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After first appearing in the public eye for his role in the fantastic Australian crime film Romper Stomper, Russell Crowe quickly rose in prominence throughout the 90s before finally emerging as one of the best and most celebrated actors of the 21st century. Starring in such indomitable classics as Gladiator and A Beautiful Mind, the actor has showcased not only incredible talent but also a vast and impressive range, with the talent to switch between action hero, and sympathetic every-man, all while embodying every time frame from ancient Rome, to the Old West, to modern day. This diversity gives Crowe a huge list of re-watchable films, some of which are bound to be in every viewer's rotation of staples.
Across his thirty-plus year career, Russell Crowe has also proven himself as a dedicated and committed performer. No matter the difficulty or time period, Crowe throws himself into every role head first, whether it it be math, singing, or a string of physical stunts which have left him with countless injuries, the Australian actor is driven to his craft, and it often shows in his films. Though critics and audiences have showcased which Russell Crowe movies they feel rise to the top numerous times, the actor's esteemed filmography is one that can be constantly re-analyzed and revisited.
10 'Boy Erased' (2018)
Directed by Joel Edgerton
In one of his most recently acclaimed performances, Russell Crowe stars alongside Nicole Kidman and breakout star Lucas Hedges in Boy Erased, a heartfelt and in-depth look at the misguided practice of gay conversion therapy. Crowe plays a traditional Southern Baptist preacher whom, upon discovering his son's (Hedges) sexuality, sends his son to a church-supported conversion program. The film doesn't shy away from the real world horrors of such organizations, and the types of mental, emotional and even physical abuse that can come from the attempt to fundamentally change who a person is, creating a hard-hitting but compelling coming out story.
For their parts, Russell Crowe and Lucas Hedges put on some of the best performances of their careers portraying opposite yet similarly conflicted sides of this father-son feud. In many of Crowe's roles, he has an aura of toughness and traditional masculinity, which here he is able to use to his advantage, as he balances this persona with the inner turmoil of the pain he is inflicting on his son. Hedges similarly showcases conflict in the balance between the horrors of the conversion therapy he is subjected to, and the love he still feels for the parents who inflicted it upon him. Though a supporting character in Hedge's story, Russell Crowe is able to use his talents to elevate Boy Erased to higher and more thought-provoking levels.
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Boy Erased
Release Date November 2, 2018
Runtime 114 minutes
9 'Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World' (2003)
Directed by Peter Weir
Image via 20th Century Fox Years before Russel Crowe entered the 19th century with Les Misérables, Russell Crowe showcased a different side of the era in the celebrated naval adventure film Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World. Balancing a shocking level of historical accuracy with high seas adventure, Master and Commander sees Crowe embody the role of Captain Jack Aubrey, a British naval officer tasked with pursuing a French privateer off the coast of South America. The film blends its nautical action with a healthy dose of drama from both Crowe and fellow star Paul Bettany.
Master and Commander: Far Side of the World, did not explode the box office the year it was released, but it has since garnered a dedicated and intense following who praise the film for its commitment to historical accuracy, its compelling and twisting plot, and its unique feeling created by its era and aesthetics. One of these followers is Russell Crowe himself, who has discussed the idea of making a sequel for years. There have been additional talks of turning the franchise into a TV series or prequel instead, but the role of Jack Aubrey resonated with Crowe as one of his most distinctive and unique characters, creating a drive to return to the world of Master and Commander. Whether the world of Master and Commander: Far Side of the World is ever revisited or not remains to be seen, but the original will always stand as a compelling watch for nautical enthusiasts and general audiences alike.
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Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
Release Date November 14, 2003
Runtime 138 minutes
8 'The Insider' (1999)
Directed by Michael Mann
Pairing a rising Russell Crowe with one of the greatest actors of all time in Al Pacino, The Insider tells the story of the controversial yet pivotal CBS interview with Jeffery Wiggan, a whistle-blower within the tobacco industry who revealed shady and unsafe practices within cigarette production. Crowe stars as Wiggan himself in a film that plays out as as much of a thriller as it is a biopic. As Wiggan along side CBS producer Lowell Bergman try to do the right thing and blow the whistle, they end up on the receiving end of sabotage, subterfuge and even death threats from titans of industry, anonymous sources, and even their own contemporaries.
In one of his more underrated films, Michael Mann also crafts one of his most compelling thrillers as the film's real life historical basis, adds a heightened sense of legitimacy and concern to the film's pressing stakes. Knowing the full extent of the damage done by tobacco products in the modern era, makes watching this dramatization of the industry's attempts to obfuscate their practices all the more exciting and thrilling. For his part, Russell Crowe adds to these stakes and holds his own alongside Pacino, delivering an excellent portrayal of Wiggan, and his struggle to sacrifice personal safety for public health and truth. Though often lost in the shuffle of other fantastic thrillers, The Insider stands as one of Michael Mann's best films, and a highlight for all those involved.
