Johnny Depp’s Career: From ‘A Nightmare on Elm Street’ to ‘Jeanne du Barry’

Johnny Depp is an American actor celebrated for his portrayals of eccentric and unconventional characters. He rose to fame in the late 1980s and quickly established himself as a unique talent, gravitating towards roles that challenged him and defied audience expectations. Depp became known for his transformative performances, often disappearing behind quirky mannerisms, distinct voices, and elaborate costumes.

Throughout his career, Depp has cultivated a reputation as a daring and versatile performer. His frequent collaborations with director Tim Burton have produced some of cinema’s most memorable and imaginative characters, from a man with scissors for hands to a whimsical chocolate factory owner. While he is beloved for these fantastical roles, he has also earned praise for his work in crime dramas, romantic films, and biopics, showcasing a remarkable range that has made him one of the most recognizable actors in the world.

‘A Nightmare on Elm Street’ (1984)

This classic horror film introduces one of the genre’s most iconic villains, Freddy Krueger. The story follows a group of teenagers in a suburban town who are stalked and killed in their dreams by a disfigured man with a bladed glove. As the teens realize their nightmares can have fatal consequences in the real world, they must find a way to stay awake and fight back.

Johnny Depp made his feature film debut as Glen Lantz, the loyal boyfriend of the film’s protagonist, Nancy Thompson. Glen is a typical high school student who is skeptical of Nancy’s claims about a killer in her dreams. His character is remembered for his shocking and spectacular death scene, which became one of the most famous moments in the franchise.

‘Private Resort’ (1985)

This teen comedy is set at a luxurious Florida resort where two young men are on the prowl for adventure and romance. The plot follows their various misadventures as they try to meet women while running from a bumbling house detective and crossing paths with a conniving jewel thief.

Depp plays Jack Marshall, one of the two teenage friends hoping for a wild weekend. The role was one of his earliest, showcasing a more straightforward comedic side before he became known for his more eccentric characters. It remains a curious entry from the beginning of his extensive filmography.

‘Platoon’ (1986)

This acclaimed war film is based on director Oliver Stone’s own experiences as a U.S. infantryman in Vietnam. The story is told through the eyes of a young, idealistic volunteer who finds himself caught in a moral conflict between two of his sergeants, one ruthless and the other compassionate, as he witnesses the brutal realities of war.

In one of his first dramatic roles, Depp has a small but significant part as Gator Lerner. Lerner is a private in the platoon who serves as a translator. The role was an early opportunity for Depp to work with a major director and be a part of a large ensemble cast in a critically praised film.

‘Cry-Baby’ (1990)

This musical romantic comedy is a satire of 1950s teen movies. The story centers on the forbidden romance between Wade “Cry-Baby” Walker, the leader of a gang of rebellious delinquents known as “drapes,” and Allison Vernon-Williams, a prim and proper girl from the wealthy, “square” side of town.

Depp stars as the titular Wade “Cry-Baby” Walker, a cool, misunderstood rock-and-roll rebel who has the ability to shed a single, perfect tear. The role solidified his status as a teen idol while also parodying that very image, allowing him to showcase his comedic timing and musical talent.

‘Edward Scissorhands’ (1990)

This modern fairy tale tells the story of an artificial man named Edward, who was created by an inventor but left unfinished with giant scissors for hands. He lives in isolation in a gothic mansion until a kind suburban saleswoman discovers him and brings him into her home, where his gentle nature clashes with the suspicious community.

In his first collaboration with director Tim Burton, Johnny Depp gives a touching and iconic performance as Edward. With minimal dialogue, Depp conveys a wide range of emotions, portraying Edward’s innocence, creativity, and tragic loneliness, making the character a beloved cinematic figure.

‘Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare’ (1991)

The sixth installment in the ‘A Nightmare on Elm Street’ series follows the last surviving teenager from the town of Springwood. He is plagued by dreams of Freddy Krueger, who now wants to escape his dream-world prison by finding his long-lost child and using them to wreak havoc on a larger scale.

Depp makes a brief, humorous cameo in the film, credited under the pseudonym Oprah Noodlemantra. He appears in a surreal anti-drug public service announcement on a television, where his character’s brain is fried in a pan. The appearance was a playful nod to his breakout role in the original film.

‘Arizona Dream’ (1993)

This surreal comedy-drama follows a young man who is content tagging fish in New York City. He is lured back to his hometown in Arizona by his uncle to work at his Cadillac dealership. There, his life becomes entangled with two eccentric and emotionally volatile women, a mother and her stepdaughter, who draw him into their world of strange dreams and ambitions.

