Ranking
Must-See
The breakout performances, career-defining roles, the most of his personality and the most screentime.
• Chaplin
• Heart and Souls
• Home for the Holidays
• Iron Man
• Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
• The Last Party
• Less Than Zero
• The Route V50
• Sherlock Holmes
• Sr.
• Tropic Thunder
• Wonder Boys
Second Tier
Solid performances and plenty of screen time. Some mediocre movies where he's great and some great movies that he isn't in enough.
• The Avengers
• Avengers: Endgame
• Due Date
• Good Night and Good Luck
• Iron Man 3
• Only You
• Oppenheimer
• Restoration
• A Scanner Darkly
• Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows
• Two Girls and a Guy
• Zodiac
Middlers
The middlers are a mixed bag. The balance of his screentime, the quality and enjoyability is just a bit off.
• Avengers: Age of Ultron
• Avengers: Infinity War
• Air America
• Back to School
• Captain America: Civil War
• Chances Are
• Charlie Bartlett
• Chef
• Eros
• Fur: An Imaginary Portrait of Diane Arbus
• A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints
• Iron Man 2
• The Judge
• Natural Born Killers
• Soapdish
• The Soloist
• Spider-Man: Homecoming
• Richard III
• Tuff Turf
• Weird Science
Suffer Through
These are the ones that aren't necessarily worth watching just for RDJ. Either because he's hardly in it or because it's just an atrocious movie.
• Black and White
• Dolittle
• Game Six
• The Gingerbread Man
• Gothika
• In Dreams
• Johnny Be Good
• Luck, Trust and Ketchup
• Moment to Moment
• 1969
• One Night Stand
• The Pick-Up Artist
• The Shaggy Dog
• Short Cuts
• The Singing Detective
• True Believer
• U.S. Marshals
• Whatever We Do
Last Resort for the Obsessive Fan
The absolute least screentime, the absolute worst films and some of the most difficult to find. Only to be watched if you're attempting to view his entire filmography.
• America
• Arrival
• Auto Motives
• Baby It's You
• Bowfinger
• Danger Zone
• Firstborn
• Friends and Lovers
• Girls Just Want to Have Fun
• Greaser's Palace
• Hail Caesar
• Hugo Pool / Pool Girl
• The Incredible Hulk
• Lethargy
• Lucky You
• The Outsider
• Pound
• Rented Lips
• That's Adequate
• Too Much Sun
• Up the Academy
Career Trajectory
After Marvel, 2020-present
His contract with Marvel is over and now he can do whatever he wants.
• Dolittle
• Oppenheimer
• Sr.
Superstar, 2008-2019
Iron Man changes everything as a series of smash hits turns him into a global superstar.
• The Avengers
• Avengers: Age of Ultron
• Avengers: Infinity War
• Avengers: Endgame
• Captain America: Civil War
• Chef
• Due Date
• The Incredible Hulk
• Iron Man
• Iron Man 2
• Iron Man 3
• The Judge
• Sherlock Holmes
• Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows
• Spider-Man: Homecoming
• The Soloist
• Tropic Thunder
Making a Comeback, 2003-2008
With the help of old friends and a new wife, he sobers up and begins to regain his credibility.
• Charlie Bartlett
• Eros
• Fur: An Imaginary Portrait of Diane Arbus
• Game Six
• Good Night and Good Luck
• Gothika
• A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints
• Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
• Lucky You
• The Outsider
• The Route V50
• A Scanner Darkly
• The Shaggy Dog
• The Singing Detective
• Whatever We Do
• Zodiac
Troubled Actor, 1995-2002
This is the era where his drug use started to interfere with his acting career and he got into some serious legal trouble.
• Auto Motives
• Black and White
• Bowfinger
• Danger Zone
• Friends and Lovers
• The Gingerbread Man
• Home for the Holidays
• Hugo Pool / Pool Girl
• In Dreams
• Lethargy
• One Night Stand
• Restoration
• Richard III
• Two Girls and a Guy
• U.S. Marshals
• Wonder Boys
Established Actor, 1990-1994
This is the era where he was an established name in Hollywood and he was getting cast in big Hollywood movies and in some lead or co-lead roles.
• Air America
• Chaplin
• Hail Caesar
• Heart and Souls
• The Last Party
• Luck, Trust and Ketchup
• Natural Born Killers
• Only You
• Short Cuts
• Soapdish
• Too Much Sun
Up and Coming Actor, 1986-1989
This is the era where he was beginning to make a name for himself.
