Gene Hackman is a talent sorely missed in films today. Though Hackman is likely enjoying his well-deserved retirement, we can’t help but wish we could get just a few more performances from this acting legend. But we are at least thankful he has left us with a number of classic films to enjoy for years to come.
Hackman is still considered one of the greatest actors to ever work in films and his filmography reflects those talents. He has been in some of the most acclaimed movies of all time. But which are his best? Here are Gene Hackman’s best movies according to Rotten Tomatoes.
Reds (90%)
Hackman has worked with Warren Beatty on a number of highly acclaimed projects over the years. Reds is one such collaboration that also features some of Beatty’s most acclaimed work behind the camera. It is the epic story of an American journalist who becomes involved in the Communist Revolution in Russia and attempts to bring those ideologies to America.
The three-hour film might be too daunting for some viewers to take on, but it is well worth the time. Beatty crafts a huge and expansive story and makes for a compelling lead while backed by the likes of Hackman, Jack Nicholson, and Diane Keaton.
No Way Out (91%)
Political thrillers can be an engrossing genre, especially with the right actors helping to tell the story. No Way Out stars Kevin Costner as a navy officer who is assigned to investigate the death of the mistress of the secretary of defense (Hackman). With his own connection to the victim, the officer soon finds himself a suspect in the case and uncovers a massive cover-up.
The complex story will keep you guessing through some thrilling twists and turns. Hackman and the rest of the cast also elevate the material, making it an even more compelling thriller.
Antz (93%)
Hackman doesn’t seem like the typical actor to be featured in a kids’ animated film, but his authoritative voice is put to good use in this bug-centric adventure. The film follows a neurotic ant looking for his place in the larger society when he is accidentally mistaken as a great warrior. Hackman plays the villainous leader of the ant army who is looking to overthrow the queen.
The movie is a funny and inventive adventure film with an all-star cast of voice actors including Sharon Stone, Christopher Walken, and Sylvester Stallone. It is enjoyable entertainment for kids as well as offering enough fun for adults too.
Young Frankenstein (94%)
Hackman doesn’t often appear in comedies, but he has proven to have a surprising talent for these kinds of roles. Young Frankenstein is a Mel Brooks parody retelling of the Frankenstein starring Gene Wilder as a mad scientist looking to bring the dead back to life. Hackman has a hilarious, slapstick cameo as a blind man who takes a liking to Frankenstein’s monster.
The movie manages to maintain an impressive joke-a-minute pace. The performances are all incredibly entertaining and there are some iconic laugh-out-loud moments, including Hackman’s unforgettable appearance.
Superman (94%)
Superhero films might be the biggest thing in Hollywood nowadays, but there was a time in which bringing Superman to the big screen was considered a risk. Christopher Reeves stars as the Man of Steel who disguises himself as reporter Clark Kent saves the day in Metropolis and battles the evil genius Lex Luthor (Hackman).
Like the tagline says, “you’ll believe a man can fly”. The movie was a magical live-action story of the iconic character with Reeves perfectly living up to the image of the hero which many fans think has yet to be topped. Hackman also seems to be having a ball with his over-the-top role.
Unforgiven (96%)
Though it’s nice to see Hackman take on a variety of different roles, there’s no denying that he is extremely effective as a villain. This Western is perhaps his best bad guy role in a story that subverts the genre expectations. Clint Eastwood stars as an aging outlaw who is hired by a group of prostitutes to kill a man who brutalized them. Hackman stares as a menacing sheriff who goes after the gunslinger.
Eastwood also directed the film which features an incredible cast and a fresh take on a familiar Western tale. Hackman plays a terrifying yet complex villain while Eastwood successfully dissects his own image as a Western icon.
The French Connection (98%)
Hackman went from being a celebrated character actor to being one of the top stars in the movie business with this crime masterpiece. Hackman plays Popeye Doyle, a New York City cop who joins his partner to take down a French crime lord who is behind a drug-smuggling ring.
The movie is a perfect example of the gritty, bold crime stories that were best told in the 70s with Hackman playing a hard-to-like hero. The performance is entertaining, powerful and without ego which helps make Hackman such a compelling lead actor.
The Conversation (98%)
Francis Ford Coppola is known for masterpieces like The Godfather films and Apocalypse Now, but The Conversation is a brilliant addition to his filmography that deserves to stand alongside those classics. Hackman stars as a surveillance expert who overhears a private conversation that draws him into a deadly conspiracy.
The movie is an expertly made paranoid thriller featuring one of Hackman’s best and most understated performances. It is as interesting as a character study on this reserved man as it is a complex mystery. It also features one of the most clever and simple twists in film history.
Lilith (100%)
Lilith is another film in which Hackman teams with Warren Beatty, though this time it was before Hackman had made a name for himself in Hollywood. Beatty stars as a war hero who gets a job at a sanitarium where he meets and is drawn into the web of an intriguing and mysterious girl named Lilith.
It is fun seeing Hackman in a smaller role along with some other recognizable stars. The movie itself is a fascinating and engaging story of an unlikely relationship between two people with their own secrets.
I Never Sang For My Father (100%)
Before he was headlining some of Hollywood’s biggest projects, Hackman starred in some overlooked but brilliant dramas like I Never Sang for My Father. Hackman stars as a disillusioned man seeking to change his life by marrying his girlfriend and moving away. However, he finds that harder than it seems thanks to his overbearing father.
This is an excellent small family drama that allows Hackman to show off his powerful and subtle skills as a leading man. Though not one of his most popular films, it is one worth seeking out.
