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Edward Scissorhands

  • 1990
  • PG-13
  • 1h 45m
IMDb RATING
7.8/10
549K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,204
160
Johnny Depp in Edward Scissorhands (1990)
Trailer
Play trailer2:13
9 Videos
99+ Photos
Dark FantasyDark RomanceFairy TaleDramaFantasyHolidayRomance

The solitary life of an artificial man - who was incompletely constructed and has scissors for hands - is upended when he is taken in by a suburban family.The solitary life of an artificial man - who was incompletely constructed and has scissors for hands - is upended when he is taken in by a suburban family.The solitary life of an artificial man - who was incompletely constructed and has scissors for hands - is upended when he is taken in by a suburban family.

  • Director
    • Tim Burton
  • Writers
    • Tim Burton
    • Caroline Thompson
  • Stars
    • Johnny Depp
    • Winona Ryder
    • Dianne Wiest
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.8/10
    549K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    2,204
    160
    • Director
      • Tim Burton
    • Writers
      • Tim Burton
      • Caroline Thompson
    • Stars
      • Johnny Depp
      • Winona Ryder
      • Dianne Wiest
    • 810User reviews
    • 92Critic reviews
    • 74Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Oscar
      • 11 wins & 25 nominations total

    Videos9

    Edward Scissorhands
    Trailer 2:13
    Edward Scissorhands
    Unconventional Romances to Stream Now
    Clip 2:41
    Unconventional Romances to Stream Now
    Unconventional Romances to Stream Now
    Clip 2:41
    Unconventional Romances to Stream Now
    What Roles Has Winona Ryder Turned Down?
    Clip 3:13
    What Roles Has Winona Ryder Turned Down?
    A Guide to the Films of Tim Burton
    Clip 2:11
    A Guide to the Films of Tim Burton
    Edward Scissorhands: Snow Angel
    Clip 1:28
    Edward Scissorhands: Snow Angel
    Edward Scissorhands: Thrilling Experience
    Clip 1:35
    Edward Scissorhands: Thrilling Experience

    Photos198

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    + 191
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    Top cast72

    Edit
    Johnny Depp
    Johnny Depp
    • Edward Scissorhands
    Winona Ryder
    Winona Ryder
    • Kim
    Dianne Wiest
    Dianne Wiest
    • Peg
    Anthony Michael Hall
    Anthony Michael Hall
    • Jim
    Kathy Baker
    Kathy Baker
    • Joyce
    Robert Oliveri
    Robert Oliveri
    • Kevin
    Conchata Ferrell
    Conchata Ferrell
    • Helen
    Caroline Aaron
    Caroline Aaron
    • Marge
    Dick Anthony Williams
    Dick Anthony Williams
    • Officer Allen
    O-Lan Jones
    O-Lan Jones
    • Esmeralda
    Vincent Price
    Vincent Price
    • The Inventor
    Alan Arkin
    Alan Arkin
    • Bill
    Susan Blommaert
    Susan Blommaert
    • Tinka
    • (as Susan J. Blommaert)
    Linda Perri
    Linda Perri
    • Cissy
    • (as Linda Perry)
    John Davidson
    John Davidson
    • Host-TV
    Biff Yeager
    Biff Yeager
    • George
    Marti Greenberg
    Marti Greenberg
    • Suzanne
    Bryan Larkin
    Bryan Larkin
    • Max
    • Director
      • Tim Burton
    • Writers
      • Tim Burton
      • Caroline Thompson
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews810

    7.8549.2K
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    Featured reviews

    10TheLittleSongbird

    A simple, but dark and poignant film, that is definitely Burton's best!

