11 Best Mel Gibson Movies of All Time (Ranked)

If you stumbled upon this article, then that would mean that you’re a fan of Mel Gibson. Over the years, he has acted in many incredible films and directed a few masterpieces. With many films to consider, we give you this list of the top 13 best Mel Gibson movies.

Who is Mel Gibson?

Before everything else, let us give you a short introduction to Mel Gibson. He is an American actor, producer, and director known for movies like the Mad Max and Lethal Weapon series. He was born on January 3, 1956, in Peekskill, New York, to parents Hutton Gibson and Anne Reilly.

In terms of relationships, Gibson has had three public relationships since his debut. He married Robyn Moore from June 7, 1980, to April 13, 2009. They have a daughter and six sons in total before their divorce.

Then, he had a relationship with Russian songwriter Oksana Grigorieva which only lasted a year. They had a daughter before having a messy breakup late in 2010. Since 2014, Gibson has been known to be steadily dating Rosalind Ross.

When it comes to film, there is no denying how much of a legend Mel Gibson has been. Gibson started his acting career in 1976 and officially made a debut in 1977 with Summer City.

Ever since his debut, he has been involved in 62 more films in which he acted on, produced, or directed. With more than 45 years in the industry, he shows no signs of stopping, with two films waiting in post-production by the end of 2022.

Mel Gibson has produced an extensive list of films in which he acted, and there’s no doubt that many were massive hits. The movies included in this list are all top-tier movies in which Gibson has starred, maybe as the lead or a supporting role, but with ample screen time. So without further ado, let’s start our list here.

1. Mad Max (1979)

English 1h 28m IMDb
Top 11 Best Movies Starring Mel Gibson (Ranked) Mad Max (1979)

Director: George Miller

Stars: Mel Gibson, Joanne Samuel, Hugh Keays-Byrne

Let’s kick off our list with one of the classics, Mad Max. This 1979 film by George Miller focuses on the story of Max, played by Mel Gibson, an Australian policeman. He crosses the barren wasteland to stop criminal gangs that have occupied the squalid back roads. Gibson is joined here by great actors such as Joanne Samuel, Hugh Keays-Byrne, and Steve Bisley. It is set in post-apocalyptic Australia, sometime in the future. If you’re a big fan of sci-fi movies, as much as you love Mel Gibson, this movie will be along your line.


2. The Professor and the Madman (2019)

English 2h 4m IMDb
The Professor and the Madman (2019) Best Movies Starring Mel Gibson

Director: Farhad Safinia

Stars: Mel Gibson, Sean Penn, Eddie Marsan

Of his latest movies in the list, Mel Gibson stars in the 2019 film “The Professor and the Madman.” Acting alongside Sean Penn, Gibson plays the role of Professor James Murray, who was collecting the words for the Oxford English Dictionary’s first edition in the mid-19th century. This biography/ history drama gives us an insight into how the first Oxford English Dictionary came to be and what were the events that happened throughout completing it.

Although some legal issues were involved at the end of production, you must not pass on this movie because of its excellent storyline and incredible portrayals.


3. The Year of Living Dangerously (1982)

English, Tagalog, Filipino, Indonesian 1h 55m IMDb
Top 11 Best Movies Starring Mel Gibson (Ranked) The Year of Living Dangerously (1982)

Director: Peter Weir

Stars: Mel Gibson, Sigourney Weaver, Linda Hunt

Based on a 1978 novel by Christopher Koch with the same title, The Year of Living Dangerously is one of Mel Gibson’s notable films. It follows the story of Guy Hamilton, an Australian journalist who was sent to be a foreign correspondent in Indonesia. With the heat of an upcoming war and his distressed love affair with a young woman, keep your eyes glued to the screen from start to finish and feel stressed and on edge with Mel Gibson’s character.

Be immersed and get captivated by the exciting scenes and the incredible sensation they create every single time.


4. Dragged Across Concrete (2018)

English, Spanish 2h 39m IMDb
Dragged Across Concrete (2018) Best Movies Starring Mel Gibson

Director: S. Craig Zahler

Stars: Mel Gibson, Vince Vaughn, Tory Kittles

Another Mel Gibson film released within the past five years is the 2018 movie Dragged Across Concrete. Starring alongside Vince Vaughn, Mel Gibson plays the role of Brett Ridgeman, a suspended policeman. The latter joins the underground crime society with his partner to make ends meet and provide for their families. One thing led to another, and by the time they realized they had committed several crimes.

This action-packed film was written and directed by S. Craig Zahler, who created a masterpiece that’ll keep you entertained with all the incredible acting and unique effects put inside this film.


