Gene Hackman Movies Available for Netflix Instant Viewing that Make the Roku Worth It

Gene Hackman does not get nearly the acclaim he deserves. Amazingly, Hackman has never been the recipient of the AFI Lifetime Achievement Award despite the fact that he's been turning in brilliant performances in a string of classic movies longer than such other honorees as Tom Hanks and Harrison Ford, and despite the fact his resume is far more impressive than such honorees as Barbra Streisand or Sean Connery. The reason is obvious: Gene Hackman comes in and consistently turns in quality work without drawing attention to himself. He never seems to be acting; he just is. It is easy to overlook just what a vast range Hackman really because he never established a comfortable image for audiences. If you have a Netflix subscription and the Roku device, it is time to turn on the TV and catch up with the extraordinary Mr. Gene Hackman.

Superman: The Movie.
Since this film was released in movie theaters across the nation, I'm at a loss as to the reasoning behind its title. What, did they think that people would be coming into a theater to watch an opera based on Superman, or maybe just reruns of the vintage serials? Don't get it, never will. The very best thing about the original Superman movies was Gene Hackman as Lex Luthor. It is a testament to Hackman's talent that his Lex Luthor blows away even the equally great Kevin Spacey in his turn at the role is monumentally boring Superman Returns. It's difficult to remember sometimes that Gene Hackman is one of the best comic actors of all time due to his many dramatic roles, but as in Young Frankenstein, Hackman proves himself quite adept at comedy here.

The Poseidon Adventure.
Gene Hackman is the best thing about this mother of all disaster movies. Netflix the original to your Roku and forget all about the two recent remakes. The original adventure of the capsized cruise ship set the template for an entire genre, but none ever matched the power of this. It is a genuinely entertaining and gripping movie and Hackman's priest is the foundation for the necessary suspensions of belief.