Depp plays Axel Blackmar, the film’s detached and dreamy protagonist. Axel serves as the calm center in a storm of quirky characters, navigating their bizarre passions, which include flying machines and Russian roulette, while trying to figure out his own path in life.

‘Benny & Joon’ (1993)

This romantic comedy tells the story of a brother and sister, Benny and Joon. Benny has spent his life caring for his mentally ill sister, Joon. Their lives take an unexpected turn when they lose a poker game and are forced to take in Sam, a strange and illiterate man who expresses himself through physical comedy inspired by silent film stars.

Depp plays the eccentric and gentle Sam, who becomes a source of joy and stability for Joon. The role allowed him to showcase his talent for physical comedy, performing routines inspired by Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin. His charming and sensitive performance earned him critical praise.

‘What’s Eating Gilbert Grape’ (1993)

Set in a small, sleepy Iowa town, this drama centers on a young man who feels trapped by his circumstances. He works a dead-end grocery store job while caring for his morbidly obese mother and his younger brother, who has a severe mental disability. His life begins to change with the arrival of a free-spirited young woman who is passing through town.

Johnny Depp stars as the titular Gilbert Grape, a young man burdened by immense family responsibility. In a quiet and restrained performance, Depp powerfully conveys Gilbert’s frustration, exhaustion, and deep-seated love for his family, anchoring the emotional core of the film.

‘Ed Wood’ (1994)

This biographical film chronicles the life of the eccentric and passionate filmmaker Edward D. Wood Jr., who was posthumously known as one of the worst directors of all time. The story follows his unwavering, often comically misguided, ambition to make movies in 1950s Hollywood, despite a lack of funding and talent, and his touching friendship with aging horror star Bela Lugosi.

Depp portrays Ed Wood with infectious, boundless optimism. He captures the director’s can-do spirit and his genuine love for filmmaking, presenting him not as a failure, but as a determined artist who refused to let anything get in the way of his creative vision.

‘Don Juan DeMarco’ (1995)

The film follows a psychiatrist on the verge of retirement who is tasked with treating a young man who claims to be Don Juan, the legendary lover. The young man’s romantic and passionate tales of his life and loves begin to captivate the psychiatrist, reigniting the spark in his own life and marriage.

Depp plays the charming and masked young man who believes he is Don Juan. He delivers his character’s fantastical stories with such sincerity and poetic flair that both the psychiatrist and the audience are left questioning whether he is truly delusional or exactly who he says he is.

‘Dead Man’ (1995)

This philosophical Western is filmed entirely in black-and-white. The story follows a mild-mannered accountant from Cleveland named William Blake who travels to a frontier town for a job. After a violent altercation leaves him a wanted man, he embarks on a spiritual journey of transformation, guided by a Native American man named “Nobody.”

Depp stars as the unassuming William Blake, who is mistaken for the famous poet of the same name. His journey through the American West becomes a surreal and symbolic odyssey, and Depp’s performance traces his character’s evolution from a timid city dweller to a man who accepts his poetic and violent destiny.

‘Nick of Time’ (1995)

This thriller unfolds in real-time, following an ordinary accountant who arrives at a Los Angeles train station with his young daughter. His world is turned upside down when he is approached by two mysterious people who kidnap his daughter and give him a terrifying ultimatum: he must assassinate the state governor within 90 minutes, or his daughter will be killed.

Depp plays Gene Watson, the frantic and desperate father forced into an impossible situation. The role was a departure from his more eccentric characters, placing him in the role of an everyman hero who must rely on his wits to outsmart the conspirators and save his child against a ticking clock.

‘Cannes Man’ (1996)

This satirical film takes a humorous look at the absurdities of the film industry, set against the backdrop of the famous Cannes Film Festival. The story follows a regular person who, through a series of misunderstandings, is mistaken for a brilliant and influential movie producer, quickly becoming the most sought-after man at the festival.

Johnny Depp makes a brief cameo appearance in the film as himself. His presence, along with several other notable actors who appear as themselves, adds to the movie’s satirical commentary on fame, fortune, and the often-ridiculous nature of Hollywood deal-making.

‘The Brave’ (1997)

This film, which Depp also co-wrote and directed, tells a dark and somber story. It centers on a young, impoverished Native American man who lives with his family in a desolate trailer park. Desperate to provide a better life for them, he agrees to a horrifying proposition: to be killed on camera for a “snuff” film in exchange for a large sum of money.

Depp stars as Raphael, the film’s tragic protagonist. He gives a quiet and tortured performance, conveying the character’s immense desperation and the weight of his decision during his final week of life as he tries to connect with his family before his scheduled death.

‘Donnie Brasco’ (1997)

Based on a true story, this crime drama follows FBI agent Joe Pistone as he goes deep undercover to infiltrate the Bonanno crime family in 1970s New York. Using the alias Donnie Brasco, he forms a genuine bond with an aging, low-level mobster who vouches for him, all while the pressures of his double life take a heavy toll on his own family and identity.

