Johnny Depp's Best Co-Stars Ranked

Johnny Depp's career is even more impressive than you think. He has been acting on the big screen since he landed his first role in 1984's "A Nightmare on Elm Street." But as groundbreaking as that film is, the horror classic seems like a footnote compared to some of his other roles. Over nearly four decades, Depp has starred in almost a hundred roles, and he's worked alongside some of the biggest names in the business.

Depp's co-stars range from household names to Hollywood legends. Honorable mentions go out to people like Charlie Sheen, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Al Pacino. He's worked with two Spider-Men — Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield — and some of your favorite "Harry Potter" cast members like Richard Griffiths and Michael Gambon. Indeed, Depp's artsy projects and his billion-dollar blockbusters have brought him into contact with just about every major star the acting world has seen in the last 30 years. Narrowing it all down is no easy feat, but here are Johnny Depp's best co-stars, ranked.

Johnny Depp has worked in an eclectic array of roles, big and small, alongside some of the greatest actors of all time. For many people, however, a single role defines his career. Notably, Depp will always be remembered as Captain Jack Sparrow from "The Pirates of the Caribbean" franchise, and Orlando Bloom will always be remembered as Sparrow's compatriot and occasional rival, Will Turner. The two of them swashbuckled through numerous adventures, winning Captain Jack back his beloved Black Pearl and winning the heart of Elizabeth Swann for Will.

Bloom's role in "The Pirates of the Caribbean" would be career-defining for any other actor, but he was part of a franchise that in many ways redefined what people expect of fantasy films and film series altogether. The elf Legolas made his way to the big screen in 2001's "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring," and Bloom captured the essence of the fantasy character in a way that few people thought was possible. Unsurprisingly, he'll forever be synonymous with everyone's favorite elven bowman.

Keira Knightley's Elizabeth Swann rounded out the main trio of characters in the "The Pirates of the Caribbean" movies. Swann was a high society woman turned pirate in the pursuit of her true love, Will Turner. Knightley shined alongside Orlando Bloom and Johnny Depp and crafted a character who at times seemed even more determined, capable, and cutthroat than the lifelong pirates surrounding her. Her chemistry with Depp is an undeniable joy for the audience and an occasional point of contention for Bloom's Will Turner.

Elizabeth Swann is just one of a number of notable roles for Knightley. Before she took part in Disney's adventures on the high seas, she'd already made a famous appearance in "Star Wars: The Phantom Menace." The "Pirates" movies were really just the beginning for her. She went on to score two Academy Award nominations: Best Actress for her role in 2005's "Pride & Prejudice" and Best Supporting Actress for 2014's "The Imitation Game."

Despite being filled with great actors, 2000's "The Man Who Cried" ended up being a poorly reviewed mess. The film was Johnny Depp's third collaboration with Christina Ricci, but his first with another actress who would go on to have an incredible career. Cate Blanchett has been nominated for six Academy Awards, and she's walked away with an Oscar twice. First came her win for Best Supporting Actress in 2004 for the film "The Aviator," then she won Best Actress in 2013 for "Blue Jasmine."

Blanchett is also known for her major roles in iconic pop culture films. She starred as Galadriel alongside Orlando Bloom in "The Lord of the Rings" and "The Hobbit" franchises. Even more recently, she played the villain Hela in "Thor: Ragnarok." Whether portraying someone purely evil, heroically good, or lost between the two, Blanchett elevates every film she joins. Yes, even "The Man Who Cried."

Much lauded actress Faye Dunaway first worked with Johnny Depp in the 1993 film "Arizona Dream." In it, Depp plays Axel, a man who moves to Arizona to help support his brother's car dealership and quickly becomes entangled in the lives of a woman named Elaine (Dunaway) and her stepdaughter Grace (Lili Taylor). Dunaway and Depp met again in 1994's "Don Juan Demarco," in which Depp plays a psychiatric patient who's convinced he is literature's greatest love. In this film, both of them had the opportunity to work with Marlon Brando.

Dunaway has had several unforgettable roles over the course of her career. She was first nominated for an Academy Award for her portrayal of Bonnie Parker in 1967's "Bonnie and Clyde" and went on to win Best Actress for the 1976 film "Network." She hasn't limited herself to working onscreen, either, and has had several notable roles in stage plays, including a 1973 production of Tennessee Williams' "A Streetcar Named Desire."

