10 Movies That Prove Val Kilmer Was Hollywood’s Most Underrated Hero
Val Kilmer never got the credit he deserved.
While his contemporaries racked up Oscar nominations, Kilmer quietly built one of Hollywood’s most versatile careers. His filmography reveals an actor who disappeared into roles rather than forcing characters to fit his persona. From blockbusters to indies, Kilmer brought unexpected depth to everything he touched. Here are 10 movies that proved he was Hollywood’s most underrated hero.
Top Gun (1986)
As Iceman, Kilmer wasn’t just Maverick’s nemesis – he was the competent pilot who happened to be right. That teeth-chomping thing? Completely improvised on set. Kilmer made you understand Ice’s perspective while still rooting for Tom Cruise. Their rivalry works because Ice isn’t a villain – he’s the guy following rules that Maverick keeps breaking. When they finally respect each other, it feels earned rather than forced.
The Doors (1991)
Surviving Doors members couldn’t tell Kilmer’s singing from Jim Morrison’s actual recordings. Let that sink in. Beyond the uncanny physical resemblance, Kilmer captured something essential about Morrison’s self-destructive charisma. He didn’t just wear the leather pants – he inhabited Morrison’s tortured psyche and poetic soul. The performance goes beyond impression into something almost supernatural.
Tombstone (1993)
Doc Holliday could have been a cliché, but Kilmer made him unforgettable. Playing a man who’s dying throughout the entire film, he balanced gallows humor with genuine pathos. “I’m your huckleberry” entered the cultural lexicon because of how perfectly Kilmer delivered it. Despite Kurt Russell getting top billing, it’s Kilmer everyone remembers – twirling that cup, delivering deadpan one-liners, and somehow making tuberculosis look perversely glamorous.
Heat (1995)
In a film featuring the first Al Pacino and Robert De Niro face-off, Kilmer somehow manages to be memorable. His Chris Shiherlis contains multitudes – professional criminal, devoted father, heartbroken husband. Watch the scene where he discovers his wife’s betrayal and contemplates killing her but can’t pull the trigger. Without a word, Kilmer conveys everything about this complex character in just his eyes.
Batman Forever (1995)
Following Michael Keaton in the Batsuit was thankless, especially with director Joel Schumacher pushing toward camp. Yet, Kilmer found humanity in Bruce Wayne amid the neon madness. While Tommy Lee Jones and Jim Carrey chewed scenery as TwoFace and The Riddler, Kilmer maintained Batman’s psychological complexity. There is genuine pathos in his portrayal of Wayne’s trauma that fights against the increasingly cheesy direction the franchise was taking.
The Saint (1997)
Few roles showcase Kilmer’s range better than master-of-disguise Simon Templar. Each of Templar’s personas required completely different accents, mannerisms, and physicality. Rather than making each disguise a caricature, Kilmer created believable characters within characters. His chemistry with Elisabeth Shue elevated standard spy fare into something with genuine emotional stakes.
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005)
As “Gay Perry,” Kilmer revealed comedic timing that previous roles barely hinted at. His deadpan delivery of Shane Black’s razor-sharp dialogue perfectly countered Robert Downey Jr.’s manic energy. Perry could have been a stereotype, but Kilmer gave him depth and humanity beneath the caustic exterior. Their odd-couple chemistry makes the film endlessly rewatchable.
The Ghost and the Darkness (1996)
Based on the true story of two lions that terrorized railway workers, the film succeeds because Kilmer plays Colonel Patterson not as a great white hunter but as an engineer woefully unprepared for what he faces. His gradual unraveling as the lions outsmart every trap makes for a psychological thriller disguised as an adventure movie. Kilmer conveys mounting dread without overplaying it.
Willow (1988)
As Madmartigan, Kilmer brought swashbuckling charm back to fantasy films. His journey from selfish rogue to reluctant hero never feels formulaic because Kilmer plays against the clichés. Whether wielding a sword or wearing a dress, he commits completely to the physical comedy while maintaining the character’s edge. His chemistry with Warwick Davis grounds the fantasy with surprising emotional heft.
Top Gun: Maverick (2022)
Kilmer’s brief appearance as Admiral Iceman provides the sequel’s emotional core. Incorporating his real-life health struggles, the scene between him and Cruise achieves remarkable poignancy. With minimal dialogue, Kilmer conveys decades of friendship, rivalry, and mutual respect. Their final salute carries more emotional weight than all the fighter jet sequences combined.
