Can you think of a more eccentric and offbeat actor than Crispin Glover? Indeed, the strange scene-stealing character actor has marched to his drum in and around Hollywood since making his screen debut in the 1981 TV-movie Best of Times. Four years later Glover landed the role of a lifetime as George McFly in the classic time-traveling comedy Back to the Future. And the rest, as they say, is history.
But a closer look at Glover's filmography reveals how wise he is at choosing projects to participate in. Don't believe us? Here are Crispin Glover's 10 best movies, according to Rotten Tomatoes.
Charlie's Angels (2000) 68%
The peculiarity of Crispin Glover as an actor has rarely been more apparent than in the 2000 adaptation of Charlie's Angels. As the maniacal Thin Man, Glover came up with many of his own offbeat affectations and odd peccadilloes in the film.
Indeed, Glover reportedly came up with the idea to have his character perform such offputting tasks as ripping out women's hair before perversely smelling it, and randomly screaming in place of written dialogue for the character.
Dead Man (1995) 71%
In Jim Jarmusch's slow-paced black-and-white experimental western, staid accountant William Blake (Johnny Depp) goes on a spiritual journey and undergoes a deep transformation while on the run from the police.
One of the strangest characters Blake encounters while traveling downriver is Train Fireman (Glover), a coal-sodden boilerman who openly welcomes the fugitive to what he calls the "hell" of the industrialized world. Blake's profound vision quest puts his tortured soul at rest.
Beowulf (2007) 71%
Following an ugly lawsuit stemming from Robert Zemeckis using Glover's unpermitted likeness in Back to the Future Part II, the two men hashed out their differences to reunite for the 2007 adaptation of Beowulf.
In what is said to be the oldest story ever recorded in the English language, Glover assumes the plum role of Grendel in the big-budget rendition. Grendel is a formidable monster terrorizing Denmark until the fierce warrior Beowulf (Ray Winstone) steps up to defeat the frightening foe.
Nurse Betty (2000) 83%
In Neil LaBute's scathing dark comedy Nurse Betty, Glover plays reporter Roy Ostery out to solve the murder of Betty's (Renee Zellweger) drug-dealing hubby, Del (Aaron Eckhart).
Meanwhile, Betty is not only oblivious to the murder, but she also has no clue that Del's cache of drugs is stashed in the back of Betty's Buick LeSabre. As Betty continues to devote her attention to the trashy soap opera A Reason to Love while playing small-town nurse, a wild series of events take place involving hitmen, drug pushers, hospital patients, and more.
We Have Always Lived In The Castle (2019) 86%
It's encouraging to see one of Glover's most recent efforts make his top 10 films, according to RT. Staying right on brand for Glover, We Have Always Lived in the Castle is so weird it defies description.
The mysterious thriller revolves around Merricat, Constance, and their uncle Julian, who live in rural seclusion six years after a major family tragedy. When cousin Charles shows up to take away the family fortune or else expose their deep dark secrets, a battle of wills ensues in unimaginable ways.
At Close Range (1986) 87%
Christopher Walken gives one of his last great and most frightening leading performances in At Close Range, a tale of small-time hoods idolizing their crooked father's criminal ways.
When Brad Jr. (Sean Penn) and Tommy (Chris Penn) reunite with their estranged father in 1978 Pennsylvania, they immediately look to escape their impoverished lives and assume his life of crime. But when Brad Jr.'s girlfriend Terry (Mary Stuart Masterson) threatens to undermine father's freedom, Brad Sr. ruthlessly targets his children for murder. Glover plays Lucas, one of the boys' neighbors in a glancing side role.
River's Edge (1986) 87%
Cranked up to volume 10, Glover gives one of the wildest and most memorable performances of his career as Lane in River's Edge. And yet, he's utterly outdone by the late great Dennis Hopper as the murderously maniacal Feck.
In one of the most authentic and naturalistic crime movies ever made, River's Edge revolves around a high-school teenager who murders one of his female classmates in cold blood. Samson (Daniel Roebuck) leaves the corpse riverside, then proceeds to show his friends what he's done. Their reactions are just as disturbing as the act itself, prompting the group to seek help in the form of secluded criminal Feck.
The People Vs. Larry Flynt (1996) 88%
Oscar-winning film director Milos Forman helmed the cinematic adaptation of the real-life court case between Hustler Magazine publisher, Larry Flynt, and The U.S. Supreme Court. Naturally, Glover was on hand to help out.
All jesting aside, the star-studded ensemble also features Woody Harrelson, Edward Norton, Courtney Love, and more. The film charts the legal fight for freedom of speech under the first amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Glover plays Arlo in the film, a one-eyed man who works on behalf of Flynt's pornographic empire.
What's Eating Gilbert Grape (1993) 90%
In this emotionally fraught, deeply moving coming of age tale, Johnny Depp and Leonardo DiCaprio turn in two of the best performances of their highly-decorated careers. And yet, without the solid support of Glover, John C. Reilly, and Juliette Lewis, the movie would suffer greatly.
Gilbert (Depp) is the eldest sibling in a house where his morbidly obese mother cannot physically escape. As Gilbert takes care of his emotionally-stunted younger brother Artie (DiCaprio), all hope seems lost until the free-spirited Becky (Lewis) arrives in town. Glover and Reilly play local yokels and close friends of Gilbert's who impart much-needed advice.
Back To The Future (1985) 96%
Indeed, Glover's most famous role of his entire career remains that of George McFly, the geeky father who Marty goes back in time to help woo his high-school sweetheart.
When Marty hops in the spiffy DeLorean after Doc is shot by the Libyans, he inadvertently goes back in time 30 years to 1955. While at school, Marty meets his eventual mother, Lorraine (Lea Thompson), future father, George, and class bully, Biff (Thomas Wilson).