Rob Lowe’s 10 Best Movies, According to Rotten Tomatoes

It’s been a tale of two careers for Rob Lowe. After making his feature film debut via Francis Ford Coppola’s 1983 film The Outsiders, Lowe went on to enjoy a very productive movie career throughout the 80s and 90s. For his work on the film, Lowe earned one Golden Globe nomination following his performance in the 1987 film Square Dance.

When Lowe was cast in The West Wing in 1999, the trajectory of his career altered. He earned two more Golden Globe nods for his role on the hit series, catapulting a second-act of a career in television where he has spent the majority of the past two decades. While he’s currently saving lives as Fire Chief Owen Strand on 9-1-1: Lone Star, it’s high time we assess Rob Lowe’s 10 Best Movies, According to Rotten Tomatoes!

10 Wayne’s World 2 (1993) 61%

In the early to mid-90s, Lowe began showing what a powerful comedic force he evolved into. While Tommy Boy definitely comes to mind, so too does Lowe’s work as the slick-talking, suave-looking rich music producer in the Wayne’s World films.

While his role is much smaller in the sequel, Lowe’s presence as Benjamin Kane is certainly felt. When Wayne and Garth throw a massive Woodstock-like rock concert, Wayne must keep an eye on the sly music producer trying to steal his girlfriend.

9 The Outsiders (1983) 63%

As the sweet-smiling Soda Pop Curtis, Lowe “stayed golden” among a star-studded ensemble that included Tom Cruise, Patrick Swayze, Matt Dillon, Ralph Macchio, Emilio Estevez, Thomas C. Howell and more.

The classic S.E. Hinton tale follows two rivaling gangs from opposites sides of the tracks, the Greasers and the Socs, who agree to a major brawl after one of the kids is left dead from a knife wound. Lowe plays Soda Pop, Pony Boy’s sensitive older brother who encourages Pony to be himself.

8 Contact (1997) 64%

In Robert Zemeckis’ sober and serious sci-fi endeavor about a female astronaut dedicated to making the first contact with extraterrestrial life, Lowe was given a small role as concerned politician Richard Rank!

When Ellie Arroway (Jodie Foster) receives an unknown signal from the star system Vega, she pursues it as if it means alien life exists. When Rank catches wind of the mission, he voices his concern for the American public growing hysterical over the thought of an alien invasion.

7 Austin Powers: International Man Of Mystery (1997) 70%

Who can forget Lowe’s hilarious cameo in old pal Mike Myers’OG Austin Powers picture? Yup, that was him playing an uncredited henchman who gets his pretty little dome lopped off!

Later Lowe would play Middle Number Two, the mock-necked, eye-patched henchman and younger version of the real Number Two (Robert Wagner). Either way, Lowe lends a certain sophistication and gravitas to his villainous roles, which is likely why Myers brought him back after having such a good time on Wayne’s World.

6 The Hotel New Hampshire (1984) 71%

Based on the John Irving novel, Lowe and Jodie Foster also star in the 1984 drama The New Hampshire Hotel, a movie about a troubled family that struggles to overcome a series of unfortunate circumstances.

Tony Richardson directs the film about a mother and father of five children in the 1950s who endure unthinkable hardship. Fatal airplane crashes, closeted homosexuality, campus rape, and many other difficulties plague the Berry family as they try to find a sense of peace in a cruel world.

5 Bad Influence (1990) 71%

Lowe goes toe-to-toe with James Spader in the obsessive-stalker flick Bad Influence, in which the two rakish young men vie for the affections of a woman named Claire (Lisa Zane).

One night in a bar, timorous executive Michael (Spader) gets pushed around by a drunk local. Just in time, a stranger named Alex (Lowe) steps in and halts the situation. Later that night, Alex and Michael run into each other while jogging on a pier and instantly forge a friendship. Little does Alex know Mike is a deranged sociopath who inveigles his way into Alex’s life for the express purpose of causing him harm.

4 Wayne’s World (1992) 84%

Lowe really began to flash his comedic chops in the 90s, beginning with the irreverent and uproarious SNL movie Wayne’s World. Who can forget the slick Cantonese-talking Benjamin and his giant Zack-Morris cordless phone!?

Of course, the film follows two ne’er-do wells who operate a local access cable TV show from the cozy confines of their Aurora, Illinois basement. Once the show increases ratings, Benjamin tries to exploit the two head-bangers by offering a low-ball contract. Once Wayne and Garth see the horrid changes made to their programming, they revolt.

3 Thank You For Smoking (2005) 86%

Speaking of irreverent, Jason Reitman’s subversive dark-comedy Thank You For Smoking afforded Lowe yet another chance to show his humorous side. As super Hollywood agent Jeff Megall, Lowe took the opportunity and ran with it!

The film tracksNick Naylor (Aaron Eckhart), a dashing tobacco lobbyist/spokesman who, despite doing what he knows is wrong by denying the harmful impacts of nicotine, tries to set a model example for his 12-year-old son, Joey (Cameron Bright). Lowe is hilarious as the disaffected agent who putts around in his seaside mansion.

2 Behind The Candelabra (2013) 95%

Lowe earned his most recent Golden Globe nod for his stellar performance in the HBO movie Behind The Candelabra, Steven Soderbergh’s highly entertaining ode to the elegant performer Liberace (Michael Douglas)!

Rather than a cradle-to-grave biopic, the film focuses on a tumultuous six-year period in Liberace’s life. During this time, he meets the dashing young hunk Scott Thorson (Damon), a gay animal trainer. The two forge an intimate romance, eventually calling on high-powered plastic surgeon Jackson Startz (Lowe) to preserve their facial beauty.

1 I Am Patrick Swayze (2019) 100%

Without a single dissenting voice from the Tomato-Meter, the loving documentary sendoff to the late great Patrick Swayze is the highest-rated film in Lowe’s CV. Rightly so!

As mentioned above, Lowe costarred with Swayze when the two were just young hungry Hollywood upstarts. Their time spent together as siblings on The Outsiders defined their relationship in many ways, a subject Lowe articulates with deep emotion in the documentary. Truly touching stuff!