5 Best Robert Downey Jr. Films That Prove He Deserves an Oscar

The upcoming 96th Academy Awards ceremony is going to be exciting thanks to the plethora of talented actors and outstanding films vying for Oscars this year. With Robert Downey Jr. nominated for Best Supporting Actor, his fans are eagerly awaiting the results of the race. In the meantime, here are five movies that showcase the actor's Oscar-worthy talent.

Good Night, and Good Luck (2005, 7.4 on IMDb)

In this brilliant exploration of the most infamously paranoid period in American history, Robert Downey Jr. plays Joseph Wershba, one of CBS's most prominent journalists in the mid-twentieth century.

The movie tells the story of a group of journalists trying to bring down McCarthyism, along with the mastermind who conceived the movement. It's tense and dramatic, but more importantly, it's based on real events.

The Judge (2014, 7.4 on IMDb)

In this mix of legal and family drama, Robert Downey Jr. stars as Hank Palmer, a talented lawyer whose life is thrown into chaos when he receives news of his mother's untimely death.

Returning to his hometown, Downey's character must confront his troubled past and reconnect with his family. More importantly, he must mend fences with his estranged father, a local criminal court judge who has been disgraced following a fatal hit-and-run accident.

Chaplin (1992, 7.5 on IMDb)

Although this comedy-drama biopic didn't do well at the box office, it earned Robert Downey Jr. his first Oscar nomination and a BAFTA for Best Actor.

In the film, Downey Jr. plays the legendary titular actor as he embarks on a long and fascinating career in the still-emerging field of art. Chaplin may be a niche film, but it showcases the breadth of Robert's talent.

Zodiac (2007, 7.7 on IMDb)

In this crime thriller set in the 1960-1970s, the beloved Marvel star portrays Paul Avery, a crime reporter for the San Francisco Chronicle, who tries to uncover the identity of the mysterious Zodiac Killer who terrorizes Northern California and sends 'clues' to the newspaper. And as his search continues and becomes more dangerous, it begins to take a toll on the character's well-being.

Oppenheimer (2023, 8.4 on IMDb)

Of course, we couldn't help but mention Robert Downey Jr.'s latest work, which earned him another Oscar nomination. In Christopher Nolan's biopic, the actor plays Lewis Strauss, a cunning and scheming official at the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission whose machinations nearly destroyed Robert Oppenheimer's life.

Downey Jr. delivers a spectacular performance, and it takes a while to recognize the actor, who has become deeply immersed in the character.