Johnny Depp has starred in some of the most iconic movies of the past few decades. Whether it has been as the eccentric Captain Jack Sparrow in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise or the titular Edward Scissorhands, Johnny Depp hasn't failed to create memorable and unique characters.
Despite this legendary status as an actor, Johnny Depp has had a mixed last couple of decades. This decade, in particular, has been mixed for Depp, with several of his movies being critically panned. This article will list the 10 best Johnny Depp movies of the last decade, according to IMDb.
Lone Ranger - 6.4
Lone Ranger was created by the minds behind the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise Jerry Bruckheimer and Gore Verbinksi. While the movie wasn't a critical marvel, it was praised in certain areas.
Critics tended to praise the performances of both Johnny Depp and Armie Hammer, arguing that both played their parts magnificently. The main issue with the movie was the lack of a compelling script, overly long movie run time, and overdependence on action over plot.
Alice In Wonderland - 6.4
This movie was one of the first in Disney's crusade to remake their animated classics as live-action movies. While the movie was praised for its compelling visuals and strong performances from the cast, a trait typical of a Tim Burton movie, it wasn't a critical success by any means.
The main issues with the film were the failure on the part of the filmmakers to successfully transfer the plot coherence and 'heart' that was so clear in both Lewis Carroll's novel and the animated version from the previous century.
Murder On The Orient Express - 6.5
Agatha Christie has sold over 2 billion copies of her books, making her one of the most popular authors of all time. This huge popularity has led to a constant demand for cinematic adaptions of her books and 2017's Murder on the Orient Express is an example of this.
Directed by, and starring Kenneth Branagh, Murder on the Orient express was received warmly by critics. Many thought that the movie excelled at implementing stylish cinematography, making the film a beautiful watch. Furthermore, the all-star cast, including Depp and Judi Dench, helped to elevate the movie to new levels.
Dead Men Tell No Tales - 6.6
The Pirates of the Caribbean franchise is one of the most successful in box office history. The original trilogy was critically praised for their visuals and their action and they also included one of Depp's most iconic characters - Captain Jack Sparrow. Unfortunately, Dead Men Tell No Tales was a sign of fatigue for the series.
The performance of Depp wasn't at the same standard as his previous outings as the character, leading to criticism from audiences and experts alike. Furthermore, many critics saw the plot as bland and too close to the plot of the first in the series.
On Stranger Tides - 6.6
The first Pirates movie to be set after the events of the trilogy, this movie featured Penelope Cruz and Ian McShane, as well as the returning Johnny Depp and Geoffrey Rush. Despite the star power of the cast, the movie was a precursor to what would come with Dead Men Tell No Tales.
Many critics believed that the film had lost the heart of what made the original trilogy so great, suggesting that the film relied too heavily on action set pieces rather than plot.
The Crimes Of Grindelwald - 6.6
While this movie was divisive among viewers, it still managed to rank in Johnny Depp's best movies of the last decade. The film picks up from where the last movie left off, following the heroes as they try and take down Johnny Depp's Grindelwald.
While the movie is visually stunning and the magical world is as immersive as it has ever been, the film is let down by issues with its plot. Many elements are confusing for those who are not as well versed in the world of Harry Potter as others, and some elements of the movie retcon previously established canon in the Harry Potter universe.
Richard Says Goodbye/ The Professor - 6.7
While The Professor is ranked quite well on IMDB, it is not so well ranked on other review sites. Rotten Tomatoes has the movie at 10% and Metacritic ranked the film at 37%.
The poor rankings of the movie largely come from critics' belief that the plot was confusing and Depp's performance was also below his best. That being said, there does appear to be some disparity between audience reviews and critic reviews. IMDb is ranked by audiences and scores the film at 6.7. Similarly, Rotten Tomatoes' audience score ranks the film at 76%.
Black Mass - 6.9
Set in 1970s Boston, Black Mass follows a detective, played by Joel Edgerton, who is attempting to persuade an Irish gangster called James Bulger, Johnny Depp, to work with the FBI in order to defeat the Italian Mob. The film shows how the alliance between the police and Bulger allowed the Irish mobster to grow into one of the most powerful criminals in Boston.
Critics praised the movie for its fantastically gripping and accurate portrayal of the relationship between Bulger and the Bostom police force. Furthermore, many critics also praised Depp's performance and described it as one of his best performances in recent years.
Rango - 7.2
Rango follows the story of the titular chameleon as he finds himself in a Wild West-esque town called Dirt and must fight for his own life and the lives of the residents. The film is a unique and creative take on the Wild West genre that helps to bring the tropes and fun from that genre to a whole new audience.
The movie was praised by critics for its fantastic visuals and smart, funny plot. In addition to the marvelous animation, the voice cast was also praised for its incredible performance.
Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them - 7.3
The first installment of the Harry Potter spin-off series, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them was both a critical and box office success. The movie draws on the lore of the Harry Potter series but changes its location from the iconic wizarding school to the streets of New York in the roaring 20s.
The film was praised for its rich story and compelling visuals, while also managing to draw on the Harry Potter lore without relying on overt Harry Potter references or cameos.