    Other films that are genuinely moving are The Elephant Man, Fearless and Camille. Edward Scissorhands is a film of darkness and beauty, that makes it such a wonderful and unique film to see. One thing that I really liked about Edward Scissorhands was the music score by Danny Elfman, which was very beautiful, sensitive and mysterious. A good example is in the beginning credits, with the angelic choir accompanying the Christmas-like images on screen. The cinematography was gorgeous, with bright imaginative close-ups contrasted with genuinely Gothic scenes, like when we first meet Edward in the dark house. The script, while not the strongest category of the film, was still very touching, and added to the charm and suspense that was already ensured in the film. The direction by Tim Burton had all his trademarks, very dark and suspenseful, evident in films like Batman and Sleepy Hollow, if a little odd at times, which is fairly typical of Burton. While there were one or two funny moments, the film is genuinely poignant, with a heart-rending ending. I will say I was most impressed with the acting, topped by Johnny Depp's tragic and poignant portrayal of the title character, and then Winona Ryder as Kim, while not quite as convincing is still very sensitive. I was shocked that Depp didn't get an Oscar for his performance, he doesn't say much, but his facial expressions fully justify. There was also sterling support from Dianne West, Kathy Baker et al, while Vincent Price in a minor role as the inventor also impresses, such a shame he died three years later, he was a brilliant actor, if you see him as the truly Machiavellian villain in Great Mouse Detective, or the sadistic Matthew Hopkins in Witchfinder General, you'll know what I mean. As I have already said, the ending is so heart-rending, that I will confess I got through half'a box of tissues. Overall, a remarkably beautiful and poignant film that had me speechless. My advice to anyone who hasn't seen it, and is planning to, have a box of tissues at the ready, it is that sad. 10/10 Bethany Cox.
    BaronBl00d

    Hauntingly Poetic

    I really cannot add too much more to the wealth of praise directed toward this film...much of it very deserved. Tim Burton really shows us his ability to transcend mere comedic situations(Pee Wee and Beetlejuice) and tell a story of humour love, pity, conformity, and so on in an eerie and entertaining way. The way this film is constructed is amazing...the sets are wonderful as they depict something so real and yet so far away. Burton takes us into a kind of fairy land of Suburbia...with a haunting, empty castle at the end of the block that just happens to house a man with scissors for hands. The music in this film helps create a great deal of atmosphere and really lends to character development; I particularly enjoyed his use of the music of Tom Jones. The acting in the film is superb on all accounts. Burton got a subtle and effective performance from Johhny Depp, whose talents cease to amaze me. A nice Burton touch was the use of Vincent Price in one of his final roles. Although only in three scenes, seeing Vincent again was a real joy.
    10llltdesq

    If Tim Burton never did anything else, this film would be enough to call his life worthwhile

    There is absolutely no way I can view this film in even a remotely objective manner, so I won't even try. Like eveything I've seen by Tim Burton, this film is at one and the same time, warm and frightening, tender and heart-wrenchingly evil, uplifting and dark. The good and bad in humanity are shown in stark relief quite clearly for everyone to see. But in the final analysis, the most important message the film has to offer is this: Love truly does make the world go 'round and redemption and just living to see another day is a kind of victory. There will always be bullies, just as there will always be kind souls who actively try to make things better (and who sometimes make things worse through their efforts). The most important thing is to be true to yourself, treat others as you wish to be treated and that if the bad guys win, we all lose-including the bad guys. Excellent cast, fine script and just overall a worthy effort not to be missed. One of Vincent Price's last performances, if not the last. I love this film! Most highly recommended.
    8filipemanuelneto

    One of the most beautiful films about the right to be different

    This film shows us Edward, a humanoid created by a scientist who died before he could finish his creation. Because of this, Edward has big scissors instead of fingers and a strange looking, almost industrial. But he ends up being found amid the ruins of the mansion where he was born and taken to a suburban neighborhood, where life is always the same, made of perfection appearances. Directed by Tim Burton, has a screenplay by Caroline Thompson and counts on the participation of Johnny Depp and Winona Ryder.

    This film is a modern Christmas tale and, for a decade, was very broadcast on televisions around this time of year. The story is very beautiful and touching, and makes us think about issues such as the right to be different from others, the difference between being and seeming, the exaggerated importance we give to appearances and the little importance we give to what is genuine, and how our society corrupts what is naturally good (Rousseau revisited?). Despite it usually have a parental rating accessible to children, this film seems to have been designed for public since the age of ten. The cast is reasonable but not surprising, except for Johnny Depp and Winona Ryder, actors who had, in this movie, the first major opportunity to shine, and where Depp inaugurated a long and fruitful partnership with Burton, which lasts until today. The photography and the visual effects are very good. The sets and costumes are interesting, helping to get the message proposed in the film, and the soundtrack is marked by the main theme, composed by Danny Elfman. This piece remained in the memory of the audience for its beauty and magic, becoming one of the most beautiful musical pieces made for film.
    7MovieAddict2016

    Burton's Best -- and Most Emotionally Touching.

    Tim Burton is a brilliant visual director but with Edward Scissorhands he managed to combine these talents with pure, classic storytelling – Scissorhands is his best overall film, abandoning the slight characterizations and special effects-driven spectacle of the (albeit hugely enjoyable) Batman and serving up a convincingly detailed left-of-center fairytale romance.

