With recent starring roles in the mega-popular Marvel film Spider-Man: No Way Home and Guillermo Del Toro's Nightmare Alley as well as a highly anticipated starring role in Robbert Eggers upcoming Viking epic, The Northman, there is no better time to take a look at some of the best Willem Dafoe films, according to the thousands of cinephiles that voted over at Ranker.
Willem Dafoe is an incredibly diverse actor with films ranging from big-budget Marvel superhero movies to smaller art-house indie movies, but the actor consistently turns in outstanding and eye-opening performances no matter what he's in.
The Boondock Saints - (1999)
Stream On Amazon Prime, Tubi TV, Vudu, Hoopla, Kanopy, IMDb TV, & The Roku Channel
1999's The Boondock Saints is an action-thriller about two Irish Catholic brothers becoming vigilantes and wiping out Boston's criminal underworld in the name of god. The film is written and directed by Troy Duffy and features outstanding performances from Norman Reedus, Sean Patrick Flannery, and Willem Dafoe.
Despite not initially performing well, The Boondock Saints has gone on to become a cult classic in the crime/gangster movie genre and features some very memorable action sequences and dialogue. Many feel Dafoe steals the show in this one.
Wild At Heart - (1990)
Not Available To Stream
Wild At Heart is a comedic crime drama about two young lovers going on the run from the variety of weirdos that one of their mothers has hired to kill the other. The film is written and directed by David Lynch and is the iconic filmmaker's fifth feature film he worked on.
Wild At Heart is truly unique and something only Lynch could have made with truly off-the-wall characters and oddball comedic sequences throughout. The film features classic performances from Nicholas Cage, Laura Dern, and Willem Dafoe.
The Reckoning - (2002)
Rent On Vudu
The Reckoning is a drama-mystery about a priest joining a traveling band of actors, but they quickly discover a murder has taken place and try to solve it by recreating the crime in a play.
The film is directed by Paul McGuigan and features one of Willem Dafoe's more underrated performances as well as solid supporting roles from Paul Bettany and Brian Cox. Fans loved the film for its outstanding cast and the director's ability to tell its story without getting preachy or pretentious at all.
The Hunter - (2011)
Stream On HBO Max
The Hunter is an adventure-thriller about a mercenary being sent from Europe to the Tasmanian wilderness by a biotech company to hunt the last Tasmanian tiger. The film is directed by Daniel Nettheim and stars Willem Dafoe, Sam Neil, and Morgan Davies.
The Hunter is one of Dafoe's more unknown films, but as usual, he provides an outstandingly subtle and layered performance and really carries the film as his performance is the main reason to watch.
Light Sleeper - (1992)
Stream On The Criterion Channel
Light Sleeper is a crime drama written and directed by legendary filmmaker Paul Schrader and is about a drug dealer reconsidering his profession as his boss decides to go straight and an old romantic flame returns to his life.
The film has an all-star cast featuring Susan Sarandon, Sam Rockwell, Dana Delaney and is one of a few collaborations between Willem Dafoe and Schrader. Dafoe plays the titular troubled drug dealer in what many fans call one of Dafoe's best movies.
Shadow Of The Vampire - (2000)
Not Available To Stream
Shadow Of The Vampire is a cult classic horror drama about the filming of the iconic horror movie Nosferatu and how it was set back due to the star, Max Schreck, taking the role of a vampire far more seriously than seems humanly possible.
The film is written by Steven Katz and directed by E. Elias Merhige as well as starring John Malkovich, Eddie Izzard, and Cary Elwes. Fans often cite the film as one of Willem Dafoe's best villain roles as his performance as Max Schreck was truly unforgettable.
At Eternity's Gate - (2018)
Stream On IMDb TV
2018's At Eternity's Gate is a historical biography that takes a look at the life of legendary painter Vincent Van Gogh when he lived in Arles and Auvers France. The film is directed by Julian Schnabel and stars Willem Dafoe in the titular role of troubled painter Vincent Van Gogh as well as supporting roles from Oscar Isaac, Rupert Friend, and Mads Mikkelsen.
Fans loved the unique look at the famous painter as the film often looks like a moving Van Gogh painting, and it features one of Willem Dafoe's most eccentric characters.
Mississippi Burning - (1988)
Stream On Showtime & Max Go
Mississippi Burning is a historical crime drama about two F.B.I. agents with wildly different styles arriving in Mississippi to investigate the disappearance of a civil rights activist. The film is written by Chris Gerolmo and directed by iconic filmmaker Alan Parker.
Mississippi Burning is one of Dafoe's older films and is incredibly underrated considering the all-star cast the film features. It stars the likes of Willem Dafoe, Gene Hackman, Frances McDormand, and Brad Dourif.
Platoon - (1986)
Stream On Amazon Prime
1986's Platoon is an action-filled war drama about a Vietnam recruit finding himself caught in a battle of wills between two sergeants that are complete opposites as one is good and the other is evil.
Platoon is written and directed by legendary filmmaker Oliver Stone and has a phenomenal cast featuring Charlie Sheen, Tom Berenger, Willem Dafoe, and Forest Whitaker. Platoon is one of Willem Dafoe's most iconic roles and is one of the most legendary war films in general.
The Lighthouse - (2019)
Stream On Amazon Prime & Kanopy
The Lighthouse is a dark fantasy drama about two lighthouse keepers trying to maintain their sanity while living on a remote and mysterious New England island in the 1890s.
The film is written and directed by Robert Eggers and features outstanding performances from Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson in the titular roles of the two lighthouse keepers. The Lighthouse is one of the most unique and original films ever made and Dafoe and Pattinson's incredible acting is truly unforgettable.