12 Finest Michael Douglas Films, Ranked

Michael Kirk Douglas is the primary of 4 sons born to Issur Danielovitch, who had already modified his identify to the way more acquainted Kirk Douglas. Yep, Michael Douglas could be thought of a “nepo child,” whose well-known father was a film star for many of his life. But regardless of sharing the identical final identify and facial options as his previous man, Douglas the son has carved a definite path from Douglas the dad. 

There isn’t any disputing that Kirk launched Michael’s profession by serving to him snag the rights to “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,” which landed him a Finest Image Oscar. There’s additionally no denying that Michael has crafted a half-century-plus profession arguably even higher than his well-known father, with earnings of just about $4.5 billion worldwide field workplace and a Finest Actor Oscar (which Kirk by no means gained). Let’s simply say Michael wasn’t on the A-list for many years as a result of moviegoers favored his dad; he bought there as a result of he is a darn good film star.

Actually, what Michael Douglas owes his dad most are his genes. Like his father earlier than him, Douglas effortlessly slides from charming rogue to finish louse, creating heroes you like to root for, and villains you like to hate, typically in the identical position. Whereas he has quietly slowed down, he may have retired many years in the past and nonetheless left behind a legendary profession. Frankly, it was exhausting narrowing this checklist down, which suggests some motion pictures you might count on did not make the minimize. Discover out what lands on the checklist of Michael Douglas’ 12 greatest motion pictures.

Throughout nearly yearly of the 2010s, the highest-grossing film was a franchise movie. The previous 5 years have not been a lot totally different. Not so way back, within the land of 1987, the highest-grossing film was “Three Males & A Child,” adopted intently by a movie through which a scorned lady boils a bit woman’s pet bunny. It was a distinct time. A less complicated time. 

Michael Douglas starred within the latter, “Deadly Attraction,” taking part in a hotshot New York lawyer with a loving spouse (Anne Archer) and daughter, who succumbs to the decision of the loins and has what he thinks is an informal fling with a seductive guide editor (Glenn Shut). Alas, she does not see issues the identical manner, going from a “stage-five clinger” to a certifiable psychopath, together with brutally boiling the aforementioned bunny. 

Judging by the movie’s astounding field workplace (greater than $440 million adjusted for inflation), “Deadly Attraction” hit its mark, discouraging many a married man nationwide from having extramarital affairs (which evidently their marriage ceremony vows did not). Really, “terrified” is extra prefer it. “Deadly Attraction” is a “potboiler” (and never only for rabbits), guided by Douglas’ regular hand because the shady protagonist, and Shut’s very unstable flip because the sympathetic villain, for which she justly earned an Oscar nom. Whereas the makers of the TV remake insisted their take can be higher, there isn’t any enhancing upon the unique. No rabbits had been harmed through the making of “Deadly Attraction”, however loads of moviegoers had been scared stiff.

David Fincher’s filmography consists of a few of his technology’s biggest gems like “Seven,” “Struggle Membership,” “Zodiac,” “The Social Community,” and his undisputed masterpiece, “Alien 3.” Simply kidding, although — “Alien 3” is underrated, even by its personal director. Anyway, Fincher’s improbable filmography means some top-notch flicks get forgotten, one among which is “The Sport” from 1997. Michael Douglas performs Nicholas Van Orton, a profitable, if secluded, banker bent on constructing a lifetime of wealth and nothing extra. When Van Orton’s estranged brother (Sean Penn) invitations him to play a real-life sport, he figures, “What is the hurt?” However quickly the sport turns private, and ultimately turns into harmful, and begins to burn down Van Orton’s fastidiously crafted life piece by piece.

It is at all times cool when an edgy younger director works with a longtime star, and equally thrilling when mentioned star trusts the storyteller to toy together with his display screen picture. Although to be sincere, Fincher knew precisely what he was doing by casting Douglas, as no one was higher at taking part in the cocksure man who seemingly has all of it collectively, however whose world rapidly falls aside like a sport of Jenga. Fincher is, in fact, a grasp of temper and environment, whereas Douglas retains you invested within the story, irrespective of how outlandish “The Sport” will get. Whereas “The Sport” isn’t introduced up usually in both Fincher or Douglas retrospectives, do not sleep on this very good suspense thriller.

