Robert Downey Jr. is easily one of the biggest stars Hollywood has ever produced. Do you know that Robert suffered from substance abuse in his early years of childhood? His life journey has been nothing short of inspirational. He is mainly known for his work with Marvel Studios, which gave us one of the most remarkable icons of superhero cinema, Tony Stark. However, if you find yourself intrigued to find out more about his career, here are the 12 Robert Downey Jr. movies that you should definitely check out.
12. Short Cuts (1993)
- Release Date: March 15, 1994
- Director: Robert Altman
- Cast: Julianne Moore, Robert Downey Jr., Jack Lemmon, Tim Robbins, Andie MacDowell, Matthew Modine, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Chris Penn, Huey Lewis
- IMDb/Rotten Tomatoes: 7.6/95%
Short Cuts (1993) is one of those dramas where you almost feel like you’ve walked into a dozen different lives at once and somehow ended up caring about all of them. Directed by Robert Altman, the film adapts several Raymond Carver short stories into an interconnected web of Los Angeles residents dealing with life’s messy unpredictability.
Robert Downey Jr. doesn’t dominate the screen here, but he makes his presence count as Bill Bush, a makeup artist who blends right into Altman’s tapestry of flawed, fascinating people. It’s a film where you don’t watch it for one performance, you watch it for the rhythm of how all these lives overlap, and RDJ just happens to slip right in like he’s been living in this world for years.
11. Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang (2005)
- Release Date: October 21, 2005
- Director: Shane Black
- Cast: Robert Downey Jr., Val Kilmer, Michelle Monaghan, Indio Falconer Downey, Corbin Bernsen
- IMDb/Rotten Tomatoes: 7.5/ 86%
Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang (2005) is the movie that reminded Hollywood why Robert Downey Jr. should never be underestimated. Directed by Shane Black, it’s a whip-smart, meta-noir comedy where RDJ plays Harry Lockhart, a small-time crook who accidentally stumbles into an audition while fleeing the cops and somehow lands a role in a detective movie.
From there, he’s thrown into a twisted murder mystery alongside Val Kilmer’s hilarious private investigator, Gay Perry. RDJ’s rapid-fire narration, paired with equal parts clueless and charming, gives the film its beating heart. This wasn’t just a comeback performance; it was RDJ putting it on display that he was never gone. It is definitely one of the best Robert Downey Jr. movies out there.
10. Richard III (1995)
- Release Date: December 29, 1995
- Director: Richard Loncraine
- Cast: Ian McKellen, Robert Downey Jr., Annette Bening, Jim Broadbent, Maggie Smith, Kristin Scott Thomas, John Wood, Nigel Hawthorne, Bill Paterson, Dominic West, Edward Jewesbury, Christopher Bowen
- IMDb/Rotten Tomatoes: 7.3/96%
Richard III takes Shakespeare’s classic history play and sets it in an alternate 1930s Britain. It’s an audacious reimagining, and Robert Downey Jr. slips seamlessly into this strange world as Earl Rivers.
While the story is dominated by Ian McKellen’s Richard, RDJ’s Rivers brings a dash of warmth and humanity to the courtly chaos, a rare honest presence in a setting where betrayal lurks in every corner. Even in a role that isn’t front-and-center, Downey makes sure Rivers feels lived-in, showing he could do Shakespeare without losing that sly spark that makes him, well, him.
9. Tropic Thunder (2008)
- Release Date: August 13, 2008
- Director: Ben Stiller
- Cast: Ben Stiller, Robert Downey Jr., Jack Black, Tom Cruise, Jay Baruchel, Nick Nolte, Steve Coogan, Danny McBride, Matthew McConaughey, Brandon T. Jackson, Bill Hader, Brandon Soo Hoo, Amy Stiller, Tobey Maguire
- IMDb/Rotten Tomatoes: 7.1/82%
Tropic Thunder shows Robert Downey Jr. at his comic pinnacle, playing Kirk Lazarus, a five-time Oscar-winning Australian actor who takes method acting way too far. For his role in a war movie, Lazarus undergoes a controversial skin pigmentation procedure to play an African-American soldier, setting the stage for a chaotic satire about Hollywood egos and acting gone overboard.
RDJ throws himself completely into the part, delivering hilarious banter with Ben Stiller and Jack Black while staying deep in character no matter how absurd things get. It’s the kind of risky role that could have backfired, but Downey turned it into pure comedy gold and even scored an Oscar nomination for it.
