Russell Crowe may not appear in many movies today, but he seemed to be in every other film in the early 2000s, playing everything from a math genius to an outlaw in the Wild West. Crowe has taken on many difficult roles and succeeded with them, earning him various accolades, including nominations for Oscars, Golden Globes, and Screen Actors Guild Awards. Check out these six best Russell Crowe movies and take a journey through some of his greatest performances.
6. L.A. Confidential (1997)
Starting our list of the best Russell Crowe movies is L.A. Confidential. Crowe plays LAPD Officer Bud White, a tough cop who is not opposed to using violence when need be. This became Crowe’s breakout role in Hollywood. He is paired with Guy Pearce, who plays by-the-book cop Ex Exley, who testifies against White’s partner, leaving Exley and White in a tense spot. Crowe received his first Screen Actors Guild Award for his performance.
5. The Insider (1999)
Fifth on our list of the best Russell Crowe movies is The Insider. Based on real events, Crowe stars as Jeffrey Wigand, a former executive at the Brown & Williamson tobacco company who might know more about the industry than he’s letting on. Crowe’s performance portraying the inner battle of Wigand as he tries to protect his family and take a stand against big tobacco shines in the film, leading to several award nominations, including the Academy Awards and Golden Globes.
4. Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003)
Next on our list of the best Russell Crowe movies is Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World. Films about sailing across the seas are extremely popular, and adding Crowe to the mix makes them even more enticing. Crowe plays Royal Navy Captain Jack Aubrey in the film, showcasing the battles he fought during the Napoleonic Wars. He must navigate the tumultuous waters and attacks from the French to prevail.
3. 3:10 to Yuma (2007)
Rounding out the top three best Russell Crowe movies is 3:10 to Yuma. A remake of the 1957 original, Crowe plays ruthless outlaw Ben Wade, who is captured and convicted of murder during a stagecoach robbery. Rancher Dan Evans and authorities must get Wade to a nearby town and get him on the 3:10 train for Yuma Territorial Prison, but it’s easier said than done as Wade’s crew is right on their heels. Crowe was nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award for his role.
2. A Beautiful Mind (2001)
Second on our list of the best Russell Crowe movies is A Beautiful Mind. The biopic centers around Nobel Prize-winning mathematician John Nash, who suffered from schizophrenia. Crowe plays Nash, perfectly portraying Nash’s delusional episodes from his schizophrenia, along with understandably portraying mental illness. Crowe won his first Golden Globe and his first Screen Actors Guild Award for the performance, and also received a nomination for an Academy Award.
1. Gladiator (2000)
Last but not least on our list of the best Russell Crowe movies is Gladiator. One of Crowe’s most recognized performances, the actor plays Maximus, a once-powerful general reduced to slavery, who must fight his way to freedom in the Roman gladiatorial arena. Maximus is driven by the need to avenge his family and the rightful emperor, all stemming from power-hungry Commodus. Crowe is able to showcase a powerful character with immense emotional depth, earning an Academy Award and nominations for a Golden Globe and a Screen Actors Guild Award.