Every Russell Crowe Movie Ranked Worst To Best

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Russell Crowe made a career for himself in his native New Zealand and Australia before making his way to America and becoming one of Hollywood's biggest stars. Crowe made his acting debut as a child in various Australian TV shows in the 1970s, but didn't make his cinematic debut until 1990. Today, he's known for playing numerous tough-guy authority figures, from filling Marlon Brando's shoes as Jor-El in Zack Snyder's "Man of Steel" to single-handedly defying the Roman Empire in Ridley Scott's "Gladiator." At this stage in his career, Crowe has firmly cemented his place as the go-to middle-aged badass for all seasons. Of course, like all leading men, he frequently dips into more experimental fare, be they awards season contenders like "Boy Erased" or gutsy genre turns like "Unhinged."

It's time to take full stock of the actor's career by looking at every Russell Crowe movie, ranked from worst to best. We won't include his television work, like his turn as Roger Ailes in the Showtime miniseries "The Loudest Voice," or upcoming movies, like "Thor: Love and Thunder." With the formalities out of the way, let's examine the filmography of Australia's favorite barrel-chested hunk.

"Rough Magic" is little remembered these days, maybe because it didn't release in the United States until 1997, two years after it made its European debut. Still, for those who remember it, "Rough Magic" is weird, if nothing else. Based on the novel, "Miss Shumway Waves a Wand," by James Hadley Chase, "Rough Magic" follows a young woman on the run (Bridget Fonda) who drinks a shamanistic potion that gives her magic powers. These powers influence her relationships, particularly with a film noir-tinged private eye played by Crowe. The results are a magic-enhanced screwball comedy with detective elements. Simply put, "Rough Magic" is not your typical rom-com. That doesn't mean it's particularly good, but it's certainly unique.

The film is absurd and sometimes even entertaining, and it might even be a cult classic if enough people knew it existed. As it is, though, "Rough Magic" is a forgotten piece of cinema history and one of Russell Crowe's final films before he truly broke out into the mainstream with "L.A. Confidential" in 1998.

Ridley Scott has always been something of a cinematic chameleon, directing epic action films, esoteric science fiction masterpieces, and more grounded, realistic fare. With "A Good Year," he attempted to make a traditional romantic comedy. For better or worse, he succeeded, as "A Good Year" is a completely innocuous, middle-of-the-road non-entity of a movie.

Crowe stars as Max Skinner, a stock trader who inherits his late uncle's vineyard. He goes out to the estate and reevaluates his life and his relationships. Along the way, the film ventures fairly deeply into the world of winemaking, which is as interesting as you might expect. Then again, "A Good Year" does feature a memorable tennis match, which feels almost like a parody of the earlier collaboration between Scott and Crowe, 2000's "Gladiator." All in all, "A Good Year" is mild-mannered and harmless, and there's nothing inherently wrong with that... There's nothing memorable about it, either.

"Fathers & Daughters" features a truly impressive cast. In addition to Crowe, the film also stars Amanda Seyfried, Aaron Paul, Diane Kruger, Jane Fonda, and Bruce Greenwood, and features an original song written and performed by Michael Bolton. Unfortunately, pretty much everything else in the film is emotionally manipulative drivel that strives to be a romantic melodrama, but fails to inspire anything more than boredom.

Crowe plays Jake Davis, an author trying to raise his daughter after nearly dying in a car crash that kills his wife and leaves him with brain damage that causes seizures. That's just the tip of the melodramatic iceberg. If you're looking for a movie with an all-star cast and a script that reads like a third-rate episode of "This Is Us," then maybe "Fathers & Daughters" will hold some value for you. Otherwise, there's not much here for anyone but the most die-hard Russell Crowe fans.

"Virtuosity" marks the first collaboration between Russell Crowe and Denzel Washington. Unfortunately, it's not nearly as beloved as their second team-up, "American Gangster," but we'll get to that later.

