Top 10 Johnny Depp Performances

Johnny Depp’s career may be in a bit of a tough spot right now, but there was a time when he was literally the king of Hollywood! Not everyone possesses the heart for putting something eccentric and out-of-the-box on the big screen unless he/she is Depp. He has made his name for constantly pushing his limits and expanding his acting skills. His recent lead roles might have encountered severe criticism, but his fans still love and support him. Like us, they all want to see him portraying prominent roles in his future.

Here are the top 10 performances delivered by Johnny Depp! Check them out!

Gellert Grindelwald

Gellert Grindelwald (Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald)

The role of Grindelwald may have landed onto the laps of Mads Mikkelsen, but Johnny Depp has already made this role his own. You must have seen millions of fans supporting and wanting him back in the Fantastic Beasts series. But the arrival of Mikkelsen has suppressed the chances of his return in this franchise. He received a few minutes in the first Fantastic Beasts instalment, but its sequel completely belonged to him. He literally stole the show despite being a member of a star-studded cast. His appearance as a powerful evil wizard with white hair and a blue-coloured shiny eye impressed every fan. He delivered a controlled and layered performance. It gave a perfect opportunity for exploring his complicated character to a great extent in the upcoming entries.

James “Whitey” Bulger

James “Whitey” Bulger (Black Mass)

The role that saved the career of Johnny Depp from getting doomed in Hollywood. His earlier big-budget films like The Lone Ranger, Dark Shadows, Transcendence, and Mortdecai flopped horribly on the box office. It seemed like he started to lose his touch. Suddenly out of nowhere, he landed this little beauty! Black Mass was an average grosser. But his magnetic and frightening performance proved once again that he still has what it takes to survive in this goddamn industry.

Willy Wonka

Willy Wonka (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory)

Willy Wonka is one of Johnny Depp’s best roles, but it does not mean that it did not receive any criticism at all. Despite being adored by millions of fans, his performance was condemned by a large portion of the critics for being strange and out-of-touch. Many deemed that his performance was inferior to Gene Wilder’s. But we certainly cannot deny that he brought freshness and discreteness to this iconic role. It was especially praised for focusing more on Wonka’s past. Instead of copying Wilder’s methods, he chose to play it in his own unique style.

Mad Hatter

Mad Hatter (Alice in Wonderland)

The seventh collaboration between director Tim Burton and Johnny Depp turned out to be a smash hit at the box office. Its over-imaginative tone found its perfect balance with his jumpy and energetic performance. The biggest problem working with accomplished performers is that they steal the spotlight from everyone. That’s literally what happened here. In the midst of talents like Helena Bonham Carter, Anne Hathaway, Alan Rickman, and many more, Depp emerged as the centre of attention in this project. Well, it is not his fault!

Sweeney Todd

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

Imagine your barber planning to murder you in cold blood… It is enough to petrify our minds for good! This blood-splashing musical flawlessly blends Burton’s creativity with Depp’s chilling presentation and surprising singing talents. Just when the audiences began to think that they have reached the limit of their imagination, the alliance of Burton and Depp always had something new to offer. And both of them did not disappoint us with this crazy musical slasher!

Gilbert Grape

Gilbert Grape (What’s Eating Gilbert Grape)

It was one of those rare occasions when a newcomer gave a tough competition to a well-known performer. Leonardo DiCaprio might have received most of the attention, but Depp’s performance was powerful enough to stand on its own. The former got his first-ever Academy Award nomination. But it was Depp who really held the film together with his central character. He portrayed his character with sheer dedication and brilliancy.

Ed Wood

Ed Wood (Ed Wood)

This one is probably the unluckiest movie on this entire list in terms of collections. It received critical acclaim for its effective use of black and white tone, Burton’s innovative direction, unique approach to the characters, and outstanding performance of the entire cast. The makers could have dispatched it as a parody or satire. After all, we are talking about the worst director of the 80s. But Depp deserves special praises for giving a heart to this character.

Donnie Brasco

Donnie Brasco (Donnie Brasco)

After delivering a series of commercially failed movies from 1994-96, he returned with a bang with Donnie Brasco. This movie literally breathed a new fire in his unstable career back then. The fans clearly remember who his partner was in this project. It was none other than the Godfather himself, Al Pacino. When you are performing opposite a legend like Al, you automatically take your game to new heights. Depp did the same with his performance. And the rest is history!

Captain Jack Sparrow

Captain Jack Sparrow (Pirates of the Caribbean Series)

We do not think that we have to say anything about this lunatic! Undoubtedly, Captain Jack Sparrow is one of the most prominent characters in the history of cinema. The worldwide popularity of this character is just nuts! Some people believe that this character has lost all its charm and unpredictability. On the other hand, the remaining ones love Depp to death! They still want to see him in future POTC instalments. And we cannot blame them for that! We love him too!

Edward Scissorhands

Edward Scissorhands (Edward Scissorhands)

The movie that changed everything for Mr Depp… Edward Scissorhands! Before this masterpiece, he was considered a talented supporting artist. But this movie displayed his true acting knack to the audience for the first time. It also marked the first-ever alliance between Burton and Depp. Do you know that the latter was not the first choice for this unique humanoid role? Actors like Tom Cruise, Tom Hanks, Gary Oldman, and many more showed no interest in this role. Ultimately, it landed on Depp’s lap.