The Top 10 Samuel L. Jackson Films Of All-Time

From his debut in the 1972 independent blaxploitation film Together for Days to assembling Earth’s mightiest heroes in 11 movies across the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Samuel L. Jackson has proved himself as one of the most dynamic and versatile actors of his generation. A frequent collaborator with directors such as Spike Lee and Quentin Tarantino, he is known for his charisma, his confidence, his incredibly distinct voice, and his ability to embody any role he is given.

Jackson’s career has been met with many accolades, including four NAACP Image Awards, a BAFTA Award, and a Black Reel Award. In addition, he has earned two Tony nominations, two Academy Award nominations, and four Golden Globe nominations. In 2022, Jackson received the Academy Honorary Award for lifetime achievement due to his long career. Furthermore, he is a proven box office draw, with his films having grossed a collective $27 billion. As a result, he currently stands as the highest grossing live-action actor of all time, second only to Scarlett Johansson.

But now the question that comes to mind is this: in the over 150 films that Jackson has been in, which contains his finest performance? He has had no shortage of iconic roles, such as Nick Fury in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Frozone in Pixar’s The Incredibles, or even Ray Arnold in Jurassic Park. No two performances are the same, and everyone is bound to have their own opinions on the matter. So here is one list of the top ten films of Samuel L. Jackson.

10. A Time to Kill

Year: 1996 | Genre: Legal Drama

Premise: Directed by Joel Schumacher and based on John Grisham’s 1989 novel of the same name, the film opens with the rape of an African American girl at the hands of bigoted men. Her father, Carl Lee Hailey, played by Jackson, takes the law into his own hands and murders the two men as they are about to face trial. He turns to an untested lawyer, Jake Brigance, played by Matthew McConaughey, to defend him. The film follows the trial of Carl as Jake struggles to get him acquitted, facing opposition from the prosecution and racist members of the public.

Performance: This role requires Jackson to embody many emotional states whilst also acting as the emotional axis of the film, Carl Lee Hailey, a complex and tragic figure who faces discrimination and racism whilst also enduring the pressure of the trial. In addition, Carl juggles his grief at the assault on his daughter whilst also showing fear at the event that he is found guilty. Acting alongside another heavyweight actor such as McConaughey is no easy task, yet Jackson seamlessly slips into the role. He is required to embody all these different emotions, and this role is one of the best showcases of his range as an actor.

Jackson’s standout scene is when Lee takes the stand and is cross-examined by the prosecution. In this moment, Jackson expertly portrays the slow-mounting grief giving way to anger as the pressure mounts on Carl before he finally snaps, affirming his belief that he was right to kill the two men and that they deserve to burn in hell.

For this performance, Jackson received a nomination for best supporting actor at the Golden Globes and won the corresponding NAACP award.

9. The Banker

Year: 2020 | Genre: Period Drama

Premise: Written and directed by George Nolfi, the film depicts the story of two real-life African American entrepreneurs, Joe Morris (Jackson) and Bernard Garrett (Anthony Mackie). The pair hire working-class white man Matt Steiner, played by Nicholas Hoult, to act as the face of their growing business empire while they pose as a chauffeur and janitor.

Performance: A role that feels fairly standard by Jackson’s standards, but it stands out all the more because of it. He is required to not only embody the mannerisms and character of a real figure, but also make his version stand on its own. What makes Jackson’s performance work is the chemistry he has with Anthony Mackie, where each scene of them debating and planning together feels electric due to the strong back and forth between them.

The role requires Jackson to act as the straight and realistic man compared to Mackie’s idealistic and ambitious Garrett. Yet despite this seriousness, Jackson’s portrayal of Morris features many moments of wit and humor. Furthermore, the film requires Jackson to showcase Morris’ duplicity and ability hide his true self, methods which he and Garrett must use in order to fulfil their ambitions.

8. Eve’s Bayou

Year: 1997 | Genre: Gothic Horror

Premise: In her directorial debut, Kasi Lemmons delivers a story set in 1960s Louisiana. It follows Eve, played by Jurnee Smollett, discovering that her family’s affluent existence is not all that it seems. After discovering her suave doctor father, played by Jackson, in an act of infidelity, soon the life Eve has known begins to change and crumble.

Performance: The character of Louis Batiste is one of great complexity and nuance: a man who shows genuine care for his family and works hard to maintain that image, yet his lust ends up sowing the seeds of the problems that come to plague them. Jackson manages to balance the many elements of this character expertly.

In scenes alongside Smollett, Jackson plays the loving father perfectly, and the audience could understand how the family would have no reason to suspect any form of infidelity. Yet Jackson is also able to successfully demonstrate the darker side of Louis, sometimes with the subtlest of facial expressions. He is exceptional at presenting these contrasting sides of Louis, switching between them seamlessly.

