Joey Magidson
Almost a week ago, Robert Downey Jr. won his first Academy Award. Taking home the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor, Downey Jr. finally summited the mountain. His turn in Oppenheimer is just one of many tremendous turns that the man has made over the years. So, with RDJ not having another role on the horizon (though he’ll likely be signing on to something soon), it seemed like a nice time to run down some of his best work. Hence, a bonus list of sorts has been born!
In my review of Oppenheimer (here), I had this to say about RDJ’s work:
Also excellent is Robert Downey Jr., shedding the Tony Stark performance once and for all. It’s a powerful turn that could easily win him the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor if all goes right for him this season. It’s stunning work.
Below, you can see where I rank the best of Downey Jr. There are a few obvious inclusions here, including Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, as well as Tropic Thunder (plus Oppenheimer), but there’s a ton of variety to be found. As such, your mileage on RDJ may vary, but there’s something for everyone here. So, enjoy and definitely contribute your own picks as well…
Here now is how I’d rank the best performances from Robert Downey Jr. Behold:
Honorable Mention: Avengers: Endgame, Back to School, Bowfinger, Captain America: Civil War, A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints, Spider-Man: Homecoming, and Wonder Boys
10. Good Night, and Good Luck
9. Charlie Bartlett
8. Less Than Zero
7. Zodiac
6. Tropic Thunder
5. Chaplin
4. Game 6
3. Iron Man
2. Oppenheimer
1. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
What is your favorite performance from Robert Downey Jr.? Let us know!
Cannot be stressed enough just how dramatic a turnaround this has been for someone virtually everyone believed would likely see his life story end in tragedy just twenty-five years ago. There are Simpsons and South Park jokes from the late 90’s about Robert Downey, Jr.‘s constant and seemingly insurmountable personal troubles.
The notion that this man would later become one of the most successful movie stars of the 21st century and an Academy Award-winning actor would have been inconceivable not that long ago:
It really is wild when you look back at how he was seen at one point in the not too distant past, agreed.
Interesting picks!