From growing up with a stutter to collaborating with the likes of Spike Lee, Tarantino, Spielberg, and many more, Samuel L. Jackson has come a long way.
The man has over 200 credits to his name. Moreover, the total box office collection of all his movies is over $27 billion, which makes him a cinematic rockstar as well as a force of nature in Hollywood.
His career now spans over 35 years, filled with phenomenal performances; however, a few of them are so underrated that it's necessary to discuss them.
Let’s jump into the list.
7 Underrated Samuel L. Jackson Performances To Check Out Right Now
7. Jackie Brown (1997)
'Jackie Brown' (1997)
Credit: Miramax
Directed by Quentin Tarantino, a flight attendant is caught smuggling money for an arms dealer, and now she must choose: to side with the Feds, quietly give in, or trick both to keep the cash for herself.
One of the most nuanced and calculated villains Jackson has ever played. He chameleons his performance from a charming salesman-like personality to a full-blown psychopath. Though Jules from Pulp Fiction is a more recognizable menacing figure, wait until you see the stone-cold and more calculated Ordell Robbie, played by Jackson himself.
6. One Eight Seven (1997)
'One Eight Seven' (1997)
Credit: Warner Bros.
Teacher Trevor Garfield (Samuel L. Jackson) relocates to L.A. after being almost stabbed to death by one of his students. However, the new school seems to have worse security and more indisciplined students whom he has to deal with.
Jackson plays an idealistic teacher who has to adapt and become a violent vigilante, all while carrying a past assault trauma that slowly hollows him out. He is the emotional anchor of the movie, carrying the weight of a systemic failure, and at his most vulnerable. Truly, a masterclass in acting, but it bombed at the box office. Jackson himself said in a Vulture interview that One Eight Seven is one of the underrated movies that he had done in the past.
5. Lakeview Terrace (2008)
'Lakeview Terrace' (2008)
Credit: Sony
Who would you turn to when the messenger of justice itself is the real culprit? A racist LAPD officer, Abel Turner (Samuel L. Jackson), becomes increasingly hostile toward his next-door interracial couple’s life.
Jackson plays a perfect one-dimensional antagonist who is clever and vindictive. He is definitely more menacing when quietly insinuating as he wreaks havoc on the couple’s life. Not only is Lakeview Terrace a good thriller, but it’s also a study into the complex institutionalized racism. As Jackson showcases, he proves that even without a gun, he can scare the bonkers out of you.
4. Hard Eight (1996)
'Hard Eight' (1996)
Credit: The Samuel Goldwyn Company
Paul Thomas Anderson makes a thunderous directorial debut with Hard Eight. It follows a successful gambler, Sydney (Philip Baker Hall), who mentors a young and homeless John (John C. Reilly) to become his protégé. But when he falls for a cocktail waitress, things start to go downhill.
Jackson plays Jimmy in the movie, who is a sleazy, blackmailing casino security guard. He adds more gravitas to the character, who could have been a stereotypical bad guy. He adds a reptilian quality to make Jimmy a memorable and dangerous character. This has to be one of the most overlooked performances of Jackson among his ‘90s films.
3. The Red Violin (1998)
'The Red Violin' (1998)
Credit: Lionsgate
Directed by François Girard, The Red Violin is an anthology film. All the stories are woven with a century-old violin, which was painted with the blood of a renowned Italian violin maker’s wife in 1681 to preserve her memories.
Jackson plays Charles Morritz, an appraiser who confirms the violin’s origins. The film takes you to different periods of the instrument’s journey; however, the film always cuts back to the present-day sale, involving Charles Morritz. Out of all the bidders, his character seems more deeply connected to the violin. Jackson is toned down and methodical in his approach, delivering a surprising finish at the end of the movie. Even Jackson considers The Red Violin to be one of the best films he was a part of.
2. The Negotiator (1998)
'The Negotiator' (1998)
Credit: Warner Bros.
A framed hostage negotiator, Danny Roman (Samuel L. Jackson), takes his Internal Affairs office hostage. He negotiates his way out of harm's way to expose real culprits, as he is pitted against a police negotiator, Chris Sabian (Kevin Spacey).
Samuel L. Jackson starred alongside Kevin Spacey in this tense, non-flashy hostage-negotiation movie. Jackson is a desperate family man who weaponizes his expertise in negotiating against his colleagues while maintaining a facade that “everything is under his control.” His intricate eye movements, revealing Roman’s internal calculations, reflect Jackson’s technical mastery over his art.
1. Changing Lanes (2002)
'Changing Lanes' (2002)
Credit: Paramount Pictures
A recovering alcoholic, Doyle Gipson (Samuel L. Jackson), late to his kids' custody court date, collides with a cocky lawyer, Gavin Banek (Ben Affleck), triggering a deadly game of cat and mouse, ready to destroy each other if it comes to that.
Changing Lanes is truly a showcase of both Affleck's and Jackson’s acting prowess on screen. Jackson plays a low-status character, contrary to his usual dominating persona on screen. He goes toe-to-toe with the cunning lawyer who is about to lose everything. Jackson had felt that the role recharged his acting battery, and critics were all praise for his portrayal of a person living on the psychological edge.
Summing Up
Samuel L. Jackson is a talent with an insane ability to deliver iconic characters one after the other. However, his best yet underappreciated performances, which led him to become a star today, need to be revisited and cherished.
Which, according to you, is Samuel L. Jackson’s most underrated acting performance of all time? Let us know in the comments.
