10 movies starring Robert Downey Jr. that viewers adore him for

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

The actor played a superhero, a legendary detective and even a hairy monster. And he remained charismatic and unique.

1. Chaplin

• USA, France, Japan, Italy, 1992.
• Drama, comedy, biography.
• Duration: 144 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 5.

The famous publishing house is preparing to publish Charlie Chaplin's autobiography. The editor visits a living legend in Switzerland, and Chaplin honestly answers his questions, although he would prefer not to remember some things.

At the time when Robert Downey Jr. was invited to play the legendary director and actor Charlie Chaplin, he was already a rising Hollywood star. So, in "Less than Zero" (1987), "Johnny Be Good" (1988) and his other early films, the young artist showed an incredible level of acting and managed to win the love of the audience.

Robert carefully prepared for the role: he studied the antics, gestures, facial expressions, gait of his character. And the result was worth the effort: Downey Jr. so got used to the image of Chaplin that he completely dissolved in it.

And if you are familiar with the actor only from the Marvel films and the role of Sherlock Holmes, you should see this picture. It will open before you a completely different Downey Jr. No wonder he received his first Oscar nomination for her.

2. Natural born killers

• USA, 1994.
• Thriller, crime, drama, melodrama.
• Duration: 119 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 3.

Delivering another order, the meat peddler Mickey Knox meets the beautiful Malorie. Having dealt with the girl's parents, the couple travels around America and sends to the next world everyone who gets in the way.

Immediately after its release, Oliver Stone's film caused a mixed reaction from the public. It got to the point that it was banned in some countries. But even against the backdrop of the defiant images of Woody Harrelson and Juliet Lewis, Downey Jr.'s hero turned out to be a real monster. He plays TV journalist Wayne Gale, who is obsessed with turning the adventures of Mickey and Malorie into a thrilling reality show.

To get used to the role of the king of the yellow press, Robert spent a lot of time with workers in this field. Moreover, this is what most likely influenced his lifestyle outside the set.

The late 90s and early 2000s turned out to be a very difficult period for the actor: he acted little and became addicted to illegal substances, for possession of which he was sentenced to prison. Downey Jr. does not like to recall this time and Robert Downey Jr. may even leave. A scandalous interview with an interview, if journalists are too importunate to ask him about personal matters.

3. Kiss right through

• USA, 2005.
• Thriller, comedy, crime, detective.
• Duration: 103 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 5.

Petty fraudster Harry Lockhart, fleeing from the police, gets on screen tests for a new detective film. Unwillingly, he makes such an impression on the producers that he is taken on the role and sent to Hollywood. But there the hero and his new acquaintance, detective Perry van Schrike, find themselves involved in a very dark story.

Robert Downey Jr.'s renaissance as an actor began with his acquaintance with producer Susan Levin. For the sake of love for her, the artist promised to give up an unhealthy lifestyle and kept his promise.

Around the same time, he received an offer to star in the action comedy Kiss Kiss Through, a witty parody of neo-noir. For such a film, the ability of Downey Jr. to amuse the audience, even speaking in the most serious tone, came in handy.

4. Fur: Imaginary portrait of Diana Arbus

• USA, 2006.
• Thriller, drama, melodrama, biography.
• Duration: 122 minutes.
• IMDb: 6, 4.

Married beauty Diana Arbus leads a quiet life and has two children. But at some point she meets her neighbor Lionel Sweeney, covered from head to toe with fur, and feelings arise between them.

The film is based on the biography of the real photographer Diana Arbus, who became famous for her pictures of unusual people. But at the same time, the plot cleverly plays up the fairy tale "Beauty and the Beast". Here I must say that the director of "Fur" Steven Sheinberg is generally close to the topic of extraordinary relationships. After all, he is also known for the frank film "The Secretary", which is often called the ideological predecessor of "Fifty Shades of Gray".

For those who watch "Fur" for the first time, Downey Jr.'s performance will be a real revelation. For almost the entire film, the actor walks with a face overgrown with hair, but even in this form, he manages to hypnotize only with a soft voice and a deep gaze of his dark expressive eyes.

5. How to recognize your saints

• USA, 2006.
• Drama, crime.
• Duration: 100 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 0.

