As an American actor, Ralph Macchio is an anomaly. His skill as an actor is proficient enough to lead any film, but, nowadays, he’s rarely front and center. If he is, the film most likely isn’t a major motion picture. Macchio doesn’t have the bonafide charisma of Keanu Reeves, yet one could argue that he’s every bit a natural treasure. There may be other actors with bigger and better credits on their names, but every movie this legendary actor is in is made better by his presence. His talents have gone unrecognized for too long. He’s more than just the Karate Kid, and the movies on this list demonstrate his underrated range.

Outside of being the titular Karate Kid, Ralph Macchio has been in some seminal movies in his career. Whether they be in a starring or co-starring capacity, each one shows that Macchio truly understands the Stanislavskian edict “there are no small parts, only small actors.” It’s this mindset that kept him and other actors from his generation (Matt Dillon, Rob Lowe, and C. Thomas Howell) employed today. As much of a debt as we think Macchio might (or should have) for the career that The Karate Kid wrought, during this spirited jolt to his career, now is the perfect time to look back at the other Ralph Macchio movies you need to see.

Updated December 7, 2022: If you love Ralph Macchio, you’ll be happy to know that we’ve updated this list with new information and entries.

10 Up the Academy

     Warner Bros.

The biggest complaint Macchio fans will levy against this film is that he isn’t in it enough. In the role of Chooch, Macchio is part of an ensemble of delinquents sent to military school to shape up. It should surprise nobody that Up the Academy is a lesser-known 80s youth comedy. Honestly, Up the Academy is a highly entertaining film. It isn’t Porky’s, but it doesn’t need to be. Up the Academy was directed by none other than Robert Downey Sr. and was rated R for a multitude of reasons. As Chooch, Macchio brings the perfect blend of sass and street smarts to get under the skin of Major Vaughn (Ron Leibman). Much lesser known than many other talked-about 80s films that can’t be lived without, Up the Academy is certainly worth 90 minutes of your time to re-discover this 80s gem.

9 Beer League

     Echo Bridge Entertainment

Of all the films on this list, Beer League might be the one that leaves you scratching your head. In danger of being kicked out of their softball league, Artie DeVanzo (Artie Lange) has to rally the troops to keep this from happening. One of those troops happens to be Maz (Macchio). While he loves alcohol and hanging out with the guys, he sort of seems there by mistake. However, Macchio has an excellent time chewing the scenery in this laugh-a-minute comedy. Sure, the jokes aren’t classy, the plot is raunchy, and nothing about Beer League would ever be confused for woke, but it’s still nice to see that Macchio is unafraid to test his range with a project like this. Honestly, when thinking of cornball comedies filled with toilet humor, Macchio wouldn’t be a go-to guy. This makes his turn as Maz even that much more of a triumph.

8 Teachers

     United Artists

In a film released the same year as The Karate Kid, Macchio is great in his supporting role as an at-risk student in Teachers. He is part of an ensemble that includes Nick Nolte, JoBeth Williams, Judd Hirsch, Crispin Glover, and other notable actors. Teachers is a look inside the halls of a high school that highlights problems we are still dealing with in education today. There are many stories here, but the most interesting is that of Eddie Pilikian (Macchio) and Danny (Glover). Pilikian tries to look out for Danny as the layers are peeled back on this dysfunctional institution. It would be nice to look back at this film and say that things have gotten better in education (and for educators), but sadly it seems like many of the problems that plagued high schools in 1984 are still here today. Macchio as a youth who sees the hypocrisy in this system is perfect as the smooth-talking (but unable to read) Pilikian.

7 A little Game

     Michael Mailer Films

A Little Game sees Macchio as a father in a struggling family trying to do his best for his daughter. Even though he struggles with various hardships, Tom Kuftinec still desires to send his daughter Sarah to a good school in the city. At the same time, Sarah attempts to make friends and fit in at school, but manages to gain respect among her peers through her impressive chess prowess. A Little Game may be a little-known film, but Macchio brings it to life as a struggling father trying to do right by his daughter. Daniel LaRusso is all grown up and experiencing the real world in the hardest way in this inspiring film that’s sure to bring a smile to anyone’s face.