Release Date November 5, 1999
Director Michael Mann
Runtime 157 Minutes
7 '3:10 to Yuma' (2007)
Directed by James Mangold
Image via Lionsgate While Russell Crowe is well established as elite at playing ruff around the edges characters, he has rarely been given the opportunity to apply these talents to a villainous role. James Mangold's remake of a Western classic, 3:10 to Yuma, gives Crowe exactly this opportunity, as he plays the outlaw Ben Wade across from Christian Bale's Dan Evans. When the outlaw Wade is captured by lawmen, the rancher Evans is brought on as an extra guard to see that the villain is delivered to federal authorities. From here, Crowe showcases why 3:10 to Yuma has one of the best Western villains of the 21st century, as Wade begins to mentally toy with his captors, but finds himself developing a real and mutual respect for Evans.
Crowe and Bale's characters seem radically different at first, but the film soon reveals that they are bound by mutual drive, resolve, and dedication to their morals, even if the morals in question differ. The interplay and chemistry between the two actors elevates 3:10 to Yuma beyond its remake status into that of a film that is great under its own merits. In fact, some argue that the expert direction from James Mangold, and the performances from the film's leads elevate the 2007 remake beyond that of the 1957 original. Either way, stellar action, beautiful cinematography, and two fantastic leads, make 3:10 to Yuma one of the best remakes of all time.
Release Date September 6, 2007
Runtime 122 minutes
6 'American Gangster' (2007)
Directed by Ridley Scott
Image via Universal Pictures One of many collaborations between acclaimed director Ridley Scott and Russell Crowe, American Gangster was an immediate critical and commercial success when it released and instantly became one of the most iconic crime films of the 21st century. Telling a saga that spans the late 60s to the early 90s, the film stars Denzel Washington as notorious crime boss Frank Lucas, and Crowe as Detective Richie Roberts, a driven cop, hell-bent on taking him down. The duo is joined by an extremely stacked cast featuring the likes of Idris Elba, Josh Brolin, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and many more, making for a drama filled gangster biopic that is one of the best of its kind.
Being driven by one of Denzel Washington's best performances, American Gangster is an impressive show of force for the actor that showcases exactly why he excells at villainous roles. Not to be outshined, however, Russell Crowe holds his own as the law-abiding yet antagonistic force against Washington's crime boss. The two have palpable chemistry and shine as enemies, who develop a slight but mutual aura of respect. Ridley Scott notoriously plays loose with history, but American Gangster is one of his more refined glances back in time, using its setting and characters to their fullest extent to explore mid 20th century crime and even the interplay of racial dynamics in New York's criminal underbelly.
Release Date November 2, 2007
Runtime 157 minutes
5 'Cinderella Man' (2005)
Directed by Ron Howard
Image via Universal Pictures One of two collaborations between Russel Crowe and the notorious heartstring-pulling director Ron Howard, Cinderella Man serves as one of the most dramatic roles in Crowe's lengthy career. The actor shines in the role of James Braddock, an Irish-American ex-boxer who returns to the sport to earn money during the height of the Great Depression. Yet another example of Crowe's ability to seamlessly blend into any historical era or period, his sensitive exploration of Braddock's masculine duties to both his family creates a truly resonant performance which earned the actor his third ever nomination for best actor at the Academy Awards.
Cinderella Man draws parallels between Braddock's journey from unknown to successful athlete and the hopes and dreams of the impoverished during the great depression. Braddock's community sees him as a hero for his rise to prominence, which prompts Braddock to struggle with the burden of hope and expectation placed upon him. This is where Ron Howard's knack for emotional warmth comes through, as the esteemed director is able to make the emotional struggles of both Braddock and his community resonate in beautiful harmony. Cinderella Man, may be overly sappy or sluggish for a few, but Russell Crowe and Ron Howard's efforts make Cinderella Manone of the best boxing films of all time.
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Cinderella Man
Release Date June 2, 2005
Runtime 147 minutes
4 'The Nice Guys (2016)
Directed by Shane Black
Image via Warner Bros. By the mid, 2010s who-dunnit's, buddy-cop movies, and neo-noir thrillers all seemed to be dying out, then The Nice Guys was released and immediately became a critically acclaimed cult classic in all genres. Starring Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling as an unlikely pair of private detectives who become embroiled in massive hollywood conspiracy theory after taking on a simple missing persons case. Director Shane Black is a master of buddy cop films with classics like the Lethal Weapon films, and the criminally underrated Kiss Kiss Bang Bang under his belt, but The Nice Guys may be the pinnacle of his work in the genre.
