3 Johnny Depp Movies That Almost Won Him the First Oscar of His Acting Career
Johnny Depp is one of the most talented actors of his time. He has been the recipient of many awards and accolades, including a Golden Globe Award as well as nominations for three Academy Awards and two BAFTA Awards. Throughout his career, Johnny Depp has always pushed boundaries and taken on roles that went on to become a pop culture phenomenon. He made the roles he took on so iconic that they became synonymous with him. Be it the role of Jack Sparrow or Willy Wonka, Johnny Depp has always managed to climb inside a character and wear it as his second skin.
Despite being insanely talented and nominated three times for the prestigious Academy Awards, he surprisingly never won one. Throughout the years, many have speculated on quite a few reasons behind it. It is an open secret that the Academy has a penchant for certain types of movies, usually drama and biographical works. The kind of movies Johnny Depp does are the type the Academy tends to overlook. Except for Finding Neverland, all his movies nominated for the Oscars were quite offbeat and it was unusual enough that they got included.
Then, in the years he was nominated, he got pitted against Sean Penn for Mystic River, Jamie Foxx for Ray, and Daniel Day-Lewis for There Will Be Blood. Not only are they some of the most seasoned veterans in the industry, but they also starred in movies the Academy tends to favor. Last but not least, Depp is not even interested in winning an Oscar. In an interview with Variety, he said he did not want an Oscar, as winning one means “you’re in competition with someone.”
However, fans would still love to see Depp holding the coveted golden statue one day. With that in mind, let’s look at 3 Johnny Depp movies that almost won him the first Oscar of his career.
1) Pirates Of The Caribbean: The Curse Of The Black Pearl (2003)
All the Pirates of the Caribbean movies are classics in their own ways but the first one, Pirates Of The Caribbean: The Curse Of The Black Pearl, will always have a special place in the audiences’ hearts for introducing the eccentric Captain Jack Sparrow to the world. The film, based on a mere Disney theme park attraction, became one of the most beloved series by the corporation. The movie did not take itself too seriously and was the perfect cocktail of fun and adventure that made it an instant hit with people of all ages.
The biggest attraction of the movie was Johnny Depp. He carried the entire franchise on his back. Even though the movies featured an amazing ensemble, Johnny Depp stole the limelight from everyone. Such was his screen presence that the character of Captain Jack Sparrow became almost synonymous with him.
The character of Jack Sparrow was so massively popular that it was impossible for the Academy to not give it due recognition through a nomination. Johnny Depp was nominated alongside industry giants like Bill Murray and Ben Kingsley. Ultimately, Sean Penn took the golden pride home for Mystic River. Although Penn fit the criteria of what the Academy usually looks for, Johnny Depp had a much larger impact with Pirates of the Caribbean over the years. It was certainly not conventional and deserved to be recognized at the time.
2) Finding Neverland (2004)
Finding Neverland was probably Depp’s most Oscar-appropriate movie since it was a biographical work on the life of J.M. Barrie, who’s the writer of Peter Pan. Johnny Depp’s role was very nuanced and he did such a great job portraying the character in all its glory that he was back at the Oscars just a year after his first nomination.
Also Read: ‘Pirates’ Director’s Pitch Based on Sao Feng’s Map Would Make a Good Johnny Depp Comeback Film
The movie deals with J.M. Barrie’s experience with a group of young orphans who never want to grow up. It served as the inspiration for his most popular children’s book, Peter Pan. The movie does a tremendous job and Johnny Depp’s acting complements the vision of the film. However, that year, Jamie Foxx was also a contender with his spectacular performance in Ray. Leonardo DiCaprio and Clint Eastwood were also in the lineup, which made the competition all the more steep. Ultimately, Jamie Foxx won the Oscar and although it was an unfortunate miss for Johnny Depp, Jamie Foxx truly deserved that award.
3) Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street (2007)
Trust Tim Burton and Johnny Depp to come together and churn out classics like nobody’s business. After his role as Jack Sparrow, Sweeney Todd comes to a close second in showcasing the stupendous acting range of Depp. The horror musical fetched him the third Oscar nomination of his life, only 3 years after Finding Neverland.
Johnny Depp gave the performance of his life in Sweeney Todd. Although he did a marvelous job and definitely deserved recognition, he again faced tough competition. This time, he lost his Oscar to Daniel Day-Lewis who managed to beat not only Depp but also acclaimed artists such as George Clooney, Tommy Lee Jones, and Viggo Mortensen. It was again an unfortunate incident but Daniel Day-Lewis was the deserving winner.
Pirates Of The Caribbean: The Curse Of The Black Pearl, Finding Neverland, and Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street are available to watch on Disney+, Apple TV, and Prime Videos.
