From High Fidelity to Super Mario, Jack Black's Essential Films, in Order
Jack Black is a born entertainer who has been delighting audiences for more than three decades now with his comedic energy and musical talents.
Somehow, besides carving out a career with his wacky rock band Tenacious D, Black has managed to rack up almost 200 acting credits over the years. From family friendly hits and animated adventures, to more dramatic, even romantic roles, Black has done it all.
Here, we take a walk through his wonderful career, highlighting the ten Jack Black movies you simply have to watch if you want to get a better feel for his filmography.
Despite having bit-part roles in movies like Demolition Man, Waterworld, and The Cable Guy in the mid-1990s, it wasn’t until High Fidelity at the turn of the millennium that Jack Black really showed what he could do. As Barry Judd, Black brings a raucous, passionate energy to proceedings, and he even gets to unleash his singing talents with an iconic rendition of Marvin Gaye’s ‘Let’s Get It On’.
Adapted from a sharp, highly relatable Nick Hornby novel, this film is ideal for anyone who cares deeply about music – it’s very similar in tone and themes to Almost Famous. It’s refreshing when rom-coms avoid the standard tropes and offer a more authentic and raw portrayal of love, and that’s something director Stephen Frears nails here. Check it out on Disney Plus now.
23 years later, School of Rock is probably still the most beloved Jack Black movie, and rightly so. Not only is it hilarious to see Black take on the role of an unorthodox mentor to the children of Horace Green Prep, but the musical elements in this film are truly delightful, too.
The fact that this movie continues to be an absolute meme machine to this day speaks volumes for its timeless quality. If your kids only know him through his voice work, this would be the perfect way to introduce them to the physical comedy of Jack Black. Find it on Amazon Prime Video.
I will preface this entry by admitting I am not a huge fan of Tenacious D in the Pick of Destiny. It’s simply not the kind of comedy I’m into, personally, but I am certainly in the minority there. If you’re into films like Spinal Tap, and you’re looking for a wacky road-trip comedy filled with great cameos and catchy tunes, this will be perfect for you.
This film is a bit like School of Rock on acid, and it’s definitely not suitable for a family movie night. It’s only just over 90 minutes long, too, which is a nice bonus. Unfortunately, it’s about to leave Prime Video, but you can rent it from Apple TV for £3.49.
Based on his career to this point, the idea of Jack Black being a love interest in a cheesy, romantic Christmas movie would be ludicrous. And yet, it absolutely works. He’s part of a wonderful quartet in The Holiday, including Cameron Diaz, Jude Law, and Kate Winslet, and he shares a lovely chemistry with the latter.
Honestly, I used to be reluctant to watch this film during the festive season, but the more my partner has forced me into giving it a chance, the more I’ve grown to appreciate it. Sure, it’s full of clichés, but that’s all part of the charm. You’re likely to want to wait until Christmas to give this a watch, but when you’re ready, it’ll be sitting there on Disney Plus waiting for you.
Black’s distinctive voice has been put to good use many times over the years, but the most effective of them all is arguably in Kung Fu Panda. This Oscar-nominated animated flick is essentially Karate Kid in anthropomorphic form, but thanks to excellent character work from Black, Dustin Hoffman, Angelina Jolie, and Lucy Liu among others, it’s a story that still feels fresh and exciting.
If you’re looking for a new film series to dive into with your kids, you could do much worse than getting into this franchise. With vibrant visuals, superb action sequences, and a fantastical, mythological edge, Kung Fu Panda should be one of your top picks on Netflix.
Another one for the grown-ups in the room, here. Tropic Thunder is a ridiculous but highly-entertaining parody movie that riffs on the tropes of war movies by throwing a group of actors – played by Black, Robert Downey Jr. and Ben Stiller, among others – into what they believe to be a movie set, but what actually turns out to be a genuine battlezone.
It’s always fun when films don’t take themselves too seriously, and this is the epitome of a star-studded cast just letting loose and enjoying their work. While everyone involved is on their A-game, it’s Tom Cruise transforming into Les Grossman that’s the highlight. Dive into the madness on Paramount Plus.
If you really want to see Black playing against type and showcasing his more dramatic side, then Bernie is the way to go. Working with acclaimed director Richard Linklater, Black plays funeral director Bernie Tiede, who has a habit of befriending old widows, until he falls in with the wrong woman and things take a dark turn.
This movie is based on a true story, and it’s a delicate mix of melodrama and gentle comedy. Black is outstanding in both areas here, and this is definitely one of his most intriguing and complex projects to date. For a rental price of just £2.49 on YouTube, you cannot go wrong with this one.
Incredibly, I’d say one of Jack Black’s very best comedy performances comes in Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, where he plays a teenage girl trapped in the body of a middle-aged man who looks like… well, looks like Jack Black. The way he captures the essence of young Bethany in both speech and mannerisms is phenomenal, and he’s a real scene stealer in this highly entertaining adventure flick.
While it’s hard to compete with the original Jumanji, this is a legacy sequel that not only warrants its own existence, but adds something special to the franchise. It’s a perfect family movie, especially if your kids are into gaming, while it’ll also serve as a nice nostalgia blast for anyone old enough to remember the first film. You will have to pay £3.49 to rent this from the likes of Rakuten TV, but it’s a worthwhile investment.
Since the turn of the 2020s, it very much feels like Jack Black is in his “let’s make some money” era. That’s not a bad thing, it just means he’s signing up for bankable projects that are going to be surefire hits with younger audiences. Playing Bowser in The Super Mario Bros. Movie is a prime example of this, but it has to be said, he does an exceptional job of bringing the videogame villain to life.
We have all heard his relentlessly catchy tune ‘Peaches’ from this film, I’m sure, but it’s hard to stay mad when the earworm he’s created is so damn good. The film itself is a fresh take on the classic Nintendo IP, and while it’s not the most gripping story, it’s perfectly serviceable for younger viewers. You can find this movie on ITVX for free, though there will be adverts.
I have such conflicted feelings about A Minecraft Movie. It’s definitely in the category of so-bad-it’s-good movies, but my son absolutely loves it, so I’ve got a bit of a soft spot for it anyway. And, to be fair to Black, he really does knock it out of the park as Steve – it’s like no one told him it’s just a silly kids movie, and he turned the energy up to 11 when he didn’t really need to. But that’s admirable in itself, I think.
If you’re an adult with no knowledge of the Minecraft game, you’ll probably end up hating this movie. But, aside from some questionable visuals and hit-and-miss comedy, it really is a harmless, playful adventure movie that delivers exactly what it sets out to. Watch it on Now TV Cinema, but just don’t blame us when your children start yelling “Chicken Jockey” at you.
