It’s been some time since Johnny Depp graced our screens. He’s been a Hollywood icon for over 30 years and has starred in some of the biggest box office smashes in history as some of the most recognisable characters on our screens.
So much so that in a recent poll by Ladbrokes, he was voted the UK’s favourite current celebrity. Which is quite the accolade in a world of the Kardashians and Ryan Gosling.
Of course, that’s because he has a fantastic back catalogue of work, but what ranks up there amongst his best?
A Nightmare on Elm Street
A Nightmare on Elm Street may have been Johnny Depp’s first role on the big screen, but he showed no sign of nerves with a magnificent performance as Glen Lantz, one of the main characters who experience the horrific nightmares of Freddy Krueger.
Depp was aged just 21 at the time, and it was actually director Wes Craven’s daughter who gave him the nod to play the boyfriend of Nancy Thompson. Of course we can see why he was chosen as the heartthrob.
Edward Scissorhands
Edward Scissorhands was the first of an incredible catalogue of work for Johnny Depp and Tim Burton, and it was perhaps their finest piece together.
Released in 1990, the fantasy film saw Depp in a leading role as Edward Scissorhands, an artificial man who had scissors for hands.
It became a cult classic and earned rave reviews from the likes of Rolling Stone and Rotten Tomatoes, eventually grossing over $55million worldwide.
It was the beginning of a great relationship between Burton and Depp who have gone on to make Ed Wood, Corpse Bride, Sleepy Hollow, Sweeney Todd, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory amongst others.
Rango
Depp isn’t a regular in the animated film circles, but when he does have a dabble in the art, he’s certainly quite the talent. Rango earned rave reviews upon release, picking up an Oscar and the pet chameleon stealing the hearts of an audience.
The comedy western follows Rango, who accidentally ends up in Dirt, a town desperately in need of a new sheriff. It’s a wild, fun, and action-packed movie with an all-star cast including Isla Fisher, Bill Nighy, and Ray Winstone.
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
If there’s one thing Johnny Depp does better than no other, it’s wacky. It’s the reason the nation loves him so much, and there’s perhaps no finer example of it than in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.
Based on the 1971 novel by Hunter S. Thompson, the film was actually a box office failure but has gained a huge cult following over the years, with Depp putting in a splendid performance as the lead, Raoul Duke.
It’s a movie of psychedelia, and offers real moments of the surreal, something of which Depp excels in.
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
Of course it’s impossible to create a list without mentioning Johnny Depp’s most iconic character, Captain Jack Sparrow.
The 52-year-old has starred in five movies as the lovable pirate, but it was the first, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, which is really stands out.
That was much because we didn’t know what to expect. His comic timing was genius, his portrayal of bad guy come good impeccable, and his will they won’t they with Keira Knightly one that left us wanting more.
It’s no wonder we’ve had four more instalments of one of Disney’s biggest franchises.
