Whenever he isn’t starring in the wildly successful Spider-Man: No Way Home, Willem Dafoe is busy being one of the most recognizable actors in Hollywood. A veteran who is not afraid to challenge himself, Dafoe has worked with legendary directors like Lars von Trier and Martin Scorsese while giving chances to works by rising talents like Sean Baker and Robert Eggers. Whether he is playing a villain or a hero, Dafoe always steals the spotlight thanks to his expressive face, his incredible line delivery and his overall versatility.
Born in Wisconsin in 1955, Dafoe began his acting career in 1979 with the film Heaven’s Gate (for which he humorously lied about speaking Dutch in order to be cast). Though he has yet to win an Academy Award (despite beingnominatedfourtimes), Dafoe has starred in some of the most iconic films of the last three decades and is regarded as one of the most respected actors of his generation; fans even think he should win a Supporting Actor Academy Award for Spider Man: No Way Home. While there are dozens of amazing films to choose from, these are the ten best Willem Dafoe movies, narrowed down from a vast spectrum.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
10 The Grand Budapest Hotel
Fox Searchlight Pictures
Wes Anderson’s film The Gradn Budapest Hotel follows an old hotel concierge and a young bellboy who join forces is an exhilarating and quirky comedy with an impressive cast of Hollywood’s finest actors. Dafoe does not disappoint in his role as deadly assassin J.G. Jopling, who has been hired to kill the hotel concierge because the man has inherited a valuable artwork. Dafoe unleashes the deadliest part of his personality (along with great eyeshadow and leather) to add a wonderful punk-rock pinch of darkness to Anderson’s characteristically saccharine film. The Grand Budapest Hotel was critically acclaimed, winning five BAFTAs and four Academy Awards.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
9 Mississippi Burning
Orion Pictures
Based on an infamous murder investigation that rocked a Mississippi town in 1964, the social message of Mississippi Burning has only become more salient since its release in 1988. In this crime thriller, Dafoe plays Alan Ward, one of two white FBI agents sent to investigate the murders of three Black civil rights workers. This 1988 film was met with divisive critiques due to its ‘white saviour’ narrative, and while some of its elements have not stood the test of time, it was also praised for its emotionally-gripping performances and impressive cinematography, for which Peter Biziou won an Academy Award.
8 John Wick
Lionsgate
One of the most important action films of the last decade, John Wick has gained a cult fanbase that has allowed the franchise to expand to four films. But none of that would not have been possible without the original film, in which Dafoe plays Marcus, a former high-class assassin who taught John everything he knows. Dafoe does a wonderful job with the character, emphasizing the long history between Marcus and John but still being ambivalent enough so the audience is never quite sure which side he plays for. Somehow both amibiguous and extremely likable, this is Dafoe at the top of his action game.
7 The Lighthouse
A24
One of Dafoe’s most recent roles, The Lighthouse is “a brilliantly acted” and highly-stylized “descent into madnes,” according to Julian Roman. Directed by Robert Eggers, who is also known for his critically-adored The Witch, this black-and-white psychological thriller shows Dafoe and Robert Pattinson as lighthouse keepers who slowly, but surely, succumb to the loneliness and isolation of their post. The film was praised for its surreal imagery and masterful performances, and Dafoe locks into the profane, alcoholic insanity of a mad pirate-like man perfectly.
6 Spider-Man
Sony Pictures Releasing
One of Dafoe’s most iconic roles came with 2002’s Spider-Man, which exposed him to a new generation of viewers and to legions of superhero movie fans. Dafoe plays a billionaire scientist named Norman Osborn who takes an unapproved drug to make himself stronger and ends up becoming The Green Goblin. Dafoe’s character is still viewed as one of the best comic-book film villains ever, almost too-perfectly suited for Dafoe’s unique facial features and voice, and has even made an acclaimed comeback in the newest franchise with Spider Man: No Way Home.
5 The Last Temptation of Christ
Universal Pictures
The most controversial role in Dafoe’s filmography comes from Martin Scorsese‘s adaptation of Nikos Kazantzakis fictional novel about Jesus, The Last Temptation of Christ. Playing the titular role, Dafoe’s performance was widely praised for its emotional intensity and commitment but the Academy Award nomination eluded him. Perhaps the reason for this was the film’s controversial depiction of Jesus’ sexual temptations, which led to public outrage, including protest from right-wing Christian groups, anonymous death threats and even bans in many countries. Still, the epic film remains a fantastic tale of sacrifice and desire thanks to Scorsese’s masterful direction and Dafoe’s humanizing performance, which placed emphasis on the difficulty of the decisions made by Jesus.
4 Antichrist
Nordisk Film Distribution
Dafoe is not one to shy away from controversial films, so it was only natural that he would end up collaborating with enfant terrible and arthouse darling, Lars Von Trier (who has since been basically blacklisted for his disgustingly insensitive and supremely stupid remarks). Antichrist tells the stripped-down story of a couple who retreat to a cabin in the woods following the death of their son. While his character remains unnamed, Dafoe plays a man who suffers from bizarre visions while his wife develops violent sexual behaviour and a penchant for sadomasochism. Written by Von Trier while hospitalised for his own depression, the film is a grim but impactful representation of the struggles many have with depression and anxiety.
3 The Florida Project
The Florida Project is a tender but heartbreaking coming-of-age film directed by Sean Baker, also known for directing Red Rocket and Tangerine. In the film, Dafoe plays Bobby Hicks, the manager of Magic Castle, a decrepit motel set next to DisneyWorld. The film shows the economic and emotional circumstances of a single mother and her mischievous daughter as they struggle to make ends meet. One of his most acclaimed and humane performances, Dafoe received his third Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor.
2 The Boondock Saints
Franchise / Indican Pictures
A cultural cornerstone, The Boondock Saints is an action thriller featuring two Irish catholic brothers turned vigilantes who kill members of the mafia to address corruption in Boston. Originally released in 1999, The Boondock Saints has become one of the most important cult films of the ’90s despite the abhorrent reviews it received, with legions of fans who know every word. In the movie, Dafoe plays FBI Agent Paul Smecker, who is assigned to chase down two troublesome brothers; Smecker is one of the most memorable characters in cinema, and Dafoe injects him with a manic and bizarre energy surpassing everyone else in the movie. While the film is not perfect, it’s undeniable that The Boondock Saints offers an original point of view and its impact on pop culture and cinema cannot be understated.
1 Platoon
Oliver Stone’s Platoon has been defined as one of the best war films ever made. Focusing on the psychological toll that war has on soldiers, Stone wrote the screenplay based upon his experiences as an infantryman in Vietnam, making him the first Viternam veteran to make a Hollywood film. Platoon was praised for Stone’s screenplay, its political message, the realism of its battle sequences, and the performances from Charlie Sheen, Tom Berenger and, of course, Willem Dafoe. Dafoe was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his sympathetic portrayal of Sergeant Elias, an idealistic but troubled army officer who takes Charlie Sheen’s character under his wing; the scene in which he falls to his knees has become one of the most iconic images in all of cinema. Platoon is a great tale of bravery and one of the most important films about trauma and war, bit also contains perhaps the best Willem Dafoe performance of all time.
