Summary

  • Johnny Depp's versatile career spans from his debut in A Nightmare on Elm Street to captivating roles in independent films and collaborations with Tim Burton.
  • Depp's portrayal of real-life figures in films like Public Enemies and Donnie Brasco showcases his range as an actor.
  • Memorable performances in films like Edward Scissorhands and Pirates of the Caribbean elevated Depp to box office leading man status and earned him critical acclaim.

In Season 1 of HBO's hit comedy series Entourage, Vincent Chase (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).

Updated July 26, 2023: If you love Johnny Depp, you'll be happy to know this article has been updated with additional content and entries.

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.

15 Black Mass (2015)

Depp Edgerton Black Mass 2015 Cross Creek
Warner Bros. Pictures

Based on the 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.

14 Once Upon a Time in Mexico (2003)

Depp Once Upon a Time in Mexico 2003 Columbia
Sony Pictures Releasing

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.

Related: 10 Major Roles Johnny Depp Turned Down or Didn't Get

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.

13 Public Enemies (2009)

Johnny Depp in Public Enemies
Universal Pictures

Depp is no stranger to portraying real-life people, and his role as infamous Great Depression gangster and bank robber John Dillinger in Public Enemies is without-a-doubt one of his finest and most compelling in recent years. Appearing opposite a stacked cast including Christian Bale, Marion Cotillard, and Billy Crudup, the exhilarating picture chronicles the life and criminal career of Dillinger as he and his notorious gang are relentlessly pursued by FBI agent Melvin Purvis while endearing themselves to the destitute public during the early 1930s.

The phenomenal actor viewed Dillinger as a Robin Hood-esque figure who the country connected with during the hardships of the Depression, and moviegoers couldn't help but root for the elusive criminal due to Depp's charming and layered performance in the crime drama.

12 The Lone Ranger (2013)

tonto the lone ranger
Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

This film may not be the most well-known in Depp's portfolio, but it is well worth a watch. When the West was controlled by gunslingers and gangs, one man finds himself forced to find justice outside the law. In The Lone Ranger, Depp plays Tonto, an American Indian who teams up with the Lone Ranger (Armie Hammer) to find the man who murdered the Ranger's brother.

While there may have been some controversy with Depp's casting, he did actually do extensive research into the culture he was representing in the film. Not only does Depp deserve praise for his heartwarming and humorous portrayal of this classic character, but he proved himself to be a dedicated actor, both on and off camera.

11 Benny & Joon (1993)

Benny & Joon (1993)
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

Depp showcased his exceptional physical comedy skills when he headlined the romantic dramedy Benny & Joon, in which he portrayed the delightfully eccentric character Sam, a silent film fanatic who performs lively routines inspired by legendary comics like Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin and who falls in love with the mentally ill young woman Joon (Mary Stuart Masterson). The actor's quirky and sweet demeanor made fans fall in love with the kooky character as he attempted to prove himself worthy of being with and taking care of Joon despite her brother Benny's concerns.

Benny & Joon was a sleeper hit at the box office and earned Depp a Golden Globe nomination, with Variety lauding the talented star's role and writing, "Johnny Depp renders a startling performance that elevates the romantic fable way above its writing and directing shortcomings."

10 Finding Neverland (2004)

Finding Neverland2004
Miramax Films

Alongside Kate Winslet and Freddie Highmore, Depp stars in the laugh-inducing and heartbreaking film, Finding Neverland. Depp plays playwright Sir James Matthew Barrie, the man who wrote Peter Pan. After struggling to write a successful play, Sir Barrie meets Sylvia (Winsel) and her four young sons. He eventually comes to be a father figure for the family, playing imaginative games with the children and giving the family something to smile about. The boys, especially Peter (Highmore), don't want to grow up and face the reality that their father passed, and that their mother is terminally ill. The many afternoons spent playing with the children inspire Sir Barrie to write his masterpiece.