Crowe and Gosling have electric chemistry and banter and yet each is still able to have grounded and heartfelt moments which give each of their wayward investigators a sense of life outside the movie's confines. Russell Crowe takes the grizzled with a heart of gold archetype that he has perfected over the years and seamlessly adds in perfect comedic timing and wit, showcasing a rarely seen humorous side to the actor. The Nice Guys features a fun atmosphere, exciting action, and a genuine mystery, creating one of the best whodunits of the 21st century. And with rumors of a long overdue sequel finally beginning to get under way, now is a better time than ever to revisit one of Russell Crowe's most unexpected and underrated films.
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The Nice Guys
Release Date May 20, 2016
Director Shane Black
Runtime 116minutes
3 'A Beautiful Mind' (2001)
Directed by Ron Howard
One of Russell Crowe's most celebrated performances comes from A Beautiful Mind, the moving and bittersweet story of legendary mathematician John Nash, a pioneer in the mathematics branch of Game Theory. Genius can be hard to portray on film as, by nature, it requires concepts and ways of thinking that most audiences and viewers simply aren't prepared for. In A Beautiful Mind, however, Crowe and director Ron Howard join forces to create one of the most compelling portrayals of genius ever put to screen, as Howard breaks down complex mathmatics in a way that seems only natural to a viewer, and Crowe portrays Nash's brilliant yet tumultuous psyches with one of the best efforts of his illustrious career.
Aside from being a mathematical giant, John Nash also sadly suffered from intense schizophrenia, a disorder which, even more so than most mental illnesses, has a difficult and regrettable history of being represented in film. Crowe and Howard, however, portray the disorder with a kinder and gentler hand than most, all without shying away from its realities or more debilitating effects. The result is one of the greatest films about mental illness ever made, and a story capable of showing not only the real challenges of those with mental disorders, but how they are still capable of great success and not defined by those disorders. Telling a moving tale with a performance that got Russell Crowe nominated for an Oscar, A Beautiful Mind is an inspiring tale of perseverance and success.
Release Date January 4, 2002
Runtime 135 Minutes
2 'L.A. Confidential' (1997)
Directed by Curtis Hanson
Image via Warner Bros Capturing the juxtaposition between the glitz and glamour of Hollywood with the brutal reality of the Los Angeles criminal underbelly L.A. Confidential, tells the story of corruption within the LA police department. Russel Crowe stars alongside Kevin Spacey and Guy Pearce as three officers on varying sides of this corruption, who each find themselves entangled in the same, seemingly unconnected case. One of the most influential films of the last thirty years and an icon in the neo-noir genre, it's brooding atmosphere, historical focus, and stunning yet grounded characters combine to make L.A. Confidentialone of the most thrilling period movies ever made.
The film is often credited with launching the careers of both Crowe and Pearce into stardom, as the two lesser-known actors deftly hold their own among a cast of established actors such as Spacey, Danny Devito, and Kim Basinger. Crowe, for his part, plays Bud White as a gruff abrasive and violent but ultimately decent and well-intentioned officer, who is willing to more openly and aggressively cross lines when compared to Pearce's character. It's a type of performance that Crowe would come to excel at throughout the years, using rough exteriors to hide deeper wells of emotions in his characters. L.A. Confidential is everything a viewer would want in a thriller featuring, a compelling based on a true story mystery, well choreographed and electric action, and one of Crowe's best performances of his entire career.
Release Date September 19, 1997
Director Curtis Hanson
Runtime 138 minutes
1 'Gladiator' (2000)
Directed by Ridley Scott
Image via DreamWorks Distribution Russell Crowe and Ridley Scott have collaborated on five films together. Some like American Gangster are remembered as great, others like 2010's Robin Hood are barely remembered at all, but only their first collaboration is remembered as a towering all-time classic and one of the greatest epics of all time. Gladiator stars Crowe in the row of Maximus, a Roman general who is betrayed and forced to fight in Rome's famous Colosseum. In between epic battle after epic battle Maximus wins over the crowd and slowly plots his revenge against Rome's Emperor, played by Joaquin Phoenix in the role that made him a breakout star. Crowe and Phoenix have delightful antagonistic chemistry as they both figuratively and literally circle each other, headed for a final bloody confrontation.
Ridley Scott is a director known for historical epics, and Gladiator is by far his greatest. While the film, like most of Scott's films, doesn't concern itself with historical accuracy, it more than makes up for it by capturing Rome's feelings of grandiosity, classical reverance, and dark class disparity better than nearly any film depicting the era ever has. Scott chooses not to portray Rome as it was but as we look back on it today, and this heightened sense of reality and drama places the actual emotional tale at the center of Gladiator, at the forefront of the audiences' minds. Russell Crowe is at his best as the driving force behind this emotional tale, portraying maximus as not just a definitive badass combatant, but a sensitive, multi-layered character. With Gladiator II dominating the box office, but earning relatively mixed reviews, it is worth remembering just how compelling the original film was to both audiences and critics.
Release Date May 5, 2000
Runtime 155 minutes
English (US) ·