The Fisher King (1991) - Ranking Every Robin Williams Movie
As part of Good Morning Robin, I’m revisiting every Robin Williams movie in theatrical release order to see how his career evolves film by film. Some roles show off the lightning-fast comedy that made him famous. Others reveal the emotional depth that made him one of the most fascinating actors of his generation. This stop on the journey brings us to The Fisher King (1991), a film that blends fantasy, tragedy, and redemption into one of the most unique performances of Robin Williams’ career.
Review: The Fisher King (1991)
The Fisher King follows Jack Lucas (Jeff Bridges), a cynical radio shock jock whose careless words on the air lead to a tragedy that destroys several lives. Consumed by guilt and unable to face what he has caused, Jack spirals into depression and self-destruction.
His life changes when he meets Parry (Robin Williams), a homeless man wandering the streets of New York who believes he is on a quest to recover the Holy Grail.
At first Parry seems completely detached from reality. He speaks in medieval metaphors, tells elaborate stories about knights and castles, and treats Manhattan like a magical kingdom. But as Jack spends more time with him, the film slowly reveals the heartbreaking truth behind Parry’s behavior.
Robin Williams plays Parry as a character suspended between imagination and grief. One moment he is playful and joyful, spinning stories about mythical quests. The next moment he is overwhelmed by the trauma that shattered his life. Williams moves through those emotional shifts effortlessly, making Parry feel both whimsical and painfully human.
Director Terry Gilliam fills the film with surreal visual moments that reflect Parry’s perspective on the world. New York City becomes something dreamlike and distorted. One of the most famous scenes transforms Grand Central Terminal into a sweeping ballroom where strangers dance together as if the entire city has slipped into a fantasy.
But beneath the surreal imagery, the film remains grounded in a simple emotional question. Can people redeem themselves after causing harm to others?
Jack believes helping Parry might be the only way to repair the damage he has done. As their friendship grows, the story becomes less about guilt and more about compassion.
Watching The Fisher King today, it stands out as one of the boldest films Robin Williams ever made. It captures every side of his talent. The humor, the vulnerability, the imagination, and the emotional weight all exist in the same performance.
Film Ranking
At this point in the series, The Fisher King rises to the very top of the rankings.
The Fisher King
Good Morning, Vietnam
The World According to Garp
Dead Poets Society
Awakenings
Moscow on the Hudson
Popeye
Club Paradise
Cadillac Man
The Best of Times
The Survivors
For me, this is the moment where everything Robin Williams could do as an actor comes together in one film.
Robin Williams Performance Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)
Robin Williams received an Academy Award nomination for his performance as Parry, and it remains one of the most layered roles of his career. He moves from childlike wonder to devastating emotional pain without ever losing the humanity of the character.
In the full Good Morning Robin video series, I place this film in conversation with the rest of his filmography and explain why it currently sits at the very top of my rankings.
Next on the journey the series moves into the period that many fans think of as Robin Williams’ golden age.