Depp plays the central role of Joe Pistone, masterfully portraying the character’s internal conflict. He shows the strain of maintaining his cover and the blurring lines between his identity as an FBI agent and his persona as the gangster Donnie Brasco, for whom he develops a real sense of loyalty and friendship.

‘Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas’ (1998)

This surreal film is a cult classic adapted from Hunter S. Thompson’s novel of the same name. It follows journalist Raoul Duke and his lawyer, Dr. Gonzo, as they embark on a drug-fueled road trip to Las Vegas. Their original assignment to cover a motorcycle race quickly descends into a chaotic and hallucinatory search for the American Dream.

Depp delivers a dedicated and transformative performance as Raoul Duke, a fictionalized version of Thompson himself. Having spent months with the author to prepare, Depp perfectly captured his distinct voice, mannerisms, and a sense of manic energy, fully immersing himself in the gonzo journalist’s persona.

‘The Ninth Gate’ (1999)

This supernatural thriller centers on a cynical and unscrupulous rare-book dealer. He is hired by a wealthy collector to track down and verify the authenticity of the two other surviving copies of a legendary 17th-century book that is said to contain a secret formula for summoning the Devil. His search takes him across Europe and into a world of dark secrets and danger.

Depp plays Dean Corso, the morally ambiguous protagonist. His character is a cool, detached professional who is initially motivated only by money but finds himself drawn into a conspiracy that is far more sinister and real than he ever imagined.

‘The Astronaut’s Wife’ (1999)

This science-fiction thriller follows a woman whose husband is an astronaut on a mission for NASA. When he and his partner briefly lose contact with Earth during a space walk, they return home seemingly unharmed but subtly changed. The wife becomes increasingly paranoid that the man who returned is no longer her husband.

Depp plays Commander Spencer Armacost, the celebrated astronaut whose personality seems to have altered after his mysterious experience in space. He portrays the character with a quiet and unnerving intensity, leaving both his wife and the audience to question what truly happened to him.

‘Sleepy Hollow’ (1999)

In this gothic horror film, the classic story by Washington Irving is reimagined. A quirky and rational New York City constable is sent to the remote village of Sleepy Hollow to investigate a series of gruesome decapitations. The townspeople claim the killer is a supernatural entity: the legendary Headless Horseman.

Depp portrays Ichabod Crane, not as a lanky schoolteacher, but as a squeamish yet determined constable who relies on scientific methods to solve crimes. This role, another collaboration with Tim Burton, perfectly blended horror with Depp’s unique comedic timing.

‘Chocolat’ (2000)

Set in a traditional and repressed French village, this charming film tells the story of a mysterious woman who arrives with her young daughter during Lent. She opens a magical chocolate shop that begins to challenge the town’s strict and pious ways, awakening the hidden desires and passions of the villagers.

Depp has a supporting role as Roux, a handsome and free-spirited Irish Traveller who moors his boat on the village river. He becomes a romantic interest for the chocolatier and an ally in her quiet rebellion against the town’s rigid moral leader.

‘Before Night Falls’ (2000)

This biographical drama tells the life story of the Cuban poet and novelist Reinaldo Arenas. The film chronicles his childhood poverty, his early support for the Cuban Revolution, his subsequent persecution as a gay man under Fidel Castro’s regime, his imprisonment, and his eventual escape to the United States.

Depp appears in two memorable cameo roles. He first plays Bon Bon, a flamboyant and manipulative transvestite prisoner who helps Arenas smuggle his writings out of prison. He later appears as the cruel and imposing Lieutenant Victor, a military officer who interrogates Arenas.

‘The Man Who Cried’ (2000)

The story follows a young Jewish woman who is separated from her father as a child in Soviet Russia. Her journey to find him takes her from her small village to England and finally to Paris on the eve of World War II. In Paris, she joins an opera company and falls in love with a handsome Romani horseman.

Depp plays Cesar, the strong, silent Romani man who captures the protagonist’s heart. It is a role with very little dialogue, requiring him to convey his character’s emotions and charisma almost entirely through his powerful physical presence and expressive eyes.

‘Blow’ (2001)

This biographical crime film tells the real-life story of George Jung, the man who was instrumental in establishing the American cocaine market in the 1970s. The movie chronicles his life from his humble beginnings in a small Massachusetts town to his meteoric rise as a key associate of the Medellín Cartel and his eventual, devastating fall.

Depp stars as George Jung, portraying him across several decades of his life. He captures the character’s charm, ambition, and recklessness, creating a compelling portrait of a man who flew too close to the sun and ultimately lost everything, including his family.