“Falling Down” is forward of its time, behind the instances, or timeless, relying in your perspective. One factor that it’s not is ignorable. Ironic, as a result of that is precisely how its protagonist William Foster (Michael Douglas) feels: Unemployed, divorced, chewed up and spat out by life. When Foster’s automobile breaks down in the midst of a Los Angeles site visitors jam, he breaks down too (it may possibly occur to the perfect of us), beginning a day-long odyssey by way of the city and ethical decay of a contemporary metropolis that’s half James Joyce and half Travis Bickle.

Most of Michael Douglas’ motion pictures have him taking part in the super-successful man who has to save lots of his life from unraveling. “Falling Down” finds him taking part in in opposition to kind as a bitter man damaged by life who needs to rebuild what little he has. There is a masterpiece hidden in “Falling Down,” however sadly, director Joel Schumacher (two years earlier than the missed “Batman Perpetually”) does not fairly discover it. Not like “Taxi Driver” and even “Joker,” this 1993 movie will get skittish about its material, favoring a “popcorn-friendly tackle its advanced themes,” in response to the Rotten Tomatoes critics’ consensus. Nonetheless, you possibly can’t assist however really feel for Foster, with Douglas creating some of the “out-of-character” characters in his profession.

“Solitary Man” stars Michael Douglas as Ben Kalmen, the form of man individuals would say “how does he get away with it?” Nicely, this 2009 dramedy is about what occurs when that kinda does not. As soon as a thriving, if shady, automobile supplier, Kalmen makes some dangerous selections that put the brakes on his enterprise. In the meantime, his skirt-chasing methods value him his marriage to his spouse (Susan Sarandon) and put him on the outs together with his girlfriend (Mary-Louise Parker). Watching the world he spent a lifetime constructing crumble, Kalmen thinks of one thing else for as soon as and takes his daughter (Imogen Poots) on a tour of schools in Boston. Alas, you possibly can educate an previous canine new tips, however you possibly can’t at all times educate a grimy previous man to vary his methods.

“Solitary Man” boasts an all-star forged (additionally together with Jesse Eisenberg and Danny DeVito), however that is Douglas’ film, as he wears the character like an cashmere cardigan sweater. What Douglas does greatest is not simply taking part in unscrupulous characters, however louses you possibly can’t assist however like and even root for. That is definitely the case with “Solitary Man,” which options one among his final nice lead performances earlier than the irresistible attract of fats Marvel paychecks lured him away.

Michael Douglas was nominated for 2 Oscars and gained each, so he is two for 2, an achievement I am unsure anyone else has ever matched. The primary was Finest Image as a producer for “One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest” in 1976; the following got here 12 years later with Finest Actor for “Wall Avenue.” The yr 1987 was an enormous one for Douglas, who starred in one among his greatest field workplace hits with “Deadly Attraction” and one among his biggest inventive triumphs within the aforementioned “Wall Avenue.” 

Extra pointedly, he additionally established the display screen persona that carried him from the A-list to the A+ checklist. Whereas he’d by no means actually performed “goody-two-shoes” varieties, his characters as much as then had been extra morally ambiguous and cynical within the type of Humphrey Bogart. With these two movies, he established himself because the simple dirtbag you hate to like. As Gordon Gekko, Douglas delivers probably the most well-known line of his profession (and some of the memorable in film historical past): “Greed, for lack of a greater phrase, is nice.” Whereas ceaselessly misquoted as simply “greed is nice,” some would say this line outlined the last decade — and possibly gained Douglas his Oscar. The film it is in is fairly darn good too, with director Oliver Stone at his paranoid greatest, delivering a blunt denunciation of a decade’s decadent obsession with avarice.

“Surprise Boys” finds Michael Douglas taking part in neither a high-achieving a-hole nor a complete loser, however someplace in between: A has-been. English professor Grady Tripp (Douglas) wrote a celebrated novel whose long-delayed sequel is spiraling uncontrolled, similar to his life. His spouse has left him, the love of his life (Frances McDormand) is pregnant together with his little one … and can be married to his boss, and his pesky editor (Robert Downey Jr.) has simply flown into city to see if Grady has written something worthwhile (he hasn’t). Tripp’s sole saving grace is assembly a proficient, however troubled scholar (Tobey Maguire), whom he takes below his (damaged) wing.