5. The Road Warrior (1981)

English 1h 36m IMDb
The Road Warrior (1981) Best Movies Starring Mel Gibson

Director: George Miller

Stars: Mel Gibson, Bruce Spence, Michael Preston

Do not let the movie title sway you. This next film is the second installment of the Mad Max series. Released in 1981 and still starring Mel Gibson as the lead role, the movie picks up where it left off from the first movie and starts with Max trying to scavenge for petrol and food in the wasteland. With luck, he was able to find a vast source, but will he be able to get out in time and take some for himself? Watch this movie to discover what happens to Max and his adventures in a post-apocalyptic Australian wasteland.


6. Signs (2002)

English, Portuguese 1h 46m IMDb
Signs (2002) Best Movies Starring Mel Gibson

Director: M. Night Shyamalan

Stars: Mel Gibson, Joaquin Phoenix, Rory Culkin

Are you up for some thrilling Sci-fi action? Add Signs to the list of movies to watch. This film, written and directed by M. Night Shyamalan, follows Preacher Graham Hess, a retired reverend who loses faith when his wife dies in a gruesome accident. Now living with his brother and children in a farmhouse, strange things happen, and they suspect some extraterrestrial source for the events. Catch all the action and suspense in this film. The movie is a masterpiece in itself, which can scare and satisfy your curiosity all at the same time.


7. Braveheart (1995)

English, French, Latin, Gaelic, Italian 2h 58m IMDb
Braveheart (1995) Best Movies Starring Mel Gibson

Director: Mel Gibson

Stars: Mel Gibson, Sophie Marceau, Patrick McGoohan

One of the best masterpieces starring Mel Gibson is the 1995 film Braveheart. Not only did he star in this historical drama, but Gibson was also the one who directed the movie. He portrays the life story of William Wallace, a well-known Scottish warrior who started a rebellion to help save Scotland from the hands of King Edward I of England.

If you’re a big fan of historical movies, you may want to sit down with this one. The star-studded cast, mixed with great direction and acting, produced a huge hit that earned more than $200 million at the box office.


8. Daddy’s Home 2 (2017)

English, Spanish 1h 40m IMDb
Daddy's Home 2 (2017) Best Movies Starring Mel Gibson

Director: Sean Anders

Stars: Will Ferrell, Mark Wahlberg, Mel Gibson

The next item on our list is a comedic film written and directed by Sean Anders. It revolves around the story of two fathers, played by Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg, who try to celebrate their holidays peacefully. Gibson plays the role of Wahlberg’s father, who comes unexpectedly along with Ferrell’s father, who John Lithgow portrays. This movie will make you laugh throughout and also make you understand the importance of family. It’s a great movie to watch with all your family, including the kids, but watch out fore some adult jokes here and there.


9. Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1985)

English 1h 47m IMDb
Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1985) Best Movies Starring Mel Gibson

Directors: George Miller, George Ogilvie

Stars: Mel Gibson, Tina Turner, Bruce Spence

Another movie from the Mad Max series is “Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome.” It is the third installment and the last film to ever feature Mel Gibson’s character. The story is about Max’s adventure in Bartertown, where he encounters numerous fights and problems at every turn. In the end, he was able to save a group of kids and protect the Master from the terrorizing hands of Queen Aunty Entity.

What viewers loved the most about this film was its visual design, fantastic storyline, and incredible action scenes. The Mad Max movies will surely keep you on your seat.


10. Hamlet (1990)

English 2h 15m IMDb
Hamlet (1990) Best Movies Starring Mel Gibson

Director: Franco Zeffirelli

Stars: Mel Gibson, Glenn Close, Alan Bates

Mel Gibson starred in many timeless classics, and Hamlet is one of them. Based on one of Shakespeare’s masterpieces, this film focuses on the life story of Hamlet. It all starts when the King of Denmark dies, and the prince is subjected to return to his homeland, where his mother, the Queen, has already married his uncle. All twists and turns happen as he discovers that there is nothing natural about his father’s death, which was an evil plan by his mother and her new husband. This film adaptation is undoubtedly one for the books, I’ll say.


11. Lethal Weapon 4 (1998)

English, Cantonese, Mandarin 2h 7m IMDb
Lethal Weapon 4 (1998) Best Movies Starring Mel Gibson

Director: Richard Donner

Stars: Mel Gibson, Danny Glover, Joe Pesci

 Lethal Weapon is another film franchise in which Mel Gibson starred. The fourth installment in this series was released in 1998, with a star-studded cast including Rene Russo, Danny Glover, Jet Li, Chris Rock, and Joe Pesci. The movies follow the story of detective partners Martin Riggs and Roger Murtaugh as they face a Chinese immigrant smuggling ring. Follow their adventure as they go through many life-threatening face-offs that will keep you on the edge of your seat. We recommend watching the whole Lethal Weapon series if you have some spare time.


Summary

That is it. We have reached the end of our article on the top 12 best Mel Gibson movies. We hope you enjoyed going through Gibson’s finest films and adding some of them to your movie night list. Don’t forget to share this article with your friends and family too.

Leave a Comment