Since the early 2000s, New Zealand actorRussell Crowehas been a pillar of Hollywood’s greatest actors, so it should be no surprise that a whopping eight of his movies are currently available to stream on Netflix. Crowe’s career first began in the 1990s with movies likeL.A. ConfidentialandThe Quick and the Dead,yet the actor didn’t truly rise to fame until 2000, whenhe took on the leading role in Ridley Scott’sGladiator.From there,Crowe’s career exploded, and he led iconic films such asA Beautiful Mind, American Gangster,andRobin Hood.
Notably, Crowe has quite an extensive resume, and it only continues to grow in 2024. This year, Crowe starred in four movies, and thoughhe never actually appeared inGladiator II,the sequel made it hard to forget about Maximus, one of Crowe’s best roles. In this way, Crowe continues to be on audiences' radars with every new movie he puts out. So,those who might have an itch to check out more of Crowe’s work should definitely check out Netflix, where eight of his movies are available to watch.
8Unhinged (2020)
Crowe Plays A Deranged Killer
A unique and fun place to start when watching Crowe’s Netflix line-up isUnhinged.The 2020 film stars Crowe as Tom Cooper, a strange and violent man who begins terrorizing a single motherafter she honks at him at a green light. Over the course of his career, Crowe has played heroes and villains, but Cooper is a character that is unlike any other role Crowe has portrayed. He is not only scary, but completely unpredictable and cold. Crowe completely embodies this sadistic killer, and in some ways, carries the weight of the movie on his shoulders.
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Of course,Unhingedis far from beingCrowe’s best movie, but that doesn’t mean audiences should skip it. What the movie lacks in depth, it makes up for in pure entertainment value. Crowe’s performance alone will have viewers glued to their seats, desperate to see what he does next. Arguably,this is a solid place to start with Crowe’s resume because it is a low-stakes rollercoaster ride.Unhingedwill easily prepare audience members for some of Crowe’s more intense performances.
7Robin Hood (2010)
Crowe Is The Legendary Thief
Another Crowe project that came ten years earlier and is now on Netflix isRobin Hood.In this movie,Crowe plays the beloved thief, Robin Hood, who steals from the rich to give to the poor. Notably, the film was directed by Ridley Scott, who famously ledGladiator.Once again,Robin Hoodis not necessarily the cream of the crop when it comes to Crowe’s filmography, butit is an action-packed ride that is helped along by Crowe’s wonderful performance. Some of the movie’s best moments are those where Crowe gets to really sink into his character and the emotions within him.
Crowe’s Robin is a lonely figure, whose escapades seem to weigh heavily on him.
If anything,Robin Hoodshows a darker and gloomier side to Crowe. Many of Crowe’s movies have a sad edge to them, butRobin Hoodframes this in a medieval world of heroes and villains. Crowe’s Robin is a lonely figure, whose escapades seem to weigh heavily on him. While this may take some of the fun out of the classic adventure tale,it also offers a new perspective onRobin Hoodthat may be more realistic and more moving.
6The Pope’s Exorcist (2023)
Crowe Takes On An Unlikely Priest
One Crowe movie on Netflix at the moment isan underrated gem calledThe Pope’s Exorcist.Released in 2023, the movie stars Crowe as Father Gabriele Amorth, a fun-loving and humorous priest who acts as the Pope’s personal exorcist.Amorth’s easy-going personality is stifled when he conducts a fake exorcismon a man who believes himself to be possessed by a demon. In trouble with the church, Amorth is sent to Spain to conduct another exorcism that may be far more real than the priest expected.
Crowe starred in two exorcism movies within two years of each other:The Pope’s ExorcistandThe Exorcism.
Crowe has rarely appeared in horror movies throughout his career, butThe Pope’s Exorcistproves that the genre could be a good fit for the actor.Crowe’s performance as Amorth is surprising and charismatic, and brings light to a movie that is fairly straightforward. Audiences who enjoy spiritual horror movies will definitely find something to love in this film. Plus, it is a delight to see Crowe in a different type of movie role, especially considering that he does it so well.
5American Gangster (2007)
Crowe Plays A Troubled Detective
Netflix may have some of Crowe’s less-than-stellar movies in its catalog, but the streaming service also supplies some real hits, includingAmerican Gangster.This crime film tells the story of two competing forces:a mob boss called Frank who controls a drug empire and a morally upstanding detective who is tracking him down. Crowe plays the latter, and it is a role that is just about perfect for him. Crowe is both heroic and broken, lovable and strange. It’s no wonder the movie grossed nearly $300 million at the box office.
