The best ofVincent D’Onofrio’s 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 the screen in movies and TV series since the 1980s, but there are several 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 is playing a villain in a villain in a comic book story, a hero with a kind heart, or a troubled soldier, D’Onofrio is often unforgettable in whatever size part that he takes on. While there are likely some characters fans know him best as, like Kingpin in the Marvel universe, there are plenty more to highlight his amazing work over the years.
Godfather of Harlem
Cast
Godfather of Harlem is a crime drama series starring Forest Whitaker as real-life crime boss Bumpy Johnson. Set in the early 1960s, the show chronicles Johnson’s return to Harlem after a decade in prison and his bid to regain control. The series intricately weaves historical and fictional events, showcasing his strategic alliances and confrontations, including his partnership with civil rights leader Malcolm X.
While Vincent D’Onofrio is famous for playing another monster on television,The Godfather of Harlemallows the actor to step into a real-life mobster story. Oscar-winner Forest Whitaker stars in the series as legendary New York City gangster Bumpy Johnson who rose to prominence and influence in the 1960s. When returning 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 into 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 sharing the screenwith the two incredible performers playing off each other in an electric way.
The Magnificent Seven
The Magnificent Seven, released in 2016, follows bounty hunter Sam Chisolm as he gathers a diverse team of gunslingers to help the residents of Rose Creek, who are threatened by the tyrannical industrialist Bartholomew Bogue. As tensions escalate, the seven mercenaries engage in a fierce battle, defending the town’s inhabitants.
Vincent D’Onofrio is the kind of actor who knows how to stand out in a star-studded cast and he certainly showed that inthe Western remakeThe Magnificent Seven. The movie follows a band of gunfighters who are brought together in order to defend a small town from a cruel and murderous land baron.
Denzel Washington, Chris Pratt, and Ethan Hawke leadThe Magnificent Sevenas the heroic cowboys, butit is D’Onofrio who steals the show as the gentle giant of the group, Jack Horne, a man who has a good heart and stands for justice but can be quite imposing when he decides to hand out justice on his own. While the Western doesn’t stand up to the 1960 version or Akira Kurosawa’sSeven Samurai, it is still a fun action Western that makes great use of its ensemble.
Adventures in Babysitting
Adventures in Babysitting (1987) follows high school student Chris Parker, played by Elisabeth Shue, who finds herself in a chaotic night of mishaps when a simple evening of babysitting turns into an unexpected urban adventure. Directed by Chris Columbus, the film combines elements of comedy and drama as Chris and the children encounter various challenges while navigating through downtown Chicago.
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 intense breakout role inFull Metal Jacket,D’Onofrio appeared in this family-friendly adventure comedy.Adventures in Babysittingstars Elizabeth Shue as a young woman who finds herself stranded in the big city with the kids she is looking after and setting off 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. The role shows the intimidating presence D’Onofrio can pull off so well in movies as well as the sweet and touching persona he can also have in some of his other performanes.Adventures in Babysittinghas become a nostalgic favorite, standing out as one of the great high-concept comedies of the 1980s.
Ed Wood
Tim Burton’s 1994 biographical movie Ed Wood recounts the real-life story of the infamous B-movie director behind disastrous films such as Plan 9 From Outer Space and Glen or Glenda. Johnny Depp stars as the titular filmmaker, with Martin Landau as famous horror actor Bela Lugosi, and Sarah Jessica Parker and Patricia Arquette as Ed’s girlfriends.
Vincent D’Onofrio had the fun challenge of playing one of thebest directors of all timein a movie about one of the worst directors of all time.Ed Woodis Tim Burton’s unique and brilliant document 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 which became beloved in the category of “so bad it’s good.”
D’Onofrio appears in only one scene, but it is one of the most memorable in the movie.He plays the iconic director ofCitizen Kane, Orson Welles, a man Wood greatly admires. Their friendly conversation in a bar is surprisingly touching as it becomes clear that, despite the differences in talent, these two men have a lot in common when it comes to pursuing their dreams.
The Cell
Psychologist Catherine Deane uses experimental technology to enter the mind of a comatose serial killer to find his latest victim. Inside his twisted subconscious, she faces horrifying visions and his darkest secrets. As time runs out, Catherine must navigate his nightmarish psyche to save the girl and herself.
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 thrillerThe Cell. The movie stars Jennifer Lopez as a social worker who is experimenting 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.
The movie beautifully and terrifyingly captures the feeling of being in a dreamscape long beforeChristopher Nolan’sInceptionexplored multiple levels of dreams. The fact that this is the mind of a sadistic killer means the subconscious creates unsettling atmospheres.D’Onofrio is sometimes unrecognizable in the movie with him being portrayed as a monstrous villainwithin the killer’s own mind. However, his presence lurks over the entire movie, elevating this mind-bending thriller with his towering performance.
