10 Best Movies and TV Shows

The best of Vincent D’OnofrioHis movies and shows showcase the incredible and versatile career the actor has built. D’Onofrio is an actor known for his intense and captivating performances in which he can be the leading man or steal the show in a supporting role. He has been a constant presence on screen in movies and TV series since the 1980s, but there are some of his projects that stand out above the rest.

D’Onofrio has proven that there is no genre or type of role that he cannot make his own. Whether he’s playing a villain in a comic story, a hero with a kind heart, or a troubled soldier, D’Onofrio is often unforgettable in whatever size part he takes on. While there are likely several characters that fans know him best as, such as Kingpin in the Marvel universe, there are many more to highlight his amazing work over the years.

10

Godfather of Harlem (2019-present)

Like Vincent ‘The Chin’ Gigante

While Vincent D’Onofrio is famous for playing another monster on TV, The Godfather of Harlem Allows the actor to step into a real-life mobster story. Oscar-winner Woods Whitaker stars in the series as the legendary New York City gangster Bumpy Johnson who rose to prominence and influence in the 1960s. When you come back from prison, Bumpy has to contend with his neighborhood being taken over by the Italian mob, including Vincent “The Chin” Gigante (D’Onofrio).

The series is a gripping look at one of the most intense eras of organized crime in America, but it finds a unique approach to the genre with Bumpy’s journey being one of more than just crime, but also the racial politics of the time. Some of the best moments in the series are watching Whitaker and D’Onofrio share the screen With these two incredible performers playing off each other in an electric way.

9

The Magnificent Seven (2016)

Like Jack Horne

Vincent D’Onofrio is the kind of actor who knows how to stand out in a star-studded cast and he certainly showed that in the Western remake The Magnificent Seven. The movie follows a gang of guns who band together in order to protect a small town from a cruel and murderous land baron.

Denzel Washington, Chris Pratt, and Ethan Hawke lead The Magnificent Seven Like the brave cowboys, though It’s D’Onofrio who steals the show as the gentle giant of the group, Jack HorneA man who has a good heart and stands for justice but can be completely wrong when he decides to deliver justice himself. While the West does not stand up to the 1960 version or Akira Kurosawa’s Seven SamuraiIt’s still a fun action western that makes great use of its ensemble.

8

Adventures in Babysitting (1987)

Like Dawson

As a sign of the incredible range and physical transformation that Vincent D’Onofrio undergoes as a performer, in the same year that he found his profound breakout role in full metal jacket, D’Onofrio appeared in this family-friendly adventure comedy. Adventures in babysitting It stars Elizabeth Shue as a young woman who finds herself stranded in the big city with the kids she’s looking after and sets out on a wild journey to get them home.

D’Onofrio has a small but memorable role as Dawson, a mechanic who bears a striking resemblance to Thor.. This role shows the intimidating presence D’Onofrio can be so good in movies and the sweet and touching persona he can also have in some of his other performances. Adventures in babysitting has become a nostalgic favorite, standing as one of the great high-concept comedies of the 1980s.

7

Ed Wood (1994)

Like Orson Welles

Vincent D’Onofrio has the fun challenge of playing one of the best directors of all time in a movie about one of the worst directors of all time. Ed Wood is Tim Burton’s unique and brilliant documentary about the titular artist (played by Johnny Depp). Ed Wood was a determined and passionate filmmaker who assembled a band of misfit performers to make his low-budget horror movies that became beloved in the category of “so bad it’s good.”

D’Onofrio is only in one scene, but it’s one of the most memorable in the movie. He plays the iconic director of Citizen noOrson Welles, a man I greatly admired. Their friendly conversation in a bar is surprisingly touching as it becomes clear that despite the differences in talent, the two men have a lot in common when it comes to pursuing their dreams.

6

The Cell (2000)

Like Carl Stager

Vincent D’Onofrio has played villains many times in his career, but one of the most terrifying is surely his role as a serial killer in the surreal thriller. The cell. The movie stars Jennifer Lopez as a social worker who experiments with a new technique that allows her to enter people’s dreams. She is approached by the FBI to enter the mind of a comatose serial killer (D’Onofrio) in order to find his latest captured victim.

This movie beautifully and terrifyingly captures the feeling of being in a dreamscape long before Christopher Nolan Inception Explore multiple levels of dreams. The fact that this is the mind of a sadistic killer means the subconscious creates uneasy atmospheres. D’Onofrio is sometimes unrecognizable in the movie with him being portrayed as a monstrous villain In the killer’s own mind. However, his presence lurks throughout the movie, elevating this mind-bending thriller with his towering performance.

