Johnny Depp has starred in plenty of critically acclaimed movies, but his highest-rated film on Rotten Tomatoes is one that his fans might not be able to guess. Many of Johnny Depp’s best movies see him making unorthodox choices in eccentric roles. He has often preferred quirky standalone movies to big, safe franchises, with a few notable exceptions.
While Depp’s most famous role is that of Captain Jack Sparrow in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, he’s also known for his collaborations with Tim Burton. It’s one of these movies that sits atop his list on Rotten Tomatoes, although it isn’t one that most people would immediately consider.
Ed Wood Is Johnny Depp’s Highest Rated Starring Role On Rotten Tomatoes
Johnny Depp’s highest-rated movie on Rotten Tomatoes is 1994’s Ed Wood, which means that it has the highest proportion of positive reviews out of any movie that he has starred in. Depp plays the title role, an aspiring filmmaker in Hollywood during the 1950s, who somehow convinces studios to invest in his terrible B-movies.
Ed Wood was a real person, even though Tim Burton’s movie doesn’t style itself as a typical biopic. Wood has been branded as the worst director in the history of Hollywood, but this has given his rough-around-the-edges B-movies a cult following. Burton is clearly an admirer of Wood, if only for his spirit and pluck rather than his craft.
Ed Wood has a Rotten Tomatoes score of 92%, with an audience score not far behind at 88%. However, this critical success didn’t translate into box office appeal, and Ed Wood made just $13.8 million on a budget of $18 million. It’s still not as popular as other Burton/Depp movies like Edward Scissorhands or Corpse Bride.
Ed Wood probably suffered at the box office because it was shot in black-and-white, but the fact that it’s a biopic about someone who most people have never heard of also didn’t help its cause. This hasn’t stopped the film from becoming a cult classic, with many admirers praising Depp’s performance as the eccentric director with a love of women’s clothing.
A Nightmare On Elm Street Is Ranked Higher But Depp’s Role Is Small
A Nightmare on Elm Street is the only one of Johnny Depp’s movies with a higher Rotten Tomaroes score than Ed Wood, but it’s easy to forget that Depp even appears in the horror classic. He got his first film role in Wes Craven’s 1984 movie, but it’s hard to claim that A Nightmare on Elm Street‘s 94% Rotten Tomatoes score is thanks to Depp.
Depp’s other big hits have healthy Rotten Tomatoes scores, like Edward Scissorhands on 90%, Donnie Brasco on 88% and Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl on 79%. Still, they’re all bested by a strange black-and-white biopic that flopped at the box office. Ed Wood still doesn’t get enough attention.
Ed Wood
- Release Date
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October 7, 1994
- Runtime
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127 minutes
