5 Notable Gene Hackman Movies and Where to Watch Them
Okay, let’s be real—trying to narrow down Gene Hackman’s legendary career to just five movies? Practically impossible. This man was in the Hollywood big leagues for over 40 years, playing everything from heroes to villains to one of the most memorable sports coaches of all time.
Hackman, a two-time Oscar winner and one of the greatest actors of the 20th century, passed away at 95 in his New Mexico home, authorities confirmed Thursday. His filmography is massive, so if your fave isn’t on this list (yes, we see you, Lex Luthor fans), don’t panic. But if you’re looking for some of his best work, whether you’re a longtime fan or just discovering him, start here:
“The French Connection” (1971)
This is the one that made Hackman a household name. He plays Jimmy “Popeye” Doyle, a narcotics detective who’s as relentless as he is morally questionable. He’s not your typical good guy, but that’s exactly what makes him so captivating. Roger Greenspun put it best in The New York Times when he said Doyle “exists neither to rise nor to fall… but to function.” It’s gritty, it’s intense, and it won Hackman his first Oscar.
WHERE TO WATCH: Available to rent on video on demand.
“The Conversation” (1974)
Three years after The French Connection, Hackman gave us another banger with The Conversation, directed by Francis Ford Coppola. In this paranoid thriller (made even creepier by the post-Watergate era), he plays Harry Caul, a surveillance expert who uncovers a murder plot and spirals into guilt-ridden paranoia. If you love smart, suspenseful thrillers, this one’s for you. Roger Ebert called it “a taut, intelligent thriller,” and honestly, same.
WHERE TO WATCH: Streaming on The Criterion Channel and on VOD.
“Hoosiers” (1986)
If you love a good underdog sports story, Hoosiers is a must-watch. Hackman plays Norman Dale, a former college coach with a checkered past who gets one last shot at redemption coaching a tiny Indiana high school basketball team. It’s all about second chances, heart, and that classic inspirational locker room speech. Easily one of the best sports movies ever.
WHERE TO WATCH: Streaming on Prime Video.
“The Birdcage” (1996)
Hackman doesn’t take center stage in this one, but his role is unforgettable. In The Birdcage, a remake of the 1978 French farce La Cage aux Folles, he plays a conservative senator who’s freaking out over his daughter’s engagement to a man whose parents are a gay nightclub owner and a drag queen. It’s chaotic, hilarious, and showcases Hackman’s underrated comedic chops. Plus, he and Dianne Wiest are absolute gold together.
WHERE TO WATCH: Streaming on Max until Feb. 28, and on Prime Video.
“The Royal Tenenbaums” (2001)
Wes Anderson movies are always a vibe, and Hackman as Royal Tenenbaum? Perfection. He’s a washed-up former lawyer who fakes a terminal illness to reconnect with his estranged kids. He’s charming, he’s messy, and he gives us one of the best sequences in movie history—hanging with his grandsons, causing absolute chaos in NYC, all set to Paul Simon’s Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard. And let’s not forget his iconic epitaph: Died Tragically Rescuing His Family From the Wreckage of a Destroyed Sinking Battleship. WHERE TO WATCH: Streaming on Prime Video.
More Gene Hackman Films You Need to Know About
- Bonnie and Clyde (1967) – Oscar nomination, supporting actor
- The Poseidon Adventure (1972) – Disaster movie classic
- Superman (1978) – The OG Lex Luthor
- Mississippi Burning (1988) – Another Oscar nom, and it’s intense
- Unforgiven (1992) – Won an Oscar for playing one of the scariest sheriffs ever
- The Firm (1993) – Because 90s legal thrillers hit different
- Crimson Tide (1995) – Military drama with Denzel Washington = yes, please
- Enemy of the State (1998) – Hackman and Will Smith in a techno-thriller masterpiece
There you have it!
A crash course in Gene Hackman greatness. So grab some popcorn, start streaming, and appreciate one of the best to ever do it.