‘From Hell’ (2001)

Set in the grim and impoverished Whitechapel district of Victorian London, this dark thriller offers a fictionalized account of the infamous Jack the Ripper murders. An opium-addicted police inspector with psychic abilities is assigned to the case, and as he investigates, he uncovers a conspiracy that reaches the highest levels of British society.

Depp plays Inspector Frederick Abberline, the troubled and brilliant detective hunting the killer. He portrays Abberline as a man haunted by personal tragedy and visions of the future, whose unconventional methods make him the only one capable of unraveling the grisly mystery.

‘Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl’ (2003)

This swashbuckling fantasy adventure follows a young blacksmith who teams up with a notorious and eccentric pirate captain. Their goal is to rescue the blacksmith’s love, who has been kidnapped by a cursed crew of undead pirates. To break their curse, the pirates need a piece of Aztec gold that she possesses.

Depp introduced the world to one of his most iconic characters, Captain Jack Sparrow. His flamboyant, off-kilter, and endlessly charming performance transformed the character into a cultural phenomenon and earned him an Academy Award nomination, launching a massively successful franchise.

‘Once Upon a Time in Mexico’ (2003)

In the final film of the ‘Mexico Trilogy’, the legendary gunslinger El Mariachi is recruited by a corrupt and manipulative CIA agent. The agent wants him to prevent an assassination attempt on the President of Mexico, which is being planned by a powerful drug lord who also has a personal connection to El Mariachi’s tragic past.

Depp plays Sheldon Sands, the quirky and ruthless CIA agent who orchestrates much of the film’s plot. Sands is a master manipulator who treats the dangerous political landscape as a game, and Depp’s eccentric and scene-stealing performance made the character a memorable highlight.

‘Secret Window’ (2004)

Based on a novella by Stephen King, this psychological thriller centers on a successful writer who, after a painful divorce, retreats to his remote cabin to work on his next book. His solitude is shattered by the arrival of a mysterious and menacing stranger from Mississippi who accuses him of plagiarizing his story.

Depp stars as Mort Rainey, the tormented writer suffering from a severe case of writer’s block. As the stranger’s threats escalate, Mort’s grip on reality begins to loosen, and Depp’s performance skillfully navigates the character’s descent into paranoia and madness.

‘Happily Ever After’ (2004)

This French comedy-drama examines the complexities of love, marriage, and infidelity through the lives of three male friends. The film explores their different relationships: one is happily married, one is cheating on his wife, and the other is still searching for the perfect woman.

Depp makes a surprise cameo appearance as L’inconnu (The Stranger). He appears in a brief, memorable scene in a record store where he has a conversation with the main character’s wife, offering a moment of unexpected charm and romantic possibility.

‘The Libertine’ (2004)

This historical drama tells the story of John Wilmot, the 2nd Earl of Rochester, a charismatic and controversial poet in 17th-century England. Known for his scandalous lifestyle, bawdy poetry, and rebellious spirit, Rochester was a celebrated figure in the court of King Charles II who ultimately drank and debauched his way to an early grave.

Depp gives a dark and committed performance as the self-destructive Earl of Rochester. He portrays the character as a brilliant man who is determined to live without rules or consequences, capturing both his seductive charm and the tragic emptiness at the core of his hedonistic life.

‘Finding Neverland’ (2004)

This biographical drama tells the story of Scottish playwright J.M. Barrie, the author of ‘Peter Pan’. The film focuses on his platonic relationship with a widow and her four young sons. Their imaginative games and adventures together inspired him to write his most famous work, the timeless play about the boy who wouldn’t grow up.

Depp plays Sir James Matthew Barrie, portraying him as a man with a childlike spirit who struggles to fit into the rigid society of Edwardian London. For his gentle and heartfelt performance, which captured the magic of imagination, Depp received another Academy Award nomination for Best Actor.

‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’ (2005)

This fantasy film is an adaptation of Roald Dahl’s classic children’s book. The story follows a kind and impoverished boy named Charlie Bucket who wins a golden ticket to tour the wondrous and mysterious chocolate factory of the world’s most eccentric and reclusive candymaker.

In his fourth collaboration with Tim Burton, Depp takes on the role of Willy Wonka. His interpretation of the character is markedly different from previous versions, portraying Wonka as a quirky, socially awkward genius with unresolved childhood issues, adding a layer of strange vulnerability to the famous chocolatier.

‘Corpse Bride’ (2005)

This stop-motion animated fantasy is set in a gloomy Victorian village. The story follows a shy and nervous young man who is arranged to be married. While practicing his wedding vows in the woods, he accidentally places the ring on the finger of a deceased young woman, who rises from the grave to claim him as her husband.

