'Sweeney Todd' Debuts in Box Office Top 5

Variety reports Sweeney Todd fit into the Number 5 top spot for its film-premiere this weekend…

"In a closely watched race, Universal's Tom Hanks-Julia Roberts starrer Charlie Wilson's War narrowly beat out DreamWorks-Paramount's Johnny Depp musical adaptation Sweeney Todd, although neither film was able to jump the $10 million mark in their debuts… Playing in less than half the number of theaters as Charlies Wilson's War, director Tim Burton's Sweeney Todd grossed an estimated $9.3 million from 1,249 theaters for the No. 5 spot and a per screen average of $7,486," states the website.

Disney's National Treasure sequel claimed the top weekend-spot, above I Am Legend starring Will Smith, and the CGI child's film Alvin and the Chipmunks.

DreamWorks Pictures and Warner Bros. Pictures presents a Parkes/MacDonald and Zanuck Company Production, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, directed by Tim Burton. Produced by Richard D. Zanuck, Walter Parkes, Laurie MacDonald and John Logan; Executive Producer Patrick McCormick.

Based on the Broadway musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by Hugh Wheeler; originally staged by Harold Prince. From an adaptation by Christopher Bond, screenplay by John Logan. Johnny Depp and Tim Burton join forces again in a big-screen adaptation of Stephen Sondheim's award-winning musical thriller Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street…

"Depp stars in the title role as a man unjustly sent to prison who vows revenge, not only for that cruel punishment, but for the devastating consequences of what happened to his wife and daughter. When he returns to reopen his barber shop, Sweeney Todd becomes the Demon Barber of Fleet Street who 'shaved the faces of gentlemen who never thereafter were heard of again,'" state press notes. "Joining Depp is Helena Bonham Carter as Mrs. Lovett, Sweeney's amorous accomplice, who creates diabolical meat pies. The cast also includes Alan Rickman, who portrays the evil Judge Turpin, who sends Sweeney to prison, Timothy Spall as the Judge's wicked associate Beadle Bamford and Sacha Baron Cohen as a rival barber, the flamboyant Signor Adolfo Pirelli."

For limited national release December 21, 2007 and wide January 11, 2008.