One of the world’s most successful actors and directors, Mel Gibson has enjoyed an incredibly prosperous career in the film industry. Often associated with historical films and action flicks, Gibson has starred in some of the most iconic movies of the last 40 years.
From humble beginnings in the Australian cinema to acting in and directing epic Hollywood dramas, Gibson has certainly come a long way. Here are the best movies that Gibson has ever starred in, according to IMDb ratings. Although some of his own directorial projects also have impressive ratings, this list only takes into account the films that Gibson actually appeared in.
The Year Of Living Dangerously (7.1)
Early on in Mel Gibson’s acting journey, he starred mostly in Australian projects. One of the most highly-rated films of Gibson’s career, according to IMDb, is 1982’s The Year of Living Dangerously. Based on a novel of the same title, the film focuses on a love affair that takes place in Indonesia during the overthrow of President Sukarno.
Gibson portrays Guy Hamilton, an Australian journalist who falls in love with British embassy officer Jill Bryant, played by Sigourney Weaver. For his work in the film, Gibson was nominated for an Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Award.
Payback (7.1)
At the height of his career, Gibson starred in several action flicks. One of the most highly rated is 1999's Payback, a film about a man who seeks revenge on his estranged wife and former crime partner after they betray him. Gibson stars as Porter, who plots against his former lover and ally after they leave him for dead.
Despite receiving mixed reviews, Payback scored a rating of 7.1 on IMDb, making it one of Gibson’s most highly rated of all time.
Lethal Weapon 2 (7.2)
The second Lethal Weapon film didn’t perform as well as the first installment by IMDb standards, but it is still one of Gibson’s best. In the 1989 action flick, Gibson reprised his role as Officer Riggs, an L.A.P.D. cop partnered with Officer Murtaugh, played by Danny Glover.
Lethal Weapon 2 is the second installment in a four-part series. Its plot follows South African smugglers whose diplomatic immunity protects them from being harassed and interrogated by Riggs and Murtaugh.
We Were Soldiers (7.2)
Also receiving 7.2 stars on IMDb is the 2002 flick We Were Soldiers. Set against an early Vietnam War backdrop, the story tells the tale of Lieutenant Colonel Hal Moore who leads a battalion of soldiers against Vietnamese troops in 1965.
Gibson takes the starring role as Moore, acting alongside Greg Kinnear, Sam Elliott, Chris Klein, and Jon Hamm. The film is based on the novel We Were Soldiers Once…And Young, although it is not entirely faithful to the source material.
The Patriot (7.2)
Mel Gibson is known for starring in period pieces. One of the most famous historical action films that he’s appeared in is The Patriot, released in 2000. The film follows the story of a veteran called Benjamin Martin who must raise his seven children alone following the death of his wife. When his son is killed, he decides to join the war.
The Patriot was filmed on location in South Carolina and is loosely based on the life of Francis Marion. It also stars the late Heath Ledger as Gibson’s on-screen son, Gabriel Martin, and Jason Isaacs as the villain, Colonel William Tavington.
The Professor And The Mad Man (7.3)
The Professor and the Mad Man is one of Gibson’s most recent projects, having only been released in 2019. It chronicles the life of Professor James Murray, who compiled words for the very first edition of the Oxford English Dictionary. The film is based on the novel The Surgeon of Crowthorne which was written by Simon Winchester and published in 1998.
Gibson portrays Professor Murray and stars alongside Sean Penn, who plays William Chester Minor, a doctor undergoing treatment at a criminal lunatic asylum. The film also stars Natalie Dormer and Stephen Dillane, both of Game of Thrones fame.
Gallipoli (7.4)
Another Australian period piece that Gibson starred in early on in his career is Gallipoli, a film that IMDb rates as one of his best. The film follows the stories of two Australian sprinters who are sent to fight in the First World War.
Gibson plays Frank Dunne, a broke and unemployed ex-railway laborer who ends up enlisting in the army. Gallipoli was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Foreign Film and received mostly positive reviews. Despite some historical errors, the film is believed to be mostly accurate.
Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior (7.6)
The Mad Max franchise is one of the projects that launched Mel Gibson to global fame. The second film of the franchise, The Road Warrior, is considered by IMDb to be one of Gibson’s best films and was given a rating of 7.6 stars.
The Road Warrior follows the story of a lone wanderer who only lives to survive and resists a group of people running a remote oil refinery who make him their figure of hope. The film earned mostly positive reviews and is widely considered one of the best films of 1981.
Lethal Weapon (7.6)
The first installment in the Lethal Weapon franchise was released in 1987 and has a rating of 7.6 stars, making it one of Mel Gibson’s most highly rated films of all time. This marked the first time Gibson starred as Officer Riggs, a former Navy SEAL who begins working for the LAPD.
There are three more Lethal Weapon films starring Mel Gibson and Danny Glover, although many fans agree that the original Lethal Weapon is the best.
Braveheart (8.3)
According to IMDb, the best feature film that Mel Gibson has starred in is 1995’s Braveheart. The film tells the story of William Wallace, a legendary Scottish warrior who lived in the 13th century and led his people in the First War of Scottish Independence against King Edward I of England.
Along with portraying William Wallace, Gibson also directed and co-produced the film, which received mostly positive reviews. More than 20 years after its release, Braveheart is still being praised for its cinematography, screenplay, soundtrack, and performances.