Depp provides the voice for the film’s gentle and kind-hearted protagonist, Victor Van Dort. He perfectly captures Victor’s timid nature and his emotional turmoil as he finds himself caught between the world of the living and the surprisingly lively world of the dead.

‘Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest’ (2006)

In the second installment of the franchise, the roguish Captain Jack Sparrow discovers that he owes a blood debt to the legendary Davy Jones, the supernatural ruler of the ocean depths. To save his soul from eternal servitude, Jack must find the Dead Man’s Chest, which contains Jones’s beating heart and is the only thing that can give him power over the ghostly captain.

Depp returns as the beloved Captain Jack Sparrow, further developing the character’s unique quirks and selfish-but-heroic tendencies. His performance is once again central to the film’s adventurous spirit and comedic tone as Jack schemes and stumbles his way through another epic quest.

‘Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End’ (2007)

The third film in the series picks up with Captain Jack Sparrow trapped in Davy Jones’s Locker. His friends and allies must embark on a dangerous quest to rescue him and unite the nine Pirate Lords from around the globe. Their mission is to make one final stand against the powerful East India Trading Company, which now controls Davy Jones and threatens to extinguish the pirate way of life forever.

Depp showcases a more fractured side of Captain Jack Sparrow, who is struggling with the surreal and maddening effects of his otherworldly imprisonment. His return marks a turning point in the war for the seas, culminating in a massive battle where he must finally confront his destiny.

‘Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street’ (2007)

This dark, musical slasher film is based on the famous Broadway show. It tells the story of a barber who is unjustly sent to prison by a corrupt judge who coveted his wife. Years later, he returns to 19th-century London under a new name, seeking revenge. He opens a barbershop where he murders his customers, whose bodies are then baked into pies by his sinister accomplice.

Depp takes on the challenging title role of the vengeful barber Sweeney Todd. In another collaboration with Tim Burton, he not only captured the character’s brooding and murderous rage but also performed all of his own singing for the complex musical score, earning an Academy Award nomination for his performance.

‘The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus’ (2009)

This fantasy film tells the story of the leader of a traveling theater troupe who, centuries ago, made a deal with the Devil for immortality. Now, he has another pact to fulfill: he must give his daughter to the Devil on her sixteenth birthday. His only hope is to win a wager by luring five souls into his magical, mind-bending Imaginarium.

Following the tragic death of actor Heath Ledger during filming, Depp was one of three actors who stepped in to complete the role of Tony, the mysterious outsider who joins the troupe. Depp plays one of the versions of Tony that appears when the character enters the magical world of the Imaginarium.

‘Public Enemies’ (2009)

This biographical crime film is set during America’s Great Depression and focuses on the final years of the infamous bank robber John Dillinger. The story chronicles the FBI’s intense manhunt for Dillinger and his gang, led by determined agent Melvin Purvis, who was tasked with stopping the country’s most notorious outlaws.

Depp portrays the charismatic and daring John Dillinger. He plays the legendary outlaw not as a vicious gangster, but as a cool and confident folk hero who captured the public’s imagination while being relentlessly pursued by the burgeoning federal police force.

‘Alice in Wonderland’ (2010)

This fantasy adventure serves as a loose sequel to the original stories by Lewis Carroll. A 19-year-old Alice flees a surprise marriage proposal and falls down a rabbit hole, returning to the magical world she first visited as a child. She finds that Wonderland is now under the tyrannical rule of the Red Queen and is told that she is destined to slay the monstrous Jabberwocky.

Depp plays the Mad Hatter, reimagined as a tragic hero fiercely loyal to the rightful White Queen. With his vibrant orange hair and mismatched eyes, Depp’s Hatter is a volatile and whimsical character whose madness stems from mercury poisoning, a historical hazard for hat makers.

‘The Tourist’ (2010)

This romantic thriller centers on an American math teacher who takes an impromptu trip to Europe to mend a broken heart. On a train to Venice, he meets a beautiful and mysterious woman who deliberately crosses his path. He soon finds himself caught in a dangerous web of intrigue, pursued by both the police and a ruthless mobster.

Depp plays Frank Tupelo, the unassuming and ordinary tourist who is used as a decoy. He portrays the character with a sense of bewilderment and charm as he is swept up in a world of espionage and luxury, all while falling for the enigmatic woman who put him in danger.

‘Rango’ (2011)

This animated Western comedy follows a pet chameleon who lives a comfortable but lonely life in a terrarium, creating imaginary adventures for himself. After he is accidentally stranded in the Mojave Desert, he stumbles upon a gritty, lawless town populated by desert creatures. Through a series of lies, he presents himself as a tough drifter and is made the new sheriff.