While filming Terry Gilliam's "The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus," Heath Ledger tragically died of a medication overdose. After Ledger's death, production on the film paused while Gilliam reworked the script to allow three other actors — Jude Law, Colin Farrell, and Johnny Depp — to finish the rest of the role (via The Telegraph). The film also stars a number of actors who deserve honorable mentions as Depp's costars, like Andrew Garfield, Lily Cole, and Tom Waits.

Ledger is, of course, best known for his role in "Brokeback Mountain" — which earned him an Academy Award nomination — and his role as the Joker in Christopher Nolan's "The Dark Knight," for which he won Best Supporting Actor posthumously. He also famously starred in films like "10 Things I Hate About You," "Monster's Ball," and "Lords of Dogtown." Ledger's incredible range effortlessly carried him from comedies into serious dramas. He could dial the charm up to 11 for a romantic role or — as he demonstrated in "The Dark Knight" — transform himself into a villain straight out of a nightmare.

Though she only worked with Johnny Depp on a single film — "Finding Neverland" — Kate Winslet is one of his most celebrated co-stars. Winslet is the recipient of an Academy Award, a Grammy, two Emmy Awards, and four Golden Globe Awards. Impressively, Winslet has been nominated for a staggering 173 different awards over the course of her career.

Winslet is probably best known for her leading role in James Cameron's "Titanic" alongside Leonardo DiCaprio. While it didn't outshine Cameron's classic, "Finding Neverland" nevertheless impressed critically, picking up seven Oscar nominations at the 77th Academy Awards. In the film, Winslet plays Sylvia Llewelyn Davies, a mother of four who inspires J.M. Barrie (portrayed by Johnny Depp) to write "Peter Pan." The emotional story is deeply touching, and the strength of its impact comes from the power of Winslet's and Depp's performances.

From the stage to the big screen, every role that Alfred Molina steps into turns to gold. One of his earliest roles was in "Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark," and from those auspicious beginnings, Molina built a career that carried him between genres and mediums. He's been nominated for a Golden Globe, two Emmys, and three Tony Awards. He was also nominated for a BAFTA for Best Supporting Actor for his work on "Frida." For an entire generation of superhero fans, Molina made an unforgettable impression as Spider-Man villain Doctor Otto Octavius.

Molina has worked alongside Johnny Depp on two occasions. They first starred together in "Chocolat," which also featured powerful performances from Juliette Binoche and Judi Dench. Years later, they met once more while working on the animated picture "Rango." Whether he's working on the stage, standing in front of the camera, or exercising his voice in the vocal booth, Molina always brings a powerful energy to any project he's a part of.

Most people might expect that the actress most famous for bringing Trinity to life in the "The Matrix" franchise would have starred alongside Johnny Depp in an action-adventure flick, but just like Alfred Molina, Carrie-Anne Moss worked with Depp on 2000's "Chocolat." Fresh off the first "Matrix" film, "Chocolat" offered Moss a change of pace and a chance to show off her range as an actor who's more than capable of handling dramatic, heartfelt material.

Moss will always be associated with Trinity, especially since she returned to the role in 2021 for "The Matrix: Resurrections," but she's done so much more. In the same year that she starred in "Chocolat" with Depp, Moss played an integral role in Christopher Nolan's mind-bending film "Momento." Since then, her skills have taken her to roles in countless films, video games like "Mass Effect," and TV shows like Netflix's "Jessica Jones" and NBC's "Chuck."

Michelle Pfeiffer is nothing short of iconic. From superhero films like "Batman Returns" and "Ant-Man and the Wasp" to major movie musicals like "Grease 2" and "Hairspray," she's consistently played pivotal and unforgettable roles. In fact, Pfeiffer is so big that she even turned down the iconic blockbuster role that won her successor an Oscar. Pfeiffer has been nominated for three Academy Awards, and she's made an incredible cultural impact with her work.

Pfeiffer worked with Johnny Depp for the first time on the 2012 film "Dark Shadows." Both of them had the chance to work with director Tim Burton once again as they created an adaptation of a late '60s gothic television show. Unfortunately, that particular collaboration was not well-received by critics, but Pfeiffer's and Depp's next outing together fared much better. They worked with Kenneth Branagh on the 2017 adaptation of Agatha Christie's classic novel "Murder on the Orient Express."

