Everyone knows powerhouse actor, screenwriter, producer, and director Mel Columcille Gerard Gibson, known professionally as Mel Gibson. To date, he has worked on over 60 films and has received several accolades. As an actor, he has appeared in a wide range of genres including drama, action, thriller, comedy, romance and even stop-motion animation, having voiced one of the leads in Chicken Run, the popular 2000 animation film from DreamWorks Animation (with a sequel in the works).

Those acting credits alone would make anyone famous, yet Gibson is also known for his work as a director, especially with historical fiction. Well-known director credits begin with winning Best Picture and Best Director Oscars for just his second film Braveheart, along with the controversial The Passion of Christand the critically acclaimed war drama Hacksaw Ridge. Overall, Mel Gibson is among the most versatile, well-rounded, working professionals in the entertainment industry. His career already spans over 40 years and is still going strong. Here are some of his best performances ranked.

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

8 Maverick

     Warner Bros. Pictures

This western comedy film is based on the 1957–1962 television series of the same name. Turning a TV show into a film can sometimes be a disaster as the movie tries too hard to copy the original show. However, Maverick is unique and original in its own way. It hit the movie theaters in 1994 and was both a critical and commercial success. Join gambler Bret Maverick (Mel Gibson) as he sets out on a quest to prove that he is the best poker player around. Chaos ensues when he becomes entangled with con artist Annabelle Bransford (Jodie Foster). Now, it’s a battle of wits and charm to see who will win the prize money. Mel Gibson is in rare form, being both witty and gullible. In addition, he beautifully captures the essence of the original Bret Maverick without portraying an exact copy.

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

7 The Year of Living Dangerously

     Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

The Year of Living Dangerously follows Australian reporter Guy Hamilton (Mel Gibson) as he travels to Jakarta, Indonesia, and risks his life to cover the communist uprising and overthrow of President Sukarno. Based on the 1978 novel of the same name by Christopher Koch, director Peter Weir’s The Year of Living Dangerously combines elements of history and romance as it follows the developing relationship between Hamilton and British reporter Jill Bryant (Sigourney Weaver). This is one of Gibson’s earlier films but still showcases his incredible talent and presence on screen. His performance also resonated with critics, with Roger Ebert writing, “This is what great acting is, a magical transformation of one person into another,” and Bob Thomas of the AP saying that “Mel Gibson establishes his leading man status” in the film.

6 What Women Want

     Paramount Pictures

Ladies’ man Nick Marshall (Mel Gibson) thought he was God’s gift to women. As a Chicago advertising executive, his job is to get into the minds of his clients to sell more products. However, after an accident testing out a new feminine product, Nick discovers that he can now read the minds of women. Even more surprising to him is that many of his female coworkers dislike him and consider him to be sleazy. Now, armed with his new ability, Nick resolves to change his attitude and strives to make the world a better place one happy woman at a time. Charming, goofy, oblivious, and even obnoxious at times, Gibson plays it all beautifully, earning himself a Golden Globe nomination for in Nancy Meyers’ film. Is What Women Want predictable and even a little sappy at times? Absolutely, but it’s cheesy in all the right ways.

5 Gallipoli

     Village Roadshow

In Gallipoli, Mel Gibson plays Frank Dunne, a penniless, ex-railway laborer with nothing to lose and everything to gain. He enlists in the Australian Army during the First World War but soon discovers that war was not what he expected. Gallipoli was popular among moviegoers and especially movie critics, with a Rotten Tomatoes rating of 91% and an Audience Score of 83%. Gibson worked with Peter Weir here, too, in a haunting film with Michael Chilton of The Telegraph calling it, “One of the most elegiac anti-war films ever made.”

4 Mad Max Series

     Warner Bros

Mel Gibson gained worldwide fame for his breakout role of Max Rockatansky in the first three installments of the popular post-apocalyptic action series Mad Max. The franchise is set in the not too distant future when famine and financial chaos have taken over the world and the human population has dwindled; the few who remain live in a lawless and chaotic world. Max is hellbent on revenge after his wife and son are brutally murdered by a notorious gang. After avenging them, he is fueled by his will to survive in a deteriorating world. The series is hailed as a classic with Gibson’s role now considered iconic.

3 Lethal Weapon Series

Another one of Mel Gibson’s iconic roles is Martin Riggs in the buddy cop film series Lethal Weapon. After the death of his wife, grieving police detective Martin Riggs dives into the thrill of his job, making reckless decisions with little regard for his life. He is partnered with Roger Murtaugh (Danny Glover), an older police officer who just wants to finish his career and retire. The series follows the partnership of these two characters who are polar opposites and who eventually become friends and embrace their differences. The performances from Gibson and Glover work so well, as both are strong in their convictions, clashing at times, yet they bring out the best of each other, as is the case with all dynamic duos. Their charm and humor is palpable, with timeless lines like, “I’m too old for this s**t.”

2 The Patriot

     Columbia Pictures

The Patriot is the story of peaceful farmer Benjamin Martin (Mel Gibson) who doesn’t want to join the American Revolution. However, after the British army brutally murders one of his sons, Benjamin enlists, determined to make the British pay. The Patriot shows the tragic effects of war, destroying lives and ripping families apart. While some of the movie’s plot points can be a bit unbelievable, Mel Gibson’s performance stands out as memorable and even tear-jerking at times as we see the pain he shows for his dying sons. Not once, but twice Benjamin watches the life drain from his sons’ eyes. It’s that love that fuels his character throughout the film.

1 Braveheart

While it may be historically inaccurate, Braveheart is still an epic film full of passion, violence, fierce battles, and sacrifice. Mel Gibson plays Scottish warrior William Wallace as he leads the Scottish rebellion against England. It’s difficult to direct and star in a film but Gibson does both wonderfully, breathing life into the historical character of Wallace. In every scene, there is a silent fierceness that surrounds him, even in his final moments of torture leading to his execution. Gibson beautifully captures the essence of a man longing for the taste of freedom and willing to sacrifice his life for the country he loves.