Robert Downey Jr. has become a significant part of the movie industry, starring as Iron Man in the Marvel Universe and several other roles, including Sherlock Holmes and Lewis Strauss in Oppenheimer. His acting career started at the age of five in 1970 and has only grown from there. We have compiled a list of the top twenty-five best Robert Downey Jr. movies, listed in no particular order, and where to stream them.
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25. Richard III, HBO Max and Hulu (1995)
From a Shakespearean play into a major motion picture, Richard III takes place in 1930s England as facism starts to gather in the masses. With the original play focusing on a 15th century murderous king, there is sure to be tension in this reimagined movie between the two families of Lancaster and York.
- Rotten Tomatoes: 85% Audience
- IMDB: 7.3/10
24. Short Cuts, Netflix and Hulu (1993)
Based on short stories by author Raymond Carver, many loosely connected characters interact with each other in suburban Los Angeles. With twenty-two central characters, the main themes that are addressed in the stories are the role of chance, luck, death, and infidelity. This is sure to be both an enlightening journey and one that will bring a smile to your face.
- Rotten Tomatoes: 88% Audience
- IMDB: 7.7/10
23. Avengers: Endgame, Disney+ and Prime Video (2019)
The direct sequel to Avengers: Infinity War, Robert Downey Jr. appears one last time as Iron Man in Avengers: Endgame. Earth and the surrounding universe is in shambles after having half of its population “snapped” away. The remaining avengers must come together for one last battle in order to finally defeat Thanos, and get their many loved ones back to them.
- Rotten Tomatoes: 90% Audience
- IMDB: 8.4/10
22. Iron Man, Disney+ (2008)
Robert Downey Jr’s first appearance as Tony Stark, the brilliant philanthropist-turned hero, comes in Iron Man. After being abducted and forced to recreate weapons of destruction for an enemy country, Tony Stark insteads creates a metal suit to fight against his jailers. This becomes a goal to create an efficient and functioning suit, leading to the moment where Stark says “I am Iron Man.”
- Rotten Tomatoes: 91% Audience
- IMDB: 7.9/10
21. Oppenheimer, In Theaters (2023)
Currently pulling in huge numbers at the box office, Oppenheimer is Downey Jr’s latest movie to star in. Playing the role of an atomic advisor Lewis Strauss, he continued to spur on the idea of a hydrogen bomb and later become Oppenheimer’s nemesis. Between the rich acting and tumultuous time period of the second World War, this movie will keep you on the edge of your seat.
- Rotten Tomatoes: 91% Audience
- IMDB: 8.6/10
20. Good Night, and Good Luck, Prime Video and Apple TV (2005)
In a battle of political wills, CBS News journalist Edward R. Murrow tries to bring down Senator Joseph McCarthy, who is on campaign to root out Communists in America. As Murrow continues down the path to expose the atrocities of McCarthy, he is supported by producer Fred Friendly, even though CBS corporate sponsors want them to desist.
- Rotten Tomatoes: 83% Audience
- IMDB: 7.4/10
19. Spider Man: Homecoming, Disney+ and FuboTV (2017)
The first movie with Tom Holland as Spiderman, Robert Downey Jr. appears as Iron Man and a role-model to the young hero. Between trying to figure out his new powers and battling the wills of high school, Holland has his work cut out for him when an adversary with alien technology starts selling it on the streets. Iron Man tries to keep him out of danger, but knows he must learn the hard way before he can become a full-fledged hero.
- Rotten Tomatoes: 87% Audience
- IMDB: 7.4/10
18. Marvel’s the Avengers, Disney+ (2012)
When Loki appears from Asgard set on destroying the Earth, Nick Fury must pull together Earth’s mightiest heroes in order to save them all. Marvel’s the Avengers is the first of the Avengers series, and brings Tony Stark together with Black Widow, Hawkeye, The Hulk, Thor, and Captain America.
- Rotten Tomatoes: 91% Audience
- IMDB: 8/10
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17. Captain America: Civil War, Disney+ (2016)
When politics gets involved with how the Avengers operate, a rift grows wider between Captain America and Iron Man, leading to a breaking point as each hero creates their own team to fight against one another. Captain America: Civil War shows the power that one man has the disassemble the greatest fighting force in the world, and leaves damage to the team for years after the movie ends.
