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Dark Shadows from Johnny Depp and Tim Burton has met decidedly mixed reviews and grossing just $28.8 million on its opening weekend, has proved to be Burton’s lowest opening weekend, ever.
While many will ponder what their next project will entail, we consider how successful Depp and Burton are as collaborators and who provides the biggest box office pulling power? Do they now need to ride on the crest of Captain Jack’s Sparrow’s wave?
Depp’s Pirates of the Caribbean franchise has undoubtably drawn the biggest box office figures in his career. The second installment of the saga, Dead Man’s Chest grossed more than $1,060,615,812 worldwide, heralding his most successful film to date.
The film has only just been knocked off the top spot as the highest grossing Disney film by the recent release of The Avengers.
Captain Jack Sparrow reaffirmed Depp’s position as one of the most desirable actors in Hollywood and won him a new army of fans, awaiting for his next move as the charming, and slightly camp, pirate.
The series signified a departure from the template crafted from Tim Burton’s imagination, with fans continuing to anticipate the fifth installment in the francise.
Closely following the record breaking success of the second Pirates movie, Burton and Depp’s collaboration on Alice in Wonderland did make a smash hit at the box office, grossing $1,024,391,110 worldwide.
Proving the most successful of their collaborative ventures, Depp as the Mad Hatter had no problems drawing in massive crowds, as did Burton;s aesthetic triumph.
Comparing this success to their earlier re-working of a literary classic, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Willy Wonka trails woefully behind like a puffing Augustus Gloop with only $474,459,076 in sales.
Alice in Wonderland, released in the wake of the four Pirate sagas, took advantage of Depp’s popularity and resonance in the mind’s of cinema goers, something that was not apparent on prior Depp/Burton projects.
After the initial success of Depp as pseudo-gothic monster Edward Scissorhands in 1990, which grossed $53,976,987, films from the gothic duo have failed to guarantee huge box office figures.
Tim Burton’s Batman, released in 1989 is the director’s highest grossing release, generating $411,348,924 worldwide, yet it pales sharply in comparison with Dead Man’s Chest, despite developing a cult status throughout the 90’s.
Films like Planet of the Apes and Batman Returns also can’t hold a candle to Depp’s pirate escapades.
Sleepy Hollow, focussing on the character of Ichabod Crane and boasting an all star cast, was the duo’s third most successful venture, providing $206,071,502 at the box office – with films Ed Wood and The Corpse Bride, falling more into an art house niche.
Even the highly anticipated Sweeney Todd on $153,329,844, failed to capture audiences, signalling a dip in popularity for the work of Depp and Burton as a working couple.
Following the mixed reviews of Dark Shadows since its release, their latest instalment highlights that neither the box office, nor the fans are on board with their vision any longer.
The structure of the films remains the same, with the stale themes and quirks have failed to capitalise on the initial monster success of Edward Scissorhands.
Only time will tell whether Depp and Burton continue to create films together. But by then, any anticipation amongst fans will have waned further and on paper, its clear they need Depp to feather his Sparrow’s nest to capitalise on his bankable stardom.