5 most underrated Val Kilmer movies you shouldn't miss

Many fans would've hoped that the news about Val Kilmer might be fake. They have all the right to do so; it came on April Fool's Day. But no, we have really lost him. The news was confirmed by The New York Times: he died of pneumonia at the age of 65.

His official film journey began in 1984; before that, theaters had him on the roll. In fact, he turned down a role in Francis Ford Coppola's The Outsiders (1983). But then after a couple of films, he landed the role we love today, the cocky but talented naval aviator, Iceman.

But it wasn't the only role; he has donned the Batman cape too while also heating things up with Robert De Niro and Al Pacino in Heat (1995). He has worked in over 100 films, some good, some bad, but his performances were remarkable. So we will see a few underrated films he was a part of throughout his career.

Top underrated films Val Kilmer was part of

5. Tombstone (1993)

Western movies are challenging, and Val Kilmer's portrayal of Doc Holliday in Tombstone is one challenging role Val Kilmer pulled off just fine. When Doc Holliday delivers the iconic dialogue, "Look darling, Johnny Ringo, the deadliest pistolier since Wild Bill they say", it is easy to notice the mockery in the way Kilmer says it. Then he proceeds to play with the cup he was drinking from, further embarrassing Ringo.

Even if a viewer who has not seen the movie is shown only the scenes involving Doc Holliday, they can easily tell the character is suffering from a health issue. Doc Holliday is suffering from tuberculosis in the movie. Val Kilmer's portrayal of this character is one to watch.

4. Heat (1995)

It's hard to shine when you are working with Al Pacino as the film protagonist and Robert De Niro as the antagonist. Still, Val Kilmer manages to do that; he especially became someone to look up to for the Marines. One of the most memorable scenes is a shootout sequence following a bank heist in the film; Kilmer's character, Chris Shiherlis, showcases a rapid clip change. Kilmer stated that he has heard Marines say about this one scene to recruits,

"If you can’t change a clip as fast as this actor, get out of my army!"

3. Top Secret! (1984)

Before Val Kilmer made it in Top Gun, he was in Top Secret! Interestingly, he began his film journey with this one, and you won't see a better underwater fight in any other film. This is not one fight that even Superman would want to engage in.

It was thanks to his performance in a play called Slab Boys alongside Sean Penn and Kevin Bacon that got him the main role as Nick Rivers in the film. Given that it was a spoof, it was all about how silly one can get, and Val Kilmer did fit this silly bill.

2. True Romance (1993)

Sure, Austin Butler might be the best portrayal of Elvis Presley, but Val Kilmer's role wasn't short of charm in True Romance. In it, he appears as an apparition of the King of Rock n Roll and assures his fan Clarence Worley (Christian Slater) by saying,

"Clarence. I like you. Always have. Always will."

Throughout the film, Val Kilmer gives Clarence direction and counsel while appearing to him in a dreamlike state.

1. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005)

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is perhaps the most underrated movie Val Kilmer was a part of. And Robert Downey Jr.'s, who plays Harry, too, for that matter. Kilmer plays Perry van Shrike in the film, who is initially hired to give Harry some on-the-job tutelage after he is mistakenly selected in an audition for a film.

Don't expect that sassy Robert Downey Jr. you are used to. Because he is, as Perry puts it,