Robert Downey Jr.s 10 Best Non-MCU Movies, Ranked

Summary

• Downey Jr.’s versatility shines in roles outside of Marvel, showcasing his comedic timing and dramatic depth.
• Films like “Chaplin” and “Zodiac” demonstrate Downey Jr.’s ability to fully embody complex characters.
• “Oppenheimer” marks a potential return to critically acclaimed roles, hinting at Downey Jr.’s continued success in diverse projects.

Robert Downey Jr.‘s performance as Iron Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe over the past several years is considered the definitive iteration of the role. However, both before and after he donned the metal suit, Downey Jr. has been involved in a wide array of movies across genres and has embodied roles that push the boundaries of his work as a performer. While few of his films have reached the heights of popularity that some of the Avengers movies achieved, that doesn’t make them any less important or pivotal in his career as an actor.

It’s fair to worry that Downey Jr. might not be back in a non-Marvel role for a long time now that he’s transitioning back to the MCU.

Though audiences were saddened when his time as Iron Man ended, the recent announcement that Downey Jr. is returning to the MCU as Doctor Doom has created excitement and anxiety. It seemed that Iron Man’s demise put the collaboration between the actor and the studio to rest, but this is no longer true. However, it’s fair to worry that Downey Jr. might not be back in a non-Marvel role for a long time now that he’s transitioning back to the MCU. While he does great work within these comic book roles, his other projects are fun to look back on.

10 Weird Science (1985)

Directed by John Hughes

Though Weird Science isn’t considered one of John Hughes’ best movies, it does feature a young Downey Jr. alongside some of the most iconic members of the Brat Pack. While Downey Jr. was never a member of the Brat Pack, he was in quite a few romantic and teen comedies in the 1980s that put him in similar circles. In Weird Science, Downey plays a high school bully, Ian, who torments the two lead characters, leading them to create Lisa, an invention of the “perfect woman,” who has supernatural powers.

In some ways, Weird Science is little more than a dated male fantasy that was a popular narrative in teen movies in the 1980s. However, Downey Jr. demonstrates his innate skill for comedic timing and the suave archetype that would come to define many of the characters he played. Additionally, Weird Science stands out in Hughes’ oeuvre because it incorporates fantasy elements, making it more inventive than some of the interpersonal dramas that were featured in his more realistic projects.

9 Peter Wright – Only You (1994)

Directed by Norman Jewison

Only You is one of the few movies in which Downey Jr. plays a romantic lead, but he still manages to get in plenty of jabs and one-liners in his role. Downey Jr. is joined by Marisa Tomei in Only You, a lesser-known work by director Norman Jewison. However, though it was never as popular as his earlier project, Moonstruck, there are plenty of parallels to draw between the two films. With elements of fantasy and discussions of fate, Only You is a tribute to the rom-com genre while transcending it through the unlikely lovers at the story’s center.

Downey Jr. and Tomei would later reunite in Marvel’s
Spider-Man
movies, as Tomei played Aunt May.

Downey Jr. and Tomei would later reunite in Marvel’s Spider-Man movies, as Tomei played Aunt May. The pair’s chemistry had not faded at all over the years, and the spark that was obviously ignited in Only You was clearer than ever, even if Tony Stark was spoken for. When viewing Only You, the audience must suspend their disbelief when it comes to the magical realism that the plot relies on. However, watching Downey Jr. and Tomei fall in love and bicker their hearts out requires no stretch of the imagination.

8 Dolittle (2020)

Directed by Stephen Gaghan

Though Dolittle doesn’t come close to the charm and magic of the 1967 film Doctor Dolittle, starring Rex Harrison, it does make some important updates and take strides to engage younger audiences. Downey Jr. was a surprising pick for the titular role of Doctor Dolittle, but he managed to be a bright spot in a movie that wasn’t well-received. The movie was already in a difficult position, as it was released in 2020, but as time goes on, it will likely be revisited, if only for the fact that Downey Jr. steps out of his comfort zone.

The voice cast that supports Downey Jr. throughout the movie is a star-studded group, but this isn’t quite enough to get over the visual effects that are less realistic than the 1967 movie’s practical ones. There’s an element of the uncanny found in the computer-generated animals that all of Downey Jr.’s efforts as a daring adventurer can’t fix. Additionally, Doctor Dolittle’s character is altered greatly in the 2020 film, and his personality lacks the whimsy and joy that’s required to lead a children’s adventure film.

7 Sherlock Holmes (2009)

Directed by Guy Ritchie

Guy Ritchie’s iteration of
Sherlock Holmes
was divisive at the time and is still considered one of the more unique takes on the classic stories by Arthur Conan Doyle.

Similarly to his casting in Dolittle, it was a shock to many audience members when it was announced a new adaptation of Sherlock Holmes would feature Downey Jr. as the iconic detective. Guy Ritchie’s iteration of Sherlock Holmes was divisive at the time and is still considered one of the more unique takes on the classic stories by Arthur Conan Doyle. It’s an action adventure with sharp editing and fast-paced fight scenes that make Sherlock into a debonair hero rather than a reclusive intellectual.

There are many upcoming Sherlock movies and TV shows, as the narrative and characters are so iconic that it would be impossible for filmmakers to put the story to rest. However, Downey Jr. has become more closely tied to the role than viewers might have guessed when the first film came out in 2009. It was released just a year after the first Iron Man film, so Downey Jr. hadn’t been fully immersed into the MCU yet, allowing audiences to believe and accept him as the genius detective.

