Michael Douglas’s 10 Best Movies and TV Shows

As one of Hollywood’s most recognized stars, michael douglas‘films and TV shows have cemented him as a true icon in the industry. Although he is the son of acclaimed star Kirk Douglas, Michael Douglas has established his incredible career in Hollywood, which began in television and as a producer. Even before Douglas became a household name as an actor, he had already won an Oscar for producing One flew over the cuckoo’s nest. However, success as an actor and an Oscar for Best Actor for him would be on the horizon.

Douglas is perhaps best known for his more intense roles, such as in Basic Instinctbut the actor has also shown a lighter side in several roles. He also joined the MCU as the original Ant-Man, Hank Pym. His versatility is incredibly impressive and he continues to do excellent work in a variety of projects, including his most recent role playing Benjamin Franklin in the miniseries. Franklin. Having been acting since the 1960s, Michael Douglas’ best projects feature some truly classic and iconic roles.

10

Ant-Man (2015)

As Hank Pym

It’s a testament to the MCU’s popularity that the cinematic universe could attract a star like Michael Douglas to star in one of its strangest films at the time. Ant-Man is the comedy-crime of one of the original Avengers characters from the comics, with some clever twists on the origin. Douglas plays Hank Pym, a scientist and former superhero who developed a particle that allows him to shrink in size. When Hank’s former protégé develops a new formula, Hank recruits good-hearted thief Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) to become Ant-Man and rob him.

Although many fans still want to know what Edgar Wright Ant-Man would have seemed, the end result is still a funny and inventive small-scale version of an MCU adventure. Douglas seems to have fun playing the tough, smart heroincluding appearing in a stunning digital trading flashback sequence. Meanwhile, Rudd becomes one of the MCU’s most likable heroes, with Scott still playing a big role in the cinematic universe.

9

The Game (1997)

As Nicholas Van Orton

David Fincher followed the big impact Se7en with what may be his most underrated film. The game stars Michael Douglas as Nicholas Van Orton, a closed and cold businessman whose wealth and success have left him empty. When his younger brother (Sean Penn) signs him up to participate in a mysterious interactive game for his birthday, he is taken on an odyssey in which he is unsure where the game ends and the real danger begins.

The game is a gripping thriller that takes the audience on the same wild journey as Nicholas, questioning everything and trying to figure out what is going on. The surreal journey is grounded in Douglas’ layered performance that further increases the intensity. At the end of The gamethe audience is exhausted from the journey, but also willing to delve deeper into the story.

8

Romancing with the Stone (1984)

As Jack Colton

Given how many intense roles Michael Douglas has had in his career, it’s great to see those projects where he has complete fun. Such is the case with Romance with the Stonean extremely fun throwback film that combines adventure and romance like the old series from a bygone era. Kathleen Turner stars as a novelist who seeks to rescue her kidnapped sister from Colombia, teaming up with a swashbuckling treasure hunter, Jack Colton (Douglas), along the way.

Romance with the Stone It’s Douglas’ opportunity to show that he can play Indiana Jones-type roles with brilliance. Like Harrison Ford’s iconic performance in that role, Douglas manages to strike a balance between a dashing hero and a character who shouldn’t be taken too seriously. Douglas and Turner have excellent chemistry, making their banter and eventual romance as exciting as the action sequences.

7

Fatal Attraction (1987)

As Dan Gallagher

Michael Douglas has appeared in several thrillers that have the sexual impulse at their center and Fatal Attraction falls into this category. Douglas stars as Dan Gallagher, a married man who meets the seductive Alex Forrest (Glenn Close) and has an affair. As Dan deals with his guilt and tries to end the relationship, Alex becomes more obsessive and dangerous as she begins attacking Dan’s family.

Fatal Attraction has undergone an interesting reevaluation in recent years with the portrayal of the character Alex. Although Close’s performance helped to cement the intense and terrifying aspects of the character, there is a growing feeling that she is a woman mistreated by the self-centered adulterer Dan. Regardless of how much the audience accepts this perspective, Fatal Attraction It’s still a gripping thriller with some amazing moments. Although Close steals the show, Douglas does well playing the protagonist with flaws that the audience may still care about.

