Johnny Depp's Most Memorable Roles (2024)

In cinema, Johnny Depp was the highest-paid actor for a decade from 2011 to 2021 after his appearance as Captain Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides earned him a substantial $35,000,000. While a price tag does not always infer quality, Johnny Depp's acting was not valued so highly for no reason, and even before he broke into the mainstream with the Pirates of the Caribbean series as a whole, Johnny Depp had already built an impressive catalog of roles.

Johnny Depp has showcased his versatile range throughout a vast pool of roles, whether through dark and twisted protagonists or fun and quirky Disney characters. However, some of his performances have left a more lasting impression than others. From Glen Lantz to Edward Scissorhands, these roles draw a bigger spotlight on Johnny Depp than the rest of his still impressive history of on-screen roles.

Updated by Jeremy Devoe on June 19, 2024: With Johnny Depp beginning to work on more projects as of late, we wanted to revisit this list of his most iconic roles to expand it with another five of his memorable castings, as well as add tables which display the ratings for each film across IMDb, Rotten Tomatoes, and Metacritic.

15 Depp Stole the Show as a Revamped Willy Wonka

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005) – Directed By Tim Burton

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory received its second major movie adaptation in 2005, 34 years after the release of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. As such, Johnny Depp had big chocolatier shoes to fill following Gene Wilder's acclaimed performance as Wonka. That pressure was furthered by the fact that Tim Burton's modern re-imagining placed a bigger spotlight on Willy Wonka than its predecessor had.

Luckily, Depp won over many critics by reaching and exceeding their expectations for his role as Willy Wonka. His new and nuanced take on Wonka offered a more layered character for viewers, balancing Wonka's comedic mannerisms with a developed (and surprisingly touching) backstory. While it didn't appease everyone, Depp's iconic portrayal of Wonka is still admired among the cast of characters he's depicted. The role remains one of his best and most popular for his imaginative performance and its highly meme-able content.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

PG

A young boy wins a tour through the most magnificent chocolate factory in the world, led by the world's most unusual candy maker.

Release Date

July 15, 2005

Cast

Johnny Depp , Freddie Highmore , David Kelly

Runtime

1 hour 55 minutes

Main Genre

Fantasy

14 The Menacing Gellert Grindelwald Was Brough to Life by Depp

Fantastic Beasts: Crimes of Grindelwald (2018) – Directed by David Yates

While Fantastic Beasts: Crimes of Grindelwald performed poorly, there was one shining wand light: Johnny Depp as Gellert Grindelwald. Depp's ownership of the role was teased in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, but the sequel thrust the villain into the limelight and proved Depp to be the right casting choice for the time. The Harry Potter franchise established Gellert Grindelwald's power and influence, and Depp didn't shy away from embracing the antagonist's personality.

The actor brilliantly brought Grindelwald's charisma and manipulation to the big screen, playing him with a grandeur that did Dumbledore's rival justice. Additionally, Depp was the one to suggest that Grindelwald should have two differently colored eyes. Johnny Depp's role as Gellert Grindelwald showcased his ability to embody a fictional character from the page and present them on the big screen, becoming one of Depp's recent best (albeit short-lived) roles.

Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald

PG-13

Adventure

Family

Fantasy

The second installment of the "Fantastic Beasts" series featuring the adventures of Magizoologist Newt Scamander.

Release Date

November 16, 2018

Cast

Eddie Redmayne , Katherine Waterston , Dan Fogler , Johnny Depp

Runtime

134 minutes

Main Genre

Fantasy

Writers

J.K. Rowling

Studio

Warner Bros.

13 Tom Hanson Helped Make Depp a Household Name

21 Jump Street (1987-1991) – Created by Patrick Hasburghton and Stephen J. Cannell

Although Johnny Depp is widely known for his movie roles, one of the actor's first breakout roles was on television. He played Tom Hanson in 21 Jump Street, a campy police procedural. Depp was just beginning his acting career when he was cast in the series, and he quickly launched to teen stardom over the four seasons he starred in.