For this performance, Jackson received a nomination at the NAACP Awards for Best Actor and won the corresponding award at the 1998 Acapulco Black Film Festival.  

7. Kingsman: The Secret Service

Year: 2014 | Genre: Action Comedy

Premise: Directed by Matthew Vaughn and based on the comic book series of the same name, the film follows Gary “Eggsy” Unwin’s recruitment into Kingsman, a spy organization. Along with Harry Hart, played by Colin Firth, the two must stop a global threat perpetrated by Richmond Valentine, played by Jackson.

Performance: Every good spy film needs a memorable antagonist, and Richmond Valentine is just that. In typical modern spy movie fashion, he is the head of his own corporation and is revealed to be an eco-terrorist with a plan to, in his own words, ‘save the world.’ Valentine is charismatic, devious, a genius with a prominent lisp, and believes he is the hero in his own story.

These are all elements that Jackson masterfully conveys, and he matches perfectly with the film’s overall tone and style. From the film’s first scene, Jackson establishes himself as a scenery chewer, always keeping the audience’s attention. Yet, despite the film’s comedic tone, there is a layer of sinisterness to Valentine and an element of unpredictability that keeps the viewer on their toes. But what makes Valentine stand out is Jackson’s commitment to convincing the audience that the character believes he is right and noble. Jackson’s charisma makes for a character that the audience can both loathe and sympathize with.

For this performance, Jackson was nominated for the MTV Movie Award for Best Villain.  

6. Coach Carter

Year: 2005 | Genre: Sports Drama

Premise: Directed by Thomas Carter, the film follows Coach Ken Carter, played by Jackson, as he returns to his old high school in Richmond, California to coach the basketball team. Carter has tough rules, and though his coaching gets them to win games, it comes with the unfortunate effect of his players’ academic performances dropping. Carter must face heavy criticism when he decides to cancel the team’s championship season.

Performance: From his first training session, Thomas Carter appears to be a strong and capable leader with no care for insubordination. But as the film progresses, and as his students and players endure hardship, Carter shows genuine care for them. Throughout the film, he pushes his students not towards glory, but to a better life; one where they get the education they deserve at college.

As the title character, this film lives or dies by Jackson’s performance. It’s a great challenge to carry the audience through the entire film, but Jackson’s screen presence, charisma, and line delivery keep the audience engaged. He lets the moments of humanity and compassion bleed out on-screen, yet Carter always remains confident and professional for his students. It’s a performance that can successfully inspire those who view it.

For this performance, Jackson won the NAACP Award for Best Actor.

5. Django Unchained

Year: 2012 | Genre: Western

Premise: Written and directed by Quentin Tarantino, the film follows former slave Django, played by Jamie Foxx, who is rescued and recruited by Dr. King Schultz, played by Christoph Waltz. The pair go on a journey to free Django’s wife, played by Kerry Washington, from the clutches of the vile plantation owner Calvin Candie, played by Leonardo DiCaprio.

Performance: In this film, Jackson plays Stephen, a house slave and main confidant of the film’s main antagonist, Calvin Candie (DiCaprio). This role stands in contrast to many of Jackson’s other roles, most of which he is charismatic, honorable, and independent, whilst Stephen is someone who appears submissive, loyal, and conniving. Unlike many of the slaves Django and Schultz encounter, Stephen shows genuine love and loyalty towards his master, with hints that he had a hand in raising Candie into the monster he is in the film.

It is perhaps the most layered role of Jackson’s career, and he plays it all perfectly. In one moment, Stephen is simply a loyal servant, carrying out his master’s wishes and laughing at his jokes. But Jackson’s expressions introduce an underlying tension throughout every scene as it becomes clear he suspects Django and Schultz, indicating that he is a lot smarter than he initially comes across, much more so than Candie. The second half of the film shows Stephen’s true colors when he confidently expresses to Candie about Django and Schultz’s deception and assumes the role of the film’s antagonist after Candie’s death. All these elements are perfectly balanced by Jackson, who turns what could have been a standard villain sidekick into a devious, sinister character, and arguably the evilest character Jackson has ever played.

Despite Christoph Waltz getting the lion’s share of praise for his performance, Jackson nonetheless managed to earn the Black Reel Award for Best Supporting Actor for this performance.

4. The Hateful Eight

Year: 2015 | Genre: Western

Premise: Another film written and directed by Tarantino, the plot takes place 10 years after the American Civil War and depicts eight dubious strangers stopping off at a stagecoach stopover in order to shelter from a blizzard. Tension starts to build among the group as not everyone is who they say they are.

Performance: In this film, Jackson arguably holds the role of protagonist, portraying the bounty hunter Major Marquis Warren. A former slave and soldier, he must utilize his cunning, charisma, and manipulation to survive in a room with several other dubious individuals.

