Val Kilmer’s recent passing was a poignant moment for many movie fans. There was a time when his star shone bright, and critics celebrated his acting chops. He also faced his share of struggles, both professionally and personally. This makes his story more interesting than contemporaries like Tom Cruise and Sean Penn.
Fans who remember his early 1990s heyday have the strongest affection for Kilmer. But this isn’t the only period of his career worth celebrating. There are stand-out performances throughout. Even his missteps can be entertaining, thanks to his captivating onscreen presence. Here are a few films that will keep Kilmer in the conversation forever.
Acting Out Early
Born and raised in LA, Kilmer didn’t launch straight into Hollywood. Instead, he secured a place at Juilliard in NYC while still in high school. He was the youngest applicant accepted until this record fell to a 15-year-old in the 2000s.
Kilmer quickly cut his teeth in the dramatic arts, arriving just days after the tragic death of his younger brother. The structure provided by the school helped him process his grief as well as learn his craft.
His first roles came in the theater, and he also got on-screen work in commercials. A 1983 off-Broadway production of The Slab Boys earned him wider attention. He starred alongside Sean Penn and Kevin Bacon, and the audiences often contained star-makers. Soon, casting directors came knocking.
Top Secret! (1984)
Later, he’d develop a reputation for taking serious roles, but comedy was Val Kilmer’s original calling card. He’s pitch-perfect in this spoof from the team behind Airplane! (1980), playing a rock star with straight-faced charm. This lets the ridiculousness of the gags going on around him hit harder. There might not be much plot to hang the humor on, but the rate of jokes is exceptional. It’s also clear immediately that Kilmer is a magnetic performer. The directors hired him on the strength of The Slab Boys, so they surely agreed.
Top Gun (1986)
Jet engines scream, the exceptional soundtrack pumps, and hot young hunks get topless to play volleyball in this 80s classic. In addition to elevating Tom Cruise to superstardom, it helped establish Kilmer’s credentials in Hollywood. As fighter ace Tom “Iceman” Kazansky, he embodies cool competence. There’s a genuine intensity he’s able to harness to great effect. Few actors can match this ability to play the hard man or the comic relief with equal skill.
Willow (1988)
From flashy modern blockbusters to high fantasy, Willow is another gear change in Kilmer’s career. This time, he’s a loveable rogue, swashbuckling his way through beasts and bad guys with a glint in his eye. It was a modest box office success and brought Val to the attention of younger audiences. While it might not hold a candle to The Princess Bride (1987), Willow has its moments. Kilmer’s charisma is one of the main things that makes it watchable today.
The Doors (1991)
Biopics are where actors prove that they’re more than just pretty faces. Kilmer’s interpretation of Jim Morrison is one of the best performances of this kind. He disappears into the role, living it believably rather than simply doing an impersonation. And while the film got slammed for its historical inaccuracies, Val’s commitment to the part saves it.
Tombstone (1993)
YouTube’s algorithm doesn’t lie. Type ‘Tombstone’ into the search bar, and one of the top suggested searches is for scenes featuring Doc Holiday. Val Kilmer is a dominant force as this drink and tuberculosis-addled gunslinger. Even acting alongside big hitters like Kurt Russell, he stands out. As with The Doors, his skill in inhabiting the character is unmatched. He believes he’s a Wild West wunderkind, so we do, too. The fact he’s also the famous actor Val Kilmer isn’t a distraction.
Batman Forever (1995)
Kilmer broke as a global star by playing Bruce Wayne and his avenging alter ego, Batman. Taking the role without reading the script was his first major career misstep. Likewise, he later admitted that Batman wasn’t a good fit for him. He was an actor’s actor, a man dedicated to the craft. Having to play a billionaire vigilante in an understated way didn’t suit his approach.
Being overshadowed by the pantomime performances of Jim Carrey and Tommy Lee Jones didn’t help either. It’s hard to compete when you’ve got The Riddler prancing and Two-Face gurning. The box office success of Batman Forever meant Kilmer could have reprised the role. He chose not to, but it did open doors to other roles.