Depp's boyish yet rugged charm perfectly fit with 21 Jump Street's overly dramatic themes, solidifying his heartthrob status at an early age. The show's more serious handling of teenage strife helped develop Depp's emotional range and make him a relatable actor that audiences could connect with — a quality Depp carried on in many future performances. Johnny Depp reprised his iconic role in the 21 Jump Street film adaptation, with a cameo highlighting how far Depp had come since and how it affected his approach to playing Tom Hanson again.

21 Jump Street (1987)

TV-14

Crime

Drama

Mystery

The cases of an undercover police unit composed of young-looking officers specializing in youth crime.

Release Date

April 12, 1987

See Also

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Creator

Stephen J. Cannell, Patrick Hasburgh

Cast

Johnny Depp , Holly Robinson Peete , Peter DeLuise , Dustin Nguyen , Steven Williams

Main Genre

Drama

Seasons

5

Production Company

20th Century Fox Television, LBS Communications, Patrick Hasburgh Productions

Number of Episodes

102

12 Louis XV Proved Depp's Continued Talent for Acting

Jeanne Du Barry (2023) – Directed by Maïwenn

Johnny Depp's acting career took a turn through the early 2020s. After decades of rising stardom and blockbuster hits, the actor's projects began to wane in overall quality, especially compared to the back-to-back iconic roles he delivered throughout most of his acting journey from early on. His controversial personal life at the time also brought the star's reputation under question, costing him opportunities and acting credibility.

After a tumultuous few years, it became apparent that Johnny Depp needed a comeback. Jeanne du Barry proved to be exactly that. Depp starred as Louis XV in the French historical drama and won over viewers with his expressive performance (and his French skills), despite the overall reception not being as favorable. Louis XV allowed the actor to step back into a more refined and indie film scene, exactly like the roles Depp started his film career with; now through one of his most recent cinematic appearances.

Jeanne du Barry

Not Rated

Biography

Drama

History

The life of Jeanne Bécu who was born as the illegitimate daughter of an impoverished seamstress in 1743 and went on to rise through the Court of Louis XV to become his last official mistress.

Release Date

May 16, 2023

Cast

Maïwenn , Johnny Depp , Benjamin Lavernhe , Melvil Poupaud

Runtime

113 minutes

Main Genre

Biography

11 Glen Lantz Was Depp's First Feature Film Role

A Nightmare On Elm Street (1984) – Directed by Wes Craven

With many horror films of the '80s being considered among some of the genre's longtime best, it's no surprise that Johnny Depp's breakout role in A Nightmare on Elm Street helped to get his acting career running with a large boost in popularity through Wes Craven's standout supernatural slasher. Depp had landed the role after auditioning beside his friend Jackie Earle Haley, who would later go on to be cast as Freddy Kruger in the 2010 remake of A Nightmare on Elm Street.

Glen Lantz gave Depp a chance to fill in for what was originally meant to be a much more outright jock of a character, and Depp even performed his own stunts related to Lantz's death scene. With the overall positive reception of the film at release accompanying his performance, Johnny Depp quickly became a new name in Hollywood that many audiences were awaiting to see in another role.

A Nightmare On Elm Street

R

Release Date

November 16, 1984

Studio

Warner Bros.

Cast

Heather Langenkamp , Johnny Depp , Robert Englund , John Saxon

Writers

Wes Craven

Runtime

91 minutes

Main Genre

Horror

10 Rango Lets Depp Respectfully Riff on the Western Genre

Rango (2011) – Directed by Gore Verbinski

While Rango is not the first time Johnny Depp has brought his voice to an animated character, Rango the Chameleon remains one of Depp's most memorable animated characters. Part of this is also owed to the unique method used to capture the dialogue for each character, which purposely included live acting with selected costumes and sets to help give the animators of Rango more reference material to animate the characters with.

This allowed even more of Johnny Depp's character acting to shine through in the physicality and expressions of the peculiar reptile along with the critic-pleasing voice work Depp provides for Rango. Depp's talent for bizarre wit and genre savvy as Rango mesh well with a Western setting that affectionately parodies and references many standout films from the genre, like A Fistful of Dollars and The Good, The Bad and the Ugly.

Rango

PG

Action

Adventure

Rango is an ordinary chameleon who accidentally winds up in the town of Dirt, a lawless outpost in the Wild West in desperate need of a new sheriff.

