Remembering an Icon: The Best Val Kilmer Mystery and Thriller Movies

On April 1st, 2025, Val Kilmer passed away at the age of 65 due to pneumonia. He had struggled with his health prior for more than a decade.

But Kilmer should not—and will not—be remembered for his struggles. Rather, he will be looked back on fondly for the incredible contributions he made to the big screen.

Skyrocketing to superstardom after portraying Jim Morrison in The Doors back in 1991, Kilmer starred in upwards of 60 films. From Iceman in Top Gun to Batman in Batman Forever, he cemented himself as a pop culture icon.

Here are eight of the best Val Kilmer mystery and thriller movies to remember him by.

In this crime drama from 1995, the plot revolves around the tension between a Los Angeles detective, Vincent Hanna (Al Pacino), and a professional thief, Neil McCauley (Robert De Niro).

At their latest heist, McCauley's team accidentally leaves behind a major clue.

Kilmer portrays Chris Shiherlis, McCauley's right-hand man.

In this 2008 thriller, family man Wade Porter (Stephen Dorff) is sent to prison after he kills an intruder. He must learn to navigate and survive the violent life awaiting him behind bars.

Val Kilmer portrays John Smith, Porter's cellmate who is serving a life sentence.

A neo-noir crime thriller from 2002, follows Danny Parker (Val Kilmer), a former trumpet player who now poses as a meth addict to act as an informant for a pair of corrupt cops.

Haunted by tragedy, Parker lands himself in increasingly dangerous situations.

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Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is probably my favorite Val Kilmer movie of all time. He brings so must personality and humor to the role, it's truly a wonderful showcase of his acting.

In the film, a New York thief, Harry Lockhart (Robert Downey Jr.) is mistaken for an actor and sent to Hollywood to prepare for a major movie role. He's instructed to shadow private detective “Gay Perry” (Val Kilmer), but the pair are soon pulled into a murder mystery that puts Harry's childhood love, Harmony (Michelle Monaghan) in the crosshairs.

Loosely based on the real events that unfolded at the O.K. Corral, this is quite possibly Val Kilmer's most highly celebrated film.

When legendary lawman Wyatt Earp (Kurt Russell) heads to Tombstone, Arizona to retire with his two brothers, Virgil (Sam Elliot) and Morgan (Bill Paxton). Unfortunately, his peaceful plans are disrupted by a band of vicious outlaws.

Val Kilmer plays the notorious Doc Holliday, Wyatt's closest friend and an unmatched gunman.

In this 1989 erotic thriller, Val Kilmer portrays private investigator Jack Andrews. Desperate for cash, Andrews reluctantly agrees to help a woman, Fay (Joanne Whalley) fake her death.

When she disappears with half his promised money, he goes after her. Unfortunately, this puts him in the crosshairs of both the mob and Fay's violent boyfriend.

This political thriller from 2004, former US Marine Corps gunnery sergeant Robert Scott (Val Kilmer) gets tangled up in a dangerous and clandestine operation to track down the president's kidnapped daughter.

The mission quickly turns into a messy international debacle.

Based on a true story, this crime drama follows Danny Greene (Ray Stevenson) a rough and tumble Irishman. He finds himself working for mobsters in 1970s Cleveland, which brings no shortage of trouble.

Val Kilmer portrays Joe Manditski, a police detective who grew up alongside Greene.