20 Johnny Depp movies everyone loves so much for

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

From romantic and dreamer to cruel gangster and evil wizard.

1. A Nightmare on Elm Street

• USA, 1984.
• Horror.
• Duration: 92 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 5.

Several teenagers living in a provincial town on Elm Street have the same nightmares. In them, the guys are hunted by the maniac Freddy Krueger. Once he was killed by local residents, but now he has come to life and materializes in the minds of teenagers in order to commit his vile crimes there.

The horror master Wes Craven until 1984 managed to become famous for the films The Hills Have Eyes and The Last House on the Left. A Nightmare on Elm Street eventually kicked off one of the most iconic franchises in film history. At the same time, the picture launched the career of several talented artists, including Johnny Depp.

A very young actor played a difficult teenager Glen Lanz - one of Freddie's victims. The role came out very small, but the audience remembered it very much. Although Depp's hero was quickly killed, the fountain of blood reaching the ceiling made an impression.

By the way, in the sixth part of the franchise, Johnny appeared in a funny cameo: he portrayed a guy from an advertisement whom Kruger hits on the head with a frying pan. With this episode, the authors parodied a popular social video about the dangers of drugs.

2. Crybaby

• USA, 1990.
• Musical, comedy.
• Duration: 85 minutes.
• IMDb: 6, 5.

In Baltimore in the mid-50s, a very correct girl Allison falls in love with rebel rocker Wade Walker, nicknamed Crybaby. But she is from a rich family, and he is from a poor one, which greatly complicates their relationship.

The film was directed by the king of marginal films John Waters, the author of the cult "Multiple Maniacs" (1970) and "Pink Flamingo" (1972). True, over time he moved into the niche of more commercial paintings, one of which just became "Crybaby". It was conceived as a parody of popular films in the 50s about juvenile delinquents. The main role went to the young Depp, who was glad to have the opportunity to play with such an unusual director.

In Crybaby, Johnny has created a very interesting look that combines features of James Dean, Elvis Presley and Marlon Brando. Immediately after filming for Waters, the actor was noticed by Tim Burton.

3. Edward Scissorhands

• USA, 1990.
• Fantasy, drama, melodrama.
• Duration: 105 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 9.

Edward is not exactly an ordinary person. Once upon a time it was created by an old scientist, but he died before he could finish the work. The hero was left to live alone with scissors sticking out instead of hands. One day a woman named Pag Boggs finds him and, wanting to help, takes him home. Edward tries very hard to join the urban community and be useful, but one unpleasant incident immediately turns residents against him.

With "Edward Scissorhands" began a long-term film friendship between Tim Burton and Johnny Depp, and it was this picture that brought the young actor his first Golden Globe nomination. The director managed to show the audience a completely different Depp. For the entire film, the hero utters only 169 words, and his face almost does not change expression (after all, formally Edward is a cyborg). But at the same time, Johnny manages to convey the subtlest shades of his character's feelings with his eyes alone.

4. What's eating Gilbert Grape?

• USA, 1993.
• Drama.
• Duration: 118 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 7.

The father of the young Gilbert Grape committed suicide, so the guy is forced to pull the whole family on himself. The hero does not see any prospects, but then love comes to him in the form of the charming Becky.

This is one of the first bright dramatic roles of Johnny Depp. A slightly similar image the actor embodied a year earlier in the "Arizona Dream" by Emir Kusturica, where he portrayed a young man dreaming of escape from a dreary and hopeless life. But it is the role of Gilbert Grape that stands out from the rest and captivates with its sincerity. Depp has proven how incredibly talented he is. After all, in order to play a completely ordinary guy without ambition with his brightness, you need a special acting gift.

Although at first glance, Johnny even seems a little faded in comparison with the very young Leonardo DiCaprio. He played the weak-minded Arnie Grape and attracted the attention of critics and viewers.

