New Zealand-born actor, director and producer Russell Crowe had one of the most incredible runs in the late 1990s and early 2000s, quickly becoming a huge star in Hollywood. With a career that started opposite George Takei in “Blood Oath” (1990), he’s delivered a treasure trove of unforgettable performances over the last three decades.
Variety is ranking Crowe’s 10 best film performances of his career.
After making a name for himself in Australia with nominations and wins at the country’s equivalent to the Oscars for “The Crossing” (1990), “Proof” (1991) and “Romper Stomper” (1992), his debut in American cinemas began opposite Denzel Washington in Brett Leonard’s sci-fi flick “Virtuosity” (1995) as the virtual reality entity turned serial killer android SID. He then starred opposite Sharon Stone, Gene Hackman and Leonardo DiCaprio in Sam Raimi’s western “The Quick and the Dead” (1995) as Cort, a former gang member turned preacher.
He’s picked up three Oscar nominations over his career with “The Insider” (1999), “Gladiator” (2000) and “A Beautiful Mind” (2001), with the latter two winning best picture. Crowe’s best actor win came with his performance in “Gladiator,” winning over Tom Hanks (“Cast Away”), Javier Bardem (“Before Night Falls”), Ed Harris (“Pollock”) and Geoffrey Rush (“Quills”).
Since then, he’s continued to dole out memorable characters and turns in best picture nominees like “Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World” (2003) from Peter Weir, “Cinderella Man” (2005) from Ron Howard and “3:10 to Yuma” (2007) from James Mangold.
In the last decade, he’s thrown himself into more mainstream and popcorn flicks like Zack Snyder’s “Man of Steel” (2013), Darren Aronofsky’s “Noah” (2014) and Tom Cooper’s “Unhinged” (2020). However, he’s had a few acclaimed films and roles thrown in the mix of those selections such as “Les Misérables” (2012), which was nominated for best picture.
His next ventures include portraying Zeus in the upcoming Marvel sequel “Thor: Love and Thunder” from Taika Waititi, J.C. Chandor’s “Kraven the Hunter” opposite Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Oscar winner Ariana DeBose and Peter Farrelly’s “The Greatest Beer Run Ever,” with Zac Efron and Bill Murray.
Read his 10 best performances below, along with his best scene from each film (you can see by clicking on the play button on the individual image).
Honorable mentions: “Man of Steel” (2013), “Noah” (2014) and “State of Play” (2009)
Boy Erased (2018)
Distributed by: Focus Features
Directed by: Joel Edgerton
Written by: Joel Edgerton (based on “Boy Erased: A Memoir” by Garrard Conley)The scene that proves it: “I just asked you to watch your mouth.”
In the 2018 biographical adaptation of Garrard Conley’s memoir “Boy Erased,” Crowe plays Marshall Eamons, the evangelical father to Jared (played exquisitely by Lucas Hedges) who makes the grotesque decision to send him to a gay conversion therapy program run by Victor Sykes (played by writer and director Joel Edgerton). Crowe likely adds more nuanced emotion to the real-life father than may have been shown in the actual moment, but he’s always been amazing at sifting through the poor choices of a man and coming out with a human, flaws and all.
Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003)
Role: Capt. Jack Aubrey
Distributed by: 20th Century Fox (now 20th Century Studios)
Directed by: Peter Weir
Written by: Peter Weir, John Collee (based on “Master and Commander” by Patrick O’Brian)The scene that proves it: “Men must be governed.”
No matter where you stand on Peter Weir’s “Master and Commander,” which won two artisan Oscars, Crowe’s take on the ship’s captain is beautifully orchestrated alongside his co-star Paul Bettany. For his efforts, he was nominated for lead actor in drama by the Golden Globes and lead actor at the Critics Choice ceremonies, ultimately falling short to one of the single best acting lineups of the decade: winner Sean Penn (“Mystic River”), Ben Kingsley (“House of Sand and Fog”), Bill Murray (“Lost in Translation”), Johnny Depp (“Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl”) and Jude Law (“Cold Mountain”).
American Gangster (2007)
Role: Richie Roberts
Distributed by: Universal Pictures
Directed by: Ridley Scott
Written by: Steven Zaillian (based on “The Return of Superfly” by Mark Jacobsen)The scene that proves it: “I’m sorry I was never enough.”
In a supporting role that reunited him with his “Virtuoso” (1995) co-star Denzel Washington, Ridley Scott’s “American Gangster” presents a more subdued Crowe in one of his most effective outings. The film was also a box office smash, standing as the highest-grossing film of Washington’s career.
The Nice Guys (2016)
Role: Jackson Healy
Distributed by: Warner Bros.
Directed by: Shane Black
Written by: Shane Black, Anthony BagarozziThe scene that proves it: “Munich is a city in Germany.”
