Johnny Depp: 5 Awesome Performances & 5 That Sucked

2. Edward - Edward Scissorhands (1990)

Edward Scissorhands
20th Century Fox

The films so far on this list have shown Depp's ability to handle oversized humour and ridiculousness, and if you'd just heard the basic premise for Edward Scissorhands, it'd sound like more of the same.

Instead, this is the film that makes you fall in love with Johnny Depp the actor, and started the once-beautiful working relationship between him and director Tim Burton.

Burton's suburban gothic fairytale sees Edward, a Frankenstein's Monster-esque creation with scissors for hands (obviously), make his way into civilisation and the lives of the family who took him in, and those around them.

It could've been silly, but instead the pair combine to give us something with genuine depth and emotion. While Burton's direction and design can take some credit, a lot of the success is down to Depp, who makes Edward so innocent and gentle that you can't help but feel for him, and yet take delight in his untainted view of the world.

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Contributor
Contributor

NCTJ-qualified journalist. Most definitely not a racing driver. Drink too much tea; eat too much peanut butter; watch too much TV. Sadly only the latter paying off so far. A mix of wise-old man in a young man's body with a child-like wonder about him and a great otherworldly sensibility.