Where to Stream Val Kilmer's Best Movies and the Bittersweet Documentary, 'Val'
At the age of 65, actor Val Kilmer has sadly died. Technically, Kilmer died of pneumonia, though he had been struggling with throat cancer for several years. While his relationships, friendships, and family history will dominate the news, fans will likely turn to the impressive film career of Kilmer to remember the actor as we loved him best.
Here's a guide to streaming the best Val Kilmer movies, plus the touching 2021 documentary, Val.
Top Gun & Top Gun: Maverick
As the arrogant and intimidating "Iceman" in both Top Gun movies, Kilmer is incredible. If he'd never done another movie, we'd still be talking about this one. Does he steal the show from Tom Cruise in 1986? Yes? His reprisal of this role in 2022 also marked his final appearance in a movie.
Top Gun & Top Gun: Maverick are both streaming on Paramount+.
Willow
As the cocky swordsman Madmartigan, Kilmer is the absolute heart-and-soul of the 1988 fantasy classic Willow. Side-by-side with Warwick Davis, Kilmer delivers a Lucasfilm version of a Tolkien-esque tale that still holds up all these years later. Worth a rewatch with the family ASAP.
Willow streams on Disney+.
Batman Forever
Following in Michael Keaton's performance in two Batman movies was never going to be easy. But in the colorful 1995 film Batman Forever, Kilmer proved he was more than up to the task. We never got to see him as Bruce Wayne again, but as the years have gone by, this Batman has just gotten better and better.
Batman Forever streams on Max.
The Doors
Before Timothée Chalamet played Bob Dylan and before Joaquin Phoenix played Johnny Cash, Val Kilmer played a rock legend, Jim Morrison, in the excellent 1991 movie The Doors. Those new Beatles movies sound cool, but they'll never be as raw as this.
The Doors is available for rent on Amazon Prime Video, Google Play, and elsewhere.
Heat
As a professional thief in the cop drama Heat, Kilmer is in good company. Though the film also stars Al Pacino and Robert De Niro, Kilmer's turn as Chris Shiherlis is the glue that holds the movie together.
Heat streams on Netflix.
Tombstone
In 1993, Kilmer played the role of Doc Holiday in the western film Tombstone. Based on the real gunfight at the O.K. Corral, Tombstone set a new standard for historical westerns in the 90s
Tombstone is streaming on Hulu.
The Saint
Originally played by Roger Moore in the cult 1960s TV series of the same name, Kilmer took on the role of the dashing and heroic Simon Templar in the 1997 action movie The Saint. If you saw it back then, it's much better than you remember, and if you missed it, this is a hidden gem in Kilmer's impressive catalogue.
The Saint is streaming on MGM+.
Top Secret!
One of Kilmer's first big roles was in the 1984 comedy Top Secret! Created by the Zucker Brothers (the same guys behind Airplane! and The Naked Gun) Top Secret is one of the great underrated spoofs of the 80s, and one of Kilmer's most underrated movies.
Top Secret! is streaming on PlutoTV
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
There's just something perfect about Val Kilmer and a slightly tongue-in-cheek action movie. The 2005 film Kiss Kiss Bang Bang also stars Robert Downey Jr. and is one of the greatest action/crime films that also happens to be hilarious.
You can rent Kiss Kiss Bang Bang on Amazon Prime, Apple TV, and elsewhere.
Documentary: Val
Consisting of a ton of camera footage shot by Kilmer himself, the 2021 documentary Val is like a visual diary. From a very young age, to a contemporary portrait of Kilmer, this documentary would be touching even if the subject wasn't about a famous actor. The footage is affecting, humble, and now, very bittersweet.