From Nightmare to Brick: The Best LEGO Tim Burton Sets

Dec 05, 2024by Roman Makarenko

The iconic films of Tim Burton, with their dark, whimsical, and imagined worlds, have gained a following over the years. From the eerily set streets of Halloween Town to the gothic skyline of Gotham City, his creations are actually cultural landmarks. But what happens when you combine Burton's unique vision with the creativity of LEGO? You get a truly exciting combination where storytelling and building almost become irresistible to fans. Be it official releases or custom fan builds, Tim Burton LEGO sets promise a thematic way of bringing his fantastically created worlds to life, brick by brick. Let's explore the best LEGO sets inspired by Tim Burton's unforgettable films!

Tim Burton’s World in LEGO: A Dark, Whimsical Wonderland

Tim Burton has been a landmark in pop culture. His worlds are instantly recognizable, replete with darkly whimsical landscapes and characters who feel eerily enchanting. The work of Burton, from Nightmare Before Christmas to Beetlejuice, has for a long time captured the fascination of fans into recreating his iconic settings in various forms. A recent trend within such trends is how fans of Burton take that idea of a darkly creative world and create replicas using LEGO.

As the year draws to a close, there are several LEGO sets to get by New Year that are perfect for both display and play, especially if you're a fan of Tim Burton's eerie creations.

With LEGO, you get to bring in Tim Burton's signature gothic flair, brick by brick, right into your home. The idea of mixing Tim Burton LEGO set concepts with the creative flexibility of LEGO is one that is gaining more and more interest. Whether it be some creepy Halloween Town or the bizarrely beautiful world of Beetlejuice, these Tim Burton LEGO Ideas captured in both challenging and fun ways for builders the essence of his visual style in homage to his imaginative universe.

One thing is certain: this trend shall be here to stay with more and more builders taking the plunge with recreating Burton's worlds in LEGO. Combining the magic of LEGO with Tim Burton's surreal charm gives fans a new way to explore his films-and maybe even build a few of their own creations along the way!

The Nightmare Before Christmas LEGO: A Fan-Favorite Masterpiece in the Making

Few films have captured the hearts of both children and adults alike quite the way The Nightmare Before Christmas has. Tim Burton's Halloween Town fits right into a blocky yet eerily whimsical setting, so of course, LEGO builders adore it. For a long period of time, the amazing characters on screen and the haunting spirit of beauty in the film have shown in the minds of its fans, as the LEGO community has taken up the challenge of bringing Tim Burton LEGO set ideas to life. To truly capture the eerie glow of Halloween Town, many fans opt for a Light Kit for Disney Tim Burton's sets, adding an extra layer of magic and spookiness to their builds.

Let’s dive into some details of this beautiful set:

Set Name: LEGO Ideas 21351 Disney Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas

Piece Count: 2,193 pieces

Buildable Locations:

Jack Skellington’s House (with a lift-off roof revealing his Christmas formula)
Spiral Hill
Halloween Town Hall
Detailed Graveyard
Walking Bathtub

Minifigures Included:

Jack Skellington
Sally
Santa Claus
Lock
Shock
Barrel
Zero the Ghost Dog
Brick-built figure of The Mayor (with his two faces)

Key Features:

Authentic details from the film including the Town Hall lectern and Jack’s Christmas formula.
Designed as both a display piece and a playable set.

Designer: Simon Scott (LEGO Ideas member Tvrulesmylife)

Availability: Released for LEGO Insiders on September 3, 2024, and available for the public on September 6, 2024.

Price: $199.99 / £189.99 / €199.99

Jack Skellington and Sally: The Heart of Halloween Town

By far, the most striking centerpiece of any build in the Tim Burton LEGO Nightmare has got to be Jack Skellington and Sally. With his tall, lanky figure, haunting grin, and charismatic nature, this Pumpkin King lends well to becoming a striking LEGO minifigure. His black pinstriped suit and skeletal look were beautifully captured in LEGO form to make him instantly recognizable.

Sally, the kind-hearted ragdoll with her patchwork dress and stitched-up seams, adds a touch of warmth to the otherwise spooky setting. Regarding the custom builds, most fans like to feature her with Jack, most of the time reenacting some very iconic scenes, such as the tender scene on the spiral hill under the moonlit sky. This is the reason why these two characters are supremely detailed and stand as the favorite among the fans.

