Millions of viewers watched the high-profile defamation trial between Johnny Depp and Amber Heard, which ended up occupying a large part of our days in the past weeks. The six-week-long trial has ended with Depp emerging on top and with a renewed zeal for his career.
With the curtains coming down on the televised trial, Depp fans will no longer be treated to his courtroom reactions and statements. Before the actor makes his promised comeback, here are six movies to occupy ourselves with.
Pirates of the Caribbean
If the saying that ‘some actors are born to play certain roles’ is to be believed, then Depp was certainly born to play the character of Captain Jack Sparrow in the Pirates of the Caribbean film series. His performance played a big role in the success of Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl. Following the 2003 Walt Disney Pictures film, Depp reprised the role of Jack Sparrow in five of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies. Which of the five is Depp’s best performance is up for debate. However, the first movie, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, is definitely where one should start their binge.
Where to watch: All five Pirates of the Caribbean films are on Disney+ Hotstar.
Alice in Wonderland
The 2010 live-action rendition of Lewis Carroll’s books had a star cast featuring Anne Hathaway, Helena Bonham Carter and Alan Rickman. The box-office hit has memorable performances and visuals but it would have been incomplete without Depp as Mad Hatter. Speaking about Depp’s version of the Hatter, the director, Tim Burton, said that the actor added a human side to the mostly ‘one-note’ character.
Where to watch: Disney+ Hotstar.
Edward Scissorhands
Depp and Burton are known to create fantastic films whenever they collaborate. Their super successful collaboration took off from the 1990s movie Edward Scissorhands. The fantasy romance is filled with a tinge of horror, a chunk of romance and a smattering of self-discovery. Even though Edward’s love for Peg, played by Winona Ryder, remains unrequited, the chemistry between the two stars is unmissable. Edward remains an endearing abomination.
Where to watch: Disney+ Hotstar.
The Tourist
A combination of beautiful actors and beautiful sceneries makes The Tourist an intriguing and fun watch. Starring opposite Angelina Jolie as Elise Clifton-Ward, Depp shows a range of highly believable acting. Even though Rotten Tomatoes gave a 20% rating, Depp’s tumultuous journey through the critically-despised film as Frank, a wanted man masquerading as a tourist in Italy, keeps us guessing till the very end.
Where to watch: Not streaming on any platform in India. It can be bought or rented on YouTube.
Finding Neverland
In the biographical fantasy movie Finding Neverland, Depp steps into the shoes of playwright JM Barrie who wrote Peter Pan. The 2004 movie explores human relationships. We cannot help but fall in love with Depp as Barrie, who takes up the role of a father figure in the lives of Sylvia Llewelyn Davies, played by Kate Winslet, and her children.
Where to watch: It can be bought or rented on Apple TV.
What’s Eating Gilbert Grape
The coming-of-age drama was ahead of its time when dealing with intellectual disabilities. The 1993 film stars Depp as Gilbert Grape and Leonardo DiCaprio as Gilbert’s brother Arnold ‘Arnie’ Grape. Both the young actors delivered powerful performances, raising an eternal debate on which actor was the show-stealer. It is hard to decide as DiCaprio delivered an award-winning performance, while Depp delivered a highly relatable one.
Where to watch: The DVD is available for purchase on Amazon.