View source for Corpse Bride

{{short description|2005 stop-motion animated film by Tim Burton}}
{{good article}}
{{Use American English|date=October 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2023}}
{{Infobox film
| name           = Corpse Bride
| image          = Corpse Bride film poster.jpg
| alt            =
| caption        = Theatrical release poster
| director       = {{Plainlist|
* [[Mike Johnson (animator)|Mike Johnson]]
* [[Tim Burton]]
}}
| screenplay     = {{Plainlist|
* [[John August]]
* [[Caroline Thompson]]
* [[Pamela Pettler]]
}}
| based_on       = {{Based on|Characters|Tim Burton|[[Carlos Grangel]]}}
| producer       = {{Plainlist|
* Tim Burton
* [[Allison Abbate]]
}}
| starring       = {{Plainlist|<!--NAMES ON THE FILM POSTER ONLY-->
* [[Johnny Depp]]
* [[Helena Bonham Carter]]
}}
| cinematography = Pete Kozachik
| editing        = {{Plainlist|
* Jonathan Lucas
* [[Chris Lebenzon]]
}}
| music          = [[Danny Elfman]]  (score and songs)
| studio         = {{Plainlist|
* [[Tim Burton Productions]]
* [[Laika (company)|Laika Entertainment]]
}}
| distributor    = [[Warner Bros. Pictures]]
| released       = {{Film date|2005|09|07|[[62nd Venice International Film Festival|Venice]]|2005|09|23|United States|2005|10|13|United Kingdom}}
| runtime        = 77 minutes<!--Theatrical runtime: 77:04--><ref>{{cite web |title=Tim Burton's Corpse Bride |url=https://bbfc.co.uk/releases/tim-burtons-corpse-bride-1970-0 |publisher=[[British Board of Film Classification]] |date=September 14, 2005 |access-date=September 21, 2015 |archive-date=June 3, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160603011457/http://bbfc.co.uk/releases/tim-burtons-corpse-bride-1970-0}}</ref>
| country        = {{Plainlist|
* United Kingdom
* United States<ref>{{cite web|url=https://collections-search.bfi.org.uk/web/Details/ChoiceFilmWorks/150689559|title=Tim Burton's Corpse Bride|work=[[British Film Institute]]|accessdate=April 9, 2025}}</ref>
}}
| language       = English
| budget         = $40 million<ref>{{cite news |url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2005-09-27-stop-motion_x.htm |title=Stop-motion coaxes 'Corpse Bride,' 'Gromit' to life |last=Bowles |first=Scott |date=September 27, 2005 |newspaper=[[USA Today]] |access-date=March 1, 2011 |archive-date=November 4, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104005206/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2005-09-27-stop-motion_x.htm |url-status=live}}</ref>
| gross          = $118.1 million<!--Keep this number truncated--><ref name="BoxOfficeMojo">{{cite web |title=Corpse Bride (2005) |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt0121164/ |website=[[Box Office Mojo]] |access-date=November 3, 2023}}</ref>
}}
'''''Corpse Bride''''' (also known as '''''Tim Burton's Corpse Bride''''') is a 2005 [[Stop-motion|stop-motion animated]] [[musical film|musical]] [[Gothic film|Gothic]] [[fantasy film]] directed by [[Mike Johnson (animator)|Mike Johnson]] and [[Tim Burton]] and written by [[John August]], [[Caroline Thompson]], and [[Pamela Pettler]]. Set in an English village, ''Corpse Bride'' stars [[Johnny Depp]] as the voice of Victor, while [[Helena Bonham Carter]] voices Emily, the title character. An [[international co-production]] between the United States and United Kingdom, produced by [[Tim Burton Productions]] and [[Laika, LLC|Laika Entertainment]], and distributed by [[Warner Bros. Pictures]], ''Corpse Bride'' is the first stop-motion feature film directed by Burton after previously producing ''[[The Nightmare Before Christmas]]'' (1993) and ''[[James and the Giant Peach (film)|James and the Giant Peach]]'' (1996).

''Corpse Bride'' drew inspiration from a 17th-century Jewish folktale, which [[Joe Ranft]] introduced to Burton while they were finishing ''The Nightmare Before Christmas''. Work on the film started in November 2003 while Burton was wrapping up ''[[Big Fish]]''. His next live-action feature, ''[[Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (film)|Charlie and the Chocolate Factory]],'' was produced simultaneously with ''Corpse Bride''. Production of the stop-motion animation feature took place at [[3 Mills Studios]] in London. It was shot with [[Canon EOS-1D Mark II]] [[Digital single-lens reflex camera|digital SLRs]], rather than the [[135 film|35&nbsp;mm film]] cameras used for ''The Nightmare Before Christmas''. Burton immediately brought regular collaborators Depp, Carter and [[Danny Elfman]] aboard. ''Corpse Bride'' is dedicated to executive producer Ranft, who died a month before the film's release.

''Corpse Bride'' premiered at the [[62nd Venice International Film Festival]] on September 7, 2005, and was released in theaters on September 23 in the U.S. and on October 13 in the U.K. to critical and commercial success. The film was nominated for [[Academy Award for Best Animated Feature|Best Animated Feature]] at the [[78th Academy Awards]].

