Russell Crowe is one of the most successful and recognizable movie stars of the 21st century, and certain films stand out as his best. Born in 1964, Crowe was actively performing for over a decade before his big break. Crowe began his career in New Zealand and Australia with stage performances and TV parts before landing his first film role in 1990. He began working in North America in the ’90s before L.A. Confidential launched him into international fame, kicking off nearly a decade of critically acclaimed movies and performances.
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While he hasn’t had as much success in recent years, Crowe’s movies have generated over $5 billion at the box office, making him a coveted star. His most remarkable stretch came between 1997 and 2001, when he rose to fame and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor three years in a row ( 2000, 2001, and 2002). For his iconic role as Maximus in Ridley Scott’s historical epic Gladiator, Russell Crowe won his first and only Oscar, solidifying his streak of popularity and success.
10 Les Misérables (2012)
As Javert
Les Misérables PG-13
Release Date December 25, 2012 Director Tom Hooper Cast Helena Bonham Carter , Anne Hathaway , Hugh Jackman , Sacha Baron Cohen , Russell Crowe , Amanda Seyfried Runtime 158minutes
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Although Les Misérables has been remade several times, the modern cast of Hugh Jackman, Anne Hathaway, Russell Crowe, and others makes for a terrific ensemble. Based on the Broadway musical which is in turn an adaptation of Victor Hugo’s novel, Les Misérables tells the story of convict Jean Valjean (Jackman), who breaks his parole to start a new and better life for himself while being doggedly pursued by an unrelenting lawman, Javert (Crowe).
Crowe has musical roots, but a musical film performance is rare for him, and the film might have been met with higher regard if not for mixed reviews about his singing. Still, his performance as Javert is intense as he showcases the merciless nature of this complex character while still making him human. Les Misérables was a financial success and went on to receive eight Oscar nominations, including Best Picture.
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9 Cinderella Man (2005)
As James J. Braddock
One of the most underrated boxing movies of all time, Cinderella Man is a biopic about professional boxer James J. Braddock, a fighter who inspired an entire country during a particularly dark period. Set during the Great Depression, Braddock finds himself in the same situation as many Americans, struggling to feed his family and provide a home for them. Unable to find work, he returns to the sport of boxing, gradually becoming a true contender and showing everyone that people like him can achieve great things.
Crowe underwent significant training, working with Olympic athletes to prepare for the role. That dedication pays off as it’s an exciting sports movie, and Crowe is believable as a determined athlete. Aside from the physical strain of the role, Crowe delivers one of his most emotionally charged performances in Cinderella Man. The movie itself is a moving and crowd-pleasing underdog sports biopic.
8 A Beautiful Mind (2001)
As John Nash
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Before Cinderella Man, Russell Crowe and director Ron Howard collaborated on an even more successful biopic. A Beautiful Mind tells the true story of John Nash (Crowe), a brilliant mathematician known as one of the originators of game theory. However, Nash also struggles with mental health issues, as the movie follows him through his nightmarish reality, his work for the CIA as a cryptographer, and his complex relationship with his wife, Alicia (Jennifer Connelly).
Just one year after winning the Oscar for Gladiator, Crowe earned his third nomination for his profound and harrowing performance as Nash. While A Beautiful Mind takes the audience on a complicated journey through Nash’s life, Crowe’s performance ties the movie together. The role requires a lot from Crowe, as he is charming and funny at times, but also spiraling out of control at others. While Crowe did not win his second Oscar, Connelly and Howard won for their work, and A Beautiful Mind was awarded Best Picture.
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7 3:10 To Yuma (2007)
As Ben Wade
3:10 to Yuma R
Release Date September 6, 2007 Director James Mangold Cast Russell Crowe , Christian Bale , Logan Lerman , Dallas Roberts , Ben Foster , Peter Fonda Runtime 122 minutes
Russell Crowe has made a few Westerns in his career, but 3:10 to Yuma is by far the best of them. Based on a short story by Elmore Leonard, the action-adventure stars Christian Bale as a struggling rancher who takes on a job to join a posse who are transferring renowned outlaw Ben Wade (Crowe) to a prison train. While Wade himself poses a threat, his loyal gang is also ruthlessly hunting the posse in order to free their boss.