Depp voices the title character, Rango, a quirky and anxious chameleon with a flair for the dramatic. Depp’s vocal performance brings the character’s identity crisis and his heroic, often clumsy, journey to life, helping the film win the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.

‘Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides’ (2011)

In the fourth film of the series, Captain Jack Sparrow embarks on a new quest, this time to find the legendary Fountain of Youth. His path crosses with a mysterious woman from his past, who forces him aboard the ship of the fearsome pirate Blackbeard. Jack must navigate a treacherous game of betrayal, unsure whether to trust the woman or fear the ruthless Blackbeard.

Depp returns as Captain Jack Sparrow in a more standalone adventure. He continues to embody the pirate’s signature wit and cunning as he faces off against new foes, including zombie pirates and deadly mermaids, all while trading barbs with his clever and dangerous female counterpart.

‘The Rum Diary’ (2011)

Based on an early, unpublished novel by Hunter S. Thompson, this film follows a freelance journalist who travels to Puerto Rico in the 1960s to take a job at a struggling local newspaper. He soon becomes entangled with a group of shady American businessmen who plan to illegally build a hotel on a pristine island, forcing him to confront his own journalistic ethics.

Depp, who also served as a producer, plays the protagonist Paul Kemp, a fictionalized version of Thompson as a young man. He portrays Kemp’s journey from a heavy-drinking, aimless writer to a man who finds his voice and purpose in speaking out against corruption.

’21 Jump Street’ (2012)

This action-comedy film is an adaptation of the 1980s television series of the same name. The plot follows two underachieving police officers who are sent undercover as high school students to bust a synthetic drug ring. As they relive their teenage years, they find that high school has changed dramatically and their old social roles are reversed.

Depp, who rose to fame as a star of the original TV show, makes an uncredited cameo appearance. He reprises his role as Officer Tom Hanson, revealing that he has been working undercover for years alongside his original partner. The scene is a fun and explosive nod to the series’ roots.

‘Dark Shadows’ (2012)

Based on the cult classic gothic soap opera from the 1960s, this film tells the story of a wealthy playboy from the 18th century who is turned into a vampire by a jealous witch and buried alive. Two centuries later, he is accidentally unearthed and returns to his ancestral home to find his once-grand estate in ruins and his dysfunctional descendants harboring dark secrets of their own.

Depp stars as the cursed vampire Barnabas Collins in another collaboration with director Tim Burton. He portrays the character with a mix of old-world formality and predatory menace, hilariously struggling to adapt to the modern world of the 1970s while battling the witch who cursed him.

‘The Lone Ranger’ (2013)

This action-adventure film retells the origin story of the famous masked hero, as recounted by his Native American companion, Tonto. The story follows a young lawyer who, after being left for dead in an ambush, is transformed into a symbol of justice. He teams up with the eccentric Tonto to bring the outlaws who destroyed his life to justice.

Depp plays Tonto, the quirky and spiritual warrior who guides the Lone Ranger. With his distinctive face paint and a dead crow on his head, Depp’s interpretation of the character serves as the film’s narrator and the driving force behind the hero’s transformation.

‘Lucky Them’ (2013)

This comedy-drama follows a veteran rock journalist who is given a final chance to prove herself by her magazine’s editor. Her assignment is to track down a cult rock legend who also happens to be her former boyfriend, who mysteriously vanished a decade earlier. Her search becomes a journey of self-discovery and closure.

Depp appears in a surprise cameo role as Matthew Smith, the elusive and reclusive musician at the center of the story. His brief but pivotal appearance provides the film with its emotional climax, revealing what became of the enigmatic rock star.

‘Transcendence’ (2014)

This science fiction thriller explores the dangers of artificial intelligence. A brilliant scientist at the forefront of AI research is targeted by an anti-technology extremist group and is fatally poisoned. To save his mind, his wife and best friend upload his consciousness into a quantum computer, but his thirst for knowledge soon evolves into a seemingly unstoppable quest for power that threatens all of humanity.

Depp stars as Dr. Will Caster, the scientist whose consciousness becomes a god-like digital entity. He portrays the character’s transformation from a passionate researcher into a disembodied, omniscient intelligence, raising questions about what it means to be human.

‘Tusk’ (2014)

This bizarre horror-comedy follows a brash and arrogant podcaster who travels to the backwoods of Canada to interview a mysterious and reclusive old seaman. He soon discovers that the man has a dark obsession with walruses and a sinister plan to surgically transform his guest into one of the creatures.

Depp has a nearly unrecognizable supporting role as Guy Lapointe, a former police inspector from Quebec with a thick accent and a prosthetic nose. Lapointe has been hunting the deranged seaman for years and teams up with the podcaster’s friends to find him before it’s too late.