==Plot==
 <!-- Per WP:FILMPLOT, plot summary should be between 400 to 700 words. -->         
In an English village in the 1800s, Victor Van Dort, the son of ''[[nouveau riche]]'' fish merchants, and Victoria Everglot, the neglected daughter of [[genteel poverty|impoverished aristocrats]], prepare for their [[arranged marriage]], which will simultaneously raise the [[social class]] of the Van Dort family and restore the wealth of the Everglot family ("According to Plan"). Although the two are initially nervous, they become smitten and fall in love instantly when they meet; however, the nervous Victor ruins their wedding rehearsal by forgetting his vows, dropping the ring, and accidentally setting Lady Everglot's dress on fire.

Fleeing to a nearby forest, Victor successfully rehearses his vows with a tree and places his wedding ring on what appears to be an upturned root. However, the "root" is revealed to be the skeletal finger of a deceased woman named Emily, who, gowned in a wedding dress, rises from the grave and proclaims herself as Victor's new wife. She spirits them both away to the [[Underworld|Land of the Dead]], a colorful and whimsical realm in which the spirits of the deceased reside.

During his time with Emily, Victor learns that she was murdered years earlier on the night of her elopement by her fiancé, who stole the family jewels and gold she had brought ("[[Remains of the Day (song)|Remains of the Day]]"). She reunites him with his long-dead dog Scraps, and they bond. However, desperate to return to Victoria, Victor tricks Emily into returning them to the Land of the Living by claiming he wants her to meet his parents.

Emily brings Victor to see Elder Gutknecht, the kindly ruler of the underworld, who grants them temporary passage. Victor reunites with Victoria and confesses his wish to marry her as soon as possible. Before they can share a kiss, Emily discovers them and drags Victor back to the Land of the Dead, feeling betrayed and hurt ("Tears to Shed"). Victoria tries to tell her parents and the village pastor of Victor's situation, but nobody believes her. Assuming Victor has left her, Victoria's parents decide to marry her against her will to Lord Barkis Bittern, a presumed-wealthy visitor who appeared at the wedding rehearsal.

After reconciling with Emily, Victor learns of Victoria's impending marriage to Barkis from his family's newly deceased coachman Mayhew. Upset over this news, he decides to marry Emily properly after overhearing Elder Gutknecht tell her that due to Victor still being alive while she is dead, her accidental marriage to Victor is nullified by default. He knows that this will require him to repeat his wedding vows with her in the Land of the Living and drink the poison 'the Wine of Ages' in order to join Emily in death.

The dead swiftly prepare for the ceremony and head "upstairs" ("The Wedding Song"). There, the village erupts into a temporary panic upon their arrival, until the living recognize their departed loved ones and joyously reunite with them. The chaos causes a panicked Barkis to expose his own poor financial standing and his intentions to marry Victoria only for her supposed wealth, leading her to reject him.

Victoria witnesses Victor and Emily's wedding as Victor completes his vows and prepares to drink the poison, only for Emily to stop him when she realizes she is denying Victoria her chance to live happily with him. Just as Emily reunites Victor and Victoria, Barkis arrives to kidnap Victoria; Emily recognizes Barkis as both her previous fiancé and murderer. Victor duels with Barkis to protect Victoria, and Emily intervenes to save Victor's life.

Accepting defeat, Barkis mockingly [[Toast (honor)|toasts]] Emily for dying unwed and unwittingly drinks the poison, causing him to die. This allows the dead – who cannot interfere in the affairs of the living – to take retribution against him for his crimes. Emily, now freed from her torment, releases Victor of his vow to marry her and returns his ring, so he can marry Victoria. As she steps into the moonlight, she dissolves into a swarm of butterflies that fly into the sky as Victor and Victoria watch and embrace.

==Voice cast==
[[File:Helena Bonham Carter (Berlin Film Festival 2011) 3 cropped.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Helena Bonham Carter]] voices the title character.]]

