Jared Leto has always been one of Hollywood’s most unpredictable stars. Like, you never really know what version of him you’ll get next. He has played it all, from being a rock band frontman to a Marvel antihero, and even a troubled genius in an Oscar-winning role.
But for him, it all started back in the ’90s with My So-Called Life, where he played the rebellious yet sensitive Jordan Catalano, and fans noticed Jared Leto’s charm and mysterious energy. Since then, he has built a career full of ups and downs, from unforgettable performances to movies that didn’t quite hit the mark.
Over the years, he has worked with some of the biggest names in filmmaking and created roles that are hard to forget. So today, in this list, we’re ranking every popular movie of his, from worst to best, based on how much they wowed audiences and critics. Let’s find out where your favorite Leto performance lands.
15. Basil (1998)
Basil is one of Jared Leto’s earliest movies, and honestly, not one of his best. The film is a slow historical drama about a young man from a noble family who falls for a woman who later turns out to be having an extramarital affair. In this movie, Leto plays the lead role of Basil, trying his best to bring depth to a messy script.
So, while his performance wasn’t bad, the movie itself felt outdated and confusing. In fact, the story moves so slowly that even Leto’s charm couldn’t save it. It’s one of those forgotten ’90s period films that show the actor was still finding his footing in Hollywood.
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14. The Outsider (2018)
In The Outsider, Jared Leto stars as Nick Lowell, an American soldier who joins the Japanese Yakuza after World War II. Sounds cool, right? Unfortunately, the film doesn’t live up to its premise. The story feels dull, and Leto’s performance feels too serious and emotionless.
It’s like he tries to fit into a world full of honor and crime, but the movie never gives him much to work with. Overall, it looks stylish, but there’s no real heart or excitement. Leto clearly wanted to show range here, but the movie ended up being more forgettable than powerful.
13. Chapter 27 (2007)
Next in line is Chapter 27, the 2007 movie that sees Jared Leto take on one of his most controversial roles as Mark David Chapman, the man who killed the Beatles musician John Lennon. For this role, Leto went through a major transformation, gaining a lot of weight to look like Chapman.
So, while his dedication seemed impressive, the movie itself doesn’t hit the right emotional tone. It feels slow and uncomfortable to watch, not because of the subject, but because the story lacks focus. Leto does his best to make Chapman seem human, but the film ends up feeling empty instead of insightful.
12. Haunted Mansion (2023)
Sadly, Jared Leto’s Haunted Mansion performance proved that even big-budget Disney movies can miss the mark. In this film, the actor played the role of Hatbox Ghost, a spooky, ghostly villain meant to be scary and funny. But unfortunately, you can barely recognize Leto behind the CGI and makeup.
Plus, if we talk about his role, it kinda felt wasted in a movie that’s more about jump scares and special effects than storytelling. The film tries to mix horror and comedy, but doesn’t quite succeed at either. Leto’s voice work sounds fine, but it’s one of his most forgettable appearances, especially since fans expected more magic and mischief from this ghostly role.
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11. Urban Legend
(1998)
Back in the late ’90s, Jared Leto joined the wave of teen horror movies with Urban Legend. He played the role of Paul Gardener, a college journalist who investigates a series of strange murders based on urban legends, of course. Overall, the film is cheesy but fun, and it shows Leto’s early charisma.
However, it doesn’t give him much to do beyond reacting to scares and suspicious classmates. But don’t get us wrong, the movie isn’t terrible; it’s just very typical of the era. But still, Leto manages to stand out as one of the more serious actors in the cast, even though the movie itself isn’t very memorable.
10. The Little Things (2021)
Next, we’ve The Little Things, where Jared Leto played a creepy suspect named Albert Sparma in a murder investigation led by Denzel Washington and Rami Malek. Given the premise and the star cast, this thriller had huge potential, but it didn’t quite deliver. Even Leto’s performance felt strange and unsettling, and also a little too over-the-top.
Throughout the film, he walks funny, talks weirdly, and tries hard to seem mysterious. While he did earn Golden Globe and SAG awards nominations, critics were split. Some called it brilliant; others thought it was forced. Leto definitely added tension to the movie, but it’s not his strongest or most believable role.
9. Lonely Hearts (2006)
In Lonely Hearts, Jared Leto plays Ray Fernandez, a real-life con artist who, along with his lover Martha Beck, murdered women during the 1940s. It’s a dark crime story based on the notorious “Lonely Hearts Killers” spree killing, and Leto dives deep into the role. He looks the part and brings intensity to the screen.
Meanwhile, the movie itself boasts a strong cast, including John Travolta and Salma Hayek, but surprisingly, it never really connects emotionally. Leto alone feels convincing as a manipulative lover, yet the story feels too slow to keep audiences hooked. Still, it shows his skill in playing dangerous and complex characters.
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8. House of Gucci (2021)
We can’t deny how House of Gucci gave Jared Leto one of his most talked-about performances, for both good and bad reasons. He played Paolo Gucci, a loud, eccentric fashion designer with big dreams but little talent, in the movie that explores the real murder of Maurizio Gucci and the downfall of the Gucci family.