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Seeing Bale and Crowe on screen together, leading the terrific 3:10 to Yuma cast elevates the movie as their tense conversations provide memorable moments in between the action sequences. Crowe is especially effective, playing a charming antihero while also showing that Wade is a stone-cold killer. Director James Mangold feels at home in the Western genre, staging thrilling setpieces. 3:10 to Yuma proved there was still plenty of fun to be had with Western movies.
6 American Gangster (2007)
As Richie Roberts
American Gangster R
Release Date November 2, 2007 Director Ridley Scott Cast Carla Gugino , Idris Elba , John Hawkes , Cuba Gooding Jr , Russell Crowe , Denzel Washington , Ted Levine , Josh Brolin , Chiwetel Ejiofor , Joe Morton Runtime 157 minutes
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Russell Crowe and Ridley Scott collaborated on five films, and American Gangster is one of their best. The 2007 film primarily focuses on Denzel Washington’s Frank Lucas, one of the first Black crime figures who made his mark in New York City, becoming a crime legend. In his supporting role, Crowe is thrilling as Detective Richie Roberts, a rare honest cop who’s determined to end Lucas’ crime empire. It’s certainly not Crowe’s most outstanding performance, but it’s an impressive crime movie, and he’s solid behind Denzel Washington.
|
Russel Crowe and Ridley Scott’s Collaborations |
Release Year |
IMDb Score |
|---|---|---|
|
Gladiator |
2000 |
8.5/10 |
|
A Good Year |
2006 |
6.9/10 |
|
American Gangster |
2007 |
7.8/10 |
|
Body of Lies |
2008 |
7/10 |
|
Robin Hood |
2010 |
6.6/10 |
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Crowe makes for a commendable hero to cheer for in the movie, but American Gangster is Washington’s movie as he delivers a commanding performance. For crime movie lovers, Scott’s epic may not have the same acclaim as crime biopics like Goodfellas, but it’s still a gripping story and one of the most entertaining in its genre. American Gangster was so evocative that it inspired Jay-Z to make an album of the same name, and the artist praised the moral complexities of cops and criminals explored in the film (via Charlie Rose).
5 The Nice Guys (2016)
As Jackson Healy
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The Nice Guys R
Release Date May 20, 2016 Director Shane Black Cast Ryan Gosling , Ty Simpkins , Rachele Brooke Smith , Russell Crowe , Yaya DaCosta , Margaret Qualley , Kim Basinger , Keith David , Matt Bomer , Yvonne Zima Runtime 116minutes
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Russell Crowe isn’t known for his comedy work, but given the right role, he can deliver some big laughs. One such role was in Shane Black’s The Nice Guys. Set in 1970s Los Angeles, The Nice Guys follows hired enforcer Jackson Healy (Crowe) and private detective Holland March (Ryan Gosling), who reluctantly team up in order to solve a missing person case while uncovering a much larger conspiracy.
Much of the 2016 film’s success can be attributed to the exceptional chemistry between Crowe and co-star Ryan Gosling, who have excellent comedic timing working with dry humor. Black’s script is also filled with his sharp dialogue and wonderful subversion of genre tropes. While the movie was a box office bomb when it was released, it continues to gain a strong following with many fans still calling for The Nice Guys 2 to happen.
4 The Insider (1999)
As Jeffrey Wigand
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Following his rising success from L.A. Confidential in 1997, Crowe landing a lead role in The Insider was a massive step in establishing his career. Starring alongside the great Al Pacino and directed by Michael Mann, the 1999 drama was nominated for seven Academy Awards, including Crowe’s first acting nomination. Crowe being nominated in one of his first prominent movie roles was an enormous achievement, especially considering he stood out in a film with industry legends like Pacino and Christopher Plummer.