The plot of the film is enough to make anyone misty-eyed, but Depp's performance, paired with his talented cast mates, is enough to make anyone cry. However, he also makes everyone smile with the characters of the film as Depp truly embodies what it is like to be free as a child who never really grew up.

9 Minamata (2020)

Minamata
Samuel Goldwyn Films

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.

8 Sleepy Hollow (1999)

Ichabod saves Katrina from Lady Van Tassel in Sleepy Hollow
Paramount Pictures

Cinematic dream team Johnny Depp and Tim Burton once again knocked it out of the park when they joined forces for the spooky gothic supernatural flick Sleepy Hollow, with the brilliant actor portraying the anxious New York City police constable Ichabod Crane, who travels to the titular town on a mission to investigate an array of grisly murders that the locals are blaming on the enigmatic Headless Horseman. While on his quest to discover the truth, Crane finds himself enamored with the beautiful Katrina Van Tassel (Christina Ricci) as he delves into the mystery and lore surrounding the small hamlet and the ominous figure.

Depp based his interpretation of the literary character on fellow acting greats Basil Rathbone, Angela Lansbury, and Roddy McDowall, saying that he "always thought of Ichabod as a very delicate, fragile person who was maybe a little too in touch with his feminine side, like a frightened little girl." His unique spin on Ichabod Crane further demonstrated why Depp is a master at crafting memorable and likable characters.

7 What’s Eating Gilbert Grape (1993)

The cast of What's Eating Gilbert Grape
Paramount Pictures

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.

6 Donnie Brasco (1997)

Johnny Depp in Donnie Brasco
Sony Pictures Releasing

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.

5 Ed Wood (1994)

Johnny Depp as Edward D. Wood Jr. in Ed Wood
Buena Vista Pictures Distribution

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 Wood was 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.

4 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)

Johnny Depp in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Warner Bros. Pictures

In Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Depp once again worked alongside Freddie Highmore and director Tim Burton. Willy Wonka (Depp) is a chocolatier with an amazing, dreamlike candy factory. To find someone he can trust to inherit the factory, he invites five children to visit, and whoever among them is the least rotten will be his successor.

Related: Why Johnny Depp Deserves an Oscar

Wonka is one of Depp's more eccentric characters, as he is a giant man-child who lives in isolation, more or less. Depp gives this social outcast so much charm and humor that it is hard not to like him. He had some big shoes to fill, as it was obvious that his performance would be compared to Gene Wilder's as Wonka before. While Wilder's performance was iconic, Depp created the character anew for the 2005 remake. It will be interesting to see how Timothee Chalamet's performance as Wonka stacks up against both of the infamous actors before him in the 2023 Wonka.

3 Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)

Johnny Depp as Sweeney in Sweeney Todd
Dreamworks/Paramount Distribution

Depp took home a Golden Globe Award for his rousing performance as the eponymous barber and notorious serial killer in the musical slasher Sweeney Todd: The Demon Baber of Fleet Street, in which the deranged Londoner wreaks havoc on the city and murders his unsuspecting customers with the assistance of his devoted accomplice Mrs. Lovett (Helena Bonham Carter), who then turns the dead bodies into meat pies. Not only were Depp's unparalleled acting chops on full display in the film, but he also showcased his vocal talents as he impressively belted out songs like "No Place Like London" and "My Friends."

Depp continued proving why he was one of Hollywood's most diverse and chameleon performers, earning critical acclaim for his role with Entertainment Weekly declaring, "Depp's soaring voice makes you wonder what other tricks he's been hiding ... Watching Depp's barber wield his razors ... it's hard not to be reminded of Edward Scissorhands frantically shaping hedges into animal topiaries 18 years ago ... and all of the twisted beauty we would've missed out on had [Burton and Depp] never met."

2 Edward Scissorhands (1990)

A scene from Edward Scissorhands
20th Century Fox

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 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.

1 Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)

pirates of the caribbean curse of the black pearl
Walt Disney Pictures

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.