• Chances Are
• Johnny Be Good
• Less Than Zero
• 1969
• The Pick-Up Artist
• Rented Lips
• That's Adequate
• True Believer
Unknown Actor, 1983-1985
These are his first few movie roles, before SNL, before he added the Jr. to his name.
• Arrival
• Baby It's You
• Back to School
• Firstborn
• Girls Just Want to Have Fun
• Tuff Turf
• Weird Science
The Director's Kid, 1970-1982
These are the movies his director father put him in as a child, before he dropped out of high school to pursue acting as a career.
• America
• Greaser's Palace
• Moment to Moment
• Pound
• Up the Academy
Screentime
Starring Roles
• Air America
• Captain America: Civil War
• Chances Are
• Chaplin
• Dolittle
• Due Date
• Fur: An Imaginary Portrait of Diane Arbus
• Heart and Souls
• Iron Man
• Iron Man 2
• Iron Man 3
• The Judge
• Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
• The Last Party
• The Pick-Up Artist
• Restoration
• The Route V50
• Sherlock Holmes
• Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows
• The Singing Detective
• The Soloist
• Sr.
• Two Girls and a Guy
Supporting Roles
• 1969
• The Avengers
• Avengers: Age of Ultron
• Avengers: Infinity War
• Avengers: Endgame
• Charlie Bartlett
• Eros
• The Gingerbread Man
• Good Night and Good Luck
• Gothika
• A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints
• Home for the Holidays
• In Dreams
• Johnny Be Good
• Less Than Zero
• Natural Born Killers
• Only You
• Oppenheimer
• Rented Lips
• A Scanner Darkly
• The Shaggy Dog
• Soapdish
• Spider-Man: Homecoming
• Too Much Sun
• Tropic Thunder
• True Believer
• Tuff Turf
• U.S. Marshals
• Whatever We Do
• Wonder Boys
• Zodiac
Minimal Screentime
• Arrival
• Auto Motives
• Back to School
• Black and White
• Bowfinger
• Chef
• Danger Zone
• Firstborn
• Friends and Lovers
• Game Six
• Greaser's Palace
• Hail Caesar
• Hugo Pool / Pool Girl
• The Incredible Hulk
• Lethargy
• Luck, Trust and Ketchup
• Lucky You
• One Night Stand
• The Outsider
• Pound
• Richard III
• Short Cuts
• That's Adequate
• Weird Science
The Invisible Man
• America
• Baby It's You
• Girls Just Want to Have Fun
• Moment to Moment
• Up the Academy
Genre
Action
• Air America
• Danger Zone
• Sherlock Holmes
• Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows
• U.S. Marshals
Comedy
• Air America
• America
• Back to School
• Bowfinger
• Chances Are
• Chef
• Due Date
• Friends and Lovers
• Game Six
• Girls Just Want to Have Fun
• Hail Caesar
• Heart and Souls
• Home for the Holidays
• Hugo Pool / Pool Girl
• Johnny Be Good
• Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
• Only You
• The Pick-Up Artist
• Rented Lips
• The Shaggy Dog
• Sherlock Holmes
• Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows
• Soapdish
• That's Adequate
• Too Much Sun
• Tropic Thunder
• Up the Academy
• Weird Science
• Wonder Boys
Drama
• Baby It's You
• Black and White
• Chaplin
• Charlie Bartlett
• Chef
• Eros
• Firstborn
• Fur: An Imaginary Portrait of Diane Arbus
• Good Night and Good Luck
• A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints
• Home for the Holidays
• The Judge
• Less Than Zero
• Lucky You
• Natural Born Killers
• 1969
• One Night Stand
• Oppenheimer
• Restoration
• Richard III
• A Scanner Darkly
• Short Cuts
• The Singing Detective
• The Soloist
• True Believer
• Tuff Turf
• Two Girls and a Guy
• Whatever We Do
• Wonder Boys
• Zodiac
Thriller
• The Gingerbread Man
• Gothika
• In Dreams
• Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
• Natural Born Killers
• True Believer
• Tuff Turf
• Zodiac
Documentary
• Luck, Trust and Ketchup
• The Last Party
• The Outsider
• Sr.