Spooky Settings and Iconic Scenes

It's not only the characters that make Tim Burton LEGO Nightmare such an exciting thing. The setting of Halloween Town itself is packed with gothic charm and eerie details that translate perfectly into LEGO builds. Builders often recreate the spooky graveyard with all its crooked tombstones and twisted trees. The famous spiral hill is another favorite, capturing the surreal, dreamlike quality of Burton's visual style.

Other really impressive customs include Jack's creepy, cobweb-covered house and Oogie Boogie's lair. Most of the time, when building, they add some hidden surprises to give the sets an extra layer of fun and mystery, trapdoors, or light-up features. Fans have recreated the busy streets of Halloween Town, where you will see characters such as the Mayor with his two-faced head or even the mischievous trio: Lock, Shock, and Barrel.

Official vs. Custom Sets: The Community’s Interest

To this day, there is no official Nightmare Before Christmas LEGO set, though the fanbase has been pretty vocal about it. The builds also went pretty trending as many creatives made versions of Halloween Town shared on social media and LEGO fan sites. The final number of pieces in these unofficial creations could well be hundreds or thousands, with the implications of impressive attention to detail that are really comparable to those of official LEGO designs.

LEGO Ideas is a platform on which fans can submit ideas for future sets, and literally, it's riddled with Nightmare Before Christmas proposals. This most definitely tells that this community is begging for the real thing: a full-fledged Tim Burton LEGO Nightmare set, and it's only really a question of time before LEGO notices this. With the growing trend of film-themed LEGO sets and also with the growing popularity of Tim Burton's works, many seem to believe that it won't be a matter of if, but rather when we see an official Halloween Town set on the shelves.

For now, they continue creating and sharing, hoping one day it will actually be released. With the help of the LEGO community, Jack Skellington, Sally, and Halloween Town's spooky residents may just make their way into an official Tim Burton LEGO set for all to enjoy.

Tim Burton’s Iconic Characters in LEGO Minifigure Form

Ever since they gained wide popularity, most of these main characters did not come as a surprise as they got reborn in the form of LEGO minifigures. However, it has to be said, from official sets to creative custom builds, that this is one popularly quirky and dark rendition of characters. From the brooding hero of Gotham to the king of Halloween Town, here are a few of the most loved LEGO Tim Burton minifigures that have been created so far.

Batman: Gotham’s Dark Knight in LEGO Form

Tim Burton's Batman, 1989, brought to screens one of the darkest, moodiest versions of the Caped Crusader to date. That's what a LEGO Tim Burton Batman minifigure is, and it is a perfect example of that grittier version. He comes complete in his jet-black suit, yellow bat symbol, and Burton's gothic aesthetic, making him an instant fan favorite with both LEGO and Batman buffs. For this minifigure, accessories can include Batarangs or the Batmobile so any fan can stage Gotham's dark streets and its rooftop chases.

Alongside Batman is Burton's Joker, played by Jack Nicholson. In this universe, the Joker minifigure is comparably striking in his bright purple suit, manic grin, and chaotic energy. Overall, these two icons will make any LEGO collection one bundle of fun.

Beetlejuice: The Ghost with the Most

One of Burton's most outlandish yet memorable creations is Beetlejuice, which has also been made into a LEGO Beetlejuice minifigure. With his messy green hair and pale face in a black-and-white striped suit, this Beetlejuice minifigure captures just about everything that can be said of the character's mischievous spirit. This minifigure quite often comes paired with other iconic elements of the movie, such as the graveyard or the twisted and surreal house of the Maitlands. The custom builders have even taken this a step further by building giant versions of Beetlejuice's zany afterlife world.

Beetlejuice is the best cult classic, and the demand for this minifigure surely represents the continuing love fans have for Burton's ghostly creation. The LEGO Beetlejuice minifigure brings a fun, chaotic twist through official sets or custom LEGO creations to any Tim Burton-themed build.

Jack Skellington: Halloween Town’s Pumpkin King

Perhaps one of the most famous characters in Tim Burton's movies, Jack Skellington or Pumpkin King from Halloween Town. The Jack Skellington LEGO minifigure has possibly become one of those must-have LEGO minifigures that any fan of The Nightmare Before Christmas needs. Having a tall, skeletal frame, along with his signature pinstriped suit, this minifigure effectively pulls Jack's quirky, spooky vibe into the LEGO world.