- Rotten Tomatoes: 89% Audience
- IMDB: 7.8/10
16. Zodiac, Paramount Plus and Showtime (2007)
Based on the real Zodiac Killer, Zodiac is set in the late 1960s and 70s as San Francisco becomes a kill zone. Investigators (Mark Ruffalo, Anthony Edwards) and reporters (Jake Gyllenhaal, Robert Downey Jr.) try to figure out the killer’s identity, but soon become obsessed with finding him and bringing him to justice. All while the Zodiac killer claims another victim and sends cryptic messages and cyphers to the authorities.
- Rotten Tomatoes: 77% Audience
- IMDB: 7.7/10
15. Chef, Starz and Apple TV (2014)
If you want to laugh, try watching Chef, which was directed, written, co-produced, and starring Jon Favreau. Favreau used to be a chef in a popular Los Angeles restaurant, but due to an altercation with a food critic, loses his job. He then buys a food truck and operates it with his son and tries to repair his broken family.
- Rotten Tomatoes: 85% Audience
- IMDB: 7.3/10
14. Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang, Apple TV and Prime Video (2005)
Robert Downey Jr. plays a two-bit crook in Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang. After barging into an audition for a mystery film while running from the cops, he miraculously wins the role and travels to Hollywood and is thrown into a murderous conspiracy with his childhood sweetheart, and a hard-boiled private eye.
- Rotten Tomatoes: 87% Audience
- IMDB: 7.5/10
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13. Avengers: Infinity War, Disney+ (2018)
Thanos is on the horizon collecting infinity stones for his gauntlet, and it is up to the Avengers and their various allies to try and stop him from eliminating half of the universe’s population. One of the highest rated Avengers movies, Avengers: Infinity War throws you across the universe in a true battle between good and evil.
- Rotten Tomatoes: 92% Audience
- IMDB: 8.4/10
12. Tropic Thunder, Apple TV (2008)
Focusing on a set of actors that are shooting a war film, the director decides to liven things up a bit by dropping them into the middle of an actual jungle, claiming there are hidden cameras around them. Along comes a series of poorly timed events that lead the clueless actors into the middle of a real war zone, and the fun really begins.
- Rotten Tomatoes: 71% Audience
- IMDB: 7.1/10
11. Iron Man 3, Disney+ (2013)
Still dealing with the trauma from saving New York from Loki’s forces, Tony Stark becomes ever more reliant on his Iron Man suits. He becomes so focused on creating newer and better models that his relationship with Pepper Potts falls apart. Then the Mandarin appears, threatening not only Stark’s loved ones, but everything he has created in his life.
- Rotten Tomatoes: 78% Audience
- IMDB: 7.1/10
10. Chaplin, Paramount Plus and Pluto TV (1992)
Based on the life of Charlie Chaplin, Robert Downey Jr. stars as Chaplin as he grows from an impoverished child in south London into the silent movie star that traveled to America. It also covers his days in British vaudeville and his later masterpieces in the film world, along with his turbulent personal life and four different marriages.
- Rotten Tomatoes: 81% Audience
- IMDB: 7.5/10
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9. Natural Born Killers, Apple TV (1994)
Starring Woody Harrelson and Juliette Lewis as two young serial killers who become tabloid-TV stars, Natural Born Killers shows the power of the media and how they portray criminals. The press is led by Robert Downey Jr. as the couple go on a 52 people killing spree and continue to get the front page, even when they are committing gruesome murders.
- Rotten Tomatoes: 81% Audience
- IMDB: 7.2/10
8. Sherlock Holmes, Apple TV (2009)
If you enjoyed Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s stories about this prolific investigator, watch as Robert Downey Jr. becomes the famed Sherlock Holmes in a movie with the same name. Along with Dr. Watson, Holmes comes up against Lord Blackwood and his penchant for using the dark arts. Seeming to rise from the grave, Blackwood plunges both Watson and Holmes into the occult as they try to stop Blackwood’s larger scheme for the streets of London.
