Lady Gaga's Tim Burton-Directed "The Dead Dance" Music Video Is a Chilling Thriller

Summary

• Tim Burton directed Lady Gaga’s new music video for “The Dead Dance” for the new single off of Netflix’s Wednesday
• The video’s chilling, gothic aesthetic draws heavily from Burton’s classic style and debuted the same day as Season 2 Part 2
• The video’s dramatic choreography, filmed in Mexico, has earned praise from fans

In a perfect fusion of gothic theatrics and pop artistry, Lady Gaga has released the official music video for her song “The Dead Dance,” a track featured in the second season of Netflix‘s Wednesday. The video, which premiered on September 3, 2025, coinciding with the release of the series’ Part 2 of the second season, was directed by none other than Tim Burton, whose signature style is unmistakable from the very first frame.

The visual, filmed at the famously eerie Island of the Dolls in Mexico, is a chilling and mesmerizing spectacle. The video opens in black and white, with Gaga perched on a wall, surrounded by dozens of worn and decaying dolls. She is dressed in a Victorian-inspired outfit with makeup that gives her the appearance of a cracked porcelain doll, a look that is both beautiful and unsettling.

As the music builds, the dolls begin to come to life, their jerky, reanimated movements mirroring the choreography. The video’s color gradually returns, bringing a vibrant, macabre palette to the graveyard setting. The choreography itself, handled by Parris Goebel, has been widely praised and draws favorable comparisons to Michael Jackson’s iconic “Thriller” video. The collaboration is a clear hit with both fans and critics, who have lauded the way it perfectly marries Burton’s dark, fantastical aesthetic with Lady Gaga’s unique brand of theatrical pop. Watch the video above.