John Leguizamo made his acting debut in the Paul Morrissey-directed 1985 film ‘Mixed Blood’ where he portrayed ‘Macetero.’ In 1989, he played the role of ‘Private First Class Antonio Dìaz’ in the American war drama film ‘Casualties of War’ directed by Brian De Palma. The film received a positive response from critics and sits on an 83% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The following year, he starred as ‘Burke’ in the Renny Harlin-directed American action-thriller film, ‘Die Hard 2.’ The film received mostly positive reviews from critics and performed well at the box office, grossing over $240 million on a $62–70 million budget. He next appeared in films like ‘Poison’ (1991), ‘Out for Justice’ (1991), ‘Whispers in the Dark’ (1992), ‘Night Owl’ (1993), and ‘Super Mario Bros.’ (1993). Leguizamo received a Golden Globe Award nomination for his performance as ‘Chi-Chi Rodriguez’ in the 1995 American road comedy film ‘To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar’ directed by Beeban Kidron. The film holds a 41% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. In 1995, he portrayed ‘Tybalt Capulet’ in the romantic crime film ‘Romeo + Juliet’ directed by Baz Luhrmann. The film received mostly positive reviews from critics and was a major commercial success, grossing over $147.6 million on a budget of $14.5 million.
He went on to star in films such as ‘The Pest’ (1997), ‘Spawn’ (1997), ‘Dr. Dolittle’ (1998), ‘Summer of Sam’ (1999), ‘Titan A.E.’ (2000), ‘Moulin Rouge!’ (2001), ‘Dr. Dolittle 2’ (2001), ‘Collateral Damage’ (2002), ‘Ice Age’ (2002), ‘Spin’ (2002), ‘Undefeated’ (2003), ‘Crónicas’ (2004), ‘Assault on Precinct 13’ (2005), and ‘Sueño’ (2005). In 2006, he starred as ‘T.C.’ in the comedy film ‘The Groomsmen’ directed by Edward Burns. The film opened to a mixed reception and holds a 52% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. He was next seen in films like ‘The Babysitters’ (2007), ‘The Take’ (2007), ‘The Happening’ (2008), ‘Righteous Kill’ (2008), ‘Surviving Sid’ (2008), ‘Rage’ (2009), ‘Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs’ (2009), ‘Repo Men’ (2010), ‘The Lincoln Lawyer’ (2011), ‘Ice Age: Continental Drift’ (2012), ‘Kick-Ass 2’ (2013), ‘The Counselor’ (2013), and ‘Ride Along’ (2014). In 2014, he starred as ‘Aurelio’ in the American neo-noir action thriller film ‘John Wick’ directed by Chad Stahelski. The film earned praise from critics and grossed over $86 million on a budget of $20–30 million. He next starred in films like ‘Experimenter’ (2015), ‘American Ultra’ (2015), ‘Ice Age: Collision Course’ (2016), ‘11:55’ (2016), ‘John Wick: Chapter 2’ (2017), ‘Nancy’ (2018), ‘The Sun Is Also a Star’ (2019), ‘Critical Thinking’ (2020), and ‘The Survivor’ (2021). He last appeared in the 2021 American computer-animated musical fantasy comedy film ‘Encanto’ directed by Jared Bush and Byron Howard. The film saw critical acclaim upon release and won the ‘Academy Award’ for ‘Best Animated Feature.’
After drug dealer Carlito Brigante is released early from prison thanks to an exploitation by his sleazy lawyer friend Dave Kleinfeld, he pledges to mend his ways and rekindles his romance with former girlfriend Gail. However, despite repeated attempts to avoid temptations, he is eventually dragged into his former violent lifestyle while assisting Kleinfeld against an Italian Mafia boss.
Legendary assassin John Wick's retirement plan is delayed again after he is forced to honor an unbreakable promise he had made to Italian crime lord Santino D'Antonio for a past favor. Embarking on a mission to assassinate D'Antonio's sister, a ruthless high-tier mafia, he finds himself surrounded by several assassins who are after a large bounty on his head.
Mick Haller, a criminal defense attorney works in Los Angeles, from the back seat of his Lincoln Town Car. He gets the case to defend Beverly Hills playboy Louis Roulet. During the defense proceedings, he not only finds the dangerous Roulet guilty but that he is also the murderer in Haller’s past case.
Retired assassin John Wick is nursing a broken heart following the untimely death of his wife Helen when a group of Russian gangsters come to his home to steal his car and also kills his puppy Daisy, a parting gift from Helen. Furious, he makes a comeback and tracks down the miscreants, leaving a trail of blood behind.
