---
title: "Frankenweenie: the reviews"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/frankenweenie/reviews"
title_page: "https://film.one/film/frankenweenie"
critics_score: 71
critics_reviews: 28
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Frankenweenie (2012): what the critics said

Critics' score 71 from 28 reviews: 21 positive, 5 mixed, 2 negative.

Most critics welcome Frankenweenie as a warm, funny return to Tim Burton’s strengths, with praise clustering around its handmade black-and-white stop-motion. The detailed sets, eccentric creatures and expressive animation of Sparky receive particular attention. Many reviews also find tenderness in the bond between boy and dog, while the affectionate references to classic horror supply much of the humour. Several critics single out the 3D as a useful addition to the carefully built miniature world.

The disagreement centres on how much story there is beneath that craft, and the spread of verdicts is wide. Even favourable reviews find the pacing uneven: Variety identifies a predictable, inert middle section. The AV Club sees underdeveloped characters and horror references carrying too much of the film. The Hollywood Reporter is more firmly opposed, admiring the detailed animation but finding Burton’s familiar material tedious rather than revitalised.

## Empire — Angie Errigo

Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 1 November 2011. 

Errigo finds the film sweet, funny, and emotionally affecting. She especially praises its exquisitely handmade stop-motion artistry and lovingly detailed design.

[Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/frankenweenie-review/)

## Sight and Sound — Mar Diestro-Dópido

Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 19 October 2012. 

The critic calls the film a ravishing return to form, rich in Burton’s familiar themes and dark magic. She particularly praises its handmade black-and-white stop-motion and the way its sets and lighting make 3D feel purposeful.

[Read the review](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/film-week-frankenweenie)

## The Guardian — Philip French

Fi1m's normalised score 88/100 (inferred from the text). 21 October 2012. 

French finds the film funny, charming and an affectionate homage to gothic horror. He especially praises its playful references to classic horror films, while noting that the ending briefly falters.

[Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2012/oct/21/frankenweenie-review-tim-burton)

## Radio Times — Stella Papamichael

Rating 4/5. 

Papamichael finds the film joyful and life-affirming, with subtle deadpan humour. She praises Burton’s polished monochrome stop-motion and its affectionate B-movie horror references.

[Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-34ejq9/frankenweenie/)

## Time Out — Dave Calhoun

Rating 4/5. 10 October 2012. 

Time Out’s review gives the film four out of five stars. The available page text does not reveal what the critic specifically praises or criticizes.

[Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/frankenweenie)

## Total Film — Kevin Harley

Rating 4/5. 10 October 2012. 

Harley finds the film a warm, witty success that refreshes Burton’s creative spark. He especially praises its affectionate characterisation and well-integrated 3D.

[Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/frankenweenie-review/)

## Evening Standard — The Standard

Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 19 October 2012. 

The review finds the film an entertaining, affectionate return to Burton’s roots, though less ambitious than his best work. It praises the finely crafted stop-motion puppets and the lovingly imagined creatures.

[Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/frankenweenie-3d-cert-pg-87-mins-review-8218019.html)

## RogerEbert.com — Roger Ebert

Rating ★★★. 4 October 2012. 

Ebert praises the film as an affectionate, skillfully made homage to classic monster movies. Its handmade visual style and playful horror references are singled out as especially effective.

[Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/frankenweenie-2012)

## The New York Times — A. O. Scott

Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 4 October 2012. 

Scott views the film as a warmly effective homage to classic horror. He particularly praises its loving, inventive stop-motion craft.

[Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/05/movies/frankenweenie-tim-burtons-homage-to-horror-classics.html)

## Los Angeles Times — Betsy Sharkey

Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 4 October 2012. 

Sharkey sees the film as a return to form, praising its stop-motion artistry and distinctive character designs. She finds the story weakened by too many horror references and says its tale keeps falling apart.

[Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-xpm-2012-oct-04-la-et-mn-frankenweenie-review-20121005-story.html)

## Variety — Justin Chang

Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 20 September 2012. 

Chang finds the film charming and artistically coherent, despite an inert, predictable middle section. He particularly praises its beautifully designed stop-motion world and the puppeteers’ creepy creature work.

[Read the review](https://variety.com/2012/film/reviews/frankenweenie-1117948379/)

## Film Comment — Sarah Mankoff

Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 

The available text does not reveal the critic’s verdict. Its standfirst singles out the film’s referential horror-movie humor.

[Read the review](https://www.filmcomment.com/frankenweenie-tim-burton-review/)

## Screen Daily — Tim Grierson

Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 21 September 2012. 

The page identifies this as a review, but its assessment is inaccessible behind the paywall. The critic’s verdict and specific praise or complaint cannot be determined from the visible text.

[Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/frankenweenie/5046879.article)

## Little White Lies — Adam Woodward

Rating 3/3/3. 16 October 2012. 

Woodward finds the film hugely likable and lovingly crafted, but ultimately antiquated rather than simply old-fashioned. He praises its monochromatic stop-motion aesthetic and the wonderfully composed reanimation scene.

