Remembering Gene Hackman: Here's a List of My 12 Favorite Films
Gene Hackman was one of those incredible actors who could disappear into any role, making every performance feel effortless. He was one of my favorite actors and with his recent passing, I found myself thinking about some of my favorite Hackman films.
After a freind texted me asking me what my top ten favorite Hackman films are and I ended up giving him twelve, so I decided to expand on that with this post.
So here’s my own personal tribute to one of the greatest actors of all time, through the films that built on my admiration for him.
Unforgiven (1992)
Hackman won his second Oscar for playing Little Bill Daggett, the ruthless sheriff in Clint Eastwood’s Unforgiven, and he was hardcore in that role.
Hackman brings this quiet menace to the role, making every scene he’s in unpredictable. You don’t know whether he’s about to crack a joke or crack a skull.
Get Shorty (1995)
Hackman didn’t do a ton of comedy, but when he did, he killed it. Get Shorty has him playing Harry Zimm, a sleazy, desperate, and hilariously clueless movie producer. Hackman plays Zimm like he’s in over his head, constantly sweating and scrambling to keep up with the sharks around him.
Whether he’s fumbling through a negotiation or getting smacked around by John Travolta, Hackman is a comedic genius here, showing just how good he was at playing characters who are way less competent than they think they are.
The Quick and the Dead (1995)
Hackman goes full villain mode, The Quick and the Dead delivers. He plays John Herod, the ruthless leader of a town where gunfighting is a spectator sport. I loved his performance in this because it was a showy, almost theatrical performance, but Hackman never crosses the line into cartoonish.
He’s pure menace, wielding his power with an unsettling calmness that makes him all the more dangerous. I think his performance in a masterclass in screen presence and Hackman dominates every scene that he’s in.
Hoosiers (1986)
Sports movies are packed with “inspirational coach” performances, but Hackman’s taking on the role of Norman Dale in Hoosiers is different. He doesn’t play Dale as some saintly motivator, he’s a flawed individual hot-headed, and even unlikeable at points, but that’s what makes him so compelling.
Hackman brings a human rawness to the role, making Dale’s redemption and his bond with the team feel earned.
Superman (1978)
In a film full of iconic performances, Hackman’s Lex Luthor is alway a pure joy to watch. He’s theatrical, egotistical, and chewing up scenery in the best way possible. I loved how Hackman plays Lex as a criminal mastermind who sees himself as the smartest guy in the room. He’s funny, but also dangerous, and the way he plays off Christopher Reeve’s Superman is pure gold.
The Conversation (1974)
This might be Hackman’s best performance. The Conversation is a quiet, unsettling film, and Hackman plays Harry Caul, a surveillance expert who starts to unravel when he suspects he’s recording something dangerous.
Unlike his more bombastic roles, Hackman dials it all the way down here, playing Harry as a man consumed by paranoia and regret. It’s a slow burn, but Hackman’s subtle, layered performance is captivating.
Crimson Tide (1995)
One of Hackman’s greatest strengths was playing authority figures who exude control but are just barely holding it together. That’s exactly what he does in Crimson Tide as Captain Ramsey, a submarine commander locked in a battle of wills with Denzel Washington’s Lieutenant Hunter.
The tension between these characters is awesomely intense, and their verbal sparring matches are some of the best scenes of any ‘90s thriller.
Mississippi Burning (1988)
In Mississippi Burning, Hackman gives his intensity a different flavor. His portrayal of FBI Agent Rupert Anderson is fiery, blunt, and laced with dark humor. Hackman has this way of making even the most serious scenes feel alive with an wild energy that you don’r see coming.
When he’s interrogating klansmen in the Deep South, you can feel the barely controlled rage bubbling under the surface. It’s a powerful performance in a brutal film, and Hackman is amazing from start to finish.
The French Connection (1971)
Popeye Doyle is one of the greatest antiheroes in cinema history, and Hackman plays the character in a way that makes him feel real. He’s brash and obsessive, but Hackman makes him so damn compelling.
The famous car chase is legendary, but it’s Hackman’s relentless performance that makes The French Connection a masterpiece.
The Birdcage (1996)
Hackman in The Birdcage is comedy greatness. He plays a conservative senator who finds himself hilariously out of his depth when his daughter’s future in-laws turn out to be a gay couple running a drag club. It’s a role that could have been played straight-laced, but Hackman injects just enough cluelessness and charm to make it work perfectly.
The Royal Tenenbaums (2001)
One of Hackman’s last great roles before his retirement was as Royal Tenenbaum, a selfish, manipulative, emotionally stunted father, and yet… you still can’t help but kind of love him.
That’s the magic of Hackman! He brings warmth to a character who, by all rights, should be irredeemable. Every line delivery, every smirk, every bit of con artistry makes Royal a joy to watch.
Wes Anderson’s quirky, precise style was the perfect playground for Hackman’s dry humor and charisma.
Heartbreakers (2001)
Is Heartbreakers a cinematic masterpiece? No. But Hackman is an absolute riot in it. Playing a sleazy, chain-smoking tobacco mogul who’s scammed by Jennifer Love Hewitt and Sigourney Weaver, Hackman goes full throttle into the ridiculousness. Even in a goofy rom-com, Hackman found a way to be unforgettable.
Gene Hackman left behind a legacy of performances that feel just as fresh today as they did when they first hit the screen. He was unpredictable and magnetic. If you haven’t revisited his work in a while, now’s the perfect time. There’ll never be another Gene Hackman.