Top 5 Robin Williams Movies: A tribute to one of the best performers of the 70's, 80's, 90's, and 2000's

In memory of Robin Williams, I decided to quickly list of his best movies, in my opinion. These will be more focused on Williams' performances in said films, not so much the films overall.

Criteria:
Feature Williams in a prominent or at least supporting role.
My personal opinion.

5. Aladdin: Williams' iconic and memorable voice performance as the Genie, a supporting character who steals the show, is undoubtedly the best part of this 1992 film. He ad-libbed a lot of his dialogue, and it shows: he owns the role and nobody could top him in it. The ad-libbing shows how he was the king of comedic improvisation.



4. Mrs. Doubtfire: Although this film is very cliched and overly sentimental, Williams' portrayal of a father struggling to maintain contact with his kids through a divorce is pretty compelling and Williams does a great job bringing out both the humor of the situation as well as the seriousness of it. Refreshing for it's time and nostalgia-inducing now, it's a funny movie that most people can enjoy.



3. The Fisher King and Good Morning, Vietnam (tie):
These comedic dramas show Williams' acting range. The former shows Williams as a deranged bu likable homeless man who must reconnect with society with the help of a controversial radio jockey, who is partially responsible for his current state. Williams is able to showcase both his comedic talents but also his penchant for great drama in this bittersweet film. The latter shows Williams as a shock jock who is called in to entertain the troops in Vietnam by hosting the daily radio broadcasts in their camp. A role that both entertains and engages, it shows how someone can use laughter to shed light on serious issues. Fisher King is one of director Terry Gilliam's finest, and Vietnam is considered one of the funniest but also most poignant war films of all time.



2. Dead Poets Society: Williams' role as an inspiring English teacher garnered him a nomination for Best Actor in a Lead Role at the Academy Awards, and it shows. This classic movie is also a bit formulaic, but thanks to Williams' performances, it's hard not to love it. Peter Weir does a great job behind the camera, but it's really Williams that makes this movie fantastic.



1. Good Will Hunting: A powerful modern classic from Gus Van Sant, this beautiful movie shows Matt Damon as the titular Will Hunting, a young Bostonian who must attend therapy session with a doctor played by Williams. Re-evaluating his life, Will begins building the foundation for a better future. Although Williams plays second fiddle here, he delivers a powerful performance which garnered him critical praise, as it shows his more serious side, and won him the Best Supporting Actor Oscar. A must-see for any fan of Williams or for moviegoers in general, Good Will Hunting is a modern masterpiece.

  (Images: Wikipedia)


Runner-ups: Mork and Mindy (series), Hook, Night at the Museum, Happy Feet, Death to Smoochy, What Dreams May Come, The Birdcage, Jumanji, A.I. Artificial Intelligence, Awakenings, Insomnia, One Hour Photo, Lee Daniels' The Butler.