[Read the review](https://lwlies.com/reviews/frankenweenie)

## The AV Club — Tasha Robinson

Rating C. 4 October 2012. 

Robinson finds the film a pleasant but insubstantial tour through horror references that lacks a story with weight. She praises the fluid, elaborately wrought stop-motion, while faulting the puppets’ limited expressiveness and the underdeveloped characters.

[Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/frankenweenie-1798174437)

## IndieWire — Todd Gilchrist

Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 20 September 2012. Festival review. 

The critic finds the film merely pretty good, despite seeing it as a modest return to form for Burton. He praises the top-notch animation and the affecting bond between Victor and Sparky, while faulting the crowded narrative and intense scares.

[Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/culture/fantastic-fest-review-with-frankenweenie-tim-burton-revives-pet-project-returns-to-form-201821/)

## Slant Magazine — Nick Schager

Rating 1.5/4. 29 September 2012. 

Schager finds the film visually alluring but ultimately stale, bland, and lacking meaningful purpose. He praises its black-and-white visuals and singles out Mr. Whiskers’s strange meows as the funniest element.

[Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/frankenweenie/)

## The Hollywood Reporter — Todd McCarthy

Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 20 September 2012. 

The critic finds the film imaginative but tedious, familiar, and drained of Burton’s distinctive energy. He praises the detailed stop-motion work, production design, monochromatic cinematography, and score, while faulting the film’s derivative feel.

[Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/frankenweenie-film-review-372720/)

## NME — Dan Stubbs

Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 15 October 2012. 

The critic finds the film funny, sweet and moving, calling it brilliantly weird and crafted. They praise its affectionate, inventive nods to classic horror movies.

[Read the review](https://www.nme.com/blogs/the-movies-blog/frankenweenie-shows-tim-burtons-still-got-it-760607)

## Den of Geek — Ryan Lambie

Rating 4/5. 20 September 2012. 

Lambie calls the film a true return to form for Tim Burton. He especially praises its tactile, handmade stop-motion animation and expressive creature design.

[Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/frankenweenie-review/)

## Digital Spy — Stella Papamichael

Rating 4/5. 10 October 2012. Festival review. 

Papamichael finds the film a gleefully ghoulish, heartwarming success. She praises its grotesquely funny characters and richly textured black-and-white animation.

[Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/bfi-london-film-festival/a414919/frankenweenie-review-bfi-london-film-festival-2012/)

## HeyUGuys — Jon Lyus

Rating 4/5. 11 October 2012. Festival review. 

Lyus calls the film a triumphant return and Burton’s best work in years, while noting its familiarity. He praises the near-flawless animation and the tenderness that runs through the story.

[Read the review](https://www.heyuguys.com/frankenweenie-review/)

## The Skinny — Nicola Balkind

Rating ★★★★. 11 October 2012. 

The review says Burton has returned to form with a story that should delight both longtime fans and younger viewers. It praises the blend of 3D and black-and-white animation and the creepy supporting cast.

[Read the review](https://www.theskinny.co.uk/film/new-releases/frankenweenie)

## The Wrap

Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 3 October 2012. 

The critic finds the film a welcome return to form for Tim Burton. They especially praise its embrace of children’s creativity and its dark, eccentric sensibility.

[Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/frankenweenie-review-tim-burton-returns-form-very-young-frankenstein-59146/)

## Collider — Matt Goldberg

Rating B. 5 October 2012. Festival review. 

Goldberg finds the film a lively, heartfelt return to Burton’s earlier strengths, though its scattershot themes and uneven pacing weaken it. He especially praises the stop-motion animation’s expressive depiction of Sparky, while noting that the dog should have appeared more often.

[Read the review](https://collider.com/frankenweenie-movie-review/)

## Eye for Film — Amber Wilkinson

Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 12 October 2012. 

Wilkinson finds the film a satisfying, adorable adventure that makes strong use of Burton’s distinctive imagination. She praises its creepy-comic monsters and engaging blend of childhood grief, difference, and classic horror influences, while objecting to a racial stereotype and an overly sugary ending.

[Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/frankenweenie-2012-film-review-by-amber-wilkinson)

## The Playlist

Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 20 September 2012. Festival review. 

The headline signals a positive verdict, calling the film a return to form. The accessible text offers no further detail about what the critic praises.

[Read the review](https://theplaylist.net/fantastic-fest-review-tim-burtons-frankenweenie-is-a-rousing-return-to-form-20120920/)

## /Film — Russ Fischer

Rating 7/10. 21 September 2012. Festival review. 

Fischer finds the film charming and pleasing, though overly safe and not fully satisfying. He praises the stop-motion animation and the expressive detail given to the animals, especially Sparky.

[Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/523069/frankenweenie-review-tim-burtons-fond-minor-return-to-personal-and-career-roots-fantastic-fest-2012/)

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/frankenweenie.md