‘Into the Woods’ (2014)

This musical fantasy film intertwines the plots of several classic fairy tales by the Brothers Grimm. The story follows a baker and his wife who are cursed to be childless by a vengeful witch. To break the spell, they must venture into the woods to obtain magical items from the characters of ‘Little Red Riding Hood’, ‘Cinderella’, ‘Jack and the Beanstalk’, and ‘Rapunzel’.

Depp has a brief but memorable role as the Big Bad Wolf who preys on Little Red Riding Hood. Dressed in a zoot suit, his character performs a song that is both charming and menacing, perfectly capturing the predatory nature of the fairy tale villain.

‘Mortdecai’ (2015)

This action-comedy is based on a series of cult comic novels. The story follows a debonair and roguish art dealer and part-time spy who is recruited by MI5 to help recover a stolen Goya painting. The painting is rumored to contain the code to a lost bank account filled with Nazi gold, sending him on a globe-trotting caper filled with mishaps.

Depp stars as the eccentric and bumbling Lord Charlie Mortdecai. With his meticulously twirled mustache and aristocratic demeanor, Depp plays the character as a cowardly and vain anti-hero who stumbles his way through dangerous situations with the help of his tough-as-nails manservant.

‘Black Mass’ (2015)

This biographical crime drama tells the true story of James “Whitey” Bulger, the infamous and violent gangster who ruled the criminal underworld of South Boston for decades. The film explores how Bulger colluded with a childhood friend, now an FBI agent, to become a secret informant in order to eliminate his rival mafia enemies.

Depp underwent a significant physical transformation for his role as Whitey Bulger. With thinning hair, piercing blue eyes, and a chilling demeanor, he delivered a terrifying and widely acclaimed performance, capturing the cold, ruthless nature of one of America’s most notorious criminals.

‘Alice Through the Looking Glass’ (2016)

In this sequel to ‘Alice in Wonderland’, Alice returns to the whimsical world of Underland to find that her dear friend, the Mad Hatter, is gravely ill. Believing his family is still alive, the Hatter has fallen into a deep depression. To save him, Alice must travel back in time using a magical device, confronting old friends and enemies at different points in their lives.

Depp reprises his role as Hatter Tarrant Highttop. This time, the character’s trademark madness gives way to a profound sadness, and Depp’s performance explores the tragic backstory of the Hatter and his family, providing a more emotional and vulnerable side to the flamboyant character.

‘Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them’ (2016)

Set in 1926, this fantasy film introduces a new era of the wizarding world. A British wizard and magizoologist arrives in New York City with a magical suitcase full of wondrous creatures. When some of the beasts escape, he must team up with a group of American witches and a No-Maj (muggle) to recapture them, all while a dark force terrorizes the city.

Depp makes a shocking, uncredited appearance in the film’s final moments. He is revealed to be Gellert Grindelwald, a powerful and dangerous dark wizard who had been disguised as an American auror throughout the story. The reveal set him up as the main antagonist for the future films in the series.

‘Yoga Hosers’ (2016)

This horror-comedy is the second film in Kevin Smith’s ‘True North’ trilogy. The plot centers on two 15-year-old yoga enthusiasts from Canada who work at a convenience store. Their boring lives are upended when they must battle an ancient evil that rises from beneath the store, forcing them to team up with a legendary man-hunter to save their party plans.

Depp reprises his bizarre role from the film ‘Tusk’ as the eccentric French-Canadian detective Guy Lapointe. He once again dons the heavy makeup and accent to help the two teenage heroines fight against an army of small monsters made of bratwurst.

‘Donald Trump’s The Art of the Deal: The Movie’ (2016)

This parody film is presented as a lost made-for-television movie from the 1980s that was written, directed by, and starred Donald Trump. Based on Trump’s best-selling book, the satirical special purports to be a passion project that he quickly disowned and hid from the public after it was preempted by a football game.

Depp stars in the lead role, delivering a surprisingly accurate and comical impersonation of Donald Trump. Wearing heavy prosthetics and a wig, he perfectly captures the voice, mannerisms, and self-aggrandizing rhetoric associated with the businessman, earning praise for his satirical performance.

‘Murder on the Orient Express’ (2017)

This mystery film is a lavish adaptation of Agatha Christie’s classic novel. The story follows the world-renowned detective Hercule Poirot, who is a passenger on the luxurious Orient Express train. When a snowdrift stops the train in its tracks, a ruthless American businessman is found murdered, and Poirot must identify the killer from among the stranded passengers.

Depp plays Edward Ratchett, the abrasive and sinister gangster who is the victim of the central murder. Though his character is killed off early in the film, his unlikable and menacing presence sets the stage for the entire mystery, and the secrets of his past are key to solving the crime.