This is most evident with many of the custom sets, where people just love to couple him with Sally or use him in one of the iconic movie scenes, such as the walk through the graveyard or the time spent in Christmas Town. Many times, Jack comes complete with his ghost dog, Zero, which just adds even more magic to these custom creations. While there is no official Nightmare Before Christmas LEGO set, the Jack Skellington LEGO minifigure has become a keystone in fan-made builds that capture the macabre beauty of Halloween Town.

Other Fan-Favorite Custom Minifigures

Besides these three iconic characters, a lot of other creations by Tim Burton have been built by fans in LEGO form: there's Edward Scissorhands, the Red Queen from Alice in Wonderland, and the Corpse Bride-all being made into custom LEGO minifigures that show the passion and creativity of the LEGO community. A lot of custom minifigures really push the limits of LEGO design: highly detailed costumes, unique headpieces, and even custom-made accessories to capture the essence of Burton's characters.

Although LEGO doesn't manufacture all of them in official sets, fans' devotion to them keeps them alive. This desire for Tim Burton-themed minifigures is actually a fun advance of what might come next in official releases and gives even more ways to bring life into these dark, whimsical worlds.

LEGO Ideas for Tim Burton’s Universe: Gotham in LEGO

The gothic and atmospheric version of Gotham City that Tim Burton did in his two films about Batman, the 1989 and 1992 classics, are remembered with affection. LEGO fans have been bringing this moody, cinematic version of Batman's world into stunningly beautiful custom builds over time. Although there is not yet an official Tim Burton LEGO Batman set, the work of LEGO fans has brought to life some remarkable creations inspired by Burton's singular vision of the Dark Knight..

Recreating Gotham’s Gothic Charm

As for the inspirations taken from Burton's Batman, perhaps the most popular amateur build is that of Gotham City itself. Fans have crafted some pretty elaborate LEGO versions that perfectly capture the towering gothic architecture of Gotham, complete with dark alleys and neon-lit streets full of iconic locations such as Wayne Manor and the Batcave. These custom sets feature Burton's dark and brooding aesthetic in black bricks, with sharp edges and eerie details that have become emblematic of Gotham's grimy atmosphere. In fact, fans have gone to the extent of including mini-scenes from the movies, including the unforgettable Batman vs. Joker showdown.

The Batmobile and Beyond

One standout piece is the Dark Knight LEGO Batmobile, modeled after Tim Burton’s version of the iconic vehicle. This sleek, menacing design remains a fan-favorite among collectors. Impressive replicas have been made by fans of Burton's sleek and ominous Batmobile, probably one of the most cherished designs in Batman's history. Many of these LEGO models include intricate details such as the car's aerodynamic fins, a jet engine, and even the hidden weapons that Batman uses to fight off Gotham's villains.

Some creations have moved beyond the Batmobile into other vehicles or gadgets from Burton's movies, such as the Batwing or the Penguin duck boat from Batman Returns. These creations not only show the ingenuity of LEGO enthusiasts but also their commitment to realizing Burton's fantastic world.

The Minifigures: Batman, Joker, and Penguin

While there are official LEGO Batman minifigures, custom tributes made by fans to Burton's movies take it to another level. The LEGO Tim Burton Batman minifigure has been a common favorite for making a custom form, with slight modifications to better fit into Michael Keaton's iconic performance of the character. Common edits among fans on the minifigure include making the cape, mask, and armor out of darker and armored pieces, like those worn in the movies.

Other notable minifigures include a customized LEGO Joker with his bright purple suit, wide smile, and hectic energy inspired by Jack Nicholson's performance. In addition, fans enjoy creating custom Penguin minifigures; his base is Danny DeVito in Batman Returns, with added accessories like a top hat, monocle, and a raft of mechanical penguins. These detailed minifigures often make an appearance in scenes created by fans as they reenact famous scenes from the movies.

Community Interest in an Official Set

While these are impressive, many within the LEGO community have been waiting for an official Tim Burton LEGO Batman set. Burton's unique take on Gotham combines perfectly with the ability of LEGO to bring cinematic worlds into an alive, real form. There is a strong interest among the fans for an official set, featuring icons from the movies, such as the Batmobile chase in Gotham or the climactic battle in the snowy streets of Batman Returns.

But with LEGO having already put out sets based on superhero movies, it is hoped that someday Burton's Batman will also get the official LEGO treatment that it so rightly deserves. Until then, of course, these fantastic fan creations will keep the dream alive-and indeed, if the LEGO community gets behind them, we might just see the dark gothic streets of Gotham immortalized in official LEGO form.