Top 10 Jack Nicholson Movies

From Joker to Randall McMurphy, Jack Nicholson is the living example of perfectly delivering a wide range of performances in his illustrious career. Without a doubt, he is one of the greatest actors in the history of cinema. He is one of the rare Hollywood figures that have bagged 3 Oscars. He has received the most number of nominations in males at the Academy Awards (12). He is widely prominent for portraying dark or comic roles.

Now, we are going to look at Jack Nicholson’s top 10 movies here! Keep scrolling!

Batman

Some consider it too dark and over-the-top, but we also have to admit that this 1989 instalment displays one of the finest works of Jack Nicholson. The casting of Micheal Keaton might have been controversial at that time. But nobody had their doubts about Nicholson. Fans showed their faith in him. And he did not disappoint them. He played the role exceptionally well. He overshadowed The Caped Crusader in some scenes. His darkly comic portrayal of the Clown Prince of Gotham City won the hearts of the fans.

About Schmidt

Nicholson delivers a heart-touching performance in this movie. Under the smooth direction of Alexander Payne, he beautifully played the character of Warren Schmidt. It is based on the life of a person who retires from a regular insurance job. He faces difficulties while adjusting himself to the retired life. Soon, he decides to go on a trip to discover himself and attend the marriage of his daughter. The movie also helped him in stabilizing his career.

Reds

We know that Warren Beatty and Jack Nicholson are very close friends. And both of them managed to put a spectacular show in this movie. Diane Keaton’s performance helped her overcome The Godfather fame. She cemented herself as one of the most talented actresses of that time. Beatty might have written, produced, acted, and directed this project, but Nicholson also did justice to his role. He did a fine job with what he was given. It’s a must-watch movie.

As Good As It Gets

Can you imagine yourself as a misanthropic guy with obsessive-compulsive disorder in your old age? It really looks like a bad nightmare, right? And how about we tell you that he still manages to find his true love in this movie? As crazy as it sounds but Carol finally agrees to start a relationship with this guy. And that guy is none other than Melvin (Nicholson). With Hunt and Kinnear in the supporting roles, Jack handled his character flawlessly. This movie brought him his third Academy Award (Best Actor). It is also counted as one of the best projects of director James L. Brooks’s career.

The Departed

After the release of Something’s Gotta Give (2003), he decided to take a little break from the movies. But he returned with a bang in this movie. The Departed marked the first collaboration of Jack Nicholson and Martin Scorsese. Despite acting alongside a star-studded cast, Nicholson played the role of Costello with absolute perfection. His performance stood out the most in this Scorsese installment. It also turned out to be a blockbuster at the box office.

The Shining

Probably the most nerve-wracking movie in Jack Nicholson’s filmography. Many of you may not know Stephen King was against the selection of Nicholson for the role of Jack Torrence. He was also disappointed with his character in the movie. But we have no alternative other than admitting that Nicholson delivered one of his most scary and maniacal performances ever. His performance overcomes all the flaws of this project. Kubrick has the reputation of pushing his stars to the limit. And he did the same with Nicholson and Duvall. However, the latter started to suffer from Alopecia due to the stress she endured on the sets of The Shining.

Terms of Endearment

Nicholson dispatches a charming performance in this movie. His crazy and heart-winning gestures were one of the main highlights of this James L. Brooks’s instalment. The duo of Shirley MacLaine and Debra Winger received critical acclaim for their stellar performances. But Nicholson perfectly balances the overall emotional tone of this movie with his romantic charms and crazy deeds. He also bagged an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. This movie displays the bond between a mother and her daughter till the latter’s death due to cancer.

Five Easy Pieces

Nicholson’s role in this movie aided him in earning a star’s status in the early Hollywood days. He showed his acting abilities in Easy Rider (1969). But the audience watched his extended acting range for the first time in this movie. He plays the role of an oil rig worker. He was an expert piano player in his childhood. He gets the news of his father’s ill health. He decides to visit him with his girlfriend. It became performed amazingly well in the theatres. It even earned more than double its budget.

Chinatown

Mix Jack Nicholson’s and Faye Dunaway’s performances with the fantastic direction of Roman Polanski. What do we get here? Chinatown! An all-time classic! There is no doubt that this movie is Polanski’s greatest achievement in Hollywood. It is flawless from the start to the end. Robert Towne deserves all the credit in this world for penning down a remarkable script. Among the 11 nominations at the Oscars, Towne was the only one who bagged it for Best Original Screenplay. It is a creative masterpiece crafted with the help of an epic mystery storyline.

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest

The 1970s witnessed some of the most epic movies that starred Jack Nicholson. And one of them was this outstanding gem! Many prominent critics believe that it was his career-best performance. The moment you start watching this movie, you know you are watching something special. He was a complete scene-stealer in this movie. Not just him, the entire cast of this movie also deserves special praise. Louise Fletcher also got her hands on the Best Actress Oscar for her role of Nurse Ratched.