Do you want to know the best Eric Roberts movies ever made? If you’ve always wondered about this, join me as we take a look at the top 10 Eric Roberts movies.
10 Best Eric Roberts Movies of All Time
To help you get acquainted with Eric Roberts, I’ve created a list of his finest works below. Here are some of the best movies that feature Eric Roberts as the main character.
#10.The Coca-Cola Kid (1985)
The Coca-Cola Kid, one of the greatest eccentric comedy of all time, stars Eric Roberts in his heyday as Becker, a seasoned marketing executive for The Coca-Cola Company.
The film begins when Becker notices that the residents of Anderson Valley, a fictitious town, aren’t reacting well to Coke, and that the reason for this is a local soda dealer who appears to have taken over the market. What follows is a hilarious adventure that pays respect to Coke’s heritage.
Despite the fact that the film failed to break any box office records, it was accepted into the 1985 Cannes Film Festival and is now considered a cult masterpiece in the actress photography.
#9. The Ambulance (1990)
Eric Roberts takes a unique approach to humor. The Ambulance is a spectacular comedy thriller that will transport you along with Robert’s character, comic book artist Josh Baker, on a crazy ride.
Josh meets a girl named Cheryl and falls in love with her at first sight, according to the plot of the film. However, as the girl collapses in the street due to her diabetes, he is forced to call an ambulance.
Josh follows the ambulance all the way to the hospital, but when she arrives, he discovers that no record of Cheryl or the ambulance she was riding in exists. Josh is left to his own devices to unravel the mystery as no one believes his account.
The film, directed by Larry Cohen, takes unexpected twists, but Robert’s heartfelt performance and natural charm make it all worthwhile.
#8. King of the Gypsies (1978)
King of the Gypsies, the picture that established Eric Roberts’ career as an actor, combines superb performance, an easy-to-follow narrative, and brilliant direction.
The film follows a group of modern-day Gypsies who live in New York and focuses on a society with its own language, customs, and elected leader.
Eric Roberts plays Dave, the grandson of the tribe’s former monarch, King Jarco. Roberts’ performance in the movie was harsh and genuine, garnering him a Golden Globe award for Best Debut Actor in 1979.
#7. The Nature of the Beast (1995)
Eric Roberts portrays a vagabond called Adrian who meets a man named Jack, portrayed by Lance Henriksen, who offers to give him a ride in this mystery horror thriller.
However, when the two continue traveling together, Adrian begins to indicate that he knows something that Jack has been keeping hidden. At the same time, a savage assailant known as “The Hatchet Man” appears to be striking across the country.
Adrian and Jack flee, leading us on a merry pursuit to solve the mystery surrounding Adrian, Jack, and The Hatchet Man.
The film is eerie and unnerving enough to keep you guessing till the very end. Roberts and Henriksen complement each other in their intense portrayals of the two primary characters of the film, making the nature of the worth every minute of its runtime.
#6. Best of the Best (1989)
Martial arts films are notoriously difficult to make properly, yet Best of the Best is widely regarded as a cinematic classic. The plot follows an American martial arts team that is trying to beat South Korean martial artists in a competition.
This film is a visual delight for martial arts fans, with sincere performances and some fairly lethal feats, and multiple subplots to keep you engaged until the very end.
Roberts plays Alex Grady, a former martial artist who is given the opportunity to represent his country against Korea in the film.
Roberts, like other well-known actors like James Earl Jones, gives a powerful performance in his martial arts segments, despite the fact that he isn’t skilled in the field.
#5. The Pope of Greenwich Village (1984)
If you’re looking for a film that combines drama, crime, suspense, and humor, The Pope of Greenwich Village should be at the top of your list.
Paulie, played by a young Eric Roberts, intends to rob a merchant in the neighborhood where they work with his cousin Charlie, played by Mickey Rourke.
However, when their scheme culminates in the killing of a police officer, it catches the attention of a mafia leader who is now chasing the two cousins.
This picture boasts fantastic performances by Roberts and Rourke, thanks to a fast-paced narrative and the amusing circumstances Paulie and Charlie find themselves in.
