Edward Scissorhands

Name: Edward Scissorhands
Genre: Drama, Fantasy, Romance
Released: December 7, 1990
Duration: 105 min
Rating: 74
Cast: Johnny Depp, Winona Ryder

1990

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 19 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 677 Ratings

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8.7

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8.7	User Score Universal acclaim based on 677 Ratings

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Edward Scissorhands

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Movie Details & Credits

Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation | Release Date: December 7, 1990 | PG-13

Starring: Johnny Depp, Winona Ryder

Summary: In this modern fairy tale, Edward is a gentle, naive creation with razor sharp scissors for hands. When he is taken home by a kindly Avon lady live with her family, his adventure in the pastel paradise of Suburbia begins! (20th Century Fox)

Director: Tim Burton

Genre(s): Drama, Fantasy, Romance

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 105 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Jay Scott

A classic... Edward Scissorhands is a sharp salute to the oddball in all of us. Read full review

100

Michael Wilmington

Perhaps the most original movie fantasy creation of the year: an icon of tenderness and artistic alienation that clings, stickum-like, to your mind's eye and the softest, most woundable parts of your mass-culture heart. [7 Dec 1990, Calendar, p.F-1]

Staff (Not Credited)

A delightful and delicate comic fable. Read full review

Elvis Mitchell

Like a great chef concocting an exquisite peanut butter-and-jelly sandwich, Mr. Burton invests awe-inspiring ingenuity into the process of reinventing something very small. Read full review

Peter Travers

Edward Scissorhands isn't perfect. It's something better: pure magic. Read full review

Mike Clark

If the script were half as witty as its production design and Danny Elfman's score, the film might be a classic; instead, it recalls the “Beetlejuice” half that doesn't have Keaton. [7 Dec 1990, Life, p.4D]

Mick LaSalle

Great to look at but not much fun to watch… An emotionally uncommitted picture that's smirky and mawkish, by turns, and at heart, empty. [14 Dec 1990, Daily Datebook, p.E1]

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User Reviews

Ugly.

Jun 14, 2007

It was great but really sad. I CRIED!!!!!

1 of 1 users found this helpful

JaredK

Nov 11, 2008

I love this movie, it left a lump in my throat.

2 of 2 users found this helpful

Deer50

May 16, 2011

Johnny Depp played Edward really well. Edward had a charming sweetness about him that grips out at me and pulls me in to watch more. I never get tired of this tragic fairy tale.

12 of 13 users found this helpful121

JamesDrawsThngs

Sep 10, 2020

Tim Burton doesn’t have the staying power with me that he once did. When I think of modern Burton I tend to think of very drab, heavily CG’d, washed out looking films that tend to oversell on the “dark and whimsical” style that he was once a pioneer of. It’s such a shame that I dread seeingTim Burton doesn’t have the staying power with me that he once did. When I think of modern Burton I tend to think of very drab, heavily CG’d, washed out looking films that tend to oversell on the “dark and whimsical” style that he was once a pioneer of. It’s such a shame that I dread seeing any new movie of his because I know, deep down, that he still has the potential of creating great, fantastical films. When I think of Tim Burton, I think fondly of the days of Batman ’89, Beetlejuice, Ed Wood and, most personally, Edward Scissorhands. It’s a film I grew up watching as a kid on my mom’s laserdisc. I was intrigued by the look of the film, the music, and Edward himself. It had been many years since I have seen this movie to completion, and as an adult I have been able to gain a newfound appreciation for it. The story follows the titular Edward Scissorhands, a lonely, incomplete creation of a professor (played by Vincent Price) who is discovered by local suburban saleswoman Peg Boggs. Feeling sympathy for Edward, she takes him back to her home in a suburban neighborhood filled with incredibly nosey housewives that are smitten by this mysterious person. Edward quickly finds a place for himself, creating hedge art for the people and even as their hair stylist. Edward also falls for Peg’s daughter Kim, who is uncertain of Edward at first but slowly starts to care for him. The whole movie plays out like a gothic fairytale (it helps that the story is being told as a bedtime story), and the movie positively drips with Burton’s signature style. Edward’s intimidating presence heavily contrasts with the uniform, pastel-colored suburban neighborhood. He epitomizes the types of characters Burton tends to gravitate towards: the misunderstood misfit that may look strange, but is a gentle soul. Danny Elfman’s fantastic score helps to sell the film’s gothic fairytale feel, perfectly encapsulating Edward’s mood and state of mind in any given situation. The suburban neighbors are appropriately nosey, immediately infatuated with Edward but just as quickly are able to turn on him the second he makes a mistake. This would be the first of many collaborations between Burton and Johnny Depp, and this was a damn strong start. Depp is great in this film, perfectly capturing the innocence and awkwardness that Edward displays. Winona Ryder is great as Kim, and I even liked Anthony Michael Hall as Kim’s dirt bag boyfriend Jim. Everyone in the film is great, for that matter, even Vincent Price for as little screen-time as he gets portrays the same level of kindness that Edward carries over. Of course, I can’t forget to mention Stan Winston’s fantastic make-up and scissor effects for Depp. Edward’s look has become iconic and still unique among the rest of Burton’s catalogue. There only a few gripes I have with the film, like people for some reason not immediately helping him with basic tasks that he obviously can’t do with scissor hands. It’s usually played up for comedic affect but the entire time I couldn’t help but say, “Help him already!” These gripes are minor in the grand scheme of things, though. As far as discussing Tim Burton’s filmography is concerned, this easily in the top 5 in my opinion. Everything you need to know about him is on display in Edward Scissorhands. After all these years, I still think this movie is wonderful and it absolutely comes recommended not just for fans of Tim Burton, but just for being a good, well-rounded movie.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

moonman1994

Dec 23, 2013

Charming, unique and pretty. You've got to love Edward and his scissor hands. Depp guided by Burton is great in this film and Burton's style of directing is exactly what this film needed to be great.

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

schwarz_kellogg

Oct 23, 2011

85%!
The sound is there, the concept is there, just din't have the right technology to make it look better back then. Compassion driven wisely, good quality of comedic elements. Don't like Johnny Depp's facial expression though.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

sudokuy

Oct 6, 2008

Yep, nothing else to say. worst movie I ever wasted time on. it's films like these that drop the standard of today's American films.

0 of 3 users found this helpful

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