Tim Burton and Johnny Depp’s Most Surprising Movies Is Back on Paramount+ (It’s One of the Best in Its Genre)

Tim Burton has had a handful of muses throughout his storied career in Hollywood, and Johnny Depp remains one of his most frequent collaborators. Their artist-muse pairings have brought Burton’s unique, macabre visions to life on the big screen in movies like Edward Scissorhands, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and Dark Shadows. The pair marked one of their finest collaborations yet when they reunited for a surprising movie in the 2000s that remains one of the best in its genre and a standout in both of their careers.

Following their collaborations together on Ed Wood, Sleepy Hollow, and Corpse Bride throughout the ‘90s and early 2000s, Burton and Depp reunited in 2007 for Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. The Gothic musical slasher, an adaptation of Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler’s musical of the same name, started streaming on Paramount+ on September 1st. The movie centers around Depp’s Sweeney Todd, an English barber and serial killer who returns to London following a period of exile to exact revenge.

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Why You Should Watch Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

Although music remains a heavy part of all of Burton’s movies, Sweeney Todd marks one of only a few outright musicals the filmmaker has done – and it’s an absolute gem in the genre. The film successfully brought Sondheim’s story to the screen, complete with a masterpiece of a score from Sondheim himself that sets the overarching eerie tone of the film. That is all blended with Burton’s signature dark, whimsical style, a perfect fit for the already morose tale. The film, in many ways a return to form for Burton, is one of the more surprising entries in his filmography, but it’s an incredibly successful adaptation of its source material, and one still cherished by fans.

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Sweeney Todd came towards the end of Burton and Depp’s collaborative years and was only followed by Alice in Wonderland and Dark Shadows, but it remains one of their best together. By this time, the actor had already proved that he could lead Burton’s films, but he showcased a new talent in Sweeney Todd with a surprisingly strong singing performance, providing a forceful energy to the character. We also can’t forget to mention the strong on-screen chemistry between Depp and Burton’s other frequent collaborator Helena Bonham Carter, who stars as Mrs. Lovett. The rest of the cast, which also features Alan Rickman and Jamie Campbell Bower, also give great performances.

Other Horror Movies Now on Paramount+

Paramount+ made a big push into all things spooky in September. In addition to Sweeney Todd, the streamer also added fellow Burton film Sleepy Hollow, Disturbia, Kiss the Girls, The Addams Family, The Gift, the first three Scary Movie films, and eight Friday the 13th movies, among many others.

Paramount+ wasn’t the only streamer to bring big horror rosters to their catalogs this month, with movies such as The Sixth Sense, The Autopsy of Jane Doe, and Psycho also finding new streaming homes on various streaming platforms.

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