With Roberts’incredibly witty portrayal of a dimwitted wannabe hustler, this film has gone down as a cult classic in the history of American cinema.
#4. Star 80 (1983)
Star 80, which is based on a true tale, is one of Roberts’ most compelling pictures, yet it was released when he was still relatively unknown.
The story is based on a Pulitzer Prize-winning article. In this film, the actor plays Paul Snider, a Playboy playmate who meets Dorothy Stratten, portrayed by Mariel Hemingway, and helps her ascend to the top as her manager.
While the two fall in love along the way, Paul becomes increasingly envious of Dorothy’s success. Every moment in Star 80 will leave you speechless due to the excellent chemistry of the film’s characters.
And while the film primarily stars Dorothy, ultimately Roberts ends up making the film his very own with his real, almost disturbing portrayal of a husband driven to madness out of pure jealousy.
Throughout the film, we follow Dorothy’s story, but in hindsight, we are always watching Snyder being undone with every success that comes her way, portraying the very real complexity of the human mind.
Even in its final moments, the film never fails to surprise you with its twists and turns, making this a movie that you will not forget once you watch it.
While the film wasn’t a smash hit on the box office, Roberts’s brilliant performance and the true story behind the film is what has helped Star 80 emerge as a timeless cinematic masterpiece.
#3. Raggedy Man (1981)
Raggedy Man is a film set during World War II that chronicles the narrative of a divorced single mother, Sissy Spacek, who works as a telephone operator throughout the war.
Eric Roberts plays Teddy, a sailor who transforms into Spacek’s persona light in the dark, in what is considered regarded as his finest performance ever.
Raggedy Man will transport you back in time with a good storyline and superb language to give you a credible, realistic narrative.
The picture is a breath of fresh air in terms of the small-town life it shows, with Roberts and Spacek slipping immediately into their roles as their basic characters, as their modest romance develops softly with the other happenings in the film.
Roberts, who is usually an actor all about action, shows his gentler side with the role of Teddy as he deals not only with a divorced mom, but also her children, which helped him establish his diversity in terms of his performance range in this masterpiece of a film.
#2. It’s My Party (1996)
Roberts clearly outdoes himself with his depiction of Nick, a guy who has been fighting the sickness for three years and is now making sure that he dies in a way that others will remember.
Things get difficult and emotions are unwrapped at a party Nick throws to say farewell to his pals. We learn more about our main character with each guest that arrives at the party, and each narrative reminds us that members of the LGBTQ community deserve respect and love in both life and death.
Despite the film’s overall sad undertone, Robert Still manages to bring on the cheer as he interacts with his loved ones for what seems to be the last time ever.
Featuring moments of humor, sarcasm, and genuine sentiment, it’s My Party is a definite tearjerker no matter when you watch it.
While the film wasn’t a huge hit on the box office, it was one of Roberts’career defining roles, helping him represent a community that had previously always been marginalized in the film world.
#1. Runaway Train (1985)
Runaway Train was a one-of-a-kind film of the 1980s, with a $9 million budget. The film stars Roberts as Buck Whiskey, a criminal who works at a jail with the aid of another convict, Manny, played by Jon Voight.
Manny, on the other hand, is willing to go to any length to survive, which means Buck isn’t safe at all. When the two get on the incorrect train, they get into trouble. Not only that, but when the tree driver has a heart attack, Manny and Bucket are called in to take charge of the train, which isn’t speeding out of control and likely to run off the tracks at any moment.
This fast-paced film will have you on the edge of your seat and while on the surface it may look like a regular old action film the truth is that it’s so much more.
With Eric Roberts invoice onscreen partnership, the two complement each other, and Roberts in particular measures to create a character that you just can’t help but love.
Featuring some pretty cool action sequences especially inside the train the film basically runs on the constant banter between voice intelligent character and Robert slow-witted wild man persona.
With a brilliant premise and memorable acting, the film went on to enter the 1986 Cannes Film Festival and currently has a rating of 7.2 out of 10 on IMDb.com making this a must-watch for anyone who loves a classic action thriller.
This was our 10 Best Eric Roberts Movies of All Time list. Do you agree with our list? If you have any suggestions or comments please shoot them down in the comments below.
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