In season 1 of HBO’s hit comedy series Entourage, Vincent Chase (played by Adrien Grenier) is deemed “the next Johnny Depp.” Surely it’s a compliment, given the famed actor, producer, and musician’s versatile career that dates back to his teenage years. Depp has been the recipient of various accolades, including a Golden Globe Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award, in addition to multiple Academy Awards and British Academy Film Awards nominations.
Depp made his debut in the horror film A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) before rising to prominence on the TV series 21 Jump Street. In the 90s, Depp acted mostly in independent films, often playing eccentric characters. He also began collaborating with director Tim Burton, starring in Edward Scissorhands (1990), Ed Wood (1994) and Sleepy Hollow (1999). In the 2000s, Depp became one of the most commercially successful film stars by playing Captain Jack Sparrow in the Pirates of the Caribbean film series. He was ultimately listed by the Guinness World Records as the world’s highest-paid actor, with earnings of $75 million. During the 2010s, Depp began producing films through his company Infinitum Nihil and formed the rock supergroup Hollywood Vampires with Alice Cooper and Joe Perry. There’s no denying Depp has played groundbreaking roles over the years. Here’s a list of his best.
Black Mass (2015)
Based on a true story of James “Whitey” Bulger (Depp), an Irish Mob godfather and an FBI informant who had a “secret trading” deal with his brother, State Sen. William “Billy” Bulger (Benedict Cumberbatch), and FBI agent John Connolly (Joel Edgerton). They planned to take down theft Italian mob and mafia in Boston, which went awry and things turned massively violent. Black Mass features an ensemble cast that also includes Kevin Bacon, Jesse Plemons, Peter Sarsgaard, Dakota Johnson, and Corey Stoll. It received generally positive reviews and grossed $99 million on a $53 million budget. Depp’s starring turn is at once terrifying and charming, adding yet another juicy role to his filmography that utterly transforms his look physically.
Once Upon a Time in Mexico (2003)
Fresh off the success of Spy Kids, acclaimed director Robert Rodriguez followed up with one for the adults. Before there was Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood, there was a brilliant ensemble flick taking place south of the border. Depp co-stars in Once Upon a Time in Mexico as a conniving CIA agent who plays any angle he can to meet his agenda. The chilling scene where he kills a chef because the food is too good, and he must “restore balance” by killing him, is reason enough to check this one out. Per the screenshot above, the equally chilling third-act sequence where he wanders the streets blinded is proof that Rodriguez’s film, co-starring Antonio Banderas and Salma Hayek, is thrilling from beginning to end.
Minamata (2020)
New York, 1971. Following his celebrated days as one of the most revered photojournalists of World War II, W. Eugene Smith (Depp) has become a recluse, disconnected from society and his career. But a secret commission from Life magazine editor Robert Hayes (Bill Nighy) sends him to the Japanese coastal city of Minamata, which has been ravaged by mercury poisoning. There, Smith immerses himself in the community.
Finally, getting a U.S. release in February 2022, Minamata is not to be missed, with Depp carrying the heartfelt effort with his loving, courageous turn as Smith. It’s clear he’s passionate about the film, having taken to social media for a rare post about Minamata’s release. It’s also an endearing effort by his fans to champion the film for the newly created Oscars Fan Favorite category.
What’s Eating Gilbert Grape (1993)
What’s Eating Gilbert Grape is a 1993 American coming-of-age drama that also stars a young Leonardo DiCaprio in an Oscar-nominated performance. It follows 24-year-old Gilbert (Depp), a grocery store clerk caring for his obese mother (Darlene Cates) and his intellectually disabled younger brother (DiCaprio) in a sleepy Iowa town. Peter Hedges (father of acclaimed actor Lucas Hedges) wrote the screenplay, which is based on his 1991 novel of the same name. Filming took place in various parts of Texas. It’s beautifully shot and incorporates relatable themes of tenderness, caring, and self-awareness set in the fictional working-class and one-street-town Endora. The film was well-received, and while the 19-year-old DiCaprio received his first nominations for the Academy and Golden Globe Awards, it was Depp who equally carried the film. His portrayal of the conflicted older brother was magnetic.