6 The Three Wishes of Bill Grier

     I & C Productions

This interesting ABC TV movie sees Macchio in the title role. He plays a character suffering from a rare disease that causes him to age rapidly. Macchio had to play a young man and a much older man all in the same film. With increasingly little time to live he gives himself the following goals: reconnect with his long-lost father, play in a band, and fall in love before he dies. For fans of a young Macchio who were used to the vibrance he displayed in films like Teachers and The Karate Kid, this movie can be jarring for some. However, The Three Wishes of Bill Grier is a very well-made film that takes a little-known subject (at least for 1984) and sheds a great deal of prime-time light on it.

5 Hitchcock

     Searchlight Pictures

As Joseph Stefano, the screenwriter of the legendary horror/thriller Psycho, Macchio does very credible work in Hitchcock. In a cast that included heavyweights such as Anthony Hopkins, Helen Mirren, and Scarlett Johansson, Macchio stands opposite giants in this well-done film looking at Hitchcock’s personal life as he was making the classic thriller, Psycho. But as small as Macchio’s part may be, it’s no less important to the larger story. Macchio doesn’t miss a beat and shines in every scene. Unfortunately, Hitchcock doesn’t seem to have nabbed the attention it is due, but that should take nothing away from what a solid movie it is and what a strong performance Macchio delivers against some of the top leading actors.

4 Crossroads

     Columbia Pictures

As Eugene Martone, aka Lightning Boy, Macchio, at one of the highest points in his young career, made a movie about the blues called Crossroads. In wanting to learn how to be the best blues guitarist he can, he puts his character on a collision course with an old guitar legend named Willie Brown (Joe Seneca). Together they embark on an odyssey to the Mississippi Delta to find a lost song to save Willie after he makes a pact with the devil. Macchio is excellent and believable as a blues guitarist prodigy. He strikes all the right chords and is the perfect conduit for a younger generation to learn about one of the greatest forms of music ever created. Fans may have wanted something different in 1986, but the film and Macchio’s intentions are nothing if not noble.

3 The Outsiders

Macchio’s performance as Johnny Cade in The Outsiders is nothing short of tragic screen poetry. Loosely based on a real story, as a soulful misfit hanging out with a bunch of social misfits, it’s clear that he and his best pal Ponyboy (C. Thomas Howell) long for a better life for themselves. The tears Johnny sheds when he kills a rival gang member to save Ponyboy’s life feel real. The sense of calm he has after he and Ponyboy skip town to the serene countryside is palpable. Lastly, in those vulnerable moments when Macchio’s Johnny simply cries because he doesn’t seem to know what to do, we come to understand just how brave this scared-as-a-leaf character is.

2 Psych: The Movie

     USA Network

While he only plays a small role in the larger Psych universe, Macchio makes the most of every appearance as police instructor Nick Conforth. This film sees him reprise his series role in the first film set after the series finale, aptly titled Psych: The Movie. Macchio’s character had once tried to be a police officer. Unfortunately, his nerves locked up whenever he got close to danger, thus relegating him to an instructor position, keeping him away from danger. Macchio may not have had a large part in the film, but his presence was refreshing. Conforth had a sternness and a sweetness to him that made him instantly likable, and it was fun for fans and newcomers alike to meet this interesting character.

1 My Cousin Vinny

     Palo Vista Productions

This great comedy from director Jonathan Lynn (The Whole Nine Yards) isn’t a Ralph Macchio movie, but it benefits greatly from his involvement. In the smaller (but no less important) role of Bill Gambini, Macchio really delivers (along with Mitchell Whitfield as Stan) as a guy who gets in a legal jam and has his “Cousin Vinny” (Joe Pesci) help him out. Sure, Macchio is more of a buffer between Vinny and his friend Stan, but his timing is comically perfect and really is effective in bringing a great deal of levity to the proceedings. My Cousin Vinny is a classic film. It’s one of those movies that’s imminently re-watchable and is bolstered by Macchio and his performance. It effectively won co-star Marisa Tomei a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her role as Vinny’s girlfriend.