- Rotten Tomatoes: 77% Audience
- IMDB: 7.6/10
7. Wonder Boys, Paramount Plus and Apple TV (2000)
In Wonder Boys, a professor struggles with writer’s block as the pressures of his love life and student’s problems continue to pile onto his shoulders. He becomes obsessed with his work and struggles, even as one of his female students tries to encourage him out of his obsession. The only way he seems to find release is through a friendship with a gifted student, but an announced pregnancy from his lover only complicates things more.
- Rotten Tomatoes: 83% Audience
- IMDB: 7.2/10
6. Charlie Bartlett, Tubi and Pluto TV (2007)
After being kicked out of private school, teenager Charlie Bartlett (Anton Yelchin) is having trouble fitting in at his new high school. He needs to make friends, and the best way that he comes up with is to become the resident psychiatrist for highschoolers. Making new friends quickly, he becomes extremely popular doling out advice, and occasionally, medication to the student body all under the watchful eye of the Principal (Robert Downey Jr.).
- Rotten Tomatoes: 71% Audience
- IMDB: 6.9/10
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5. Bowfinger, Peacock Premium (1999)
About to go bankrupt, aspiring filmmaker Bobby Bowfinger (Steve Martin) decides to create his dream movie. Pulling together a rag-tag set of actors and film studio workers, he has his eyes on a blockbuster film starring Kit Ramsey (Eddie Murphy), the current biggest star in Hollywood. The only problem is, Bowfinger does not let Ramsey know he’s in the movie, making for a hilarious comedic journey.
- Rotten Tomatoes: 61% Audience
- IMDB: 6.5/10
4. Soapdish, HBO Max (1991)
Robert Downey Jr. plays an arrogant producer by the name of David Seton Barnes who joins forces with ambitious co-star Montana Moorehead (Cathy Moriarty) to convince the star of the soap opera “The Sun Also Sets” to leave the set after ratings start to drop. Some of their plans include bringing back an old flame, and hiring her beautiful niece in an effort to get the show back into people’s hearts.
- Rotten Tomatoes: 63% Audience
- IMDB: 6.6/10
3. Due Date, Prime Video (2010)
With his wife giving birth to their first child in five days, Peter Highman (Robert Downey Jr.) plans to grab a flight home from Atlanta to see the delivery. But, a chance encounter with actor Ethan Tremblay (Zach Galifianakis) throws off his plans, and now his must travel across the country with Ethan and his dog, testing Peter’s sanity as he tries desperately to get back home.
- Rotten Tomatoes: 52% Audience
- IMDB: 6.5/10
2. True Believer, Tubi (1989)
Defending drug dealers who pay in cash and smoking marijuana, jaded lawyer Eddie Dodd’s (James Woods) time has passed. But, when law graduate Roger Baron (Robert Downey Jr.) comes into his office hoping to learn from the seasoned lawyer, Baron becomes his new apprentice. As the two work together, a mother comes in claiming her son is innocent of a murder he was jailed for eight years ago. Once Baron gets Eddie to take the case, they fall into a conspiracy that puts both of their lives at risk.
- Rotten Tomatoes: 63% Audience
- IMDB: 6.7/10
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1. Back to School, Prime Video and Direct TV (1986) Best Robert Downey Jr. Movies
When self-made millionaire Thornton Melon’s (Rodney Dangerfield) son Jason (Keith Gordon) is concerned whether he wants to go to college or not, Thornton decides to encourage him by signing up as well. As Jason begins to find his way through college and make the diving team, his father falls for one of the professors and gets other students to do his work. When the Dean (Paxton Whitehead) finds out, Thornton must prove he has what it takes to get through college.
- Rotten Tomatoes: 68% Audience
- IMDB: 6.6/10
Robert Downey Jr. is a great actor, and though he struggled with substance abuse for a little while, he was able to overcome his addictions and become an even better actor. Known mostly for playing Tony Stark, check out some of the other best Robert Downey Jr. movies, ranging from the eighties all the way to present day.