Johnny Depp is a legendary actor who is one of the most talented character actors of all time. Whether he is cutting hair in Sweeney Todd or sailing the seas as Captain Jack Sparrow, Depp has portrayed some of the most well-known characters in the history of cinema.

However, he doesn’t just play wacky characters. Depp has proven himself to be incredibly gifted as a serious drama actor, taking on gripping and demanding roles over the course of his career. While he has had some very poor movies, he has appeared in some of Hollywood’s greatest at the same time. Within this list, we will be focusing on Johnny Depp’s 10 greatest movies, according to Rotten Tomatoes.

Joe Strummer: The Future Is Unwritten (89%)

We kickstart this list with a documentary that Johnny Depp was involved in, named Joe Strummer: The Future Is Unwritten, which was given a rating of 89% by Rotten Tomatoes. Taking a detailed look at Joe Strummer and his complex life, this is a fascinating watch.

As the singer/songwriter of The Clash, Strummer lived a truly interesting life and seeing that unfold in this documentary, provided a truly excellent watch. Depp appears to give a few interviews, and it is clear his love of this music is huge.

What’s Eating Gilbert Grape (90%)

What’s Eating Gilbert Grape was given a rating of 90% by Rotten Tomatoes and is an amazing movie that sees Johnny Depp plays the lead role. Depp is Gilbert Grape in this movie, who has to care for both his brother Arnie and his obese mother.

However, when love comes into his life, things become very different for him. Depp puts in an amazing performance in a movie that also features a young Leonardo Di Caprio who shows he is one of the most talented upcoming actors in this movie.

Edward Scissorhands (90%)

Edward Scissorhands isn’t just a classic movie, but it has gone down as arguably Johnny Depp’s most well-known role. It is not a surprise to see that the film has been rated as high as 90% by Rotten Tomatoes, as it is a fantastic movie from start to finish.

Deeply emotional, Depp puts in a career-defining performance where he is at his very best. He is well-known for being fantastic at playing wild and wacky characters, and this is certainly one of them. But despite the insanity of the character, he somehow manages to make it deeply human and emotional at the same time.

Deep Sea 3d (91%)

Next on the list with a Rotten Tomatoes rating of 91% is Deep Sea 3D, which takes a fascinating deep dive into the ocean. The movie takes a long look at various different sea creatures, showcasing them in their natural habitat with amazing detail.

While Johnny Depp is quite obviously not in this film, given that he isn’t a fish, the legendary actor does play the narrator for this. Depp’s unique personality and fantastic ability to bring life into any situation made him perfect for this role.

Ed Wood (93%)

With a higher rating of 93%, Ed Wood is next on the list which saw Johnny Depp team up with Tim Burton, a recipe that usually creates success. The entire movie is filmed in black and white in an attempt to capture the atmosphere of Woods’ 1950s movies.

In this role, Depp plays the titular character, and he doe an amazing job in doing so. The movie focuses on telling Woods’ life, looking at three distinct sections, and for anyone who was a fan of his work then they would certainly appreciate this movie.

Hugo (93%)

While Johnny Depp isn’t actually in Hugo, he did act as the producer of the movie, and he certainly did an amazing job in that role. This is an amazing film that gained huge plaudits when it was first released, with a stellar cast and an exciting story, it got the deserved recognition.

Depp proves in this role that he is more than just an actor and that he clearly has a talent as a producer, a role in which he will hopefully look to pursue more as his career develops.

Lost In La Mancha (94%)

Next on the list is Lost In La Mancha which is a documentary that takes a detailed look at the pre-production and first six days of production for the movie ‘The Man Who Killed Quixote.’ This ill-fated film never ended up taking place, with a series of issues making the project collapse in a very fast, and well-known time.

It was an insane situation that saw a storm wash away equipment, the star suffering a major back injury and more. The entire thing was captured on film and this documentary provides a detailed look at the entire situation as it unfolded.

A Nightmare On Elm Street (94%)

Who would have thought that Johnny Depp’s first role as an actor would still rank in his top three greatest films at this stage of his career? Depp was involved in the original, A Nightmare On Elm Street back in 1984 where he portrayed the character of Glen.

He is one of the teenagers who is terrorized by Freddy Krueger himself and ultimately falls victim to the horror icon. His death is a very memorable one as he is dragged into his own bed once he falls asleep, with the hole created eventually spitting him back out in a fountain of blood.

Charlie: The Life And Art Of Charles Chaplin (95%)

Next on the list is the movie, Charlie: The Life And Art Of Charles Chaplin, which scored a very impressive 95% on Rotten Tomatoes. This is a fascinating movie documentary that looks into the life of the famous, Charlie Chaplin, from his humble beginnings to becoming a global star.

Johnny Depp is one of many actors who are interviewed throughout this film as they discuss the influence that Chaplin had on their career. Depp reveals how much of Chaplin’s work impacted him as he developed throughout his career in what is a brilliant insight into his life.

Runnin’ Down A Dream: Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers (100%)

When it comes to Johnny Depp’s greatest movie, it doesn’t really get much better than Runnin’ Down A Dream: Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers, which was given a perfect 100% by Rotten Tomatoes. Released back in 2008, this is a tremendous documentary that obviously focuses on the legendary band.

Depp doesn’t act in this movie, as it is a legitimate documentary, but the famous actor is someone who is interviewed throughout. He features alongside people such as Tom Petty and rockstars like Dave Grohl. While he might not be acting, per-say, the documentary still ranks as his greatest film, with a perfect score.