25 Best Joaquin Phoenix Movies, Ranked (original) (raw)
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Published Dec 12, 2023, 3:00 PM EST
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There's already so much that can be said about Joaquin Phoenix and the various roles he's taken on over the decades, and the man himself isn't even 50 yet. Beginning his career in the 1980s as a child actor, he's worked at a steady pace ever since, and has proven himself capable of thriving in large-scale blockbusters and smaller, more intimate independent films. There's seldom a genre he can't excel in, it seems, and he's often one of the best elements of any movie he appears in.
He's frequently held up as one of the greatest actors of the past couple of decades, and as such, selecting his very best movies can be a difficult task. Joaquin Phoenix's filmography is filled with fascinating and oftentimes offbeat titles, suggesting he's also worth celebrating as an actor who's continually willing to challenge himself and take on increasingly surprising roles. What follows is a ranking of some of his best performances/films, beginning with the good and ending with the great.
25 'I'm Still Here' (2010)
Director: Casey Affleck
I'm Still Here is now held up as a bold, potentially divisive, and ultimately compelling mockumentary, but back when it was released, it was the sort of film that was so unusual that people didn't entirely know what to make of it. It stars Joaquin Phoenix as a fictionalized version of himself who claims he's done with acting and wants to make a dramatic career change: becoming a hip-hop musician.
It unfolds as an awkward and intentionally strange mockumentary, with Phoenix in character in such a dedicated way that even the unbreakable Sacha Baron Cohen would have to be impressed. I'm Still Here fooled and baffled enough people to make quite a stir upon release, and thankfully, it did turn out to be something of a feature-length joke, as the 10+ years worth of compelling Joaquin Phoenix movies released in its wake ultimately show.
Release Date
September 10, 2010
Runtime
107 Minutes
Director
24 '8MM' (1999)
Director: Joel Schumacher
Nicolas Cage and Joaquin Phoenix in '8mm'
Image via Columbia Pictures
Even if 8MM might have its flaws as a movie, it's hard to deny the fantastic cast it has, what with Nicolas Cage in the lead role, plus supporting performances from the likes of Joaquin Phoenix, Peter Stormare, and the late James Gandolfini. Cage plays a surveillance specialist, with Phoenix appearing as his kind of sidekick (naturally, a streetwise one), with the pair getting wrapped up in a conspiracy, thanks to a mysterious - and potentially dangerous - reel of film.
It's a mystery/thriller that goes to some very dark places, and also functions like a compelling psychological drama, with its exploration of obsession and paranoia making it comparable to the (admittedly superior) Francis Ford Coppola movie, The Conversation (1974). 8MM is still worth checking out for fans of this kind of film, or fans of any number of its cast members, because it does deliver when it comes to hard-edged thrills and persistent suspense.
23 'Irrational Man' (2015)
Director: Woody Allen
Joaquin Phoenix and Emma Stone as Abe and Jill riding the bus in Irrational Man
Image via Sony Pictures Classics
It's not entirely unfair to call numerous Woody Allen movies "familiar," because the filmmaker has made dozens over the last few decades, and seems to enjoy revisiting familiar themes, narratives, and characters. Few people would label Irrational Man a particularly great Woody Allen movie, but it does see the director returning to the crime genre (this worked for him in films like Manhattan Murder Mystery and Match Point), and the cast is pretty impressive, too.
Joaquin Phoenix and Emma Stone - two of the most popular and acclaimed American stars in recent years - lead said cast, with the premise of Irrational Man looking at the risky relationship between a philosophy professor and one of his students. Things spiral out of control in somewhat interesting ways throughout, with Phoenix and Stone committing enough to ensure Irrational Man is more than watchable for the duration of its runtime.
Release Date
July 17, 2015
Runtime
95 minutes
Director
Woody Allen
Main Genre
22 'Quills' (2000)
Director: Philip Kaufman
Image via Fox Searchlight Pictures
Philip Kaufman has had a rather eclectic career as a writer/director, including being one of the credited writers for Raiders of the Lost Ark and directing the excellent (and long) historical epic that is The Right Stuff. His most unusual single film, however, might be Quills, which seems to have been forgotten to time, to some extent, despite being relatively well-received and having a cast filled with big names (principally, Geoffrey Rush, Kate Winslet, Joaquin Phoenix, and Michael Caine).
Quills revolves around the controversial French writer known as Marquis de Sade, taking historical liberty while being more focused on exploring taboo topics over depicting a more traditional life story. It's an odd and disturbing movie, and in all honesty, might be best left to people who know what they're in for... though it has to be said, Phoenix is very good here in one of his earliest offbeat and genuinely challenging roles (one of many, as subsequent years would ultimately go to show).
21 'Buffalo Soldiers' (2001)
Director: Gregor Jordan
Joaquin Phoenix in Buffalo Soldiers
Image via Pathé
While Buffalo Soldiers is a well-made and compelling war movie, it's certainly not a conventional one. Its plot does concern those belonging to and associated with the military, but it's also something of a dark comedy and a crime movie, considering Phoenix's character - the protagonist - is effectively pulling off various criminal activities to great success within wartorn Germany in 1989. That being said, the Cold War is drawing to a close, and with it, the lucrative black market is similarly in danger of vanishing.