Playing a real-life person believably is always a fast track to awards and critical acclaim, and Crowe is incredible as whistleblower Jeffrey Wigand. A powerful story about tobacco industry corruption, Crowe’s performance is intense and complex, and he’s given excellent dialogue material to work with. Michael Mann crafts the movie as a gripping thriller while serving as a fascinating look at investigative journalism, with Pacino playing a news producer who seeks to bring Wigand’s story to the public.
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3 L.A. Confidential (1997)
As Bud White
LA Confidential R
Release Date September 19, 1997 Director Curtis Hanson Cast Kevin Spacey , Russell Crowe , Guy Pearce , James Cromwell , David Straitham , Kim Basinger , Danny DeVito Runtime 138 minutes
While Russell Crowe was gradually gaining acclaim in smaller movies, Curtis Hanson’s L.A. Confidential is the film that launched his career in Hollywood. The crime thriller is based on a novel by James Ellroy, taking a look at police corruption and Hollywood of the 1950s. Crowe stars alongside Kevin Spacey and Guy Pearce as three unconnected detectives with very different approaches to the job who suddenly find themselves intertwined in the same case.
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The strong cast brings these colorful characters to life, but it is Crowe who steals the show as the brutal cop, Bud White, who maintains a moral code even while pushing the boundaries of law and order. L.A. Confidential excels in its tight, intelligent screenwriting, telling this complicated mystery in the style of a classic noir. The movie was also Crowe’s first brush with the Oscars as it earned nine Oscar nominations, including Best Picture.
2 Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003)
As Captain Jack Aubrey
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Russell Crowe has done his fair share of historical films, but none are as visually impressive as Peter Weir’s Master and Commander. Crowe brings to life the fictional character of Captain Jack Aubrey from Patrick O’Brian’s novel series. The movie is set during the Napoleonic Wars as Aubrey captains his vessel and leads his men on the high seas, filled with treacherous waters and enemy ships.
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Crowe with a long blonde ponytail may not sound ideal on paper, but he’s fantastic as the charming Aubrey, with a commanding, authoritative performance that feels genuine as a naval leader. He also has fantastic chemistry with Paul Bettany as the ship’s surgeon, Dr. Maturin. The naval premise is rare in the historical genre, allowing Master and Commander to be a truly unique cinematic experience with mind-blowing cinematography and a devotion to its authentic portrayal of historic maritime life.
1 Gladiator (2000)
As Maximus
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Gladiator R
Release Date May 5, 2000 Director Ridley Scott Cast Russell Crowe , Joaquin Phoenix , Connie Nielsen , Oliver Reed , Richard Harris , Derek Jacobi , Djimon Hounsou , David Schofield , John Shrapnel , Tomas Arana , Ralf Moeller , Spencer Treat Clark , David Hemmings , Tommy Flanagan , Sven-Ole Thorsen , Omid Djalili , Nicholas McGaughey , Chris Kell , Tony Curran , Mark Lewis , John Quinn , Alun Raglan , David Bailie , Chick Allan , David J. Nicholls , Al Hunter Ashton , Billy Dowd , Giannina Facio , Giorgio Cantarini Runtime 155 minutes Expand
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Ridley Scott’s Gladiator is Russell Crowe’s best movie and his best performance, rightfully earning him his Academy Award for Best Actor. Crowe creates the iconic hero of Maximus, a Roman general who is betrayed by the vengeful new emperor, leaving him for dead after his family is killed. After being taken as a slave, Maximus rebuilds himself as Rome’s most popular gladiator, using his new position to seek revenge on the man who took everything from him.
Released at the pinnacle of his early 2000s hot streak, the film was Crowe’s first major box office hit, solidifying him as a global superstar. Few actors ever would have had the physicality and performing abilities to pull off Maximus, who’s as much an action hero as he is a nuanced character. Crowe’s screen presence allows him to believably pull off such a charismatic Roman leader and warrior.
Gladiator is one of the best movies set in Ancient Rome, setting a gold standard for many historical dramas in the 2000s that followed it. Ridley Scott’s epic even won the Academy Award for Best Picture at the 73rd Academy Awards, making it a rare mix of commercial success and award acclaim.
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Sources: Charlie Rose