The 10 best Mel Gibson movies of all time - RANKED

Mel Gibson has been one of Hollywood's most controversial figures since a high-profile outburst effectively derailed his career as a leading man. 

But Gibson still has a back catalogue of classic movies that would be the envy of most stars in the business and his track record in the 1980s and 1990s helps to create an iconic Top 10 packed with instantly recognisable characters. 

Recent films that turn the gaming table into a pressure cooker

Monday 19 October 2026, 13:48

Why Casinos Remain a Popular Setting in Crime Dramas

Thursday 15 October 2026, 11:53

From Max Rockatansky, to William Wallace, to Martin Riggs, Gibson's run of hits made him one of the bankable stars in the business. 

He has been reduced to making low-budget and straight-to-DVD content in the last decade, but the impact of the Australian in film history is reflected in the movies in this list. 

Indeed, Mel is probably as well-known for his directing as his starring roles, winning an Oscar for helming Braveheart in 1995, while he has received critical acclaim for Apocalypto, Hacksaw Ridge and, perhaps most controversially, The Passion of the Christ. 

Within our MovieMeter community, there are naturally various Mel Gibson movies that have received hugely positive responses. By subscribing to become a member of the MovieMeter community HERE, you can rate all of your favourite movies - and some of your least favourite ones.

Best Mel Gibson movies

1. Braveheart (1995)

4 (7164)

Braveheart (1995)

The late 13th century: William Wallace (Mel Gibson) is a Scottish rebel who leads a resistance against the cruel English ruler Edward Longshanks (Patrick McGoohan). As a little boy, William saw his father and brother murdered in an attempt to liberate Scotland. When William loses another loved one, he begins his struggle to free Scotland once and for all.

Directed by: Mel Gibson
Stars: Mel Gibson, Sophie Marceau and Patrick McGoohan

2. The Patriot (2000)

3.56 (2737)

The Patriot (2000)

South Carolina, 1776. After several years in the military, Benjamin Martin wants nothing more than to live a quiet life. However, when his son enlists in the US military to defend the fledgling nation from the British, he is forced to take up arms again.

Directed by: Roland Emmerich
Stars: Mel Gibson, Heath Ledger and Jason Isaacs

3. Lethal Weapon (1987)

3.52 (2214)

Lethal Weapon (1987)

Riggs (Gibson) and Murtaugh (Glover) thoroughly hate each other in Lethal Weapon. But they are colleagues and top bosses in their profession! Gibson is a tough, white killing machine... Glover a staid family man, who constantly feels 'too old'. But by now the duo is fighting their way through Los Angeles, where a modern jungle war is raging. Gibson takes insane risks as a hard-core 'cop'; Glover is a dedicated detective with an impeccable track record.

Directed by: Richard Donner
Stars: Mel Gibson, Danny Glover and Gary Busey

4. Mad Max 2 (1981)

3.44 (1560)

Mad Max 2 (1981)

The world we know is no more. The cities of the past have turned into a great wasteland. Through this wasteland, lonely wanderer Max (Gibson) wanders aimlessly, always looking for food and gasoline to survive. He arrives at a village where the inhabitants have an enormous amount of petrol. Reluctantly, he decides to help them in the fight against a group of violent motorcyclists.

Directed by: George Miller
Stars: Mel Gibson, Michael Preston and Bruce Spence

5. Dragged Across Concrete (2018)

3.42 (824)

Dragged across Concrete (2018)

Dragged Across Concrete follows two cops, an experienced cop and his younger, fickle partner. When video images of the two surface showing their unconventional working methods, they are suspended. Short on cash and without options, the two see no other way out than to plunge into the criminal underworld.

Directed by: S. Craig Zahler
Stars: Mel Gibson, Vince Vaughn and Tory Kittles

6. Gallipoli (2005)

3.39 (304)

Gallipoli (1981)

Archy Hamilton and Frank Dunne are the best sprinters in all of Australia. When World War I breaks out, they decide to leave their backgrounds behind and sign up to join the ANZACS. They are sent to Gallipoli, where they must fight against the mighty Turks.

Directed by: Peter Weir
Stars: Mel Gibson, Mark Lee and Bill Kerr

7. Lethal Weapon 2 (1989)

3.38 (1747)

Lethal Weapon 2 (1989)

Police officers Martin Riggs (Gibson) and Roger Murtaugh (Glover) are back. This time they come into contact with an African diplomat who uses his diplomatic immunity to carry out his criminal activities with impunity. The irritating Leo Getz (Pesci) is the only witness Riggs and Murtaugh have, but the question is whether they will kill him themselves before he can testify.

Directed by: Richard Donner
Stars: Mel Gibson, Danny Glover and Joe Pesci

8. Payback (1999)

3.37 (1466)

Payback (1999)

Even though it's been months since his wife shot him in the back and left him for dead, his feelings for revenge have not diminished. He wants the share of the loot he's entitled to, and neither his wife nor his crime partner or his friends from organized crime can stand in his way of getting that $70,000.

Directed by: Brian Helgeland
Stars: Mel Gibson, Deborah Kara Unger and Kris Kristofferson

9. The Bounty (1984)

3.39 (344)

The Bounty (1984)

William Bligh, a sea captain, was at the helm of The Bounty in 1787 on a 10,000-mile voyage filled with danger, chaos and madness. After 31 days of battling violent storms and Captain Bligh's unrelenting brutality, the weary crew can finally set foot in relief on a remote island. But soon their tyrannical captain wants to leave, and the distraught men turn to First Mate Fletcher Christian to help them take over the ship, by force if necessary.

Directed by: Roger Donaldson
Stars: Mel Gibson, Anthony Hopkins and Laurence Olivier

10. We Were Soldiers (2002)

3.29 (2032)

We Were Soldiers (2002)

The film tells the true story of 450 American soldiers who, at the beginning of the Vietnam War, were surrounded by 2000 North Vietnamese soldiers. The film follows Lt. Colonel Harold Moore, and reporter Joseph Galloway in what would become the first major battle of the Vietnam War.

Directed by: Randall Wallace
Stars: Mel Gibson, Madeleine Stowe and Chris Klein