Michael J. Fox is one of the most revered comedic actors of his generation. The Canadian native came of age on the small-screen as Alex P. Keaton on the hit series Family Ties, which ran from 1982 to 1989. During the middle of the show's run, Fox launched a massive movie career with the blockbusting Back to the Future franchise, the first film of which is still hailed as an all-time classic. And rightly so!
In the 1990s, Fox was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, the cure for which he has dedicated his life to helping to find. But Fox has also continued acting throughout his personal trials and tribulations. He can currently be seen on The Good Fight, the next episode of which airs April 30th. With a week to wait, here are Michael J. Fox's 10 best movies, according to rotten tomatoes!
Bad Reputation (2018) 78%
Iconoclastic rockstar Joan Jett is the subject of the 2018 documentary Bad Reputation, which features like-minded musicians who speak about the massive impact Jett has had on the industry. Fox is one of the few actors to share his experience with Jett's music.
Fox joins the likes of Iggy Pop, Billy Joe Armstrong, Debbie Harry, Adam Horovitz, and many more in celebration of Jett's widespread artistic influence. It's one of many documentaries Fox has participated in over the years.
Back To The Future Part III (1990) 80%
Speaking of spanning years, believe it or not, Back to the Future III has a higher critical approval rating than Part II, according to RT. Must have been Doc Brown's sweet bullet-holed cowboy hat!
In what amounts to a hilarious sci-fi neo-western, Back to the Future III follows Marty McFly (Fox) and Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd) back to the dusty environs of the 1885 Old West. Once their trusty time-traveling DeLorean runs out of fuel, the unlikely duo must think fast and find a way to escape the past and go back to the future!
Stuart Little 2 (2002) 81%
Fox voices the role of Stuart Little, the charming, disarming, and a wildly adventurous young mouse who becomes adopted by Mr. and Mrs. Little (Hugh Laurie and Geena Davis).
In the sequel, Stuart befriends a canary named Margalo and invites her to live with the Littles. But when Margalo disappears, Stuart turns to Snowbell for help, the cute cat that wanted to get rid of him in the original. Stu and Snowbell go on an epic journey across the city to rescue Margalo before Mr. and Mrs. Little know they're gone.
Casualties Of War (1989) 84%
Fox gives one of his most devastating dramatic performances in Brian De Palma's extremely challenging depiction of the U.S./Vietnam skirmish in Casualties of War.
More accurately, the true conflict in the film comes among fellow U.S. soldiers. When the ruthless and unscrupulous Sgt. Tony Meserve (Sean Penn) orders his squad to kidnap a female Vietnamese civilian, Eriksson (Fox) is the only one who objects. The squad brutally rapes the girl in front of Eriksson's eyes, who cannot sit back and watch such atrocities unfold. This film is simply unlike anything Fox has ever done!
Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey (1993) 87%
Along with Oscar-winners Sally Field and Don Ameche, Fox lent his voice to the ever-enjoyable family film Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey, the story of three friendly pets who make a daring escape!
Chance (Fox) is an exuberant young pup, Shadow (Ameche) is a wise old mutt, and Sassy (Field) is a snooty kitty. Together, they evade their California ranch and embark on a harrowing journey to find their rightful owners. Fox and Field return for the sequel, although Ralph Waite had to replace Ameche following his demise.
The American President (1995) 91%
Politics get personal in The American President, in which a widowed U.S. leader opens the door for character assassination upon wooing a sexy environmentalist.
When popular Democratic President Andrew Shepherd (Michael Douglas) runs for reelection, his 63 percent approval rating all but ensures his success. But when environmental activist Sydney Ellen Wade enters the scene, Shepherd cannot resist. He begins courting Wade, which puts a target on his back for rivals to exploit his character. Fox plays Lewis Rothschild, the President's Assistant on Domestic Policy.
Back To The Future (1985) 96%
"What the hell is a gigawatt?!" Come on now, we all knew Fox's most memorable, lasting, and overall best movie, Back to the Future, would rank somewhere high on this list. And yet, even with 96 percent approval, the film is only fourth-best among Fox's canon. Go figure.
Marty McFly is simply one of the most iconic characters ever committed to celluloid. Of course, legend has it that nearly an hour of the movie was already filmed with Eric Stoltz in the lead. Director Robert Zemeckis had to make the extremely difficult decision to replace Stoltz with Fox weeks into production and start from scratch.
Where The Rivers Flow North (1994) 100%
Not a single dissenting voice among critics can be found regarding Where the Rivers Flow North, Jay Craven's underrated period-drama charting the political bureaucracy of building a dam in 1927 Vermont.
When Noel Lord is approached to sell his plot of land to make way for a new dam to be built, the stubborn logger refuses. Kingdom County officials in Vermont increase their offer, including the promotion of Lord as a new park ranger. Noel's Native American partner, Bangor (Tantoo Cardinal) wants him to accept the offer, but he's too bullish to bend. Fox plays a supporting role as town local Clayton Farnsworth.
Mr. Calzaghe (2015) 100%
The triumphant rise and tragic fall of world champion pugilist Joe Calzaghe (pictured) is chronicled in this compelling documentary. Fox joins several high-profile celebrities to recount Mr. Calzaghe.
The crux of the doc explores the relationship between Joe and his father Enzo, who spent 20 years training his son en route to becoming a world champion boxer. Fox joins Mike Tyson, Matthew Rhys, Chris Eubank, and a handful of others with first and secondhand knowledge of Joe.
Dear America: Letters Home From Vietnam (1987) 100%
Dear America continues to rank as the number one film for several high-profile actors, according to RT. For Fox, his involvement proved to be a prescient training ground for playing a part in the aforementioned Vietnam War film, Casualties of War!
Letters From Home features several famous celebrities reading personal letters written by real U.S. Soldiers stationed in Vietnam. The heartbreaking accounts of daily life in a time of unprecedented warfare.