Like all the greatest actors of his generation, it’s difficult to accurately describe Joaquin Phoenix’s skills as a dramatic performer. Time and time again, the Oscar-winning Phoenix has proven himself capable of disappearing into the most idiosyncratic characters imaginable, physically and mentally transforming himself into his foremost roles. Whether he’s playing aspiring rock stars, tyrannical dictators, or traumatized war veterans, Phoenix routinely pours his heart and soul into each of his cinematic performances, tackling his roles with utter fearlessness and emboldened imagination. 

As we continue to await the release of his new movie, Joker: Folie à Deux, we decided to look back at Phoenix’s past filmography, ranking some of his greatest movies from worst to best.

Walk the Line (2005)

As one might expect, it would take a truly one-of-a-kind actor to capture the larger-than-life presence of rock and roll legend, Johnny Cash. Fortunately, Phoenix proved more than up for the challenge with his 2005 biographical drama, Walk the Line. Adopting the Man in Black’s foremost characteristics, Phoenix eloquently presents a living, breathing portrait of the iconic musician, right down to Cash’s distinct body language and sultry speaking voice.

C’mon C’mon (2021)

Parenthood is a unique ordeal that ushers in as many problems as it does heartrending joys. Such is the simple yet relatable premise behind 2021’s masterful drama C’mon C’mon. Examining the relationship between a middle-aged radio host and his nine-year-old nephew, C’mon C’mon offers a satisfying illustration of family, friendship, and mutual support in the wake of personal tragedy. Opposite Woody Norman, Phoenix provides a paternal source of support for his younger co-star, emphasizing his character’s growth from self-imposed solitude into a more outgoing family man.

The Master (2012)

The first of two collaborations between Phoenix and director Paul Thomas Anderson (followed by Inherent Vice two years later), The Master also pits Phoenix against the similarly awe-inspiring theatrical performer, Philip Seymour Hoffman. Taking ample advantage of his two stars’ eminent potential, Anderson allows Phoenix and Hoffman complete creative freedom here, laying the groundwork for numerous strange, uncomfortable, thought-provoking, and cathartic interactions between Phoenix and Hoffman’s wildly opposing characters.

Gladiator (2000)

One of Phoenix’s earliest breakthrough performances came with his starring role in 2000’s Gladiator. A dramatic throwback to the sword-and-sandal epics of the 1950s and ‘60s, Gladiator finds Phoenix donning the flamboyant garb of the infamously corrupt Roman emperor, Commodus. Scheming his way to power at the cost of his family, Phoenix slips beneath viewers’ skin every time he appears on screen in Gladiator, predating other unstable monarchs and politicians like Game of Thrones’ Joffrey Baratheon or House of Cards’ Frank Underwood by a good decade.

Joker (2019)

In his original inception and subsequent depictions, The Joker has always been portrayed as a psychopathic criminal mastermind the audience isn’t necessarily meant to sympathize with. In that sense, Phoenix’s iteration of the Clown Prince of Crime is an anomaly, helping his portrayal stand out against the giggling mania of Jack Nicholson, Heath Ledger, or Mark Hamill. Offering a far more humanistic take on Batman’s famed archenemy, Phoenix manages to win over audiences’ hearts the moment he appears on-screen in Joker, allowing us a deeper look into the Joker’s increasingly volatile psyche and fragile emotional state.

Her (2013)

Few actors channel such a profound sense of loneliness as Joaquin Phoenix, something best evidenced by his roles in The Master, Joker, and 2013’s sci-fi comedy, Her. Melding humor with plenty of poignant emotion, Her’s high-concept premise is made all the more believable by Phoenix’s grounded lead performance. Displaying a constant need for love and companionship in each and every one of his scenes, we all end up feeling a deep connection to Phoenix’s lead character in Her, mainly because we’ve all experienced the heartache that comes with failed romances at one time or another.