5. Ed Wood

• USA, 1994.
• Drama, comedy, biography.
• Duration: 127 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 8.

The mediocre actor Edward Wood Jr. meets the elderly artist Bela Lugosi, once very famous but now forgotten by everyone. Having made friends with him, the hero makes several films with his participation, but no one likes them. But Ed Wood himself is happy, because he has everything an artist needs - creative freedom.

Tim Burton's biopic about the worst director in Hollywood is made in black and white and looks incredibly stylish. The director again entrusted the main role to his favorite Johnny Depp.

The actor not only did not disappoint, but also surprised the audience with a bright transformation. To achieve an outward resemblance to his hero, he even agreed to a denture, which helped him mimic Ed's characteristic "feline" smile.

6. Dead man

• USA, Germany, Japan, 1995.
• Fantasy, drama, adventure, western, parable.
• Duration: 121 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 6.

Wild West, 1880s. Bookkeeper William Blake, namesake of the famous poet, arrives in a small town where he was promised a job. The seat is taken. An absurd accident leads to the fact that a reward is assigned for the hero's head. William has to run into the woods. There he meets an Indian who prefers to be called Nobody.

For Jim Jarmusch, who is now considered practically the symbol of American independent cinema, this was the first film with a large budget and first-rate stars. As a result, the surreal "Dead Man" became the director's main film and, in addition, one of the most iconic films of the 90s.

Textured Johnny Depp looks incredibly organic in his role. It is even difficult to imagine an actor who would better fit into the mystical atmosphere of this film.

7. Donnie Brasco

• USA, 1997.
• Drama, crime.
• Duration: 127 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 7.

FBI agent Joseph Pistone is tasked with infiltrating the New York mafia. He is taken under the wing of an influential middle-aged gangster named Lefty. Over time, the two become attached to each other, so Joe will have to choose between a call of duty and feelings for a mentor.

The story of the "mole" in the den of criminals is not new, but director Mike Newell managed to tell it in a very exciting way. And thanks to the acting duet of Johnny Depp and Al Pacino, the picture can be considered monumental at all.

8. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

• USA, 1998.
• Drama, comedy.
• Duration: 118 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 6.

Journalist Raoul Duke and lawyer Dr. Gonzo take a suitcase of drugs to Las Vegas to cover motorcycle races. But the latter, due to the irrepressible intake of prohibited substances, is not so easy to do.

Terry Gilliam's film is based on real events from the life of Hunter S. Thompson. Depp even temporarily settled with the writer in order to more accurately get used to the role. And in the end, he adopted other people's traits so well, starting with the manner of speaking and ending with a characteristic gait, that after filming for some time he lost the habit of the image of Raoul Duke.

However, a few years later these skills came in handy for the actor in the film adaptation of another book by Hunter S. Thompson - "The Rum Diary".

9. Ninth Gate

• Portugal, Spain, France, USA, 1999.
• Mystical thriller.
• Duration: 133 minutes.
• IMDb: 6, 7.

Dean Corso, a cynical second-hand detective, gets an unusual assignment. He needs to compare the old tome entitled "The Nine Gates of the Kingdom of Shadows" with two other copies and establish which ones are genuine. He does not yet know that from this moment his life is at stake, because the books are connected with Satan himself.

In the mystical thriller by Roman Polanski, the actor embodied a new image for himself - a charming, money-hungry bastard. But still, it is simply impossible not to empathize with the hero of Johnny Depp in his dark adventures.

10. Sleepy Hollow

• Germany, USA, 1999.
• Horror, fantasy, thriller, detective.
• Duration: 105 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 3.

End of the 18th century. A young New York constable, Ichabod Crane, arrives at Sleepy Hollow to investigate a series of murders. Locals believe that the mystical headless horseman is behind the crimes, but the pragmatic Ichabod does not believe speculation and is trying to find a more reasonable explanation.