Christian, a depressed young English writer comes to Paris to join the Bohemian movement and falls in love with Satine, the star courtesan of the cabaret Moulin Rouge. However, a love triangle emerges as she is also coveted by the Duke of Monroth, to whom the night club's owner has promised Satine in exchange for his patronage.
Carl Casper, head chef at a prestigious Los Angeles restaurant, leaves his job following a public confrontation with a food critic, and ends up in Miami, where he is encouraged by his ex-wife to refit an old food truck. He gradually regains his artistic freedom, reconnects with his tech-savvy preteen son and rediscovers his lost love.
A group of terrorists led by former Colonel William Stuart take over the air traffic control systems at Washington Dulles International Airport and demand the release of drug lord General Ramon Esperanza. Detective John McClane, who is waiting for his wife to land, must act quickly before the inbound planes flying above run out of fuel.
This war drama film takes us to the Vietnam War, and it tells the story of Private Eriksson who must not only fight against the enemy but also his own squad leader, Sergeant Tony Meserve, when he orders the squad members to kidnap and rape a poor farm girl.
Encanto is an animated fantasy comedy film which tells the story of The Madrigals, an extraordinary family, that live in a charmed place known as the Encanto, hidden in the mountains. Every child in the family is blessed with a unique supernatural ability except for Mirabel. However, it soon seems that she might be the only hope for her family, when it seems that the magic surrounding Encanto is in danger.
The modern-day adaptation of the Shakespearean tragedy revolves around the characters of Romeo and Juliet. Romeo belongs to the Montagues family and Juliet to the Capulets, two rival gangs in Verona Beach. The two fall in love but deadly rivalries between the feuding families ultimately leads to their tragic deaths.
This biographical crime film revolves around Robert Mazur, US Customs Special Agent, who helped in busting Pablo Escobar’s money laundering organization by going undercover as a corrupt businessman.
During the summer of 1977, New York City is terrorized by a serial killer who is known as Son of Sam. When a philandering man named Vinny almost becomes a victim, he teams up with numerous people, including his wife and his friend, to figure out who the killer is, before it is too late.
Regarding Henry is a romantic drama film, which tells the story of a successful lawyer who starts to suffer from amnesia after he is shot. With the help of his loving wife and daughter, he tries to rediscover his identity and his career.
Vida Boheme and Noxeema Jackson win New York’s ‘Drag Queen’ contest and an entry into National pageant in Hollywood. Taking inexperienced Drag Princess Chi-Chi Rodriguez along, they set out on a road trip to Los Angeles. As their car breaks down in the tiny Midwestern town, Snydersville, they are faced with Sheriff Dollard, a homophobic racist lawman who is out to get them.
Spun is a comedy crime drama film, which tells the story of a drug addict Ross, who is introduced by his drug dealer to the man who runs the meth lab. Ross agrees to become his driver but this leads him to several crazy situations.
After Hit Girl is busted for sneakily fighting crime and is forced into a normal life, Kick-Ass joins a group of self-made superheroes led by reformed mafia-boss Colonel Stars and Stripes. Meanwhile, his nemesis Red Mist swears vengeance on him and gathers a team of supervillains from whom only Hit Girl can save the amateur vigilantes.
Experimenter is a biographical drama film which revolves around Stanley Milgram, a well known social psychologist who had conducted a series of radical behavior experiments at Yale University, which were meant for measuring conformity, conscience as well as free will.
Based on the novel The Repossession Mambo by Eric Garcia, the film Repo Men is set in a future era where scientists have perfected bio-mechanical organs. However, these organs are expensive and the customers who are unable or unwilling to pay for them are killed off by a group of “Repo Men".
High school security guard, Ben Barber, has been trying to convince his girlfriend’s brother, Detective James Payton, that he is good enough for his sister. When Ben is finally accepted into Police Academy, James tries to test Ben by taking him on a ride along that ends up putting both their lives in danger.
A US-bound Boeing 747 is taken over by terrorist Nagi Hassan who demands the release of their apprehended leader. Intelligence analyst David Grant is brought in who has a suspicion about the terrorists’ intentions. A plan, using specialized mid-air crew transfer plane, is devised wherein Grant accompanies military anti-terrorist squad. They must rescue hostages and also, defuse a bomb containing nerve gas.
On their way to transfer crime lord Marion Bishop, a raging snowstorm forces the transport bus to be redirected to the soon-to-be-closed Precinct 13. However, when a group of masked gunmen start attacking the Precinct, emotionally compromised Sergeant Jake Roenick must form an uneasy truce with the criminals to save all of their lives.