{{Cast listing|
* [[Helena Bonham Carter]] as Emily the Corpse Bride, a beautiful and naive young [[revenant]] woman with a passion for music and dance
* [[Johnny Depp]] as Victor Van Dort, a timid, but good-natured young man who is engaged to Victoria Everglot for social and financial reasons
* [[Richard E. Grant]] as Barkis Bittern, a charming yet murderous [[Confidence trick|con artist]], later revealed to be Emily's former fiancé and killer
* [[Emily Watson]] as Victoria Everglot, Victor's pretty, sweet-natured, yet abused fiancée
* [[Albert Finney]] as two characters:
** Lord Finis Everglot, Victoria's abusive toad-like, unloving [[Baron]] father and Maudeline's husband
** Grandfather Everglot, Finis' deceased grandfather, Maudeline's grandfather-in-law and Victoria's great-grandfather
* [[Tracey Ullman]] as two characters:
** Nell Van Dort, Victor's socially ambitious mother and William's wife who loves her son, but holds too much contempt for him
** Hildegarde, the elderly maid of the Everglot household
* [[Joanna Lumley]] as Lady Maudeline Everglot, Victoria's abusive, large-chinned, unloving mother and Finis' wife
* [[Paul Whitehouse]] as three characters:
** William Van Dort, Victor's absent-minded and tactless fish merchant father and Nell's husband
** Mayhew, the Van Dorts' smoking coachman
** Paul the Head Waiter, literally a severed head
* [[Christopher Lee]] as Pastor Galswells, a haughty and bad-tempered priest who is hired to conduct Victor and Victoria's wedding ceremony
* [[Michael Gough]] as Elder Gutknecht, an ancient and rickety skeleton who rules benevolently over the [[underworld]]
* [[Jane Horrocks]] as two characters:
** The [[Latrodectus|Black Widow Spider]], an affable seamstress
** Mrs. Plum, a dead chef working at the Ball and Socket Pub
* [[Enn Reitel]] as two characters:
** The [[Maggot]], Emily's sarcastic friend who lives inside her head and acts as her conscience, parodying Hungarian-born actor [[Peter Lorre]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.moviefone.com/2005/09/16/review-corpse-bride/ |title=Review: Corpse Bride |last=Stewart |first=Ryan |date=September 16, 2005 |website=[[Moviefone]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407063101/http://news.moviefone.com/2005/09/16/review-corpse-bride/ |archive-date=April 7, 2014 |access-date=July 7, 2018}}</ref>
** The Town Crier, who alerts the Van Dorts and Everglots about Victor and Emily's marriage
* [[Deep Roy]] as General Bonesapart, a [[dwarfism|diminutive]] skeleton in a military uniform with a sword stuck in his chest. He is a parody of [[Napoleon|Napoleon Bonaparte]].
* [[Danny Elfman]] as Bonejangles, a vivacious, one-eyed, lounge singing skeleton
* Stephen Ballantyne as Emil, the Everglots' long-suffering butler
}}

==Production==
===Development===
The film is based on a 17th-century [[Jewish folklore|Jewish folktale]], which [[Joe Ranft]] introduced to [[Tim Burton]] while they were finishing ''[[The Nightmare Before Christmas]]''.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://forward.com/opinion/506699/jewish-corpse-bride-buried-in-wedding-gown-tim-burton/ |title='Buried in a wedding gown: The real-life 'Corpse Bride' haunting my childhood |last=Levin Millan |first=Harriet |date=July 20, 2022 |newspaper=[[The Forward]] |access-date=October 16, 2022 |archive-date=October 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221016120110/https://forward.com/opinion/506699/jewish-corpse-bride-buried-in-wedding-gown-tim-burton/ |url-status=live}}</ref> The film began production in November 2003, while Burton was wrapping up ''[[Big Fish]]''. His next live-action feature, ''[[Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (film)|Charlie and the Chocolate Factory]],'' was produced simultaneously with ''Corpse Bride''.<ref name="creativeplanetnetwork1">{{cite web |title=Marrying Stop Motion and CGI for "The Corpse Bride" |url=https://www.creativeplanetnetwork.com/news-features/marrying-stop-motion-and-cgi-corpse-bride-395962 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180708044840/https://www.creativeplanetnetwork.com/news-features/marrying-stop-motion-and-cgi-corpse-bride-395962 |archive-date=July 8, 2018 |access-date=March 10, 2014 |publisher=Creative Planet Network}}</ref> Co-director [[Mike Johnson (animator)|Mike Johnson]] spoke about how they took a more organic approach to directing the film, saying: "In a co-directing situation, one director usually handles one sequence while the other handles another. Our approach was more organic. Tim knew where he wanted the film to go as far as the emotional tone and story points to hit. My job was to work with the crew on a daily basis and get the footage as close as possible to how I thought he wanted it."<ref name="creativeplanetnetwork1" />[[File:Tim Burton by Gage Skidmore.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Tim Burton]] co-directed the film.]]

===Visual effects===
[[File:Johnny Depp 2, 2011.jpg|thumb|left|upright|[[Johnny Depp]] filmed ''[[Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (film)|Charlie and the Chocolate Factory]]'' and recorded dialogue for ''Corpse Bride'' simultaneously.]]
In a 2005, interview with [[About.com]], Burton spoke about the differences between directing ''Corpse Bride'' and ''The Nightmare Before Christmas,'' despite ''Nightmare'' having been directed by [[Henry Selick]] with Burton serving in a producer role, saying: "The difference on that was that one I had designed completely. It was a very completed package in my mind. I felt like it was there. I felt more comfortable with it. With this, it was a bit more organic. It was based on an old folk tale. We kept kind of changing it but, you know, I had a great co-director with Mike Johnson. I feel like we complemented each other quite well. It was just a different movie, a different process."<ref name="about1">{{cite web |url=http://movies.about.com/od/thecorpsebride/a/corpsetb092005.htm |title=Tim Burton Interview on Corpse Bride, Johnny Depp |publisher=Movies.about.com |date=March 4, 2014 |access-date=March 10, 2014 |archive-date=March 10, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140310050409/http://movies.about.com/od/thecorpsebride/a/corpsetb092005.htm}}</ref> He also spoke about casting [[Johnny Depp]] as Victor, saying: "It was weird because we were doing both at the same time. He was [[Willy Wonka]] by day and Victor by night so it might have been a little schizophrenic for him. But he's great. It's the first animated movie he's done and he's always into a challenge. We just treat it like fun and a creative process. Again, that's the joy of working with him. He's kind of up for anything. He just always adds something to it. The amazing thing is all the actors never worked [together]. They were never in a room together, so they were all doing their voices, except for [[Albert Finney|Albert [Finney<nowiki>]</nowiki>]] and [[Joanna Lumley|Joanna [Lumley<nowiki>]</nowiki>]] did a few scenes together, everybody else was separate. They were all kind of working in a vacuum, which was interesting. That's the thing that I felt ended up so beautifully, that their performances really meshed together. So he was very canny, as they all were, about trying to find the right tone and making it work while not being in the same room with each other."<ref name="about1" />

