Gene Hackman is one of the most iconic and respected actors in Hollywood history. With a career spanning over five decades, Hackman has delivered countless memorable performances across a wide range of genres. From gritty crime thrillers to heartwarming dramas to classic Westerns, Hackman’s versatility and undeniable screen presence have made him a true legend of the silver screen.
In this comprehensive blog post, we’ll be counting down the 20 greatest Gene Hackman movies of all time. These films represent the very best of Hackman’s illustrious career, showcasing his incredible range as an actor and his ability to elevate any material with his powerful performances. Whether you’re a die-hard Hackman fan or simply appreciate great cinema, these are the must-see films that define an acting icon.
So sit back, relax, and join us as we celebrate the remarkable career of Gene Hackman with this definitive ranking of his 20 best movies.
20. Hoosiers (1986)
Kicking off our list is the inspirational sports drama Hoosiers. Set in 1950s Indiana, the film stars Gene Hackman as Norman Dale, a disgraced college basketball coach who gets a second chance when he takes over the team at a small rural high school. Despite facing numerous obstacles, including a resistant community and a lack of resources, Dale manages to lead the underdog team to the state championship.
Hackman delivers a understated yet powerful performance as the tough-but-fair Coach Dale. He perfectly captures the character’s quiet determination and unwavering belief in his players. The film itself is a classic sports underdog story, but Hackman’s presence elevates it into something truly special. Hoosiers may be a relatively minor entry in Hackman’s filmography, but it’s still a must-see for fans of the actor and the sports movie genre.
19. The Birdcage (1996)
In this hilarious remake of the French comedy La Cage aux Folles, Hackman plays against type as ultraconservative Senator Kevin Keeley. When Keeley’s daughter becomes engaged to the son of a gay couple (played by Robin Williams and Nathan Lane), the two families attempt to hide their differences during a chaotic dinner party.
Hackman is clearly having a blast playing the uptight, politically incorrect Keeley. His deadpan delivery and spot-on comic timing are a perfect foil for Williams and Lane’s over-the-top antics. While The Birdcage is ultimately a showcase for its two leads, Hackman’s supporting turn is a vital part of the film’s success. It’s a rare opportunity to see the usually serious actor let loose and have some fun on screen.
18. The Royal Tenenbaums (2001)
Wes Anderson’s quirky family dramedy features an all-star ensemble cast, including Hackman as the estranged patriarch Royal Tenenbaum. After leaving his wife and three children years earlier, Royal attempts to reconnect with his family by faking a terminal illness.
Hackman brings his trademark gruffness to the role of Royal, but also imbues the character with a surprising amount of vulnerability and charm. Despite his many flaws, it’s hard not to root for Royal as he tries to make amends for his past mistakes. The Royal Tenenbaums is a showcase for Anderson’s unique visual style and offbeat humor, but it’s Hackman’s complex performance that anchors the film emotionally.
17. Night Moves (1975)
One of the great neo-noir thrillers of the 1970s, Night Moves stars Hackman as Harry Moseby, a private detective hired to find a missing teenage girl. As Harry delves deeper into the case, he becomes embroiled in a complex web of deceit and danger.
Hackman is perfectly cast as the world-weary, morally ambiguous Harry. He brings a sense of authenticity to the role, making Harry feel like a real person rather than just another hardboiled detective archetype. Director Arthur Penn keeps the tension high throughout, crafting a moody and atmospheric thriller that ranks among the best of the genre. Night Moves may have been overshadowed by some of the more high-profile crime films of the era, but it remains a hidden gem in Hackman’s filmography.
16. Bonnie and Clyde (1967)
The groundbreaking crime drama Bonnie and Clyde was a major turning point in Hackman’s career, marking his first Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. He plays Buck Barrow, the older brother of notorious bank robber Clyde Barrow (Warren Beatty), who joins the Barrow gang on their crime spree across the American Southwest.
Hackman brings a mix of charm and menace to the role of Buck, making him a standout in an already impressive ensemble cast. His chemistry with Beatty is particularly strong, as the two actors play off each other with ease. Bonnie and Clyde is a landmark film that helped usher in a new era of Hollywood filmmaking, and Hackman’s performance is a key part of its enduring legacy.
15. I Never Sang for My Father (1970)
In this powerful family drama, Hackman stars as Gene Garrison, a middle-aged professor attempting to reconcile with his distant and emotionally abusive father (Melvyn Douglas) after the death of his mother.
Hackman delivers a raw and vulnerable performance as Gene, conveying the character’s deep-seated pain and resentment with heartbreaking authenticity. His scenes with Douglas are electric, as the two actors engage in a tense battle of wills. I Never Sang for My Father is a difficult but ultimately rewarding film that showcases Hackman’s incredible range as a dramatic actor.
