Tim Burton and Johnny Depp: How Their Massive Flop Became a Cult Classic

In the 1990s, Tim Burton reached new heights while Johnny Depp emerged as one of the most captivating actors of his generation. Their collaboration, following several successful projects, was set to create yet another ambitious venture. However, the results were far from what they had anticipated.

Tim Burton and Johnny Depp Revive Space Zombies

At this time, Tim Burton was not yet the blockbuster director he would later become, but he was riding a wave of popularity. He had recently released three major films that would solidify his reputation: Edward Scissorhands (1990), Batman Returns (1992), and The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) – a gothic animated film that proudly bears the title: Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas. With these works, he crafted a unique universe infused with the fantastical, the absurd, and the marginal.

Buoyed by this momentum, Burton embarked on a personal project to tell the life story of an overlooked director, Ed Wood, known for creating what many considered the worst film in cinema history: Plan 9 from Outer Space. However, rather than mocking him, Burton chose to approach the subject with empathy. Johnny Depp, once again reuniting with Burton, delivered a performance filled with innocence and optimism. Ed Wood became a heartfelt tribute to the misfits, dreamers, and “freaks” who populate the fringes of Hollywood and low-budget film sets.

Shot in black and white, featuring witty and poignant writing paired with a masterful performance by Martin Landau as Bela Lugosi (the original Dracula of Universal), the film seemed poised for success. Ed Wood even made it to the official selection at the Cannes Film Festival in 1995. A hit seemed inevitable, but then…

Ed Wood: From Flop to Cult Classic

To everyone’s surprise, Ed Wood flopped miserably at the box office. Despite rave reviews and an Oscar for Martin Landau, audiences largely ignored this unconventional film. It garnered only $5.9 million in receipts against a budget of $18 million, marking a significant commercial failure. Simultaneously, an odd phenomenon occurred: while the film struggled to find its audience, the VHS of Plan 9 from Outer Space became a hot commodity.

The attention brought to Ed Wood revived interest in his most improbable works. Moreover, Burton’s film quickly became a cult classic among those who discovered it. Fans of science fiction, outcasts, queer artists, goths, and simply lovers of offbeat cinema saw it as a moving ode to artistic passion and perseverance. Johnny Depp’s character, perpetually optimistic despite setbacks, became an emblem of DIY cinema, absurdity, and authenticity.

Far from being a caricature, Ed Wood celebrates a man who lived for his art with disarming sincerity, despite his failures. Over the years, the film has found a new audience, contributing to Burton’s image as a contrarian artist who is both humanistic and visionary. While some of his films might divide opinion today, Ed Wood continues to garner unanimous praise among cinephiles.