Summary
- Jack Nicholson's versatile acting abilities shine through in his best movies, whether he's playing a hero or a villain.
- Nicholson's performances in underrated films like "The enger" and "The Last Detail" demonstrate his immense talent.
- From courtroom dramas like "A Few Good Men" to romantic comedies like "As Good as It Gets," Nicholson's filmography is unmatched in cinematic history.
The best Jack Nicholson movies show off the actor's brilliant ability to inhabit a role, and he has touched multiple generations of cinema. The three-time Oscar winner has been in some of the most iconic and acclaimed films of all time and always gives a performance that is at least interesting, if not brilliant. Making his debut in the 1958 film The Cry Baby Killer, Nicholson soon grew into a bona fide movie star just as Hollywood was going through a cultural revolution of its own in the 1960s and '70s.
Despite being a massive star, he is surprisingly versatile with his roles and is just as effective in powerful dramatic parts as he is in more comedic turns. Nicholson's versatility has led him to play heroic champions and dastardly villains, but he always manages to put a bit of Jack in every part. Even Jack Nicholson's more underrated roles are a showcase of his immense talents, and he never phoned in a role no matter how small. Though he seems to have largely stepped away from the acting world, his impressive filmography is one of the most unmatched in cinematic history.
The enger (1975)
- The enger is available to buy on Vudu
While many Jack Nicholson movies have become iconic, some of the best-regarded films may have yet to find the audience they deserve. Nicholson stars as war correspondent David Locke who assumes the life of a dead soldier and is slowly drawn into the man's world. Nicholson's noteworthy performance anchors the piece, and the slow-moving pace of the movie allows for the screen to become a platform for the actor's brilliance. Director Michelangelo Antonioni allowed the best of Nicholson to shine through, and his beautiful vision gelled with his lead actor's interpretation.
The Last Detail (1973)
- The Last Detail is available to stream on Fubo TV, Paramount +, and Showtime
Nicholson continued to prove he was more interested in off-beat characters than the typical leading man roles with his entertaining performance in The Last Detail. Navy officers Billy (Nicholson) and Mule (Otis Young) are tasked with transporting fellow sailor Larry (Randy Quaid) to prison but show him one last good time on the way there. Nicholson continued to display his rebellious, wild man persona as Billy, and yet he put a bit of sadness behind the zany antics. The movie itself is an entertaining romp with plenty of humor but makes subtle commentary about the horrors of war and the harsh expectations of masculinity.
A Few Good Men (1992)
- A Few Good Men is available to stream on Pluto TV
Nicholson can really command the screen no matter who he's sharing a scene with as evidenced with the all-star realistic courtroom drama, A Few Good Men. Tom Cruise stars as military lawyer Daniel Kaffee who is representing two soldiers accused of murder who insist they were acting under orders. Nicholson plays Col. Nathan Jessup who is in the middle of the investigation. Cruise makes for a great lead, but Nicholson is towering in his intimidating role, and he delivered one of the most scintillating courtroom scenes of all time. Aaron Sorkin's script crackles with life, and he gave Nicholson and company plenty to work with.
As Good As It Gets (1997)
- As Good as It Gets is available to buy or rent on Apple TV, Amazon Prime, YouTube, and Vudu
Jack Nicholson movies often show off his versatility, and he scored his third Oscar for his performance in the romantic comedy As Good as It Gets. Nicholson plays Melvin, a closed-off and cranky writer who must care for a neighbor's dog while also finding an unexpected kinship with a lonely waitress named Carol (Helen Hunt). Nicholson gets the chance to play a bad boy role once again, but this time with a lot more complexity. He is rude and vulgar but also charming and sweet at times, and his turn as Melvin was the perfect next step for the actor who had already put in decades in Hollywood.
Batman (1989)
- Batman is available to stream on Max
Having conquered the film world across the first few decades of his career, Jack Nicholson tackled a totally unexpected role in Batman which proved he could do anything. The Caped Crusader (Michael Keaton) must protect Gotham from the evil designs of the villainous Joker (Nicholson). Though plenty of actors have played the Joker, Nicholson brought his movie star quality to the deviously fun and demented character. Tim Burton's vision for the comic book movie brought comics to life unlike ever before, and his pseudo-gothic style fit perfectly with the dank environs of Batman's Gotham City.
Five Easy Pieces (1970)
- Five Easy Pieces is available to stream on Fubo TV, Paramount +, Showtime, and The Criterion Channel
Most early Jack Nicholson movies were B-movies, but his outstanding turn in Five Easy Pieces helped him break into the mainstream. The road movie star Nicholson as a blue-collar worker named Bobby who walked away from his life of privilege years earlier but revisits his past when his father dies. A quintessential piece of '70s cinema, director Bob Rafelson's vision of America captured the struggles of the era with a bit of clever humor as well. Nicholson delivered a towering performance that earned him an Oscar nomination and truly showed that he was the next big thing in serious acting.
Chinatown (1974)
- Chinatown is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video, Fubo TV, Paramount +, MGM +, Hoopla, and Kanopy
Nicholson further cemented his status as one of the most interesting actors in Hollywood with his role in Chinatown. The noir detective story finds Nicholson playing a sleazy yet dedicated private eye named Jake who becomes involved in a huge scandal of corruption in 1930s Los Angeles. The movie is a brilliantly written mystery that captures the classic essence of old noir movie but with a hardened cynical edge of '70s grit. Chinatown still holds up today due in large part to Nicholson's performance, and it is an overall masterclass in the best of what mainstream Hollywood cinema has to offer.
The Departed (2006)
- The Departed is available to stream on Max and Netflix
Nicholson ed forces with another film legend, Martin Scorsese, as well as an all-star cast for the modern mob tale, The Departed. The film stars Leonardo DiCaprio as William and Matt Damon as Colin, rival moles working undercover in the mob and police force respectively while trying to uncover the other's identity. Nicholson plays the violent and terrifying mob boss, Frank Costello, a role he seemed born to play in a Scorsese film. Besides the usual snappy script and intense violence that could be expected in classic Scorsese movies, the iconic director also allowed Nicholson to play with the character which resulted in a frighteningly human performance.
One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest (1975)
- One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest is available to stream on Fubo TV, Paramount +, and Showtime
Nicholson scored his first Oscar and created one of his most iconic characters as McMurphy in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. The film concerns McMurphy who pleads insanity to avoid getting sent to prison and finds himself in a mental institution where he becomes the leader of the odd group of patients. Besides its humor, the film also has a lot to say about society in the '60s and '70s and interpreted Ken Kesey's book as accurately as possible. Nicholson's McMurphy is a hero with an edge, and it was the type of role that summarized his performance style.
The Shining (1980)
- The Shining is available to stream on Fubo TV, Paramount +, and Showtime
Every movie based on Stephen King's books has found an audience, but perhaps his most acclaimed adaptation is Stanley Kubrick's The Shining. The movie stars Nicholson as an alcoholic writer Jack who slowly loses his mind as he and his family are hired to be caretakers for a secluded resort during winter. King was famously displeased with the film, but Kubrick's vision for The Shining has gone down in the annals of horror movie history. Jack Nicholson movies often see him play villains, but his turn as Jack combined the actor's penchant for subtle performance with the over-the-top violence that ended the story.
