10 Most Universally Beloved Johnny Depp Movies of All Time, Ranked

Few actors have an eclectic filmography like Johnny Depp. While his most popular character might be in a Disney film, he has made his adaptability his calling card in the industry. From gothic fairy tales to psychedelic journeys to crime dramas, Depp has done it all and has gained millions of fans around the world.

Movies by nature are opinion-based. But some Johnny Depp films have no haters and are beloved by all. Be it the actor’s incredible work as Jack Sparrow or his collaborations with Tim Burton, these films are universally liked. The films in the following list will be ranked not just by their storytelling quality, but also by their universal appeal and visibility.

Here are 10 universally beloved Johnny Depp movies.

10 Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas is The Psychedelic Odyssey

Terry Gilliam’s adaptation of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas may not be a commercial success, but it represents exactly the kind of experimentation Johnny Depp did in his career. The film follows Depp and Benicio del Toro on a journey to Las Vegas, but it is so much more than that. It’s a psychedelic odyssey that became a cult classic.

Depp physically transformed for the role, studying author Hunter S. Thompson’s mannerisms closely and even living with the author during pre-production. The film is ranked the lowest, not because people don’t like it, but because only a few have watched it. But whoever watches the movie has loved it, and it has since gained a cult following.

9 Sleepy Hollow is a Gothic Whodunnit with a Twist

Tim Burton and Johnny Depp have collaborated on several weird and gothic films in their career. Sleepy Hollow is probably their most normal, and even that is not without its strangeness. Depp plays Ichabod Crane, a constable from New York, who is called to investigate a series of murders in a small village called Sleepy Hollow.

The period film is based on the short story by Washington Irving and captures the strange phenomenon of the village. It has murders, witches, a snowy atmosphere, and the legend of the headless horseman that elevates it to a mythic level. Despite it being one of the best Johnny Depp movies, it is still not the most popular of the Depp-Burton collaborations, and that’s why it ranks 9th.

8 Finding Neverland Shows a Window to a Beloved Fairy Tale

Everybody loves the story of Peter Pan. Finding Neverland explores the author J.M. Barrie and how his experiences shaped the story of Peter Pan. Depp plays the playwright Barrie, who begins to hang out with the widow Sylvia Llewelyn Davies and her four sons, who become the basis of the renowned play.

Finding Neverland is that one movie that has a small fandom of its own, and it’s a comfort movie for anyone who has watched it. Depp got an Oscar nomination for Best Actor for the role, and the final scene with Freddie Highmore has become a meme. It ranks 8th because of its visibility in Depp’s filmography, despite the Oscar nomination.

7 A Killer Musical in Sweeney Todd Weirdly Makes Sense for Johnny Depp

Trust Tim Burton to adapt one of the weirdest musicals, and trust Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter to lead them. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street is the story of a barber out for revenge against his wife’s oppressor, and all the other customers he kills so he and his partner, Ms. Lovett, can make meat pies out of their corpses. Fun, right?

Johnny Depp shines as Sweeney Todd, and the rest of the cast, including Carter, Alan Rickman, Timothy Spall, and Jamie Campbell Bower (who went on to join the Wizarding World prequels), do an incredible job in the film. Without a doubt, Sweeney Todd is still rewatchworthy. The only issue is that it is not that perfect of a movie, and it being a musical affects its universal appeal.

6 Donnie Brasco Brought Depp and Al Pacino in a Single Movie

The lead combination alone should make Donnie Brasco a legendary movie. Based on the true story of FBI agent Joseph Pistone, who spent years undercover infiltrating the Bonanno crime family, the film pairs Depp with Al Pacino in a study of loyalty, identity, and moral erosion. It is one of the greatest crime movies of the 20th century.

Depp plays Donnie Brasco with extreme complexity, and his betrayal feels most tragic. Critics love his performance, and so do audiences. The only reason it ranks 6th is that there are far more popular movies in both Al Pacino’s and Johnny Depp’s filmographies.

5 Despite Another Star, Depp Shines In What’s Eating Gilbert Grape

What’s Eating Gilbert Grape is best known for Leonardo DiCaprio’s incredible performance as the intellectually disabled Arnie. It is a flashier role, of course, and watching a 19-year-old take on such a complex role and get an Oscar nomination. However, Johnny Depp’s restrained performance keeps the movie together.

Depp plays Gilbert Grape, the store clerk who is stuck in a small town with his obese mother, disabled brother, and two sisters. His familial duty trumps his own dreams and aspirations, and he takes it all with stoicism. The film ranks in the middle because DiCaprio’s performance overshadows Depp’s in conversations and is not easily associated with him.

4 Only Tim Burton and Depp Could Make a Biopic on Ed Wood Work

One of Johnny Depp and Tim Burton’s most exciting collaborations was the biopic of the Hollywood filmmaker Ed Wood, who was labeled the ‘Worst Director of all Time’. Ed Wood follows the filmmaker’s ambitious plans to make it in the film industry, using a scrappy approach and a do-what-it-takes attitude. It also explores his personal life and touches upon Ed Wood’s cross-dressing.

In an era where biopics were made about strong personalities who were the best at what they do, Burton and Depp’s exploration of a man who truly stops at nothing to make the worst movies imaginable was revolutionary. Without Ed Wood, there likely wouldn’t be The Disaster Artist and Dolemite is My Name.

3 Edward Scissorhands is a Gothic Christmas Fable

This is the best Burton-Depp collaboration by a mile, and it is their first. Edward Scissorhands begins as a fairy tale of sorts about a man created with scissors for hands. A weird premise, but it then transforms into one of the most beautiful romances about love, identity, and Christmas.

Depp’s innocent performance, his chemistry with Winona Ryder, and Danny Elfman’s score complement each other so well, and Tim Burton’s direction ties it all together into a neatly wrapped tragicomedy for the ages. While it is beloved by many, it is still not as popular as Depp’s other films.

2 Rango is a Unique Animated Western

Johnny Depp and Gore Verbinski have worked on many movies together, but Rango is their most unique creation. The animated film sees Depp voice the eponymous chameleon, who ends up in the town of Dirt and has to protect it from water-guzzling predators. It is stylized like a Western and has an impressive voice cast.

Rango is not a typical animated film like the ones we see from Pixar or DreamWorks. It is not Shrek or Finding Nemo. But it is an incredible story of a tall talking chameleon who faces his fears and embraces the wild. Depp’s performance is beautiful, and he fills the movie with life, thriving under a unique process where the actors physically performed the scenes together on a stage.

1 Everybody Loves Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl

If there is one role of Johnny Depp that has zero haters, it is Jack Sparrow. And it all began with Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl. Who knew that a movie based on a theme park ride would be so beloved? It is hugely because of Depp’s performance as the bumbling pirate Captain Jack Sparrow and his antics.

The sequels may be a hit or a miss, with the fourth and fifth movies especially losing a lot of their magic. But The Curse of the Black Pearl still holds good. Be it the banter between him and Barbossa, his weird chemistry with Keira Knightley’s Elizabeth, or the CGI, the film is still fresh. No one hates this movie, and Jack Sparrow is Depp’s best character.

Which Johnny Depp movie do you think is the best? Comment below.