My Top 10 Favorite Samuel L. Jackson Movies.
Let’s start this off by saying that Samuel L. Jackson is the man. Plain and simple. He’s been featured in more movies either as the lead or a supporting player or a simple cameo probably more than anyone other actor on this planet and deservedly so since he’s one of the all time best actors to ever do it along with the likes of Denzel Washington, Jimmy Stewart, Tom Hanks, Morgan Freeman, Jamie Foxx, Laurence Fishbourne, Leonardo DiCaprio, Cuba Gooding Jr., Tom Selleck, Peter Falk, Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Will Smith, Eddie Murphy, Sidney Poitier, Chadwick Boseman etc. This kind of list is brutal to do because he’s been great in so many iconic and classic movies, but I joyfully take the challenge to narrow it down to ten of my all time favorite best movies\roles of his. And hereeeee we go!
10. Django Unchained. 2012.
Everybody remembers this Sam Jackson performance. As Steven in Djano, Jackson played the best “Uncle Tom” Coon in film history. Basically a live action Uncle Ruckas (Boondocks). He made you despise this character yet still be able to enjoy the comic relief the character provided. It was a very unique role for Sam that we hadn’t seen him do before or since.
9. The Hitman’s Bodyguard. 2017.
Sam is over 70 and yet still not slowing down. 2017’s big hit The Hitman’s Bodyguard proved that. Paired up with Ryan Reynolds, Samuel L. Jackson was in top action comedy form. He made Darius Kincaid feel like a force of nature. One can tell that Jackson had a lot of fun in the role, which elevated the film completely.
8. Captain America: Winter Solider. 2014.
Nick Fury has been a major staple as well as lynchpin for the MCU since it all began with Iron Man in 2008. Fury to date is Jackson’s most ongoing character and might even be his most famous. Jackson’s Nick Fury has always been cool, cutthroat, mysterious and a bad mutha, but in Winter Solidier the one eyed Shield director was at his very best and most badass in Captain America Winter Solidier. The epic car scene was a major highlight of the film.
7. The Incredibles. 2004.
The Incredibles’ Frozone was a perfect Samuel L. Jackson character. While not being in the film for more than twenty minutes, Frozone was a very memorable and hilarious character that stole the show when he showed up. The exchange between he and his wife over his super suit is a classic scene.
6. A Time To Kill. 1996.
In the John Grisham adapted film A Time to Kill, Jackson played Carl Lee Hailey, a father whose daughter was brutally raped and left for dead. Before the two rapists can go to trial, Hailey shoots them dead and gets representation from Matthew McConaughey’s Jake Brigance. The cast as a whole was amazing from McConaughey to Sandra Bullock, Charles S. Dutton and Kevin Spacey, but it’s Jackson’s Carl Lee Hailey that holds the film together, and it’s a truly captivating performance. In the film’s most memorable scene, Jackson delivers a most powerful and relatable line that has been parodied in film and stand up material ever since.
5. The Long Kiss Goodnight. 1996.
Samuel L. Jackson is an actor perfect for the action-comedy genre. And 1996’s The Long Kiss Goodnight with Gina Davis is no exception. The film Jackson played the slick and down on his luck private eye who gets caught up in a whole bunch of danger and mayhem as he helps former assassin turned amnesiac mother and housewife figure out who she really is. The film is an underrated gem, and Jackson gave a memorable and lovable performance. The natural chemistry between Jackson and Davis really made the film work.
4. Pulp Fiction. 1994.
Perhaps Jackson’s most iconic and beloved role by most fans. Jules Winnfield was a bible quoting, cool as a cucumber type of hitman. Paired with John Travolta’s Vincent, The two stars had a great chemistry and were the lynchpins of the film. The most memorable scene of the film is the classic apartment scene where Jules and Vincent pay some “friends” a visit.
3. Die Hard With A Vengeance. 1995.
Back to Samuel in the Action-Comedy genre. The man was on fire in this film. The character of Zeus was a great role for Jackson to play and his amazing chemistry with Bruce Willis really made the film pop. After the first Die Hard, Die Hard with a Vengeance is easily the best of the whole franchise.
2. The Negotiator. 1998.
This highly underrated film is a perfect mystery\thriller and Samuel L. Jackson was the perfect actor to bring the character of Danny Roman to life. The film boasts a truly amazing ensemble cast all the way around, from those with major parts to those with only a minute of screentime. But Jackson and Spacey are definitely the leads of this film, and Jackson especially gives the film the much needed gravitas and urgency required.
- Coach Carter. 2005.
Picking the number one spot is usually never easy, but in this case it was a cinch, because the role of Coach Carter is in my opinion Samuel’s greatest role and film. The performance was Oscar worthy as well as the entire film. One can tell that Jackson was very passionate about the material he was given for the film and that’s why the performance is so masterful. Essentially, Coach Carter is Samuel L. Jackson’s most perfectly cast role because I can’t even imagine anyone else in the role.
Honorable mentions:
Kingsman: Secret Service (2014), Deep Blue Sea (1999), Coming to America(1988), Shaft (2000), SWAT (2003) Jackie Brown (1997).
’Til next time, folks!