Tim Burton has always had a soft spot for Mary Shelley's Frankenstein—not for the mad scientist, but for the misunderstood creature. That fascination has shaped his entire career, from his early shorts to his biggest hits. And now, two of his most personal takes on the classic horror story are heading to Disney+ in September 2026: Edward Scissorhands and Frankenweenie.
Burton's connection to the monster is deeply personal. As he once explained, while other kids idolized Fred Astaire or John Wayne, he saw himself in Frankenstein's creation. “That's when I first learned about how people perceive normal, what’s weird or not weird, when in fact these characters were the most human,” he said. That empathy for the outcast runs through everything he makes.
Edward Scissorhands: A Gentle Monster for a Modern Age
In Edward Scissorhands (1990), Burton reimagines the monster as a gentle, ageless being. Edward (Johnny Depp) is a homunculus created by an inventor (Vincent Price) who dies before finishing him, leaving Edward with scissors for hands. When he's taken in by the Boggs family, he tries to fit into suburbia, but his differences make him a target. The real villain isn't Edward—it's Jim (Anthony Michael Hall), the cruel boyfriend of Kim (Winona Ryder), who manipulates Edward and turns the community against him.
The film flips the classic Frankenstein narrative: Edward is never a threat, only a victim of fear and prejudice. The angry mob that chases him mirrors the villagers in Shelley's novel, but here, the monster is the most innocent soul of all. It's a powerful update that resonates just as strongly today.
Frankenweenie: A Boy and His Dog, Reanimated
Burton's first live-action short, Frankenweenie (1984), is a direct parody of Frankenstein, but with a heartfelt twist. Young Victor Frankenstein (Barret Oliver) brings his beloved dog Sparky back to life after a tragic accident. The neighbors see Sparky as a monster, but the story ends with a heartwarming redemption: Sparky saves Victor from a burning windmill, and the townspeople help revive him once more.
The 2012 stop-motion remake expands the story, adding classmates who create their own monsters, leading to chaos. Yet the core remains the same—a boy's love for his dog, and a community learning to accept the strange. It's a brilliant reframing of Shelley's tale, turning it into something universally relatable.
Burton's Monster Motifs Everywhere
These aren't Burton's only nods to Frankenstein. In The Nightmare Before Christmas, Sally is stitched together like the creature, and her creator, Dr. Finkelstein, is a clear stand-in for Victor. In Batman Returns, the Penguin (Danny DeVito) is cast out by his parents because of his appearance, becoming a tragic figure rather than a pure villain. Burton's filmography is filled with such characters—beings who are feared simply for being different.
As Edward Scissorhands and Frankenweenie arrive on Disney+, new audiences can discover why Burton's monsters are so beloved. They're not just scary—they're mirrors of our own humanity. For more on how Burton's style has influenced modern horror, check out our ranking of Ryan Murphy's Monster seasons and why the Lizzie Borden season missed the mark.
