2. Big Fish, 2003

Big Fish is Tim Burton at his most human and introspective while still retaining his spectacular and singular vision. Albert Finney and Ewan McGregor are perfectly cast as the older and younger version of Edward Bloom, a charismatic salesman with a love of adventure and a twinkle in his eye. Edward loves to share colorful stories about his life kissing mermaids, catching a massive fish, meeting a giant at the circus, and witnessing his future in the glass eye of a witch, all of which are visual spectacles full of fantastical settings, vibrant colors, and dreamlike details.

After dazzling us with whimsy and setting up the core problem (Edward’s son, William, played by Billy Crudup, is tired of his father’s tall tales), Big Fish reaches a highly emotional climax that solidifies the film as one of Tim Burton’s best. Beautiful and sentimental, Big Fish reminds us of the importance of family and sharing memories and stories with one another so our legacy lives on.