The 10 Best Joaquin Phoenix Movies, According to Rotten Tomatoes

1. "C'mon C'mon" (2021)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 94%
What happens when a quirky radio journalist finds himself unexpectedly in charge of his spirited young nephew? Well, in "C'mon C'mon", Johnny and his nephew, Jesse, find this unique dynamic.

Johnny, entrenched in a project to understand the hopes and dreams of kids across the nation, finds Jesse not just a companion, but a surprising source of revelations. The natural chaos and charm of Jesse's youthful energy, against Johnny's deeper, reflective tones, breathe life into a compelling mix of innocence and experience.

2. "Her" (2013)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 94%
In the not-so-distant future, a delicate dance between humanity and technology unfolds. Theodore, a lonely writer, finds companionship in an AI named Samantha. There's no robotic monotone or cold interaction here; Samantha is warm, understanding, and astoundingly human-like.

The film encapsulates the poignant, often tender exploration of connection in a digital age. It pulls us into Theodore's world, where love, loss, and technology intersect, painting a vivid tableau of a future that feels eerily attainable now in 2023.

3. "Parenthood" (1989)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 92%
The joys and struggles of the Buckman family unfold in rich detail, with young Garry Buckman-Lampkin struggling to find his footing amidst familial chaos. As part of an ensemble cast, Garry navigates the murky waters of adolescence, familial expectations, and personal discovery.

The family's whimsical, often erratic journey weaves through various subplots, tying us intimately to their triumphs and tribulations.

4. "Hotel Rwanda" (2004)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 91%
Set against the harrowing backdrop of the Rwandan genocide, the story is of Paul Rusesabagina, a hotel manager who harbours refugees, and Jack, a news reporter.

It's a brutal and yet deeply humane narrative, where each decision, every act of courage, is amplified amidst stark terror and profound human resilience. The detailing of the horrors of genocide doesn't eclipse the profound humanity that surfaces in the grimmest of times.

5. "To Die For" (1995)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 89%
Jimmy Emmett finds himself ensnared in the manipulative charms of Suzanne Stone, an ambitious woman with her eyes set squarely on TV stardom. It's not just Jimmy – we all get wrapped up in Suzanne's relentless pursuit of fame.

When ambition morphs into dark obsession, moral compasses are tossed to the wind. Suzanne's cunning plan to eliminate her husband, obstructing her path to fame, sucks Jimmy into a world of crime and consequences.

6. "You Were Never Really Here" (2017)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 89%
Joe is not your average protagonist. He's a traumatized veteran, his psyche marred by the scars of abuse and combat. With a hammer in hand, he uncovers a web of corruption and power, rescuing trafficked girls. When he's tasked with saving a senator's daughter, the lines between reality and nightmare, justice and revenge, begin to blur.

The film doesn't shy away from the brutality, each hammer blow echoing the internal tumult of Joe's tortured soul.

7. "The Sisters Brothers" (2018)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 87%
A tale of two brothers, Charlie and Eli Sisters, unfolds in the grimy, unrelenting world of the Wild West. They're not lawmen; they're assassins, hired to kill a prospector who's stolen from their powerful boss. Amidst gunfights and pursuit, the grim ethos of their profession is laid bare.

Yet, this isn't just a story of crime and consequence; it's an exploration of brotherhood amidst chaos, loyalty pitted against survival, and the murky grey areas that define us.

8. "The Immigrant" (2013)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 85%
The golden allure of the American Dream meets the gritty reality of immigrant life in the 1920s. Ewa, a Polish immigrant, and Bruno Weiss, a charming but conflicted man who's both saviour and predator, navigate a New York teeming with both opportunity and exploitation.

Bruno's world of theatre and Ewa's desperate bid for survival intertwine, painting a rich, complex tableau of a city that beckons with promise yet threatens to swallow souls whole.

9. "The Master" (2012)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 85%
Navigating post-war America, Freddie Quell is a drifter lost amidst the rubble of conflict and the struggle of reintegration. A fateful encounter with Lancaster Dodd, leader of a philosophical movement, ushers Freddie into a world of intense loyalty, complex charisma, and profound personal transformation.

It's not a story of easy answers or cliched redemption, but a deep dive into the tempestuous waters of power, persuasion, and identity amidst the post-war wreckage.

10. "Two Lovers" (2008)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 82%
Leonard Kraditor's life is a mix of greys; there's the looming shadow of a broken engagement and his ensnarement in his family's dry-cleaning business. In the quiet yet tumultuous space of his existence, two women emerge – the beautiful yet volatile neighbour, and the 'suitable' match chosen by his parents.

Leonard's navigation through the complex maze of love, family expectations and personal aspirations, breathes life into a stirring story of choices and their echoing consequences.