Remembering Robin Williams: A Movie Marathon in Memoriam

By Brian Frosti on August 20, 2014

Image via stiggytrigger.com

Last week we lost one of brightest lights in the entertainment industry. Robin Williams had an unparalleled gift to make people both laugh and cry; he is a talent that will be sorely missed.

Everyone has a favorite memory of the man. Be it Genie’s Groucho Marx impression from “Aladdin,” his battle against vicious flora and fauna in “Jumanji,” or any one of his inspiring monologues from “Good Will Hunting” or “Dead Poets Society,” he’s left his mark on multiple generations of fans.

But now Robin Williams is gone from this earth, and while he is mourned by the world over, his memory lives on in the many films he worked on. So what better way to remember the man and celebrate his life than with a marathon of his greatest works?

What follows is a list of suggested movies from all walks of his career. These are some of his very best works in every category he’s worked in. You can watch them all in memoriam or pick and choose based on how you’d like to remember the man who touched each and every one of our lives.

The first category is what he is best known for: comedies. Robin Williams rose to stardom after his comedic role as Mork from Ork on “Mork and Mindy” and he has continued to shine in the genre ever since.

The two films I’ve selected showcase his unique set of talents. “Mrs. Doubtfire” is as unique a comedy as has ever been created and it’s a role only Williams could master.

“The Birdcage” is at the opposite end of the spectrum. This time Williams plays the straight man (in the figurative sense only) to Nathan Lane’s on screen antics. Very different but equally funny, these are two great films fans shouldn’t miss.

Mrs. Doubtfire

“The Birdcage:”

While he may be known primarily as a comedian, Robin Williams found his greatest critical admiration after his dramatic performances.

The three films selected show Williams in very different roles but he is successful in all of them. There’s his Academy Award winning performance in “Good Will Hunting,” his inspirational performance in “Dead Poets Society,” and his sinister turn in Christopher Nolan’s “Insomnia.”

Each role expanded on what the world thought he was capable of, and each time he blew us away.

Good Will Hunting

“Dead Poets Society:”

Insomnia

He had success in comedies and dramas alike, and still more in films that blended the two categories.

Dramedies like “Good Morning Vietnam,” where he adlibbed his comedic monologues and seamlessly transitioned between making audiences laugh and holding them at the edge of their seat, and “The Fisher King,” where he proved he could make us all laugh regardless of the scenario, showed Robin Williams’ talent was as diverse as it was immense.

Good Morning Vietnam

“The Fisher King:”

Finally, Robin Williams didn’t need to be on screen to make us smile; his voice alone was enough. Williams brought life to several animated characters throughout his career but none were better than Genie and Fender. Both characters stole the show in their respective movies and both are quoted by fans to this day.

Aladdin

“Robots:”

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