==Music==
{{Infobox album|
| name       = Tim Burton's Corpse Bride
| type       = Film score
| artist     = [[Danny Elfman]]
| cover      = CorpseBride.jpg
| alt        =
| released   = September 20, 2005
| recorded   = 2005
| venue      =
| studio     = [[Abbey Road Studios]] in London, England
| genre      = [[Soundtrack]]
| length     = 59:42
| label      = [[Warner Bros. Records|Warner Bros.]]
| producer   = Danny Elfman
| prev_title = [[Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (soundtrack)|Charlie and the Chocolate Factory]]
| prev_year  = 2005
| next_title = [[Serenada Schizophrana]]
| next_year  = 2006
}}
The soundtrack was composed by [[Danny Elfman]] with the help of [[John August]] and released on September 20, 2005.<ref name="amazon1">{{cite web |url=https://www.amazon.com/Burtons-Original-Picture-Soundtrack-Release/dp/B00122L1JE/ |title=Tim Burton's Corpse Bride Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (U.S. Release): Tim Burton's Corpse Bride Soundtrack: MP3 Downloads |website=Amazon |access-date=March 10, 2014 |archive-date=March 10, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140310100728/http://www.amazon.com/Burtons-Original-Picture-Soundtrack-Release/dp/B00122L1JE |url-status=live}}</ref> It contains all of the music from the film including score music and four songs with lyrics sung by voice actors.<ref name="amazon1"/> In the United Kingdom, the album peaked at number 13 on the Soundtrack Albums Chart on 30 October 2005,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/albums/danny-elfman-corpse-bride-ost/|title=Corpse Bride - OST - Danny Elfman|website=Official Charts|date=5 November 2005|access-date=21 June 2025}}</ref> spending a total of five weeks on that chart.

{{Track listing
| all_writing  = Danny Elfman and John August. All scores composed by Elfman.
| extra_column = Performer(s)
| title1       = Main Title
| note1        = Score
| extra1       = Elfman
| length1      = 2:05
| title2       = According to Plan
| extra2       = [[Albert Finney]], [[Joanna Lumley]], [[Tracey Ullman]], [[Paul Whitehouse]]
| length2      = 3:44
| title3       = Victor's Piano Solo
| note3        = Score
| extra3       = Elfman
| length3      = 1:17
| title4       = Into the Forest
| note4        = Score
| extra4       = Elfman
| length4      = 4:34
| title5       = [[Remains of the Day (song)|Remains of the Day]]
| extra5       = Elfman, [[Jane Horrocks]], Paul Baker, [[Alison Jiear]], [[Gary Martin (actor)|Gary Martin]]
| length5      = 3:26
| title6       = Casting a Spell
| note6        = Score
| extra6       = Elfman
| length6      = 1:25
| title7       = Moon Dance
| note7        = Score
| extra7       = Elfman
| length7      = 1:27
| title8       = Victor's Deception
| note8        = Score
| extra8       = Elfman
| length8      = 3:59
| title9       = Tears to Shed
| extra9       = [[Helena Bonham Carter]], Horrocks, [[Enn Reitel]]
| length9      = 2:45
| title10      = Victoria's Escape
| note10       = Score
| extra10      = Elfman
| length10     = 2:30
| title11      = The Piano Duet
| note11       = Score
| extra11      = Elfman
| length11     = 1:53
| title12      = New Arrival
| note12       = Score
| extra12      = Elfman
| length12     = 0:41
| title13      = Victoria's Wedding
| note13       = Score
| extra13      = Elfman
| length13     = 3:14
| title14      = The Wedding Song
| extra14      = Elfman, Horrocks, Baker, Jiear, Martin
| length14     = 3:00
| title15      = The Party Arrives
| note15       = Score
| extra15      = Elfman
| length15     = 3:20
| title16      = Victor's Wedding
| note16       = Score
| extra16      = Elfman
| length16     = 2:08
| title17      = Barkis's Bummer
| note17       = Score
| extra17      = Elfman
| length17     = 2:07
| title18      = The Finale
| note18       = Score
| extra18      = Elfman
| length18     = 2:35
| title19      = End Credits
| note19       = Part 1) (Score
| extra19      = Elfman
| length19     = 1:49
| title20      = End Credits
| note20       = Part 2) (Score
| extra20      = Elfman
| length20     = 2:32
}}
{{Track listing
| headline        = Bonus Tracks from Bonejangles and his Bone Boys
| extra_column    = Performer(s)
| total_length    = 59:42
| title21         = Ball & Socket Lounge Music #1
| note21          = Band Version) (Score
| extra21         = Elfman
| length21        = 2:15
| title22         = Remains of the Day
| note22          = Combo Lounge Version) (Score
| extra22         = Elfman
| length22        = 3:06
| title23         = Ball & Socket Lounge Music #2
| note23          = Score
| extra23         = Elfman
| length23        = 1:10
| title24         = Ball & Socket Lounge Music #1
| note24          = Combo Version) (Score
| extra24         = Elfman
| length24        = 2:14
}}