Director

Gore Verbinski

Release Date

March 24, 2011

Studio

Paramount Pictures

Cast

Johnny Depp , Isla Fisher , Timothy Olyphant

Writers

John Logan , Gore Verbinski , James Ward Byrkit

Runtime

1 Hour 47 Minutes

Producer

Gore Verbinski, Graham King, John B. Carls

Production Company

Nickelodeon Movies, Blind Wink Productions, GK Films

9 Depp Was a Shoo-in for the Mad Hatter of Wonderland

Alice in Wonderland (2010) – Directed by Tim Burton

The literature classic Alice in Wonderland has been widely adapted to various forms over the decades. But Tim Burton's 2010 live-action Disney production remains one of the most striking. While Alice, portrayed by Mia Wasikowska, certainly played a well-received part in the movie's success, the supporting cast of Wonderland characters also served as major contributors to that lasting impact, spearheaded by Johnny Depp's depiction of the Mad Hatter.

The Mad Hatter steals the spotlight in shared scenes, as do most of Depp's side characters. Depp chose to bring a three-dimensional value to the quirky character in both Alice in Wonderland and Alice Through the Looking Glass. This, in turn, made Johnny Depp's Mad Hatter a more pleasant and noteworthy companion to Alice with more facets to his character, rather than prior depictions that purely channeled his eccentricities above all else.

Alice in Wonderland

G

Family

Fantasy

Nineteen-year-old Alice returns to the magical world from her childhood adventure, where she reunites with her old friends and learns of her true destiny: to end the Red Queen's reign of terror.

Release Date

March 5, 2010

Cast

Mia Wasikowska , Johnny Depp , Helena Bonham Carter

Runtime

PG

Main Genre

Adventure

Studio

Walt Disney Pictures

Production Company

Walt Disney Pictures, Roth Films, Team Todd

8 Raoul Duke Sees Depp Authentically Resemble Hunter S. Thompson

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998) – Directed by Terry Gilliam

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas is a cinematic retelling of dramatized real events from the novel of the same name by American journalist and author Hunter S. Thompson, with Johnny Depp at the helm portraying Thompson's persona, Raoul Duke. Accompanied by Benicio Del Toro as Dr. Gonzo, Raoul's partner in crime, the two characters drive across the Mojave into Las Vegas, so Duke can cover the Mint 400 off-road motorcycle race. The kick is that the journey is waylaid and amplified through the use of copious psychedelics and other psychoactive substances.

While many famous factors were considered for the duo of Raoul and Dr. Gonzo, Johnny Depp made the role of Hunter S. Thompson's character after the man himself said that Depp was the best fit for the role. Depp's laborious preparation for the role — which included four months of intent studying on Thompson's book, habits, and mannerisms — paid off with a role that Depp has been remembered for years after among fans.

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

7 Victor Van Dort Proved Depp's Voice Acting Skills

Corpse Bride (2005) – Directed by Tim Burton

Few animated movies combine master storytelling with cinematography as effectively as Tim Burton's Corpse Bride did. This stop-motion movie wrapped a haunting story, humorously quirky characters, and stunning visuals into one beautifully dark classic. Of course, where there's a hit Tim Burton film, Johnny Depp isn't far behind — this time through his voice as the nerve-stricken and well-meaning Victor Van Dort. Victor must deal with the trouble of accidentally vowing marriage to a Corpse Bride, portrayed by Helana Bonham Carter, another Tim Burton mainstay.

Depp's role as Victor first proved that his acting abilities transcend well beyond the camera, providing the perfect mix of awkward and endearing characterization for the Victorian protagonist. Depp's voice acting prevailed as a massive contributor to Victor's large fan following the movie's strongly positive reception. Voicing Victor opened up multiple voice-acting opportunities for Johnny Depp, leading to the previously mentioned, Oscar-winning, Rango.

Corpse Bride

PG

Drama

Family

When a shy groom practices his wedding vows in the inadvertent presence of a deceased young woman, she rises from the grave assuming he has married her.