Directed by Brett Leonard, "Virtuosity" never attained the cult fandom of his earlier film, "The Lawnmower Man," but it still has its fans, mostly thanks to Crowe's performance as a killer A.I. set loose in the real world. Washington stars as Parker Barnes, a disgraced cop who finds his worst enemy has been re-created in a Virtual Reality program. When SID 6.7 (Crowe), as he is called, is given an artificial body, all hell breaks loose, and it's up to Barnes to save the day as the body count rises.

While much of the technobabble and cyber-tech used in the film feels hilariously outdated by today's standards, "Virtuosity" still has its charms, just like "The Lawnmower Man." If you're willing to go along with its particular cyber-horror energy and accept its inadvertent "retro-future" sci-fi aesthetic, there's still some fun to be had for genre aficionados.

A romantic sex comedy set in the 1950s, "Love in Limbo" could best be described as "'Porky's,' but Australian." Crowe plays a supporting role as a comically joyless clothing store manager, but the lead role is played by Craig Adams. He plays a teenager who is expelled for peddling his sexually explicit drawings, but he's still a virgin and wants to remedy that situation. Much of the film's humor comes from the paradoxical nature of young, horny teens trapped in a sexually repressed time, yet surrounded by a rock-and-roll culture that celebrates unabashed sexuality.

Released in 1993, "Love in Limbo" is a gorgeous film that really makes the most of its 1950s setting, which adds a charming sense of innocence to the lewd humor. The story and humor are basically ripped off from any number of sex comedies that were already a decade old by the time "Love in Limbo" was released. Nevertheless, "Love in Limbo" is a lowbrow romp that's sporadically entertaining and more or less inoffensive. 

Released in 1999, "Mystery, Alaska" is a sports comedy about a group of hockey enthusiasts from the fictional town of Mystery, Alaska, who inexplicably get the chance to play an exhibition match against the New York Rangers, a prominent force in the NHL. It's a classic story of underdogs taking on an overwhelming challenge, and it's bolstered by a fantastic cast that includes Burt Reynolds as a small-town judge who has to coach the ragtag team of small-town hockey players into contenders who can take on one of the best teams in the NHL.

In real life, Crowe is quite the sports enthusiast, but his game of choice is rugby, not hockey. Still, he does a great job in "Mystery, Alaska," which culminates in a pretty epic game between the Mystery team and their NHL counterparts. Overall, "Mystery, Alaska" moves along at a steady clip thanks to director Jay Roach. While not as cartoonish in its comedy as his more famous films, "Austin Powers" and "Meet the Parents," it still features its fair share of character-driven humor. It doesn't quite reach the heights of 1970s classics like "Semi-Tough" or "The Longest Yard" (both of which also star Burt Reynolds), but it's still a fun time for hockey enthusiasts or fans of underdog stories.

"Tenderness" follows Detective Cristofuoro (Crowe) as he investigates a teenager (Jon Foster) he believes to be a psychotic murderer, while trying to protect a young woman (Sophie Traub) he believes may be his next victim. The story jumps between the perspectives of these three characters, but this only disguises the fact that it's a straightforward story with little in the way of unexpected twists or novel turns. Still, that doesn't mean "Tenderness" is a disaster. It's actually a competent little character study, with each of the characters feeling quite different based on the film's shifting perspectives. Additionally, the film is shot in various locations in New York state, including Staten Island and Rockland County, showing off parts of the area that most movies tend to ignore in favor of the bright lights of midtown Manhattan.

Notably, "Tenderness" is directed by John Polson, who previously co-starred alongside Crowe in the Australian film "The Sum of Us," which can be found a bit further down in this story. Alas, critics were dismissive of "Tenderness," and the film was quickly forgotten, even failing to secure a theatrical release in the United States.

