Robert Downey Jr. is widely popular for his role as Iron Man, aka Tony stark, in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. This role is arguably the most popular role of his career and has gained fans from all over the world. But his other works on different projects are very less known to many of his fans.
He’s been in the industry for more than 50 years now. But his career and fan following skyrocketed since he played the billionaire superhero Tony Stark in Iron Man. He has worked with Anthony Russo, Joe Russo, Jon Favreau, and many more renowned directors. His acting skills are splendid, and he has managed to connect us with his characters.
Here are the 44 best movies of Robert Downey Jr. ranked. This is based on the movie’s performance, not on his acting.
44. Due Date (2010)
Robert plays Peter Highman, an architect who flew to meet his pregnant wife, Sarah. The course of the movie changes when he has to take a trip with an aspiring actor, Ethan, to reach his wife in time. Robert acted well in the film, but the film got mixed reviews. It ranked 6.5 on IMDb.
43. Natural Born Killers (1994)
It’s a typical crime film directed by Oliver Stone. Robert plays the character of Wayne Gale, a journalist who is responsible for the news of Mickey Knox and Mallory Wilson Knox. They are a couple who are infamous for being serial killers. Robert nailed the character, and some people also liked the movie as well. It scored 7.2 on IMDb.
42. The Judge (2014)
It is a well-made courtroom drama film by David Dobkin. Robert is a lawyer in this film named Henry Palmer. The plot takes a turn when he decides to defend his father in a hit-and-run case. Robert made the character alive through his acting skills, and this movie was also very praised by critics. It got 7.4 on IMDb.
41. Two Girls And A Guy (1997)
Robert plays Blake, a young actor who is in relation with two girls, Carla and Lou, at the same time. The later plot revolves around the accusations and justification of Blake. It scored 5.5 on IMDb.
40. Only You (1994)
Robert plays the romantic character of Peter Wright, a gentleman from Venice. Faith is a girl who believes the love of her life is a man named “Damon Bradley.” But will Faith fall in love with Peter even after her strong beliefs from her childhood? This film got mixed reviews and scored 6.5 on IMDb.
39. Less Than Zero (1987)
Robert plays a serious drug addict in this film, who is also in debt to Rip, a drug dealer. His character is named Julian Wells, and his friend Blair is also a drug addict. The movie revolves around the episode when Clay, his lover, tries to make him quit the addiction. Robert did a very good job in this film, and it got 6.4 on IMDb.
38. 1969 (1988)
It is Ernest Thompson’s drama film, starring Robert as Ralph Carr, a young man amidst the Vietnam War. The plot revolves around Ralph and Scott, another young man from the same town, who took steps to protest the Vietnam War. This film didn’t get much appreciation and got 5.7 on IMDb.
37. Heart And Souls (1993)
Robert plays the character of Thomas Reilly, a child who becomes a businessman in the future. The four other characters, Harrison, Penny, Julia, and Milo, died in a bus accident in 1959. They carried on as ghosts and played with the children born at the same time. And Thomas was one of them. Soon he forgets about them, but the story takes a turn when they again need the help of grown-up Thomas. This is a well-made fantasy comedy film by Ron Underwood and to scored 7.0 on IMDb.
36. Weird Science (1985)
“Weird Science” is a science fantasy film by John Hughes, and Robert plays the character of Ian, a bully whose main targets are Gary and Wyatt, the main protagonists. They have accidentally given life to a woman, whom they created on their computer, and she has superhuman abilities. This film is very average, to be honest, and it scored 6.6 on IMDb.
35. The Soloist (2009)
Robert Plays Steve Lopez in this film, who is a famous journalist. He is divorced and enters a dilemma in his life. In the course of the movie, he meets a homeless man playing violin with veteran skills. As he tries to know more about the homeless man, he discovers some buried secrets of himself. Robert acted pretty well in this film, but it got mixed reviews from the critics. It got 6.7 on IMDb.
34. Charlie Bartlett (2007)
This is a comedy-drama film by Jon Poll, and Robert plays Nathan Gardner, the principal of the school Charlie Bartlett is in. We can witness the ups and downs of the relationship between Mr. Gardner and Charlie as he starts dating Susan, the principal’s daughter. This film was liked by many people, and it scored 6.9 on IMDb.
33. The Pick-Up Artist (1987)
Robert plays Jack Jericho, a pick-up artist, who finds a fiery opponent Randy Jensen. She has a witty comeback for Jack’s every line, but the tables turn when Randy’s alcoholic father is indebted heavily and ends up messing with gangsters. This film didn’t get many positive reviews and scored 5.3 on IMDb.
32. The Gingerbread Man (1998)
It’s a thriller mystery film by Robert Altman, and Robert Downey acts as Clyde Pell, an investigator of Rick Magruder. Rick and Mallory are in a relationship, and she asks Rick to file a harassment case against her father. The story takes a twist when the father returns from the asylum to take his revenge. Robert Altman tried, but he couldn’t make it very fulfilling for the viewers. It scored 5.7 on IMDb.
31. Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (2011)
Robert plays the iconic character from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s novel, Sherlock Holmes. The story begins when Austria’s prince is found dead, and it almost looks like suicide. But Sherlock uses his deduction technique to conclude this is a murder done by Moriarty. Now Sherlock and his companion Dr. Watson embark on a journey to catch Moriarty and solve the case. It’s a well-made film based on the story, and it scored 7.4 on IMDb.
30. Game 6 (2005)
It’s a comedy-drama film where Robert plays Steven Schwimmer, a critic who is the nightmare of the protagonist, Nicky Rogan. Nicky is a playwright, and he fears Steven will write a harsh review of his new play, and the film revolves around it. This is a pretty average film, and it got 5.7 on IMDb.
29. Chaplin (1992)
It’s a biographical movie based on the life events of the English comic Charlie Chaplin, and Robert plays the lead role in this. The film shows the simple and ordinary childhood of Chaplin, his arrival to America, his becoming a silent movie superstar, and his unstable personal life. Richard Attenborough’s direction skills are very praised by everyone, and his movie scored 7.5 on IMDb.
28. Home for the Holidays (1995)
It’s a family drama directed by Jodie Foster, and Robert plays Tommy Larson, the younger brother of Claudia Larson, the main protagonist. Claudia attends a holiday dinner with her family, where she is not comfortable and very bored. But her mood suddenly changes as she feels a connection between her and her brother’s friend Leo Fish. This film got different opinions among critics, and it scored 6.5 on IMDb.
27. Chances Are (1989)
It’s a film based on the late 80s and early 90s America. Corinne Jeffries was pregnant when her husband died in a car accident. But he is reincarnated as Alex Finch, who is a writer and starts dating Corinne’s daughter. The plot turns when Alex remembers his past life and love for Corinne. This is a decent film, and it scored 6.4 on IMDb.
26. A Scanner Darkly (2006)
It’s an animated film of the psychological sci-fi genre. Robert voiced the character of James Barris, a drug addict and roommate of Bob Arctor. Bob is an undercover cop who becomes an addict on the journey of his investigation. This scored 7.0 on IMDb.
25. Sherlock Holmes (2009)
Robert, yet again, plays the iconic character from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s novel, Sherlock Holmes. Sherlock and Dr. Watson embark on a journey to catch the culprit behind a string of brutal murders, Lord Blackwood. This is a much-appreciated film, and it scored 7.6 on IMDb.
24. Restoration (1995)
Robert plays the character of Robert Merivel, the royal physician of King Charles II. He asks Robert to marry his mistress Celia under the condition of never getting intimate. But soon, Robert feels an uncontrollable attraction toward Celia. This movie got mixed reviews and scored 6.6 on IMDb.
23. Soapdish (1991)
It’s a comedy film by Michael Hoffman, and Robert acts as David Seton Barnes, producer of Celeste Talbert’s soap opera “The Sun Also Sets.” The story begins when David and her co-star Montana Moorehead, plot to kick her out of the show by all means necessary. This film got an IMDb rating of 6.6.
22. Iron Man 2 (2010)
Robert returns with one of the most memorable characters of his career. The film starts after the world knows about his secret. Now Tony Stark is facing constant pressure from the military to share all the technologies with them. But another problem is lurking for Tony as he refuses to give the technologies to anyone else. This film is loved by almost every Marvel fan and is rated 6.9 on IMDb.
21. A Guide To Recognizing Your Saints (2006)
Robert plays Dito Montiel, a very successful author, but his childhood wasn’t very pleasant. His mother requests him to come back and meet his ill father, and he begins to recall his childhood memories. This is a drama film by Dito Montiel and scored 6.9 on IMDb.
20. Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
Robert Downey’s appearance as Iron Man always leaves every fan smiling. He returns with Hulk, Thor, and the rest of the avengers to fight and stop Ultron, the technological terror with his eyes on the earth. This film is rated 7.3 on IMDb.
19. Iron Man 3 (2013)
Robert portrays the problems of Tony Stark as he is dealing with his insomnia and overthinking. And he becomes dependent on his suit more than ever. This affects his personal life with Pepper, and Mandarin tries to take advantage of his situation. This movie is rated 7.1 on IMDb.
18. Fur: An Imaginary Portrait of Diane Arbus (2006)
Diane Arbus is a housewife and the assistant of her husband, and she leads a fairly simple life. But she always feels uncomfortable for unknown reasons. Robert Downey plays the character of her neighbor, and he catches Diane’s eye. This is a romantic drama film by Steven Shainberg and is rated 6.3 on IMDb.
17. Wonder Boys (2000)
Robert plays the role of Terry Crabtree, who is the editor of Professor Grady Tripp, a novelist who teaches creative writing. The story revolves around him as he failed to write anything new since his last successful novel seven years ago. This is a comedy-drama film and is rated 7.2 on IMDb.