5

Hawkeye (2021)

Like Wilson Fisk/Kingpin

After three years away, Vincent D’Onofrio returned to his iconic role as Wilson Fisk/KingpinStepping into the MCU for the first time. Hawkeye is a much different show than Daredevil As it offers a Christmas-themed adventure for Clint Barton (Jeremy Renner). The series follows Clint as his family vacation in New York City is interrupted by someone who brings up his past. He is forced to partner with fellow crime-fighting archer Kate Bishop (Hailee Steinfeld) while taking on a crime syndicate that leads to a confrontation with the Kingpin.

The show is a fun romp that wisely keeps the story smaller in scale and grounded compared to many other MCU shows. It lends itself to Hawkeye’s serious qualities, while Steinfeld makes a wonderful new addition to the MCU. However, one of the most exciting aspects of the show is the return of Kingpin with this serving as the first confirmation that the Netflix characters may return.

4

The Player (1992)

Like David Kahan

Vincent D’Onofrio stepped into a huge ensemble for Robert Altman’s brilliant Hollywood satire, The player. Tim Robbins stars in the movie as A studio executive accused of stealing an aspiring writer’s script (played by D’Onofrio). As he tries to deal with the situation discreetly, he finds himself embroiled in a murder investigation while still trying to juggle the fast-paced pressures of the movie business.

The movie is a wonderfully self-aware but incredibly smart commentary on modern Hollywood, the false personalities that exist in the world, and the sometimes surreal nature of Hollywood. From the iconic long-take opening sequence of The playerAltman immerses the audience in the chaotic and unearthly business. D’Onofrio is terrific at bringing intensity that raises the stakes of the story but also plays into the humor and absurdity of the movie.

3

Men in Black (1997)

Like Edgar/The Beetle

Long before the MCU was churning out big-budget action comedies, Men in Black Perfected that blend with a tone that many modern blockbusters have tried to emulate since. Will Smith stars in the sci-fi story as a police officer who is recruited by the mysterious Agent K (Tommy Lee Jones) to join a secret organization that polices alien activity on Earth.

The movie plays into the buddy fight dynamic well with Smith and Jones sharing wonderful chemistry. There’s some fun world-building, ahead-of-their-time special effects, and a great sense of humor. However, the movie also knew how to maintain high stakes and a sense of danger. A lot of that comes from Vincent D’Onofrio’s incredible performance as the alien villain Edgar. This extraterrestrial bug is stuffed inside the skin of a man, which gives D’Onofrio the opportunity to deliver a truly amazing physical performance that ranks as one of his most underrated.

2

Daredevil (2015-2018)

Like Wilson Fisk/Kingpin

Daredevil marked the first live-action Marvel series on Netflix, offering a dark and violent look at the crime fighter on the street. Charlie Cox is excellent as Matt Murdock, a blind lawyer with heightened senses who takes on the persona of Daredevil to deliver his own brand of justice in Hell’s Kitchen. However, he meets his match when his vigilante work collides with powerful crime boss Wilson Fisk, alias Kingpin.

Just as Cox delivers the definitive version of Kingpin, Vincent D’Onofrio is instantly iconic as Kingpin. He commands every scene he is in with an imposing presence and the underlying threat of violence at any moment. However, he also locks in the sadness of the character, adding depth to one of the most grounded villains in the Marvel universe. He helps elevate the brutal, hard-hitting and thrilling series. It’s a performance that has led to high anticipation for D’Onofrio’s upcoming return Daredevil: Born Again.

Like Private Leonard ‘Gomer Pyle’ Lawrence

Vincent D’Onofrio found his breakout role in Stanley Kubrick’s mesmerizing and unsettling war movie. Full metal jacket is a movie split into two halves. The first half follows a group of soldiers in basic training preparing to be shipped off to fight in the Vietnam War. The second half follows many of the same soldiers as they are in the heat of battle and fighting for their lives.

D’Onofrio shines in the first half of the story as Pvt. Lawrence, an overweight and slow recruit who becomes the subject of abuse from the aggressive drill sergeant and his fellow soldiers. D’Onofrio gained 70 pounds for the role and delivers a performance that is heartbreaking and haunting as the inhumane nature of basic training transforms Lawrence. Full metal jacket has become known as one of the greatest war movies of all time and one of Kubrick’s most iconic movies.