From Family Ties to The Good Wife, Michael J Fox’s career has spanned 4 decades. He has also focused a great deal of his time, money, and energy in the steadfast research of Parkinsons. Fox is arguably best known for the Back to The Future Franchise, in which he plays a 1980s teenager who witnesses his friend Doc Brown—a kooky, mad-scientist type—murdered by terrorists. While escaping the gunmen in Doc Brown's time machine (made from a Delorean), Marty accidentally goes 30 years back in time to 1955. High jinks ensue when he runs into his parents, who are also teenagers, while subsequently trying to get "back to the future." It is a classic and there is no denying he is perfect for the role. In fact, the role was originally given to Eric Stoltz, who was eventually replaced with Fox about 6 weeks into shooting.
Despite its cult following and popularity of the lead role, Fox has an extensive body of work beyond Back to The Future that tends to live in the shadows of Marty McFly. He has taken on a variety of roles across several genres. Here are a handful of Michael J. Fox’s best movies that are not Back to The Future.
5 The Hard Way
Directed by John Badham, The Hard Way is a high-energy spoof of the traditional buddy cop movie, offering something for everyone. Best described as an action comedy, it keeps the audience entertained from the opening sequence through to the end-credits. Fox shines as the over-caffeinated pampered Hollywood star Nick Lang. Lang has arranged a deal to shadow Lieutenant John Moss (James Woods) as research for an upcoming role. Moss, however, is less than impressed with Lang's bratty L.A. attitude. The film follows the odd-couple as they try to track a ruthless killer dubbed "The Party Crasher" (Stephen Lang).
4 The Frighteners
Pre Lord of the Rings, Peter Jackson directs this horror comedy. Fox plays Frank Bannister a paranormal investigator who cons people into exorcisms. Little do his clients know, Frank has a connection in the afterlife, and he is the one causing the hauntings in the first place. Through his paranormal gifts, Frank begins to notice numbers on peoples' foreheads that end up coinciding with their imminent deaths. His ability to predict the murders in advance makes him a suspect, and he consequently ends up with a hard-nosed detective on his tail. Jake Busey co-stars as sadistic killer Johnny Bartlett, and his performance is truly creepy. The Frighteners never misses a beat. The high paced action keeps the audience entertained throughout. It is full of unexpected twists, belly-laughs and jump scares gallore.
3 Bright Lights Big City
Based on the Jay McInerney's Novel of the same name, Bright Lights Big City stars Fox as Jamie Conway, an aspiring writer who moves to New York City with his wife Amanda (Phoebe Cates) who eventually leaves him for another man and to focus on her modelling career. Discontent with his life after his break-up, Jamie dulls his pain by partying all night and eventually falling victim to the debauchery of the 1980's yuppy scene. Jamie begins abusing drugs and alcohol and it eventually starts to affect his day job as a fact checker for an uppity New York Magazine. Jamie soon needs to admit to himself that he has a problem and begin to turn his life around.
2 Casualties of War
Directed by Brian De Palma, Casualties of War is based on an article of the same name published in October 1969 in the New Yorker. The article recounts the true story of the incident on hill 192 in the Vietnam War, during which 5 American soldiers kidnapped a civilian woman with intent to rape and murder her. The movie does not follow the events exactly, but it is powerful nonetheless. In the movie, one man, Sven Eriksson (Fox), refuses to take part in the rape, despite cajoling from his commanding officer Sgt. Tony Meserve (Sean Penn). After the vicious attack, Eriksson is determined to get justice for the young woman and reports the crime. He is however not taken seriously which complicates matters for him. Fox gives an outstanding performance as the conflicted good guy Eriksson. The movie is raw, emotional, and compelling. It gives the audience an unfettered look at the brutal and unconscionable realities of war.
1 Mars Attacks
Tim Burton's whacky space invasion film is so bad its good, great in fact. The movie could almost be described as a satire of the popular Independence Day (released the same year), although that was not Burton's intent. Mars Attacks takes inspiration from H.G. Wells' War of the Worlds and the Topps brand "Mars Attacks!" trading cards. The movie features a star-studded cast, including Jack Nicholson, Pierce Brosnan, Annette Benning, Sarah Jessica Parker, Glenn Close, Martin Short, Danny Devito and a young Natalie Portman. Fox plays Jason Stone, a vain, hair-obsessed news reporter covering the Invasion. He and his on-screen partner Sarah Jessica Parker have excellent chemistry and comedic timing.