Sweeney heads up Empire nods list

Johnny Depp played the murderous barber who cooks his victims into pies

The musical movie Sweeney Todd dominates the Empire awards nominations list with mentions in five categories.

Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter are up for best actor and actress with Tim Burton in line for best director.

The Dark Knight, Quantum of Solace and There Will Be Blood each have four nominations including best film, where the gothic Sweeney Todd missed out.

The awards are voted for by readers of Empire magazine and will be announced at a ceremony on 29 March.

In a particularly strong year for sci-fi, Iron Man also picked up a nomination for best film along with a best actor nod for Robert Downey Jr and a best sci-fi/fantasy film mention.

Animated ecological drama Wall-E proved its ongoing popularity with audiences as it was nominated in three categories including best film.

Best actor nominations also include Christian Bale for The Dark Knight, Daniel Craig for the Quantum of Solace and Daniel Day Lewis for There Will Be Blood.

Also up for best actress are Ellen Page for Juno, Sally Hawkins for Happy Go Lucky, Angelina Jolie for Changeling and Bond star Olga Kurylenko.

Comedian Dara O Briain will present the awards ceremony where Heath Ledger's performance as the Joker in The Dark Knight will be marked with a special posthumous award.