Endlessly adaptable, Molina went on to play roles of far-ranging ethnic diversity, including an Iranian in Not Without My Daughter (1991), a Cuban in The Perez Family (1995) and a Mexican (famed painter Diego Rivera) in the biopic Frida (2002). Before taking on the part of multilimbed villain Dr. Otto Octavius (aka Dr. Octopus) in the blockbuster Spider-Man 2 (2004), Molina starred in the Broadway revival of "Fiddler on the Roof," which earned him a Tony nomination.

A more recent role of note was as the cunning and secretive Bishop Aringarosa in Ron Howard's film adaptation of The Da Vinci Code (2006).