Top 10 Best Movies of Joaquin Phoenix - the actor who portrayed Joker in 2019

You Were Never Really Here (translated: Never Been Here) is a gripping film directed by Lynne Ramsay. Despite being helmed by a female director, the film carries an R rating due to its violent content. It's an intense and mysterious film, filled with brutal violence and bloodshed, designed to explore the psychological state of a retired war veteran named Joe. Joaquin Phoenix almost carries the entire film, with his character dominating 90% of the screen time.

Although it wasn't part of the Oscar or Golden Globe nominations, You Were Never Really Here received critical acclaim at the Cannes Film Festival, where it won two awards—one for its screenplay and one for Joaquin Phoenix's performance. It was also nominated for the prestigious Palme d'Or, though it ultimately didn't win.

Details:

• Release Year: 2017
• Genre: Violence, Psychological
• Director: Lynne Ramsay
• Awards: 2 Cannes Awards

Walk the Line is a biographical film about one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century, with Joaquin Phoenix portraying the legendary Johnny Cash. The film follows the life of Johnny Cash, from his youth to his remarkable rise to fame, where he shared the stage with other iconic artists such as Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Carl Perkins.

For his performance in Walk the Line, Joaquin Phoenix earned an Oscar nomination that year. Although he didn't win the Oscar, Phoenix took home a Golden Globe Award for his outstanding acting.

Details:

• Release Year: 2005
• Genre: Biography, Music
• Director: James Mangold
• Awards: 1 Oscar, 3 Golden Globes

Another film that earned Joaquin Phoenix an Oscar nomination for his acting is The Master. The film follows Freddie Quell, a World War II veteran struggling to adjust to civilian life, who becomes drawn to a mysterious cult known as The Cause. Quell is captivated by the religion until he begins to question its shady practices.

Details:

• Release Year: 2012
• Genre: Drama, Humanitarian
• Director: Paul Thomas Anderson
• Awards: Oscar (3 Nominations)

Another R-rated film in Top 10 Best Movies of Joaquin Phoenix is Inherent Vice. This film tells the story of a drug-addled private investigator, who embarks on a quest to find his missing ex-girlfriend. Set in 1970s Los Angeles, the film features violent and sexual content. Joaquin Phoenix's lead role in Inherent Vice also earned him a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor.

Details:

• Release Year: 2014
• Genre: Comedy, Drama
• Director: Paul Thomas Anderson
• Awards: Oscar (2 Nominations)

Parenthood is a 1989 film in which a young Joaquin Phoenix, only 16 years old at the time, shared the screen with Keanu Reeves in supporting roles. The movie, centered around the emotional and relatable theme of family, earned two Oscar nominations. It marked Joaquin Phoenix's transition from television to film, and for his role, he also received a nomination for Best Young Actor at the Young Artist Awards.

Details:

• Release Year: 1989
• Genre: Comedy, Family
• Director: Ron Howard
• Awards: Oscar (2 Nominations)

The final entry in the Top 10 Best Movies of Joaquin Phoenix is The Immigrant. This film follows two young women who immigrate to New York, searching for work, but are tragically deceived into becoming prostitutes by a cunning man. Joaquin Phoenix takes on the role of a villain, much like his performance in Gladiator. Although The Immigrant didn't achieve widespread success, it was nominated for the prestigious Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival.

Details:

• Release Year: 2013
• Genre: Drama, Thriller
• Director: James Gray
• Awards: Cannes (1 Nomination)

The final movie on the Top 10 Best Movies of Joaquin Phoenix list is To Die For. This film features Joaquin Phoenix in a supporting role, but it was Nicole Kidman's film that took the spotlight, earning her a Golden Globe award. The story follows Suzanne Stone, a young and ambitious woman who will stop at nothing, using any means necessary, to achieve her dream of becoming a television personality.

Details:

• Release Year: 1995
• Genre: Comedy, Drama
• Director: Gus Van Sant
• Awards: 1 Golden Globe

Gladiator is a cinematic classic directed by Ridley Scott, starring Russell Crowe, who won an Oscar for Best Actor. The film follows Maximus, a Roman general who is betrayed and murdered by the corrupt Prince Commodus, who kills his family and forces Maximus into slavery. Maximus becomes a gladiator, seeking revenge on Commodus and to bring justice to Rome.

In Gladiator, Joaquin Phoenix plays the villainous Commodus, a ruthless and power-hungry prince. His performance is striking and a significant departure from his earlier roles, helping to cement his reputation as an actor. For this role, Joaquin Phoenix was nominated for an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor.

To this day, Gladiator remains a film that shaped both cinematic history and Joaquin Phoenix's career, securing its place at the top of the Top 10 Best Movies of Joaquin Phoenix list.

Details:

• Release Year: 2000
• Genre: Historical, Action
• Director: Ridley Scott
• Awards: 5 Oscars, 2 Golden Globes, 5 BAFTAs

In stark contrast to Gladiator, Joaquin Phoenix stars in the leading role of Her, playing Theodore, a lonely middle-aged man living in a world dominated by technology. Theodore becomes emotionally involved with an artificial intelligence (AI) program he installs to create a virtual girlfriend. The film explores the unusual yet beautiful concept of love in the digital age, along with the profound loneliness that comes with it.

Her received five Oscar nominations and was considered a strong contender for Best Picture, but ultimately won only for Best Original Screenplay. Joaquin Phoenix's performance earned him a nomination at the Golden Globes as well.

Details:

• Release Year: 2013
• Genre: Sci-Fi, Romance
• Director: Spike Jonze
• Awards: 1 Oscar, 1 Golden Globe

Released at the end of 2019, Joker quickly became a buzzworthy film, captivating both critics and audiences alike. The movie premiered at the Venice Film Festival, where it received high praise and was even nominated for the prestigious Golden Lion award for Best Film. Based on the DC Comics character that earned Heath Ledger a posthumous Oscar, Joaquin Phoenix takes on the iconic role of the Joker, but this isn't your typical superhero film—it's a psychological drama that delves into the dark transformation of a man into one of the most infamous villains in comic book history. The film's grim, violent tone and psychological depth earned it an R rating due to its graphic content and mature language.

Joaquin Phoenix's performance has been widely acclaimed, with many predicting that he could finally win his first Oscar after three previous nominations for his portrayal of the Joker. The film is still in limited release but has already sparked an intense awards season campaign. Given its strong potential, Joker may surpass films like Her, You Were Never Really Here, and Gladiator to secure top honors. Even with just one Venice Film Festival nomination, Joker firmly deserves its place at number three on our list of Top 10 Joaquin Phoenix Films.

Details:

• Release Year: 2019
• Genre: Crime, Violence
• Director: Todd Phillips
• Awards: Venice Film Festival (1 nomination)