Since his feature film debut in 1985’s Top Secret!, Val Kilmer has wowed audiences time and again, etching his name into the Hollywood history books as an A-list talent. His sharp looks, effortless charisma, and dedication to the art of acting made him a household name, and even as his star faded in the 2000s, the actor continued to contribute show-stealing performances on screen.
With his critically acclaimed and startlingly intimate documentary Val releasing recently, there’s arguably never been a better time to look back on the career of the American star. Though Kilmer’s career lacked the award recognition it arguably deserved, it’s still chock-full of celebrated cinematic outings.
10.Willow Showed Kilmer Had The Skills To Really Make It Big
A dark fantasy conceived in the mind of Star Wars creator George Lucas, Willow provided Val Kilmer with an opportunity to cement himself as a Hollywood star after rising to fame with his performance in Top Gun a few years prior.
Kilmer starred as Madmartigan, swordsman and protector to Warwick Davis’ Willow Ufgood, and despite Willow failing to live up to its lofty expectations at the box office, Kilmer’s strong showing displayed all the skills needed for his future as a leading man and ensured him further steps up the Hollywood ladder.
9.The Saint Is A Showcase Of Kilmer’s Range
Espionage thriller The Saint may have received mixed reviews and even earned Kilmer a Razzie nomination for Worst Actor at the time of its release, yet a look back at the film with eyes nostalgic for Val Kilmer’s illustrious career reveals an exceptionally enjoyable 2 hours.
That enjoyment is almost all down to Kilmer, The Saint serves as something of a showreel for Kilmer’s outstanding ear for accents, and his chameleon-like transitions as a master of disguise make The Saint one of Kilmer’s most watchable outings.
8.MacGruber Features Val Kilmer At His Most Unapologetically Hilarious
A Saturday Night Live movie may seem a far cry from Val Kilmer’s Hollywood heights of the 1990s, but the former Batman earned a respected share of laughs in 2010’s MacGruber. Kilmer signed on after stating the script read-through was the funniest he had ever attended. As the film’s evil supervillain Dieter Von Cunth, Kilmer embraced absurdity and adult humor to deliver one of his most hilarious performances. It’s Kilmer quite unlike you’ve ever seen him before.
7.Wonderland Makes For A Wonderfully Dark Performance From Val Kilmer
Val Kilmer made a name for himself playing real-life figures, including a memorably illusive showing as Elvis Presley in the Tarantino-written True Romance, and in 2003, he brought adult film star John Holmes to life on the big screen in the crime thriller Wonderland.
The movie explores the Laurel Canyon Murders, a quadruple homicide in which Holmes was a suspected accomplice. Though Wonderland received mixed reviews, Kilmer’s performance is a standout and offers a glimpse of a much darker side from the prolific actor.
6.Top Gun’s Iceman Is One Of Kilmer’s Most Iconic Characters
Tony Scott’s Top Gun is arguably the ’80s guts and glamour at its most glorious, the soundtrack, the fighter plane dogfights, and the machismo-filled performances make the film essential viewing when it comes to the decade of acid-wash jeans and Ataris.
Val Kilmer’s role as Tom “Iceman” Kazansky is one of his most iconic for good reason, he near steals the scenes from star Tom Cruise whenever he gets the chance. And for fans that can’t get enough Iceman, fear not, as Kilmer is set to reprise his role in the upcoming sequel, Top Gun: Maverick later this year.
5.Kiss Kiss Bang Bang Proved Kilmer Still Had His Comedic Chops
In his heyday, Val Kilmer had earned himself a reputation for taking himself too seriously at times, some saw this as the actor simply being a perfectionist of sorts, but others took it as evidence of him being difficult to work with. Kilmer’s role in Shane Black’s Kiss Kiss Bang Bang did some serious work at shedding this image.
Gay Perry is one of Kilmer’s most hilarious roles, and his chemistry alongside co-star Robert Downey Jr. makes the film must-watch for fans of either actor. Kilmer picked up a Best Actor Saturn Award nomination for the movie.
4.Val Kilmer Shows Goofy Greatness In Real Genius
Before Top Gun made Kilmer a star, he made his name in comedies. Val Kilmer followed up his film debut in Top Secret! with another standout comedy performance, this time as goofy nerd Chris Knight in Real Genius.
Marketed as “the Einstein of the ’80s,” Kilmer’s gifted slacker Chris carries the film to be one of the finest of Kilmer’s career. Real Genius is addictively quotable, feel-good, and downright hilarious.
3.Kilmer Held His Own Against The Heavyweights In Heat
Michael Mann’s hugely influential crime drama Heat features an all-star cast, and the fact that Val Kilmer manages to stand out whilst sharing the screen with the likes of Al Pacino and Robert De Niro is a testament to Kilmer’s talents as a performer.
Kilmer received his first Saturn award nomination for his role as Chris, he brought a tremendous amount of heart and realism to the career criminal character and left audiences remembering Heat for much more than just De Niro and Pacino’s long-awaited first on-screen meeting.
2.Val Kilmer Transformed Into Jim Morrison For The Doors
If you can train your voice to emulate Jim Morisson’s to the point that the singer’s own bandmates can’t tell the difference, then you must be doing one hell of a job. Val Kilmer accomplished this impressive feat for his role as Morisson in the 1991 movie The Doors.
Val Kilmer actually learned to sing 50 of the band’s classic songs, and his dedication to the role paid off, Kilmer’s electric performance is the best piece of the film and can have viewers forgetting they’re not actually watching the real music icon Jim Morrison on screen.
1.Doc Holliday Is The Highlight Of Tombstone, & Kilmer’s Entire Career
Val Kilmer’s showing as the fastest hands (and mouth) in the West isn’t just the best of the actor’s career, it’s one of the most captivating performances in the history of cinema.Doc Holliday is a legendary real-life figure, and it would take a special effort to effectively capture the icon on the big screen.
In Tombstone, Val Kilmer doesn’t just bring the loveable rogue to life, he steals the show from right under the noses of such on-screen talent as Kurt Russell, Bill Paxton, and Sam Elliott. Val Kilmer not receiving an Oscar nomination for Tombstone remains one of the Academy’s biggest misses.