Hawkeye
Still reeling from the fallout of Avengers: Endgame, Clint Barton (Jeremy Renner) is drawn back into an urgent mission as the ghosts of his past threaten to destabilize his peaceful family life. Thrust into a new dynamic with young upstart Kate Bishop (Hailee Steinfeld), the original Avenger must escape a hit, uncover the secret of Kingpin’s return, and get home in time for Christmas.
After a three-year absence,Vincent D’Onofrio returned to his iconic role as Wilson Fisk/Kingpin, stepping into the MCU for the first time.Hawkeyeis a much different show thanDaredevilas 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 bringing up his past. He is forced to partner with fellow crime-fighting archer Kate Bishop (Hailee Steinfeld) while taking on a crime syndicate which leads to a faceoff with Kingpin.
The show is a fun romp that wisely keeps the story smaller in scale and grounded compared to many other MCU shows. It leans into Hawkeye’s everyman qualities, while Steinfeld makes for 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 could return.
The Player
A satirical poke at Hollywood’s heart through the eyes of a studio executive who becomes embroiled in a real-life thriller. As he receives threatening messages from a disgruntled writer, his life spirals into chaos.
Vincent D’Onofrio stepped into a huge ensemble for Robert Altman’s brilliant Hollywood satire,The Player.Tim Robbins stars in the movie asa studio executive who becomes accused of stealing the script of an aspiring writer (played by D’Onofrio). When he tries to deal with the situation discreetly, he finds himself wrapped up 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 clever commentary on modern Hollywood, the phony personalities that exist in this world, and the sometimes surreal nature of Hollywood. From theiconic long-take opening sequence ofThe Player, Altman immerses the audience in the chaotic and relentless business. D’Onofrio is terrific in bringing intensity that raises the stakes of the story but also plays into the humor and absurdity of the movie.
Men In Black
Men In Black is a science fiction film directed by Barry Sonnenfeld, starring Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones as agents of a secret organization overseeing extraterrestrial activity on Earth. The agents are tasked with managing alien immigrants while protecting humanity from intergalactic threats. The film explores their partnership as they confront various challenges while ensuring the public remains unaware of alien presence.
Long before the MCU was churning out big-budget action comedies,Men in Blackperfected that blend with a tone that many modern blockbusters have tried to emulate ever since.Will Smith starsin 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 action dynamic well with Smith and Jones sharing wonderful chemistry. There is 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 fromVincent D’Onofrio’s incredible performance as the alien villain Edgar. This extraterrestrial bug is stuffed inside the skin of a human, giving D’Onofrio the chance to deliver a truly amazing physical performance that ranks as one of his most underrated.
Daredevil
Daredevil is a Netflix original series starring Charlie Cox as Matt Murdock. The TV show ran for three seasons before being canceled by Netflix, despite being critically praised. Kingpin was the main antagonist in seasons 1 and 3 and also introduced Jon Benrthal’s Punisher in season 2. Daredevil was followed by Disney+’s Daredevil: Born Again.
Daredevilmarked the first live-action Marvel series on Netflix, offering a dark and violent look at the street-level crime fighter. Charlie Cox is excellent as Matt Murdock, a blind lawyer with heightened senses who dons the persona of Daredevil to hand out his own brand of justice in Hell’s Kitchen. However, he meets his match when his vigilante work collides with the powerful crime boss Wilson Fisk, aka 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 into the sadness of the character, adding depth to one of the most grounded villains in the Marvel universe. He helps to elevate the brutal, hard-hitting, and thrilling series. It is a performance that has led to high anticipation for D’Onofrio’s return inthe upcomingDaredevil: Born Again.
Full Metal Jacket
Full Metal Jacket, directed by Stanley Kubrick, follows U.S. Marine recruits through rigorous boot camp training and onto the battlefields of Vietnam, highlighting the war’s impact on soldiers' psyches. Released in 1987, the film stars Matthew Modine, Vincent D’Onofrio, and R. Lee Ermey.
Vincent D’Onofrio found his breakout role in the mesmerizing and unsettling war movie from Stanley Kubrick.Full Metal Jacketis a movie split into two halves. The first half follows a group of soldiers in basic training preparing to be shipped out to fight in the Vietnam War. The second half follows many of those 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 as well as his fellow soldiers. D’Onofrio gained 70 pounds for the role anddelivers a performance that is both heartbreaking and haunting as the inhumane nature of the basic training transforms Lawrence.Full Metal Jackethas become known as one of thegreatest war movies of all timeand one of Kubrick’s most iconic movies.