As for his performance, Leto completely disappears into the role with makeup, prosthetics, and a thick Italian accent. Some fans found his performance hilarious and bold; others thought it was pure chaos. We agreed that Leto’s acting might not have been subtle, but he brought wild energy to an already dramatic movie, making it bizarre yet unforgettable.
7. Mr. Nobody (2009)
Mr. Nobody is one of Jared Leto’s most interesting but confusing movies. He plays 118-year-old Nemo, Earth’s last mortal man, in a futuristic world where everyone else has become immortal. The movie jumps between timelines, showing different versions of Nemo’s life depending on the choices he makes.
A bit similar to Life of Chuck, this movie is visually stunning and thought-provoking, but not easy to follow. Leto gives a strong, emotional performance that holds the strange story together. It’s a movie that makes you think about life, love, and destiny, even when you’re not sure what’s real by the end.
6. Lord of War (2005)
Lord of War is the gritty drama about the global arms trade that brought two of the most unconventional actors together, Jared Leto and Nicolas Cage. Leto played the role of Vitaly Orlov, the troubled younger brother of a gun dealer. His character struggles with addiction and guilt, adding heart to an otherwise cold world of crime.
Overall, Leto’s performance feels raw and heartbreaking, especially as Vitaly begins questioning his brother’s choices. It’s not a flashy role, but it’s powerful in its quiet moments. Lord of War may focus on Cage’s character, but Leto steals the show whenever he’s on screen.
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5. American Psycho (2000)
Considering how American Psycho is mainly focused on Christian Bale’s character, Jared Leto had a rather small role. Yet, he made his character unforgettable. In the movie, starring alongside Bale, Leto donned the role of Paul Allen, a wealthy banker whose success leads Patrick Bateman to harbor dark impulses, later leading Paul to become one of Bateman’s victims.
Meanwhile, given how the film is dark, stylish, and shocking, Leto plays the part and uses his charm to make each scene feel more claustrophobic and disturbing. His character represents the shallow, greedy culture of Wall Street in the ’80s. And even though he’s not the main star, his death scene becomes one of the movie’s most iconic moments.
Leto perfectly captures the arrogance, vanity, and emptiness of the character, proving that even in small roles, he leaves an impact.
4. Panic Room (2002)
In Panic Room, Jared Leto plays Junior, one of three burglars who break into a house where the mother and daughter duo, Meg and Sarah, hide in a panic room. The movie, directed by David Fincher, feels tense from start to finish, and Leto’s character seems unpredictable, sometimes funny, sometimes dangerous.
Overall, it’s his chaotic energy that makes the movie even more intense. With his cornrow hair and impulsive attitude, Leto gives one of his most entertaining villain performances, beside Forest Whitaker and Dwight Yoakam. And even though Panic Room didn’t offer him a big role, it’s one where he clearly had fun being bad.
3. Blade Runner 2049 (2017)
Blade Runner 2049 might famously be known for Ryan Gosling’s role, but it’s also Jared Leto as Niander Wallace, a mysterious and god-like tech creator obsessed with building perfect replicants, who stole the spotlight. So much so that despite having few scenes in the movie, he made them feel incredibly powerful.
Leto played Wallace with calm menace, making every word feel heavy and unsettling. The futuristic world, the slow dialogue, and his eerie calm made the character memorable. This movie showed his ability to hold people’s attention even in silence. And while some wanted more screen time for him, his minimal presence was enough to add depth to the story. Hands down, it’s one of Leto’s most stylish and haunting roles.
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2. Requiem for a Dream (2000)
It was a tough choice to place Requiem for a Dream in second place, because it is one of Jared Leto’s most painful and unforgettable performances. He plays Harry Goldfarb, a young man who falls into heroin addiction with his girlfriend (played by Jennifer Connelly) and friends. The film is intense and disturbing, showing how addiction destroys their lives.
And it is hands down, one of Leto’s best roles where he completely disappears into the character, losing weight and fully committing to Harry’s suffering. The movie is hard to watch but impossible to forget. His chemistry with Connelly is heartbreaking, and his performance feels brutally real. This film proved that Leto was more than just a pretty face; he was, in fact, a serious actor.
1. Dallas Buyers Club (2013)
Well, the one movie that could overtake Requiem for a Dream is Jared Leto’s Dallas Buyers Club, which earned him his first Oscar, and it’s easy to see why. In the movie, he plays Rayon, a drug-addicted, transgender woman living with AIDS in the 1980s. It’s a role full of emotion, strength, and vulnerability.
Plus, Leto’s performance is sensitive and deeply human, showing both Rayon’s pain and her fighting spirit. He completely transforms, physically and emotionally, without ever turning the character into a stereotype. Acting alongside Matthew McConaughey, Leto shines in every scene, bringing heart to a difficult story.
So naturally, Dallas Buyers Club remains Leto’s most powerful and career-defining role to date.
Let us know in the comments which is your favorite movie of Jared Leto.