‘Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales’ (2017)

In the fifth film of the saga, a down-on-his-luck Captain Jack Sparrow is hunted by a terrifying new foe: the ghostly Captain Salazar and his crew of undead sailors. Having escaped from the Devil’s Triangle, Salazar is determined to eliminate every pirate at sea, especially Jack. Jack’s only hope for survival lies in finding the legendary Trident of Poseidon, which grants its possessor total control over the seas.

Depp returns as Captain Jack Sparrow, who must overcome his recent string of bad fortune to face a vengeful ghost from his past. The film also delves into Jack’s youth, showing how he first became a captain and earned the animosity of his new enemy.

‘Sherlock Gnomes’ (2018)

This animated comedy is the sequel to ‘Gnomeo & Juliet’. When garden gnomes start disappearing all over London, Gnomeo and Juliet enlist the help of the world’s most famous detective to solve the mystery. The legendary Sherlock Gnomes and his trusty sidekick, Watson, arrive to investigate the case.

Depp provides the voice for the brilliant but arrogant detective, Sherlock Gnomes. He portrays the character as a self-centered genius who often overlooks the feelings of his loyal partner, Watson, and must learn the value of teamwork and friendship to crack the case.

‘Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald’ (2018)

In the second installment of the ‘Fantastic Beasts’ series, the powerful dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald has escaped custody and is gathering followers to his cause of raising wizards to rule over all non-magical beings. To thwart his plans, a young Albus Dumbledore enlists the help of his former student, Newt Scamander, who had previously faced the dark wizard.

Depp takes on a central role as the charismatic and manipulative Gellert Grindelwald. He portrays the villain not as a monstrous brute, but as a persuasive and silver-tongued revolutionary whose dangerous ideas are seductive to many in the wizarding world.

‘The Professor’ (2018)

This comedy-drama follows a cynical and weary college English professor who, after being diagnosed with a terminal illness, decides to throw all conventions and responsibilities to the wind. He transforms his life into a rebellious and humorous crusade against authority and hypocrisy, all while trying to make peace with his family and enjoy his remaining time.

Depp plays Richard, the titular professor who embarks on a journey of liberation after his grim diagnosis. He delivers a performance that balances sardonic humor with moments of genuine pathos as his character confronts his mortality and tries to live life to the fullest.

‘City of Lies’ (2018)

Based on a true story, this crime thriller follows a disgraced and retired LAPD detective who is still obsessed with the unsolved murders of rappers The Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac Shakur. Years after the cases went cold, he teams up with a journalist to uncover new evidence that points to a massive conspiracy and cover-up within the police department itself.

Depp stars as Russell Poole, the real-life detective who dedicated his life to solving the high-profile murder cases. He gives a determined and world-weary performance, portraying Poole as a man driven by a relentless pursuit of truth, even at great personal cost.

‘Waiting for the Barbarians’ (2019)

This allegorical drama is set at a remote frontier outpost of an unnamed Empire. The outpost’s Magistrate, a kind and fair-minded administrator, has his quiet existence disrupted by the arrival of a ruthless Colonel from the capital. The Colonel is tasked with investigating a potential uprising from the “barbarians,” the nomadic people of the region, using brutal methods of interrogation.

Depp plays the menacing and cruel Colonel Joll. Hidden behind dark sunglasses, he portrays the character with a chilling stillness and a soft-spoken voice that belies his sadistic nature. Joll represents the cold and inhuman face of imperial oppression.

‘Minamata’ (2020)

This drama tells the true story of the acclaimed but troubled American war photographer W. Eugene Smith. In 1971, he is convinced by a passionate translator to travel to the coastal city of Minamata in Japan. There, he documents the devastating effects of mercury poisoning caused by corporate pollution, helping to bring a global spotlight to the environmental disaster.

Depp, who also produced the film, gives a serious and dedicated performance as W. Eugene Smith. He portrays the famous photographer as a broken man who rediscovers his purpose and compassion through his work in Minamata, capturing the resilience of the community and the horrors they endured.

‘Jeanne du Barry’ (2023)

This French-language biographical drama chronicles the life of Jeanne Vaubernier, a woman from humble beginnings who uses her intelligence and charm to climb the social ladder of 18th-century France. Her journey culminates in her becoming the last official chief mistress of King Louis XV, causing a scandal in the royal court at Versailles.

Depp takes on the role of King Louis XV, performing his entire part in French. In a restrained and regal performance, he portrays the aging monarch as a man who is both aware of the court’s strict protocols and willing to defy them for Jeanne, with whom he shares a genuine affection.

Sound off in the comments and let us know which of Johnny Depp’s many transformations is your all-time favorite.