Some viewers may know "Prisoners of the Sun" by its alternative title, "Blood Oath." Either way, this 1990 World War II drama marks the feature film debut of Russell Crowe, who plays a relatively minor role. The film is inspired by the real-life trials of Japanese war criminals. The film also marks the cinematic debut of Jason Donovan and features Terry O'Quinn, George Takei, and Deborah Kara Unger in supporting roles.

Director Stephen Wallace felt the film was more overwrought than it should have been, as he told Signis in 1998. Still, he felt the need to make a film that shined a spotlight on the inhumane conditions and high mortality rates of Japanese POW camps during WWII, and remained proud of the result, even if it wasn't exactly what he had in mind when he signed on to the project. While overwrought with unnecessary melodrama, "Blood Oath" is still an essential war film that tells the story of a side of war that is often overlooked or misrepresented (While "Hogan's Heroes" is a beloved piece of sitcom history, it's not exactly an accurate portrayal of POW camps). 

"Unhinged" stars Russell Crowe as a mysterious man who harasses Rachel (Caren Pistorius) after a road rage incident. His anger quickly escalates to assault and murder, sending Rachel on a quest for survival. Of course, the raison d'être for "Unhinged" is to see Russell Crowe as a completely over-the-top villain. There are political implications to be made regarding a story involving a divorced, middle-aged white man in a gas-guzzling SUV driven by pure rage, but that might be giving too much credit to a film that exists for no other reason than to allow Russell Crowe to terrify and entertain theatergoers.

Notably, "Unhinged" had its release date shuffled around many times before finally launching in August 2020, as it was the first wide theatrical release following the advent of the coronavirus pandemic. The film ultimately managed to gross over $20 million at the domestic box office. That may not seem like much, but it felt like a genuine blockbuster in the dark days of mid-2020. In short, "Unhinged" was the first step in bringing the movie theater industry back from the brink of oblivion during the pandemic.

RZA is best known for his tenure in Wu-Tang Clan, one of the greatest rap groups of all time. However, he's also built a solid side career as a Hollywood star, appearing in movies like "American Gangster" and "Derailed." He also produced the musical score to Quentin Tarantino's "Kill Bill" duology. In 2012, RZA made his directorial debut with "The Man With the Iron Fists." 

RZA himself stars as the title character, but the supporting cast is full of top-tier ringers, including Lucy Liu, Dave Bautista, Pam Grier, and Russell Crowe. In a film filled with over-the-top characters, Crowe stands out as Jack Knife, a British soldier who saves the titular character and helps him build the eponymous "iron fists" he uses in combat.

"The Man With the Iron Fists" doesn't take itself too seriously. In tribute to the 1970s Hong Kong action films that inspired him in his youth, RZA crafted his take on the genre, adding a bit of his Wu-Tang magic to the mixture. The result, while low-budget and clearly rushed in some areas, is crafted with care by a director with a deep love for the action and themes of Hong Kong martial arts cinema.

Another Ridley Scott/Russell Crowe collaboration, 2008's "Body of Lies" follows the American and Jordanian governments' attempts to hunt down a terrorist leader, Al-Saleem (Alon Aboutboul). Leonardo DiCaprio plays the man in the field, a CIA operative trying to accomplish his mission without rustling the feathers of the local populace, while Crowe plays his America-based handler, who wants Al-Saleem dead or alive, by any means necessary. Meanwhile, Mark Strong plays a Jordanian agent also trying to take down Al-Saleem. The film is about how these three men, all of whom are after the same goal, have trouble communicating and cooperating, often leaving each other out of their true agendas.

At its core, "Body of Lies" is a pretty basic spy thriller buoyed by its leads. It's also something of a time capsule regarding America's post-9/11 focus on spy antics and intelligence operations in the Middle East. As a bonus, the film features an appearance from Oscar Isaac as a CIA agent who gets killed off early on. Like many of its contemporaries that tackled America's War on Terror, "Body of Lies" failed to break out at the box office, but it's remembered fondly thanks to Scott's direction and strong performances from Crowe, DiCaprio, and Strong.