Heat (1995)
Val got third billing alongside Al Pacino and Robert De Niro in this crime classic, perhaps thanks to Batman’s boost. Of course, Heat is a very different beast. It succeeds in showcasing the powers of all three stars in different ways. Pacino is talkative and commanding. De Niro is quietly composed and in control. Kilmer is intense and energetic. Once again, he stands toe to toe with the greats and easily holds his own.
The Saint (1997)
Kilmer starred in a slew of films in the second half of the 1990s. Most underperformed either critically or commercially. Some, like The Island of Dr. Moreau, flopped in both regards. He also started to develop a reputation for being difficult to work with. Stories of angry outbursts on-set and general unprofessionalism emerged. Despite this, he was still at the height of his acting powers.
The Saint epitomises this. Kilmer plays a master thief who slips between disguises and personalities to protect his identity. This allows him to show off his range and be funny. The film itself was panned at the time, but held its own financially. Without Val, there’d be no reason to revisit it now.
Red Planet ( 2000)
If we’re looking for a career nadir, Red Planet is it for Val Kilmer. A sci-fi movie with an $80 million budget that only brings in $33.5 million at the box office is bad. The conflict behind the scenes was worse. Kilmer clashed with co-star Tom Sizemore over perks and pay. Things got physical, which was the last straw for his star status. He would never play the leading role in a big-budget film again.
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005)
When Kiss Kiss Bang Bang was released, it felt like Val Kilmer had been in semi-retirement. In fact, he played roles in 10 films over the five years since Red Planet bombed. His performance abilities never waned either – just his star power. That said, Shane Black’s neo-noir comedy caper felt like a comeback. And it wasn’t just Kilmer’s return to a significant starring role that made headlines. Robert Downey Jr. also received his Hollywood reprieve here, paving the way for him to play Iron Man.
Both men make this movie work because they’re clearly having fun. The snappy script and silly scenarios let them be creatively comedic. Ultimately, they bring substance to a film that is only concerned with style.
Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans (2009)
In a different world, it’s possible to imagine Val Kilmer having a career trajectory that matches Nicolas Cage’s. They both broke big in the 90s and spent time in the doldrums due to a few bad decisions. Had ill health not impacted Kilmer’s last decade on Earth, perhaps he’d have been equipped to revive his faded glory.
Putting these two together is a masterstroke. Director Werner Herzog shows complete confidence in their acting abilities. More than that, he chose them because their careers matched the low ebb of the characters they played. Two all-timers, fallen from grace and willing to do the dirty work they would have previously avoided.
Val (2021)
If you want to get to know Kilmer as a person, not a star, this acclaimed documentary is essential viewing. Made with footage that Val shot throughout his career, it sheds new light on his personality and creative process. We see that claims that he’s ‘difficult to work with’ are exaggerated, though not completely untrue. It’s his passion for his craft that caused many conflicts on-set and off it.
Top Gun: Maverick (2022)
This is a fitting eulogy for an actor who began his career in the optimism and excess of the 80s. Returning as Iceman, his rivalry with Tom Cruise’s hot-headed navy pilot morphs into a relationship of mutual respect. In a reverse image of their real-life careers, Iceman achieves admiral status while Maverick tests prototype jets. Kilmer’s real-life cancer battle becomes terminal for Iceman, in an eerie echo of the tributes that followed his passing. As he tells Maverick when the pair discuss past failures, it’s time to let go.
An Outsider’s Legacy
Val Kilmer’s death has brought more attention to a sorely overlooked career. He was never nominated for an Oscar and had more nods from the MTV Movie Awards than any other show. This seems staggering when you go back and watch him at his peak. In truth, he simply didn’t play the Hollywood game. He got lost in the work, avoided the limelight, and didn’t kowtow to anyone. That attitude doesn’t win you accolades or friends in Tinsel Town.
Hopefully, we are at the beginning of a critical reappraisal of Kilmer’s filmography. It’s easier to examine performances on their own merits when the person who gave them is no longer with us. Even if that just means rewatching Top Gun, Tombstone or Heat, it won’t be time wasted.
