Rightfully considered one of the best comedians of the past century, Robin Williams stands in a league of his own. From stand-up comedy specials and roles in television shows like Mork and Mindy to Oscar- and Golden Globe-winning performances such as The Fisher King, Williams made an ever-lasting mark on many fans with his versatility, wit, and improvisatory prowess.
Williams left such an indelible imprint on the world of film and television that it’s hard to believe he’s been gone for 10 years as of August 11, 2024. While it’s tough to fully commemorate a career as storied as his, these 10 films stand out for the way they showcase Williams’ varied talents—and their enduring impact on audiences the world over.
One Hour Photo (2002)
Director: Mark Romanek
Cast: Robin Williams, Connie Nielsen, Michael Vartan
Genre: Thriller, Drama
Rotten Tomatoes: 81% (Critics), 65% (Audience)
Robin Williams will always be associated with comedy, but that makes the times he played more serious characters even more effective. Playing against type in this suspenseful drama about an obsessive photo technician, Williams imbues the character of Seymour “Sy” Parrish with genuine compassion and torment. Even though photography development has dwindled since the film’s release in 2002, One Hour Photo still holds up, thanks to a committed and creepy performance from Williams. Unsettling, haunting, and tragic are not words you’d often think of when asked to describe Robin Williams to a friend, but One Hour Photo impressively illustrates that Williams can call on all of those traits—should the role require it.
Hook (1991)
Director: Steven Spielberg
Cast: Robin Williams, Dustin Hoffman, Julia Roberts
Genre: Fantasy, Family
Rotten Tomatoes: 29% (Critics), 76% (Audience)
Despite being panned by critics, Hook absolutely deserves a spot in the pantheon of iconic Robin Williams movies. Playing an adult Peter Pan, Williams is thrust back to Neverland when his children are kidnapped by a vengeful Captain Hook (Dustin Hoffman). Hook features tons of memorable moments, from the suspense of a hook-gouged hallway to a spirited food fight. Williams seamlessly transitions from mundane lawyer to whimsical swashbuckler, bringing audiences into the enchanting world of Neverland. Perhaps no other actor could manage that arc while also spitting insults at Rufio (Dante Basco) with the same speed and commitment as the child actors.
Patch Adams (1998)
Director: Tom Shadyac
Cast: Robin Williams, Daniel London, Monica Potter
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Rotten Tomatoes: 21% (Critics), 73% (Audience)
In this late-90s classic, Williams portrays Hunter “Patch” Adams, a depressed man disillusioned with medical school who decides to open his own clinic and uses humor to treat patients. Patch Adams foregrounds its argument that laughter is the best medicine with scenes of Patch turning medical supplies into a clown routine. But it’s really the film’s—and Williams’—heart that endears it to you. Knowing Robin Williams had his own struggles with depression perhaps explains why he is able to empathetically inhabit the characters he plays with such authenticity, even in a comedy like Patch Adams.
World’s Greatest Dad (2009)
Director: Bobcat Goldthwait
Cast: Robin Williams, Alexie Gilmore, Daryl Sabara
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Rotten Tomatoes: 88% (Critics), 67% (Audience)
Proving Robin Williams’ skill at balancing dark comedy, World’s Greatest Dad thrusts the comedian into the role of Lance Clayton, a high school English teacher who leverages his son’s death into a fake suicide note, diary, and, ultimately, fame. A satire about the glorification of anyone who has tragically passed away, World’s Greatest Dad is one of Williams’ best late-career performances. What could have played as twisted or uncomfortable actually becomes soulful thanks to the way Williams commits to his character. While World’s Greatest Dad takes on new, somber resonance in the wake of Williams’ death, for those able to palate its content, the film is a rewarding look at some of Robin Williams’ best traits as an actor.
Jumanji (1995)
Director: Joe Johnston
Cast: Robin Williams, Bonnie Hunt, Kirsten Dunst
Genre: Adventure, Family, Fantasy
Rotten Tomatoes: N/A (Critics), 63% (Audience)
Before there was Dwayne Johnson’s Jumanji, there was Robin Williams’ Jumanji. No shade to The Rock, but the OG Jumanji is just as fun today as it was in 1995. Featuring a young Kirsten Dunst, and Robin Williams as a boy who’s been trapped in a magical board game, Jumanji features some thrilling sequences of animal action—from a stampede of rhinos to some seriously frightening CGI monkeys. Despite being a movie for kids and families, Jumanji is (not unlike Gremlins) actually pretty tense. Reportedly, Williams wouldn’t let his own kids watch it, although I’d argue its stakes and suspense are what makes it so fun.
