Frankenweenie
Metascore
74 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 38 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 31 out of 38
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 38
  3. Negative: 1 out of 38
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  1. San Francisco Chronicle
    Reviewed by: Amy Biancolli
    Oct 4, 2012
    100
    It is pure, retro-cinematic joy.
  2. Boston Globe
    Reviewed by: Ty Burr
    Oct 4, 2012
    100
    The movie, a simple yet immensely pleasurable tale of a little boy and his undead dog, is good enough on its own. If you know the back story, it's even better.
  3. Entertainment Weekly
    Reviewed by: Lisa Schwarzbaum
    Oct 3, 2012
    91
    Frankenweenie is a cool little flipbook of historical Burtonian style. It even brings back old friends, including "Beetlejuice's" Winona Ryder and Catherine O'Hara.
  4. The Playlist
    Reviewed by: Drew Taylor
    Sep 22, 2012
    91
    It says something, then, that Burton's best, most enjoyable, and most emotionally resonate film in years is actually an adaptation of one of his very first projects: Frankenweenie.
  5. Time
    Reviewed by: Richard Corliss
    Oct 4, 2012
    90
    Frankenweenie has that youthful verve and the ghoulishness of strange kids who will some day be eccentric creators. This movie is an attic experiment for its makers to be proud of and for audiences to cherish.
  6. Boxoffice Magazine
    Reviewed by: Pete Hammond
    Oct 2, 2012
    90
    This magnificent stop-motion cartoon is alive - "it's alive! - with laughs and heart.
  7. Austin Chronicle
    Reviewed by: Marc Savlov
    Oct 4, 2012
    89
    Frankenweenie is that rare film that's both kid- and adult-friendly.
  8. USA Today
    Reviewed by: Claudia Puig
    Oct 7, 2012
    88
    Frankenweenie is a love story between a boy and his dog. It is also a beautifully crafted homage to classic horror films, a study of grief and a commentary on the mysteries of science and those who narrow-mindedly fear its advances.
  9. Miami Herald
    Reviewed by: Connie Ogle
    Oct 5, 2012
    88
    This delightfully twisted story about a boy and his (dead) dog showcases precisely what Burton excels at: blending the macabre and the heartfelt in a perfect, if oddball, union.
  10. New York Post
    Reviewed by: Lou Lumenick
    Oct 5, 2012
    88
    Tim Burton's best film in years.
  11. Rolling Stone
    Reviewed by: Peter Travers
    Oct 4, 2012
    88
    Getting creeped out has never seemed this totally cool.
  12. Movieline
    Reviewed by: Inkoo Kang
    Oct 5, 2012
    85
    It's probably too early to peg Frankenweenie as Burton's comeback vehicle, but it's certainly the director's best movie in twenty years.
  13. Tampa Bay Times
    Reviewed by: Steve Persall
    Oct 4, 2012
    83
    Frankenweenie is stitched together with love and a bit raggedy, like Sparky the dog in question.
  14. indieWIRE
    Reviewed by: Eric Kohn
    Sep 22, 2012
    83
    Burton's id explodes onto the screen with a plethora of demonic mutated critters.

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
7.4 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 126 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 26 out of 31
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 31
  3. Negative: 3 out of 31
  1. NedRyerson1
    9
    Frankenweenie is the best animated movie from Tim Burton of all time, because apart from the typical gothic-expressionist environment and characters, we see that science is in between. First we have the signature character of this director, who in this case is a misunderstood boy without friends, although here is expanded to other people of the story, unlike most of Burton pictures. In addition to Victor, there is Elsa (animated Winona Ryder), Mr. Rzykruski (animated Vincent Price), Edgar, Weird Girl, Toshiaki, Bob and Nassor; all these characters are very well physically constructed and have a defined personality. Second, the vision of the science that brings Tim Burton to the plot is awesome, and it is defined by two things that are said by Mr. Rzykruski: people like what science gives them but not the questions that science asks; and, science is not good or bad, but it can be used in both ways. Third, the idea of gothic mixed with science gives the film a fresh air and it is reflected in the moment when the other boys have their experiments. The thing here is that with these series of creatures, we notice the different approaches to science: love of Victor, ignorance of Edgar, over-confidence of Toshiaki, superiority of Nassor, fear of Bob and accident of Weird Girl. Other great things on this movie are the use of Frankenstein elements and the outstanding application of camera, in the picture are noticeable transitions from one images to another, flip over (360 turn) and the famous vertigo effect, formed by simultaneously dolly in and zoom out. Tim Burton could have a perfect film, but the end should be different.… Full Review »
  2. rodrique
    10
    Yeah,the old Tim Burton is back with his best movie since Sweeney Todd.Frankenweenie is visually beautiful and very emotional,I have to say that what he done in Dark Shadows is forgiven here… Full Review »
  3. MegWhiteley
    10
    Frankenweenie. One of my favorite animated movies of this year, I think that is fresh, original -yes I know that the movie is based on the Tim Burton's short-, the movie is really interesting, the development of the story is funny, and yes I think that is one of the best movies of this year.… Full Review »
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