Tim Burton remake that gave viewers 'goosebumps' streaming free (2025)

Tim Burton's film left viewers divided in 2019, but you can make up your own mind this weekend as it's streaming for free.

If you fancy a good Disney-fuelled cry, then you’ll be delighted to learn that starting this weekend, you will be able to stream Tim Burton ’s version of Dumbo on BBC iPlayer.

As per Disney’s official description of the live-action adaptation of the animated classic, the movie centres on circus owner Max Medici ( Danny DeVito ) who enlists former star Holt Farrier ( Colin Farrell ) and his children to care for a newborn elephant whose oversized ears make him a laughingstock in an already struggling circus.

But when they discover that Dumbo can fly, the circus makes an incredible comeback, attracting persuasive entrepreneur V. A. Vandevere ( Michael Keaton ), who recruits the peculiar pachyderm for his newest, larger-than-life entertainment venture, Dreamland.

Dumbo soars to new heights alongside the charming and spectacular aerial artist Colette Marchant (Eva Green)—until Holt learns that beneath its shiny veneer, Dreamland is full of dark secrets.

The 2019 movie is an adaptation of Walt Disney's 1941 animated film Dumbo, which is based on the novel by Helen Aberson and Harold Pearl. It reportedly grossed $353 million worldwide against a $170 million budget and received mixed reviews from critics.

Dumbo scored a rating of 46% on Rotten Tomatoes, and 6.2/10 on IMDb. Furthermore, it sparked a slew of mixed reactions from viewers, as an IMDb user wrote: “You'd think a movie called Dumbo would be more about Dumbo.

“There are so many side plots and needless characters that it complicates a relatively straightforward story. There are a few moments of wonder, but they are far too few in between predictable tropes.

“Tim Burton was an odd choice to direct this film as well. The whole film is covered with his trademark murky aesthetic and it just doesn't fit.

“Danny DeVito is the only saving grace as far as actors. He is fantastic while Keaton hams it up and plays the over the top bad guy.

“Danny Elfman's score is decent. The film is just kind of boring though.

“It's so paint-by-numbers and lacking in imagination. Disney hopefully learns from this with any future live-action remakes of animated classics.”

Someone else penned: “I had to write a review to add a sense of reality to many of the crazy 1 star reviews. Please, 1 star? Awful? Nonsense.

“Great cast, great production value, remake of a classic (as well as a new take on an old story). Didn't see any political correctness or bad acting or poor CGI.

“Nonsense. Full of great actors. Emotional story, well made. It's a good movie.

“I only gave it 7 stars because it's not a great movie but I didn't feel cheated at all and was glad I (we) saw it. If you liked the original at all, you'll want to see the remake.

“It is a little darker than Disney of old and Tim Burton's visions are unique but all in all I thought it was fun, unusual and worth our time. Don't pay attention to the 1 star reviews, they are nonsense.”

A separate individual chimed in: “A must see. 80 years after the eponymous cartoon, Tim Burton appropriated pertinently this story [sic], preserving the magic and the poetry but modernizing it, by adding new characters and encrusting spectacular computer-generated animals.

“In particular, Dumbo is such a cutie and his look is a total success: his eyes are extremely expressive and he is so adorable.

“This is otherwise not a surprise for a Burton: the atmosphere is darker compared to the cartoon. In three words: I loved it!”

Dumbo is available for streaming today (April 21) on BBC iPlayer.