In 2009, Johnny Depp starred with Christian Bale in a movie about 1930s gangsters. "Public Enemies" follows real-life bank robber John Dillinger (Depp) as he evades FBI agent Melvin Purvis (Bale). Bale is known for method acting with many of his roles, and he took this approach with "Public Enemies," too. He told Wales Online that he "didn't want to talk unless it was while we were doing a scene" so he could stay in character as an agent who really didn't know the man he was pursuing. "I guess I'll have to wait and get to know Johnny Depp some other day," he said.

By the time Bale starred in "Public Enemies," he had already taken on massive roles in films like "American Psycho," "The Machinist," and, of course, Christopher Nolan's "Batman" movies. Bale is able to dissolve into a role like few other actors, and his performances speak for themselves, even if his methods are a little bizarre.

John Malkovich is a legendary actor with more than a hundred credits to his name. He earned his first Oscar nomination — for Best Supporting Actor — when he was just 30 for his work in "Places in the Heart." His second nomination, also for Best Supporting Actor, came nine years later in 1993's "In the Line of Fire," directed by Wolfgang Peterson. Since then, Malkovich has lent his talents to an eclectic range of films like "Being John Malkovich," "Con Air," and "Red."

In 2004, Malkovich and Johnny Depp starred in Laurence Dunmore's directorial debut "The Libertine." Depp played John Wilmot, a poet with contempt for the British crown, and Malkovich starred opposite him as King Charles II. The film centers on their strained relationship and John Wilmot's inevitable fall from grace. Unfortunately, according to Rotten Tomatoes, "The Libertine" failed to impress audiences and critics alike, despite its two powerhouse leads.

The outstanding Benicio del Toro impressed audiences for decades. He started working on television series before making his way into feature films, and his big break came with 1995's "The Usual Suspects." Just five years later, he starred in Steven Soderbergh's "Traffic" in a role that won him an Oscar, a BAFTA, a Golden Globe, and two Screen Actors Guild Awards. Since then, he's taken on major action roles in films like "Sicario" and made his way into the world of comic book adaptations with "Sin City" and "Guardians of the Galaxy."

Between his breakout role in "The Usual Suspects" and his groundbreaking work in "Traffic," del Toro worked with Johnny Depp on a box office flop that became a cult classic. "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" adapts Hunter S. Thompson's 1971 novel of the same name. Del Toro and Depp play drug-addled wanderers taking a psychoactive trip through Vegas in a "see it to believe it" film directed by Terry Gilliam.

Born in 1926, Harry Dean Stanton had an astounding career that spanned over 200 different acting roles (via IMDb). Though he didn't regularly score leading parts, chances are that anyone who's watched movies in the last 50 years has come across Stanton at one time or another. Stanton's talents lent themselves to a wide range of genres, from comedies like "Repo Man" to the science fiction horror of "Alien" and the intense drama of "The Green Mile."

Johnny Depp worked with Stanton on three different projects over the course of his career. They first appeared together in Terry Gilliam's "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas." Just two years later, they reunited for "The Man Who Cried," and finally, they both did voice work for 2011's "Rango." Stanton died in 2017, but he left behind an amazing legacy.

Johnny Depp had the chance to work with everyone's favorite narrator in the 2014 film "Transcendence." The film follows Will Caster (Depp), a scientist who's trying to transfer his consciousness into a computer to gain immortality. Morgan Freeman plays Caster's mentor Joseph Tagger, who bears witness to the terrifying transformation Caster's mind undergoes once it's been digitized. Despite an intriguing premise and strong performances from everyone involved — including Rebecca Hall, Paul Bettany, and Cillian Murphy — "Transcendence" was poorly reviewed.

"Transcendence" was just one dark spot in 84-year-old Freeman's shining career. He's had iconic roles in films like "The Shawshank Redemption," "Se7en," and Christopher Nolan's "Batman" trilogy. Throughout his career, he's won 65 different awards, including an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for 2004's "Million Dollar Baby."