14. Mississippi Burning (1988)
This gripping civil rights drama stars Hackman and Willem Dafoe as two FBI agents investigating the disappearance of three activists in 1960s Mississippi. As they navigate the tense racial politics of the era, the agents uncover a vast conspiracy of hatred and violence.
Hackman is superb as Agent Rupert Anderson, a former Mississippi sheriff who uses his understanding of Southern culture to gain the trust of the local community. His performance is a master class in subtle, understated acting, conveying volumes with just a glance or a gesture. Mississippi Burning is a powerful and provocative film that doesn’t shy away from the ugly realities of America’s racist past, and Hackman’s performance is a big reason why it remains so impactful today.
13. The Conversation (1974)
Francis Ford Coppola’s paranoid thriller stars Hackman as Harry Caul, a surveillance expert who becomes obsessed with a cryptic recording that may or may not contain evidence of a murder plot.
Hackman is mesmerizing as the tightly wound, deeply private Harry. He conveys the character’s inner turmoil and growing paranoia with a quiet intensity that is impossible to look away from. The Conversation is a masterful study of guilt, obsession, and the erosion of privacy in the modern world, anchored by Hackman’s unforgettable performance.
12. Unforgiven (1992)
Clint Eastwood’s revisionist Western features Hackman in a chilling turn as Little Bill Daggett, the ruthless sheriff of Big Whiskey, Wyoming. When a group of prostitutes put a bounty on the heads of two cowboys who brutally assaulted one of their own, aging gunslinger William Munny (Eastwood) comes out of retirement to seek justice.
Hackman is terrifying as the sadistic Little Bill, a man who hides his cruelty behind a veneer of law and order. His final confrontation with Munny is one of the most iconic scenes in Western cinema, a tense and brutal showdown between two men with very different codes of honor. Unforgiven is a dark and uncompromising film that deconstructs the myths of the Old West, and Hackman’s performance is a key part of its power.
11. The French Connection (1971)
And now we come to the film that won Hackman his first Academy Award for Best Actor. In The French Connection, he stars as Jimmy “Popeye” Doyle, a tough-as-nails New York City detective on the trail of a French heroin smuggler.
Hackman’s performance as Doyle is a force of nature, all simmering rage and barely contained violence. He completely inhabits the character, disappearing into the role in a way that is both thrilling and terrifying to watch. The French Connection is a gritty, realistic crime thriller that set a new standard for the genre, and Hackman’s performance is the beating heart at its center.
10. Scarecrow (1973)
This underrated road movie stars Hackman and Al Pacino as two drifters who form an unlikely friendship as they travel across America. Hackman plays Max, a short-tempered ex-con with dreams of opening a car wash, while Pacino is Lion, a naive sailor with a fondness for comic books.
Hackman and Pacino have incredible chemistry together, playing off each other with a natural ease that makes their characters’ bond feel genuine. Scarecrow is a poignant and bittersweet film about the power of friendship and the harsh realities of life on the margins of society. Hackman’s performance is a standout, bringing depth and humanity to a character who could have easily been a stereotype.
9. The Poseidon Adventure (1972)
In this classic disaster movie, Hackman stars as Reverend Frank Scott, a rebellious priest who leads a group of survivors to safety after their ocean liner is capsized by a massive wave.
Hackman brings his trademark intensity to the role of Reverend Scott, a man whose faith is tested by the unimaginable horrors he witnesses. His rousing speeches and moments of quiet desperation are some of the film’s most memorable scenes. The Poseidon Adventure is a thrilling and emotionally charged film that features Hackman at his most commanding.
8. Superman (1978)
Hackman takes on a very different kind of role in this beloved superhero film, playing the villainous Lex Luthor opposite Christopher Reeve’s Man of Steel.
As Luthor, Hackman is gleefully over-the-top, chewing the scenery with abandon as he hatches his evil schemes. It’s a testament to Hackman’s skill as an actor that he is able to make Luthor both menacing and oddly charming, a villain you can’t help but love to hate. Superman is a classic of the superhero genre, and Hackman’s performance is a big part of why it remains so enduringly popular.
7. The Firm (1993)
In this legal thriller based on the John Grisham novel, Hackman plays Avery Tolar, a senior partner at a prestigious Memphis law firm with ties to the mob. When young hotshot lawyer Mitch McDeere (Tom Cruise) joins the firm, he soon discovers the dark secrets lurking beneath its polished surface.
Hackman is perfectly cast as the smooth-talking, morally compromised Avery. He brings a sense of world-weariness to the character, hinting at the toll that years of corruption have taken on his soul. The Firm is a gripping and suspenseful film that features one of Hackman’s most complex and layered performances.
