. The Corpse Bride is a wonderful emotional yet fun story with heart. We had a wonderful time watching it in the theaters and we can't wait to go see it again this weekend. The visuals are so amazing that you'd have to go see the movie with your own eyes for its impossible to explain there perfection. The characters all look stunning and there are so many wonderful new characters in this movie that will keep your eyes glued on the screen. The voices of Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter and Emily Watson are packed with fantastic emotion and acting. The score goes very well to the movie and the four songs that are performed sound wonderful. My favorites were "Remains of the Day" made me feel like dancing: it was such a jazzy fun song with the cool voice of Danny Elfmen. And my other favorite was "Tears To Shed" it broke my heart. Helena Bonham Carter sang that song with such heartbreak I loved it! The story is very entertaining and it has so much heart in it and Gothic like background. I loved the dialog some of my favorite lines were "Why Go Up There When People Are Dying To Get Down Here" and "Can A Heart Still Break Once It's Stopped Beating." But the most important thing is that this movie makes you feel less frightened about death. Death in this movie is a lot funner than living and the dead are always having a good time and partying that you feel like dying is not so bad. You should take anyone to see this movie if their paranoid about death it will soften their fears, Overall I strongly encourage anyone to go see this movie. I hope Tim Burten wins the Oscar for best animated movie this year. He truly deserves it! Thank you Mr. Burten for the Corpse Bride, Nightmare Before Christmas and years worth of your great films.
    7jeslongo

    Here's the thing

    People say that Corpse Bride was horribly boring, etc. HOWEVER, that is because they are comparing this nonstop motion picture with Nightmare Before Christmas. Those who were really upset after the movie, saying that 'it's definitely not Nightmare', you are absolutely right. It is not Nightmare. It's Corpse Bride, a completely different movie. Everything was comparison, Nightmare to Corpse Bride, and yes, I'll admit, I enjoyed Nightmare more. However, when going to see this movie, you cannot compare Corpse Bride to Nightmare because then yes, you will be upset. If they had done another Nightmare, they would have done it years ago. But this is a different movie with a beautiful plot when you think more closely about it. It's a very strong plot of love, betrayal, hate, death, etc and you see that very strongly if you listen closely to Danny Elfman's wonderful music, vocal and instrumental. Basically, go into the theaters with an open mind and enjoy and pay attention to the movie because it truly has strong, very strong, meanings. If truly watching and comprehending, at parts you cry and at others you smile. It's very clear that it is beautifully created and the actors match their parts well, but the storyline is simply beautiful. Do not think about Nightmare because that movie has been finished years ago, but enjoy Corpse Bride. I will not give anything away, so I leave my review at that. Enjoy Corpse Bride people! And for others who think I am Anti-Nightmare or something, I am seriously not. I loved and still love that movie, but just enjoy Corpse Bride without judgement until after the movie.
    8TheLittleSongbird

    Beautifully crafted

    This is not my favourite Tim Burton movie by a long shot, but I did find myself enjoying it. The animation is absolutely amazing with the dark bold colours and inspired visual ideas. The music is good too, it adds very well to the atmosphere. The four songs are pretty decent, if nothing special. Remains of the Day was the one I liked best. The script is witty and deliciously dark in places, while the story is clever and fairly original, even if it drags slightly occasionally. The characters are wonderfully quirky and the voice work from the likes of Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter is top notch. All in all, a beautifully crafted film, if not quite Burton's finest hour. 8/10 Bethany Cox

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The puppets used neither of the industry standards of replaceable heads (like those used on The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)) or replaceable mouths (like those used by Aardman Studios in Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005)), but instead used precision crafted clockwork heads, adjusted by hidden keys. This allowed for unprecedented subtlety, but was apparently even more painstaking than the already notoriously arduous animation. One animator even reported having recurring nightmares of adjusting his own facial expression in this fashion.
    • Goofs
      (at around 16 mins) When Victor is in the woods saying his vows, he puts his ring on the "branch"; a.k.a. the corpse bride's hand, and he puts the ring on the pointer finger. However, in the next shot when she says "You may kiss the bride," the ring has magically moved to her ring finger.
    • Quotes

      Victor Van Dort: [alone in the forest, practicing his vows] With this hand I will lift your sorrows. Your cup will never empty, for I will be your wine. - Ah, Mrs. Everglot. You look ravishing this evening. What's that, Mr. Everglot, call you "Dad"? If you insist, Sir. - With this candle, I will light your way in darkness. With this ring, I ask you to be mine.

      [He places the ring on what he thinks is a root. As he turns away, the root shoots out, grabs Victor's arm and almost pulls him into the ground. Victor pulls himself free and finds a detatched skeletal hand gripping his arm. He watches as the ground gives way and an unearthly female figure, wearing a dishevelled wedding dress, rises from beneath the tree. She pulls back her veil]

      The Corpse Bride: I do.

    • Crazy credits
      Emily is referred to on-screen by name, but is only credited as "Corpse Bride."
    • Alternate versions
      On Disney XD's airing of the film, Alfred saying, "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn," was muted out.
    • Connections
      Featured in HBO First Look: Tim Burton's Corpse Bride (2005)
    • Soundtracks
      According to Plan
      Music by Danny Elfman

      Lyrics by John August and Danny Elfman

      Produced by Danny Elfman

      Performed by Albert Finney, Joanna Lumley, Tracey Ullman, and Paul Whitehouse

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    FAQ25

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 23, 2005 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Warner Bros. Entertainment
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • El cadáver de la novia
    • Filming locations
      • Portland, Oregon, USA
    • Production companies
      • Warner Bros.
      • Tim Burton Productions
      • Laika Entertainment
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $40,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $53,401,527
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $388,166
      • Sep 18, 2005
    • Gross worldwide
      • $117,237,680
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 17 minutes
    • Sound mix
      • DTS-ES
      • Dolby Digital EX
      • SDDS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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