Release Date

September 23, 2005

Cast

Johnny Depp , Helena Bonham Carter , Emily Watson

Runtime

1 Hour 17 Minutes

Main Genre

Animation

Writers

Tim Burton , Carlos Grangel , John August

Production Company

Warner Bros., Tim Burton Productions, Laika Entertainment.

6 Depp's Portrayal of Ed Wood Revitalized Depp's Drive to Act

Ed Wood (1994) – Directed by Tim Burton

Ed Wood is a comedic and dramatic biographical feature on the actor of the same name, who Johnny Depp was excited to have a chance at playing Ed Wood, having been looking for a role he could let loose as a part of. The film covers Ed Wood's best-directed films during his career as a cult filmmaker and actor. The Ed Wood film also focuses on Ed Wood's interactions with actor Bela Lugosi, portrayed by Martin Landau.

Johnny Depp's enthusiasm for the role is apparent; and though he was depicting Ed Wood, Depp drew inspiration from varied sources. Inspirations cited by Depp include American actors Mickey Rooney and Jack Haley, along with various speeches delivered by Ronald Regan. Ed Wood earned Depp a highly positive critical reception for his leading role as Ed Wood, which was primarily highlighted for being a genuine portrayal of Ed Wood at the time that didn't resort to parody or mockery.

Ed Wood

5 Sweeney Todd's Musical Crimes Earned Depp a Golden Globe

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007) – Directed by Tim Burton

Music meets morbid in Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. Tim Burton translated the beloved stage musical to the big screen and looked to Depp to take on the titular role. Depp's role, in particular, stood out as a highlight. The actor's surprisingly solid vocals were a welcome treat, and his acting paired well with his thrilling portrayal of the brutal and musical barber. Depp dove deep into the essence of Sweeney Todd, a dark character who only seems to persist in achieving vengeance for being thoroughly wronged by a corrupt judge who was after Todd's wife.

Stephen Sondheim, who wrote the original musical Sweeney Todd is based upon, was fairly impressed by how the film turned out despite his initial apprehension about such an adaptation being made. The role of Sweeney Todd also won Johnny Depp a Golden Globe, helping to solidify its iconic status in a tangible way that cements the role's importance to Depp's career.

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

R

Drama

Horror

Musical

The legendary tale of a barber who returns from wrongful imprisonment to 1840s London, bent on revenge for the rape and death of his wife, and resumes his trade while forming a sinister partnership with his fellow tenant, Mrs. Lovett.

Release Date

December 21, 2007

Cast

Johnny Depp , Helena Bonham Carter , Alan Rickman , Timothy Spall , Sacha Baron Cohen , Laura Michelle Kelly , Jamie Campbell Bower , Ed Sanders

Runtime

116 minutes

Main Genre

Horror

Writers

John Logan

Story By

Characters By

Stephen Sondheim, Hugh Wheeler

4 Gilbert Grape Showcased Depp's Emotional Depths

What's Eating Gilbert Grape (1993) – Directed by Lasse Hallström

What's Eating Gilbert Grape is a highly reviewed, but sometimes overlooked, drama film of early '90s cinema. The plot revolves around young Gilbert Grape as he struggles to care for his mother and younger brother, Arnie, as the primary worker of the household. The film's depiction of Gilbert's mother's obesity and Arnie's autism are certainly a bit dated, but the overarching discussions of grief and standing by one's family have aged far better.

While Leonardo Dicaprio is the breakout star of What's Eating Gilbert Grape, Depp's role as the exhausted Gilbert Grape is an unforgettable performance. He blends Grape's roles of the burdened son, the frustrated brother, and the tortured lover into one movingly realistic portrayal. Gilbert Grape as a character garners empathy and love from audiences despite all of his faults — another strong testament to Depp's ability to be grounded when the project calls for it.

What's Eating Gilbert Grape?

PG-13

A young man in a small Midwestern town struggles to care for his mentally-disabled younger brother and morbidly obese mother while attempting to pursue his own happiness.

