5 must-see underrated movies of Johnny Depp

Johnny Depp, one of the most popular actors of all time, is universally loved for his crowd-pleasing performances in blockbuster movies like Pirates of the Caribbean, Alice in Wonderland, Edward Scissorhands among others, but being a versatile actor, he has also starred in many movies that are quite underrated. So, here's a list of 5 underrated must-see movies of Johnny Depp.

What's Eating Gilbert Grape? (1993)

Depp plays a small-town young man living with his obese mother and a brother named Arnie (Leonardo Di Caprio) who suffers from psychological complications, struggling with his responsibilities of taking care of his family at home and dealing with his mundane job of a grocery store clerk. His life changes when he meets a free-spirited girl named Becky (Juliette Lewis). While the story touches on the challenging aspects of family and small-town life, Depp gives a striking performance as Gilbert, who is always looking for a way to balance his duty to family and his quest for freedom. This is a must-see Depp performance from his earlier years that cemented him as an actor who can bring complicated nuanced traits of characters.

Ed Wood (1994)

Depp portrays Ed Wood, considered to be one of the worst filmmakers of all time, who made movies with low budget, ridiculous plots full of amateur actors. Highlighting his career in Hollywood in the 1950's, the movie is one of Depp's most underrated works, as his charming performance creates a sympathetic aura for the director, one whom viewers can't stop rooting for once they see Deep transforming into the enthusiastic and optimistic movie lover Ed Wood. Portraying various stages of the director's life, Depp goes full on to show us the man behind the persona that became a cult figure.

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998)

Based on a classic novel by author Hunter S Thompson, this movie follows Depp's character Raoul Duke with his attorney Dr Gonzo (Benicio Del Toro) on a trip to Las Vegas in 1971 for a magazine coverage of a motorcycle race. On the way to their destinations, they face various strange situations and characters, which results in a surreal trip with the exploration of themes like journalism, American culture, and substance use among other things. If you want to see an outright hilarious performance by Depp, then this is the movie to watch as he captures the personality of Duke and has the viewer entertained throughout.

The Libertine (2004)

A historical drama about the 17th century British playwright and poet John Wilmot, Depp gives off a provocative performance, chronicling Wilmot's affairs with women, like an actress (Samantha Morton) and the king's mistress (Rosamund Pike), along with his political dealings with King Charles II (John Malkovich). Depp really brings out his acting chops for this movie, giving us a charismatic yet cynical libertine who dares to look for provocative changes within the norms of societal life and morality in essence.

Rango (2011)

An animated movie that flew under the radar at the time of its release, Depp plays the titular character of a pet chameleon who ends up in a city called Dirt where he makes himself known as a courageous sheriff. Facing off against the corrupt authorities and in the middle of a mystery about the water supply, he meets fun characters along the way who helps him becoming a symbol of justice. A quirky and entertaining homage to the western genre of yesteryears, Depp portraying Rango, switching from various accents to comedic and tense situations, from the theatrical moments to flamboyance that turns into a heroic one; this is peak Johnny Depp performance.