Tim Burton's 30-Year-Old Box Office Bomb Beat Martin Scorsese To 1 Oscars Record By A Decade

The Box Office Bomb That Made Oscar History

In 1994, Tim Burton directed his sixth feature film, the black-and-white biopic, Ed Wood. The film stars frequent Burton collaborator Johnny Depp as the titular cult filmmaker, Ed Wood, and Martin Landau as Bela Lugosi, a horror film actor best known for his role in Dracula (1931) and other classic Universal monster movies. The movie follows the budding friendship and professional collaboration between Wood and Lugosi.

A black and white shot of Martin Landau as Bela Lugosi sitting in a chair in Ed Wood.

Despite its critical success with a 93% score from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, Ed Wood was a box office flop, earning less than $5.9 million on an $18 million budget. However, the film received positive reviews and was nominated for two Oscars, winning in the categories of Best Makeup and Best Supporting Actor, marking a first-time achievement at the Oscars.

A black and white shot of Martin Landau as Bela Lugosi & Johnny Depp as Ed Wood in Ed Wood.

Oscars History: Ed Wood's Groundbreaking Win

At the 1995 Oscars, Ed Wood made history by becoming the first movie to win an acting Oscar for portraying a real-life movie star. Martin Landau's portrayal of Bela Lugosi earned him the Best Supporting Actor award, marking a significant milestone in Oscars history. This achievement set Ed Wood apart and established its place in cinematic history, despite its initial commercial failure.

Johnny Depp as Ed Wood & Martin Landau as Bela Lugosi in Ed Wood.

The groundbreaking win for Ed Wood was a significant moment in Oscar history, as it took another decade for a similar achievement to be made. In 2005, Martin Scorsese's The Aviator achieved a similar feat by winning the Best Supporting Actress award for Cate Blanchett's portrayal of Katharine Hepburn, making it the second film to achieve this unique honor.

Johnny Depp in Ed Wood directed by Tim Burton

Tim Burton's Oscar Legacy: Ed Wood vs. Alice in Wonderland

Even though Ed Wood was a box office flop, its significant wins at the Oscars established it as one of Tim Burton's most successful films in terms of awards. To this day, Ed Wood is tied with Alice in Wonderland (2010) as Burton's most successful movies at the Oscars, with both films earning two Oscars each.

Dolores Fuller talking to Ed Wood in Tim Burton's Ed Wood.

While some of Burton's other films have been nominated for multiple Oscars, none have achieved the same level of success as Ed Wood and Alice in Wonderland. Despite their commercial and critical differences, these two films share a unique place in Tim Burton's Oscar legacy, making them standout achievements in his illustrious career.

Mia Wasikowska in Alice in Wonderland.