Joaquin Phoenix – 10 Best Movies

By Vlad Zakh · March 16, 2026

Joker is unsettling, but Walk the Line and Her show a warmer register it overshadows, Gladiator is the role that first put him on a global stage, and You Were Never Really Here proves he’ll still go this far. To Die For is an early supporting role opposite Nicole Kidman, Napoleon takes an unconventional look at the emperor’s rise and fall, You Were Never Really Here follows a brutal, traumatised hitman, and Inherent Vice wanders a hazy 1970s Los Angeles as a stoner detective. Signs and The Master round out the list.

To Die For (1995)

TMDB ★ 6.6

A relentlessly ambitious weather reporter manipulates a teenager into murdering her husband for her career.

Directed by Gus Van Sant · 1h 46m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads, Sony Pictures Core Amazon Channel · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Napoleon (2023)

TMDB ★ 6.3

Joaquin Phoenix stars in a sweeping, unconventional take on the French emperor's rise and fall.

Directed by Ridley Scott · 2h 38m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: Apple TV, Apple TV Amazon Channel · Rent: Apple TV Store · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

You Were Never Really Here (2017)

TMDB ★ 6.5

A traumatised hitman hired to rescue a senator's daughter uncovers a conspiracy reaching the highest levels.

Directed by Lynne Ramsay · 1h 29m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads · Rent: Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Inherent Vice (2014)

TMDB ★ 6.5

Joaquin Phoenix plays a stoner private eye navigating a hazy, paranoid 1970s Los Angeles.

Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson · 2h 29m · Rated R

Where to watch

Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Signs (2002)

TMDB ★ 6.7

A family drama that uses invasion dread as its actual backdrop.

Directed by M. Night Shyamalan · 1h 46m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Stream: Hulu, fuboTV, YouTube TV · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Master (2012)

TMDB ★ 7.1

A troubled war veteran falls under the spell of a charismatic leader of a burgeoning spiritual movement.

Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson · 2h 17m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: Lionsgate+ Amazon Channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Her (2013)

TMDB ★ 7.8

A love story about loneliness that has only got more prophetic every year since.

Directed by Spike Jonze · 2h 06m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: Apple TV · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Gladiator (2000)

IMDb ★ 8.5 RT 80% Metacritic 67

A betrayed Roman general seeks vengeance on the corrupt emperor who murdered his family.

Directed by Ridley Scott · 2h 35m · Rated R

Won 5 Oscars61 wins & 105 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, Paramount+ Amazon Channel, Kanopy, YouTube TV · Rent: JustWatch TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Walk the Line (2005)

IMDb ★ 7.8 RT 83% Metacritic 72

Johnny Cash's troubled rise and his decades-long pursuit of June Carter.

Directed by James Mangold · 2h 16m · Rated PG-13

Won 1 Oscar45 wins & 48 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: HBO Max Amazon Channel, Cinemax Amazon Channel, HBO Max, Cinemax Apple TV channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Joker (2019)

IMDb ★ 8.3 RT 68% Metacritic 59

A struggling, mentally ill clown-for-hire descends into violence and chaos amid a decaying Gotham City.

Directed by Todd Phillips · 2h 02m · Rated R

Won 2 Oscars120 wins & 247 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: HBO Max Amazon Channel, TNT, TBS, tru TV, HBO Max · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Streaming availability data from JustWatch, via TMDB. Availability changes often, so check the service before you plan a movie night.

Vlad Zakh

Founder, Movieix

Founder of Movieix. He started the site because most recommendation pages felt like noise. Here, lists are sorted by who's in the film, where it's from and what mood you're in tonight.

Joaquin Phoenix – 10 Best Movies

To Die For (1995)

Napoleon (2023)

You Were Never Really Here (2017)

Inherent Vice (2014)

Signs (2002)

The Master (2012)

Her (2013)

Gladiator (2000)

Walk the Line (2005)

Joker (2019)

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