Top 20 Best Movies of Samuel L. Jackson

"Ezekiel 25:17!" The role that transformed Jackson into an immortal pop-culture icon. As philosophical hitman Jules Winnfield, who experiences a 'divine intervention' and decides to turn his life around, he delivers one of the most quoted monologues in film history. His chemistry with John Travolta (over burgers in Amsterdam) is pure gold, and it earned him a well-deserved Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor.

One of the boldest, most sinister, and most stunning roles of his career. Jackson plays Stephen, the elderly head house slave and confidant of plantation owner Calvin Candie (Leonardo DiCaprio). Where Candie is the cruel face on the surface, Stephen turns out to be the terrifyingly clever and manipulative brain behind the Candyland estate. Jackson pulls no punches, delivering a performance that sends chills down your spine.

Tarantino's most mature and stylish film gives Jackson the lead as gun dealer Ordell Robbie. Dressed in colorful shirts and sporting a braided goatee, he moves easily through Los Angeles, but beneath the smooth talk hides a ruthless psychopath who coldly eliminates anyone in his way. Jackson won the Silver Bear for Best Actor at the Berlin Film Festival.

The best sequel in the Die Hard franchise owes much of its success to the crackling chemistry between Jackson and Bruce Willis. As Harlem electrician Zeus Carver, he accidentally saves John McClane's life and gets caught up in terrorist Simon Gruber's sadistic cat-and-mouse game across New York. Jackson's cynical humor and frantic reactions make for the perfect dynamic with the weary action hero McClane.

In Tarantino's snowbound, bloody western whodunit, Jackson is the undisputed anchor of the story. As the cunning bounty hunter and former Union major Marquis Warren, he's trapped with seven other suspicious characters inside a cabin during a blizzard. Jackson delivers his dialogue with sniper-like precision, keeping the audience on edge for three hours straight.

M. Night Shyamalan's understated deconstruction of the superhero genre shows Jackson at his most vulnerable and obsessive. As Elijah Price, a man with a rare brittle bone disease who believes comic books are based in reality, he desperately searches for his opposite (Bruce Willis). The icy calm and tragic motivation of his character make the final twist unforgettable.

In this gripping courtroom thriller based on John Grisham's novel, Jackson plays Carl Lee Hailey, a Black father in Mississippi who takes justice into his own hands after his ten-year-old daughter is brutally assaulted by two white racists. The scene where he tells his lawyer (Matthew McConaughey) why a white jury will never see him as an equal is one of the most searing moments of the 1990s.

Joss Whedon brought the Marvel Cinematic Universe to an unprecedented high with The Avengers, with Jackson as the charismatic leader and architect of the 'Avengers Initiative.' With his iconic eyepatch and leather trench coat, he's the only man on Earth who can bring gods, billionaires, and super-soldiers together. Without Jackson's natural authority, Marvel could never have become such a massive success.

A nerve-wracking thriller in which Jackson plays Chicago's best hostage negotiator. When he's framed for his partner's murder and the theft of a pension fund, he takes the internal affairs department hostage himself to prove his innocence, demanding a neutral outside negotiator (Kevin Spacey). The verbal chess match between the two top negotiators is peak thriller tension.

In this true-story sports drama, Jackson plays principled basketball coach Ken Carter, who takes charge of a talented but unruly high school team in underserved Richmond, California. When his players' grades slip, he simply locks the gym until they improve. Jackson portrays a warm, authoritative, and inspiring mentor who teaches young people that discipline and education outweigh athletic glory.

What began as an internet meme became a legendary cult film thanks to Samuel L. Jackson. As FBI agent Neville Flynn, he must survive a plane full of deadly, released venomous snakes to protect a key witness. The film thankfully never took itself seriously for a second, and Jackson's legendary, uncensored outburst ("I have had it with these motherf***ing snakes...") became a historic theater-cheering moment.

Paul Thomas Anderson's directorial debut is an intimate, simmering casino drama set in Reno. Jackson has a fantastic, dangerous supporting role as Jimmy, a shady casino security guard who gets wind of a dark secret and decides to blackmail veteran gambler Sydney (Philip Baker Hall). Jackson's eerie charisma and unpredictability steal the show instantly.

No one else in Hollywood could have revived Richard Roundtree's iconic character the way Jackson did. As the fearless, leather-coat-wearing New York detective John Shaft, he fights racism and corrupt cops while trying to bring down an arrogant killer (Christian Bale). Stylish, sharp, and set to Isaac Hayes' legendary score.

Pixar's superhero masterpiece gave Jackson one of his most beloved voice roles ever as Frozone, Mr. Incredible's best friend who can shoot ice beams. His hysterical argument with his wife while the city is under attack ("Honey, where is my super suit?!") is one of the funniest and most iconic scenes in animation history.

Matthew Vaughn cast Jackson as a wonderfully unique villain in this spy spoof. As billionaire tech mogul Richmond Valentine, he wears colorful caps, speaks with a lisp, and absolutely can't stand the sight of blood - all while plotting to wipe out most of humanity via free SIM cards. A brilliantly wacky, eccentric performance.

When George Lucas asked Samuel L. Jackson to join the Star Wars prequels, Jackson had only one request: he wanted to be the only Jedi with a purple lightsaber, so he could always spot himself in the big battle scenes. As Jedi Master Mace Windu, he is the ultimate warrior of the Jedi Order, with his deadly duel against Chancellor Palpatine as the spectacular highlight.

The role that first drew serious attention from critics and filmmakers. In Spike Lee's drama, he plays Gator, the crack-addicted brother of lead actor Wesley Snipes. Jackson had just recovered from his own addiction at the time and poured devastating, heartbreaking authenticity into the role. The Cannes Film Festival was so impressed they created a one-time special award for Best Supporting Actor just for him.

In Spike Lee's groundbreaking heatwave masterpiece set in Brooklyn, Jackson is heard (and seen) as local radio DJ Mister Señor Love Daddy. Sitting behind his microphone, he serves as the rhythmic, musical, and wise conscience of the neighborhood, urging everyone to keep their cool. A small but unforgettable cult role that colors the film's soundtrack.

In this unsettling psychological thriller, Jackson plays a strict, conservative Los Angeles police officer who makes life miserable for his new neighbors - a young interracial couple (Patrick Wilson and Kerry Washington). Jackson portrays a sneaky, passive-aggressive tyrant who uses his badge as a cover for intimidation. A nerve-racking cat-and-mouse game.

Craig Brewer's raw, Southern blues drama shows Jackson as Lazarus, a deeply grieving, God-fearing blues guitarist in Mississippi who finds an abused and troubled young woman (Christina Ricci) and decides to literally and figuratively 'free' her of her demons. Jackson sings and plays raw delta blues himself, giving the film an intense, spiritual soul.