After filming with a number of other directors, Johnny Depp returned to the set with Tim Burton and further cemented his status as one of the most interesting actors of his time. The extravagant image of Ichabod Crane, fainting at the sight of blood, has become iconic. But, alas, Johnny Depp did not get film awards then.

11. Cocaine

• USA, Mexico, 2001.
• Drama, crime, biography.
• Duration: 123 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 6.

George Jacob Young, a simple suburban guy, moves to Los Angeles, sells marijuana there, and goes to jail. But that doesn't stop the hero. Released, George becomes the largest cocaine dealer and does business with the famous drug lord Pablo Escobar.

Johnny brilliantly played the real American smuggler George Young, one of the key figures in the US drug business in the 1970s and early 1980s. Admirers of the actor's talent should definitely watch this film, especially since Depp shines in the company of the luxurious Penelope Cruz.

12. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl

• USA, 2003.
• Adventure, comedy, fantasy.
• Duration: 143 minutes.
• IMDb: 8, 0.

Journeyman Will Turner dislikes pirates. But he still has to team up with the charming rogue Jack Sparrow to save his beloved from ghosts. Jack just wants his ship back.

The actor was inspired by the legendary guitarist of The Rolling Stones Keith Richards to create the unique image of Jack Sparrow. Johnny explained the strange gait of his character by the hero's habit of the ship's rolling.

Disney producers were initially unsure of this concept, but they gave in to Depp, and for good reason. After all, it was Jack Sparrow who brought the future franchise such popularity that it was stretched into four sequels.

13. Secret Window

• USA, 2004.
• Thriller, detective.
• Duration: 96 minutes.
• IMDb: 6, 5.

Lonely writer Mort Rainey's life is suddenly invaded by a stranger in a hat named John Shooter. The latter claims that Rainey stole his story, although he is sure that he did nothing of the kind. But gradually Mort discovers a strange connection between himself and the annoying guest and begins to doubt his own normality.

The film is based on the novel by Stephen King, with his favorite character type - the writer-sufferer. For some viewers, Johnny Depp's always disheveled Mort Rainey will surely remind Dean Corso from The Ninth Gate.

14. Fairyland

• USA, UK, 2004.
• Drama, family, biography.
• Duration: 97 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 7.

Married playwright James Barry, whose new play recently failed miserably, meets the beautiful widow Sylvia with four children. She and her sons inspire the writer to create the legendary book about Peter Pan.

Johnny Depp has acquired a Scottish accent especially for the role of James Barry. The actor played extremely restrained, but still conveyed a huge range of emotions to the audience. No wonder this role is considered almost the best in his career. Depp was even nominated for an Oscar, but in the end he did not receive the statuette.

15. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

• USA, 2005.
• Musical, Fantasy, Comedy, Adventure, Family.
• Duration: 115 minutes.
• IMDb: 6, 6.

Willy Wonka, an eccentric manufacturer, takes five children on a tour of his estate. Almost all of them have some bad qualities. There is only one difference - the kind and honest boy Charlie Bucket.

Having decided to re-transfer to the screen the novel by Roald Dahl "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory", Tim Burton set a very difficult task for his protégé Depp. Indeed, in the previous adaptation, the role of Wonka was played by the legendary Gene Wilder (it was his face in this image that became the basis of the now immortal meme "Come on, tell me").

The actor really did his best and played a multidimensional and ambiguous character. The story of a difficult childhood also added depth to the new Wonka. In addition, here Depp has a very unusual costume and make-up.

16. Sweeney Todd, Demon Barber of Fleet Street

• USA, UK, 2007.
• Musical, horror, thriller, drama.
• Duration: 116 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 3.

Barber Benjamin Barker was once married to his girlfriend. But the beautiful wife liked the evil judge Turpin, who decided to get rid of Barker and sent him to hard labor. After years, Benjamin escapes and returns to London, where he takes the name Sweeney Todd and opens a barber shop right above Mrs. Lovett's meat pie shop. Together they begin to take revenge on everyone who made Barker's life hell.