16. Tropic Thunder (2008)
The story revolves around Tugg Speedman, an action superstar who sets out to work in the most expensive war action film in Southeast Asia. Robert plays the character of Kirk Lazarus, who is a co-star in this film with Jeff Portnoy. The plot twist comes when an actual fight breaks out in the jungle. It is a comedy film, and it’s rated 7.0 on IMDb.
15. Back to School (1986)
This film revolves around Thornton Melon, a self-made millionaire, and his son, Jason. Robert Downey plays the character of Derek Lutz, Jason’s roommate and only friend. The story takes an interesting turn when Thorton enrolls himself to be a student to encourage his son. This is a typical comedy film and scored 6.6 on IMDb.
14. Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang (2005)
It’s a dark comedy crime film by Shane Black. Robert plays the role of Harry Lockhart, a rogue who is running from the police. He enters an audition to hide from the cops but eventually gets selected for the role. The story takes an interesting turn when Harry lands in Hollywood and gets involved in a conspiracy. This film is widely praised by many critics and scored 7.5 on IMDb.
13. Chef (2014)
This comedy-drama film was written and directed by Jon Favreau, who also starred in the film. He plays the lead role of Carl Casper, who quit his job because of a horrible boss. Robert Downey Jr. plays Marvin, who is a supporting character in this film. This movie was liked by many and scored 7.3 on IMDb.
12. Zodiac (2007)
Robert Downey acts as Paul Avery, a reporter who is destined to bring justice by catching and exposing the man behind Zodiac. Zodiac is a serial killer who is killing innocent victims and challenges the authorities to catch him. This a very well-made movie, and it scored 7.7 on IMDb.
11. Captain America: Civil War (2016)
When the actions of the Avengers lead to serious collateral damage, everyone demands and pressurizes them to install a new system that will monitor the accountability of any damages caused by them. Robert Downey Jr., as Tony Stark, thinks it’s the right thing to do. But Captain America thinks otherwise. The debate goes on further and reaches a whole new level of problem for all of them. This film scored 7.8 on IMDb.
10. Marvel’s The Avengers (2012)
This is the film where Iron Man joins the superhero team of Nick Fury, along with Captain America, the Hulk, Thor, the Black Widow, and Hawkeye, to fight Thor’s evil brother Loki. This is one of the most loved Avengers films, and it scored 8.0 on IMDb.
9. Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
The film focuses on the life of Spider-Man, aka Peter Parker, after his experience with the Avengers. As Parker gets busy with daily life, Tony Stark, his mentor, always keeps an eye on him to monitor his every move. His superhuman abilities are put to the test when the Vulture tries to take away everything he loves. As usual, Robert has starred in this film as Tony Stark. This film scored 7.4 on IMDb.
8. Good Night, And Good Luck (2005)
Robert plays the character of Joseph Wershba, a writer and editor for CBS. This film shows the story of how Senator Joseph McCarthy wanted to root out communism and communists from the USA and how CBS tries to uncover the truth and bring justice to everyone. This film is highly praised by critics and scored 7.4 on IMDb.
7. Baby, It’s You (1983)
This is one of the earliest comedy-drama films where Robert Downey Jr. has worked. He had the role of Stewart in the film, which is purely supportive. The film is based on the story of Albert Capadilupo and Jill Rosen and shows their love affair in detail. This film scored 6.4 on IMDb.
6. Iron Man (2008)
Robert reappears as Tony Stark, who has been kidnapped by terrorists and forced to build weapons for them. As a surprise, he builds an armored suit which he uses to escape them, and returns to America. He started to upgrade the suit to fight the crimes and the criminals in the world. This is Iron Man’s first individual film, and it scored 7.9 on IMDb.
5. True Believer (1989)
Robert plays the character of Roger Baron, a law graduate and Eddie Dodd’s apprentice. Eddie Dodd is the main protagonist of the film. The story becomes interesting when Roger pushes Eddie to take a case that will bring danger to their lives. Robert acted very well in this film, and it scored 6.7 on IMDb.
4. Short Cuts (1993)
Robert plays Bill Bush, a makeup artist who is married to Honey. This film connects a lot of characters through a fine string. And the director Robert Altman has managed to do it brilliantly. This film scored 7.7 on IMDb.
3. Richard III (1995)
Robert acts as Rivers, the Queen’s brother, assassinated by Richard. Richard wants to sit on the British Throne by any means necessary. This film shows the cruel mind and plans of Richard and their ultimate result. This film is rated 7.3 on IMDb.
2. Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
Iron Man, Thor, and all the other Avengers reunite to battle the most powerful enemy humanity has ever faced. Thanos is on a mission to collect all six infinity stones from across the galaxy. His plans are beyond imagination, and the Avengers must win the battle. A sequel has also been made, concluding the events of the film. This has scored 8.4 on IMDb.
1. Avengers: Endgame (2019)
Thanos’s evil plan succeeds, and the battle is almost lost. The Avengers need to reunite again. This time, more than ever. The battle must be fought again, and this time, it should be concluded with a win. This film has changed the course of the MCU forever. This is a must-watch for all the MCU and Robert Downey Jr. fans from all over the world. This movie has secured a rating of 8.4 on IMDb.
