Jack Nicholson isn’t merely an actor—he’s a force of cinema. For more than 50 years, he’s illuminated the screen with characters that both entertain and linger. With three Oscars and a resume practically a survey of contemporary American film history, Nicholson has done it all: rebels, lunatics, heartbreakers, and the occasional quirky romantic. Whether he’s wielding an axe or sporting that inimitable devilish smile, one thing’s certain—when Jack appears, you’re watching. So let’s get into his best work, with a countdown of the 10 greatest Jack Nicholson movies—keeping the best for last.
10. About Schmidt (2002)
In this late-in-life masterpiece, Nicholson dials it back to portray Warren Schmidt, a newly retired insurance agent struggling with loneliness, regret, and a soon-to-be-made road trip to his daughter’s wedding. It’s more subdued, more contained, Jack, but no less effective. The performance balances dry wit with dramatic heft. As Collider pointed out, it’s one of the most subtle roles Nicholson has ever played—a demonstration that reserved Jack can be as effective as crazy Jack.
9. The Last Detail (1973)
Playing foul-mouthed Navyman Billy “Badass” Buddusky, Nicholson gives a raw and frequently funny performance. Charged with transporting a young sailor to prison, Buddusky decides to treat the kid to one last experience of freedom. It’s a gritty buddy film infused with cynicism and sympathy. Collider describes it as quietly moving but bitingly comedic, with a healthy mix of profanity that opened eyes at the time. It’s 1970s filmmaking at its best—and Nicholson is in top form.
8. Prizzi’s Honor (1985)
Nicholson stars as Charley Partanna, a mobster hitman torn between loyalty and love when he falls for another contract killer. It’s a peculiar, high-style dark comedy that allows Nicholson to play the straight man with aplomb. Collider finds it underrated, noting how the movie mixes crime and comedy in a manner few can. It’s Jack getting laughs, getting deadly, and getting romantically unexpected—all at once.
7. Terms of Endearment (1983)
In a lighter vein, Nicholson stars as retired astronaut Garrett Breedlove—a tipsy, geriatric playboy who blunders into an embarrassing but tender affair with Shirley MacLaine’s Aurora. Their chemistry sizzles, and his work earned him a well-deserved Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. Collider praised his skill at bringing both wit and depth to the role. He’s not the center here, but his presence lingers.
6. Easy Rider (1969)
This is the film that set Nicholson in motion. As George Hanson, a drunken Southern attorney who gets picked up by two bikers for a ride along America, Nicholson steals the scene. The film has the restless energy of the ’60s, and Jack’s blend of humor, tragedy, and out-of-nowhere vulnerability is spellbinding. Collider describes it as a milestone for Nicholson—and it is. It’s the moment the world finally noticed.
5. Five Easy Pieces (1970)
Nicholson stars as Robert Dupea, a gifted pianist turned oil rig laborer trying to escape his history. The movie is a subdued character study of alienation and self-destruction, and Nicholson is raw intensity in every scene. Collider attributes this film to solidifying Nicholson’s ability to shoulder a movie by himself. And, indeed, that classic diner sequence remains memorable.
4. A Few Good Men (1992)
“Too much truth!” Online—and one incendiary courtroom scene—made Nicholson’s Colonel Nathan Jessup an indelible cultural touchstone. He’s only in a handful of scenes, but his authoritative presence pervades the entire film. As P.R. Thompson observes, Nicholson embodies arrogance and authority, and makes Jessup at once captivating and frightening. It’s a masterclass in accomplishing much with very little screen time.
3. The Shining (1980)
Jack Torrance is horror’s greatest fright, and Nicholson’s descent into madness is the stuff of legend. Stanley Kubrick’s film, based on the novel by Stephen King, provided Nicholson with latitude to go completely crazy—and he seized it. “Here’s Johnny!” became a part of pop culture overnight. P.R. Thompson congratulates Nicholson on being able to play both quiet horror and explosive fear. It’s one of the most memorable performances in horror history.
2. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975)
Nicholson’s Randle McMurphy is the ultimate antihero—defiant, charming, and ultimately heartbreaking. His struggle against the establishment (and Nurse Ratched) is humorous, poignant, and profoundly relatable. The film swept all the big Oscars, and Jack won Best Actor for good reason. Variety refers to it as one of only three movies to win all five major Academy Awards, with Nicholson’s performance at the forefront. It’s raw, emotional, and downright unforgettable.
1. Chinatown (1974)
At the top of the list is Chinatown, in which Nicholson gives perhaps his greatest performance as Jake Gittes, a hard-boiled private detective trapped in a sordid web of deceit, corruption, and tragedy. The film is imbued with noir chic, and Nicholson’s performance as Gittes—a man unravelling slowly the truth that no one wants revealed—is spot-on. Rotten Tomatoes calls it a landmark film, with Nicholson’s performance grounding the entire movie. Fifty years later, it remains to this day a nearly flawless combination of style, narrative, and star presence.
From kinky suspense films to sentimental dramas, Jack Nicholson’s career is an anthology of unforgettable roles. Every performance stands as a reminder that there is only one Jack—and no one else even comes remotely close.