Rob Lowe's movies ranked

Rob Lowe is one of our favorite actors who has maintained a long and successful career since his '80s heartthrob days. In celebration of his 54th birthday on March 17, 2018, Wonderwall.com is ranking his movies from worst to best. Keep reading for more…

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No. 23: "Sex Tape"

"Sex Tape" is a 2014 comedy film about a married couple that accidentally uploads their amateur sex tape to iCloud. (Rob — who had a sex tape scandal of his own in the '80s — plays a supporting role in the Cameron Diaz-Jason Segel flick.) On paper, it sounds hilarious, but on-screen, it just didn't work. The movie was universally panned by critics and earned three Golden Raspberry nominations.

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No. 22: "A View From The Top"

Even Gwyneth Paltrow, the lead in "A View From The Top," called the movie terrible. The 2003 film tells the story of Donna Jensen, a small-town woman who dreams of becoming a flight attendant. Rob Lowe plays a pilot in the film but even his quality acting couldn't make this movie watchable. "A View From The Top" was a critical and commercial failure, only grossing $19.5 million worldwide on a $30 million budget.

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No. 21: "Illegally Yours"

"Illegally Yours" is terrible. The 1988 film about a college dropout (played by Rob Lowe) was panned by audiences and critics alike. The movie was so bad that director Peter Bogdanovich considers it to be one of the worst movies he ever made. "Illegally Yours" was also a box-office bomb, only grossing $259K on a $13 million budget.

No. 20: "Class"

"Class" was released on the heels of one of Rob Lowe's best movies, "The Outsiders" (more on that later), but did not perform nearly as well. Rob starred opposite Jacqueline Bisset as pretentious prep school student Squire Franklin Burroughs IV in the 1983 film. "Class" was panned by critics and only grossed $21 million at the box office.

No. 19: "Monster Trucks"

"Monster Trucks" shows that literal monsters, automobiles and oil tycoons just don't mix. The 2016 film is about a young high schooler who finds an escaped monster living in his truck. Rob Lowe plays a greedy oil CEO who's the main antagonist in the film, but his performance didn't help the movie become a hit. "Monster Trucks" only grossed $64 million worldwide against its $125 million budget.

No. 18: "The Specials"

"The Specials" is a comic-book superhero comedy that has a few laughs but ultimately falls short. The 2000 movie highlights the everyday lives of semi-popular superheroes — one of whom, The Weevil, is played by Rob Lowe — and purposely features very little fighting or special effects. The movie had a limited release and only grossed $13K at the box office.

No. 17: "Square Dance"

Although Rob Lowe delivered an amazing performance in "Square Dance," the movie itself fell flat. Rob plays a man who struggles with an intellectual disability in the 1987 flick. While heartwarming, the movie was criticized and performed poorly at the box office, earning just $225K. Rob did earn a Golden Globe nomination for his performance as Rory, however, so there's a silver lining.

No. 16: "How to Be a Latin Lover"

"How to Be a Latin Lover" definitely had a few laughs, and Rob Lowe as gigolo Rick (honestly, who wouldn't want to see that?) was certainly a draw, but the film was still an overall disappointment. The majority of critics felt it was just too cheesy and didn't have enough humor to leave a lasting impact. Unfortunately, audiences weren't in love with the film either.

No. 15: "Killing Kennedy"

Rob Lowe gave a noteworthy performance as President John F. Kennedy in the National Geographic TV movie "Killing Kennedy." The 2013 flick is based on a book of the same name and received mixed reviews from critics who praised the drama and acting but criticized the dialogue and pacing.

No. 14: "Youngblood"

Rob Lowe and the late, great Patrick Swayze… what's not to love? Apparently, quite a few things because "Youngblood" underperformed when it was released in 1986. The hockey movie was criticized by reviewers for its unimaginative plot and only grossed $15 million at the box office. Rob also later commented that he "hated" learning how to ice skate during the movie. Welp.

No. 13: "Masquerade"

Rob Lowe played a young, mysterious racing captain in "Masquerade" opposite Meg Tilly and was praised by audiences and critics for his quality performance. Unfortunately, some reviewers didn't like the "mushy" and unoriginal plot and the film only grossed $15 million. Overall, the 1988 movie is pretty good, but it's not even close to Rob's best.

No. 12: "Oxford Blues"

A young Rob Lowe in a letterman's jacket, how cute! "Oxford Blues" is for true Brat Pack fans who absolutely adored the film when it was released in 1984. However, most critics didn't agree. "Oxford" was not well-received by reviewers who thought the film had too many plot holes.