6

Behind the Candelabra (2013)

As Liberace

Although the HBO film Behind the chandelier Didn’t receive as much attention as some of Michael Douglas’ other projects, it was considered his best performance by many critics and fans. From director Steven Soderbergh, Behind the chandelier stars Matt Damon as Scott, a small-town young man who takes a trip to Las Vegas, where he meets legendary entertainer Liberace (Douglas). The film follows their relationship as Liberace welcomes Scott into his lavish lifestyle while at the same time making him just an accessory in his world.

Douglas’ lively and captivating performance is the film’s attraction.but it’s a funny and engaging look at the thrill of a rich, luxurious lifestyle and how anyone can get caught up in it. Damon is the ideal partner for Douglas in the film, with the two playing real characters rather than caricatures.

5

Wonder Boys (2000)

As Grady Tripp

Michael Douglas has made a career out of playing characters who are the most powerful people in any room they walk into. As effective as he is in these roles, it’s always nice to see him break away from that with a very different character, as in Wonder Boys. Douglas stars as Grady Tripp, an English professor who deals with his unfinished book, his failed marriage and his directionless future while taking a troubled young student under his wing.

Douglas gives one of his best performances, finding humanity and humor in this man who never learned how to organize his life. He’s supported by an incredible ensemble of actors, including Tobey Maguire, Frances McDormand, Katie Holmes and Robert Downey Jr. It’s a quiet, simple comedy with lots of laughs and lots of colorful characters.

4

Wall Street (1987)

As Gordon Gekko

Although not his most effective film overall Wall Street characteristics one of Michael Douglas’ most iconic performances and which earned him an Oscar. Oliver Stone explores the world of young, ambitious Wall Street traders in the story of Bud Fox (Charlie Sheen), who is taken under the wing of the ruthless and unethical Gordon Gekko (Douglas), compromising his morals to find wealth and success in this business. high pressure world.

Although Douglas has played many great heroes in his long career, he has a talent for playing despicable characters. A big part of the fun of Gordon Gekko is how unashamed he is of this quality. He wears his greed like a badge of honor. Although not the most impactful of Stone’s films, Wall Street is still a fascinating exploration of a specific time in America and elevated by Douglas’s performance.

3

Falling (1993)

As William Foster

Similar to Wonder Boys, falling It’s a movie you watch Michael Douglas playing against type of his typical successful and self-confident characters. It’s also one of his most moving and entertaining performances. Douglas stars in the film as William Foster, a married worker who has lost his wife and his job. During his bad day, stuck in Los Angeles traffic, he abandons his car and goes on a rampage against modern conformity.

The film brilliantly mixes intensity with dark humor as the audience struggles to decide whether William is a dangerous man or whether he is just fed up with the state of the world around him. Falling is one of those rare films that takes place over the course of a single day and allows for a propulsive pace.

2

Basic Instinct (1992)

As Nick Curran

As Fatal Attraction, Basic Instinct is another thriller with a sexual angle and Michael Douglas in the lead role. He plays Nick Curran, a volatile San Francisco police detective who begins investigating a murder that is remarkably similar to that of a detective novel. Curran begins investigating the novel’s author, Catherine Tramell (Sharon Stone), as a possible suspect, but soon discovers that she is seducing him into her complex web.

Director Paul Verhoeven is a master at mixing emotion with sexuality and Basic Instinct is one of the best examples of this. Although the film is best remembered for Stone’s performance as the femme fatale Douglas is the key to the film, playing yet another deeply flawed protagonist. It’s an intense journey watching Nick’s downward spiral as he struggles with his obsession with this dangerous woman.

1

Traffic (2000)

As Robert Wakefield

Even though he’s part of a large, star-studded ensemble, Michael Douglas knows how to stand out in a memorable role. Traffic is Steven Soderbergh’s brilliant Best Picture-winning film about the American war on drugs seen from a variety of perspectives. Douglas is one of the main actors as the new attorney general, who is tasked with cracking down on drug-related crimes while also struggling with his personal problems as his teenage daughter struggles with addiction.

Traffic features an incredible cast including Catherine Zeta-Jones, Don Cheadle, Dennis Quaid and Benicio Del Toro in an Oscar-winning role. However, Douglas delivers a towering performance in the massive story that is moving, grounding and powerful. The film is a thought-provoking and engaging look at a problem that is not easily resolved, the many sides of the battle and the many victims.