Romantic Comedy
• Chances Are
• Heart and Souls
• Only You
• The Pick-Up Artist
Independent
• Auto Motives
• Black and White
• Chef
• Eros
• Friends and Lovers
• Fur: An Imaginary Portrait of Diane Arbus
• Game Six
• Good Night and Good Luck
• Greaser's Palace
• The Last Party
• Lethargy
• Luck, Trust and Ketchup
• Moment to Moment
• The Outsider
• Pound
• Rented Lips
• A Scanner Darkly
• Short Cuts
• The Singing Detective
• Too Much Sun
• Two Girls and a Guy
• Whatever We Do
Short Films
• Arrival
• Auto Motives
• Lethargy
• The Route V50
• Whatever We Do
Period Pieces
Everything from the 17th century to the 1980s. Anything that wasn't set in the present day at the time of filming.
• Air America
• Baby It's You
• Chaplin
• Dolittle
• Eros
• Fur: An Imaginary Portrait of Diane Arbus
• Game Six
• Good Night and Good Luck
• A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints
• 1969
• Oppenheimer
• Restoration
• Richard III
• Sherlock Holmes
• Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows
• Zodiac
Children's Movie
• Dolittle
• The Shaggy Dog
Comic Book Movie
• The Avengers
• Avengers: Age of Ultron
• Avengers: Endgame
• Avengers: Infinity War
• Captain America: Civil War
• The Incredible Hulk
• Iron Man
• Iron Man 2
• Iron Man 3
• Spider-Man: Homecoming
Movie Details
RDJ Improvises!
On some of these, he should've gotten a writing credit.
• Black and White
• Home for the Holidays
• Hugo Pool / Pool Girl
• Iron Man
• Iron Man 2
• Iron Man 3
• Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
• Rented Lips
• Sherlock Holmes
• Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows
• Short Cuts
• Too Much Sun
• Tropic Thunder
• Two Girls and a Guy
• Whatever We Do
• Zodiac
More details in the guide!
• Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
• Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows
• Tropic Thunder
• Two Girls and a Guy
• Zodiac
RDJ is the Only Good Thing About This Movie
• Black and White
• Friends and Lovers
• Game Six
• Gothika
• Less Than Zero
• One Night Stand
• The Singing Detective
• Two Girls and a Guy
Black and White
Ooh, artsy.
• Eros
• Good Night and Good Luck
• Lethargy
• Natural Born Killers
• Oppenheimer
• Sr.
Based on a Book
• Chaplin
• A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints
• In Dreams
• Less Than Zero
• Oppenheimer
• Restoration
• A Scanner Darkly
• Sherlock Holmes
• Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows
• Short Cuts
• The Soloist
• Wonder Boys
• Zodiac
Sequels
• Avengers: Age of Ultron
• Avengers: Endgame
• Avengers: Infinity War
• Captain America: Civil War
• Iron Man 2
• Iron Man 3
• Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows
• U.S. Marshals
Passes the Bechdel Test
Movies that pass the Bechdel test (2 named female characters talk to each other about something other than a man).
• Avengers: Age of Ultron
• Avengers: Endgame
• Avengers: Infinity War
• Black and White
• Bowfinger
• Captain America: Civil War
• Dolittle
• Home for the Holidays
• Iron Man 2
• Iron Man 3
• Girls Just Want to Have Fun
• Gothika
• One Night Stand
• Rented Lips
• Short Cuts
• Soapdish
• Too Much Sun
• Spider-Man: Homecoming
• Weird Science
• Whatever We Do
Fails the Bechdel Test
Movies that fail the Bechdel test (do not have 2 named female characters talk to each other about something other than a man).
• Air America
• Arrival
• The Avengers
• Back to School
• Chaplin
• Charlie Bartlett
• Chef
• Due Date
• Eros
• Good Night and Good Luck
• A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints
• Heart and Souls
• The Incredible Hulk
• Iron Man
• The Judge
• Lethargy
• Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
• Natural Born Killers
• Oppenheimer
• The Route V50
• A Scanner Darkly
• The Shaggy Dog
• Sherlock Holmes
• Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows
• The Soloist
• Sr.
• Tropic Thunder
• True Believer
• Wonder Boys
• Zodiac
Character Details
Under the Influence
Movies where his character has a problem or significant experience with drugs/alcohol.
• Charlie Bartlett
• Due Date
• Iron Man 2
• Less Than Zero
• 1969
• One Night Stand
• Restoration
• A Scanner Darkly
• Sherlock Holmes
• Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows
• Wonder Boys
• Zodiac
Playing a Real Guy
Aka movies that were based on a true story.
• Chaplin
• Good Night and Good Luck
• A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints
• Oppenheimer
• Richard III
• The Soloist
• Zodiac
Has an Accent
This could be anything from Southern US to Australia.