6 The Judge (2014)

Directed by David Dobkin

The tone and style of The Judge is difficult to pin down, as this family drama takes a dark turn, requiring a lot from Downey Jr.’s performance. He plays Hank, a defense lawyer with no qualms about letting the bad guys go free, but the story soon reveals itself to be about Hank’s relationship with his father, Joseph (Robert Duvall). Joseph is a judge and has always been critical of Hank’s life choices, taking the moral high ground. However, this all comes crashing down when Hank has to defend Joseph after he gets into a hit-and-run.

It’s a complicated situation, as Joseph has no memory of the accident and is diagnosed with cancer. However, the most important dramatic thrust of the story is the fact that Joseph and Hank learn to forgive each other and reconnect after many years of anger. It’s Downey Jr. and Duvall that make Judge worth watching, as they have a believable chemistry as father and son, and they represent a universal truth of the difficulties of family in their performances.

5 Soapdish (1991)

Directed by Michael Hoffman

Downey Jr. is hilarious in Soapdish, a campy and nostalgic satire that takes on the soap opera genre with plenty of heart and humor. His character, David, is one of the producers of the fictional soap opera that the characters work on, and his delivery of his ridiculous and melodramatic lines is inspired. Though he’s one of the antagonists, his villainous ways are more bumbling and ill-advised than actually evil. He stars alongside an amazing cast that features Sally Fields, Kevin Kline, and Whoopi Goldberg.

There’s a lot to enjoy about
Soapdish
, but it’s important to look back on dated movies of its ilk through a critical and contemporary lens.

Unfortunately, for all its amazing writing and hilarious elements, not every part of the movie has aged well. When watching Soapdish, it’s important to be aware that the last few minutes of the film involve an offensive and upsetting depiction of transphobia. It’s a disappointing ending to a movie that might be considered a cult classic today if not for the inadvisable choice that could have been easily avoided. There’s a lot to enjoy about Soapdish, but it’s important to look back on dated movies of its ilk through a critical and contemporary lens.

4 Natural Born Killers (1994)

Directed by William Oliver Stone

Oliver Stone directed Natural Born Killers, but Quentin Tarantino received story credit despite not penning the script. These elements create a violent and intense thriller. Woody Harrelson and Juliette Lewis play the lead couple on a violent crime spree after escaping an abusive past. However, Downey Jr. is heavily featured as Wayne Gale, a journalist who has every intention of using their dark past and present penchant for violence as a way to make headlines. Though each character has more to them than meets the eye, they’re all part of the cycle of abuse.

Natural Born Killers is an indictment of the way violence is glorified by the media and how this can heavily impact the development of young people in the U.S. As the movie progresses, it’s easy to hate Downey Jr.’s character, as even if he isn’t the one committing the terrible acts, he’s profiting off of them. Watching Natural Born Killers is not easy, and the winding nature of the plot leaves the audience guessing until the very end. However, it shows a side of Downey Jr. that’s rarely seen in his heroic leading roles.

3 Chaplin (1992)

Directed by Richard Attenborough

Chaplin came out in 1992 and is a remarkable tribute to Downey Jr.’s skills as a young actor just being recognized as a leading man in Hollywood. There are few roles that are accompanied by as much pressure as playing Charlie Chaplin. Not only was Chaplin the father of comedic cinema, but he was also instrumental in popularizing cinema for widespread audiences and creating the visual language that filmmakers would use for years to come. Thankfully, Downey Jr. was more than up to the challenge of portraying him.

It’s the empathy and vulnerability that shines through in the exploration of Chaplin’s personal life that makes
Chaplin
such a strong film.

What makes Downey Jr.’s turn as Charlie Chaplin so memorable isn’t just his physical comedy or transformation into the character. It’s the empathy and vulnerability that shines through in the exploration of Chaplin’s personal life that makes Chaplin such a strong film. Though it didn’t have the most successful run at the box office, Chaplin was warmly received by critics and earned Downey Jr. a nod for Best Actor at the Academy Awards.

2 Oppenheimer (2023)

Directed by Christopher Nolan

There’s no question that Oppenheimer is Cillian Murphy’s movie, as the actor has partnered with Christopher Nolan many times before and won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance as J. Robert Oppenheimer. As far as biopics go, few are considered the best biopic movies of all time, but Oppenheimer quickly made the list shortly after its release. Downey Jr.’s character, Lewis Strauss, is an antagonist of sorts in Oppenheimer. However, he really serves as a stand-in for the outside forces and political ideologies that lead to world-altering decisions.

Oppenheimer is one of the most decorated movies to come out in the last five years, and it will be interesting to see if Downey Jr. and Nolan collaborate again in the future. Many of the directors Downey Jr. has worked with who have received critical acclaim for their work are not fans of the MCU. However, this doesn’t mean that they would turn away from the actor, as he’s a tried and true box office draw in addition to being a performer who can carry a complex role.

1 Zodiac (2007)

Directed by David Fincher

Avery’s slow fall from grace is a warning to Robert (Jake Gyllenhaal) about his future.

For Downey Jr.’s best non-Marvel movie, it’s a difficult race between Oppenheimer and Zodiac. Still, his character in Zodiac gives the actor more to do and explore in his performance. Both characters are based on real people, and so equally represent how well he can transform himself into a new person while still establishing the role as something unique. In Zodiac, Paul Avery, his character, is pivotal in the protagonist’s descent into obsession over the Zodiac killer. Avery’s slow fall from grace is a warning to Robert (Jake Gyllenhaal) about his future.

Of all the director David Fincher’s best films, Zodiac stands out because it successfully subverts the pitfalls and tropes of the modern thriller genre. Additionally, each actor featured in the movie is at their best, allowing Fincher to experiment with form and audience expectations. If Robert Downey Jr. takes on future roles outside the MCU, he should consider returning to his roots and taking on characters in thrillers and serious dramas with an edge of humor and satire.