Tim Burton Reveals Why He Embraced Harsh Criticism of His Debut
Tim Burton looks back on the tough reviews of his first feature, Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure, and explains how early criticism helped shape his path to becoming a celebrated filmmaker.
Today, Tim Burton stands as one of Hollywood ’s most recognizable directors, known for his signature blend of dark visuals, quirky characters, and unforgettable costumes. With a filmography that’s grossed over $4 billion and includes 20 features, it ’s easy to forget that his journey began with a movie that didn’t quite fit the mold he’s now famous for. Back in 1985, at just 26, Burton directed his first full-length film, Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure. Starring Paul Reubens as the eccentric, bow-tied Pee-Wee Herman, the story follows the character’s wild quest to recover his stolen bike. If you didn’t know Burton was behind the camera, you’d probably never guess it.
Facing the Critics
Burton’s relationship with his debut is complicated. As detailed in Mark Salisbury’s book, Burton on Burton, the director remembers the experience as both a launching pad and a tough introduction.
“The reviews on Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure were really bad,”
he recalled.
“I remember one review, and I’ll never forget this, which said, ‘Everything is great, the costumes are brilliant, the photography is great, the script is fabulous, the actors are all great, the only thing that’s terrible is the direction’. One said, ‘On a scale of one to ten, ten being best, Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure gets a minus one’. It’s the first minus one I remember seeing.”
Despite Burton’s memories, the numbers tell a different story. While some critics, like Gene Siskel, weren’t impressed, many others praised the film’s playful humor and Burton’s ability to bring Reubens’ character to life. The movie was a box office hit, earning over $40 million on a $7 million budget, and over the years, it’s become a cult classic—especially as the first film from a now-iconic director.
Learning From Negativity
Burton insists that even if the film had been universally panned, he wouldn’t have minded. In fact, he found value in the negative feedback.
“I’ve known people who’ve gone through that first film thing when they get ‘They’re the next Orson Welles’, and that can kill you,”
he said.
“I’m glad I didn’t get that. I much prefer the kind of raking over the coals I got because it’s a mistake to believe any of it.”
He points out that some directors start out with huge acclaim, only to struggle later on. For him, it was better to face tough reviews early and grow from them, rather than peak too soon and fade away. Just three years after Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure, Burton released Beetlejuice, a film many consider his true breakout, and his career took off from there.