Robert Downey Jr.’s 2 Put up-Endgame Films Present The Finest & Worst Of His Profession

Robert Downey Jr. has a formidable filmography, but his two post-Endgame films showcase the most effective and worst of his profession. Downey has turn into considered one of Hollywood’s high actors following his well-known redemption, and it’s partly as a result of actor starring in one of many lead roles of the Marvel Cinematic Universe for a decade. Robert Downey Jr. was good as Iron Man, together with his pure swagger and former historical past lending the right characterization for Tony Stark. Sadly, Iron Man’s story lastly got here to an finish with Avengers: Endgame, which noticed Downey’s character sacrifice himself to avoid wasting the universe.

Since his 2019 departure from the MCU, Robert Downey Jr. has starred in two non-Marvel films, 2020’s Dolittle and 2023’s Oppenheimer. The actor has additionally branched out, enjoying 5 supporting roles in HBO’s The Sympathizer, in addition to making his Broadway debut in McNeal. In 2024, at San Diego Comedian-Con, it was introduced that Robert Downey Jr. would play Physician Doom in Avengers: Doomsday, marking his official return to the MCU. Nonetheless, the 2 films between Downey’s Marvel departure and return are essentially the most attention-grabbing, as Dolittle and Oppenheimer demonstrated the most effective and worst of Robert Downey Jr.’s profession.

Robert Downey Jr.’s First Put up-Endgame Film Was The Worst Of His Profession

2020’s Dolittle Was A Vital And Industrial Failure

Robert Downey Jr.’s first film following the success of Avengers: Endgame was 2020’s Doolittle. The fantasy journey movie relies on the Hugh Lofting character, a physician who can talk with animals, and is primarily impressed by his second ebook, The Voyages of Physician Dolittle. With Downey starring because the titular character, Dolittle follows the reclusive physician as he embarks on a journey to discover a treatment for a younger Queen Victoria. The movie will not be the primary Physician Dolittle adaptation, as Eddie Murphy beforehand led a commercially profitable franchise, nevertheless, in contrast to Murphy’s movies, Dolittle was fairly unhealthy.

On a funds of $175 million, which additional elevated after reshoots, Robert Downey Jr.’s Dolittle film was a flop, grossing simply $251.5 million worldwide. Critics gave Dolittle an incredibly low 15% Tomatometer on Rotten Tomatoes, citing the film’s boring plot, over-the-top infantile comedy, and CGI as justification. Apparently, the movie additionally scored a 76% Popcornmeter, displaying some audiences preferred it, though the bulk agree Dolittle is significantly extra entertaining for kids. Consequently, Dolittle was decidedly a far cry from Downey’s beforehand significant characters, and its horrible reception solely added damage to the actor’s profession following Avengers: Endgame.

Robert Downey Jr.’s Oppenheimer Efficiency Is One Of His Finest

Oppenheimer Offered Downey With His First Oscar Win

In distinction, Downey’s subsequent post-Avengers: Endgame film showcased the actor at his finest. A couple of years following the failure of Dolittle, Robert Downey Jr. landed a supporting position as AEC Chairman Lewis Strauss in Christopher Nolan’s epic biographical thriller, Oppenheimer. Strauss performs a minor position within the 2023 movie as he makes an attempt to strip Oppenheimer of his clearance on the US Division of Vitality because of petty motivations and jealousy of the physicist. Robert Downey Jr. beforehand mentioned that Kiss Kiss Bang Bang was “the most effective movie I’ve ever completed,” but his position in Oppenheimer could have modified that.

Robert Downey Jr. performed a quiet villain in Oppenheimer, together with his efficiency being a standout within the film, regardless of the lead character of Robert Oppenheimer being performed by Cillian Murphy. The actor acquired reward for his subtlety in having the ability to painting a posh character with attraction, which diverged right into a sinister manipulation. In reality, amongst Oppenheimer’s many accolades, Robert Downey Jr. gained Finest Supporting Actor on the 96th Academy Awards, bringing dwelling his first Oscar. Subsequently, it’s protected to say that Oppenheimer marks Robert Downey Jr.’s finest efficiency since being within the MCU, if not, of all time.

How Different MCU Actors Have Fared After Endgame

Chris Evans And Scarlett Johansson Have Different Success

Different MCU actors have additionally felt the impression on their careers since Avengers: Endgame was launched in 2019, particularly Chris Evans and Scarlett Johansson. Becoming a member of Robert Downey Jr. as among the predominant characters killed off in Avengers: Endgame, the 2 have seen varied ranges of success in non-Marvel initiatives. Chris Evans just lately bought actual about his films after Avengers: Endgame, jokingly remarking to Materialists co-stars that Evans would “destroy each of their careers” if Dakota Johnson and Pedro Pascal had been repeatedly forged in films alongside him, referring to Evans’ unlucky pattern of field workplace bombs following his MCU exit.

Then again, Scarlett Johansson has seen far more assorted success since her departure from the MCU following the dying of Natasha Romanoff. Johansson has appeared in a couple of critically acclaimed films, reminiscent of Marriage Story, Asteroid Metropolis, and The Phoenician Scheme, which acquired restricted releases, thus affecting field workplace outcomes. She has additionally starred in field workplace hits like Sing 2 and Jojo Rabbit. Nonetheless, a few of Scarlett Johansson’s films have additionally bombed, together with the notorious Fly Me to the Moon, starring Channing Tatum. Nonetheless, Johansson could possibly be seeing main success once more with the upcoming Jurassic World: Rebirth.

Dolittle Might Be One Cause Behind Robert Downey Jr.’s MCU Return

2020’s Catastrophe Might Have Pushed A Marvel Comeback

The reality is that Dolittle’s failure could possibly be one of many causes behind Robert Downey Jr.’s Marvel return as Physician Doom. Following a decade of field workplace success and infamy pushed by enjoying some of the iconic characters in cinematic and comedian historical past, Downey’s Dolittle was a significant letdown, particularly because it was the primary film post-Endgame. The film was nominated for six Razzie awards that yr alone, and its dismal 15% rating actually places a stain on Robert Downey Jr.’s spectacular filmography. In reality, Downey even said that Dolittle was “a two-and-a-half-year wound of squandered alternative.”

Because of this, Robert Downey Jr.’s most vital film picks have modified for the actor. Not solely is The Shaggy Canine thought-about vital for demonstrating the profession stability that allowed his Iron Man casting, however so is Dolittle. Downey mentioned “We had this reset of priorities,” as a result of film’s poor reception. Subsequently, it wouldn’t be out of the realm of chance that Dolittle’s failings have basically pushed the actor into the protected realm of Marvel as soon as once more. Nonetheless, the following success of Oppenheimer and Robert Downey Jr.’s films previous to becoming a member of the MCU demonstrates his true advantage.