Gene Hackman’s most successful films: Ranking his top six box office hits

Veteran actor Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, were found dead in their New Mexico residence on February 26, 2025. The cause of their death has not been disclosed yet.

Hackman was a renowned American actor and also received many accolades for his contribution to the Entertainment industry. He won two Academy Awards for his roles in Unforgiven and The French Connection. He was also nominated for three more Oscars for his movies Bonnie and Clyde, Mississippi Burning, and I Never Sang For My Father.

His most prominent role was in the first Superman movie, where he played the iconic role of Lex Luthor. Other than that, he has been part of many Box Office hits throughout his time in Hollywood.

Here is a list of six of Gene Hackman’s highest-grossing movies.

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6) Crimson Tide- $157.3 million

The 1995 submarine action movie was directed by Tony Scott. The film follows U.S commanding officer Gene Hackman’s Captain Franklin Ramsey and Denzel Washington’s Lieutenant Commander Ronald Hunter as they have a difference in opinion on launching the submarine missiles on Russia.

Crimson Tide depicts a time when Russia is threatening a nuclear war on the US and Japan.

The film received critical acclaim and was the highest-grossing movie in its first week of release. It is also one of the box office hits of Gene Hackman. According to Box Office Mojo, the film earned around $157.3 million.

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5) The Birdcage- $185.2 million

Mike Nichols’ 1996 comedy film stars Robin Williams as a gay man, Armand, who, to impress his son, Val’s fiancee, Barbara’s conservative parents- Gene Hackman’s Senator Kevin Keeley and his wife Louise ( Dianne Wiest)- is forced into the closet. With the help of his friends and employees, they reorganise their apartment to look traditional. Armand, Barbara, and Val are almost successful in their plan before some unsettling news regarding Keeley’s fellow senator reaches the press, and a scandal ensues.

The Birdcage was a Box office hit in its opening weekend and also earned $185.2 million worldwide, according to Box Office Mojo.

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4) Superman II- $216.3 million

Directed by Richard Lester, Superman II follows the story of Terence Stomp’s General Zod, who comes to Earth to take revenge on Christover Reeve’s Superman for imprisoning him in the Phantom Zone. Zod joins hands with Gene Hackman’s Lex Luthor as their mission is common- to destroy Superman and rule the world.

Just like the first movie, Superman II was also a box office hit, earning $216.3 million globally, as reported by Box Office Mojo.

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3) Enemy of the State- $250.8 million

Directed by Tony Scott, the Will Smith starrer film follows a Labor lawyer Robert Clayton Dean who unknowingly gets entangled in a case involving corrupt NSA agents killing a Congressman. He is helped by Gene Hackman’s Edward ‘Brill’ Lyle, a former NSA communications expert, to take revenge on the corrupt agents who had ruined his life.

The film was a Box Office hit and was loved by fans and was also praised for the chemistry between Smith and Hackman.

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2) The Firm- $270.2 million

The Firm, starring Tom Cruise, follows the story of Mitch McDeere ( Tom Cruise), a young Harvard Law graduate who joins a law firm in Tenessee. The firm’s senior partner, Gene Hackman’s Avery Tolar, helps and guides Mitch to understand their firm’s work culture and policies.

Cruise’s Mitch finds out about how his firm helps its clients in corrupt activities like hiding money in offshore shell companies and avoiding paying taxes. He later tries to gather evidence and give it to the FBI in exchange for saving his brother from prison.

Directed by Sydney Pollack, the film is based on John Grisham’s novel of the same name and is the highest-grossing film of a John Grisham book. It was a commercial success and earned $270.2 million globally, as reported by Box Office Mojo.

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1) Superman- $300.4 million

The 1978 movie starring Christover Reeves as Superman was a global and commercial hit. The film follows the origin story of Superman from infancy to living as Clark Kent in Smallville. It also introduced the formidable enemy of Superman, Lex Luthor, played by Gene Hackman.

With a strong ensemble cast, the movie ruled the box office after its release and earned $300.4 million globally.

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Also Read: 5 essential Gene Hackman movies you can’t miss