“Surprise Boys” was Curtis Hanson’s follow-up to his 1997 triumph “L.A. Confidential,” and whereas the previous is a suspense noir ensemble, the latter is a comedic character examine that at instances feels as intimate as a play. It’s particularly satisfying for moviegoers who like to look at nice actors performing, and “Surprise Boys” boasts a few of the greatest (Douglas, McDormand, Maguire, Downey Jr.) doing their factor. For a film a few man who made a multitude of his life, “Surprise Boys” tells its story just about completely.

Some cynics say there is a cause fairy tales finish with “they usually lived fortunately ever after.” Nicely, 1989’s “The Struggle of the Roses” is about what occurs after “fortunately ever after.” The 1989 black comedy follows Oliver (Michael Douglas) and Barbara Rose (Kathleen Turner) as they fall head over heels in love, get married, begin a household, construct a phenomenal life collectively … after which are prepared to do nearly something to get out of it. Cynics additionally say, “You by no means know any person till you divorce them,” and that’s definitely the case right here, as each Roses fairly actually go to battle over who will get to maintain their magnificent house. 

Caught within the center is their peacemaking legal professional pal (Danny DeVito) and horrified youngsters (Sean Astin, Heather Fairfield), proving that divorce is certainly hell for everybody concerned, however may also be kinda humorous in the suitable palms, yeah? Talking of the suitable palms, DeVito additionally directs this movie, which is one among his greatest, reuniting together with his “Romancing the Stone” co-stars and guiding them to one among their respective career-best performances. Hoping for a cheerful ending? Look elsewhere. In search of a first-class farce that shows DeVito’s singularly sick humorousness? You may discover it with “The Struggle of the Roses.”

Robert Zemeckis directed some absolute bangers, however in addition to these starring Tom Hanks or produced by Steven Spielberg, I would say his greatest might be “Romancing the Stone.” Michael Douglas performs Jack T. Colton, a mercenary rogue straight out of one of many romance paperbacks written by the timorous Joan Wilder (Kathleen Turner). Seems, he is her solely hope to rescue her sister, who has been kidnapped and absconded to the Colombian jungle in change for a treasure map. As you may think from a mercenary, Colton will not stick his neck out for anybody, however is prepared to make an exception for Wilder … or moderately, the treasure she’s searching for.

“Romancing the Stone” is as enjoyable to look at because it should have been to make, and is the primary of three movies Douglas filmed together with his greatest main girl, Kathleen Turner. The setup for “Romancing The Stone” could not have been less complicated (“romance-adventure novelist finds herself in a real-life journey”), and succeeds as a consequence of Zemeckis’ dynamic route, and particularly the charming charisma and chemistry of its leads. As so usually occurs, “Romancing the Stone” impressed a far inferior and far much less profitable sequel, “The Jewel of the Nile,” the very subsequent yr, however the 1984 authentic is the place it is at.

The 1986 Chernobyl meltdown confirmed the darkish aspect of nuclear energy when “regulated” by an incompetent and corrupt regime. “The China Syndrome” predicted that catastrophe by seven years, whereas additionally coinciding with the Three Mile Island partial meltdown that occurred that very same yr in 1979. By the late Seventies, Michael Douglas was already an Oscar winner as producer of “One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest,” however as an actor, he was greatest identified for taking part in reverse Karl Malden on “The Streets of San Francisco” for 5 seasons on ABC.

“The China Syndrome” was Douglas’ first large hit as a film actor, although it helped that he was taking part in backup to Hollywood heavyweights Jane Fonda and Jack Lemmon. Douglas performs the cameraman to Fonda’s TV information reporter, who’s making an attempt to assist the plant supervisor (Lemmon) alert the general public that the California plant is in violation of security requirements earlier than a meltdown turns the Metropolis of Angels right into a graveyard. “The China Syndrome” proved the facility of tradition to form coverage, placing a nerve with the general public and making the “China Syndrome” time period (as in “melting by way of the Earth to China”) mainstream. The movie stays a tense, considering man’s thriller almost 5 many years since its launch, displaying that Douglas was a new clear (see what I did there?) star within the making.