It's an overall daring approach to take for a war movie, given that the vast majority - whether they're being anti-war or aiming to show heroism - take themselves seriously. It was perhaps made and released at the wrong time to truly succeed on a wide scale, but those willing to give a satirical war movie (one that stars Phoenix at his slimiest) with an unusual tone a shot might want to check Buffalo Soldiers out.
20 'The Village' (2004)
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Joaquin Phoenix in 'The Village'
Image via Buena Vista Pictures
Whether or not you love M. Night Shyamalan's brand of mystery/thriller movies, you have to admit that he has a unique style and has found solid success with at least several of them. The Village might not rank among Shyamalan's very best, but it's also far from one of his worst, telling an intriguing story about an isolated village filled with inhabitants who live in fear of strange creatures that seem to exist in the woods that surround the titular locale.
For better or worse, The Village is one of those Shyamalan films that has a twist towards the ending, and one that, in the eyes of many, either makes or breaks the whole thing. However, twist aside (and it can be difficult to put the twist aside, sure), The Village has a mysterious set-up that's at least engaging, a strong atmosphere overall, and compelling performances from the likes of Bryce Dallas Howard, Joaquin Phoenix, Adrien Brody, and Sigourney Weaver.
19 'Parenthood' (1989)
Director: Ron Howard
Image via Universal Pictures
It took until the 1990s (maybe even the early 2000s) for Joaquin Phoenix to become a truly acclaimed and popular actor, but as mentioned before, his earliest credits date back to the 1980s. Perhaps the most notable film he appeared in during this decade was Parenthood, a family comedy/drama with an ensemble cast (that even included an also young Keanu Reeves), all revolving around the ups and downs of those living their lives in a comically dysfunctional family.
Beyond Phoenix and Reeves, the cast also included plenty of people who were more well-established at this point in time, including the likes of Steve Martin, Mary Steenburgen, Dianne Wiest, Jason Robards, and Rick Moranis. Phoenix was credited as "Leaf Phoenix" here (his actual name for a while, before he changed it back to Joaquin), and gives a strong performance here for someone his age as the troubled and withdrawn nephew of Steve Martin's character (who's essentially Parenthood's protagonist).
Release Date
July 31, 1989
Runtime
124 minutes
Director
Main Genre
Comedy
18 'Napoleon' (2023)
Director: Ridley Scott
Joaquin Phoenix as Napoleon Bonaparte riding a white horse into battle in Ridley Scott's Napoleon
Image via Apple Studios
For proof that Joaquin Phoenix is still willing to give big - and unexpected - performances decades into his career, one doesn't need to look further than Napoleon. This 2023 historical epic from Ridley Scott is one of many movies that aims to convey this larger-than-life figure from history, with Joaquin Phoenix playing the titular character over numerous years and various large-scale battles, though much of the film also opts to focus on Napoleon's rocky marriage to his first wife, Josephine.
It might not be one of Ridley Scott's very best movies (and also not the best collaboration between him and Phoenix, it has to be said), but Napoleon still impresses, thanks to the lead performances from Phoenix and Vanessa Kirby, and also because of its massive battle sequences. More divisive is the film's comedic tone and willingness to depict Napoleon Bonaparte as something of a clown at times, a decision that may entertain some viewers while irritating others.
Release Date
April 7, 1927
Runtime
330 Minutes
Director
Abel Gance
17 'The Yards' (2000)
Director: James Gray
Image via Buena Vista Pictures
The first of several collaborations between Joaquin Phoenix and filmmaker James Gray, The Yards is a gritty and gripping drama about the struggles one man (played by Mark Wahlberg) faces when he gets out of prison and finds himself looking for work. Phoenix plays one of this man's associates, and helps him find work within a company that has a history of corrupt practices and links to various criminal groups.
It's safe to call The Yards something of a slow burn, and while it might not engross quite as much as the later James Gray + Joaquin Phoenix films, it's still very good overall. It benefits from a strong supporting cast that includes the likes of Charlize Theron, James Caan, and Ellen Burstyn, while succeeding in looking at real-life issues regarding crime, corruption, and the general struggles of life that remain sadly relevant to this day.
Release Date
October 20, 2000
Director
James Gray
Main Genre
Crime
16 'We Own the Night' (2007)
Director: James Gray
Joaquin Phoenix as Bobby Green with his back against a mirror in We Own the Night.
Image via Columbia Pictures
James Gray and Joaquin Phoniex re-teamed in 2007, and the resulting film, We Own the Night, was up there as one of that year's best releases. Like The Yards, this film can also be characterized as a crime drama, and has a plot that sees members of a family - principally, two adult sons and their father - get entangled with, as well as endangered by, associates of the Russian mafia.
This film, as was the case with The Yard, also happens to star Mark Wahlberg, with Phoenix and him doing a commendable job of playing brothers wrapped up in a difficult situation. As far as crime/gangster movies go, We Own the Night isn't exactly one of the most explosive out there, but it's got a quiet, searing intensity that proves slowly absorbing as things go on, and is well-acted enough that you may find yourself sufficiently entertained for two hours by appreciating the performances alone.
Release Date
May 25, 2007
Runtime
117 Minutes
Director
James Gray
Main Genre