No. 11: "Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me"

Coming in at No. 11 is "Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me," in which Rob played Young Number 2. Rob was originally cast in the first Austin Powers film, "Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery," but his scenes were cut from film. Producers loved what they saw, however, and Rob was added to the second "Powers" installment where his character played a significant role. "The Spy Who Shagged Me" was hilarious and a huge box-office hit, grossing $312 million worldwide.

No. 10: "The Invention of Lying"

We've reached the top 10 of Rob Lowe's movies! "The Invention of Lying" comes in at No. 10 on our list thanks to a super-original concept and a great performance by Rob. The 2009 film is about a man who develops the ability to lie in a world where people can only tell the truth. The result is a hilarious yet thought-provoking film. "The Invention of Lying" was a hit amongst critics and viewers alike, grossing over $32 million worldwide.

No. 9: "Tommy Boy"

"Tommy Boy" comes in at No. 9 thanks to hilarious script, great acting and a memorable plot. Rob Lowe appeared in an uncredited role in the 1995 film that stars the late Chris Farley but his scenes are truly funny and very influential. "Tommy Boy" was not well-received by critics when it was released but has since become a cult classic.

No. 8: "Bad Influence"

"Bad Influence" has it all: mystery, romance, thrills and Rob Lowe. The 1990 movie stars Rob as a mysterious stranger named Alex who is not afraid to explore the dark side. The film was well-received by critics and audiences but never achieved the level of success of some of Rob's other films, much to his dismay. "It was really ahead of its time," Rob told reporters in 2017. "I'm really proud of it… It's sexy. It's weird. It's dark. The characters are great… It's also a great snapshot of underground L.A. at the beginning of the '90s. And yet it doesn't feel dated."

No. 7: "Hotel New Hampshire"

"Hotel New Hampshire" is the coming-of-age film that helped to solidify Rob Lowe's burgeoning career in the 1980s. The 1984 movie co-starring Nastassja Kinski and Jodie Foster performed poorly when it was released, grossing $5.1 million worldwide, but is now considered to be a bit of a cult classic.

No. 6: "Thank You for Smoking"

"Thank You for Smoking" is considered to be one of the best political satire movies ever produced. The 2005 flick is original, funny and thought-provoking, and Rob Lowe's role only adds to the awesomeness of this movie. Critics and audiences loved the film and the box office numbers reflected that enthusiasm. "Smoking," an indie, earned nearly $40 million worldwide.

No. 5: "About Last Night"

"About Last Night" is a romantic comedy that fans know and love. The 1986 movie pairs Rob Lowe with Demi Moore, and we honestly couldn't ask for more. The "will they or won't they" theme feels fresh and new in the film, and by the end of the movie, we're all rooting for the couple. "About Last Night" received great reviews from critics and grossed over $38 million at the box office when it was released.

No. 4: "Wayne's World"

"Wayne's World" is a true classic. The 1992 movie is based on a "Saturday Night Live" sketch, but unlike many other "SNL" movies, this one is truly enjoyable from start to finish. Rob Lowe plays a sleazy television producer in the film and brings the laughs. "Wayne's World" was a huge success upon its release, receiving rave reviews from critics and grossing over $183 million on a $20 million budget!

No. 3: "St. Elmo's Fire"

Coming in at No. 3 is one of the best Brat Pack films of all time, "St. Elmo's Fire." The 1985 movie stars all of our favorite '80s celebs and former teen heartthrobs, including Rob Lowe, Emilio Estevez and Andrew McCarthy. Rob plays the perfect Billy Hicks, a former frat boy-turned-reluctant husband. "St. Elmo's Fire" received good reviews from critics and grossed over $37 million. Today, the film is considered a cult classic and a must-watch '80s movie.

No. 2: "Behind the Candelabra"

"Behind the Candelabra" is a near-perfect film. The 2013 HBO movie features an all-star cast of A-listers including Matt Damon, Michael Douglas, Debbie Reynolds and Rob Lowe, and they all give fantastic performances. "Candelabra" tells the story of pianist Liberace and, unlike many other biopics, perfectly balances entertainment, affection and realism. The movie received universal praise and was nominated for five Emmys and three Golden Globes!

No. 1: "The Outsiders"

As if there could be any other No. 1 choice! "The Outsiders" is most definitely Rob Lowe's best movie to date. The 1983 film established the beloved group known as the Brat Pack and jump-started the careers of quite a few future A-listers including Tom Cruise, Emilio Estevez, Matt Dillon, Patrick Swayze, Diane Lane and Rob, who played Sodapop Curtis in the coming-of-age film, which was a critical and commercial hit and is still loved by audiences today.