Few actresses are as celebrated as Meryl Streep. Her first movie role came in 1977's "The Deadliest Season," and she left that production to have an incendiary career. She's been nominated for hundreds of different awards, and on three separate occasions, she's taken home an Oscar. She first won Best Supporting Actress in 1980 for "Kramer vs. Kramer," then she went on to win Best Actress in 1983 for "Sophie's Choice" and again in 2012 for "The Iron Lady."

Streep and Johnny Depp have worked together on just a single film. The 2014 adaptation of the hit musical "Into the Woods" was directed by Rob Marshall and starred Streep as the Witch and Depp as the Wolf. The film wasn't nearly as well-received as the beloved stage musical, but it's not the role that Streep regrets playing, and it's still great to see these two legends in the same production.

Born in 1940, John Hurt lived for 77 years and became known as one of the greatest British actors of all time. In 1990, David Lynch told The New York Times that Hurt was "simply the greatest actor in the world." Hurt is responsible for some of the most iconic moments in cinema history, like the time a creature burst through the chest of his character Kane in "Alien." In addition to being a striking presence on the screen, Hurt also had a distinctive voice and lent his vocal talents to projects like 1978's "The Lord of the Rings."

Johnny Depp had the opportunity to work with Hurt on the 1995 film "Dead Man." The psychedelic Western, directed by Jim Jarmusch, follows an accountant named William Blake. After suffering a near-fatal gunshot wound, Blake is guided into the spirit realm by an aboriginal man who calls himself Nobody. Hurt had a small role in the film, but it gave Depp the chance to work with one of cinema's greatest actors.

Long before Charlize Theron was tearing across an apocalyptic wasteland pursued by Immortan Joe in "Mad Max: Fury Road" or terrorizing Dom and his family in the "Fast & Furious" movies, she was married to Johnny Depp's character in "The Astronaut's Wife." The film follows an astronaut who, after a disastrous mission in space, begins to have a change in personality so severe that his wife fears for her life. The film was a box office bomb, earning less than $20 million off a budget of $75 million (via Box Office Mojo).

"The Astronaut's Wife" might have been a disappointment, but Theron is still one of the most talented actors that have worked with Depp. She brings a seriousness and gravitas to roles that would otherwise vanish amidst chaotic action scenes in movies like "Atomic Blonde" and "The Old Guard." She even manages — well, almost manages — to bring some dramatic heft to projects like "F9: The Fast Saga."

Johnny Depp crossed paths with Leonardo DiCaprio on the project that scored DiCaprio his very first Oscar nomination. DiCaprio was just 19 years old in 1993's "What's Eating Gilbert Grape," a film written by Peter Hedges and based on his novel of the same name. Depp plays Gilbert, a grocery store clerk who takes care of his mother and developmentally disabled younger brother Arnie (DiCaprio).

"What's Eating Gilbert Grape" was just the fourth feature film role for DiCaprio, who went on to have one of the most successful careers in Hollywood. He's been nominated for seven Oscars, and it famously took him six nominations to secure his first win as Best Actor in 2016 for "The Revenant." He proved that he could go above and beyond inhabiting a character when he worked with Depp in 1993, and he's since proven over and over again that his first Oscar-worthy performance wasn't a fluke.

Born in 1955, Willem Dafoe has made more than 100 films over the course of his career, and he's played some incredibly iconic roles, including the Green Goblin in the "Spider-Man" franchise. He first worked with Johnny Depp on the 1986 film "Platoon," for which Dafoe received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. That marked the first of four Oscar nominations Dafoe received and also the first of four films he made alongside Johnny Depp. The two worked together for the second time in the 1990 John Waters film "Cry-Baby," which is set in 1950s Baltimore.

Dafoe and Depp met again for 2003's "Once Upon a Time in Mexico," which also featured stunning performances from Depp's notable co-stars Antonio Banderas and Salma Hayek. Most recently, the two worked together in "Murder on the Orient Express." Between those films, Dafoe has delivered Oscar-nominated performances in "The Florida Project" and "At Eternity's Gate."

Actor and comedian Christopher Walken is known for his enchanting performances and truly unique voice. Walken has made his mark in a staggering array of films that range from "Annie Hall" to "Batman Returns" to the 2007 adaptation of "Hairspray." He famously never prepares for a role, but that lack of preparation hasn't stopped him from knocking it out of the park every time, and the method even earned him an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for "The Deer Hunter."

