In the ’80s and ’90s, one of the most popular actors was Val Kilmer. Val has acted in everything from horror to action to comedy. With his brief return to his role as Iceman in Top Gun: Maverick, fans are looking back at some of his best starring roles. Today, we are ranking 8 of his best movies according to their IMDb scores. From Gotham to the old west, here are some of Val’s best movies ranked.
8. Batman Forever (1995) -5.4
After Batman Returns in 1992, Warner Bros. wanted to move away from the darker tone with the third movie. The result was Batman Forever, and it is known as a cult classic today. Val Kilmer plays the titular caped crusader and is accompanied by Tommy Lee Jones as Two-Face and Jim Carrey as Riddler. Many fans claim Val as the most underrated Batman. The script was certainly sillier than the previous two but still took itself just seriously enough. Val as Batman is stern and gruff while not being a carbon copy of Michael Keaton. Out of all the actors to play Batman, there are certainly worst performances than Kilmer.
7. Top Gun (1986) -6.9
The original Top Gun was a cultural phenomenon almost immediately. According to its IMDb score, it isn’t nearly as good as the recent sequel, but it is still a great movie. Kilmer portrays Iceman, a fellow Top Gun student and competitor of Tom Cruise’s Maverick. Like Maverick, Iceman feels he is the best around, leading to several confrontations. By the end of the movie, the two have common respect for one another, and their teamwork leads them to save the day. Kilmer doesn’t have a ton of scenes here, but whenever he is present, he is sure to draw attention. Even against Cruise, Kilmer stands out as a phenomenal actor.
6. The Prince Of Egypt (1998) -7.1
An animated musical version of Cecil B. Demille’s The Ten Commandments doesn’t sound like a good idea for a movie. However, The Prince of Egypt is a great film with gorgeous animation and fantastic music. Val Kilmer provides the voice of Moses in the movie, and he does a phenomenal job. Kilmer didn’t do many voice-over roles throughout his career, and this is a shame. He is able to carry this film flawlessly, being compassionate and friendly in his role as Moses. He also provides the voice of God, being commanding and threatening. This shows the range of Kilmer even inanimation. This movie isn’t as talked about today as it should be. The Prince of Egypt should be seen by any fan of animation or of Kilmer.
5. Willow (1988) -7.2
It has recently been announced that Disney+ is releasing a sequel to George Lucus’ cult classic Willow. The original film features Val as a Han Solo-like character named Madmardigan, a mercenary who helps Willow on his adventure. Many younger audiences may not be familiar with the film, and they owe it to themselves to check it out before the sequel releases. The film may be a bit cliche, but it is filled with heart, fantasy, and excitement.
This is one of Kilmer’s finest works, and the high IMDb score should prove that. Willow follows the titular character, played by Warwick Davis, as he must travel with a child destined to save the land. With Ron Howard directing and Lucas writing, it is no surprise this underrated ’80s gem has become as beloved as it has.
4. The Doors (1991)- 7.2
When it comes to rockstar biopics, few come close to Oliver Stone’s masterpiece The Doors. The movie is about Jim Morrison, the frontman of the titular rock band. Val Kilmer plays Morrison in one of the best roles in any biopic. Val is the classic rock legend come to life, and it is no surprise why this is one of his highest regarded films. What makes the movie so great is it doesn’t shy away from the truth. Jim Morrison was a very flawed man who battled some demons in his life.
The film showcases all of his struggles on full display, giving an authentic look into the life of a troubled rockstar. Val even does his own singing in the film. Reportedly, Kilmer did such a great job singing that actual members of The Doors couldn’t tell it apart from Morison’s actual voice.
3. Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang (2005)- 7.5
A few years before he was Iron Man, Robert Downey Jr. Co-starred alongside Kilmer in Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang. The movie follows a thief (Downey Jr.) on the run from the police. He stumbles upon an audition for a Hollywood movie, which he nails. He is then sent to Hollywood, where he becomes entangled in a murder plot. Kilmer portrays a private eye who, along with Downey Jr., must get to the bottom of this murder mystery. The film serves as a parody of sorts of the film-noir genre. The film has humor and a decent mystery. This movie isn’t discussed in many circles as it should be. This is one of the highest-rated Kilmer movies on IMDb, and for good reason. It has suspense, humor, and action, giving it something for everyone to enjoy.
2. Tombstone (1993)- 7.8
When Val Kilmer is mentioned, one movie that is almost certain to come up is Tombstone. Known as one of the best westerns of all time, Tombstone follows Wyatt Earp as he hunts down the Cowboy gang. Val plays Wyatt’s trusting friend Doc Holliday and steals the show. Throughout the movie, Doc is dying from Tuberculosis. Regardless, he is the first to show up to a fight and will happily die fighting alongside his friend. Kilmer is sarcastic and deadly, a perfect match for a perfect performance. This highly quotable movie should be seen by any movie fan even if they aren’t fans of the western genre, as proven by the IMDb score.
1. Heat (1995)- 8.3
A movie starring Al Pacino, Robert DeNiro, and Kilmer will surely have a sizeable IMDb score. Such is the case with the crime thriller Heat. A group of criminals led by DeNiro is hunted by the LAPD led by Pacino. Kilmer plays one of DeNiro’s thieves, who begins to go rogue. Even against heavyweights like Pacino and DeNiro, Val still manages to give a standout performance. The film is full of suspense, action, and drama. The movie should be seen by any movie fan, as it gets nearly everything perfect.
