Michael Douglas is the eldest son of Kirk Douglas and Diana Dill. His father Kirk, who died in February 2020, was also a celebrated Hollywood actor who made his film debut in 1946 and soon became a highly sought-after leading man throughout the 1950s. During his lengthy career, he starred in upwards of 90 films and was ranked number 17 on the American Film Institute’s list of The Greatest Male Stars of Classic Hollywood Cinema. Having grown up in the industry, it is not surprising that Michael Douglas followed in the footsteps of his father, and certainly inherited some of his talents as well.

Douglas began his acting career in the late 60s, but the role that first garnered him attention as a budding talent was that of the ABC crime drama The Streets of San Francisco, which aired for 5 seasons from 1972 to 1977. In 1975, Douglas produced the feature film One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest starring Jack Nicholson, which is one of only three films in history to sweep the Big Five Oscars at the Academy Awards. Douglas would go on to produce several more films throughout his career, some of which he also starred in. Throughout his career, Douglas has been honored with two Academy Awards, an Emmy Award, a Golden Globe, and the prestigious Cecil B Demille Award, amongst others.

You can catch Douglas in the Netflix series The Kominsky Method and the animated series Green Eggs and Ham. Douglas is also set to reprise his role as Hank Pym in the upcoming Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, the 3rd installment in the Ant-Man Franchise. To celebrate the accomplished actor, we have curated a list of his 9 best performances, ranked.

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

9 Traffic (2000)

     Bedford Falls Productions

Michael Douglas stars as Robert Wakefield an Ohio Judge who is America’s newly appointed Drug Czar in Traffic. This riveting Stephen Soderbergh drama brings together several intertwining storylines to examine America’s “war on drugs.” While Wakefield begins his efforts to bring down the Mexican cartels, the audience learns that his daughter is quickly falling into addiction. Douglas gives one of his best performances as the conflicted Wakefield, as he carefully balances the roles of decisive politician, and tortured father.

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

8 The Game (1997)

     Propaganda Films

In The Game, Douglas plays troubled investment banker Nicholas Van Orton, who is struggling with the loss of his father to suicide. Upon being gifted a game voucher through a company called Consumer Recreation Services, Nicholas tries to apply, but eventually passes due to the exhaustive mental and physical examinations required. Shortly thereafter, Nicholas becomes an unwitting player in the game, and his life is turned upside down. Douglas gives a riveting and emotional performance in this dark and twisty psychological thriller.

7 Ant-Man (2015)

     Marvel Studios

Ant-Man is a Marvel movie based on a comic book of the same name. Douglas stars as former S.H.I.E.L.D agent and inventor of the shrinking technology Hank Pym. After years of hiding his technology to protect the public, Hank now must use the technology and enlists the help of ex-con Scott Lang. Douglas had to undergo Marvels de-aging technology for some sequences in the movie. Douglas reprised the role for the 2018 sequel Ant-Man and the Wasp, Avengers: Endgame, and, most recently, in a few episodes of What If…?, during which alternate and darker timelines of his character were explored.

6 The American President (1995)

     Universal Pictures

Michael Douglas stars in one of his best roles as President Andrew Shepherd, a widower who sees a second chance at love with cheeky environmental lobbyist Sydney Wade (Annette Benning). Once the press learns of their budding romance, however, they are determined to taint it, by digging up anything they can from Sydney’s past. Douglas shines in The American President as the love-struck leader who will not let politics stand in the way of true love.

Related Link: The Best Movies about American Presidents, Ranked

5 Behind the Candelabra (2013)

     HBO Films & Jerry Weintraub Productions

HBO’s biopic Behind the Candelabra stars Michael Douglas in one of the bravest performances of his career, as the larger-than-life pianist and singer Liberace. The film chronicles the turbulent romance between the famed musician and his young lover played by Matt Damon. Douglas was nominated for – and won – an Emmy for his work in the film. Despite being directed by Stephen Soderbergh and starring high-profile talent, the big Hollywood Studios refused to fund the project, according to IndieWire.

4 Wonderboys (2000)

     Mutual Film Company

Based on the Michael Chabon novel of the same name, Wonder Boys stars Michael Douglas as Professor Grady Tripp, a struggling novelist turned creative writing professor. Tripp is anxious to finish his second novel, but the more he tries, the less successful he becomes, leading him to numb his feelings of inadequacy by smoking weed, and having an affair with his boss’s wife.

3 The War of the Roses (1989)

     20th Century Studios

The War of the Roses stars Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner as Oliver and Barbara Rose, a once happily married couple suffering an acrimonious divorce. The bitter foes come to an impasse on who will retain the family home. When Oliver discovers a legal loophole that allows him to stay in the home during the proceedings, things get wildly out of hand. The War of the Roses is equal parts comedic and caustic and is told as a cautionary tale. The film celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2019, and according to The Guardian remains “one of the nastiest comedies of all time.”

2 Falling Down (1993)

     Warner Bros.

Michael Douglas stars as William Foster in Joel Schumachers’ Falling Down. Foster, a former defense engineer, has just lost his job and is trying to make it home to his daughter’s birthday party in the sweltering Los Angeles heat. En route, a series of unfortunate incidents bring Foster closer and closer to his boiling point. Douglas’ depiction of a man on the edge is as gripping as it is disturbing in his penultimate best performance.

1 Wall Street (1987)

In his best performance, Douglas plays the greedy and unconscionable stockbroker Gordon Gekko, who takes a young protégé (Charlie Sheen) under his wing in Wall Street. Douglas’ portrayal earned him an Academy Award for best actor. In 2010, Douglas returned to Wall Street to remind us “Greed is Good” in the 2010 sequel Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps, starring Shia Labeouf.