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In general,American Gangsteris a great watch, regardless of Crowe’s performance. Denzel Washington is inspired as Frank, and his chemistry with Crowe is spot-on. The story itself is also compelling and smoothly showcased. Audiences not only get a deep and important story, but they also end up being entertained by the chaotic crimes and the chase against Frank. On Crowe’s resume,American Gangsteris a must-see movie that proves why he’s such a celebrated actor.
43:10 To Yuma (2007)
Crowe Is A Wild West Criminal
Another outstanding Crowe movie that premiered in the same year asAmerican Gangsteris3:10 to Yuma.Here, Crowe completely switches roles, going from a stubborn detective to a Wild West outlaw.Crowe plays Ben Wade, a Western villainwho leads a posse of outlaws through Arizona, terrorizing the Southern Railroad. He comes into contact with a broke rancher, played by Christian Bale, andthe two become entangled with one another, becoming respectful enemies as Bale’s character must escort Wade to prison on a trainto Yuma Territorial Prison.
As a remake,3:10 to Yumacould have failed to impress audiences, but in fact, it did quite the opposite. The 2007 movie was a hit with critics, many of whom felt that the film was a step above the original 1957 movie. A major part of the movie’s success was the performances of Crowe and Bale, who are fierce in their opposing roles. All in all,3:10 to Yumais a fast-paced and dark ride through a genre that did not always succeed in the early 2000s.
Crown Embodies A Skilled Fighter Pilot
The most recent Crowe project that has a new home on Netflix isLand of Bad.The action thriller follows a rookie officer who is part of a Delta Force team who are under attack. His only hope of survival is by working together with an aging fighter pilot who is in the sky, ready to rescue him whenever he can.Crowe takes on the role of the pilot, while Liam Hemsworth plays the solider, Kinney.Land of Bad’scastalso includes Ricky Whittle, Luke Hemsworth, and Milo Ventimiglia.
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Land of Badis a surprising gem for Crowe. Despite being a movie that uses many tropes of the military action genre,Land of Badmanages to keep itself afloat through impressive set pieces and action sequences, and a genuinely talented cast. In this case, it is not just Crowe carrying the movie along, but the entire cast. Ultimately, audiences will leave this movie feeling entertained and perhaps thoughtful about the American military.
2Cinderella Man (2005)
Crowe Takes On A Real-Life Boxer
One more Crowe classic on Netflix right now isCinderella Man.A biographical film,Cinderella Manfollows Crowe as James J. Braddock, a lightweight boxer whose fighting career is disruptedwhen he breaks his hand. However, in light of the Great Depression, Braddock returns to the ring once again to earn money for his family. In turn, this causes difficulties with his wife, but also leads him on a path of glory. Generally,Cinderella Manis thought to be one of the greatest boxing movies of all time.
As much fun as it is to see Crowe play a psycho killer or an outlaw, there is nothing like the actor in a purely heroic role. As Braddock, Crowe is lovable, admirable, and easy to root for. Against the backdrop of a struggling America, it is easy for audiences to become invested in Braddock. In this way,it is not just a movie about boxing, but a film that dives into American history and the classic underdog story. This is definitely one of Crowe’s best films of all time.
1Boy Erased (2018)
Crowe Plays A Pastor
Last but not least, audiences who want more of Crowe should check outBoy Erasedon Netflix.This movie follows Jared, a young man who is outed as gayto his religious parents. Feeling pressure from his family and peers, Jared decides to go to conversion therapy. While there, he clashes with the camp’s leader, learns more about his identity, and figures out how to speak up for himself, even when others don’t want him to. Crowe plays Jared’s father, Marshall Eamons, a Baptist preacher.
Overall,Boy Erasedis another strong entry for Crowe. The movie is emotional, raw, and hopeful. With Joel Edgerton in the director’s chair, this movie has endless amounts of sympathy and understanding for its characters, making it a movie worth watching. Furthermore,Crowe’s performance as Marshall is one of his more difficult roles, but it only proves how dynamic Crowe can be on-screen.Boy Erasedis just one of manyRussell Crowemovies that movie lovers should see.
