Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
In the Victorian London, the barber Benjamin Barker is married to the gorgeous Lucy and they have a lovely child, Johanna. The beauty of Lucy attracts the attention of the corrupt Judge Turpin, who falsely accuses the barber of a crime that he did not commit and abuses Lucy later after gaining custody of her. After fifteen years in exile, Benjamin returns to London under the new identity of Sweeney Todd, seeking revenge against Turpin. He meets the widow Mrs. Lovett who is the owner of a meat pie shop who tells him that Lucy swallowed arsenic many years ago, and Turpin assigned himself tutor of Johanna. He opens a barber shop above her store, initiating a crime rampage against those who made him suffer and lose his beloved family.
Despite a moderate budget of $50.0M, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street became a financial success, earning $152.0M worldwide—a 204% return.
1 Oscar. 34 wins & 77 nominations
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007) demonstrates carefully calibrated dramatic framework, characteristic of Tim Burton's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 13-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 56 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 6.8, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Benjamin Barker returns to London as Sweeney Todd after 15 years of unjust imprisonment, arriving at a grimy, corrupt Fleet Street. His world is dark, cold, and driven by a singular desire for vengeance against Judge Turpin who destroyed his life.. Of particular interest, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 13 minutes when Todd sees his daughter Johanna at the window for the first time in 15 years, then watches helplessly as Judge Turpin notices young sailor Anthony Hope admiring her. The past collides with the present, crystallizing Todd's mission: he must reclaim his daughter and destroy the Judge.. At 12% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
At 58 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Structural examination shows that this crucial beat Judge Turpin visits Todd's barber shop for a shave, finally within Todd's grasp. But Anthony bursts in at the crucial moment, announcing his plan to elope with Johanna. Turpin escapes, and Todd's one chance for vengeance is destroyed. The false victory (growing business, Turpin in his chair) becomes devastating defeat., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 86 minutes (74% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Todd murders the beggar woman who has been haunting the shop. As he disposes of her body in the basement bakehouse, he sees her face clearly for the first time—it's Lucy, his wife, alive all these years. Mrs. Lovett knew and lied. Everything he believed was false; his wife's "death" drove his vengeance, but he just murdered her himself., shows the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 92 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 79% of the runtime. Todd understands that Mrs. Lovett's selfish love enabled his destruction. He waltzes with her, then throws her into the oven, executing final justice. But there is no triumph—only the complete recognition of his moral annihilation. He knows he has lost everything, including himself., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 13 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs structural analysis methodology used to understand storytelling architecture. By mapping Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street against these established plot points, we can identify how Tim Burton utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street within the drama genre.
Tim Burton's Structural Approach
Among the 17 Tim Burton films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 6.9, demonstrating varied approaches to story architecture. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Tim Burton filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional drama films include Eye for an Eye, South Pacific and Kiss of the Spider Woman. For more Tim Burton analyses, see Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Sleepy Hollow and Dark Shadows.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Benjamin Barker returns to London as Sweeney Todd after 15 years of unjust imprisonment, arriving at a grimy, corrupt Fleet Street. His world is dark, cold, and driven by a singular desire for vengeance against Judge Turpin who destroyed his life.
Theme
Mrs. Lovett tells Todd, "Times is hard, sir, even harder than the old days," while revealing the corrupt nature of London. She introduces the theme of survival in a morally bankrupt world and whether vengeance or mercy defines humanity.
Worldbuilding
Mrs. Lovett reveals Todd's tragic backstory through "Poor Thing": Judge Turpin lusted after his wife Lucy, falsely imprisoned him, raped Lucy at a masked ball, and adopted his daughter Johanna. We see Johanna now a prisoner in Turpin's home, watched by the lecherous Beadle. The world is established as deeply corrupt, with the upper class preying on the innocent.
Disruption
Todd sees his daughter Johanna at the window for the first time in 15 years, then watches helplessly as Judge Turpin notices young sailor Anthony Hope admiring her. The past collides with the present, crystallizing Todd's mission: he must reclaim his daughter and destroy the Judge.
Resistance
Todd encounters rival barber Pirelli and his boy assistant Toby. Mrs. Lovett encourages Todd to compete against Pirelli in a shaving contest to rebuild his reputation. Meanwhile, Anthony pursues Johanna, and Turpin plans to marry his ward. Todd prepares for vengeance but lacks the proper tools—his razors are gone.
Act II
ConfrontationPremise
Todd murders Pirelli (who recognized him as Benjamin Barker) and begins his killing spree. Mrs. Lovett proposes baking the bodies into meat pies, solving her meat shortage. They become business partners in serial murder. Meanwhile, Anthony plans to rescue Johanna from Turpin, and the Judge seeks spiritual counsel from the corrupt Beadle about his lustful obsession with his ward.
Midpoint
Judge Turpin visits Todd's barber shop for a shave, finally within Todd's grasp. But Anthony bursts in at the crucial moment, announcing his plan to elope with Johanna. Turpin escapes, and Todd's one chance for vengeance is destroyed. The false victory (growing business, Turpin in his chair) becomes devastating defeat.
Opposition
Todd descends into indiscriminate murder, killing anyone in his rage. Turpin sends Johanna to an asylum. Anthony infiltrates the asylum to rescue her. Mrs. Lovett manipulates the orphan Toby, who grows suspicious of the barber shop. The Beadle investigates the chimney smoke. All antagonistic forces close in as Todd's sanity deteriorates.
Collapse
Todd murders the beggar woman who has been haunting the shop. As he disposes of her body in the basement bakehouse, he sees her face clearly for the first time—it's Lucy, his wife, alive all these years. Mrs. Lovett knew and lied. Everything he believed was false; his wife's "death" drove his vengeance, but he just murdered her himself.
Crisis
Todd cradles Lucy's body in anguished silence, the full weight of his irreversible tragedy crushing him. He has become exactly the monster he sought to destroy. Upstairs, Toby discovers the truth and descends into the bakehouse. Mrs. Lovett tries to justify her lies, claiming she did it for love.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Todd understands that Mrs. Lovett's selfish love enabled his destruction. He waltzes with her, then throws her into the oven, executing final justice. But there is no triumph—only the complete recognition of his moral annihilation. He knows he has lost everything, including himself.
Synthesis
Todd returns to Lucy's body, holding his dead wife in final grief. Toby, now completely mad, emerges from the sewers and slits Todd's throat with his own razor. The cycle of vengeance completes itself. Anthony and Johanna escape together, the only survivors untainted by the bloodbath, representing the possibility of hope beyond Fleet Street.
Transformation
Todd dies beside Lucy, their blood mingling on the bakehouse floor. The final image shows complete devastation—vengeance has consumed everyone, leaving only corpses and madness. The transformation is tragic: the wronged man became the demon, and Fleet Street's darkness prevailed.