Jack Nicholson is one of the most legendary actors of all time. The three-time Oscar winner has been in some of the most iconic and acclaimed films of all time and always gives a performance that is at least interesting, if not brilliant.
Despite being a massive star, he is surprisingly versatile with his roles. He is just as effective in powerful dramatic roles as he is in comedic roles. He can be a hero worth cheering for or a villain we love to hate. Though he seems to have largely stepped away from the acting world, he has left us with plenty of great films to remember him by. Here are the best Jack Nicholson movies, according to IMDb.
Five Easy Pieces (7.5)
Nicholson’s early film career was filled with B-movies as he had a hard time breaking into serious films. However, as he began to get more opportunities, he showed the world his immense talent with a powerful performance in Five Easy Pieces.
The road movie star Nicholson as a blue-collar worker who walked away from his life of privilege years earlier. Traveling with his girlfriend, he returns home to visit his dying father. Nicholson has rarely been as vulnerable while still showing that dangerous side that made him so alluring.
The Last Detail (7.5)
Nicholson continues to prove he was more interested in the off-beat characters than the typical leading man roles with his entertaining performance in The Last Detail. This is another great road movie that stars Nicholson alongside Otis Young as two Navy men who are tasked with escorting a young soldier to prison. Along the way, they decide to show the young man a good time.
Nicholson continued to display his rebellious, wild man persona in this role. The movie itself is an entertaining romp that also features some really poignant moments amidst all the fun.
Batman (7.5)
Comic book movies were still a big question mark in Hollywood by the time Batman came around. However, the news that an actor of Nicholson’s caliber would be starring as Joker certainly made audiences more excited about the big-screen adventure of the Caped Crusader.
The Tim Burton film was a fun and gothic adventure that brought Batman to life. Michael Keaton made an effective hero, but Nicholson stole the show as the scary, hilarious and exhilarating villain. And from the looks of it, he had a ball with the iconic role.
The Passenger (7.6)
While many of Nicholson’s films have become iconic, some of the best-regarded films may have yet to find the audience they deserve. The Passenger is a fine example of one of his films that is worth seeking out.
Nicholson stars as a war correspondent who is frustrated with being unable to find a story. He takes a risk in assuming the identity of a dead arms dealer and is gradually pulled into this new world. Nicholson gives another great performance in the thrilling and suspenseful tale that is beautifully shot by Michelangelo Antonioni.
As Good As It Gets (7.7)
Nicholson showed his versatility once more and scored his third Oscar for his performance in the romantic comedy As Good as It Gets. Nicholson plays a closed-off and cranky writer who must care for a neighbor’s dog while also finding an unexpected kinship with a lonely waitress (Helen Hunt).
Nicholson gets the chance to play a bad boy role once again, but this time with a lot more complexity. He is rude and vulgar but also charming and sweet at times. It makes for a funny and sweet story with some great performances.
A Few Good Men (7.7)
Nicholson can really command the screen no matter who he’s sharing a scene with as evidenced with the all-star courtroom thriller, A Few Good Men. Tom Cruise stars in the film as a military lawyer who is representing two soldiers accused of murder who insist they were acting under orders. Nicholson plays a commanding officer in the middle of the investigation.
The movie is an engrossing drama with a sharp and smart script by Aaron Sorkin. Cruise makes for a great lead, but Nicholson is towering in his intimidating role. The scenes between the two actors are electrifying.
Chinatown (8.2)
Nicholson further cemented his status as one of the most interesting actors in Hollywood with his role in Chinatown. The noir detective story finds Nicholson playing a sleazy yet dedicated private eye who becomes involved in a huge scandal of corruption and much more disturbing secrets.
The movie is a brilliantly written story that keeps you guessing the entire time while throwing some shocking twists at the audience. Nicholson once again shows he’s willing to play a character who is not easy to like but fascinating to watch.
The Shining (8.4)
Stephen King’s work has seen a resurgence on the big screen as of late, but perhaps this most acclaimed film based on his work remains Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining. The movie stars Nicholson as an alcoholic writer working as a caretaker with his family in a secluded resort for the winter. Soon the dark history of the resort sends him in a descent into madness.
King was famously displeased with the film, but audiences have hailed it as one of the greatest horror films of all time. Nicholson is a terrifying villain while Kubrick creates a haunting atmosphere throughout.
The Departed (8.5)
Nicholson joined forces with another film legend, Martin Scorsese, as well as an all-star cast for the modern mob tale, The Departed. The film stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Matt Damon as rival moles working undercover in the mob and police force respectively while trying to uncover the other’s identity. Nicholson plays the violent and terrifying mob boss, Frank Costello.
The movie is an intense and violent epic with an intense plot that keeps you on the edge of your seat. The cast is all top-notch, giving great performances all around.
One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest (8.7)
Nicholson scored his first Oscar and created one of his most iconic characters as McMurphy in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. Nicholson plays a man who pleads insanity to avoid getting sent to prison and finds himself in a mental institution where he becomes the leader of the odd group of patients there.
The movie is a funny, sad and powerful film featuring a great cast led by Nicholson. The is the perfect rebel for this story, an immature and selfish man who nonetheless becomes something of a protector to these outcasts.