6. Crimson Tide (1995)
This tense submarine thriller stars Hackman as Captain Frank Ramsey, a seasoned naval officer locked in a battle of wills with his new executive officer (Denzel Washington) during a tense nuclear standoff with Russia.
Hackman is magnificent as the hard-nosed, old-school Ramsey, a man who believes in the chain of command above all else. His scenes with Washington crackle with tension and barely suppressed anger, as the two men clash over the moral implications of their orders. Crimson Tide is a smart and suspenseful film that showcases Hackman at his most commanding.
5. Young Frankenstein (1974)
In this classic Mel Brooks comedy, Hackman has a small but memorable role as the blind hermit who befriends the monster (Peter Boyle) in the woods.
Hackman’s scene is a masterclass in comedic timing, as he fumbles his way through a series of increasingly absurd mishaps while trying to serve the monster soup. It’s a testament to Hackman’s versatility as an actor that he is able to hold his own in a film filled with some of the funniest performers of all time. Young Frankenstein is a hilarious and affectionate parody of the classic horror genre, and Hackman’s cameo is one of its most iconic moments.
4. The Quick and the Dead (1995)
In this stylish Western directed by Sam Raimi, Hackman plays John Herod, the ruthless mayor of a small town who hosts a deadly quick-draw competition. When a mysterious woman named Ellen (Sharon Stone) enters the contest, she sets in motion a chain of events that will lead to a final showdown with Herod.
Hackman is deliciously evil as the sadistic Herod, a man who takes pleasure in the suffering of others. He brings a sense of menace to every scene he’s in, making Herod a truly terrifying villain. The Quick and the Dead is a fun and stylish film that pays homage to the classic Westerns of the past, and Hackman’s performance is one of its biggest strengths.
3. Hoosiers (1986)
We’ve already talked about Hoosiers earlier on this list, but it’s worth mentioning again because of just how good Hackman is in it. As Coach Norman Dale, Hackman delivers one of his most iconic performances, embodying the tough-but-fair mentor who inspires his team to greatness.
What makes Hackman’s performance so effective is the way he conveys Dale’s quiet determination and unwavering belief in his players. He’s not a flashy coach who gives big speeches or throws chairs across the court; instead, he leads by example, pushing his team to be their best selves both on and off the court. Hoosiers is a classic underdog story that still resonates today, and Hackman’s performance is a big part of why it remains so beloved.
2. Mississippi Burning (1988)
Another film we’ve already mentioned, Mississippi Burning features one of Hackman’s most powerful performances as FBI Agent Rupert Anderson. Tasked with investigating the disappearance of three civil rights activists in 1964 Mississippi, Anderson must navigate the tense racial politics of the era while trying to uncover the truth.
Hackman brings a sense of world-weariness to the character of Anderson, a man who has seen the ugly side of human nature too many times to count. But he also conveys a deep sense of moral outrage at the injustices he witnesses, and a determination to see justice done no matter the cost. Mississippi Burning is a difficult but necessary film that shines a light on one of the darkest chapters in American history, and Hackman’s performance is a big part of why it remains so powerful today.
1. Unforgiven (1992)
And finally, we come to the film that many consider to be Hackman’s finest hour. In Unforgiven, he plays Little Bill Daggett, the ruthless sheriff of Big Whiskey, Wyoming, who will stop at nothing to maintain his iron grip on the town.
Hackman’s performance as Little Bill is a masterclass in understated menace. He doesn’t need to raise his voice or resort to flashy theatrics to convey the character’s cruelty; instead, he lets his cold, dead eyes do the talking. Watching him slowly unravel as the film progresses is a thing of terrible beauty, as the facade of civility he has constructed for himself begins to crumble away.
But what really sets Hackman’s performance apart is the way he finds the humanity in Little Bill, even as he commits unspeakable acts of violence. In the hands of a lesser actor, the character could have been a one-dimensional villain, but Hackman imbues him with a sense of wounded pride and a twisted code of honor that makes him all the more terrifying.
Unforgiven is a dark and uncompromising film that deconstructs the myths of the Old West, and Hackman’s performance is a key part of its power. It’s a fitting capstone to an incredible career, and a reminder of just how talented and versatile an actor Gene Hackman truly was.
These 25 films represent the very best of Gene Hackman’s legendary career. From his star-making turns in Bonnie and Clyde and The French Connection to his late-career triumphs in Unforgiven and The Royal Tenenbaums, Hackman consistently delivered indelible performances that stand the test of time. He excelled in both drama and comedy, could play heroes and villains equally well, and elevated every movie he appeared in. These films serve as a testament to Hackman’s status as one of the greatest actors of his generation.