8. Dolittle (2020)
- Release Date: January 17, 2020
- Director: Stephen Gaghan
- Cast: Robert Downey Jr., Tom Holland, Selena Gomez, Octavia Spencer, Emma Thompson, Rami Malek, Ralph Fiennes, Kumail Nanjiani, John Cena, Harry Collett, Craig Robinson, Antonio Banderas, Michael Sheen, Carmel Laniado, Marion Cotillard, Jason Mantzoukas, Jessie Buckley
- IMDb/Rotten Tomatoes: 5.6/15%
Dolittle is Robert Downey Jr.’s first big post-Iron Man outing, and it swaps high-tech armor for a Victorian coat and the ability to talk to animals. Playing the eccentric Dr. John Dolittle, RDJ leans into an almost whimsical performance with a softly muttered accent and a knack for making conversations with CGI creatures feel oddly natural.
The film itself is a mixed bag, part fantasy adventure, part slapstick comedy, but Downey’s commitment to the role keeps it from drifting completely off course. It’s not the kind of movie that’s going to redefine his career, but it does show that even after a decade of saving the world, he’s still willing to take big swings, even if those swings involve arguing with a sarcastic parrot.
7. Chaplin (1992)
- Release Date: December 25, 1992
- Director: Richard Attenborough
- Cast: Robert Downey Jr., Geraldine Chaplin, Anthony Hopkins, Kevin Kline, Milla Jovovich, Moira Kelly, Marisa Tomei, Dan Aykroyd, Diane Lane, Paul Rhys, John Thaw, Michael Cade
- IMDb/Rotten Tomatoes: 7.5/62%
Chaplin is the film that proved Robert Downey Jr. wasn’t just a charming screen presence; he was a serious actor capable of disappearing into a role. Directed by Richard Attenborough, the biopic follows the life of legendary silent film star Charlie Chaplin, from his rough childhood to his rise as one of cinema’s greatest icons.
RDJ doesn’t just imitate Chaplin’s mannerisms; he channels his spirit, nailing both his comedic genius and the complicated, often lonely man. It’s layered performance earned Robert Downey Jr. his first Oscar nomination, and even if you know nothing about Chaplin, this Robert Downey Jr. film makes you feel like you’ve known him your whole life.
6. The Judge (2014)
- Release Date: October 10, 2014
- Director: David Dobkin
- Cast: Leighton Meester, Robert Duvall, Robert Downey Jr., Vera Farmiga, Sarah Lancaster, Jeremy Strong, Stacey Queripel, Billy Bob Thornton, Johnny Orlando
- IMDb/Rotten Tomatoes: 7.4/ 49%
The Judge brings in Robert Downey Jr as Hank Palmer, a slick, big-city defense attorney who returns to his small hometown after his mother’s death only to end up defending his estranged father, who is also the town’s respected judge, played by Robert Duvall, against a murder charge. The film mixes sharp legal battles with raw family tension, and RDJ balances Hank’s sarcastic wit with genuine vulnerability. While the story is not exactly unique, Downey’s chemistry with Duvall keeps it engaging, proving that RDJ doesn’t need a blockbuster to own the screen.
5. Sherlock Holmes (2009)
- Release Date: December 25, 2009
- Director: Guy Ritchie
- Cast: Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law, Mark Strong, Rachel McAdams, Kelly Reilly, Robert Maillet, Eddie Marsan, Hans Matheson, Clive Russell, William Houston, Geraldine James, Oran Gurel, James Fox, William Hope
- IMDb/Rotten Tomatoes: 7.5/70%
Sherlock Holmes takes the legendary detective and throws him into a gritty, fast-paced action-mystery with Robert Downey Jr.. Directed by Guy Ritchie, the film reimagines Holmes as both a razor-sharp thinker and a scrappy brawler, equally comfortable deducing a criminal’s next move or throwing a perfectly timed punch.
RDJ’s Holmes is the perfect combination of witty and chaotic, who works brilliantly with Jude Law’s more grounded Dr. Watson, displaying an insane chemistry. Downey’s energy keeps the film moving like a Victorian-era buddy-cop adventure, only with more waistcoats and slow-motion fight scenes.
4. Oppenheimer (2023)
- Release Date: July 21, 2023
- Director: Christopher Nolan
- Cast: Cillian Murphy, Florence Pugh, Devon Bostick, Josh Hartnett, Emily Blunt, Benny Safdie, Emma Dumont, Robert Downey Jr., David Krumholtz, Jack Quaid, Josh Peck, Matthias Schweighöfer
- IMDb/Rotten Tomatoes: 8.3/93%
Oppenheimer (2023) strips away Robert Downey Jr.’s usual charisma and gives us something colder and more calculating. Directed by Christopher Nolan, the film dives into the life of J. Robert Oppenheimer and the creation of the atomic bomb, with RDJ playing Lewis Strauss, a powerful political figure whose quiet ambition and personal grudges shape much of the story’s tension.
