Johnny Depp’s Hollywood career continues to thrive despite his scandalous divorce. The legendary actor still has much to offer. While many are familiar with his blockbuster hits, some of his remarkable performances have flown under the radar. We’ve gathered a list of seven iconic Johnny Depp films that deserve more attention.
Content
- Donnie Brasco
- Jeanne du Barry
- Murder on the Orient Express
- Minamata
- City of Lies
- The Professor
- Donald Trump’s The Art of the Deal: The Movie
Donnie Brasco
IMDb: 7.7/10
1997, Biography, Crime, Drama
USA, R
Director: Mike Newell
Top cast: Al Pacino, Johnny Depp, Michael Madsen
Donnie Brasco is set in New York City in 1978. FBI agent Joe Pistone is given a new assignment: infiltrate one of Brooklyn’s criminal organizations and gather detailed information about their activities. He must abandon his real name and cut ties with all his friends and family because he is now Donnie Brasco. An aging mobster who needs a young partner believes in Donnie and entrusts him with important tasks. As Donnie becomes more confident in his untouchable status, he realizes that although his new life offers almost unlimited freedom, it’s not too late to return to his old one. But he needs to betray the one person who has become a true friend to him.
Jeanne du Barry
IMDb: 6.7/10
2023, Biography, Drama, History
France, Unrated
Director: Maïwenn
Top cast: Stanislas Stanic, Maïwenn, Johnny Depp
One of Johnny Depp’s latest films, Jeanne du Barry, impressed audiences at the Cannes Film Festival. The movie transports us to 18th-century France, where we follow Jeanne Vaubernier, a commoner who received a good education thanks to a wealthy patron. As she matured, Jeanne continued to associate with the most influential people in France. Count Guillaume Du Barry, one of her regular clients, saw an opportunity to profit by introducing her to the King Louis XV. The king was immediately taken with Jeanne and quickly made her his favorite. However, not everyone at Versailles was happy to see a former courtesan by the ruler’s side.
Murder on the Orient Express
IMDb: 6.5/10
2017, Drama, Crime, Mystery, Thriller
USA, UK, PG-13
Director: Kenneth Branagh
Top cast: Kenneth Branagh, Penélope Cruz, Willem Dafoe
Another adaptation of Agatha Christie’s detective novel, Murder on the Orient Express, follows detective Hercule Poirot as he embarks on a journey aboard the famous Orient Express. On the train, he encounters an unpleasant American gangster named Edward Ratchett, who offers Poirot a large sum for protection. Ratchett is an antique dealer, but his lack of expertise in the field has earned him many enemies. That night, Ratchett is brutally murdered, stabbed 12 times. All the train’s passengers become suspects. With the train derailed, Poirot must solve the mystery quickly before the murderer strikes again.
Minamata
IMDb: 7.2/10
2020, Drama
USA, UK, R
Director: Andrew Levitas
Top cast: Akiko Iwase, Kogarashi Wakasugi, Johnny Depp
Minamata is a groundbreaking drama, with its poignant ending, is seen as a powerful statement from the actor. Set in the 1970s, the film takes place in a Japanese village near Minamata Bay, where an environmental disaster unfolds. For decades, a major industrial company has been dumping mercury-laden chemicals into the water, leaving the local population in despair. The community’s traditional fish diet has become a ticking time bomb, leading to children being born with severe deformities such as crooked bones, impaired vision, and muteness. Across the ocean, renowned war photographer W. Eugene Smith is nearing the end of his life, battling severe alcohol problems and facing doubts about his career future. Yet he captures the fate of those who know all too well how easily society can discard you like waste.
City of Lies
IMDb: 6.5/10
2018, Biography, Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller
USA, UK, R
Director: Brad Furman
Top cast: Johnny Depp, Forest Whitaker, Toby Huss
City of Lies is based on true events and the book by reporter Randall Sullivan, who interviewed Russell Poole. Poole was the detective who investigated the murders of hip-hop legend Tupac Shakur and rapper The Notorious B.I.G., also known as Biggie Smalls. Poole believed that the gang wars or rap group rivalries were just a cover and that the Los Angeles police were involved in the case. Disillusioned with his profession and wanting to remind his colleagues and the public of the best investigative practices, Poole teams up with reporter Jackson to piece together all the facts surrounding the two murders. Rumor has it that even the film’s official release was delayed by the Los Angeles police.
The Professor
IMDb: 6.7/10
2018, Comedy, Romance
USA, R
Director: Wayne Roberts
Top cast: Johnny Depp, Rosemarie DeWitt, Odessa Young
The Professor is an experimental film that revolves around one central character. This provocative blend of comedy and drama explores a very dark theme. The story follows college professor Richard Brown, who learns he has a terminal illness. The prognosis is bleak: he has only a short time left to live, but it seems that’s exactly what he was waiting for. Swimming in ponds, offering a unique course for students that includes mandatory smoking and drinking, and living a liberated personal life — what’s the point of following the rules now? Plus, it wouldn’t hurt the students to think more broadly, because, as it turns out, everyone only gets one life.
Donald Trump’s The Art of the Deal: The Movie
IMDb: 5.9/10
2016, Comedy, Parody
USA, Unrated
Director: Jeremy Konner
Top cast: Johnny Depp, Ron Howard, Alfred Molina
Ron Howard accidentally discovered a rare find: a tape of an unreleased film based on Donald Trump’s book, in which Trump himself played the lead role. According to the credits, he also directed, filmed, and produced the project. The film was created exclusively for an online audience by the team at Funny or Die, known for its comedy shows featuring top-tier celebrities. Filming was conducted under strict secrecy, with nearly all participants signing non-disclosure agreements. Despite the film’s parodic nature, viewers might occasionally forget they’re watching a movie. On screen, it seems like the real Trump, not Depp in a funny wig.
