Oscar-winning actor Robert Downey Jr. is celebrating his 60th birthday today, and he continues to be one of the biggest movie stars in the world partly thanks to his tenure in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).
However, while he might be more known for his role as Tony Stark, he has also starred in multiple films and TV shows throughout his career that showed his range as an actor in various genres and tones.
Here are the ten Robert Downey Jr. movies that you should watch to celebrate his 60th birthday.
Less than Zero
While Downey had starred in several films prior, Less than Zero was the movie that proved that he was one of the young actors in the 80s that people should watch out for.
He played drug addict Julian Wells, and his performance was praised as heartbreaking and moving. The character was somewhat of a reflection of what Downey was going through since he reportedly fell harder into drug abuse during filming.
Chaplin
Downey received his first Oscar nomination for playing the iconic Charlie Chaplin in the biopic Chaplin under the direction of Sir Richard Attenborough.
He took the daunting task of embodying the movie icon, and he managed to surpass the expectations as he proved from his very first scene that he had what it takes to play the legendary figure.
Only You
Downey showed his chops as a romantic-comedy lead in the 1994 film Only You which he co-starred alongside Marisa Tomei.
He used his charm and charisma in playing a man who Tomei's character believed to be her soulmates. While the film received mixed reviews, Downey and Tomei's chemistry were praised and they would share the screen again decades later in the MCU.
Home for the Holidays
While Home for the Holidays is not always considered to be one of the best Christmas movies of all time, it has become a cult classic in recent years.
Downey was a scene-stealer in the movie as he provided comic relief. Director Jodie Foster allowed him to improvise some of his lines and the actor has revealed that his experience here reinvigorated his love for acting.
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang was filmed around the time when Downey was recovering from drug abuse, and it marked one of his comeback projects around that time.
Shane Black's directorial debut has also gained a cult following in the last few years, and it's partly thanks to Downey and the late Val Kilmer's chemistry. Downey has also called it "in some ways the best film I've ever done."
Iron Man
At this point, it's hard to imagine Tony Stark without Downey's iconic performance as the Marvel hero. Iron Man established Downey as one of the biggest contemporary movie stars, and it started the MCU franchise, which still dominates to this day.
Downey's casting was initially met with skepticism, but he proved from the very beginning of the film that he was the right actor for Tony Stark, and the rest is history.
Tropic Thunder
Downey received his second Oscar nomination for Tropic Thunder, where he played Kirk Lazarus, an Australian method actor who underwent "pigmentation alteration" to temporarily darken his skin and play a black character in a Vietnam War movie.
He showed his comedic chops when playing the over-the-top character. While it might be controversial for some people, it was an effective satire as it pokes fun at the extreme lengths that method actors go to for the sake of playing their character.
Sherlock Holmes
Sherlock Holmes might be a quintessential British character, but Downey, an American actor, managed to effectively play him in the 2009 Guy Ritchie film and disappear into the iconic detective.
The film was praised for its unique take on the beloved Arthur Conan Doyle character and the chemistry between Downey and Jude Law. This showed Downey's range as an actor as he established himself as a bona fide movie star.
Avengers: Endgame
Avengers: Endgame marked Downey's last performance as Tony Stark in the MCU (as far as we know), and there is no doubt that it wouldn't have become one of the highest-grossing films of all time without him.
Despite its epic scale, Downey still managed to humanize the character and make us invest in his character's final heroic journey until his iconic death scene, which is arguably one of the best performances he ever gave in his career.
Oppenheimer
Downey finally earned an Oscar for playing Lewis Strauss in the Christopher Nolan film Oppenheimer. It also marked the first time that he worked with the iconic filmmaker.
Serving as the antagonist to the titular character, Downey gave a menacing and transformative performance as the AEC chairman and reminded us why he is one of the best actors today. There is no question that he deserved all the accolades that he won for the role.
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