1 7
Age 96

HEAD-TO-HEAD COMPARISON

Age 61

Not Ranked

Current Rank

#6

#4

Peak Rank

#1

35

Years Ranked

43

7

Years in Top 10

17

23.9

Average Rank

20.5

68

Theatrical Releases

65

The Firm $158.3 Million

Biggest Hit

Avengers: Endgame $858.4 Million

$2.2 Billion

Career Domestic
Box Office

$6.7 Billion

COMMUNITY VOTE

Who had the greater Hollywood career overall?

Cast your vote and compare your opinion with the community.

Community voting reflects visitor opinion and is independent of the Hollywood Rankings methodology.

Career Comparison Summary AI-generated historical comparison. Click to expand.

Note: Films released during the selected year influence the following year's rankings.

At this point in the rankings, Gene Hackman versus Robert Downey Jr. is best read as a compact career snapshot rather than an all-time verdict. The category score gives Robert Downey Jr. the broader edge, though the result remains a comparison of career outcomes rather than personal popularity.

The biggest-hit category sharpens the box office contrast, especially because Robert Downey Jr.'s leading film creates the stronger single-release benchmark. Based on the available ranking data, the balance leans toward Robert Downey Jr. without turning the result into a subjective judgment of acting quality.

CAREER RANKING HISTORY

Gene Hackman Robert Downey Jr.

FILMOGRAPHY COMPARISON

Gene Hackman

68 theatrical releases • $2.2 Billion Domestic

Year Movie Domestic Box Office Domestic BO
2004 Welcome to Mooseport $14.5 Million
2003 Runaway Jury $49.4 Million
2001 Behind Enemy Lines $58.9 Million
2001 The Royal Tenenbaums $52.4 Million
2001 Heist $23.5 Million