Robin Williams was a versatile actor and an exceptional comedian. Born on July 12, 1951, and tragically dying on August 11, 2014, aged 63. Williams left us with a legacy of great movies from The Birdcage to Good Morning, Vietnam.
Join us as we explore the best Robin Williams movies, each worth watching again to celebrate this beloved actor.
Honorable mention: Mrs. Doubtfire is the movie most people think of when they consider Robin Williams. However, we’ve left Mrs. Doubtfire off our top 10. Not because it isn’t great, but because we want our top 10 to be different from others.
World’s Greatest Dad, 2010
World’s Greatest Dad is a dark comedy movie written and directed by Bobcat Goldthwait. Robin Williams stars as a failed writer and English teacher who discovers his son’s accidental death and fakes a suicide note to evade scandal.
The Birdcage, 1996
The Birdcage, directed by Mike Nichols, is a classic, SAG Award-winning 90s comedy about a Miami drag club owner (Robin Williams) and his partner (Nathan Lane), who must pretend to be straight for their son’s conservative future in-laws.
Insomnia, 2002
Insomnia, directed by Christopher Nolan, is a thriller set in Alaska, where detectives Will Dormer (Al Pacino) and his partner Ellie Burr (Hilary Swank) investigate the murder of a teenage girl. Robin Williams plays Walter Finch, a role that brought him attention for playing a different character type from what he’s usually known for.
The World According To Garp, 1982
The World According to Garp, directed by George Roy Hill, is an adaptation of John Irving’s novel of the same name. Robin Williams plays the lead role, T.S. Garp, who wants to become a fiction writer, but as his mother opens a center for troubled women, Garp gets involved. Williams goes on to earn an Academy Award nomination.
Good Morning, Vietnam, 1988
Good Morning, Vietnam, directed by Barry Levinson, follows an energetic radio comedian who entertains the troops during the war. This role earned Robin Williams his first nomination for an Academy Award.
The Fisher King, 1991
The Fisher King, directed by Terry Gilliam, stars Jeff Bridges as a former radio DJ seeking redemption by helping a homeless man, played by Robin Williams. The movie takes you on a roller coaster of emotion and earned Robin Williams an Oscar nomination.
August Rush, 2007
August Rush, directed by Kirsten Sheridan, follows Evan Taylor, a musically gifted boy who runs away to New York in hopes of finding his family. Instead, he meets Robin Williams, who plays Maxwell Wizard, a cruel surrogate father who makes money by panhandling children.
Aladdin, 1992
In 1992, Aladdin, directed by Ron Clements and John Musker, Robin Williams’ genie steals the show, with his character taking on the mannerisms and characteristics of Williams.
Dead Poets Society, 1989
Dead Poets Society, directed by Peter Weir, is a sensational, Oscar-nominated movie about Welton Academy, an all-male boarding school. Robin Williams stars as John Keating, a new English teacher who creates the “Dead Poets Society,” where students read poetry together.
Good Will Hunting, 1997
Good Will Hunting, directed by Gus Van Sant, tells the story of Will Hunting (Matt Damon), a mathematics genius working as a janitor at MIT. Will runs into trouble with the law, so he is referred to a therapist, Sean Maguire (Robin Williams), who helps him through his tough times.
Fun Fact: Williams won an Academy Award for his performance in the movie