Russell Crowe made his Hollywood debut in 1995's "The Quick and the Dead," directed by Sam Raimi. While a commercial bomb upon release, the film has since developed a cult following due to its Wild West aesthetic, all-star cast, and unique premise, to say nothing of Raimi's trademark off-the-wall action sequences.

Gene Hackman plays Herod, the mayor of a small town who rules over his dominion with an iron fist and runs a sadistic quick-draw contest. Sharon Stone plays a mysterious stranger who drifts into town and has an ulterior motive for entering the fatal contest. Crowe plays Cort, a retired outlaw who now spreads the word of God as a preacher. The rest of the cast includes such ringers as Keith David, Leonardo DiCaprio, Lance Henriksen, Gary Sinise, and Woody Strode in his final film role.

As a tribute to the Western genre, the high-tension, quick-draw shootouts are the highlights of "The Quick and the Dead," and Raimi does not disappoint. Realism is cast aside in favor of style and personality, making the film's numerous shootouts feel like something from a video game or an anime (in a good way). Sharon Stone, who produces as well as stars, was responsible for hiring Raimi due to her fondness for "Army of Darkness." She also brought Russell Crowe on board after seeing his performance in "Romper Stomper."

Another entry from Crowe's 'early Australia' phase, "Spotswood," known as "The Efficiency Expert" in the United States, places Crowe opposite one of the all-time greats, Anthony Hopkins, though he's not the Hopkins' main co-star. That honor goes to Ben Mendelsohn ("Rogue One"), who plays an employee at a company that's long struggled to turn a profit. Hopkins plays the eponymous efficiency expert, trying to figure out how to keep the company from going under. Crowe plays Kim Barry, a smarmy salesman who finds himself competing with Mendelsohn's character over the boss's daughter. He's not an outright villain, but this light-footed romp isn't the kind of movie that needs one.

Anthony Hopkins steals the show in"Spotswood," as he slowly realizes that people are more important than profits and the almighty dollar. It's a sweet little parable of a film, one that definitely deserves a second look for fans of Mendelsohn, Crowe, or Hopkins. Like so many Australian films from the 1990s, it's largely unknown to American audiences, even with a supporting cast that includes Toni Collette and Alwyn Kurts, but it's definitely worth watching should the opportunity present itself.

Prior to achieving mainstream fame as a movie star, Russell Crowe played music under the stage name Russ le Roq. Even after establishing himself as an actor, he and his band, 30 Odd Foot of Grunts, released several rock albums, including 2001's "Bastard Life or Clarity." His musical training came in handy when he was cast in director Tom Hooper's 2012 musical adaptation of "Les Misérables."

Crowe plays Inspector Javert, a man so dedicated to the letter of the law that he completely ignores the rehabilitation and redemption of Hugh Jackman's Jean Valjean. The paradox eats him up inside, leading Javert to become increasingly unhinged in his quest for justice, even when he no longer understands the meaning of the word.

"Les Misérables" was met with mixed reviews, but still succeeds due to its commitment to its own aesthetics. The singing is done live on camera, not dubbed over with ADR techniques, and many songs are performed in uncomfortable close-ups, which give an extra cinematic gravitas to a story usually seen as a stage production by audiences sitting far from the action. In any event, "Les Misérables" is considerably more beloved than Hooper's next musical, the universally maligned 2019 misfire, "Cats."

"A Beautiful Mind," released in 2001, was a surprise hit for director Ron Howard. The film grossed a staggering $316 million worldwide, well over five times its budget of $58 million. Not bad for a movie about math, of all things. "A Beautiful Mind" is based on the true story of John Nash, a genius mathematician whose work on economic science and game theory made him famous.

