In Season 1 of HBO’s hit comedy seriesEntourage, Vincent Chase (Adrien Grenier) is deemed “the nextJohnny 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 filmA Nightmare on Elm Street(1984) before rising to prominence on the TV series21 Jump Street.In the ’90s, Depp acted mostly in independent films, often playing eccentric characters. He also begancollaborating with director Tim Burton, starring inEdward Scissorhands(1990),Ed Wood(1994), andSleepy Hollow(1999).
Updated August 24, 2025: 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 thePirates of the Caribbeanfilm 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.
15Black Mass (2015)
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 Massfeatures 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.
14Once Upon a Time in Mexico (2003)
Fresh off the success ofSpy Kids, acclaimeddirector Robert Rodriguezfollowed up with one for the adults. Before there was Quentin Tarantino’sOnce Upon a Time…in Hollywood, there was a brilliant ensemble flick taking place south of the border. Depp co-stars inOnce Upon a Time in Mexicoas 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.
13Public Enemies (2009)
Depp is no stranger to portraying real-life people, and his role as infamous Great Depression gangster and bank robber John Dillinger inPublic Enemiesis 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 aRobin Hood-esque figurewho 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.
12The Lone Ranger (2013)
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. InThe 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.
11Benny & Joon (1993)
Depp showcased his exceptional physical comedy skills when he headlined the romantic dramedyBenny & 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 & Joonwas a sleeper hit at the box office and earned Depp a Golden Globe nomination,with Variety laudingthe talented star’s role and writing, “Johnny Depp renders a startling performance that elevates the romantic fable way above its writing and directing shortcomings.”
10Finding Neverland (2004)
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 manwho 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.
9Minamata (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,Minamatais 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 rarepost aboutMinamata’srelease.It’s also an endearing effort by his fans to champion the film for the newly created Oscars Fan Favorite category.
8Sleepy Hollow (1999)
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 flickSleepy 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.
7What’s Eating Gilbert Grape (1993)
What’s Eating Gilbert Grapeis 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.
6Donnie Brasco (1997)
Based on a true story,Donnie Brascofollows 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 isbased on the 1988 nonfiction bookDonnie Brasco: My Undercover Life in the Mafiaby 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.
