Johnny Depp Admitted He’s Never Watched One Of His Best Films: Here’s Why

Johnny Depp admitted that he has never watched one of his best films while revealing a surprising reason behind it.

- December 29, 2025 | 4:56 PM IST

Johnny Depp Couldn’t Watch His Own Film (Photo Credit –Instagram)

Johnny Depp is a household name in the United States and beyond. The world remembers his rise from strange arthouse darling to global superstar through the Pirates of the Caribbean films. But Depp has always moved in a different rhythm. Before that franchise turned him into a brand, the actor had already shaped a career built on unusual choices.

One example of Depp’s opulent corpus is the 2009 film Public Enemies. But surprisingly, the veteran actor hasn’t watched the movie yet. So let’s find out why.

Johnny Depp’s Stunning Confession About Public Enemies

Here comes the surprising part: Johnny Depp admits, with a strange honesty, that he has never seen some of the best films of his life. That includes Public Enemies.

Depp explained to Parade in a 2009 interview that he prefers to remain largely unaware of his own work, as watching it later tends to prompt second-guessing and regret for him.

He said, “As much as I want to see what Michael Mann did with this film and what Christian (Bale) and Marion (Cotillard) put on the screen in their performances, it’ll probably be a while before I can bring myself to take a look at it because then I would start having regrets.”

It is a remarkable confession from someone at his level, but it reveals the weighty nature of his self-reflection.

The Powerful Story Behind Public Enemies

Public Enemies itself carried huge weight. Set during the Great Depression of the 1930s, the film follows the story of real-life bank robber John Dillinger and the relentless FBI hunt led by Agent Martin Purvis, played by Christian Bale.

Even though many expected a relentless action spectacle, Michael Mann shaped something far more thoughtful. Depp’s presence became the heart of it, especially when Mann needed a strong comeback after Miami Vice failed financially despite gaining cult respect. Around that time, Depp held incredible star power, coming straight from the Pirates trilogy’s massive global dominance and a third Oscar nomination for Sweeney Todd.

Johnny Depp’s Future & The Possibility Of Finally Watching The Film

Now the story circles back to Depp. With the industry slowly opening its doors again and new mainstream films lining up for 2026, there is a quiet sense that he may be ready to confront pieces of his past. Maybe one day he will finally sit with Public Enemies, face the shadows of his own craft, and see everything he did right instead of fearing the weight of looking back.