Like most actors, Russell Crowe is defined by the movies that made his career, and what has come to be considered a career-defining role is thanks to his performance as well as the quality of the project. The writing, direction, cinematography, and story’s longevity all come together to create a film heralded as a work of art and a piece of entertainment. Though his most prominent roles, so far, were in the early part of his career, Crowe’s skills prove that he has plenty of great work ahead of him.

For his latest upcoming projects, Crowe will star in The Exorcism, returning to the horror genre after the success of his earlier film, The Pope’s Exorcist. However, horror is a new genre for Crowe. Many of his early works were stories defined by their action and thriller elements, as well as their dramatic tension. However, Crowe has never been the kind of actor to be pigeonholed into a particular archetype. He has worked hard across his career to be seen as a performer with the range and ability to succeed no matter what type of work he’s doing.

8

L.A. Confidential (1997)

As Officer Wendell “Bud” White

Considered one of the definitive pieces of modern neo-noir film, L.A. Confidential is widely considered Crowe’s breakout international role, and few movies could have done more for his career. His character, Bud, is one of the central characters in the film and acts as a Los Angeles cop in the 1950s, surrounded by starlets and violent crime. Though Bud is a complex character and not always the easiest hero to root for, Crowe pulls off a performance full of empathy and what little honor can be found in the corrupt world he lives in.

After gaining exposure through L.A. Confidential, which performed well at the Academy Awards, winning Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Supporting Actress, Crowe would only find himself in higher demand in the Hollywood market. Having L.A. Confidential be the first film that most international audiences saw him in, as he worked on Australian movies before this, opened the door for him to take on riskier roles than other actors this early in their career. It also cemented him as an imposing figure onscreen, something that he would later try to subvert.

7

Gladiator (2000)

As Maximus

There are many wild theories about what will happen in Gladiator 2, Ridley Scott’s follow-up to the enormously successful, Gladiator. Though fans would love to see the return of Maximus, Crowe’s iconic character, it’s unlikely Crowe will be back to take down corrupt emperors and single-handedly defeat an army. However, in preparation for the sequel, rewatching Gladiator proves how well the original film has held up over twenty years later. A large part of this is thanks to Crowe’s timeless performance for which he won Best Actor at the Academy Awards.

For many reasons, Gladiator is the film most associated with Crowe and might have taken the biggest physical toll on his body. The preparation, learning the fight choreography, and gaining the endurance required to film the modern-day epic was no easy task, and any actor who has worked with Scott knows how demanding his movies can be. However, the risks proved worth the reward as Crowe became a legendary hero in the eyes of audience members back in 2000, and anyone watching today.

6

A Beautiful Mind (2001)

As John Nash

Loosely based on the real-life of the mathematician John Nash, A Beautiful Mind tells Nash’s story and experience of living with schizophrenia at a time when little was known about the condition. Today the film is not considered a faithful depiction of what individuals living with schizophrenia experience, and the extreme liberties the story took with Nash’s life can’t be overlooked. However, when approached as a work of fiction, it’s clear why A Beautiful Mind was so compelling to audiences at its release and why Crowe’s performance was lauded.

Much of Nash’s relationships and personal struggles were elevated within the narrative, making the story more similar to a romantic drama with a twist rather than a biopic. However, the work Crowe did to portray a character at war with himself and the evolution he goes through in the movie, earned him an Oscar nomination for Best Actor. Though he didn’t win, it still was a great step for Crowe. Playing John showed he was capable of more than portraying hypermasculine characters, and had plenty of emotional depth to draw from.

5

Cinderella Man (2005)

As James J. Braddock

Not long after A Beautiful Mind, Crowe decided to take on another retelling of a real person and team up with Ron Howard, the director of A Beautiful Mind, yet again. In Cinderella Man, Crowe portrays the heavyweight boxing champion James J. Braddock, with the movie’s title referencing a nickname Braddock got from the press. Also starring Renée Zellweger and Paul Giamatti, by this point, Crowe had worked almost entirely on period pieces, as Cinderella Man takes place during the Great Depression. However, time and again Crowe easily slips into a time before his own.