===Charts===
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ Chart performance for ''Corpse Bride OST''
! scope="col"| Chart (2005)
! scope="col"| Peak<br />position
|-
{{album chart|UKSoundtrack|13|date=20051030|rowheader=true|access-date=21 June 2025}}
|}

==Release==

=== Theatrical ===
''Corpse Bride'' had its world premiere at the [[62nd Venice International Film Festival]] on September 7, 2005. The film was released on September 23, 2005, in United States and on October 13, 2005, in the United Kingdom.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.moviefone.com/2005/09/08/burtons-corpse-bride-cheered-at-venice-fest/ |title=Burton's 'Corpse Bride' Cheered At Venice Fest - The Moviefone Blog |publisher=News.moviefone.com |date=September 8, 2005 |access-date=September 22, 2015 }}{{Dead link|date=July 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}}</ref>

===Home media===
''Corpse Bride'' was released on DVD on January 31, 2006,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.blu-ray.com/dvd/Tim-Burtons-Corpse-Bride-DVD/37/ |title=Tim Burton's Corpse Bride DVD: Full Screen Edition |publisher=Blu-ray.com |date=January 31, 2006 |access-date=March 10, 2014 |archive-date=March 10, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140310062517/http://www.blu-ray.com/dvd/Tim-Burtons-Corpse-Bride-DVD/37/ |url-status=live}}</ref> and on Blu-ray on September 26, 2006.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Corpse-Bride-Blu-ray/145/ |title=Corpse Bride Blu-ray |publisher=Blu-ray.com |access-date=March 10, 2014 |archive-date=March 10, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140310062712/http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Corpse-Bride-Blu-ray/145/ |url-status=live}}</ref> The film was filmed in 1.85:1 widescreen. Most copies present the film in 1.85:1 widescreen and some copies present the film in 1.33:1 fullscreen {{as of|2009|August|16|df=US}}, the film has sold 2,093,156 DVDs and 40,411 Blu-ray Discs totaling a gross of $33,087,513 and $604,940 respectively. {{as of|2020|November|25|df=US}}, the total gross for domestic video sales is $42,700,692 in the U.S.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Corpse-Bride-The#tab=video-sales | title=Corpse Bride | work=the-numbers.com | access-date=November 25, 2020 | archive-date=March 3, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180303164740/https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Corpse-Bride-The#tab=video-sales | url-status=live}}</ref> As of 2024, over five hundred thousand copies were printed. The film was released on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray on September 23, 2025.

==Reception==
===Box office===
''Corpse Bride'' grossed $53.4 million in North America, and $64.7 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $118.1 million.<ref name="BoxOfficeMojo"/>

In North America, the film opened at number two in its first weekend, with $19.1 million behind ''[[Flightplan]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/chart/?yr=2005&wknd=38&p=.htm |title=Weekend Box Office Results for September 23-25, 2005 |website=Box Office Mojo |access-date=March 10, 2014 |archive-date=February 24, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140224211955/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/chart/?yr=2005&wknd=38&p=.htm |url-status=live}}</ref> In its second weekend, the film dropped to number three, grossing an additional $10 million.<ref name="boxofficemojo1">{{cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=weekend&id=corpsebride.htm |title=Tim Burton's Corpse Bride - Weekend Box Office Results |website=Box Office Mojo |access-date=March 10, 2014 |archive-date=December 13, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131213203804/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=weekend&id=corpsebride.htm |url-status=live}}</ref> In its third weekend, the film dropped to number six, grossing $6.5 million.<ref name="boxofficemojo1"/> In its fourth weekend, the film dropped to number nine, grossing $3.6 million.<ref name="boxofficemojo1"/>

The biggest market in other territories being France, United Kingdom, and Japan, where the film grossed $8.9 million, $8.6 million and $7.1 million respectively.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=intl&id=corpsebride.htm | title=Corpse Bride |website=Box Office Mojo | access-date=February 3, 2015 | archive-date=February 3, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150203142742/http://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=intl&id=corpsebride.htm | url-status=live}}</ref>