It’s a performance built on precision where Downey dials down his trademark charm to disappear into a man who smiles politely while pulling strings behind the scenes. The result is one of his most mature and transformative roles, earning him universal praise and reminding everyone that beneath the wit and swagger, RDJ can deliver pure, understated menace when the part calls for it.
3. The Avengers Franchise (2012- )
- Release Date: May 4, 2012
- Director: Joe and Anthony Russo
- Cast: Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr., Sebastian Stan, Anthony Mackie, Jeremy Renner, Scarlett Johansson, Elizabeth Olsen, Paul Rudd, Don Cheadle, Paul Bettany, Tom Holland, Chadwick Boseman, J0sh Brolin, Benedict Cumberbatch, Tom Hiddleston, Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr., Tom Holland, Chris Hemsworth, Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper, Dave Bautista, Karen Gillian, Brie Larson, Gwyneth Paltrow
- IMDb/Rotten Tomatoes: 8.3/87.75% (Average rating of all Avengers movies)
The Avengers franchise is where Robert Downey Jr. cemented himself as the beating heart of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. From The Avengers (2012) to Avengers: Endgame (2019), his portrayal of Tony Stark/Iron Man evolved from a self-absorbed billionaire into the emotional core of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. Whether it was his differences with Steve Rogers, mentoring a young Spider-Man, or suiting up for one last impossible fight, RDJ balanced the sarcasm and swagger with moments of genuine vulnerability.
Across these films, Tony Stark became more than just a superhero; he was a flawed, brilliant man constantly trying to do the right thing, even when it cost him everything. And by the time his arc reached its heartbreaking conclusion in Endgame, it wasn’t just a movie moment; it was the culmination of over a decade of storytelling, powered by Downey’s performance.
Now, years after that perfect send-off, RDJ is set to shock the MCU once again, but not as Iron Man, but stepping into the shoes of one of Marvel’s greatest villains, Doctor Doom, set to appear in Avengers: Doomsday. It’s a casting twist that flips his legacy and promises a more menacing side of Downey that fans have never seen before.
2. The Iron Man Movies (2008-2013)
- Release Date: May 2, 2008
- Director: Jon Favreau
- Cast: Robert Downey Jr., Ben Kingsley, Jon Favreau, Gwyneth Paltrow, Guy Pearce, Don Cheadle, Rebecca Hall, Ty Simpkins, Jenna Ortega, James Badge Dale, Stan Lee, Stephanie Szostak, Paul Bettany, Mickey Rourke, Scarlett Johansson, Jeff Bridges, Terrance Howard.
- IMDb/Rotten Tomatoes: 7.5/79% (Average rating of all Iron Man movies)
The Iron Man trilogy is where Robert Downey Jr. not only redefined a comic book character but also jump-started the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe. Starting with Iron Man (2008), RDJ turned Tony Stark from a lesser-known Marvel hero into a pop culture icon who was equal parts arrogant, genius, and a surprisingly self-aware hero.
Iron Man 2 (2010) went all in on world-building, throwing Stark into political crosshairs and rivalries, while Iron Man 3 (2013) stripped him down to the man behind the armor, forcing him to face his vulnerabilities and PTSD after he almost died in The Avengers.
Across all three films, Downey’s charm, quick wit, and emotional depth made Stark feel real, selfish yet selfless when it mattered. Without these movies and RDJ’s performance, there’s a good chance the MCU wouldn’t have taken off the way it did.
1. Zodiac (2007)
- Release Date: March 2, 2007
- Director: David Fincher
- Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Mark Ruffalo, Robert Downey Jr., Chloë Sevigny, John Carroll Lynch, Anthony Edwards, Dermot Mulroney, Penny Wallace, Lee Norris, June Diane Raphael, Jimmi Simpson, Elias Koteas, Charles Fleischer, Philip Baker Hall, Pell James
- IMDb/Rotten Tomatoes: 7.7/90%
Zodiac (2007) is, in my eyes, one of Robert Downey Jr.’s most brilliant performances. I think so precisely because it’s so deceptively effortless. Directed by David Fincher, the film follows the obsessive hunt for the Zodiac Killer in 1970s San Francisco, and while the story’s focus shifts between different players, RDJ’s turn as crime reporter Paul Avery steals every scene he’s in.
He’s razor-sharp and dripping with charisma, but there’s also this gradual unraveling that Downey plays with heartbreaking precision. You can see the toll the case takes on Avery with the wit turning darker and the charm giving way to a self-destructive spiral, and RDJ makes it feel painfully authentic. In a film stacked with powerhouse performances, he’s the one who lingers with you the longest, not because he’s the loudest, but because he’s the most human. For me, this is peak Downey, no suit of armor, no CGI spectacle, just raw, magnetic acting.
Aparna Ukil