Walken and Johnny Depp first worked together in the 1995 film "Nick of Time." Depp plays Gene Watson, a father who's recently arrived in Los Angeles with his daughter, and Walken plays the mysterious Mr. Smith, who threatens Watson's daughter to pressure him to kill California's governor. Tim Burton brought the two of them together again for "Sleepy Hollow," where Walken played the infamous Headless Horseman.

Javier Bardem's family has a long history in Spanish cinema, and as the latest generation, he's more than upholding the family's legacy (via IMDb). Bardem is arguably just as well known for his distinctive voice as for his unique mode of inhabiting a particular character. Some of Bardem's most memorable films, like "No Country for Old Men" and "Skyfall," see him presenting unique takes on villains that are equally terrifying and sympathetic.

Bardem began his career in Spanish cinema, but he worked with Johnny Depp on the film that made his international debut. "Before Night Falls" is based on the autobiography of the same name written by Reinaldo Arenas. In the film, Bardem plays Arenas, whose struggles with identity lead him through Cuba and eventually into the United States. Bardem and Depp worked together again almost 20 years later in "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales."

Johnny Depp is known as a regular collaborator with Tim Burton, but he began his relationship with the director while working alongside Winona Ryder on "Edward Scissorhands." The film tells the story of an artificial human with blades in place of hands who's taken in by a suburban family and falls in love with their daughter Kim (Ryder). It was a massive success at the box office, bringing in well over $50 million in its initial run (via Box Office Mojo).

Two years before "Edward Scissorhands," Ryder had worked with Burton on the classic "Beetlejuice." In between the two films, she starred in "Heathers" alongside Christian Slater. Ryder didn't slow down after that successful run and went on to star in "Bram Stoker's Dracula," "Reality Bites," and "Girl, Interrupted" over the course of a decade. Today, she's still an acting powerhouse and is especially beloved for her role as Joyce Byers in the show "Stranger Things."

There are few actors who can stand shoulder to shoulder with Dame Judi Dench. Her talents have taken her from the stage to the big screen and back again, and she's managed to shine in Shakespearan dramas and elevate James Bond blockbusters. She may have only one Oscar win to her name, but she secured the award with barely any screen time — her supporting role in "Shakespeare in Love" lasted less than 10 minutes.

Dench has collaborated with Johnny Depp in three separate films. They first worked together in the year 2000 for the film "Chocolat." Their next rendezvous on the big screen came in 2011 when Dench made a brief appearance in "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides." Finally, they worked together for the third time in Kenneth Branagh's talent-collecting "Murder on the Orient Express."

Marlon Brando will forever be remembered as one of cinema's greatest acting legends. There's a case to be made that he will always be Hollywood's most iconic leading man, and he certainly brought new life and an air of excitement to every production he joined. His films range from "A Streetcar Named Desire" to "The Godfather" to "Apocalypse Now." Brando won the Academy Award for Best Actor twice in his life, and those are by no means his only accolades.

Johnny Depp was lucky enough to work with Brando on two separate films when the legendary actor was in his 70s. First is 1994's "Don Juan DeMarco," which is about a psychiatric patient who's convinced himself he's literature's greatest lover. Brando played the psychiatrist trying to treat Depp's leading character. Three years later, the two reunited for "The Brave," which follows a Native American recently released from jail who's offered a part in a snuff film in exchange for the money he needs to help his family.

Johnny Depp has worked alongside some of the greatest names in Hollywood history, and there's no doubt that he'll continue to work with the biggest names in the business for years to come. When it comes to Depp's collaborators, however, it's hard to imagine anyone ranking higher than Helena Bonham Carter. She and Depp have worked together on seven different films, including some of the most financially successful films of Depp's career.

The two are both frequent collaborators with director Tim Burton. They first came together for Burton's "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" in 2005, and later that same year, they starred in Burton's "Corpse Bride." Obviously impressed by their chemistry, Burton quickly cast them both in his adaptation of "Sweeney Todd." Three years later, the trio produced "Alice in Wonderland," which earned over a billion dollars (via Box Office Mojo). Since then, Carter and Depp have come together for "The Lone Ranger," "Dark Shadows," and "Alice Through the Looking Glass."