===Critical response===
On the [[review aggregator]] website [[Rotten Tomatoes]], the film holds an approval rating of {{RT data|score}} based on {{RT data|count}} reviews, with an average rating of {{RT data|average}}. The website's critics consensus reads, "As can be expected from a Tim Burton movie, ''Corpse Bride'' is whimsically [[macabre]], visually imaginative, and emotionally bittersweet."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/corpse_bride|title=Tim Burton's Corpse Bride|website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]|access-date={{RT data|access date}}|archive-date=June 5, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200605233514/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/corpse_bride|url-status=live}}{{RT data|edit}}</ref> [[Metacritic]], which assigns a rating out of 100 based on top reviews from mainstream critics, calculated a score of 83 based on 35 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/corpse-bride |title=Corpse Bride Reviews |website=[[Metacritic]] |access-date=March 10, 2014 |archive-date=May 2, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140502193606/http://www.metacritic.com/movie/corpse-bride |url-status=live}}</ref> Audiences polled by [[CinemaScore]] gave the film an average grade of "B+" on an A+ to F scale.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Home |url=https://www.cinemascore.com/ |access-date=2022-02-28 |website=[[CinemaScore]] |archive-date=January 2, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180102130540/https://www.cinemascore.com/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Justin Chang]] of ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' gave the film a positive review, saying, "This macabre musical about a young bridegroom who mistakenly weds a girl from beyond the grave is an endearingly [[Schizoid personality disorder|schizoid]] [[Frankenstein's monster|Frankenstein]] of a movie, by turns relentlessly high-spirited and darkly poignant."<ref>{{cite magazine |author=Justin Chang |url=https://variety.com/2005/film/reviews/tim-burton-s-corpse-bride-2-1200523455/ |title=Tim Burton's Corpse Bride |magazine=Variety |date=September 7, 2005 |access-date=March 10, 2014 |archive-date=March 10, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140310054131/http://variety.com/2005/film/reviews/tim-burton-s-corpse-bride-2-1200523455/ |url-status=live}}</ref> Kirk Honeycutt of ''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]'' gave the film a positive review, calling it "A wondrous flight of fancy, a stop-motion-animated treat brimming with imaginative characters, evocative sets, sly humor, inspired songs and a genuine whimsy that seldom finds its way into today's movies."<ref name="rottentomatoes1">{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/corpse_bride/reviews/?type=top_critics |title=Tim Burton's Corpse Bride - Movie Reviews |website=Rotten Tomatoes |access-date=March 10, 2014 |archive-date=March 21, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150321144240/http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/corpse_bride/reviews/?type=top_critics |url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Michael Atkinson (writer)|Michael Atkinson]] of ''[[The Village Voice]]'' gave the film a positive review, saying, "The variety of its cadaverous style is never less than inspired; never has the human skull's natural grin been redeployed so exhaustively for yuks."<ref>{{cite news |author=Michael Atkinson |url=http://www.villagevoice.com/2005-09-06/film/death-becomes-her/ |title=Death Becomes Her |newspaper=The Village Voice |date=September 6, 2005 |access-date=March 10, 2014 |archive-date=October 31, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141031044832/http://www.villagevoice.com/2005-09-06/film/death-becomes-her/}}</ref> [[Owen Gleiberman]] of ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' gave the film a B, saying, "As an achievement in macabre visual wizardry, Tim Burton's ''Corpse Bride'' has to be reckoned some sort of marvel."<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://ew.com/article/2005/09/14/tim-burtons-corpse-bride-2/ |title=Tim Burton's Corpse Bride Review |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=September 14, 2005 |access-date=March 10, 2014 |archive-date=March 10, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140310053306/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,1104903,00.html}}</ref>

[[Manohla Dargis]] of ''[[The New York Times]]'' gave the film four out of five stars, saying, "Cinema's reinvigorated fixation with the living dead suggests that we are in the grip of an impossible longing, or perhaps it's just another movie cycle running its course. Whatever the case, there is something heartening about Mr. Burton's love for bones and rot here, if only because it suggests, despite some recent evidence, that he is not yet ready to abandon his own dark kingdom."<ref>{{cite news |author=Manohla Dargis |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/16/movies/16brid.html |title=Tim Burton's Corpse Bride |work=The New York Times |date=September 7, 2005 |access-date=March 10, 2014 |archive-date=September 17, 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050917150153/http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/16/movies/16brid.html |url-status=live}}</ref> Moira MacDonald of ''[[The Seattle Times]]'' gave the film three and a half stars out of four, saying, "What makes ''Corpse Bride'' sing, ultimately, is the breadth of imagination that it demonstrates; creating a cluttered, textured and mysteriously beautiful world that we're loathe to leave at the end."<ref>{{cite news |last=Macdonald |first=Moira |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/20050923/corpse23/here-comes-tim-burtons-corpse-bride |title=Entertainment & the Arts &#124; Here comes "Tim Burton's Corpse Bride" |newspaper=[[The Seattle Times]] |date=September 23, 2005 |access-date=March 10, 2014 |archive-date=December 16, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131216154132/http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?slug=corpse23&date=20050923 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Liam Lacey of ''[[The Globe and Mail]]'' gave the film three out of four stars, saying, "Ghoulishness and innocence walk hand-in-hand in Tim Burton's ''Corpse Bride'', a movie that digs into [[Cinema of the United States|Hollywood]]'s past to resurrect the antique art of stop-motion animation and create a fabulous bauble of a movie."<ref name="rottentomatoes1"/> Jack Mathews of the ''[[New York Daily News]]'' gave the film three and a half stars out of four, saying, "Stop-motion animation may be the hardest and most tedious job in Hollywood, but the makers of Tim Burton's ''Corpse Bride'' deserve a couple of years in [[Tahiti]] celebrating their effort."<ref name="rottentomatoes1"/>

