Most film actors tend to fall into one of two camps: they’re big, recognizable stars who essentially play variants of the same character repeatedly, or they completely disappear into a role. The former is typically referred to as a “movie star” while the latter has been labeled “character actor.” A few names meet in the middle of this performance Venn diagram. One would be Tom Hanks, who manages to bethe inimitable Tom Hanksand an entirely different person with every new role. Another big, almost monolithic name in this middle category would beJohnny Depp.
Depp started his career as a young, good-looking actor in the 80s with roles as young, good-looking characters in films likePrivate Resortand the originalNightmare on Elm Street. On television, he similarly portrayed undercover cop Tom Hanson in the teen cop drama21 Jump Street. However, unlike most teen idols of the day, there was something more introverted about his performances. Being a star didn’t seem to appeal to him, and it wasn’t until we saw him in strange, more offbeat roles that his ability and range started to come through. Below, we take a look at 10 of his performances that showcase that range. Some of them contributed to his eventual blockbuster status, while others still remain fairly fringe, but all of them demonstrate why he has remained a notable actor for decades.
Updated June 12, 2025: This collection of Johnny Depp’s best film characters has been updated with additional content, including where to stream each of the films featured.
10Jack Sparrow — Pirates of the Caribbean (2003–2017)
For an entire generation of film fans, Depp and the pirateCaptain Jack Sparroware indistinguishable. Although he had been a huge name to people who enjoyed stories off the beaten path since the 80s, it was the mega-successful adventure filmbased on a Disney ride,Pirates of the Caribbean, that launched him into next-level stardom. Jack Sparrow is an odd, consistently inebriated liar, who could be the great hero he purports to be if he just cleaned up his act. A pirate at his core, Jack Sparrow often relies more on his charm and cartoonish antics to avoid dangerous situations, though he’s more than ready to fight when the chips are down.
Depp’s Most Consistent (And Popular) Role
The role has allowed Depp to make his own brand of peculiar characters mainstream by giving him the chance to play a living cartoon of a person who has almost no redeemable qualities. However, you’re able to’t help but root for Jack Sparrow anyway. It would be easy to brush off this performance as over the top, but if Depp didn’t find subtle ways to ground the character with genuine human emotion, then Jack Sparrow wouldn’t have become the film icon he currently is. It’s a thin line Depp walks while playing Sparrow, as at any second he could drunkenly tumble over into pure parody. It’s easily one of Depp’s most popular and consistent roles, having donned the pirate captain’s signature outfit for a total of five films and a plethora of multimedia titles.StreamthePirates of the Caribbeanfranchise on Disney+.
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
The Best Johnny Depp Performances Of All Time
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9Glenn Lantz — A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
As mentioned in the intro, Depp’s role in the original (and best)A Nightmare on Elm Streetbasically required him to be a young, handsome guy. Originally,Glenn Lantzwas written to be a beefy jock, but the relatively scrawny Depp wanted to play him anyway. PerTime, Wes Craven cast Depp in the role at the urging of his daughter, Jessica Craven. The film needs no introduction nowadays, with Depp starring alongsideRobert Englund’s Freddy Kruegerin one of the most famous horror films of the 1980s. In a twist on the slasher genre, it depicts a nightmarish killer who targets teenagers in their dreams.
Depp Brought Something Unique to the Role
This decision made for a much more interesting character, with Depp playing him as a normal kid with more going on internally than he’d like to admit. Nearly every scene between him and Nancy (Heather Langenkamp) is tinged with this subtext that he’s keeping something from her. It’s only remarked on once, but it adds shading to the character that might not have been there had someone else taken the role. Of course, we’d be remiss to not mention that Depp was also at the center of the film’s most over-the-top moment. After being sucked into his own mattress by Freddy Krueger, Depp explodes into a violent column of blood, making for an incredibly striking moment in a film loaded with memorable scenes. StreamA Nightmare on Elm Streeton Netflix.
A Nightmare on Elm Street
On Elm Street, Nancy Thompson and a group of her friends (comprising Tina Gray, Rod Lane and Glen Lantz) are being tormented by a clawed killer in their dreams named Fred Krueger. Nancy must think quickly, as Fred tries to pick them off one by one. When he has you in your sleep, who is there to save you?
