The legendary rose to prominence on the small screen in the late '70s and received his first leading film role in 1980's . It was during the '90s, however, that he truly cemented himself as one of Hollywood's biggest and most talented stars. , he ruled the decade through and through.

Of course, though, certain '90s Robin Williams films are better than others. His best work throughout these ten years includes some underappreciated classic gems and films often counted among the greatest in their genre, from the deeply moving to the iconic . Williams is still considered one of the best of his generation, and his movies during this period are perfect evidence of why that's the case. based on their overall quality, legacy today, and the beloved actor's role in them.

One of Williams' funniest movies, is a biopic about , who was determined to become a medical doctor as a result of his love for helping people using humor as his greatest tool. Though critics hated the saccharine feel of his dramedy, leaving its Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer sitting at a measly 21%, Robin Williams fans have preserved it as one of the actor's most overhated gems.It's true that Patch Adams is melodramatic and even emotionally manipulative at times, but sometimes, . Loving, feel-good, and with a great balance between tears of laughter and tears of pathos, Patch Adams is a pretty moving little film with an expertly complex performance by Williams, who never falls into caricature territory.

Another Robin Williams '90s classic that critics derided but modern audiences love to defend, was the actor's third and last collaboration with director . Although Columbus would later express regret over the way he made the film, with some pretty effective makeup work.

Like Patch Adams, Bicentennial Man suffers from a mawkish tone and a so-so script, but its sweet story, thoughtful themes, and manage to redeem it; indeed, the actor is the main reason to watch, but far from the only positive. Its adaptation of 's seminal work is deeply compelling, and technical qualities like the music and production design are also high-quality.

, characterized by his adventurous directing style and the whimsy of most of his films, made in what's perhaps . Although it's yet another example of a '90s Robin Williams classic that critics hated at the time, it's aged like fine wine. Today, it's remembered as .

In Hook, Williams delivers one of the most iconic performances in any Steven Spielberg film. His portrayal of a grown-up Peter Pan was a big point of contention for critics at the time, but people have warmed up to it a significant bit. Williams is a fantastic emotional anchor for this touching little family film that gives the iconic Peter Pan classic a fun spin. Coupled with an equally bombastic as Captain Hook and you have a pretty great film that was probably ahead of its time.

Throughout the history of movies, there have been several great adaptations of 's , but to this day, the best and most well-rounded remains the 4-hour-long Hamlet from 1996, directed by common Shakespeare filmmaker . Williams plays Osric, the man sent to invite Hamlet (Branagh) to participate in the duel with Laertes ().

Osric is a pretty small part, . He gives the movie much-needed comedic levity — and it is, of course, delightful to watch a comedy star of this stature do Shakespeare. Branagh's , a sharp and sprawling adaptation that greatly elevates its legendary source material.

For those who love Robin Williams in melodramatic roles but want a stronger balance between corniness and thoughtfulness, Awakeningsis a must-see. With some of the best performances, the best dialogue, and the most memorable scenes of any Williams film, it's a delightful biopic about pioneering neurologist (Williams), who wants to use a drug used for Parkinson's Disease for his patients with encephalitis. He tests it on (), who miraculously awakens from a perpetual catatonic state.

In , Williams is absolutely phenomenal, and his chemistry with De Niro (who's also at his best here) is great. It was arguably the first time that Williams played such a straight-forward, non-flashy character, and the result is great. Awakenings is , and undoubtedly a top-tier start to Robin Williams' '90s filmography.

Known for his contributions to surrealist cinema and for his absurdly strange films, Monty Python alum has made many excellent films throughout his career. , about a formerradio DJ (), suicidal because of a terrible mistake he made, who finds redemption in helping a deranged homeless man (Williams) who was an accidental victim of that mistake.

One of Williams' most essential films, Fisher King has the perfect blend of effective drama, laugh-out-loud comedy, and imaginative fantasy — no less than what you'd expect from a Gilliam film. Williams and Bridges are perfect in their roles, and the sympathetic dynamic between their characters is the beating heart of the film. Williams earned an Oscar nomination for his efforts in The Fisher King, and it's not difficult to see why.

Arguably Williams' best and most iconic comedic performance, was his first-ever collaboration with Chris Columbus. It's the kind of film that could have come across as overly sentimental or artificial with anybody else in the title role. However, with Williams exuding his typical charm and comedic genius, the whole thing clicks in a way that's delightful to experience.

Mrs. Doubtfire is one of the most essential movies of 1993, a deeply touching film about parenthood that of divorce, separation, and how children experience these things. Oscar winner is the perfect match for Williams, with the two forming a memorable partnership that makes the whole thing even better. Striking the perfect balance between serious complexity and tender hilarity, Mrs. Doubtfire is as a whole.

Robin Williams' hysterical performance as the Genie from Aladdinmight just be . The actor recorded about 30 hours of dialogue for the film, partly scripted and partly improvised, and the result is one of the most fun, funny, and memorable characters in Disney's entire filmography.

Colorful, vibrant, imaginative, and heartfelt, Aladdin is a perfect watch for when you're feeling down, and a lot of that comes from how purely enjoyable Robin Williams' performance is. Even outside of his voice, though, the film is about . It's beautifully romantic and amusing in all the right spots, further enhanced by catchy songs that make for a viewing experience as enjoyable for kids as it is for grown-ups.

When the extraordinary cast of (which includes Williams, , , and ) collided, this camp cult classic was the result. It's not just one of Robin Williams' best movies overall but also one of the best comedies of the '90s. If queer joy were a film, it would be this one; and how irresistibly enchanting and enjoyable the ensuing spectacle of laughter and emotion is.

The performances are perhaps the movie's greatest strength, particularly Williams' surprisingly straight (pun definitely not intended) performance and Lane's exquisitely bombastic showcase. But everything else as well, from the sharp writing to Mike Nichols' colorful directing, also works like a charm. Silly, romantic, and wildly entertaining, , a true comedic tour de force firing on all cylinders.

Robin Williams' sole Oscar-winning performance, his portrayal of psychologist Sean Maguire in , is also universally agreed to be the greatest performance the actor ever gave. It's no coincidence that it's an entirely dramatic role, though Williams knows just when to inject perfect doses of humor in precisely the right ways and moments. Not coincidentally, Good Will Hunting is arguably also . Logically, it's also his best of the 1990s.

Williams' highest-rated film on Rotten Tomatoes, Good Will Hunting is a total tearjerker that also manages to find ways in which to be a feel-good gem. It's deeply poignant but also gorgeously life-affirming. and 's Oscar-winning script is pitch perfect, and it gives Williams the chance to deliver of the entire decade. It's a beautiful, intelligent, admirably earnest drama and a must-watch of '90s Hollywood cinema.

NEXT:The Best Movies of the 1990s, Ranked