Considered one of the best boxing movies of all time, Cinderella Man is a timeless piece of cinema because the story of struggle and success against insurmountable odds capitalizes on the myth of the American dream. In many ways, Braddock is a perfect character for Crowe as he’s charming, simple, and a fighter above all else. Though he’s back displaying his amazing physical abilities, the heart of Braddock’s character is closer to the kindness found in A Beautiful Mind, creating an excellent blend of Crowe’s strengths.

4

3:10 To Yuma (2007)

As Ben Wade

A remake of a classic film isn’t necessarily a home run, but the 2007 update of the original 1957 movie, 3:10 To Yuma, came at the perfect time, as the Western was reinventing itself for the 21st century. In the 2007 version, Crowe is the villain, but his performance is so charming it’s easy to forget he isn’t the man the audience is supposed to be rooting for. However, in a similar fashion to classic Westerns, he has moments of true honor, and proves himself to be a man with a code, even if it isn’t the law.

Since 3:10 To Yuma, the remake has only grown in popularity in Hollywood, and successes like the movie showcase the right way to adapt a familiar story. Crowe co-stars with Christian Bale, and it’s a rare moment when Crowe must share the spotlight and doesn’t play the man with a desperate backstory and thirst to prove himself. The movie was an indicator that Crowe was ready to move into the next phase of his career and take on more morally ambiguous characters.

3

Robin Hood (2010)

As Robin Hood

In a high-action retelling of the classic legend of Robin of Locksley, Crowe reunited with Ridley Scott to play the titular character in the 2010 Robin Hood. There have been so many adaptations of the Robin Hood legend it’s difficult to keep track of them all, but Crowe’s stands out because it was so different from previous works. It took a distinctly grittier edge to the story than the fairytale-like versions that came before. In Crowe’s hands, Robin became an action hero and a force to be reckoned with.

The film features all of the parts of Robin’s story that are considered the standard elements of every iteration, like Robin’s romance with Maid Marian and his conflict with Prince John. However, this Robin Hood didn’t garner the warm response that Scott and Crowe’s previous collaboration, Gladiator, did. As a folk hero, Crowe elevates the role to something even more memorable, but it does differ from the traditional interpretation of the character. Visually, the film was a triumph, and likely reignited interest in the story of Robin Hood.

2

Les Misérables (2012)

As Inspector Javert

The movie musical adaptation of Les Misérables had the opportunity to take the novel by Victor Hugo and the stage musical and transform them into a grand spectacle. Les Misérables delivered on all counts, as did the many actors who did their own singing despite not being known for their musical talents. Crowe is among them playing Javert, the inarguable villain of the film, and has several songs that allow him to showcase an unknown ability. The director, Tom Hooper, took a risk casting Crowe, but it ultimately paid off for the film and Crowe’s career.

Javert is a distinctly different type of character from the roles that Crowe made his name playing, as Javert is frequently unsympathetic and is the ghost who haunts the protagonist, Jean Valjean (Hugh Jackman), until his final hours. However, Jackman and Crowe have an undeniable chemistry, playing off each other well even in the most tense scenes of the movie. Watching Les Misérables is a marathon, not a sprint, but the performances and recreation of this period of French history make it well worth it.

1

The Nice Guys (2016)

As Jackson Healy

The Nice Guys is Crowe’s most recent hit and proves that he has secretly been an amazing comedic actor throughout his career. Combining the fighting skills and emotional depth he picked up in his most challenging roles, Crowe gets to have fun playing Jackson Healy, a violent but hilarious man who continuously foils Ryan Gosling’s Holland March at every turn. The Nice Guys is an excellent callback to his earlier film, L.A. Confidential, as it’s a criminal caper in Los Angeles, but this time it’s from the perspective of men working outside the law.

Fans are still holding out hope that The Nice Guys will get a sequel, but until then Russell Crowe should learn from the fact that the movie was such a boon for his career. He and Gosling are the perfect pair of two handsome action stars who are actually hilarious and belong in satirical send-ups of the classic genres they made their names in. Seeing the actor step outside his comfort zone and have a great time doing it, is part of what makes the film so enjoyable to watch.