Johnny Depphas been one of the most popular movie stars of his era for decades, and has reaped critical praise and tremendous box office success throughout his career. Depp’s evolution into the actor he is today is fascinating; he first emerged as a teenage heartthrob in the 1980s, similar to contemporaries like Leonardo Dicaprio and Tom Cruise. While at first it seemed like Depp would go on to star in crowd pleasers and monstrous hits like the originalA Nightmare on Elm Street, it became apparent that Depp was interested in a more experimental form of acting.
It was hiscollaborations with Tim Burtonthat created the iconography most closely associated with Depp; characters like the titular heroes ofEdward ScissorhandsandEd Woodwere offbeat and strange, yet still invoked sympathy from their audiences. Depp was also interested in more experimental films from directors like Terry Gilliam, and it wasn’t always clear whether he would always be a box office draw. However, that changed thanks to the success of thePirates of the Caribbeanfranchise, which became one of the highest-grossing in film history; in fact, both 2006’sPirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chestand 2011’sPirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tidesgrossed over $1 billion at the global box office.
Depp’s next steps in the industry will be interesting. While it appears like he will return to film roles after the aftermath of a verypublic divorce trial, it seems like the initial offer that Disney made for him to return to the role of Captain Jack Sparrow for another installment in thePirates of the Caribbeanseriesdid not meet his expectations. However, these Johnny Depp movies deserve more credit.
In one of the earliest roles of his career, Depp created one of the icons of John Waters’ filmography with his role in this 1950s-inspired western. With nods to both the work of Elvis Presely and greaser culture, Depp delivered a hilariously eccentric performance inCry-Babyas the small town “bad boy” that everyone seems to fall for.
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Dead Manmay not be the only western of Depp’s career, but it’s certainly the most unusual. Depp’s performance fits perfectly within the aesthetic of Jim Jarmusch, a director whose quirky sensibilities are similar to that of his frequent collaborators like Burton and Gilliam.
6Sleepy Hollow
Of all of his collaborations with Burton,Sleepy Hollowmay be the most unusual of Depp’s filmography, and the most underrated. Treating the legendary mystery fable as a true crime adventure was a fun way to incorporate multiple genres, and it was one of the few cases where Depp was actually asked to play the straight man.
While it’s often referred to as one of the most egregious cases of “Oscar bait,” 2001’sChocalatdidn’t earn Depp a nomination; considering how charming he is in the film, it’s a shame! While not a complex film by any standard definition,Chocolatis actually one of Depp’s most romantic and sensitive roles.
Related:Jeanne du Barry: Why Johnny Depp’s Latest Film Is So Controversial
4Corpse Bride
Tim Burton first experimented with the animation medium with 2005’sCorpse Bridebefore returning to remake his classic short filmFrankenweenieas an animated feature in 2012.Corpse Brideplayed into Burton’s classic affinity for romance between outcasts, and Depp perfectly gave his voice (and even sang) for his role as one of the romantic leads. It’s one of the rare time in which celebrity voice over work transcends cliche, and turns into a genuinely impactful performance,
3The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus
To say thatThe Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassusis one of the wildest films of Gilliam’s career is no small statement considering that he also created such absurd films asBrazil, The Fisher King, The Man Who Killed Don Quixote,andTideland. In many ways, it’s sad to see Depp share the screen with Heath Ledger, as his late great co-star feels like he could have been the “Depp” of his generation had he not passed away at such a tragically young age. Both actors could combine romantic yearning, integrity, respectfulness, and physicality into wildly memorable characters.
2The Lone Ranger
Unfortunately,The Lone Rangerwas not met with the same fanfare as thePirates of the Caribbeanfranchise, even though it reunited Depp with director Gore Verbinski and producer Jerry Bruckheimer. Sadly, the film tanked and earned Depp some of the worst reviews of his career; it’s a particularly hard film to rewatch considering all the news that has come to light aboutArmie Hammer in recent years.
However, critics of the film may have missed the point entirely;The Lone Rangeris less of a tribute to classic western gunslinger adventures and more of a revisionist take on the genre similar toHeaven’s Gate, another notorious box office bomb that wasn’t appreciated at the time of its release and has been given more respect in recent years. PerhapsThe Lone Rangerwill be rewarded with the same welcome reconsideration in recent years as its legacy is reexamined.
1Black Mass
Depp’s career had started to become a bit of a joke in the mid-21st Century, as he tended to rely on the wild costumes, makeup, and eccentricity that Tim Burton saddled him with in films likeCharlie and the Chocolate Factory, Dark Shadows,andAlice in Wonderland.However,Black Massproved that he could still be a menacing dramatic actor thanks to his menacing portrayal of the gangster “Whitey Bulger” in a true crime undercover stroy that bore a lot in common with his classic role inDonnie Brasco.
Although Depp’s brilliant work was sadly left out of the Oscar race, he did end up snagging some of the better reviews of his career and earned a Screen Actors Guild nomination for Best Actor. Hopefully, it won’t be the last time he ventures back into the true crime genre.