Lisa Rose of the ''[[Newark Star-Ledger]]'' gave the film three out of five stars, saying, "''Corpse Bride'' offers unclassifiable enchantment."<ref name="rottentomatoes1"/> [[James Berardinelli]] of ''[[ReelViews]]'' gave the film three out of four stars, saying, "As animated films go, this is easily the best of a weak year."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://preview.reelviews.net/movies/c/corpse_bride.html |title=Reelviews Movie Reviews |publisher=Reelviews.net |date=September 16, 2005 |access-date=March 10, 2014 |archive-date=September 27, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190927141151/http://preview.reelviews.net/movies/c/corpse_bride.html |url-status=live}}</ref> Peter Howell of the ''[[Toronto Star]]'' gave the film four out of four stars, saying, "If his ''The Nightmare Before Christmas'' from a dozen years back was a treat for the eyes and mind, Tim Burton's ''Corpse Bride'' goes double or nothing by being a delight for the ears and also the heart."<ref name="rottentomatoes1"/> Joe Williams of the ''[[St. Louis Post-Dispatch]]'' gave the film a B+, saying, "Beneath the bone pile of allusions, ''Corpse Bride'' is a darkly enchanting fable in its own right."<ref name="rottentomatoes1"/>

Andrew Sarris of ''[[The New York Observer]]'' gave the film a negative review, saying, "''Corpse Bride'' turns out to be a ponderous mixture of puppetry and animation that is far too technologically complex and laborious for this hopelessly [[Luddite]] reviewer."<ref name="rottentomatoes1"/> [[Roger Ebert]] gave the film three out of four stars, calling it "A sweet and visually lovely tale of love lost."<ref>{{cite web |last=Ebert |first=Roger |url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/tim-burtons-corpse-bride-2005 |title=Tim Burton's Corpse Bride Movie Review (2005) |website=[[RogerEbert.com]] |date=September 22, 2005 |access-date=March 10, 2014 |archive-date=November 10, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131110075448/http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/tim-burtons-corpse-bride-2005 |url-status=live}}</ref> Roger Moore of the ''[[Orlando Sentinel]]'' gave the film four out of five stars, saying, "The sweetness, the visual flourishes and inspired pieces of casting carry the ''Corpse Bride'', if not all the way down the primrose path, then at least across the threshold."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2005/09/23/not-a-rotting-corpse-but-certainly-no-body-beautiful/ |title=Not a rotting corpse, but certainly no body beautiful |last=Moore |first=Roger |date=September 23, 2005 |work=[[Orlando Sentinel]] |access-date=July 7, 2018 |archive-date=March 10, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140310063335/http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2005-09-23/entertainment/CORPSE_1_corpse-bride-tim-burton-victor |url-status=live}}</ref> Robert K. Elder of the ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'' gave the film three and a half stars out of four, saying, "If ''Nightmare Before Christmas'' was a [[jazzy pop]] number, ''Corpse Bride'' is a [[waltz]]—an elegant, deadly funny bit of macabre matrimony."<ref>{{cite web|last=Elder |first=Robert K. |url=http://metromix.chicagotribune.com/movies/mmx-050923-movies-review-corpse,0,2912595.story |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050923065650/http://metromix.chicagotribune.com/movies/mmx-050923-movies-review-corpse%2C0%2C2912595.story |archive-date=September 23, 2005 |title=Corpse Bride |access-date=March 10, 2014}}</ref>

[[Kenneth Turan]] of the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' gave the film two out of five stars, saying, "The film does have a fairy-tale aspect, but, like many of its characters, it is more dead and buried than fully alive."<ref name="rottentomatoes1"/> [[Claudia Puig]] of ''[[USA Today]]'' gave the film three and a half stars out of four, saying, "''Corpse Bride'' is an unexpectedly touching celebration of love told in a quirky and inventive style."<ref>{{cite news |last=Puig |first=Claudia |url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/movies/reviews/2005-09-15-corpse-bride_x.htm |title='Corpse': Death is beautiful |newspaper=USA Today |date=September 15, 2005 |access-date=March 10, 2014 |archive-date=March 10, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140310063139/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/movies/reviews/2005-09-15-corpse-bride_x.htm |url-status=live}}</ref> [[Peter Travers]] of ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' gave the film three and a half stars out of five, saying, "In the guise of a family film, Burton evokes a darkly erotic obsession that recalls [[Edgar Allan Poe]] and [[Alfred Hitchcock|Hitchcock]]'s ''[[Vertigo (film)|Vertigo]]''. It would be a test for any filmmaker, and Burton aces it."<ref name="rottentomatoes1"/>

