Top 11 Robin Williams Movies
- CJ Tiernan
- Oct 18, 2025
- 5 min read
Robin Williams was a remarkable actor. He brought an unrivaled energy and enthusiasm to his performances. While rightly remembered for his comedic chops, he was so good at bringing a tenderness and humanity to his characters. Robin Williams is one of my very favorite actors of all time. Below are my 11 favorite Robin Williams movies of all time.
John Mathew Smith & www.celebrity-photos.com, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
1. Good Will Hunting (1997)
Good Will Hunting is a beautiful story of a young man (the title character Will Hunting, portrayed by Matt Damon) working as a janitor at MIT. He is discovered by a professor to be a genius in the field of mathematics. The movie is full of humor and hope, two of the strongest emotions a human can possibly feel. Williams plays Dr. Sean Maguire, a therapist charged with cutting through Will's very thick Boston armor. He helps to lend a gravitas to the film, serving as a Mr. Miyagi to Matt Damon. Robin Williams offers up some all time great lines in this movie while bringing his trademark wit and heart. It's one of the best movies of all time and the role earned Robin Williams his only Oscar.
2. Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)
This is Robin's best role. It feels perfectly crafted to his skill set. He plays a voice actor who loses custody of his three children to his ex-wife and masquerades as an old-lady housekeeper in order to be able to see his children. It is a role that perfectly encapsulates his range. He gets to be over-the-top funny, showcasing his physical comedy, and he gets to be human and vulnerable. According to Robin (a biography by Dave Itzkoff), he was also the driving force behind the way in which the movie ends. He fought to ensure the ending was realistic and the divorced parents didn't get back together at the end. He felt it was important for kids to see divorce portrayed realistically in film, as he was a divorced father himself.
3. Jumanji (1995)
Jumanji is the story of supernatural board game that seems to have a mind of its own and forces the players into jungle-like hazards as the game goes along. Robin Willams plays a man-child, an adult who was pulled into the jungle during the game as a kid and forced to survive there for many years all on his own. It offers another opportunity to showcase his physical comedy skills. He also works along side child actors, bringing a tenderness to the performance.
4. The Birdcage (1996)
Robin Williams brings all the energy to this one. He plays one half of a guy couple (with Nathan Lane) who have to throw together a dinner party and pretend to be straight to gain the approval of their son's fiancé's conservative parents. Hijinx ensue! This is a non-stop laugh riot and highly worth the watch. Hank Azaria, Gene Hackman, and Dianne Wiest round out a fantastic cast.
5. Night at the Museum (2006)
Robin Williams is a star. A bonafide star. He is the leading man in almost every movie he is in. This movie is the only one on my list where he is neither the main character, nor essential to the heart of the film. The movie itself is a lot of fun, though. Featuring Ben Stiller as a nightwatchman, the story takes place in a NYC history museum where the exhibits come to life at night. Williams portrays the Rough Rider himself, Theodore Roosevelt. It is a great family flick.
6. What Dreams May Come (1998)
What Dreams May Come is a fantastical story of love and loss. Robin Williams plays a doctor named Chris who, along with his wife Annie (Annabella Sciorra), lose their two children in a car accident. Several years later, Chris dies in a separate car accident. Annie is left broken and alone, while Chris watches on helplessly from the afterlife. Annie eventually succumbs to the grief and takes her own life. Chris then sets out from his perch in heaven to save her from hell, the place where people who die by suicide go. It is a gripping, devastating story with a beautiful performance from Williams.
7. Hook (1991)
Man-Child Alert! In this Spielberg flick, Robin plays a version of Peter Pan that has left Neverland, grown up, and forgotten he was ever Peter Pan. He has to return to Neverland to save his children, who have been kidnapped by Captain Hook. Another great showcase for Robin's energy and tenderness, this movie is a really fun one to watch. Rufio!
8. Aladdin (1992)
This is the only animated movie on my list. Robin Williams plays the Genie. This role is so totally and completely Robin Williams. It feels a lot like a PG-version of his stand-up comedy. This role and his role in "Good Morning, Vietnam" are probably the two roles that showcase how amazing an improviser he was and how mile-a-minute his mind operated. This performance is energetic and hilarious.
9. The Fisher King (1991)
Jeff Bridges and Robin Williams are both fantastic in this one. It is directed by Terry Gilliam (Monty Python, 12 Monkeys, and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas) so it is understandably difficult to quickly distill the plot. Williams plays a homeless man in pursuit of the holy grail whose status and mental state were altered by a traumatic event fomented, in part, by Bridges character. It is one of Robin Williams most human and vulnerable performances. This movie is worth a watch.
10. Popeye (1980)
Popeye was Robin's first starring role in movie. It was really his first feature film period. The energy in this movie is insane, although seeming explainable. The comedy is broad and physical and the makeup and costumes are pretty true to the comic strip the movie is based on. Those forearms are ridiculous! Also, it's a musical! Check it out. The whole thing takes place in a coastal town (that they built from scratch) in the beautiful island country of Malta.
11. Dead Poets Society (1989)
"O captain, my captain" and "carpe diem. Seize the day, boys!" are two of the lasting and poignant quotes from the movie. Williams once again deftly portrays a sculptor of the young mind, this time as John Keating. His character offers the hope of infinite possibility to his young pupils, rattling the cages of conventions of the time. The movie is beautiful and tragic, hopeful and humorous. It is Robin Williams.
Final Thoughts
Comedy doesn't always translate to acting. Sometimes people are too sardonic to be vulnerable. It just doesn't work. That wasn't the case with Robin Williams. He always had a gleam in his eyes. It was magical. He operated on screen with such humanity. His loss was felt my so many. He was in so many great movies that I'm sure your list differs from mine. How great a compliment is that to the great Robin Williams that we can't agree on which of his films were the best because he did so many wonderful ones? Below is a ranking of the rest of his movies I've seen. I haven't seen them all, so if I missed any winners, please let me know. Thanks!
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