Good Morning, Vietnam (1987)
Director: Barry Levinson
Cast: Robin Williams, Forest Whitaker, Tom T. Tran
Genre: Comedy, War
Rotten Tomatoes: 90% (Critics), 82% (Audience)
Showcasing his verbosity, versatility, and virtuosic energy, Good Morning, Vietnam earned Robin Williams a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in 1988 with an Academy Award nomination to boot. Williams plays radio personality Adrian Cronauer, who’s sent to Vietnam to provide on-air levity for the troops. In the process, Cronauer upsets his superior officer, despite the fact that his jokes are a hit with the soldiers. Good Morning, Vietnam was written by Mitch Markowitz and inspired by events in Adrian Cronauer’s real life, but it’s Williams’ off-the-cuff, improvised monologues at the microphone that make the film so memorable.
Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)
Director: Chris Columbus
Cast: Robin Williams, Sally Field, Harvey Fierstein
Genre: Comedy, Family, Drama
Rotten Tomatoes: 70% (Critics), 77% (Audience)
Aside from Aladdin’s Genie—we’ll get to that—perhaps no Williams role is as iconic as Mrs. Euphegenia Doubtfire. Williams plays divorcee Daniel Hillard, who poses as a British nanny in order to circumnavigate his ex-wife’s custody agreement to see his children more. Director Chris Columbus employs some of the same domestic slapstick of 1990’s Home Alone throughout the movie to keep things entertaining, but it’s Williams who keeps the film’s heart beating. Now adapted into a Broadway musical, Mrs. Doubtfire continues to find audiences three decades after its release—with many reviews mentioning how hard it is to measure up to Williams’ performance, even as others discuss how its portrayal of gender and transphobic elements haven’t aged as well.
Aladdin (1992)
Director: Ron Clements, John Musker
Cast: Scott Weinger, Robin Williams, Linda Larkin
Genre: Animated, Family
Rotten Tomatoes: 95% (Critics), 92% (Audience)
Aladdin isn’t just one of Robin Williams’ best movies, it’s one of Disney’s best animated films. Period. From winning songs like “A Whole New World” to the hair-raising magic carpet flight through the Cave of Wonders, there are so many scenes that contribute to Aladdin’s classic status. And all of that’s before we even discuss Robin Williams’ show-stopping vocal performance as the Genie. Misguided “Genie, you’re free” memes aside, it’s telling that images and stories of Williams as Genie proliferated in the wake of his death, clearly illustrating the resonance this performance had on millions.
Dead Poets Society (1989)
Director: Peter Weir
Cast: Robin Williams, Robert Sean Leonard, Ethan Hawke
Genre: Drama
Rotten Tomatoes: 84% (Critics), 92% (Audience)
There must be something about Robin Williams and academia, since both Dead Poets Society and World’s Greatest Dad feature the comedian portraying English teachers. In Dead Poets Society, Williams plays a new teacher at a rigorous all-boys prep school who challenges the stodgy status quo and inspires his students to seize the day. Featuring impressive turns from its young cast members, including a breakout performance by Ethan Hawke, Dead Poets Society earned Williams an Oscar nomination for his rousing performance. Three decades after its release, the movie’s “O Captain, my Captain!” tribute will still give you chills. (Editor’s note: the book is good, too, and well worth a read if you haven’t already done so.)
Good Will Hunting (1997)
Director: Gus Van Sant
Cast: Matt Damon, Robin Williams, Ben Affleck
Genre: Drama
Rotten Tomatoes: 97% (Critics), 94% (Audience)
Originally conceived and written as a thriller by Matt Damon as his final assignment in a playwriting class, Good Will Hunting was as much a success for the duo of Ben Affleck and Damon as it was for Williams, who won Best Supporting Actor at the Oscars in 1998. In the film, Damon plays MIT janitor and mathematical genius Will Hunting, who, following a run-in with the police, must visit a therapist (Williams) to avoid serving time in jail. While Damon gives an impressive performance as a troubled prodigy, it’s Williams who steals the show with his park bench monologue about love, life, and loss—a fitting encapsulation of the themes that animated Williams’ best performances.
Williams had a long career before his still-gut-wrenching death in 2014. While it’s easy to pick any 10 films of his and call them “the best,” the above really showcases both his range and skills as an actor with nigh perfect comedic timing. Do you have a favorite Willams movie, and did it make the list? Let us know in the comments.