In addition to his work in math and science, John Nash was also a paranoid schizophrenic. The film goes to great lengths to convey his ailment using visual language that the audience can understand, often using his deeply subjective point of view to catch the viewer off-guard. It's a powerful film that ranks among Howard's and Crowe's greatest achievements. Alas, the film makes one perplexing alteration to real-life history that shouldn't be ignored. In real life, Nash's wife, Alicia, is Latina, born in El Salvador before becoming a naturalized U.S. citizen. In the film, she's played by Jennifer Connolly. While she's incredible in the role, and even won an Academy Award for her performance, it's always distressing to see the whitewashing of Latinx representation.

The first collaboration between Ridley Scott and Russell Crowe, 2000's "Gladiator," saw Crowe take on the role of Maximus, a powerful general in the Roman Empire who is betrayed by Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix), the new Emperor who took the throne after murdering his father (Richard Harris). After Commodus has his family killed, Maximus is captured by slavers and becomes a gladiator forced to engage in savage combat in the Coliseum.

"Gladiator" shocked audiences with its incredible action sequences, brutal violence, and grandiose storytelling. The film became a major box office hit, grossing a whopping $460 million off a budget of $103 million, and reigniting interest in the forgotten world of Ancient Rome. "Gladiator" was nominated for twelve Academy Awards, winning five, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Russell Crowe. An Extended Cut is available on home video and streaming, though Ridley Scott considers the theatrical version to be his definitive "Director's Cut."

"Gladiator" also marks the final appearance of film legend Oliver Reed, who died during production. While he had yet to complete his scenes, the filmmakers were able to use cutting-edge visual effects technology to give the character closure using existing footage, rather than recast the late actor. Their hard work yielded an Oscar for Best Visual Effects.

The second collaboration between Russell Crowe and director Ron Howard, 2005's "Cinderella Man" is a boxing drama set during the Great Depression. Based on the real-life story of Jim Braddock, "Cinderella Man" hits all the notes expected of an 'inspirational sports story,' but even clichés, when struck as masterfully as Howard and Crowe do here, can have a palpable impact. The film's secret weapon is Paul Giamatti, who plays Joe Gould, Braddock's manager. His performance is so sincere and full of genuine love, it's no wonder he was nominated for Best Supporting Actor.

Boxing enthusiasts loved the film, with one major caveat. Craig Bierko's portrayal of Max Baer, while fantastic and sufficiently menacing, is a far cry from the real man. In the film, Baer is overtly malicious towards Braddock and boasts about killing two men in the boxing ring. In real life, Baer only killed one man in the ring and was wracked with guilt and regret over the accident. For all of the uplifting triumph provided in "Cinderella Man," there's no denying this fact: the film is largely inaccurate and needlessly insulting in its depiction of Max Baer.

Based on the memoir by Garrard Conley, "Boy Erased" takes an uncompromising look at the cruel world of Gay Conversion Therapy programs. Russell Crowe and Nicole Kidman play the parents of a gay son (Lucas Hedges) who send him to a religious camp intended to "cure" him of his homosexuality. Sadly, the events of "Boy Erased" are based on the true story of Conley, who wrote his memoir in an effort to expose the evils of Conversion Therapy, a cruel practice that causes great harm to gay youths all over the United States.

Written and directed by Joel Edgerton (who also appears in the film as the head of the 'Love In Action' anti-gay program), "Boy Erased" is not an easy watch, but it is essential viewing. While it deals with incredibly difficult subject matter, it also treats its characters as repressed human beings who are misguided and manipulated by religious authority and societal norms. Crowe, in particular, gives an award-worthy performance as a man who must make the simple choice to honor the unconditional love every parent promises their child at birth.

Based on the British television miniseries of the same name, 2009's "State of Play" sees Russell Crowe as Cal McAffrey, an investigative reporter tasked with investigating the death of an employee of Congressman Collins (Ben Affleck). Collins is a military veteran launching a probe into unethical private military companies. Slowly but surely, Crowe and McAffrey uncover a conspiracy straight out of a 1970s political thriller, which fits a film clearly inspired by 1970s political thrillers.