By this time, Tim Burton had acquired another permanent muse - Helena Bonham Carter. Prior to Sweeney Todd, the Gothic trio had already worked together on Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and the Corpse Bride cartoon. Well, this picture once again proved that Depp is able to give charm to even the most repulsive character.

17. Alice in Wonderland

• USA, 2010.
• Fantasy, fairy tale, adventure.
• Duration: 108 minutes.
• IMDb: 6, 4.

Alice Kingsley is going to marry an extremely unpleasant young man - prim bore Hamish. However, at the moment of the marriage proposal, the girl notices the White Rabbit, runs after him and finds herself in a very strange world.

Many have been waiting for this film adaptation, because it would seem that no one can make a film based on the surreal tale of Lewis Carroll better than Tim Burton. But in the end, the picture rather disappointed the audience. The director preferred not to follow the already known plot, but to compose a new one, and add logic to it. However, such a decision only damaged the atmosphere and took away that share of cheerful madness, for which people just love Carroll's world.

In addition, the Mad Hatter played by the charismatic Johnny Depp attracted all the attention, and the main character, played by the aspiring actress Mia Wasikowska, was simply lost in his background. At times it even seems that the film is not about Alice at all, but about the Hatter.

18. The Lone Ranger

• USA, 2013.
• Comedy, Western, Action.
• Duration: 149 minutes.
• IMDb: 6, 4.

Wild West, 1869. The bandits kill the brother of the lawyer John Reed. Then he decides to become a masked avenger, and the eccentric Tonto Indian helps him in his adventures.

"The Lone Ranger" appeared as early as 1933 as a radio play and was later reborn into a famous TV series. However, its popularity faded over time. The creator of "Pirates of the Caribbean" Gor Verbinski undertook to revive the deceased franchise, but the producers' plans did not come true. The film failed so shamefully at the box office that the studio bosses accused the film critics of conspiracy: they allegedly deliberately decided to drown the picture with bad reviews.

But the tape also has a strong side - the hilarious Johnny Depp. The actor even outplayed his partner Armie Hammer, who looked too faded next to Depp's crazy charisma.

19. Black Mass

• USA, UK, 2015.
• Drama, crime, biography.
• Duration: 123 minutes.
• IMDb: 6, 9.

The FBI agent convinces the authorities to cooperate with the gangster Whitey Bulger, so that in exchange for immunity he supplies them with information about other bandits. However, the criminal begins his own dangerous game with the authorities.

For the sake of authenticity, director Scott Cooper filmed the picture exactly where the real murders took place, and hired Bulger's real acquaintances as consultants. Well, Johnny Depp showed the miracles of transformation and appeared in an unusual appearance for the public - with a bald head and greatly changed facial features.

20. Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald

• UK, USA, 2018.
• Fantasy, adventure, family.
• Duration: 134 minutes.
• IMDb: 6, 5.

The evil wizard Gellert Grindelwald escapes from America to Paris to recruit followers and establish magical supremacy around the world. But on the way of the sorcerer are the heroes familiar to the audience from the previous part - the zoologist Newt Scamander and his friends, as well as the powerful young professor Albus Dumbledore.

Both Harry Potter spin-offs were mediocre, and fans were wary of Johnny Depp's appointment as Grindelwald. Still, in the main franchise, the main villain Voldemort was played by the incredibly bright Ralph Fiennes, whom it would be difficult to compete with. But Depp fit perfectly into the universe and revealed his character very worthily. This is not surprising, because the actor has always succeeded in the images of eccentric psychopaths.

Alas, against the background of Depp's conflict with ex-wife Amber Heard, who accused the artist of physical violence, Warner Bros. decided to fire Johnny from the franchise. Instead, Grindelwald will now be played by another favorite of the public - Mads Mikkelsen.

This material was first published in August 2020. In June 2021, we updated the text.