Donnie Brasco (1997)
Based on a true story, Donnie Brasco follows FBI agent Joe Pistone (Depp) as he infiltrates the mafia of New York. Befriending Lefty Ruggiero (Al Pacino) under the name Donnie Brasco, Pistone is able to embed himself in a mafia faction led by Sonny Black (Michael Madsen). Ruggiero and Pistone grow close as the group goes about collecting money. All the while, Pistone collects evidence undercover. However, the arduous undercover work becomes more than Pistone can bear.
The 1997 film was directed by Mike Newell and also stars Bruno Kirby, James Russo, and Anne Heche in supporting roles. Written by Paul Attanasio, it is based on the 1988 nonfiction book Donnie Brasco: My Undercover Life in the Mafia by Joseph D. Pistone and Richard Woodley. The film was a box office success, earning $124.9 million against its $35 million budget, and received positive reviews from critics. The film was deservedly nominated for an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay. More than that, it was refreshing to see Depp playing this juicy role straight, amid his 1990s streak of playing otherwise oddball characters.
Ed Wood (1994)
Because of his eccentric habits and strange films, director Ed Wood was a Hollywood outcast. Nevertheless, with the help of the formerly famous Bela Lugosi and a devoted cast and crew of show-business misfits, the filmmaker was able to bring his cinematic dreams to life. Despite a lack of critical or commercial success, Ed and his friends managed to create an oddly endearing series of extremely low-budget films.
Directed and produced by Tim Burton, Ed Woodwas a biographical dramedy, starring Depp as the famed director. The film traces the period in Wood’s life when he made his best-known films and follows his relationship with actor Lugosi (played by Oscar-winner Martin Landau). Sarah Jessica Parker, Patricia Arquette, Jeffrey Jones, and Bill Murray are among the supporting cast. While the film proved financially unsuccessful, returning only $5.9 million against an $18 million budget, it was met with critical acclaim upon release, with particular praise for Depp and Landau’s performances. It eventually became a cult classic and won two Academy Awards. Depp was both hilarious and heartwarming as a talentless filmmaker trying his very best in Tinsel Town!
Edward Scissorhands (1990)
Here’s another wondrous tale about an entirely different “Ed.” In Tim Burton’s 1990 stunner Edward Scissorhands, we meet an inventor’s greatest creation: Edward, a near-complete person. However, the creator died before he could finish Edward’s hands and is, instead, left with scissors for hands. Since then, he has lived alone–until that is, a kind woman (Winona Ryder) discovers him and welcomes him into her home. At first, everyone welcomes him into the community, but soon things begin to take a change for the worse.
Burton’s fantasy romance film stars Depp as the titular Edward. Additional roles were played by Anthony Michael Hall, Kathy Baker, Vincent Price, and Alan Arkin. The leading role of Edward had been connected to several actors prior to Depp’s casting, including Tom Cruise, Tom Hanks, and Gary Oldman.
Edward Scissorhands was released to positive reception from critics and was a financial success, grossing over four times its $20 million budget. The film received numerous nominations at the Academy Awards, British Academy Film Awards, and the Saturn Awards, as well as winning the Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation. Even now, both Burton and Elfman consider Edward Scissorhands their most personal and favorite work. Despite the story’s fantastical elements, Depp made Edward such a likable and relatable protagonist who was just trying to be accepted.
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)
And then, there’s Jack Sparrow — Captain Jack Sparrow, that is. Who would have thought that producer Jerry Bruckheimer could turn Disney World’s thrill ride into an Oscar-nominated feature film? The swash-buckling tale follows the quest of a savvy pirate and a resourceful blacksmith (Orlando Bloom) as they search for the governor’s kidnapped daughter (Kiera Knightley).
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl was directed by Gore Verbinski (also known for The Ring and Rango) and the first film in the Pirates of the Caribbean film series. Despite low expectations, the film was a huge box-office success, grossing $654.3 million worldwide, making it the fourth-highest grossing film of 2003. It received generally positive reviews from critics, with Depp’s performance receiving universal acclaim. It has been widely cited as the film that launched Depp as a box office leading man after many years as a cult movie star. Depp won the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role and received Best Actor nominations at the Academy Awards, BAFTAs, and Golden Globes.
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