    The story is fairly basic, being the standard Frankenstein-esque tale of alienation and the empowerment of love. Edward (Johnny Depp) is a lonely man with scissors for hands, crafted by an eccentric inventor (magnificently played by Vincent Price in flashbacks) prior to his death. After Edward witnesses the death of his creator he stays locked away inside his mansion all day, which is located atop the otherwise cheerfully picture-perfect local neighborhood community.

    Then one day a nosy neighbor decides to investigate, and ends up bringing Edward to reality. He falls in love with a local girl (Winona Ryder), and is witness first-hand to the joys of life, until accidentally injuring a young boy and becoming the enemy of the overzealous town. Soon everyone is out to get him for no good reason – the climax is beautifully done and, because Burton has allowed his characters to expand so much, it's also very touching.

    The movie is decidedly odd but in a good way – the only problem is that it is occasionally quite thin when it comes to actual depth. Burton's never been as good at telling believable stories as he has mythical, exciting fables (see Sleepy Hollow for a similar example). Even Burton's Big Fish – arguably his most story-oriented film of his career – was somewhat shady. The mix of screwball dark comedy, horror, drama, romance and elements and familiar happenings of other genres results in a very different combination. You can literally "feel" the vibe of this picture, its heart pulsing black blood.

    The movie was a childhood project of Burton, who drew sketches of Edward as a boy and used to alienate himself from his hostile surroundings by taking refuge in fictional stories involving the scissor-handed hero. As a result Burton's true affinity for the subject is evident – it's clear that he takes this entire project very seriously.

    The acting is marvelous – Depp's performance is one of his finest and, arguably, one of the most convincing and fun of all-time. Depp has formed a Scorsese/De Niro-like companionship with Burton over the years, teaming up for various pictures (including Sleepy Hollow and the upcoming Charlie and the Chocolate Factory). He's always had fun relishing his over-the-top and absurdly dark roles, such as Ichabod Crane in particular. In Scissorhands he gives the equivalent of a Travis Bickle – a man who feels shunned by society, only to open his heart and have it feel crushed again. This is possibly one of the reasons the film is able to affect its audience so well to this very day. The tale does not grow old because the values are timeless.

    Edward Scissorhands, despite its occasional flaws, finally gave Burton the chance to unleash his talents as a visual filmmaker along with a pretty solid story mold – the result being a sublimely dark rom-com-drama that never conforms to the typical genre clichés and becomes quite a unique film in its own little world.

    4.5/5

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      This is the first time that Tim Burton and Johnny Depp worked together. They became good friends while making the film.
    • Goofs
      When Edward's bush sculptures are finished, most of them are much higher than the original hedges.
    • Quotes

      Kim: You're here... They didn't hurt you, did they?

      [Edward shakes his head]

      Kim: Were you scared? I tried to make Jim go back, but, you can't make Jim do anything. Thank you for not telling them that we...

      Edward: You're welcome.

      Kim: It must have been awful when they told you whose house it was.

      Edward: I knew it was Jim's house.

      Kim: You... you did?

      Edward: Yes.

      Kim: ...Well, then why'd you do it?

      Edward: Because you asked me to.

    • Crazy credits
      The 20th Century Fox logo is shaded dark winter blue and is accompanied by Edward's snowfall.
    • Alternate versions
      In order to secure a PG certificate in the UK the cinema version was cut by 8 secs to edit some violence during the climactic fight. A shot of Edward being kicked in the stomach was removed and his beating with the crowbar was reduced from 8 blows to 2. The video/DVD versions feature the same print with the cuts now lengthened to 15 secs. The cuts were fully waived by the BBFC for the upgraded 12-rated 2007 DVD release.
    • Connections
      Edited into 5 Second Movies: Edward Scissorhands (2008)
    • Soundtracks
      Blue Hawaii
      Composed by Leo Robin and Ralph Rainger

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    FAQ

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    • When does the movie take place?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 14, 1990 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Official Facebook
      • Official site
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • El joven manos de tijera
    • Filming locations
      • Southgate Shopping Center - 2515 Florida Ave S, Lakeland, Florida, USA
    • Production companies
      • Twentieth Century Fox
      • Tim Burton Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $20,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $56,362,352
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $159,622
      • Dec 9, 1990
    • Gross worldwide
      • $86,024,005
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 45 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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