The story of Sweeney Todd first appeared as a fictional tale in the Victorian penny dreadful titled 'The String of Pearls' serialized in 1846-1847.
The musical 'Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street' by Stephen Sondheim premiered on Broadway, bringing renewed attention to the story as a dramatic musical work.
The film adaptation of 'Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street' directed by Tim Burton and starring Johnny Depp was released, bringing the story to a wider movie-going audience.