1. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975)
Character: Randle McMurphy
Director: Milos Forman
Standout scene: The Electroshock Therapy Scene
After trying to stand up to Nurse Ratched (Louise Fletcher), McMurphy is sent for electroshock therapy. Instead of breaking him, he turns it into a joke, pretending to be unresponsive before suddenly coming back to life with a grin and a “Juice it up!” This moment perfectly encapsulates McMurphy’s defiance, humour, and indomitable spirit.
Awards & Nominations:
1976 Oscar Winner for Best Actor in a Leading Role
1977 BAFTA Winner for Best Actor
1976 Golden Globe Winner for Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama
IMDb Rating: 7.7/10
Why Nicholson was great:
2. The Shining (1980)
Character: Jack Torrance
Director: Stanley Kubrick
Standout scene: “Here’s Johnny”
Jack (Nicholson) has gone full psychotic, chasing his wife, Wendy (Shelley Duvall), through the Overlook Hotel. As she locks herself in the bathroom, Jack smashes through the door with an axe. His manic grin, wild eyes, and the way he leans in and says, “Heeere’s Johnny!” is pure horror perfection.
Awards & Nominations:
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IMDb Rating: 8.4/10
Why Nicholson was great:
3. As Good as It Gets (1997)
Character: Melvin Udall
Director: James L. Brooks
Standout scene: “You make me want to be a better man”
In this moment, Nicholson’s character, Melvin Udall – an obsessive – compulsive, misanthropic writer delivers an unexpectedly heartfelt compliment to Helen Hunt’s character, Carol. Struggling to express his emotions, he awkwardly tells her, “You make me want to be a better man.” The raw sincerity of that line, combined with Nicholson’s delivery, makes it one of the film’s most powerful moments.
Awards & Nominations:
1998 Oscar Winner for Best Actor in a Leading Role
1998 Golden Globe Winner for Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical
IMDb Rating:
Why Nicholson was great:
4. Chinatown (1974)
Character: J.J. Gittes
Director: Roman Polanski
Standout scene: Nose-slashing scene
In this scene, Gittes (Nicholson) is snooping around a water supply facility at night when he’s caught by a couple of thugs, one of whom is played by director Roman Polanski in a cameo. The shorter thug holds a switchblade to Gittes’ nose and warns him: “You’re a very nosy fellow, kitty cat. You know what happens to nosy fellows? They lose their noses.” Then — slice! — he cuts Gittes’ nostril in a quick, brutal move. Nicholson sells the pain and humiliation perfectly, and the injury becomes a striking visual for the rest of the film, with Gittes sporting a huge bandage over his face.
Awards & Nominations:
1975 Oscar Nominee for Best Actor in a Leading Role
1975 BAFTA Winner for Best Actor
1975 Golden Globe Winner for Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama
IMDb Rating: 8.1/10
Why Nicholson was great:
5. A Few Good Men (1992)
Character: Col. Nathan R. Jessup
Director: Rob Reiner
Standout scene: “You can’t handle the truth!”
The courtroom showdown between his character, Colonel Nathan R. Jessup, and Tom Cruise’s character, Lieutenant Daniel Kaffee. This is the moment where Kaffee pushes Jessup into admitting that he ordered the “Code Red.” When Kaffee demands the truth, Jessup explodes with “You can’t handle the truth!” This line became one of the most famous in cinematic history.
Awards & Nominations:
1993 Oscar Nominee for Best Actor in a Supporting Role
1993 Golden Globe Nominee for Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama
IMDb Rating: 7.7/10
Why Nicholson was great:
6. Easy Rider (1969)
Character: George Hanson
Director: Dennis Hopper
Standout scene: Campfire scene
One of the best scenes involving Jack Nicholson in Easy Rider (1969) is the campfire scene where his character, George Hanson, shares drinks and a deep conversation with Wyatt (Peter Fonda) and Billy (Dennis Hopper). In this scene, George, a small-town lawyer with a fondness for alcohol, takes his first hit of marijuana. As they talk under the night sky, he delivers one of the film’s most memorable monologues about freedom, paranoia, and the establishment’s fear of truly free people. His drunken yet insightful observations reveal the underlying themes of the movie—how society resents those who refuse to conform.
Awards & Nominations:
1970 Oscar Nominee for Best Actor in a Supporting Role
1970 BAFTA Nominee for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
1970 Golden Globe Nominee for Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama
IMDb Rating: 7.2/10
Why Nicholson was great:
7. Batman (1989)
Character: Jack Napier/The Joker
Director: Tim Burton
Standout scene: The museum
This scene perfectly captures the Joker’s blend of chaos, humor, and menace. The scene starts with Nicholson’s Joker and his goons storming the Gotham Art Museum while blasting “Partyman” by Prince. He defaces priceless paintings with spray paint and brushes while dancing around, showing his complete disregard for art and order. The “self-portrait” moment where he spares a Francis Bacon-style painting adds a weird, art-savvy touch to his madness. The whole scene balances fun, terror, and Nicholson’s unhinged energy perfectly.
Awards & Nominations:
1990 BAFTA Nominee for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
1990 Golden Globe Nominee for Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical
IMDb Rating: 7.5/10
Why Nicholson was great:
8. About Schmidt (2002)
Character: Warren Schmidt
Director: Alexander Payne
Standout scene: Warren Schmidt, receives a letter from the child he has been sponsoring in Africa.
Throughout the film, Warren writes letters to Ndugu, but they are more like personal diary entries where he vents about his disappointments and loneliness. He never expects a real connection – until the very end, when he receives a crayon drawing from Ndugu, showing a smiling stick figure holding hands with another stick figure (presumably Warren). At that moment, Nicholson’s performance is masterful. Without saying a word, his face subtly transforms as he realizes that, despite feeling like his life was meaningless, he did make a difference, even if just to one person. The scene is quiet but profoundly emotional, and Nicholson’s expression – a mix of heartbreak and catharsis – makes it unforgettable.
Awards & Nominations:
2003 Oscar Nominee for Best Actor in a Leading Role
2003 BAFTA Nominee for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role
2003 Golden Globe Winner for Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama
IMDb Rating: 7.2/10
Why Nicholson was great:
9. Terms of Endearment (1983)
Character: Garrett Breedlove
Director: James L. Brooks
Standout scene: Drive along the beach
Nicholson’s character, Garrett Breedlove, takes Aurora Greenway (played by Shirley MacLaine) on a wild, exhilarating drive along the beach. In the scene, Garrett, a former astronaut and a womanizing free spirit, is trying to loosen up the uptight and reserved Aurora. As they speed down the beach in his Corvette, he goads her into letting go and having fun. The chemistry between Nicholson and MacLaine is electric – he’s teasing, she’s resistant but intrigued, and the moment captures both the humor and charm of their unlikely romance.
Awards & Nominations:
1984 Oscar Winner for Best Actor in a Supporting Role
1984 Golden Globe Winner for Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
IMDb Rating: 7.4/10
Why Nicholson was great:
10. The Last Detail (1973)
Character: Billy “Badass” Buddusky
Director: Hal Ashby
Standout scene:
Billy “Badass” Buddusky (Nicholson), loses his temper in a bar and asserts his authority as a Navy man. The scene captures his wild, rebellious energy and highlights the film’s themes of masculinity, camaraderie, and defiance against authority.
Awards & Nominations:
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IMDb Rating: 6.7/10
Why Nicholson was great: