3 Tim Burton Films That Deserve a Comeback: Which Ones Will Get Sequels?

Tim Burton, known for his gothic style, recently achieved one of his biggest successes yet with the 2024 release of “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice”, a legacy sequel that ranks high among its peers in the legacy sequel genre. Given his ability to bring justice to older projects even after several decades, what other films in his catalog could benefit from a follow-up? Many of his 20 movies are self-contained, such as “Big Fish”, “Sleepy Hollow”, “Ed Wood”, “Big Eyes”, “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street”, “Edward Scissorhands”, and “Corpse Bride”. Notably, “Alice in Wonderland” has already had a disappointing sequel, “Dark Shadows” was both critically and commercially unsuccessful, and the “Planet of the Apes” series has already been successfully rebooted.

Speaking of “Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure”, sadly, the recent demise of Paul Reubens makes a continuation of the story unlikely. Now, let’s ponder which Tim Burton films could be ripe for a follow-up in the future?

Batman Returns

As a dedicated cinema enthusiast, I must say that Tim Burton’s “Batman Returns” has left an indelible mark on the film industry, even influencing Robert Egger’s “Nosferatu.” This film stands tall among superhero movies as one of the best ever crafted. However, it’s a bitter pill to swallow when I think about the sequence of events that followed, namely the pair of underwhelming films by Joel Schumacher that came after. Granted, “Batman Forever” is watchable, but it simply can’t compare to the brilliance of Burton’s two Batman adventures.

In a recent film, audiences had an opportunity to reconnect with Michael Keaton’s Batman in the DCEU’s “The Flash,” but this reunion failed to impress. Despite this, Keaton’s return was the most impressive aspect of the movie, leading many to hope for a second chance. Since it’s been made clear that the DCU is its own separate entity, Michael Keaton’s appearance in “The Flash” could potentially be written off as a leftover from a failed cinematic universe. A truly memorable return for Batman portrayed by Keaton might benefit from a collaboration with Tim Burton, similar to Matt Reeves’ “The Batman” saga that exists independently of James Gunn’s DCU. It’s unfortunate we won’t see Robin Williams as the Riddler in this scenario, but it would be exciting to witness Keaton and Burton continuing their successful partnership, as well as Keaton and Michelle Pfeiffer revisiting their roles in a new version of Gotham City under Burton’s direction.

Mars Attacks!

One of Tim Burton’s less recognized films, Mars Attacks! , was an excellent choice for a ’90s child to grow up with, much like Tremors or Anaconda. However, it had a significant budget primarily due to the cost of special effects and the expensive talent involved in assembling one of the most remarkable casts ever. With the advancement of CGI, the cost of special effects would decrease, leaving only the cast.

In a genuine follow-up to “Mars Attacks!”, it’d be fitting for the characters who survived in the initial movie to reappear. It’s not far-fetched to think that many of them would jump at the chance to collaborate with Burton once more. Possible returning actors could include Pam Grier, Lukas Haas, Annette Bening, and even Natalie Portman as Taffy Dale, who might now portray the first female President of the United States. The Martians could make use of Lisa Marie’s infiltrating android again. This time, they could bring noise-canceling earbuds. It could mirror the “Independence Day” series, where the original film was a blockbuster hit, while the subsequent sequel was panned by both critics and audiences.

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children

Given the growing popularity of Tim Burton’s film adaptation of Ransom Riggs’ novel, “Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children,” it seems like an opportune moment to consider a sequel. In fact, it’s quite surprising that one hasn’t been released yet, especially when you compare its performance to other series such as “Beautiful Creatures,” “The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones,” “The Darkest Minds,” “Mortal Engines,” and “Vampire Academy.” Compared to these, “Miss Peregrine’s” actually fared quite well.

Compared to $110 million, the film earned approximately $296.5 million globally, suggesting it was slightly more popular than movies like The Hunger Games or Twilight, but still a substantial draw for audiences. Eva Green plays a crucial role in the movie, and given that this is their second collaboration with the director, it’s evident they have a strong professional bond.

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2025-03-01 19:42