Samuel L. Jackson stands as one of Hollywood’s most prolific and bankable actors, with a career spanning decades and encompassing an impressive range of roles. His filmography is so vast that many of his finest works often get overlooked in favor of his more famous blockbuster appearances. Understanding his best movies requires looking beyond the obvious choices and exploring the diverse range of performances that have made him such a distinctive and iconic presence on screen.
Jackson’s breakthrough moment came with Quentin Tarantino’s cult classic Pulp Fiction, where he portrayed Jules Winnfield, a loquacious Bible-verse-spewing killer who became instantly memorable. This performance earned him an Academy Award nomination for best supporting actor and established him as a major talent in Hollywood. However, his career extends far beyond this single iconic role, encompassing action films, dramas, thrillers, and even animated features that showcase his remarkable range as an actor.
THE ACTION THRILLER MASTERPIECE
The Long Kiss Goodnight from 1996 represents one of Jackson’s most underrated and personally favorite performances. In this film, Jackson plays Mitch, a character that marked a notable departure from his more intense and highly confident roles. Rather than portraying the type of powerful, commanding character audiences had come to expect, Jackson’s Mitch is a vulnerable, everyman-type character who constantly evolves throughout the film. He begins as a wacky private detective and gradually transforms into a resourceful and loyal ally. This character arc allowed Jackson to showcase his comedic timing and vulnerability in ways that his more famous roles had not previously demonstrated.
What makes The Long Kiss Goodnight particularly special is the on-screen chemistry between Jackson and his co-star Geena Davis. Their unlikely partnership and contrasting personalities helped elevate the film beyond a typical action thriller, weaving in tension, humor, and heart. Jackson’s Mitch perfectly complemented Davis’ Samantha, creating a dynamic that felt genuine and engaging. The film features many quick-witted and humorous lines that allowed Jackson to display his comedic talents, thanks to the clever script and his own great comedic timing. Although the movie holds a 67 percent critic rating and 70 percent audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, it remains without a doubt one of Jackson’s best performances, and Jackson himself has cited this role as one of his personal favorites.
DRAMATIC EXCELLENCE IN INDEPENDENT CINEMA
Jackson has also proven his dramatic chops in several critically acclaimed independent films that deserve far more recognition than they typically receive. The Red Violin, an anthology film directed by Francois Girard that debuted in 1998, showcases Jackson in a more subdued dramatic role. The film received many accolades and became an awards contender when it was released in the United States in 1999, one of the biggest years for films. In 2000, it was nominated for Best Foreign Language Film at the Golden Globes and earned John Corigliano an Academy Award for Best Original Score.
Eve’s Bayou from 1997 stands as one of the best films in Jackson’s entire filmography. Written and directed by Kasi Lemmons, this drama allowed Jackson to explore complex emotional territory. The success of this collaboration led to another partnership between Jackson and Lemmons with The Caveman’s Valentine in 2001. In this film, Jackson plays Romulus, a man suffering from paranoid schizophrenia who lives in a cave in a park in New York City. This role required Jackson to dig deep into the psychological and emotional aspects of his character, demonstrating his ability to handle challenging dramatic material with nuance and authenticity.
LEGAL THRILLERS AND COMPLEX NARRATIVES
Changing Lanes from 2002 represents another underrated gem in Jackson’s filmography. This legal thriller directed by Roger Michell pits Jackson against Ben Affleck in a battle of wills and morality. While the film is not reinventing the wheel, it provides a very entertaining ride, largely due to its impressive lineup of stars. Jackson and his co-star Naomi Watts both earned Independent Spirit Award nominations for their performances, and Jackson also won an Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor. The film works because of the chemistry between its leads and the intelligent script that explores themes of ethics, revenge, and redemption.
SCIENCE FICTION AND MYSTERY
Sphere from 1998 represents yet another Samuel L. Jackson movie that deserves reevaluation and recognition. This science-fiction thriller was adapted from a Michael Crichton novel and directed by Barry Levinson. The film starred Jackson alongside Dustin Hoffman, Sharon Stone, and Liev Schreiber as a group of specialists in various fields who are tasked with exploring a spacecraft found at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean. The ship proves to be more than it seems when the team discovers a mysterious sphere onboard. When fears begin to manifest, no one can trust each other, and the already dangerous situation becomes a waking nightmare. Jackson’s performance in this film showcases his ability to handle complex science fiction narratives and maintain tension throughout a psychological thriller.
BLOCKBUSTER FRANCHISES AND ICONIC ROLES
Beyond his independent and dramatic work, Jackson has also become synonymous with major blockbuster franchises. His role as Nick Fury in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has made him a household name to multiple generations of filmgoers. His appearances in films like Iron Man 2 and Avengers: Endgame have cemented his status as a crucial part of one of the most successful film franchises of all time. These roles showcase Jackson’s ability to command the screen with authority and presence, creating a character that audiences have come to love and anticipate in each new MCU installment.
Jackson’s early 1990s work also included several significant films that helped establish him as a major talent. Jurassic Park from 1993 placed him in a blockbuster adventure film that became a cultural phenomenon. Die Hard with a Vengeance from 1995 paired him with Bruce Willis in an action-packed thriller that demonstrated his ability to hold his own alongside established action stars. A Time to Kill from 1996 showcased his dramatic abilities in a courtroom drama that tackled serious social issues.
VOICE ACTING AND ANIMATED FEATURES
Jackson has also lent his distinctive voice to animated projects, including Incredibles 2 from 2018, where he provided voice work for a major character in this beloved Pixar sequel. His voice acting work demonstrates that his talent extends beyond live-action performances, and his recognizable voice adds an extra layer of appeal to animated features.
THE BREADTH OF HIS CAREER
What makes Samuel L. Jackson’s career so remarkable is not just the quality of individual performances but the sheer diversity of roles he has undertaken. From the intense and confident Jules Winnfield in Pulp Fiction to the vulnerable and humorous Mitch in The Long