Love in the Time of Cholera is a romantic drama film which tells the story of Florentino, who is rejected by the beautiful Fermina, with whom he was in love. This leads him to depression, and he spends a lot of time indulging in carnal affairs to heal his pain. However, when her husband passes away, he tries to win her back.
The Alibi is a romantic comedy drama film which tells the story of a man named Ray, who is running an alibi service for cheating partners. Although he doesn’t provide alibi for crimes, when the reckless son of his wealthy client commits a murder, he has no choice but to break his own rules.
Jay Cochran is a newly retired US Navy pilot who goes to Mexico to spend some time with his Friend Tibey, a successful and powerful but corrupt businessman. He also meets Tibey’s beautiful wife, Miryea, who is unhappy with her married life. Without thinking of the consequences, Jay begins having an affair with Miryea.
In a zombie dominated world, the remnants of humanity have built small protected feudal societies all over the U.S. The ruthless Paul Kaufman rules one such class-divided society while his second-in-command plans a revolution. A battle for survival ensues when the zombies learn to evolve and adapt.
NYPD detectives, David Fisk and Thomas Cowan, partners for 30 years, are investigating murders of suspected criminals who escaped sentence. A pair of young detectives being assigned to the same case creates tensions between the two teams. As the serial killer is doing what the police can’t do within the law-boundaries, Fisk and Cowan wonder whether the killer is one amongst them?
As their parents have decided to sell their home, recently divorced Maura and her hotheaded sister Kate are required to travel to Orlando to clean out their old bedroom. Once there, they decide to throw one last party and invite their former classmates. But very soon, it starts getting out of control and very soon there may not be any house to sell.
When NYPD detective Gino Felino’s friend and partner Bobby Lupo is shot dead by drug-lord Richie Madano in broad daylight in front of his family, pledging vengeance Gino goes after Richie, a psychotic crack-addict whom he knew since childhood. As Gino persistently hunts for the mafia enforcer and his vicious gang through all his joints, he also learns the motives behind Bobby’s murder.
Stoner Mike Howell works as a convenience store clerk and plans to propose to his longtime girlfriend Phoebe Larson. Unknown to him, he is actually a highly trained CIA assassin under a secret training program. When the program is scrapped and he is assigned for execution, his handler activates him so that Mike can save himself and Phoebe.
Empire is a crime drama film which tells the story of Victor Rosa, a successful drug dealer, who decides to go straight and leave his life of crime behind. He decides to give his money to a wall street broker to invest for him. However, he later realizes that he may have been double-crossed.
Miracle at St Anna is a war drama film which takes us to the time of the Second World War, and revolves around four soldiers stationed in Tuscany. They find themselves trapped behind enemy lines and separated from their unit after one of them puts his life at risk to save an Italian boy.
Gil Renard, a salesman of hunting knives and passionate fan of baseball star Bobby Rayburn, is happy when Rayburn joins his city’s team, San Francisco Giants. When Renard loses his job and consequently his family, he becomes even more obsessed with Rayburn. As Rayburn’s game performance declines, a restless Renard decides to help him, but ends up taking things to the extreme.
In future, computer programmer Ken Castle creates a mind control game wherein death row convicts fight for their freedom; but they are controlled by their users. The champions here are John Kable Tillman and his handler Simon. Kable realises that to get back to his normal life, he must escape the game and reveal to the world Castle’s plan to control the entire country with his technology.
The Babysitters is a drama film which tells the story of Shirley, a student who works as a babysitter to make money for college. One night, a father whom she works for, confesses that he is quite unsatisfied with his married life. Shirley uses this as an opportunity to kiss him, as she finds him attractive. Upon presented with a big tip, she decides to make extra money by setting up her teen friends with other unhappily married fathers.
A bomb detonates at the Colombian Consulate building in Los Angeles and kills nine people including the wife and son of LAFD firefighter, Captain Gordon Brewer. Frustrated by inaction and red tape, Brewer decides to hunt down the terrorist calling himself El Lobo and is helped by CIA special agent, Peter Brandt.
Kevin, a thief, attempts to rob from the mansion of Max, a billionaire. However, Max catches him and takes his ring, which is Kevin’s lucky charm. Kevin tries to wreak havoc on Max’s life in his attempt to get back his ring.
Dr. Doolittle, a noted surgeon, hits his head on the windshield while swerving his car to avoid running over a dog. It triggers in him a long dormant gift, enabling him to understand what animals and birds are saying and communicate with them. Although initially skeptical, he finally learns to appreciate his gifts and starts treating both animals and humans.