"State of Play" boasts an all-star cast that includes Helen Mirren, Jason Bateman, Harry Lennix, Jeff Daniels, and Viola Davis, just to name some of the famous faces that appear in the film. Unfortunately, the tight script and bevy of heavy-hitting cast members were not enough to save the film at the box office. By the end of its run, "State of Play" only grossed $87 million at the box office, not nearly enough to cover its budget of $60 million. Despite being a financial flop, "State of Play" is a solid little thriller that deserved better.

One of the most criminally underrated films of the 21st century, 2003's "Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World" is commonly cited as one of the greatest military/adventure films of all time, and woe betide those who dare to disagree. Based on the series of novels by Patrick O'Brian, "Master and Commander" follows the exploits of Captain Jack Aubrey of the HMS Surprise, a British ship serving during the Napoleonic Wars (late 1700s-early 1800s). The entire film focuses on his dogged pursuit of the Acheron, a French privateer vessel. The naval action is spectacular and extremely realistic by Hollywood standards, with both captains utilizing workable nautical tactics in their efforts to outwit and outsail the other.

"Master and Commander" was critically praised, but didn't light the box office on fire, grossing $211 million off a budget of $150 million. While hopes were high for a sequel and the entire cast was contracted to appear in multiple films, no such film was ever produced, and the franchise failed to materialize. A prequel film is currently in the early stages of development, but we'd give anything to see the winning pair of Russell Crowe and Paul Bettany take to the high seas on another adventure.

Director Shane Black wrote the greatest buddy cop flick of all time, "Lethal Weapon." With "The Nice Guys," he returned to the genre, injecting a healthy dose of straight-up screwball comedy to create a once-in-a-lifetime film noir comedy thriller that combines elements of action, slapstick, pathos, and detective procedural, all wrapped in a snazzy 1970s setting, with all the cool music and gaudy clothes that implies.

Russell Crowe stars alongside Ryan Gosling as Healy and March, respectively, a pair of down-on-their-luck private eyes who team up to investigate the case of a missing adult film actress. Their case eventually leads to a conspiracy involving the automobile industry's suppression of catalytic converter technology that would cut down on pollution — and profits. "The Nice Guys" earned critical praise for its excellent blend of humor and thrills, as well as the wonderful chemistry between Crowe and Gosling. The film also marks something of a star-making turn for young Angourie Rice, who more than holds her own next to her much older co-stars.

While Shane Black hoped to turn "The Nice Guys" into a multi-film franchise, the movie failed to make a deep-enough impact on the box office. It's unlikely we'll ever see a "Nice Guys 2," but if the film's cult fandom continues to grow as it has in the years since the film's 2016 release, maybe there's a chance we'll see further adventures of Healy and March.

This 1999 drama from director Michael Mann explores the career of Jeffrey Wigand, the real-life whistleblower who exposed the tobacco industry's greed and corporate malfeasance. "The Insider" is based on a 1996 Vanity Fair article, "The Man Who Knew Too Much." Russell Crowe plays Wigand, who exposed how the Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corporation artificially enhanced the already-addictive nature of their tobacco products. Michael Mann, best known for TV shows like "Miami Vice" and tough-guy action thrillers like "Heat," imbues "The Insider" with momentum and style. The movie also features a supporting cast that includes Al Pacino, Christopher Plummer, and Rip Torn: dramatic heavy hitters who really get to throw their weight around. Any way you look at it, "The Insider" is bursting at the seams with Oscar-worthy performances.

Crowe was only in his early 30s when cast as the middle-aged Wigand, so he went to great lengths to alter his appearance. In addition to aging make-up, he dyed his hair white and gained more than 30 pounds to better embody the physical traits of a 50-something man. While the film failed to turn a profit at the box office, it did rack up an impressive seven Academy Awards nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor for Russell Crowe.