Gene Hackmanis one of the few living legends of the film industry,even if he hasn’t acted sinceWelcome to Mooseportalmost two decades ago. Hackman is certainly deserving of a good retirement, as he is one of the rare movie stars that helped transition the industryfrom the “New Hollywood” erainto the modernist movement that exists today.
Chronicling Hackman’s best work is certainly not an easy task, as he was a highly prolific actor who starred in dozens of films throughout the 21st century, including many underrated gems that are not always given the respect and admiration that they deserve. However,some of Hackman’s finest workstands out because they simply get better with each subsequent rewatch, indicating what a truly unique screen presence he was. Here are the top ten most rewatchable Gene Hackman movies, ranked.
10‘Downhill Racer’ (1969)
Directed by Michael Ritchie
Downhill Raceris a unique spin on the inspirational sports movie genrebecause it is one of the few to putan equal emphasis on the coach and athletes.WhileRobert Redfordturns in one of his best performances as an ambitious young skier who looks no further than victory, Hackman is equally as compelling as a compassionate coach who wants to see every member of his team succeed on their own terms. Hackman is able to play a mentor character who also has some learning of his own to do.
Downhill Racerfeatures extraordinary skiing scenes that hold up very well today,making it a great film to rewatch during an Olympic season. Perhaps even more important is the integral message about the merits of teamwork and empathy, which hold value for professionals in any field that requires an intense level of commitment.
Downhill Racer
Downhill Racer follows David Chappellet, an ambitious skier from Colorado, who joins the U.S. Olympic ski team. His drive for personal glory leads to tension with his teammates and coach. As he strives for victory in the international downhill skiing competition, Chappellet’s journey reveals the price of his relentless pursuit of success.
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9‘Scarecrow’ (1973)
Directed by Jerry Schatzberg
Scarecrowis among the most underrated films that Hackman ever starred in, and united him with a youngAl Pacinowhose popularity was peaking in the era following the release of the firstThe Godfatherfilm. The two star as mismatched acquaintances that team up on a road trip adventure, only to find themselves drawn into a seedy world of crime and corruption.
Although the premise would seemingly suggest something that was far more uplifting,Scarecrowexploresthe dark side of the American dreamand the ways in which society takes advantage of the disadvantaged. It’s a rewatchable film because it shows just how vulnerable and empathetic Hackman and Pacino could be in a story that is relatively straightforward and simple. The film has become such a beloved cult classic that directorJerry Schatzbergbriefly considered developing a sequel before Hackman officially retired from giving screen performances.
Scarecrow (1973)
An ex-con drifter with a penchant for brawling is amused by a homeless ex-sailor, so they partner up as they head east together.
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8‘Get Shorty’ (1995)
Directed by Barry Sonnenfield
Get Shortyis one of the funniest movies of the 1990sbecause it was able to satirize both the oppressive nature of film production and the cliches about gangstersthat are perpetrated by crime movies.WhileJohn Travoltagives one of his best performances as a criminal who ventures into the film industry, Hackman is the film’s real scene-stealer as an incentivized Hollywood producer desperate to greenlight a new crime epic.
Get Shortyproved just how terrific Hackman could be in a supporting role, and showed a comedic side to an actor who was often best regarded for his more serious work. The film is packed with references to classic Hollywood films, including a few niche homages to Hackman’s older work. Unsurprisingly, the sequelBe Coolthat co-starredDwayne Johnsonwas not nearly as successful because Hackman was not involved with it.
Get Shorty
A mobster travels to Hollywood to collect a debt, and discovers that the movie business is much the same as his current job.
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7‘Crimson Tide’ (1995)
Directed by Tony Scott
Crimson Tideis the ultimate film about military procedures and submarine combatthat showed just how suspenseful it could be to be trapped in a contained environment with limited communication to the authorities on the surface. Hackman has co-starred with many great actors, but seeing him team up withDenzel Washingtonat the height of his powersfelt like a “passing of the torch” moment from one iconic movie star to another.
Crimson Tideis the rare film about military combat where there aren’t any clearly defined heroes and villains, as the viewer has to determine for themselves which characters are morally righteous. Although special effects and computer generated imagery have both certainly evolved since 1995, it would be hard to find a modern action film that is as utterly captivating as whatTony Scottmanaged to pull off withCrimson Tide.
Crimson Tide
Crimson Tide is a submarine thriller directed by Tony Scott, set during a period of political turmoil in Russia. The film follows Lieutenant Commander Ron Hunter, played by Denzel Washington, who clashes with Captain Frank Ramsey, played by Gene Hackman, over the interpretation of orders from the US government. As tensions rise, the crew of the USS Alabama must navigate the crisis and prevent a catastrophic outcome.
6‘Bonnie and Clyde’ (1967)
Directed by Arthur Penn
Bonnie and Clydeis the film that changed Hollywood forever,as it ushered in a new wave of anti-authoritarian films that challenged the way that the industry approached controversial issues relating to sex and violence. The performances byWarren BeattyandFaye Dunawayas the titular duo have become iconic for a good reason, but Hackman is equally compelling as a young gang member that gets swept up in their adventures.
