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Robert Duvall built his career on subtle power, not loud performances. He had a rare gift for fully becoming his characters. Whether he was a calm mafia adviser, a tough military officer, a struggling country singer, or a conflicted preacher, he made every role feel real and unforgettable.
From crime classics like The Godfather and The Godfather Part II, to the intense war drama Apocalypse Now and the heartfelt Tender Mercies, Duvall delivered performances that helped shape modern cinema. He earned multiple Oscar nominations and won Best Actor, gaining respect from critics and fans alike.
What made Duvall truly special was his range. He could dominate a scene with strong presence or move audiences with just a quiet look.
Here are 10 iconic Robert Duvall movies that prove his legendary status in Hollywood, according to IMDb.
The Godfather Part II – 1974:
In Francis Ford Coppola’s masterful sequel that parallels the rise of young Vito Corleone with Michael’s tragic empire-building, Robert Duvall reprises the loyal, introspective consigliere Tom Hagen with subtle layers of quiet conflict, moral tension, and evolving isolation amid betrayal and power struggles, this 3h 22m R-rated epic boasts a 90 Metascore, 9.0 IMDb rating, and 1.5M votes earning another Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor while helping cement the film’s status as one of cinema’s greatest achievements for its profound exploration of family, corruption, and the American dream.
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The Godfather – 1972:
As the calm, intelligent, non-Italian outsider Tom Hagen serving as the Corleone family’s consigliere in Francis Ford Coppola’s iconic crime epic adapted from Mario Puzo’s novel, Robert Duvall delivers understated wisdom, moral complexity, and quiet authority that anchors the ruthless world of organized crime this 2h 55m R-rated masterpiece holds a perfect 100 Metascore, 9.2 IMDb rating, and over 2.2M votes securing his first Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor and contributing to the film’s enduring legacy as a benchmark for American cinema through its masterful blend of family drama, power dynamics, and immigrant ambition.
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Network – 1976:
In Sidney Lumet’s prophetic, Oscar-winning satire on television media exploitation and corporate greed, Robert Duvall embodies the ruthless, ambitious executive Frank Hackett with sharp, calculating menace and cold professionalism that amplifies the film’s biting critique and ensemble brilliance, this 2h 1m R-rated gem features an 83 Metascore and 8.1 IMDb rating with 185K votes heightening the tension around themes of madness, ratings obsession, and unchecked ambition while making the story’s eerie warnings feel timeless.
The Great Santini – 1979:
Often hailed as his signature role and a personal favorite among fans, Robert Duvall commands the screen with explosive, Oscar-nominated intensity as the domineering yet deeply flawed Marine pilot “Bull” Meechum in Lewis John Carlino’s powerful family drama, dissecting toxic masculinity, rigid discipline, inner pain, and hidden paternal love through a volatile, multifaceted portrayal that blends toughness with vulnerability, this 1h 55m PG-rated film carries a 64 Metascore and 7.2 IMDb rating with 7.5K votes creating raw emotional honesty about father-son bonds and military life.
Tender Mercies – 1983:
In Bruce Beresford’s intimate, heartfelt drama about second chances and human resilience, Robert Duvall gives a career-defining, Oscar-winning Best Actor performance as the broken-down, alcoholic former country singer Mac Sledge who quietly rebuilds his life through faith, a new family, and music, this 1h 32m PG-rated treasure has a 76 Metascore and 7.3 IMDb rating with 13K votes drawing on his authentic Texas roots for raw vulnerability, understated emotional depth, and profound restraint that makes this small-scale story a poignant masterclass in redemption.
The Natural – 1984:
In Barry Levinson’s uplifting, mythic baseball fable adapted from Bernard Malamud’s novel and starring Robert Redford as the legendary Roy Hobbs, Robert Duvall portrays the cynical, sharp-witted sportswriter Max Mercy who doggedly probes Hobbs’s mysterious past with sly intelligence and subtle menace, adding gritty realism, tension, and skeptical counterpoint that grounds the film’s fantastical elements, this 2h 18m PG-rated classic earns a 61 Metascore and 7.4 IMDb rating with 57K votes while making the triumphant journey of perseverance, supernatural talent, and redemption feel earned and poignant.
A Civil Action – 1998:
In Steven Zaillian’s tense legal thriller based on a true story of environmental contamination causing childhood leukemia, Robert Duvall brings shrewd, world-weary intelligence and gravitas as the veteran attorney Jerry Facher opposite John Travolta’s driven lawyer, this 1h 55m PG-13-rated drama holds a 68 Metascore and 6.6 IMDb rating with 32K votes—underscoring the high-stakes battle for justice against powerful corporations while highlighting themes of accountability, moral compromise, and the personal costs of pursuing truth.
The Apostle – 1997:
In this deeply personal passion project that he wrote, directed, and starred in, Robert Duvall delivers an Oscar-nominated, tour-de-force Best Actor performance as the charismatic yet deeply flawed Pentecostal preacher Eulis “Sonny” Dewey who flees his troubled life to start anew in Louisiana this 2h 14m PG-13-rated work features an 83 Metascore and 7.2 IMDb rating with 16K votes immersing himself in fervent faith, guilt, spiritual redemption, and raw emotional complexity that makes the film a standout exploration of morality and belief.
True Confessions – 1981:
Opposite Robert De Niro in Ulu Grosbard’s brooding crime drama inspired by real events, Robert Duvall plays the cynical, street-smart Los Angeles homicide detective Des Spellacy who clashes with his ambitious monsignor brother’s world of church politics while investigating a brutal murder this 1h 48m R-rated film has a 68 Metascore and 6.3 IMDb rating with 9.8K votes bringing grounded realism, moral weight, and tense sibling dynamics to this atmospheric tale of corruption, faith, and family secrets.
