While his film and television credits stretch all the way back to 1972, it took Samuel L. Jackson nearly two decades to break into Hollywood. When he did, he continued to make his mark in a variety of films from Spike Lee’s Jungle Fever to Quentin Tarantino‘s Pulp Fiction. Today, he appears in the Star Wars and Marvel franchises and is a full-blown star. Check out these six best Samuel L. Jackson movies below, and watch them if you haven’t already.
6. The Piano Lesson (2024)
Starting our list of the best Samuel L. Jackson movies is The Piano Lesson. The play-turned-film stars Jackson as Doaker Charles, whose home is center stage for a feuding family. Charles is the uncle of Boy Willie and Berniece, who are fighting over a piano. One wants to sell it while the other wants to keep it. Jackson’s quiet and powerful stage presence is a grounding factor in the film.
5. Lakeview Terrace (2008)
Fifth on our list of the best Samuel L. Jackson movies is Lakeview Terrace. One of Jackson’s more underappreciated films, Jackson plays creepy next-door neighbor Abel. A conservative LAPD cop and widower who’s bringing up two kids, Jackson’s intimidation in the film is off the charts, especially when it comes to his targets, neighbors Lisa and Chris.
4. A Time to Kill (1999)
Next on our list of the best Samuel L. Jackson movies is A Time to Kill, which earned Jackson a Supporting Actor Golden Globe nomination. In a John Grisham novel adaptation, Jackson plays Carl Lee Hailey, a man whose daughter is raped and murdered by two white supremacists. Hailey tracks them down and kills them, and is sent to trial himself, represented by a white lawyer (Matthew McConaughey). The film has big scenes and a big message, which Jackson is able to deliver in a meaningful way.
3. Django Unchained (2012)
Rounding out the top three best Samuel L. Jackson movies is Django Unchained. While it may be a brash revenge western from Quentin Tarantino, it features one of Jackson’s best and most controversial performances. In the film, Jackson plays Stephen, a house slave who is deeply loyal to his plantation owner, played by Leonardo DiCaprio. The film has a spin on the past, where the sufferers get their revenge on the plantation owners.
2. Jungle Fever (1991)
Second on our list of the best Samuel L. Jackson movies is Jungle Fever. This was the film that finally launched Jackson into the Hollywood limelight, earning several Best Supporting Actor Awards, including ones from the Cannes Film Festival, the New York Film Critics Circle, and the Chicago Film Critics Circle. In the film, Jackson plays a mouthy crack addict called Gator who’s brothers with Wesley Snipes’s character, Flipper.
1. Pulp Fiction (1994)
Last but not least on our list of the best Samuel L. Jackson movies is Pulp Fiction, which earned Jackson an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor. The film quickly became a pop culture sensation and has one of the best ensemble casts in movie history. In the film, Jackson plays Jules Winnfield, a super-cool, unfazed killer who pairs up with John Travolta’s character, Vincent Vega. The film also propelled Quentin Tarantino into one of the most sought-after directors during that time.