What could even be said about Jack Nicholson at this point that hasn't already been said? He had an acting career that lasted for just over 50 years, with his earliest role being in the late 1950s, and his last role being in 2010. As far back as 2013, there were reports suggesting Nicholson had retired from acting, and though he's never publicly declared this himself, it's safe to assume he has stepped away from acting, and is enjoying a retired life outside the spotlight.

And honestly, fair enough, and good on him. For half a century, he was one of the most dedicated and consistently interesting American actors out there, and his vast body of work still largely holds up to this day. Within Nicholson's filmography are plenty of classics, and of the dozens of movies he appeared in, the following titles represent the best, being ranked below from great to greatest.

25 'Mars Attacks!' (1996)

Appeared as US President James Dale and Art Land

As long as you approach Mars Attacks! knowing that it will be a silly mix of comedy and science-fiction, it's honestly very enjoyable. It's also best watched as a throwback/homage to - and parody of - sci-fi B-movies that were popular in the 1950s, with this film having intentionally shallow characters and charmingly primitive special effects as a result.

The cast of Mars Attacks! is astoundingly stacked, with Jack Nicholson being joined by the likes of Glenn Close, Danny DeVito, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Michael J. Fox, to name just a few. Even better, viewers get two Nicholsons for the price of one, as he plays both the U.S. President and a casino owner, which could charitably be described as a Dr. Strangelove reference/shoutout, seeing as Peter Sellers played more than one role in that film about a world-ending threat, too.

24 'Something's Gotta Give' (2003)

Appeared as Harry Sanborn

Towards the end of Jack Nicholson's acting career, he began appearing in more dramedies and romantic comedies than he had earlier on, when his career was more defined by thrillers, crime movies, and hard-hitting dramas. One of those Nicholson rom-coms is Something's Gotta Give, where he stars alongside fellow acting legend Diane Keaton (and not for the first time, either).

The film's secret weapon is probably Keanu Reeves, though, as the central story about Nicholson's character falling in love with the mother of a much younger woman he's currently seeing is a bit weird. Flaws in the story/writing aside, the talented cast at least makes it work as well as they can, ensuring Something's Gotta Give will indeed give rom-com fans something they're looking for.

23 'The Shooting' (1966)

Appeared as Billy Spear

Though it might've taken until the 1970s for the public to finally say, "Hey, this Jack Nicholson guy might be one of the best actors of all time," Nicholson himself was already proving himself one of the greats in the 1960s. It took until the end of that decade for him to become truly famous, though, with films like 1966's The Shooting ultimately helping him get there.

At just 78 minutes long, it's a fast-paced and action-packed Western that follows two miners who agree to escort a strange young woman to a nearby town. It keeps things moving well consistently, and certainly doesn't overstay its welcome, in the process showing that Nicholson was more than capable of being a Western star, had he wanted to appear in more films within that genre.

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22 'The Witches of Eastwick' (1987)

Appeared as Daryl Van Horne

George Miller is best known for directing all four films in the long-running Mad Max series, but it's unfair to say that that's all he's done in his filmmaking career. Beyond Mad Max, he's also made various other - often unexpected - movies such as The Witches of Eastwick, which is a unique blend of fantasy and dark comedy.

It's about three women who all harbor deep desires, and then more or less get what they're after when Jack Nicholson's mysterious character enters their lives, only for complications to ensue (they always do, when magic and wishes are involved). It's the sort of fantastical concept that Miller would tackle in a slightly more interesting way in the underrated 2022 film Three Thousand Years of Longing, but it's still interestingly done here.

21 'The Little Shop of Horrors' (1960)

Appeared as Wilbur Force

It might not hold a candle to the musical version from 1986, but 1960's The Little Shop of Horrors is still a worthwhile watch for fans of low-budget, classic B-movies. It was directed by famed filmmaker/producer Roger Corman, and follows a young man who manages to create a talking plant that begins to demand it be fed human blood.

For its time and its tiny budget, it works pretty well as a mash-up of comedy and horror. It's also notable for being one of the very first movies to feature Jack Nicholson, as he has a small but memorable role here as Wilbur Force, a dental patient who seems to enjoy the pain going to the dentist can cause (the equivalent role was played by Bill Murray in the 1986 version).

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20 'Prizzi's Honor' (1985)

Appeared as Charley Partanna