Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)

Tim Burton's **Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)** masterfully brings to life 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 by Stephen Sondheim, this visually sumptuous yet grim adaptation plunges audiences into a darkly gothic Victorian London. Johnny Depp stars as the vengeful barber, a man consumed by his past, while Helena Bonham Carter embodies the equally twisted Mrs. Lovett, resulting in a chilling musical narrative filled with obsession, betrayal, and bloody retribution. This film undeniably belongs on a list of "Best Tim Burton Movies" because it is a near-perfect distillation of his signature style and thematic obsessions. The film's stunningly dark, gothic aesthetic – from its detailed, shadowy production design to its monochromatic palette punctuated by stark crimson – is instantly recognizable as Burton's vision at its most mature. Johnny Depp's portrayal of Sweeney Todd is a quintessential Burton outsider: a melancholic, misunderstood figure driven by a tragic past and seeking justice, however brutal. Bolstered by Helena Bonham Carter, another frequent collaborator, the film expertly translates the Broadway musical's inherent darkness and operatic tragedy into a cinematic experience that is both visually captivating and emotionally resonant, cementing its status as a gruesome yet glorious entry in his filmography.