• Chaplin
• Dolittle
• Danger Zone
• Friends and Lovers
• The Gingerbread Man
• Hugo Pool / Pool Girl
• Natural Born Killers
• Rented Lips
• Restoration
• Sherlock Holmes
• Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows
Sex, Sexuality, Nudity, etc.
Shirtless
• Auto Motives
• Chances Are
• Chaplin
• Friends and Lovers
• Fur: An Imaginary Portrait of Diane Arbus
• Home for the Holidays
• Hugo Pool / Pool Girl
• Iron Man
• Johnny Be Good
• The Last Party
• Less Than Zero
• 1969
• One Night Stand
• The Pick-Up Artist
• Rented Lips
• Restoration
• Richard III
• Sherlock Holmes
• Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows
• Short Cuts
• Tuff Turf
• Two Girls and a Guy
• Whatever We Do
• Wonder Boys
Underwear (Or Less)
• Chances Are
• Friends and Lovers
• Fur: An Imaginary Portrait of Diane Arbus
• Heart and Souls
• Johnny Be Good
• The Last Party
• Less Than Zero
• 1969
• Rented Lips
• Restoration
• Sherlock Holmes
• Short Cuts
• Too Much Sun
• Two Girls and a Guy
• Whatever We Do
• Wonder Boys
Sex Scene
• Friends and Lovers
• Fur: An Imaginary Portrait of Diane Arbus
• Game Six
• Less Than Zero
• Restoration
• Richard III
• The Singing Detective
• Two Girls and a Guy
Gay Parade
• Black and White
• Home for the Holidays
• Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
• Less Than Zero
• One Night Stand
• Wonder Boys
MPAA Rating
Rated PG
Parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for young children.
• Chances Are
• Dolittle
• Girls Just Want to Have Fun
• Good Night and Good Luck
• Hail Caesar
• Only You
• The Shaggy Dog
Rated PG-13
Parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.
• The Avengers
• Avengers: Age of Ultron
• Avengers: Endgame
• Avengers: Infinity War
• Back to School
• Bowfinger
• Captain America: Civil War
• Chaplin
• Firstborn
• Heart and Souls
• Home for the Holidays
• The Incredible Hulk
• Iron Man
• Iron Man 2
• Iron Man 3
• Lucky You
• The Pick-Up Artist
• Sherlock Holmes
• Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows
• Soapdish
• Spider-Man: Homecoming
• U.S. Marshals
• Weird Science
Rated R
Restricted. Contains some adult material. Children under 17 are not allowed to see in theaters without a guardian.
• A Scanner Darkly
• Air America
• America
• Baby It's You
• Black and White
• Charlie Bartlett
• Chef
• Due Date
• Eros
• Friends and Lovers
• Fur: An Imaginary Portrait of Diane Arbus
• Game Six
• The Gingerbread Man
• Gothika
• A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints
• Hugo Pool / Pool Girl
• In Dreams
• Johnny Be Good
• The Judge
• Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
• The Last Party
• Less Than Zero
• Natural Born Killers
• 1969
• One Night Stand
• Oppenheimer
• Rented Lips
• Restoration
• Richard III
• Short Cuts
• The Singing Detective
• The Soloist
• Sr.
• That's Adequate
• Too Much Sun
• Tropic Thunder
• True Believer
• Tuff Turf
• Up the Academy
• Wonder Boys
• Zodiac
Rated X or NC-17
Adults only. No one under 18 allowed in theater.
• Pound
• Two Girls and a Guy
Unrated
Movies that were not submitted to the ratings board (typically movies that were not shown in U.S. movie theaters).
• Arrival
• Auto Motives
• Danger Zone
• Greaser's Palace
• Lethargy
• Luck, Trust and Ketchup
• Moment to Moment
• The Outsider
• The Route V50
• Whatever We Do
Awards / Nominations
Oscars
• Oppenheimer (Win)
• Chaplin (Nomination)
• Tropic Thunder (Nomination)
Golden Globes
• Oppenheimer (Win)
• Sherlock Holmes (Win)
• Chaplin (Nomination)
• Tropic Thunder (Nomination)
BAFTA
• Chaplin (Win)
• Oppenheimer (Win)
• Tropic Thunder (Nomination)
SAG Awards
• Oppenheimer (Win)
• Good Night and Good Luck (Nomination)
• Tropic Thunder (Nomination)
