Seven Psychopaths Is Considered One Of The Best Dark

 Tom Waits made a name for himself in the 1970s as a popular jazz musician. As his career progressed, his unique style and look were tailor-made for a film career. Mostly appearing in smaller roles, Waits' many connections in the film industry have allowed him to rub shoulders with some of the most noted filmmakers in Hollywood.

Whether he's playing regular Joes or strange weirdos, Waits is instantly recognizable in almost everything he appears in. Some of his roles are more memorable than others and have garnered high scores on IMDb.

10Seven Psychopaths (2012) - 7.2

Seven Psychopaths tells the story of a struggling screenwriter who looks for inspiration by getting involved with various strange characters. His best friend is an actor who makes a living by kidnapping rich people's dogs for ransom money, and together they get tangled up with a gangster after stealing his dog.

Though an indie film, Seven Psychopaths is considered one of the best dark comedies of all time. Tom Waits appears briefly as one of the seven psychopaths, named Zachariah, who answers a newspaper ad. The role is quintessential Waits who appears briefly but memorably.

9Rumble Fish (1983) - 7.2

One of several collaborations between Waits and director Francis Ford Coppola, Rumble Fish is the spiritual successor to The Outsiders. Rumble Fish tells the story of a street-tough named Rusty who lives in the shadow of his mysterious brother's sainted reputation.

The film naturally has a lyrical quality that fits right in with Waits' musical style. He plays a barkeeper who speaks in jazzy metaphors and imparts life advice on the large cast of characters.

8Wristcutters: A Love Story (2006) - 7.3

Set in a strange afterlife, Wristcutters is a love story about a couple who get a chance to reunite after they both pass away. They venture across the barren landscape to find one another, and along the way they encounter a bevy of strange individuals.

Tom Waits plays the leader of a commune who teaches others to perform minor miracles using the power of apathy. He delivers a speech about a crooked tree and a straight tree that seems to be ripped directly from the lyrics of one of his songs. Waits shows his range by playing the part relatively straight--a far cry from his usual oddball personas.

7The Ballad Of Buster Scruggs (2018) - 7.3

The Coen Brother's Ballad of Buster Scruggs was a Netflix exclusive and featured an array of short western tales usually revolving around death. The Coen's sometimes funny send-up of the western genre featured a massive cast, including Waits himself in a supporting role. Though the film wasn't one of the best from the Coens, the cast still shined.

Waits plays an unnamed gold miner who discovers a beautiful valley to camp in that is seemingly untouched by human hands. He really shows off his acting chops by performing alone on screen for the entirety of his segment.

6Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992) - 7.4

Francis Ford Coppola's interesting retelling of the classic Dracula story featured interesting makeup design and visual effects that were done entirely in-camera. Though not a modernization of the story, Dracula ramped up certain aspects of the novel that had been previously downplayed because of censorship restrictions. On top of that, the film is praised for its accurate portrayal of Dracula from the book.

Tom Waits plays Dracula's sinister assistant Renfield, who wants nothing more than to eat bugs and serve his master. Waits gets a unique opportunity to be as strange as he wants with the role, and he went at it with gusto. Matched with the interesting costume design, Waits performance is both comedic and horrific at the same time.

5The Fisher King (1991) - 7.5

Jeff Bridges plays a radio shock jock whose life is ruined by a terrible crime. To cope with his trauma, he seeks out a man who was also a victim of the crime and they form a strange friendship that shows the DJ the beauty and horrors of real life.

Waits fits perfectly in a cast that is stuffed to the brim with brilliant smaller roles. He isn't credited in the role, but he plays a wounded veteran who has a short conversation with the DJ. Because of Waits' unique look and gravelly voice, he really sells the dialogue and makes a big impression with the short time he is given.

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4Mystery Train (1989) - 7.6

Director Jim Jarmusch was one of the first directors to really see the potential of Tom Waits as an actor, and the pair have collaborated frequently. Mystery Train is a comedy-drama film told in three vignettes that all take place in Memphis, Tennessee.

In typical Jarmusch fashion, the world of film and music blend together seamlessly, and several other musicians appear in the film. Waits plays a radio DJ who never appears on screen and is only heard over the air. He is given a lot of snappy dialogue to work with, and his brusque delivery shows that he doesn't have to be onscreen to perform well.

3Down By Law (1986) - 7.7

Down By Law was the first collaboration between Waits and director Jim Jarmusch. It tells the story of three convicts in a Louisiana prison who escape together despite their many differences.

Waits plays a soft-spoken DJ who comes to resent his fellow escapees because they won't stop talking. For the first time in his career, Waits was given the opportunity to play a larger role, and in Down By Law, he is the lead player. He proved that he could not only perform on the soundtrack, but carry the film as well. It is Waits' charisma that gives the film a lot of its flavor.

2Short Cuts (1993) - 7.7

Short Cuts is Robert Altman's epic tale of the everyday lives of several couples who live in the suburbs of Los Angeles. The film is packed with a huge cast of big stars and featured players that all get small snippets to shine in during the three-hour film.

Waits plays an alcoholic limo driver whose relationship with his wife is on the rocks. With a strong director like Altman, Waits is resplendent as Earl the limo driver, he plays the part like a character from one of his songs and his unconventional look sells the part perfectly.

1Licorice Pizza (2021) - 8.8

Licorice Pizza is director Paul Thomas Anderson's latest opus. It tells the story of a high school boy who befriends a photographer's assistant on picture day and then tries to pursue a relationship with her, and he then gets entangled in the complicated world of Hollywood.

Waits plays a film director with a penchant for extravagant stunts in his movies. Waits has played a wide variety of characters, and in Licorice Pizza he gets a chance to play another eccentric artist, something he knows a lot about. Though the film hasn't been released to wide audiences, fans are still excited to see it.