Bonnie and Clydeis an interesting film to view within the context of Hackman’s career, as it was made before he began taking on lead roles, and effectively became the definitive star of his generation. Of course, anyone that wants to learn about the ways in which Hollywood changed after the 1960s opened the doors to a new generation of filmmakers should consider watchingBonnie and Clydeto be their sacred duty.
Bonnie and Clyde
5‘Mississippi Burning’ (1988)
Directed by Alan Parker
Mississippi Burningisa masterful slow burn crime thrillerthat sadly holds more relevance today than it has ever before. Hackman andWillem Dafoeco-star as two FBI agents that investigate the disappearance of several Civil Rights activists in the deep south, only to discover that the entire local police force is involved in a corruption scandal linked to the systematic murder of many people of color.
Mississippi Burningis a straightforward procedural that never collapses under the weight of its importance, and does a great job at calling out the systems of oppression that still exist. Hackman is terrific as a defiant, authoritative figure who is unafraid to confront evil that is hiding in plain sight; it’s an empowering role that makes the film even more essential to rewatch as a means of providing clarity in a time of political and social divisiveness.
Mississippi Burning
Gene Hackman and Willem Dafoe star as FBI agents navigating a volatile environment in Mississippi during the height of the civil rights movement. Their investigation into the disappearance of civil rights workers exposes a web of racism, corruption, and violence, challenging them to seek justice in the face of relentless adversity.
Watch on MGM+
4‘The Royal Tenenbaums’ (2001)
Directed by Wes Anderson
The Royal Tenenbaumsis both the funniest film that Hackman has ever appeared inand one of the best examples ofWes Andersondeconstructing the “bad dad” cliche.Hackman is perfectly cast as the haughty patriarch Royal Tenenbaum, whose decision to push his three children to become geniuses at a young age led them all to have severe social development issues.
Hackman is amazing at playing a character who the audience both loves and hates, as all his best intentions can be undercut anytime he lies or takes advantage of his children’s affection for him. Although it wasn’t the last major film he appeared in,The Royal Tenenbaumsdid feel like a nice closing chapter to Hackman’s career that allowed him to give one of his most reflective and endearing performances ever. Few actors have mastered Anderson’s signature quirky dialogue quite as well.
The Royal Tenenbaums
3‘Unforgiven’ (1992)
Directed by Clint Eastwood
Unforgivenwas a highly disturbing revisionist westernthat examined what a lonesome gunslinger would do at the end of his career. While the former cowboy William Munny (Clint Eastwood) is by no means a hero, Hackman’s performance as the ruthless Sheriff Little Bill is perhaps thegreatest villain in the history of the western genre.
Hackman captured the essence of a cowardly figure of authoritywho abused his power simply because he could, and had no fear of facing consequences for the terror that he inflicted among others. It was a role that won Hackman the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, a deserving prize for helping to elevate a film that is already cited as one of the most rewatchable (albeit darkest) westerns in the history of the genre.Unforgivenis both a reflection on America’s past and a chilling reminder of the cliches that western cinema has elevated.
Unforgiven
Retired Old West gunslinger William Munny reluctantly takes on one last job with the help of his old partner Ned Logan and a young man, The “Schofield Kid.”
2‘The Conversation’ (1974)
Directed by Francis Ford Coppola
The Conversationwas the perfect embodiment of American anxieties in the 1970s, as the film was released when the Watergate scandal and backlash to the Vietnam War made citizens more skeptical than ever before that theywere involved in a malicious conspiracy.Hackman gave one of his most sympathetic and vulnerable performances as a surveillance expert that begins to suspect that he has just been a witness to an attempted murder.
The Conversationflips the paranoia thriller genre on its headby indicating that the creeping anxieties that its characters cope with are legitimate, and not the subject of their imagination running wild. The craftsmanship thatFrancis Ford Coppolacreated for the film is simply unrivaled by any other director, but the emotion that Hackman brings to his tragic performance is the reason whyThe Conversationis still a rewatchable classic.
The Conversation
A paranoid, secretive surveillance expert has a crisis of conscience when he suspects that the couple he is spying on will be murdered.
1‘The French Connection’ (1971)
Directed by William Friedkin
The French Connectionis the gold standard of cop moviesand essentially proved why Hackman was such a compelling screen presence whose influence has never been topped by any modern actor. Popeye Doyle is simply an amazing character that won Hackman his first Academy Award for Best Actor; it’s a role that he perfected so well that it is impossible to imagine anyone else in the part.
The French Connectionis both an exciting crime thriller with amazing action scenes and a brilliant study in obsession, as Hackman shows how commitment can lead to a mischaracterization of reality. Although the original film is a Best Picture winning masterpiece that essentially created the modern car chase sequence,the underrated sequel from directorJohn Frankenheimeris also worth watching to see Hackman return to his most famous role in another compelling investigative adventure.
The French Connection
A pair of NYPD detectives in the Narcotics Bureau stumble onto a heroin smuggling ring based in Marseilles, but stopping them and capturing their leaders proves an elusive goal.