After losing her job, Stephanie Plum, who is also newly divorced, seeks out a new job to cover her debts. She eventually finds a job at her cousin’s bail-bond business, where her first assignment puts her on the trail of a former cop who is wanted for murder. Coincidentally, this man is also her former lover.
The superhero film follows a government contract-killer, Al Simmons, who is betrayed and killed. He meets the devil in the hell, who offers him a chance to return to earth in exchange of a promise to lead devil’s army against heaven. As Simmons is re-incarnated as Spawn, he realizes that the devil has double-crossed him. Whom will he serve, the good or evil?
A greedy Texas lawyer, desirous of more money to lead a lavish lifestyle with his girlfriend, gets involved in a perilous drug-smuggling deal. Despite warnings, he is confident that he knows all the angles of the game and will succeed. However, when the deal goes horribly wrong, The Counselor and his wife-to-be are in grave danger.
The Pest is a comedy film which revolves around a conman named Pestario Vargas, who is being pursued by the Scottish Mafia as well as a lunatic from Germany. Meanwhile, he tries to arrange 50,000 dollars to save his head.
In an apocalyptic future, humanity is being plagued by an airborne neurotoxin, purportedly released as a defense mechanism by plants, which is driving people to mass suicide. Science teacher Elliot Moore, his wife Alma, and his colleague's daughter Jess struggle to survive from the intangible threat, but are on the verge of giving in.
Vanishing on 7th Street is a horror thriller film which takes us to Detroit where majority of the population has disappeared after a power outage. All that remains is a pile of clothes that they were wearing.
Mario and Luigi, two Brooklyn plumber brothers discover a hidden alternate universe of ‘Dinohattan’ inhabited by evolved dinosaurs and ruled by malevolent King Koopa who plans to take over the world. He has kidnapped Princess Daisy; so now Mario Bros. must face hazards and lethal encounters from Lizard King Koopa and giant reptilian guards Goombas, to rescue Daisy and save the world.
Ralph Kramden is a bus driver in New York City, who is always trying to come up with get-rich quick schemes for himself and his best friend Ed. However, he only ends up losing all of his savings.
In a prehistoric Earth 20,000 years ago, all the animals are migrating south to find shelter from the approaching Ice Age. Following an attack by a Smilodon pack, an infant is separated from a tribe of Neanderthals and is being hunted by a sabertooth named Diego, but is rescued by Manny the mammoth and Sid the sloth.
Feeling lonely as the woolly mammoths are starting a family, Sid the sloth adopts three huge eggs that he accidentally finds beneath ice. However, when a Tyrannosaurus rex, looking for her babies, takes Sid along into a dangerous underground world full of large animals, the rest of the herd join the one-eyed weasel Buck in a rescue adventure.
The amazing adventures of Scrat, Manny, Diego and Sid continueswhen they try to escape a meltdown in this sequel. While Manny falls in love with a new character Ellie, Sid is abducted and narrowly escapes death. What continues is a laugh riot that sums up this second movie in the Ice Age franchise.
Scrat's obsessive pursuit of the acorn causes continental break up leading to Manny, Diego, Sid and Granny separating from their family. They sail across the sea on their iceberg-turned-ship and come across cruel pirates headed by Captain Gutt who wants to enslave them. Will Manny and rest ever be reunited with their families?
In not so distance future, the earth is attacked by a pure energy based alien race known as the Drej. Realizing the danger, a top scientist sends away his teenage son, secretly encoding a map to the Titan in a ring he gives to him. Now a young man, it falls upon him to find Titan and save the humanity from total destruction.
Jake is a shy but skilled football player, who is in love with Laura, a free-spirited girl. Their lives take a turn when Ace, one of the best football players in the world, decides to destroy their village to turn it into a sports stadium. Things get even worse when Laura gets kidnapped, but Jake soon meets some unlikely allies.
Ice Age: Collision Course is an animated adventure film, which tells the story of a few friends who join forces in order to prevent an asteroid from colliding with Earth.
Walking with Dinosaurs 3D is an animated adventure comedy film which tells the story of Ricky and Jade, whose paleontologist uncle named Zack, decides to take them on a fossil hunt. Things get interesting after they encounter a bird from the Cretaceous period, who narrates the story of dinosaurs that existed 70 million years ago.
John Leguizamo Awards
| John Leguizamo: Freak | Outstanding Performance in a Variety or Music Program | 1999 |