Much of the tension of this film rides on Jackson’s performance, and he effortlessly rises to the occasion. The audience remains captivated by the film’s ever-mounting tension, and Jackson’s screen presence immediately draws eyes onto his character. He commands the room for the film’s entire monolithic runtime and excellently portrays a gun-wielding detective who unravels the mystery whilst pursuing his own personal vengeance. What unfolds is a tale of vengeance that suggests that Warren himself may be the most hateful.

For this performance, Jackson was nominated for Best Actor at the Saturn Awards and International Cinephile Society Awards. He would win the Capri Actor Award at the Capri Hollywood International Film Festival.   

3. Jungle Fever

Year: 1991 | Genre: Romantic Drama

Premise: Written, directed, and produced by Spike Lee, this film follows a married black lawyer named Flipper, played by Wesley Snipes, as he begins an affair with his white secretary Angie, played by Annabella Sciorra. When the affair becomes known to his wife and family, it is met with significant disapproval and scorn.

Performance: This film contains what many argue is Jackson’s breakout performance. He plays crack addict Gator, brother to protagonist Flipper. Initially presented as a charismatic individual despite his drug problems, Flipper is ultimately a tragic figure due to his addiction. The audience latches onto him due to his fun personality, but come the end of the film, he features in one of the most heart-wrenching scenes of Jackson’s career.

Jackson’s chemistry with Snipes is electric, and his bouncy personality and charisma make him a joy to watch. Every scene Jackson is in is full of life and energy, but what elevates the performance to a level of excellence is Gator’s final scene, where he desperately searches for money at his parent’s house. The mix of regret, anger, and desperation pulls at the heartstrings, and Jackson masterfully exudes all these elements in his performance. This film illustrates Jackson’s ability to balance both the comedic and dramatic elements of acting, delivering a performance that is equal parts joyful and heartbreaking.

For this performance, Jackson won Best Supporting Actor at the Cannes Film Festival, Kansas City Film Critics Circle Awards, and New York Film Critics Circle Awards.  

2. Jackie Brown

Year: 1997 | Genre: Crime

Premise: Jackie Brown is yet another film written and directed by Quentin Tarantino and is based on the 1992 novel Rum Punch by Elmore Leonard. The film follows flight attendant Jackie Brown, played by Pam Grier, as she is busted for smuggling money. The police wish for her to become an informant, but she will be killed if she does. Brown is then left with a difficult choice to make.

Performance: This is another film which places Jackson in the role of main antagonist, where he plays Ordell Robbie, a ruthless black-market runner and former employer of protagonist Jackie Brown. He is greedy, intelligent, and hedonistic, and injects tension into every scene he is in, much like most Tarantino antagonists.

Jackson’s screen presence and charisma work wonders here. It is not often that acting legend Robert De Niro, playing ex-convict Louis Gara, is upstaged and surpassed in a scene, but thanks to Tarantino’s writing and Jackson’s performance, the scene with Ordell and Louis is full of tension. But of course, Jackson balances this out with plenty of wit and humor, further proving his ability to juggle both comedic and sinister, sometimes in the same scene.

Jackson, for this performance, was nominated for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy at the Golden Globes and won the Silver Bear at the Berlin Film Festival.

1. Pulp Fiction

Year: 1994 | Genre: Crime

Premise: Finally, another film written and directed by Quentin Tarantino, Pulp Fiction delivers a series of narratives told in non-chronological order and follows the various escapades of different individuals, such as boxer Butch Coolidge (Bruce Willis), gangster Marsellus Wallace (Ving Rhames), and most importantly, Wallace’ two hitmen, Vincent Vega (John Travolta) and Jules Winnfield (Jackson).

Performance: Without a doubt, Winnfield is Samuel L. Jackson’s most iconic role. If Jungle Fever was deemed as his breakout role, then his performance as hitman Jules Winnfield was what garnered him worldwide acclaim and recognition. This performance would go on to define Jackson’s career, with his trademark philosophical monologues and penchant for cursing finding its way into many future roles of his.

In the film, Winnfield is often partnered with fellow hitman Vega and the chemistry between these two is electric, with every conversation and dialogue scene now an iconic staple in cinema. Nowhere is this more apparent than Winnfield’s introduction, recounting the path of a righteous man and chewing out Brett before killing him—an iconic moment that would be nowhere near as memorable without Jackson’s performance. Throughout the film, Winnfield becomes more philosophical, and Jackson plays this subtle shift in character expertly. Every reaction, intonation, and line delivery has found its way to iconic status, and this is a clear example of a role only Samuel L. Jackson could play.

For this performance, Jackson was nominated for Best Supporting Actor at the Oscars, BAFTAs, and the Golden Globes. Though he went on to gain great success due to this role, it’s hard to deny that Jules Winnfield will forever hang over Samuel L. Jackson as his most iconic role and one of the most iconic movie performances of all time.