8Wade Walker — Cry-Baby (1990)
John Waters was the perfect director to show the world just how capable of subverting the audience’s expectations Johnny Depp was. His 1990 comedyCry-Babyis a filthy spin on the teen movies of the 50s and 60s, with Depp playing bad-boy greaserWade Walker. As is the case with the rest ofJohn Waters’ oeuvre,Cry-Babyis all about mainstream society (squares) versus the outcasts (drapes). In this satirical take onRomeo & Juliet, a square falls in love with a drape, and it causes a lot of trouble for both parties.
Johnny Depp and John Waters Are a Great Pairing
What makes Depp so perfect for the role is the fact that he looks like he should be a vapid, young Hollywood star, but his tastes are far stranger. He plays a character who looks like Elvis with a dangerous edge, but is so full of emotions that he’ll let out a single tear in any situation. It’s a part that directly targets Depp’s public image, and he appears to have a ball twisting it around. While the film was a box office failure in spite of positive reviews, it’s still an excellent outing from John Waters, and it’s easily one of Depp’s most intriguing roles as well.Buy or RentCry-Babyon Apple TV.
7Edward D. Wood Jr. — Ed Wood (1994)
Depp has collaborated with Tim Burton eight times. But, perhaps Depp’s greatest performance with the gothic auteur is the still underrated 1994 biopic,Ed Wood. It’s about independent filmmakerEdward D. Wood Jr., the mastermind behindGlen or Glenda,Bride of the Monster, and the cult classicPlan 9 from Outer Space.Part comedy, part tragedy, this black-and-white masterpiece depicts a mad genius who simply didn’t have the self-discipline required to make a good movie. Wood has all the ambition, passion, and drive, but none of the talent. He’s surrounded by social outcasts who devote themselves to his work, but who also lack the know-how to make a cohesive, narrative feature film.
Depp Conveys a Complicated Character
Depp plays wood like an idealistic young boy who earnestly believes that all he has to do is love an idea enough, and it will make a masterpiece. He is naive but lovable, and Depp makes you believe he will succeed, even though we know he is doomed to failure. It’s a film that wouldn’t work without an effective lead, and thankfully, Depp embodies Wood’s optimism and greater ambitions in a way that’s both believable and endearing.Buy or RentEd Woodon Prime Video.
6Raoul Duke — Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998)
Before Jack Sparrow, there wasRaoul DukeinFear and Loathing in Las Vegas. Based on the novel by Hunter S. Thompson, this Terry Gilliam (Brazil) film was the first time we saw Depp play a consistently inebriated man we weren’t quite sure we could trust. There are some similarities between Duke and the pirate captain, but they’re mostly superficial. The film sees Raoul Duke — a fictional stand-in for Thompson — and his attorney traveling to Las Vegas in order to provide journalistic coverage for the Mint 400 motorcycle race. However, things take a turn as the duoheavily indulge in hallucinogenic drugs.
Depp Brought Raoul Duke to Life
Depp’s Duke is a living drug trip moving through the world with exaggerated movement, reacting to entities that aren’t there, and other trappings in the sensory overload that is Los Vegas. This is one of those roles Depp disappears into. We start the film recognizing that this is indeed Johnny Depp, but somewhere along the way we lose all track of reality, and he simply becomes the unreliable narrator of this acid trip of a film. PerGrunge, Depp and Hunter S. Thompson even formed a real-life friendship during the production of the film, with the latter assisting in capturing Raoul Duke’s signature look.Buy or RentFear and Loathing in Las Vegason Prime Video.
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
5Mort Rainey — Secret Window (2004)
Secret Windowisn’t themost memorable Stephen King adaptation, but it does include two pretty stellar performances by both Depp and John Turturro. Depp playsMort Rainey, a successful author who is experiencing writer’s block after separating from his wife who had an affair. Turturro plays a menacing man named John Shooter, who is convinced Rainey stole his story, leading him to stalk Rainey at his remote cabin.
Depp Is Faced With a Unique Challenge
Secret Windowactually requires Depp to play two roles since, spoiler alert, Shooter only exists in Rainey’s head. When the truth comes out, we see Depp getting to be sinister and that change is palpable. It demonstrates his range because he spends most of the film as just a normal guy going through a hard time and the finale as a killer. It’s a rare villainous side that we get to see from Depp that makes this particular role really stand out.Buy or RentSecret Windowon Apple TV.
