Johnny Depp has sported some very cool haircuts over the years. Fans will likely remember Gilbert Grape and Frank Tupelo, characters that made him many people’s secret celebrity crush. But then, he’s also known for some of the most bizarre hair in cinematic history. Bizarre like Captain Jack Sparrow? Well, the pirate lord doesn’t make it to this list of Depp’s bizarre hairstyles, as the character became a sensation over time, making his hairstyle a sought-after look.
Male pattern baldness is no laughing matter, so his appearances in films like Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and the upcoming film, Black Mass, didn’t make the cut for the bizarre list. Here are five Johnny Depp hairstyles in movies that fans found uns*xy and, in some cases, downright horrifying.
Benjamin Barker / Sweeney Todd – Sweeney Todd (2007)
In this Tim Burton musical slasher film, Johnny Depp plays a Victorian-era barber turned mass murderer, Sweeney Todd. His single white streak on a hairstyle reminiscent of Edward Scissorhands didn’t exactly win any style awards. One might hope for more innovative hairstyling in a film about a demonic barber. However, he manages to look fierce in his role as a killer.
Sweeney Todd was critically praised for its performances, costumes, and makeup. Depp’s weird hairstyle only added to the film’s charm. Sweeney Todd is now available for streaming on Paramount+.
Edward Scissorhands – Edward Scissorhands (1990)
Perhaps one of his first weird hairdos graced the screen in 1990 in another Tim Burton film, Edward Scissorhands. One couldn’t help but wonder how the makeup department managed to make his locks stand up like that. However, the character is an artificial humanoid with scissors for hands, so the bird’s nest hairstyle just matched the energy of the character.
Interestingly, it took one hour and 45 minutes each day for Depp to complete his makeup and hair for filming. Tim Burton’s most favorite work is now available for streaming on Max.
Tarrant Hightopp, the Mad Hatter – Alice in Wonderland (2010)
The Mad Hatter in Alice in Wonderland sports tangerine puffy hair and eyebrows, which can be best described as over-the-top. Not to mention the unforgettable white eyelashes. However, it perfectly suited Alice’s closest friend in Underland. The other characters in the film also had pretty weird makeup, including Helena Bonham Carter, who should get a separate list of her own.
The tangerine color is explained as the result of mercury poisoning, allowing fans to relate to the character on an emotional level. Alice in Wonderland is yet another Tim Burton film and is available for streaming on Disney+.
Barnabas Collins – Dark Shadows (2012)
In another collaboration between Tim Burton and Johnny Depp, the Pirates of the Caribbean actor plays a vampire freed from his tomb. Depp’s Barnabas Collins must be one of the least appealing vampires of all time, with his hairdo making a significant negative impact on his appearance. Depp sports jet-black hair that looks like it’s glued to his head, complete with some strands sticking to his forehead.
Dark Shadows is visually captivating, and whether you love or hate it, there’s no middle ground. Fans of the Donnie Brasco actor can decide for themselves after watching the film, streaming on Max.
Willy Wonka – Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)
This could be a list of Tim Burton movies with bizarre hairstyles. One of the few impressive things about the first look of Timothée Chalamet’s Wonka was his decision to drop the bob-cut hair of his predecessor. Johnny Depp’s hairstyle was undeniably creepy in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Although he’s mostly seen wearing a hat throughout the film, his stiff hairdo still stands out.
The film received an Oscar nomination for Best Costume Design and it even grossed a staggering $475 million at the box office. Johnny Depp and bizarre hairstyles somehow seem to work. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is available for rent on AppleTV+.
