Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

Right now you can watch Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street in Australia on Netflix, and in the US on Hoopla — and it holds up to as much attention as you give it. It knows exactly what kind of film it is from the opening scene, and never loses that thread. With 6,395 viewer ratings on TMDB, this is not a title flying under the radar. Johnny Depp anchors it with a performance that rewards close attention. Start it on Netflix whenever you need something guaranteed to land.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street is worth clearing space for. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street takes its time building the world its characters inhabit, and the patience pays off. The infamous story of Benjamin Barker, a.k.a Sweeney Todd, who sets up a barber shop down in London which is the basis for a sinister partnership with his fellow tenant, Mrs. Lovett. Based on the hit Broadway musical. The performances from Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter give it more weight than the premise alone would suggest. It hit screens in 2007. What elevates Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street is a refusal to let any character off the hook too easily. It knows exactly what it is, and does not try to be anything else.

Drama fans who appreciate slow-burn storytelling will feel right at home with Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. It rewards viewers regardless of what else is in their watch history. Best experienced as a single, sustained watch from start to finish. Johnny Depp's work here is the kind that gets referenced in career retrospectives. It makes everything else feel thin by comparison.