Summary

• Robert Downey Jr.'s career in the past decade and a half has been defined by his role as Tony Stark, a.k.a. Iron Man, in the MCU.
• His 2014 movie, The Judge, is his best modern movie prior to his Oscar-winning role in Oppenheimer.
• While not received favorably by critics, The Judge showcases Downey's dramatic acting chops and considerable range.

A Robert Downey Jr. movie from 2014, The Judge, is currently available on Netflix, and it features the actor's best modern non-MCU performance before 2023's Oppenheimer. Thanks to his role as Tony Stark/Iron Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Downey is one of the most recognizable stars on the planet. He made his debut in the franchise back in 2008, and the role of Iron Man has come to define his career. However, the actor has an impressive resume outside of the MCU, including a scene-stealing turn in a legal drama that's essential viewing following Oppenheimer.

In 2023, Robert Downey Jr. joined the cast of Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer, playing the role of AEC member Lewis Strauss. The movie as a whole was met with critical acclaim, and it led to a long overdue Oscar win for Downey Jr. The film was certainly a high point in the actor's career. Now, a Downey title from 2014 is currently making its way up the Netflix charts, and it marks the star's previous best non-MCU role since 2008.

What The Judge With Robert Downey Jr. Is About

The Legal Drama Sees The Star Playing A Lawyer

Directed by David Dobkin, 2014's The Judge sees Robert Downey Jr. playing Hank Palmer, a brilliant Chicago lawyer who takes on his most personal case to date. Upon returning to his childhood home, Hank discovers that his father, Joseph (Robert Duvall), is suspected of killing a man. As a result, Hank sets out to prove his father's innocence, which, unexpectedly, brings the pair closer. The Judge's cast also includes Vincent D'Onofrio, Billy Bob Thorton, Vera Farmiga, and Jeremy Strong in supporting roles.

For his role in The Judge, Robert Duvall was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. Robert Downey Jr. didn't receive a nomination.

Overall, The Judge was not a massive hit for Downey. The movie made just $84 million on a $50 million budget (via Box Office Mojo) and largely failed to win over critics. In fact, it currently holds a Rotten Tomatoes score of 49%, with much of the criticism focusing on the film's predictable plot and overly sentimental style. Nevertheless, the performances of the cast, particularly Downey and Duvall, were met with universal praise. Overall, The Judge serves as a great showcase of Downey's talents if not much else.

Why The Judge Is One Of Robert Downey Jr's Best Non-MCU Roles Since Becoming Iron Man

The Star Is More Than Just A One-Trick Pony

From 2008 to 2019, Robert Downey Jr.'s career was almost entirely consumed by Iron Man and his role in the MCU. He did, however, star in a handful of projects outside the superhero franchise. For starters, he played Sherlock Holmes in two films directed by Guy Ritchie and appeared opposite Zach Galifianakis in the 2010 comedy Due Date. While many of Downey's non-MCU movies proved to be popular, very few of them provided the actor with much substance. The Judge, therefore, stands out among the films from this period for this reason.

The Judge, through its focus on the complexities of father/son relationships and the pitfalls of the legal system, offered something meatier for Downey Jr. to sink his teeth into.

Before he was Iron Man, Downey made a name for himself as a serious actor in mostly mid-budget movies and Oscar-bait films. The star earned his first Academy Award nomination for his role as Charlie Chaplin in the 1992 biopic Chaplin when he was just 27 years of age. After joining the MCU, Downey's career became dominated by big-budget blockbusters and broad comedies. As such, The Judge, through its focus on the complexities of father/son relationships and the pitfalls of the legal system, offered something meatier for Downey to sink his teeth into.

Why The Judge Has Been So Popular On Netflix 10 Years After Its Original Release

The Movie Has Received More Attention Now Than When It Was First Released

Like Anna and others before it, The Judge has managed to claim a spot on Netflix's Global Top 10 despite being ten years old. As always with these kinds of movies, the reason for The Judge's sudden popularity is hard to say. The most likely explanation is that, following Oppenheimer, audiences have been keen to see Downey in more serious roles. For a long time, many moviegoers would've only known Downey as Iron Man, but it's possible that, upon watching the actor's Oscar-winning turn as Strauss, their eyes were opened to new possibilities.

In this regard, The Judge seems to have arrived on Netflix at the right time. It's also worth noting that, while The Judge was not favorably reviewed by critics, audiences were far more enthusiastic. Indeed, the movie's audience score on Rotten Tomatoes currently stands at 72%, a big step up from the critic's score of 49%. Whether it's the film's family-oriented nature, its stylish production, or simply Downey's involvement, there's something about The Judge that appeals to audiences a decade after it first hit screens, making it his best non-MCU movie before Oppenheimer.