Crowe’s ability to excel at comedy has been vastly underutilized throughout his career, proven by his signature chemistry and wit opposite Ryan Gosling in Shane Black’s dark comedy “The Nice Guys.” It’s unfortunate that the few precursors that single out comedies (like Critics Choice Awards) ignored Crowe’s work in favor of his co-star. Hopefully he’ll return to the genre soon.
L.A. Confidential (1997)
Role: Officer Wendell “Bud” White
Distributed by: Warner Bros.
Directed by: Curtis Hanson
Written by: Brian Helgeland, Curtis Hanson (based on “L.A. Confidential” by James Ellroy)The scene that proves it: “Where is the girl?”
Crowe’s first critically acclaimed role came as Officer Wendell “Bud” White in Curtis Hanson’s noir crime thriller “L.A. Confidential.” Nominated for nine Oscars, the film ended up winning two for supporting actress (Kim Basinger) and adapted screenplay (Hanson and Brian Helgeland). Though Crowe’s powerhouse performance as a cop who punishes the abusers of women was not among the best actor nominees that year, neither was Leonardo DiCaprio for the best picture sweeper “Titanic.”
3:10 to Yuma (2007)
Role: Ben Wade
Distributed by: Lionsgate
Directed by: James Mangold
Written by: Halsted Welles, Michael Brandt, Derek HaasThe scene that proves it: “Proverbs 13:3”
Crowe in a western remake may have been written off as just an action film, but opposite Ben Foster (who should have been nominated for supporting actor), the film stands as one of James Mangold’s very best movies. Crowe’s interpretation of Ben Wade is a huge reason for its success.
Cinderella Man (2005)
Role: Jim Braddock
Distributed by: Universal Pictures
Directed by: Ron Howard
Written by: Cliff Hollingsworth, Akiva Goldsman (based on the life of James J. Braddock)The scene that proves it: “I’m sorry Joe… I didn’t… I’m sorry.”
In one of the big snubs of the 2005-2006 awards season, Crowe landed Golden Globe and SAG noms for his portrayal of Jim Braddock, a boxer who is down on his luck and pulls off a monumental comeback, but was not nominated for an Oscar. Opposite Renee Zellweger and Oscar nominee (and near winner) Paul Giamatti, the movie is one of Ron Howard’s most emotional endeavors. Crowe’s eyes welling up with tears when begging for money to turn on the lights and heat in his house is proof of his incredible artistry.
Gladiator (2000)
Role: Maximus
Distributed by: DreamWorks
Directed by: Ridley Scott
Written by: David Franzoni, John Logan, William NicholsonThe scene that proves it: “My name is Maximus.”
Best picture winner “Gladiator” from Oscar-nominated director Ridley Scott is certainly the most populist role of Crowe’s career. In a wide-open best actor race where Tom Hanks was barreling towards his third win for “Cast Away” and people were still seething after the snubs of George Clooney (“O Brother, Where Art Thou?”) and Michael Douglas (“Wonder Boys”), Crowe picked up his statuette for his portrayal of Maximus Decimus Meridius, a warrior who gets his vengeance.
A Beautiful Mind (2001)
Role: John Nash
Distributed by: Universal Pictures
Directed by: Ron Howard
Written by: Akiva Goldsman (based on “A Beautiful Mind” by Sylvia Nasar)The scene that proves it: “The prodigal roommate revealed.”
Looking to channel his own Tom Hanks moment with a chance to win back-to-back Oscars, Crowe’s work as mathematician John Nash in Ron Howard’s best picture-winning “A Beautiful Mind” (2001) is one of his greatest stretches as a performer. He is one of 14 actors (among the likes of Spencer Tracy and Bradley Cooper) to receive three consecutive acting nominations. After winning the Globe, BAFTA, SAG and Critics Choice Awards, it looked like a second Oscar win was coming his way. However, with a growing reputation of a “bad temper” — and a pending moment of having two Black leading acting winners alongside a lifetime achievement prize for Sidney Poitier — Crowe lost, making him the only lead actor nominee in the modern era to lose the award after winning all four televised precursors.
The Insider (1999)
Role: Jeffrey Wigand
Distributed by: Touchstone Pictures
Directed by: Michael Mann
Written by: Eric Roth, Michael Mann (based on “The Man Who Knew Too Much” by Marie Brenner)The scene that proves it: “Protected sources? You screwed me.”
After Crowe’s snub for “L.A. Confidential” (1997), the Academy made it up to him with his first Oscar nom for best actor in Michael Mann’s masterful “The Insider” opposite Al Pacino and Christopher Plummer. His portrayal of Jeffrey Wigand, a whistleblower who uncovers corruption in the tobacco industry, is among his most ambitious and entrenched interpretations. Unfortunately, he lost the prize to his former “L.A. Confidential” co-star Kevin Spacey for “American Beauty,” which won best picture. “The Insider” was among three of the five nominated films for best picture – including “The Green Mile” and “The Sixth Sense” – that went home empty-handed.
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