Release Date

March 4, 1994

Director

Lasse Hallström

Cast

Johnny Depp , Leonardo DiCaprio , Juliette Lewis

Runtime

1hour 58 minutes

Main Genre

Drama

Writers

Peter Hedges

Production Company

Paramount Pictures

3 Donnie Brasco is Depp's Most Notable Role Based On a Real Person

Donnie Brasco (1997) – Directed by Mike Newell

In another display of Johnny Depp's range, we see him tackle the role of a straight-laced FBI agent who begins to unwind and become more like the mafia he works undercover with in Donnie Brasco. However, this setup and the movie's plot are dramatizations of real-life events experienced by FBI agent Joseph D. Pistone, who first wrote about them in his autobiographical Donnie Brasco: My Undercover Life in the Mafia. Here, Depp plays opposite Al Pacino acting as Lefty Ruggiero, the aging mafia member Pistone befriended as Donnie Brasco to get deeper into the mafia's network.

Even with Al Pacino featured as much as Johnny Depp throughout Donnie Brasco's runtime, Depp's performance was just as highlighted for being believably tense and genuine as he expresses the chaos Pistone underwent while undercover in the mafia. Depp's ability to channel the pressure Pistone felt during his brushes with having his cover inadvertently blown helped make the role memorable for Depp's ability to channel such genuine emotional responses.

Donnie Brasco

R

Crime

Biography

Drama

An FBI undercover agent infiltrates the mob and finds himself identifying more with the Mafia life--at the expense of his regular one.

Director

Mike Newell

Release Date

February 28, 1997

Cast

Al Pacino , Johnny Depp , Michael Madsen , Bruno Kirby

Writers

Joseph D. Pistone , Richard Woodley , Paul Attanasio

Runtime

127 minutes

2 Edward Scissorhands Was the First of Many Depp-Burton Collaborations

Edward Scissorhands (1990) – Directed by Tim Burton

Today, the names Tim Burton and Johnny Depp practically go hand-in-hand. The director-actor duo have created many hits together over the years, and their journey first began with the gothic romance Edward Scissorhands. The film tells the story of young Edward, a boy with scissor blades for fingers, navigating the outside world while dealing with societal stigmas and navigating adolescent love.

Depp brought the titular Edward to life, playing the benevolent but misunderstood outcast with genuine emotion and depth. Depp's performance as Edward was the defining factor behind the film's success and is widely remembered as one of Depp's most memorable roles to date. Johnny Depp's expressive acting as Edward provided humor and heartache in equal measure, and Depp's unique brand of expressiveness would become a common trait of his most layered and loved characters to come after.

Edward Scissorhands

PG-13

Fantasy

Romance

Drama

The solitary life of an artificial man - who was incompletely constructed and has scissors for hands - is upended when he is taken in by a suburban family.

Release Date

December 14, 1990

Cast

Johnny Depp , Winona Ryder , Dianne Wiest , Anthony Michael Hall

Runtime

105 minutes

Main Genre

Drama

Writers

Caroline Thompson

1 Jack Sparrow Earned Johnny Depp His Widest Reaching Appeal

Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003) – Directed by Gore Verbinski

Johnny Depp played relatively niche roles in the early years of his career that became much more iconic over time. His projects always showcased his acting prowess while usually carrying dark and refined tones to be appreciated primarily by older audiences. However, that all changed in 2003 when Depp donned the role of Captain Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl.

The role of Jack Sparrow thrust Depp into the center of mainstream cinema, making him a household name with audiences on an even larger scale than his television and feature film debuts had. Depp also made the role his own, turning Sparrow into an eccentric and exciting anti-hero pirate who's become a permanent part of pop culture fame. The critical response aligning with the overwhelmingly positive fan response only served to help instantly make Jack Sparrow stand out as one of Johnny Depp's most iconic roles.

Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl

PG-13

Action

Fantasy

Blacksmith Will Turner teams up with eccentric pirate "Captain" Jack Sparrow to save his love, the governor's daughter, from Jack's former pirate allies, who are now undead.

Release Date

June 28, 2003

Cast

Johnny Depp , Geoffrey Rush , Orlando Bloom , Keira Knightley , Jack Davenport , Jonathan Pryce

Runtime

2 hours 33 minutes

Main Genre

Adventure

Writers

Ted Elliott , Terry Rossio , Stuart Beattie , Jay Wolpert

Studio