The Best Robert Downey Jr. Movie Is Now On Streaming
One of the best Robert Downey Jr movies is currently streaming for free, which is an underground feature that beats out the likes of Iron Man and Sherlock Holmes.
When people think about the best Robert Downey Jr film, they often gravitate towards Iron Man. Quite honestly, that is not a bad movie to pick in the grand scheme of his expansive career. Also, his time as Sherlock Holmes has been fantastic too. However, there is one film that might have flown under the radar for many people. It also could be because he was part of an ensemble cast, all of which matched Downey in fantastic performances. That movie is Zodiac, which sees Downey take on the role of a reporter that was targeted by the infamous Zodiac killer. This happens to be his best movie, and it is streaming right now on both Paramount+ and Amazon Prime Video.
Zodiac was released in 2007 and still holds an impressive 90% “certified fresh” critic rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The audience rating sits at 77%, which is still quite respectable. Against a budget of $65 million, the film would only go on to make close to $85 million in worldwide box office numbers. Although that is considered a bit of a flop, the film is still quite fantastic. Zodiac was even nominated for the Palm d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival in 2007. The Palm d’Or is the highest honor given at the festival. Strangely, though the film was a clearly critical success, it was not as loved in theaters. Even though it boasted a cast that includes Robert Downey Jr, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Mark Ruffalo.
Zodiac follows the real-life killings of the Zodiac killer, as one newspaper in San Francisco Chronicle received a coded letter about the crimes. When the Zodiac killer sends in the first letter, the cartoonist at the San Francisco Chronicle becomes interested in the coded messages. That cartoonist is Robert Graysmith (Jake Gyllenhaal). However, the reporters at the Chronicle do not take him seriously, even when he decodes the first message sent. One of the reporters that openly insults Graysmith is Robert Avery (Robert Downey Jr). Soon after the first letter is sent and released by the press, a married couple deciphers the note, which was first done by Graysmith. Graysmith then starts working with Avery on further coded messages sent by the killer. After another killing of a taxicab driver, the Zodiac sends a piece of the driver’s bloody shirt and another note to the Chronicle, bringing in San Francisco police detective, Dave Tochi (Mark Ruffalo). Without further ruining the movie, you can watch it right now on Amazon Prime Video.
As previously stated, Zodiac boasted an amazing cast that includes Robert Downey Jr, Jake Gyllenhaal, Mark Ruffalo, Anthony Edwards, Brian Cox, and Donal Logue just to name a few. Strangely, this movie did not make nearly as much as it should have in theaters. It is quite a shame too, as it stands as the best Robert Downey Jr movie, along with the same sentiment for many of the actors listed. David Fincher is a fantastic director as well. He has been responsible for such hits as Se7en, Gone Girl, The Social Network, The Game, Fight Club, and Panic Room. The man is no slouch when it comes to directing features that are generally loved by everyone.
Despite the low box office numbers, Zodiac has become a cult classic for many reasons. The film chronicles one of the worst killing sprees that has ever happened in the United States. Those who are fans of the true crime genre would do well to watch this film, as most of it rings true to what truly occurred. People wore an “I’m not Robert Avery” button in real-life after the Zodiac killer seemed to target the reporter that was played by Robert Downey Jr.
Zodiac is available to stream right now on Amazon Prime Video and Paramount+. Although the film is a biopic in nature, it is dramatized as well. Still, most of what is spoken about in the film did happen during the time in which this serial killer was running rampant. Robert Downey Jr, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Mark Ruffalo are all fantastic in the film. It is certainly worth a watch, especially to those who happen to be enthralled by serial killers and true crime stories.
