
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
2007, Mystery and thriller/Crime, 1h 57m
231 Reviews 250,000+ RatingsWhat to know
critics consensus
Full of pith and Grand Guignol grossness, this macabre musical is perfectly helmed and highly entertaining. Tim Burton masterfully stages the musical in a way that will make you think he has done this many times before. Read critic reviews
You might also like
Where to watch
Show all servicesSweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Videos
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Photos
Movie Info
Cast & Crew
Sweeney Todd
Mrs. Lovett
Judge Turpin
Beadle Bamford
Adolfo Pirelli
Johanna
News & Interviews for Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Critic Reviews for Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
All Critics (231) | Top Critics (60) | Fresh (198) | Rotten (33)
-
It keeps getting bloodier by the scene, yet remains curiously engaging.
January 29, 2019 | Rating: 2/4 | Full Review… -
Without any warmth and humor at all, how are you meant to care? I'm not saying you always have to care about someone in a movie - not at all - but here the story is so ludicrous that, unless you can, why bother?
August 23, 2018 | Full Review… -
This is grand-scale studio-work at its most beguiling.
November 17, 2011 | Rating: 3/5 -
This is a remarkable piece of work for people who like their genres all mashed together in a meat grinder.
August 14, 2009 | Rating: A- -
A considerable achievement even if, on balance, it's more of a Tim Burton phantasmagoria than a Sondheim fantasia.
October 18, 2008 | Rating: B | Full Review… -
As unsettling as it is riveting. Even Sondheim aficionados will see the story with fresh eyes, unless those eyes are covered.
October 18, 2008 | Rating: A- | Full Review…
Audience Reviews for Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
-
Sep 30, 2016Do serial kills start singing after they murder their victims? Most likely not, but Sweeney Todd tackles that very premise as Tim Burton directs his bloodiest film to date. When musicals are done right, I'll be one of the first in line to see them. Much like Westerns, they are rare to come by these days so I'm always down to go back and check out one that I hadn't previously seen. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street was one of those musicals, but sadly I don't think it lived up to the hype for me. To have a cohesive character arc, you need obstacles or just something significant a character goes through so that the ending feels justified and earned. In my opinion, there is no real character arc for Todd. Sure, he begins as a normal man starting a life with his wife and daughter, but this is done in a brief flashback. I never once felt attached to this character or really cared at all. The wrongs that were done to him and his family are bad, but again, it wasn't like we see a lot of this on screen, we are told about it. For as much bad as we see Todd do, it just would have been nice to have some material balance it out the other way. As for the musical aspects go, it's pretty paint by numbers. Perhaps, if I were into the story a little bit more and cared about what the characters were doing, I would have gotten into the songs they were singing. I really tried, but I just couldn't. It's also worth noting that because this film does have a fair amount of dialogue as well, the transitions to song weren't as smooth as they could have been. I love me some Alan Rickman, but when he breaks out into song at the barbershop, it feels pretty dang awkward. I'm in the minority here though, this musical is beloved by many people, and at first glance it seems like Burton did a nice job of adapting the musical to screen. So perhaps it's just me. I just feel that in order to make a good film about someone who says "we'll not discriminate who we kill", I have to believe that what he or she is doing is warranted, and I didn't. Of course, these aren't just regular murders. These are bloody and premeditated murders in which the victims get baked into pies and fed to the town. Brutal. Just brutal. +Burton was the right man for the job -Never felt connected to the story or characters -Pretty gratuitous if you ask me -Song transitions are rough 4.5/10Thomas D Super Reviewer
-
Jun 03, 2016Manages to blend the dark with the campy and is elevated for it.Gimly M Super Reviewer
-
Jul 27, 2013Very interesting and severely messed up at the same time. I love a lot of the visuals, especially the ones of the beach/sea later on in the movie. Even the dark ones of London are really something to see. The whole idea of what's basically a serial killer musical is pretty insane, but it somehow works. It gets the story across, and actually creates a few memorable songs as well.Stephen S Super Reviewer
-
Jul 23, 2013Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street is a mixture of dark comedy, horror, and drama, done in the unique stylings of Tim Burton. The story is one of vengeance, after serving 15 years in prison Sweeney Todd returns to London to seek revenge on Judge Turpin, the man who wrongfully set him up in order to steal his wife. To tell this story Burton relies on his faithful regulars Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter, along with Alan Rickman and Sacha Baron Cohen. And while all of the performances are quite excellent, it's Depp's brilliant performance that carries the film and makes Sweeney Todd both sympathetic and villainous. Musically, the film ranks as one of the best Broadway musicals to have been brought to screen; it has the depth and dimension of a big operatic score, yet it's also light and comedic at times. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street seems a rather unlikely musical to translate to the screen...but translate it does, in a beautiful and stylish way unlike any other musical has.Dann M Super Reviewer
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Quotes
Sweeney Todd: | There's a hole in the world, like a great black pit. And the vermin of the world inhabit it. And it's morals aren't worth what a pig could spit. And it goes by the name of London. On top of the hole sits the privileged few, making mock of the vermin in the lower zoo. Turning beauty into filth and greed. I too, have sailed the world and seen it's wonders. For the cruelty of men is as wondrous as Peru. But there's no place like London. |
Sweeney Todd: | Look at me, Mrs Lovett! Look at you! No, we all deserve to die... Even you, Mrs Lovett, even I! Because the lives of the wicked should be made brief. For the rest of us death will be a relief. We all deserve to die... |
Sweeney Todd: | At last my arm is complete again! |
Anthony Hope: | Mr. Todd you have to help me! Mr. Todd, please! |
Sweeney Todd: | Out. |
Anthony Hope: | Mr. Todd! |
Sweeney Todd: | OUT!! |
Sweeney Todd: | No I had him! His throat was bare beneath my hand. No I had him! His throat was there and now he'll never come again |
Mrs. Nellie Lovett: | Easy now, hush love hush I keep telling you - Whats your rush? |
Sweeney Todd: | When? Why do I wait? You told me to wait - Now he'll never come again. There's a hole in the world like a great black pit And it's filled with people who are filled with shit! And the vermin of the world inhabit it. But not for long... They all deserve to die. Tell you why, Mrs. Lovett, tell you why. Because in all of the whole human race Mrs. Lovett, there are two kinds of men and only two There's the one staying put in his proper place And the one with his foot in the other one's face Look at me, Mrs Lovett, look at you. |
Movie & TV guides
About Tomatometer
The percentage of Approved Tomatometer Critics who have given this movie a positive review
About Audience Score
The percentage of users who rated this 3.5 stars or higher.
Verified