The Tale of Sweeney Todd is a 1997 American crime-drama/horror television film directed by John Schlesinger and starring Ben Kingsley and Joanna Lumley. The teleplay by Peter Buckman was adapted from a story by Peter Shaw. Prior to broadcast, the film had its world premiere at the Hamptons International Film Festival in October 1997. It was broadcast in the United States by Showtime on April 19, 1998, and released on videotape in the following month. It later was released as a feature film in select foreign markets.