It’s been a long and impressive career for Robert Downey Jr. He made his film debut over 50 years ago and is still going strong today. His resume is so extensive that it’s almost unfair to boil it down to a handful of roles. Nevertheless, we have picked out five of Downey’s movies in which his performance was off the charts.
Oppenheimer
Countless accolades can be given to Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer. But one that often gets forgotten is the fact that it allowed Downey to finally win a well-deserved Oscar, not to mention his third Golden Globe. In such a long movie with a huge and talented ensemble, it would have been easy for Downey to get lost in the shuffle. Also, take nothing away from Cillian Murphy in the titular role, but Downey’s portrayal of Lewis Strauss was nothing short of spectacular and a key part of the film’s success. With his glasses and gray hair, Downey was almost hard to recognize. Yet, he found a way to steal almost every scene he was in, which is why there was little doubt he would win the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.
Iron Man
Obviously, Downey has portrayed Tony Stark on many occasions, but his first time playing him in the original Iron Man movie might be his best performance. After all, he wouldn’t have continued to make Iron Man movies if the first one wasn’t such a smash hit. Downey set the tone early in that movie, showing the audience just who Tony Stark is and what he’s all about. There is a short but memorable scene in which Downey is playing at a high-stakes roulette table, commanding the attention of everyone around him. That’s how we knew Stark was going to be such a special character.
Luckily, that movie was made in 2008 when physical casinos were the best place to bet. Nowadays, online roulette games can be played at many online casinos. If Iron Man were made today, Downey would need to find another way to show how amazing Tony Stark is. Of course, he’d surely find a way to pull it off.
Chaplin
The first Oscar nomination of Downey’s career came back in 1992 when he portrayed Charlie Chaplin. Younger audiences who know Downey mainly as Iron Man may not recognize him in his portrayal of the iconic Chaplin. The preparation Downey did to nail the way Chaplin walked, talked, and acted is apparent throughout the film. The script of the biopic was a little bit of a letdown, which may have cost Downey the Oscar. Nevertheless, his performance in Chaplin should be considered one of the best of his career, and a film that his younger fans will want to revisit.
The Soloist
This is a film that doesn’t get the credit it deserves. It’s also one of Downey’s most underrated performances, as he shares the spotlight with Jamie Foxx. While portraying journalist Steve Lopez, Downey gives one of his most nuanced performances. Unfortunately, some elements of the movie, such as the story and the pacing, caused The Soloist to get mixed reviews, taking some of the attention away from Downey. Thus, many fans overlook this film as one of his best performances.
Zodiac
This is another movie in which Downey plays a journalist. It’s also one of his finest and most underrated performances. Just a few years after enduring his own issues with addiction, Downey played journalist Paul Avery, who has issues with alcoholism while struggling to find the true identity of the Zodiac Killer. Downey was able to bring some authenticity to that role, all but stealing the spotlight from co-stars Jake Gyllenhaal and Mark Ruffalo.
