Australian actor Russell Crowe has been one of Hollywood’s most compelling movie stars for the best couple of decades. His intensity and versatility as an actor have earned him awards, critical acclaim and praise from film fans. From his early roles that introduced his staggering talent to his more recent electrifying roles, Crowe remains a thrill to watch.
Crowe has created an impressive filmography so far in his career, working with talented filmmakers on big blockbusters and smaller dramas, showcasing his range as a performer. He has become a favorite of film fans with certain projects being highlighted as particularly strong. Here are Russell Crowe’s best films, according to IMDb.
The Nice Guys (7.4)
Crowe isn’t well-known for comedies, but he does have a real talent for it when given the chance. In The Nice Guys, he teams up with Ryan Gosling in this 70s-set crime comedy about a hired muscle and a private detective who team up to investigate a missing person case.
With a script by Shane Black, the film is a razor-sharp throwback story with some hilarious dark humor. Crowe and Gosling are magnificent as the goofy, messy heroes. Clearly Crowe should be doing more comedies.
The Next Three Days (7.4)
Despite his movie-star status, Crowe can play the “everyman” role fairly well. The Next Three Days has Crowe playing a happily married family whose life is turned upside down after his wife is arrested for murder. Seeing no other options, he devises a plan to break her out of prison.
Seeing Crowe play the kind of desperate character in an extraordinary situation is very effective. The thriller draws you in and builds a clever story of how this ordinary guy could pull this off.
Les Misérables (7.6)
Crowe finds himself in interesting and epic projects even if he isn’t always suited for the part. He joined the ambitious film version of the Broadway musical Les Misérables, where he played Javert, the obsessive lawman seeking to return Jean Valjean to prison.
The cast included accomplished singers like Hugh Jackman and Anne Hathaway, but Crowe’s singing was largely criticized. Still, his performance remains powerful and the sweeping story is told on an impressive scale. The iconic music is brought to life in a star-studded and engrossing adaptation.
3:10 To Yuma (7.7)
Pretty much every major actor in Hollywood jumps into the Western genre sooner or later and Crowe picked a great one with 3:10 to Yuma. Based on the novel by Elmore Leonard, Crowe stars as an outlaw who is being escorted by a group of men to meet the train that will take him to prison. However, his deadly and loyal posse are in pursuit.
Crowe makes for a great outlaw, walking a fine line between good and evil. Alongside Christian Bale as a noble farmer, the movie is an action-packed ride with a great script and fast-paced energy.
The Insider (7.8)
As Crowe’s fame was rising among American audiences, he scored the lead role in Michael Mann’s intense legal drama based on true events. Crowe plays a research chemist who finds himself targeted by powerful people after agreeing to appear on 60 Minutes to criticize the tobacco industry.
Crowe gives an intense and vulnerable performance as a man paying a heavy price for doing the right thing. He is joined by a great cast including Al Pacino and Christopher Plummer. Under Mann’s direction, The Insider is a thrilling real-life story.
American Gangster (7.8)
Crowe has had an extremely successful professional relationship with director Ridley Scott, having made five films together to date. American Gangster is one of their most successful collaborations. The film stars Denzel Washington as Frank Lucas, a drug kingpin operating in New York City in the 1970s. Crowe plays a cop investigating Lucas while fighting against corruption in the police force.
Washington is thrilling in the lead role, creating a terrifying, charming and professional businessman and criminal. The film itself is an excellent crime saga with a strong cast and focusing on a compelling time in American history.
Cinderella Man (8.0)
While it didn’t reach the heights of something like Rocky, Cinderella Man is another fine addition to the list of inspiring boxing movies. Crowe stars as Jim Braddock, a boxer who found himself and his family poor following the Great Depression. He turns back to boxing to make money while becoming an inspiring symbol to the people of the time.
Crowe transformed himself into a convincing boxer while maintaining the humble nature of a man who has faced many defeats outside the ring. Ron Howard directs the story skillfully, creating an engaging underdog story that is easy to root for.
L.A. Confidential (8.2)
Crowe became known to American audiences with a starring role in this Oscar-winning crime film. Set in the 1950s Los Angeles, the film looks at three very different police officers as the individually investigate a series of murders linked to deep corruption among the city’s most powerful people. Crowe stars as Buddy White, the most brutal of the three officers.
The stylish noir is a twisting tale of L.A. at a pivotal time in the city’s history. Crowe shows off his badass persona and is joined by a stellar cast. The complex mystery at the center will keep you hooked as the surprises keep coming.
A Beautiful Mind (8.2)
After getting know for playing tough guys who can kick serious butt, Crowe showed just how versatile he was with A Beautiful Mind. His first collaboration with Ron Howard, Crowe plays John Nash, a real-life mathematician who took a job as a cryptographer with a shady government agency while also succumbing to schizophrenia.
Crowe is powerful in the lead role, heartbreakingly showing a brilliant man whose mind is slowly slipping away from him. His co-star, Jennifer Connelly is equally impressive as the love of his life. Together, they create a beautiful, sad and moving love story.
Gladiator (8.5)
Crowe and Ridley Scott teamed for the first time for this swords-and-sandals epic that made Crowe a star and won them both an Oscar. Gladiator finds Crowe playing a decorated Roman soldier who is betrayed by the new emperor of Rome and sold into slavery where he becomes a renowned gladiator.
Crowe commands the screen as the fearless and heroic Maximus. He leads this thrilling story which is filled with spectacular action sequences and brutal violence. And with the talent involved, it is elevated above other films of its kind.
