Before he was Jack Sparrow: Johnny Depp’s best roles in the 90s
90s Johnny Depp was quite a bit different than the Depp fans know & love today. One of the biggest & most beloved movie franchises in existence is the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise which got started in 2003 with The Curse of the Black Pearl. It was followed in 2006 by Dead Man’s Chest, and in 2007, fans got to watch At World’s End.
In 2011, On Stranger Tides was released and in 2017, Dead Men Tell No Tales hit theaters. Recognizing Depp in the role of Jack Sparrow is easy to do because he embodied the character so flawlessly for so many years. Knowing he’s not going to continue taking on the role of Jack Sparrow in the franchise is pretty heartbreaking. These are some of the movies Depp starred in before he played the role of a pirate.
Edward Scissorhands, 1990
When we think of 90s Johnny Depp, Edward Scissorhands quickly comes to mind. The creepy movie is about a scientist who somehow creates an animated human being who goes by the name of “gentle” Edward. Before he’s able to finish assembling the animated human, the scientist tragically passes away.
Edward never gets a chance to have normal hands and instead gets stuck with scissor blades at the bottoms of his arms. Even though Edward wants nothing more than to fit in, his hands make it difficult for anyone to accept him, therefore pushing him into the realm of being an outcast. Winona Ryder plays his love interest in this cheeky film.
What’s Eating Gilbert Grape, 1993
90s Johnny Depp starred in What’s Eating Gilbert Grape, in 1993 to be exact. The movie is about a teenage boy named Gilbert who’s living a tough life filled with restrictive burdens that make him feel as though he can’t freely be himself. His younger brother is mentally impaired and his mother is so obese, she’s unable to function in society.
Gilbert unfortunately feels like he has to take everything on his shoulders which is something no teenagers should have to do on their own. Along the way, he falls in love with a girl named Becky who is able to help him forget about his troubles in life for some brief & beautiful moments.
Cry-Baby, 1990
Cry-Baby is a 90s Johnny Depp movie that premiered in April 1990 about a teenage girl who’s known for being prim & proper. She typically does everything by the book until she makes a drastic choice. She decides to rebel against her mother and date a degenerate guy.
The degenerate she chooses to date is played by Depp himself. He takes on the role of a motorcycle-riding delinquent who isn’t scared to get into trouble every now & then, even though his girlfriend’s mother would prefer him to play it safe.
Sleepy Hollow, 1999
Sleepy Hollow is a 90s Johnny Depp movie that takes place in 1799. Based on a classic story written by Washington Irving, the movie’s considered a blend of fantasy, romance, and horror as it dives deep into the world of supernatural experiences. Alongside Depp, movie watchers also get to see Christopher Walken, Miranda Richardson, and Christina Richie star in the film.
Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas, 1998
One of the best 90s Johnny Depp movies to reflect on would have to be Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas, a movie that premiered in 1998. This movie tells a story of a man and his attorney who take a road trip to Las Vegas carrying a suitcase full of illegal substances.
Along the way, they choose to partake in some of the illegal substances they’re holding onto but instead of safely getting from point A to point B, their wild drug binge ends up temporarily consuming their lives. This movie takes viewers on a wild ride of curiosity about what will happen next.
