Ed Wood

Name: Ed Wood
Genre: Biography, Drama, Comedy
Released: September 28, 1994
Duration: 127 min
Rating: 71
Cast: Johnny Depp, Martin Landau

1994

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 19 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 241 Ratings

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7.2	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 241 Ratings

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Movie Details & Credits

Buena Vista Pictures | Release Date: September 28, 1994 | R

Starring: Johnny Depp, Martin Landau

Summary: Portrait of a young man (Johnny Depp) trying to claw his way up into Hollywood from the bottom.

Director: Tim Burton

Genre(s): Biography, Drama, Comedy

Rating: R

Runtime: 127 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Owen Gleiberman

A comedy of the ridiculous in which the ridiculous turns unexpectedly sublime. Read full review

100

Mike Clark

Half-factual, half-fanciful and all funny, this labor of love is also unexpectedly touching. [28 September 1994, Life, p.5D]

Film.com John Hartl

In his finest, funniest, most poignant film to date, Tim Burton plays cinematic alchemist, turning drive-in schlock into movie gold.

Edward Guthmann

Burton has trouble sustaining the briskness of the first half. But the brilliance of many individual scenes, and the extraordinary performance by Landau, are more than enough to justify this goofy, tender ode to eccentricity. [7 October 1994, Daily Notebook, p.C1]

Staff [not credited]

Always engaging to watch and often dazzling in its imagination and technique, picture is also a bit distended, and lacking in weight at its center. Read full review

James Berardinelli

The most interesting personality in Ed Wood is not the title character, but Bela Lugosi. So covered up with makeup that he's barely recognizable, Martin Landau gives a deeply-felt performance -- a eerie and stunning recreation of a man haunted by lost fame. Read full review

Richard Corliss

This Ed Wood is dead wood.

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User Reviews

edo

Apr 8, 2012

Burton at his best, not surprise that almost 20 years after the release, he hasn't topped this. Perfect portrayal of Wood's not so desired turn of events during his career, to accomplish that without feeling sorry for the character, but rather to find certain motivations to believe in andBurton at his best, not surprise that almost 20 years after the release, he hasn't topped this. Perfect portrayal of Wood's not so desired turn of events during his career, to accomplish that without feeling sorry for the character, but rather to find certain motivations to believe in and defend one's passions, both entertains and leaves an extra of moral conclusions for the watchers.… Expand

4 of 5 users found this helpful41

Gamzguy17

Aug 21, 2021

One of the best films from the 90's and one of my absolute favourites, Tim Burton's simultaneous loving and mocking tribute to the infamous ‘worst director of all time', Edward D. Wood Jr. (nicknamed Ed Wood), is chock full of ticklish/ghoulish visuals, marvellous acting (with Johnny DeppOne of the best films from the 90's and one of my absolute favourites, Tim Burton's simultaneous loving and mocking tribute to the infamous ‘worst director of all time', Edward D. Wood Jr. (nicknamed Ed Wood), is chock full of ticklish/ghoulish visuals, marvellous acting (with Johnny Depp and especially Martin Landau as the two leads), and some of Danny Elfman's best composition work.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

lukechristiansc

Mar 12, 2016

Tim Burton's film on the worst filmmaker Ed Wood is brilliant as well as Johnny Depp's performance is energetic, charming along with a script that's funny, ambitious and damn smart. Depp couldn't be perfect for the role. This film is a masterpiece, so let's talk about this movie. Johnny DeppTim Burton's film on the worst filmmaker Ed Wood is brilliant as well as Johnny Depp's performance is energetic, charming along with a script that's funny, ambitious and damn smart. Depp couldn't be perfect for the role. This film is a masterpiece, so let's talk about this movie. Johnny Depp plays filmmaker Ed Wood who's known as the worst director, it's set in his best-known period in 50's when he made 'Glenn or Glenda' (1953), Bride of The Monster (1959) it also focuses on his transvestism and friendship with the great yet aging and unemployed star Bella Lugosi (played by Martin Landau). 5 out of 5 stars… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

ryancarroll88

Aug 27, 2010

Johnny Depp shines in his role as the infamous quirky film director trying to hit it big with grade-Z movies. As absurd as it is brilliant, this definitely ranks as one of Tim Burton's finer films.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

moonman1994

Dec 23, 2013

Funny, entertaining and not your typical Tim Burton movie. It follows Ed Wood, Hollywood's most famous (or maybe infamous) director for making terrible movies such as Plan 9 From Outer Space. It's a quirky film and in a way it immortalizes Ed Wood in endearing way. All and all it's a prettyFunny, entertaining and not your typical Tim Burton movie. It follows Ed Wood, Hollywood's most famous (or maybe infamous) director for making terrible movies such as Plan 9 From Outer Space. It's a quirky film and in a way it immortalizes Ed Wood in endearing way. All and all it's a pretty great film and certainly worth a watch.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

RobertBrogan

Sep 30, 2015

Johnny Depp gives a great characterization of Ed Wood as this cheerful, upbeat, persevering guy that you root for more than you laugh (or cringe) at. The filmmaking and storytelling are well-done, but make no particular impression. Watch Ed Wood mainly for the acting of Johnny Depp andJohnny Depp gives a great characterization of Ed Wood as this cheerful, upbeat, persevering guy that you root for more than you laugh (or cringe) at. The filmmaking and storytelling are well-done, but make no particular impression. Watch Ed Wood mainly for the acting of Johnny Depp and Martin Landau.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

Broyax

Jun 3, 2022

Un film-hommage à un tocard ou plutôt en l’occurrence au roi des tocards puisqu’il fut élu -à titre posthume certes- le « worst director of all time » pour la quantité de daubes à deux centimes de dollars qu’il a dû commettre et qu’il a commises… à l’insu de son plein gré ou non, là n’estUn film-hommage à un tocard ou plutôt en l’occurrence au roi des tocards puisqu’il fut élu -à titre posthume certes- le « worst director of all time » pour la quantité de daubes à deux centimes de dollars qu’il a dû commettre et qu’il a commises… à l’insu de son plein gré ou non, là n’est pas la question (évidemment, on peut s’interroger sur l’état du « discernement » du gugusse, un peu « illuminé » je suppose, comme on s’en rend compte dans le film-hommage de Tim Burton… quand on ne s’est pas endormi bien sûr.

En tout cas, je ne sais pas pourquoi on a fait grand cas de cette sorte de Max Pécas américain en somme ! jusqu’à faire un film entier sur ce blaireau alors qu’il suffisait de l’inviter tous les mercredis soirs et puis c’est tout. Pas de quoi en faire toute une histoire… parce que chez nous, on en a plein des Max Pécas et consorts… même s’ils ne font pas dans la SF horrifique à deux balles, certes…!

Burton a donc fait un truc tarte qu’il a tartiné et étiré au maximum sur plus de deux heures… interminables ! alors qu’une heure vingt aurait amplement suffi… le résultat est bien entendu lancinant et à dormir debout, pas drôle pour un sou et pathétiquement pathétique. Et pitoyablement pitoyable. Un navet donc épouvantable pour rendre hommage à un fabriquant de nanars périmenazes ! ça ne vaut pas un pet et ce n’est que total ennui et pur ridicule du début à la fin.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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