Steven Rea of ''[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]]'' gave the film three and a half stars out of four, saying, "Tim Burton's ''Corpse Bride'' is easily the best stop-motion animated [[necrophilia]]c musical romantic comedy of all time. It is also just simply, wonderful: a morbid, merry tale of true love that dazzles the eyes and delights the soul."<ref name="rottentomatoes1"/> Michael Booth of ''[[The Denver Post]]'' gave the film three and a half stars out of four, saying, "''Corpse Bride'' will win your heart, if it doesn't rip it out of your chest first."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.denverpost.com/movies/ci_3049747 |title=Say "I do" to "Corpse Bride"; the honeymoon's a killer |newspaper=The Denver Post |date=September 23, 2005 |access-date=March 10, 2014 |archive-date=March 10, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140310052138/http://www.denverpost.com/movies/ci_3049747 |url-status=live}}</ref> Terry Lawson of the ''[[Detroit Free Press]]'' gave the film three out of four stars, saying, "There's a happy [[Halloween]] in store even for children who aren't allowed to trick or treat, and it's courtesy of Tim Burton's animated ''Corpse Bride''."<ref name="rottentomatoes1"/>

Bruce Westbrook of ''[[The Houston Chronicle]]'' gave the film three and a half stars out of four, saying, "Amazingly fluid and drop-dead gorgeous, Tim Burton's ''Corpse Bride'' is the best-looking, stop-motion animation film ever."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/moviestory.mpl/ae/movies/reviews/3365912|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050929082539/http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/moviestory.mpl/ae/movies/reviews/3365912|archive-date=September 29, 2005 |title=Say 'I do' to Corpse Bride |newspaper=[[The Houston Chronicle]] |access-date=March 10, 2014}}</ref> Rene Rodriguez of the ''[[Miami Herald]]'' gave the film two and a half stars out of four, saying, "''Corpse Bride'' suffers from the same problem that has plagued Burton's recent live-action films: for all its formidable razzle-dazzle, it doesn't engage the heart."<ref name="rottentomatoes1"/> Colin Covert of the ''[[Star Tribune]]'' gave the film three and a half stars out of four, saying, "This vibrantly imaginative mix of horror and humor puts the f-u-n in funeral."<ref name="rottentomatoes1"/>

===Accolades===
''Corpse Bride'' was nominated for the [[Academy Award for Best Animated Feature#List of winners and nominees|78th Academy Award for Best Animated Feature]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/oscar/chart/?yr=2005&view=allcategories&p=.htm |title=2005 Academy Awards Nominations and Winners by Category |website=Box Office Mojo |access-date=March 11, 2014 |archive-date=March 24, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140324120750/http://boxofficemojo.com/oscar/chart/?yr=2005&view=allcategories&p=.htm |url-status=live}}</ref>

The film won the [[National Board of Review]] for Best Animated Feature in 2005 and the [[Annie Awards]] Ub Iwerks Award for Technical Achievement in 2006, where it was also nominated for Best Animated Feature, Best Character Design, and Best Direction.

The film was named winner of the Best European Feature Film category at the British Animation Awards in 2006.<ref>{{cite web |title=Corpse Bride |url=https://www.britishanimationawards.com/winners/corpse-bride/ |website=British Animation Awards |access-date=26 October 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Corpse Bride is top animated film |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4790160.stm |access-date=26 October 2025 |work=[[BBC News]] |date=9 March 2006}}</ref>

In 2008, the [[American Film Institute]] nominated this film for its [[AFI's 10 Top 10|Top 10 Animation Films list]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://connect.afi.com/site/DocServer/10top10.pdf?docID=381&AddInterest=1781 |title=AFI's 10 Top 10 Nominees |publisher=[[American Film Institute]] |access-date=August 19, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716071937/http://connect.afi.com/site/DocServer/10top10.pdf?docID=381&AddInterest=1781 |archive-date=July 16, 2011}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Lists of animated films]]
* [[List of stop motion films]]
* [[Posthumous marriage]]
* ''[[Coraline (film)|Coraline]]''

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{sister project links|d=Q164417|display=''Corpse Bride''|c=Category:Corpse Bride|n=no|b=no|v=no|voy=no|s=no|wikt=no|mw=no|species=no}}
* {{Official website}}
* {{IMDb title}}
* {{Mojo title}}
* {{Rotten Tomatoes}}

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[[Category:2005 films]]
[[Category:2005 American animated films]]
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[[Category:American zombie comedy films]]
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[[Category:Films about arranged marriage]]
[[Category:Fiction about posthumous marriage]]
[[Category:Films about necrophilia]]
[[Category:Films about weddings in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Films about legendary creatures]]
[[Category:Films directed by Tim Burton]]
[[Category:Films produced by Allison Abbate]]
[[Category:Films produced by Tim Burton]]
[[Category:Films scored by Danny Elfman]]
[[Category:Films set in the Victorian era]]
[[Category:Films with screenplays by Caroline Thompson]]
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