Secret Window
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4Edward Scissorhands — Edward Scissorhands (1990)
With the character of Edward from the filmEdward Scissorhands, Depp had to basically play a child. Created by an inventor who passed away before the finishing touches could be made,Edward Scissorhandslives alone in a gothic mansion on a hill overlooking a small suburban town. He’s had no communication with the outside world, so when he is allowed to live with a “normal” family, he is the epitome of a fish out of water. Virtually everything is new to him, and he communicates that to us via facial expressions rather than words, since Edward barely speaks.
Depp’s Most Bizarre Character
Edward Scissorhandsis a perfect example of Depp disappearing into a role, and it works like magic. The title character’s lacking voice and reliance on physical expression make for an equally intriguing and mysterious character, with Depp giving the character a genuine emotional core. It takes something truly special to feel connected to such a strange character, and Depp manages to forge that connection with flying colors. It’s a combination of Depp’s performance and Tim Burton’s overall direction that makesEdward Scissorhandsone of the latter’s best films.StreamEdward Scissorhandson Max.
Edward Scissorhands
3Sir James Matthew Barrie — Finding Neverland (2004)
Finding Neverlandisn’t usually mentioned whenever people discuss Depp’s filmography, and that’s a shame. While he isn’t playing the kind of character we typically associate him with,James Matthew Barrie(better known asJ.M. Barrie) is just as much of an outcast and weirdo (in terms of society’s opinion of him) as any character Depp has tackled. Here, Depp has to play a good and kind man who just wants to create a storytelling experience that fills his audience with awe and wonder. He wants to cut through the pretense of theater and engage with people in a way that makes them feel like a kid again. So, he gives the world Peter Pan.
One of Depp’s Critically-Acclaimed Roles
It’s a sweet and gentle story about the necessity of escape and the purity of the imagination, and Depp always has a sparkle in his eyes in nearly every scene. It’s easily one of his most emotional roles, contributing toFinding Neverland’s tearjerker status as well as its numerous Academy Award nominations. Famously,Depp would earn a nomination for Best Actorfor his performance here, with the surrounding film also earning a Best Picture nomination.Buy or RentFinding Neverlandon Prime Video.
2Sweeney Todd — Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)
The Demon Barber of Fleet Streetis a well-known story that has been retold a few times, but never with the scale of horror and dread found in Tim Burton’s 2007 adaptation of the iconic Sondheim musical. In the film, the titularSweeney Toddis a walking, furious, raw nerve of a human being focused entirely on revenge for being falsely imprisoned and losing his family. His plot for revenge involves murder, meat pies, and the lovely Mrs. Lovett (Helena Bonham Carter).
Depp’s Furious Musical Performance
Depp plays Sweeney Todd with a ferocious sneer, ready to slit any throat that gets in his way. That alone would make it a captivating performance, but it’s the emotion and insight he provides through song that really draws you in. Given the nature of the character and all the singing, this is one of the more unique performances in Depp’s career. Thankfully, his talented singing voice makes the film’s title character atrue standout when it comes to movie musicals.StreamSweeney Toddon Paramount+.
Sweeney Todd
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1Gilbert Grape — What’s Eating Gilbert Grape (1993)
For all the kooky characters and oddballs Johnny Depp has played, his ability to play a subdued and natural character goes unnoticed. There is perhaps no better example of this than that of Gilbert Grape inWhat’s Eating Gilbert Grape. The film follows the title character as he lives in a rural Iowan town, balancing his own ambitious goals in life with the immediate needs of his family. Though the film bombed at the box office, it drew critical praise for the strength of its performances.
Depp and DiCaprio Stole the Show
At the time of its release, all the buzz was aroundLeonardo DiCaprio’s performanceas Gilbert’s autistic little brother, Arnie. It isn’t hard to see why, since he obviously gave his all to the film, but Depp is wonderfully lost as the title character.
Depp is playing a character who wants more but feels tethered to his tiny hometown. He’s capable of more but too afraid to go for it. All of that is shown on his face and body language. It’s brilliant because Depp could easily have played Gilbert as a brooding storm cloud, but instead, he deliberately goes for something more subtle and realistic.Buy or RentWhat’s Eating Gilbert Grapeon Apple TV.
Whats Eating Gilbert Grape
