27 Movies Starring Oscar Winner Jared Leto

Leto debuted his performance as the Joker in 2016’s “Suicide Squad,” directed by David Ayer. The film’s ensemble cast includes Will Smith as Deadshot, Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn, Viola Davis as Amanda Waller, Cara Delevingne as Enchantress, and Jai Courtney as Captain Boomerang. Though much of the cast returned for 2021’s “The Suicide Squad,” directed by James Gunn, Leto did not.

However, Leto did reprise his role as the Joker for “Zack Snyder’s Justice League,” Snyder’s director’s cut of the 2017 film. Leto and the Joker didn’t appear in the original version, but Snyder filmed a new epilogue for the movie featuring Leto’s Joker facing off with Ben Affleck’s Batman. It’s the only time the hero and his iconic foe have met in the DCEU.

Leto and his costar Matthew McConaughey both won Oscars for their roles in this film. “Dallas Buyers Club” tells the true story of Ron Woodroof, an AIDS patient in the 1980s who smuggled unapproved drugs into Texas in hopes of helping himself and other people suffering from HIV/AIDS. Leto’s character is Rayon, a fictional trans woman who helps Woodroof. Though Leto won the Oscar for his role, his casting has been criticised by many trans actors and activists who believe that trans people should be the ones portraying trans characters.

As Sony continues its Spider-Man universe that began with the “Venom” films, Leto is stepping into the title role of Dr. Michael Morbius, a doctor with a rare blood disease who accidentally turns himself into a vampire. The film also stars Matt Smith, Adria Arjona, Jared Harris, Al Madrigal, and Tyrese Gibson. Michael Keaton also returns as Vulture, having previously appeared in “Spider-Man: Homecoming.”

In “House of Gucci,” Leto rounds out an ensemble cast that also features Lady Gaga, Adam Driver, Al Pacino, Jeremy Irons, and Salma Hayek. Leto plays Paolo Gucci, a fashion designer who was ultimately pushed out of his family’s namesake company. Leto went with a larger-than-life accent for the role.

“American Psycho” stars Christian Bale as the title serial killer, Patrick Bateman. Leto appears as Paul Allen, Bateman’s coworker and one of his earliest victims.

This blockbuster sequel to 1982’s “Blade Runner” sees Harrison Ford return to the franchise as Rick Deckard. The cast also includes Ryan Gosling, Robin Wright, Dave Bautista, Mackenzie Davis, Ana de Armas, and Leto. Leto portrays the CEO of the nefarious Wallace Corporation.

In this David Fincher thriller, Jodie Foster and Kristen Stewart star as a mother and daughter who hide from burglars in the panic room of their new home. Forrest Whittaker, Dwight Yoakam, and Leto play the three burglars.

This Netflix film stars Leto as a former marine who becomes a yakuza after he spends ten years in a Japanese prison. It also features Kippei Shiina, Shiori Kutsuna, Tadanobu Asano, and Emile Hirsch.

This crime thriller stars Denzel Washington and Rami Malek as two detectives investigating a string of murders. Leto is the man they suspect of committing the crimes. He was nominated for a Golden Globe and a SAG Award for his performance.

“Requiem For a Dream” is directed by Darren Aronofsky and stars Ellen Burstyn, Jennifer Connelly, Marlon Wayans, and Leto as four people in New York City dealing with drug addiction.

Leto appears in “Fight Club” as Angel Face, a young recruit of the eponymous club. The film, directed by David Fincher, stars Edward Norton, Brad Pitt and Helena Bonham Carter.

“Girl, Interrupted” stars Winona Ryder as Susanna, an 18-year-old woman who’s been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder who spends eighteen months under psychiatric care from 1967 to 1968. The movie also features Clea DuVall, Brittany Murphy, Elisabeth Moss, and Angelina Jolie, who won an Oscar for her performance. Leto plays Susanna’s ex-boyfriend who wants to run away to Canada to escape the draft.

Leto stars alongside Sarah Polley and Diane Kruger in this sci-fi drama. In the movie, Leto plays Nemo Nobody, the last person on Earth who will die, since all other humans are immortal.

For this biopic, Leto steps into the shoes of Mark David Chapman, who shot and killed John Lennon on Dec. 8, 1980. The movie also features Judah Friedlander and Lindsay Lohan.

Leto and Salma Hayek play the infamous Lonely Hearts Killers, Raymond Fernandez and Martha Beck, in 2006’s “Lonely Hearts.” John Travolta and James Gandolfini costar as the homicide detectives trying to track them down.

In “Lord of War,” Nicolas Cage stars as an international arms dealer, and Leto plays his younger brother. Ethan Hawke also appears as an Interpol agent, and Bridget Moynahan plays Cage’s wife.

Colin Farrell leads “Alexander,” all about the life of Alexander the Great. In addition to Leto, the cast also included heavy hitters like Angelina Jolie, Val Kilmer, Anthony Hopkins, Rosario Dawson, and Christopher Plummer.

Leto stars with Jake Gyllenhaal and Selma Blair in “Highway,” a road trip film about three people fleeing Las Vegas for Seattle.

Leto appears as a country rocker in this 1972 period piece about Los Angeles’ Sunset Strip.

“The Thin Red Line” is a war film directed by Terrence Malick. In addition to Leto, the cast features Sean Penn, George Clooney, John Cusack, Adrien Brody, Jim Caviezel, Nick Nolte, John Travolta, and John C. Reilly.

The ’90s slasher film “Urban Legend” stars Leto alongside Alicia Witt, Rebecca Gayheart, and Tara Reid.

The British historical film stars Leto as the title character, a noble British man. Christian Slate also stars as a London merchant.

Leto stars in this biopic about American long distance runner Steve Prefontaine, who died when he was just 24 years old.

“Switchback” features Leto as a hitchhiking man who’s unwittingly picked up by a murderer, played by Danny Glover. Dennis Quaid appears as the special agent who’s trying to solve the murders.

“The Last of the High Kings” was Leto’s first starring role in a feature film. In the film, set in the 1970s, Leto plays an Irish teen. Christina Ricci plays an American family friend visiting for the summer.

The star-studded cast of “How to Make an American Quilt” features Winona Ryder, Claire Danes, Anne Bancroft, Ellen Burstyn, Alfre Woodard, Maya Angelou, Dermot Mulroney, Rip Torn, and Richard Jenkins. The cast was nominated for the SAG Award. This was Leto’s film debut.