Dito, along with his best friend Antonio, grew up in an ordinary poor neighborhood. They are very close, but one day Dito quarrels with a neighboring gang. Saving a friend's life, Antonio kills the bad guys and ends up behind bars.

Dito Montiel made a film based on his own novel, and he, in turn, tells a true story about growing up and becoming an author. Younger versions of Dito and his friend were played by Shia LaBeouf and Channing Tatum, but the image of a mature hero was embodied by Robert Downey Jr. The actor was given not so many scenes, but they all touch the soul.

6. Zodiac

• USA, 2007.
• Thriller, detective, drama, crime.
• Duration: 158 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 7.

A new serial killer is announced in San Francisco. Moreover, he not only commits atrocities, but also taunts the police, sending strange codes with the signature "Zodiac" to major newspapers. The search for the culprit involves the fates of three people: Inspector David Tosca, reporter Paul Avery, and cartoonist Robert Graysmith.

David Fincher's Zodiac is worth watching not only for the story based on true events, but also for the brilliant cast. Mark Ruffalo and Jake Gyllenhaal are simply great here, and Robert Downey Jr. as a seasoned journalist did not get lost even against such a strong background.

7. Iron Man

• USA, Canada, 2008.
• Science fiction, action, adventure.
• Duration: 121 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 9.

Genius, billionaire, playboy and philanthropist Tony Stark travels to Afghanistan to demonstrate his new military development, but is captured by terrorists. They plan to force the hero to create a weapon of mass destruction. Trying to escape, Tony designs a unique weapon armor with a flight function, which will soon change not only himself, but the whole world.

Only at 43 years old, Robert managed to break into the pantheon of superstars, trying on the Iron Man suit. The actor became close to the image of Tony Stark for a long time - he made the tycoon a charismatic intellectual and at the same time humane enough to truly love the hero.

8. Soldiers of failure

• USA, UK, Germany, 2008.
• Action, comedy, military.
• Duration: 121 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 0.

Hollywood decides to shoot another blockbuster about the Vietnam War. To do this, famous actors are thrown into an Asian jungle filled with hidden cameras. But by chance they find themselves on the territory of drug dealers.

Ben Stiller conceived his film as a satire on all famous military blockbusters: "Apocalypse Now", "Platoon", "Full Metal Jacket" and others. In addition to the author himself, other famous actors played in the film: Matthew McConaughey, Tom Cruise, Nick Nolte, Jack Black and, of course, Robert Downey Jr.

The latter delighted the audience. He played Kirk Lazarus, a cocky white actor who changed his skin color to dark in pursuit of the Oscar. But not everyone appreciated the joke, and around this role the controversy continues to this day Some People Still Definitely Don’t Get The Joke Behind Robert Downey Jr.’s Tropic Thunder Character / Cinemablend. Although it is obvious that Ben Stiller just wanted to poke at artists who go too far to match the looks the directors are asking for.

9. Sherlock Holmes

• USA, Germany, UK, Australia, 2009.
• Action, adventure, comedy, crime, detective.
• Duration: 128 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 6.

Sherlock Holmes and John Watson prevent the last of the six ritual murders of Lord Blackwood. The villain is executed by hanging. However, very soon it turns out that the warlock somehow rose from the dead.

Guy Ritchie offered a fundamentally new image of the great detective. His Holmes, played by Downey Jr., is a self-assured and damn charming rogue, who also knows martial arts.

Initially, Richie was not sure of his choice, as he thought Downey was too old for the role. However, Robert instantly fell in love with the audience, and the successful first part was followed by the second - "Shadow Play".

Watch on Google Play (collection of two films) →

10. Soloist

• UK, France, USA, 2009.
• Drama, biography.
• Duration: 117 minutes.
• IMDb: 6, 7.

Cynical journalist Steve Lopez one day meets the homeless violinist Nathaniel playing only two strings. Steve decides that the musician will have a great story. Immersed in the story of the hero, the journalist learns that he once studied at a prestigious academy, but once disappeared.

Downey Jr. was very busy for most of the next decade filming Marvel films. But he still found time for other projects. For example, on the drama by British director Joe Wright, where Oscar winner Jamie Foxx became Robert's partner on the set. This picture will surely appeal to connoisseurs of art and lovers of soul stories.