“Behind The Candelabra” isn’t the form of film that an growing older film star with a longtime display screen persona makes, which is why Michael Douglas’ work within the 2013 movie is such a marvel (not like his work in Marvel). Launched on HBO in 2013, Douglas stars because the world-famous piano participant and consummate performer Liberace, who rose to fame within the Fifties on the energy of his singular showmanship. It is principally about as removed from any character Douglas had ever performed ever. “Behind The Candelabra” showcases Liberace in his not-so-golden years, following the mercurial musician’s relationship with a much-younger man (Matt Damon) who begins taking medicine whereas the musician takes on new lovers on the aspect. 

Even the identify “Behind The Candelabra” screams tacky, made-for-TV film, however the wonderful factor is that it isn’t. That is an A-list manufacturing, as in addition to Douglas and Damon, the forged consists of Dan Aykroyd and Rob Lowe, whereas Academy Award-winning Steven Soderbergh directed the movie – guess he is a Liberace fan? Taking part in Liberace may have simply descended into caricature, particularly provided that his persona principally was a caricature. Douglas’ efficiency dives deeper than that, fleshing out the flamboyant entertainer in a late-career efficiency that’s each his bravest and one among his greatest.

“The American President” was basically screenwriter Aaron Sorkin’s cinematic proving floor for what would turn out to be TV’s “The West Wing” 4 years later. This time, commander-in-chief duties fall to Michael Douglas as President Andrew Shepherd, each bit the Sorkin want achievement that President Jed Bartlet would someday turn out to be.  

Moreover being the chief of the free world, President Shepherd faces the challenges of working for reelection, elevating a daughter, and courting a lobbyist (Annette Bening). However when it seems just like the widowed father’s second probability at love may value him a second time period, he finds himself having to decide on between reelection and romance. Okay, so it sounds a bit cute, and naturally will get wrapped up in a neat and tidy bow. However like Frank Capra did many years earlier than in basic movies that the makers of “The American President” clearly adore, this film works.

To paraphrase Roger Ebert in his four-star evaluate, “The American President” manages the spectacular bordering on unattainable feat of being a superb love story, comedy, and sensible satire about politics. To which I might add that it largely avoids the far tougher process of skipping Sorkin’s stereotypical smug sanctimony … largely. However the one manner for a film like this to work is if you wish to root for (and possibly vote for) the man taking part in the President. Douglas greater than delivers, making a Commander In Chief who belongs on the identical checklist as Presidents Whitmore (“Independence Day”) and Marshall (“Air Pressure One”) for “favourite fictional film Presidents.”

Ironic that for a film star who constructed a decades-long profession as an A-list main man that Michael Douglas’ greatest film can be an ensemble. Additionally ironic (within the Alanis Morissette sense) is that Douglas turned down the movie, which was then provided to Harrison Ford, who additionally turned it down, just for Douglas to lastly be a part of the huge forged. I assure he is glad that he did.

Director Steven Soderbergh units for himself the bold process of tackling America’s sophisticated battle on medicine by telling the tales of a number of interconnected individuals. Sounds dicey, however that is Soderbergh we’re speaking about, who justly gained Finest Director, although Finest Image went to “Gladiator.” Douglas performs Ohio Supreme Courtroom justice Robert Wakefield, whom the President appoints to steer the nation’s drug battle. This hits near house for Choose Wakefield when his personal daughter (Erika Christensen) turns into hooked on cocaine and heroin. Benicio Del Toro offers the standout efficiency in “Site visitors,” which rightly gained him an Academy Award for Finest Supporting Actor. However what Douglas delivers is the credibility he spent many years constructing as a film star, and he brings to his character an authoritative man whose personal world is crumbling behind the scenes. It is not a scene-stealing efficiency, however it’s a vital one, and helps make “Site visitors” the perfect film of Michael Douglas’ performing profession.