Best 1990s Dramas Starring Johnny Depp

With a filmography already spanning almost 30 years, Johnny Depp has a rich collection of movies coming from different genres. Making a list of some of his best drama films during the 1990s may be tough, but choosing these films from his diverse portfolio can be made possible by basing the choices from critical reviews and pop culture influences weighed together. As many films tend to fall under more than one category, some of these works are actually combinations of drama and other film genres.

"Edward Scissorhands" (1990)

Depp graduated from the initial image as a young matinee idol only acknowledged to fit typical teen-oriented roles after starring in the Tim Burton fantasy drama "Edward Scissorhands." Depp's extraordinarily striking performance as the man who has scissors for hands surprised critics and general audiences alike. The persona he showed as a serious actor with a certain dark, quirky, idiosyncratic side allowed him to prove his versatility as a promising young actor. This dark fairy tale marked the start of a great career ahead. It is also the first ever collaboration between Depp and Burton.

"What's Eating Gilbert Grape" (1993)

Adapted from a 1991 Peter Hedges novel of the same title, "What's Eating Gilbert Grape" tells the story of a young man who needs to take care of his mentally challenged brother and obese mother and how these responsibilities affect his own personal life, especially when he falls in love. Beautifully shot and filled with deep and genuine emotions, the film explores Gilbert's hardships and how he manages to come to terms with life and things around him. Depp as Gilbert was the focus of this story, yet the plot resourcefully included varying layers of characters, which added to the power of the material's ensemble performances.

"Don Juan DeMarco" (1994)

"Don Juan DeMarco" tells the story of psychiatrist Dr. Jack Mickler, who encounters a suicidal man on the verge of jumping from a building. Happening just 10 days away from his retirement, he puts the young man claiming to be the great Latin lover Don Juan deMarco under his care for his last few days in work, after which he will undergo evaluation to determine if he can be released from psychiatric care or sent to a mental institution. This allows the two characters to grow as the psychiatrist attends to the young man's alleged mental issues, while Don Juan ignites the doctor's senses to rejuvenate his sexual relationship with his wife. Marlon Brando played Dr. Mickler, while Depp played Don Juan in this film.

"Donnie Brasco" (1997)

Based on a true story, the suspense drama "Donnie Brasco" features an FBI undercover agent who infiltrates a mob then realizes he is getting so attuned to the mafia life that it starts complicating his work on the right side of the law. Depp, as the cop Joe Pistone, also known as the mafia member Donnie Brasco, provided a stark, nuanced portrait of his confused character. His chemistry with Al Pacino as his mob friend Lefty Ruggiero allowed the film to shine as a character-driven gangster piece focusing on the relationship between these mafia buddies.

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