Christopher Walken is a tenured Hollywood actor at this point, and with over 100 films under his belt, he has well-earned his prestige. Walken really has done it all. He has both hosted and appeared in sketches for Saturday Night Live, with one of his most famous sketches being “More Cowbell.” He has appeared in a handful of Shakespeare plays, including Hamlet, Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet, and Coriolanus. Walken has been in massively popular music videos, received numerous awards, and has worked alongside some of the biggest names in Hollywood, and continues to be a master of his craft.
Walken is often identified by his unique, straight and almost monotone cadence. This specific and dry tonality resonates on screen and works incredibly well for both serious and comedic roles. There is a lot of great work to choose from, but this article will rank the very best of Christopher Walken's performances.
5 Seven Psychopaths
This 2012 British-American dark comedy rocks an all-star cast featuring Colin Farrell, Sam Rockwell, Woody Harrelson and an unforgettable Christopher Walken. The story follows the conflict that ensues when a group of professional dog kidnapers accidentally take the Shih Tzu that belongs to a violent gangster. The story allows for the grab bag of characters featured throughout to have a lot of breathing room. Each character depicted in Seven Psychopaths has a unique and specific style.
Within this collage of character exhibits, Christopher Walken’s style, cadence and line delivery are truly distinct. We don't really see him breaking any ground in the depths of his acting capabilities, but he doesn't need to. The dry, confident and witty demeanor that Walken displays is more than enough to captivate the attention of his viewers.
4 A View to a Kill
A View to a Kill is a 1985 action-packed James Bond movie. It is filled with unique-to-its-time advanced stunt work and special effects. Directed by John Glen, it features beautiful on-location shooting and plenty of hard hitting performances by the cast. Classic Bond films like this serve as a blueprint for contemporary action films. A View to a Kill hits all the marks, and after watching, It's clear to see why action films like this continue to be so incredibly popular.
Christopher Walken plays the famed blonde-haired villain known as Max Zorin. The character's name is almost as evil-sounding as his realistically terrifying scheme. Zorin plans to create a worldwide microchip monopoly by destroying California’s Silicon Valley. If you are in the mood for a '80s action blockbuster, look no further-- A View to Kill is worth the watch.
3 The Funeral
The Funeral Is a 1996 crime drama, a genre in which Walken has a great deal of experience. This film follows a criminal family’s attempt to get revenge after they are forced to hold a funeral for one of their own, and is directed by Abel Ferrara, who has an extensive working relationship with the great Christopher Walken.
The Funeral is a classic crime drama that stays true to the genre, but it is not beholden to it. The lead performance by Walken in this film is filled with emotion and is incredibly moving. Where this picture strays from other films of the same genre is its balance between action/violence and emotion. There is plenty of action in this film, but the emotionality of the characters is something that we don't always see in a film of this sort. The two brothers do not try to avenge the third brother's death to mask their grief. They are instead accepting, and using their grief to fuel a righteous response to the tragedy. The Funeral is an incredibly unique crime film and is a must-watch for anyone interested in the genre.
2 King of New York
The second Abel Ferrara film of this list, King of New York centers its story around a drug kingpin, played by Christopher Walken, who is recently released from prison. His goal is to take control of the criminal underworld in order to give back to his community. This was the first film in which Walken worked with Ferrara, an important first success which helped to pave the way for their successful professional partnership.
Walken is accompanied on screen alongside other very good actors like David Caruso, Laurence Fishburne, Wesley Snipes, Giancarlo Esposito and Steve Buscemi. With so much talent packed into one film, you would think it would be hard to find a distinctive voice, but Walken does it with ease. His powerful, confident, and easy-talking character, Frank White, is everything you would expect from a high-level crime boss. King of New York is a raw and passionate portrait of New York City and the people who work it.
1 The Deer Hunter
Filling the number one spot on this list is The Deer Hunter, starring Robert De Niro and Christopher Walken. The film is directed by the underrated Micheal Cimino, and is an in-depth look at the different ways in which the Vietnam War impacts, disrupts, and changes the lives of several friends who live in a small steel mill town. The film was released in 1978 and is the oldest film on our list, but never let a film's age be a deterrent-- The Deer Hunter holds up incredibly well against more modern moves and serves as an movingly important retrospective of the Vietnam era.
In this film, a young Christopher Walken depicts a Vietnam War veteran who is unable to remove himself from the horrors of war. The character he plays in this is complex and dark, leading to Walked receiving a Best Supporting Actor Oscar. The entire film is shrouded in an uneasiness and pervasive, looming fog. This unique war film tops our list because of its powerful message and fantastic portrayal of the hardships endured by the veterans who returned from the Vietnam War, guided in part by a masterful performance from Walken which led the film toward being regarded as one of the greatest movies ever made.