The 10 Best Kevin Hart Movies, Ranked
Kevin Hart has become one of the biggest comedy stars of the 21st century and has a lot of solid comedic performances to his name. Getting his big break as a stand-up comedian and in the Judd Apatow TV show Undeclared (2001), his stand-up albums have made him a household name in the world of comedy. Hart found his niche as a self-effacing comedian, with a bravado that never fails to undercut his ego. He has since become a consistent presence in the world of film following his debut cinematic appearance in Paper Soldiers (2002), with a focus on films made by Black filmmakers and with African-American co-stars.
Along the way, he's developed a consistent presence on the big screen as a commercial comedy star, even if his biggest movies have often been knocked by critics. Across the last 20 years, Hart has had some fun comedic performances, whether as the star of the show or as a scene-stealing comedic sniper. Here are the 10 best Kevin Hart movies and where you can watch them on Netflix, HBO Max, and more.
One of Kevin Hart’s first movies, Scary Movie 3 is a goofy parody film from the early 2000s that is just silly enough to still be charming two decades later. Following the more specific horror parodies of Scary Movie (2000) and Scary Movie 2 (2001), Scary Movie 3 goes beyond the gags about The Ring (2002) and Signs (2002) for a more all-encompassing riff on the pop culture of the era.
Hart is part of the ensemble cast, with Scary Movie 3 arguably standing atop the rest of the series in terms of raw comedy and silly turns. While fans of more grounded character comedy might be annoyed by the wacky commitment of Scary Movie 3, fans of other non-stop gag flicks like The Naked Gun (2025) will love this film.
A strong dramedy that mines modern romance for laughs and tears alike, The Five-Year Engagement benefits from a stacked supporting cast that includes Kevin Hart. The film stars Jason Segel and Emily Blunt as a couple whose relationship goes through various ups and downs during their long engagement.
Similar to his brief appearances in films like The 40 Year Old Virgin (2005) and This Is The End (2013), Hart’s skill as a comedic scene-stealer is on full display here. Hart’s performance as Violet’s academic colleague Doug leads to some of the film’s crassest (and funniest) comedic beats. While The Five-Year Engagement might not be for people who don’t like romantic comedies, comedic turns from comedians like Hart give it a bit of a sardonic edge that helps it stand out from other films in the genre.
One of the best comedies in Kevin Hart’s filmography, Central Intelligence proves what can happen when Hart gets paired with the right comedic partner. Hart plays Calvin Joyner, whose reunion with an old classmate from high school drags him into a chaotic CIA spy adventure. Hart and Dwayne Johnson are a terrific comedic duo, with Central Intelligence mining Johnson’s likability and Hart’s bombast for a lot of good laughs.Hart is often best when he has someone to bounce his chaotic performance off of, and Johnson turns out to be an ideal contrast to Hart, both physically and comically.
Central Intelligence understands the appeal of Hart in a way few other comedies do, and it matches his heightened performance every step of the way. Not the most dramatic or compelling film in the world, Central Intelligence is a great pick for anyone who liked Hart’s dynamics in films like Ride Along (2014) and Get Hard (2015).
An early example of Hart’s effectiveness in the world of animation, The Secret Life of Pets is a cute and charming film that has a lot of fun with Hart as the chaotic rabbit named Snowball. Effectively the villain in this lighthearted film about the various animals that live in a big city and co-exist with the animals surrounding them, Snowball is the perfect vehicle for Hart to lean into.
This is also the rare film that actually utilizes Hart’s potential in a villainous role, making his comedic habit of going manic into something that can be genuinely threatening. A solid effort from Illumination Animation that fits in neatly alongside Despicable Me (2010) and The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023), The Secret Life of Pets benefits from a star-studded cast who actually find a lot of character-driven potential in the fairly basic but entertaining premise.
A great adaptation of the beloved children’s book series of the same name, Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie is a sweet-natured ode to the original books and an adorable love letter to childish creativity. Hart stars opposite Thomas Middleditch as a pair of best friends whose efforts to keep their principal from separating them result in him being convinced he’s a superhero.
Whimsical and wacky in the best of ways, Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie utilizes a similar animation style to The Peanuts Movie (2015) to recreate the cartoonish affections of the source material to charming effect. Not necessarily the right pick for adults looking for some more mature humor, younger movie fans (and young at heart) will love this charming animated adventure about the power of friendship and laughter.
Arguably the best film in Kevin Hart’s filmography, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle is a clever and self-aware riff on the Robin Williams original that brings the concept into the modern day. Reimagining Jumanji (1995) as a video game is a creative win for the filmmakers, establishing a new set of rules that lean into the darkly comedic. Hart plays the in-game version of Anthony "Fridge" Johnson, whose athletic build and skill set don’t translate to his game counterpart.
Jumaji: Welcome to the Jungle indulges in all of Hart’s big comedic swings while still finding enough emotional resonance and action-adventure elements to be extremely entertaining. A fun romp that never takes itself too seriously, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle is a blast, but don’t feel the need to return for Jumanji: The Next Level (2019), which fails to fully recapture the magic of this one.
Another strong example of what Kevin Hart can do with just a little bit of screen time, the actor’s appearance in Hobbs and Shaw fits neatly into the Fast & Furious spin-off’s more comedic tone and style. Hart appears about halfway through the film as Air Marshall Dinkley, a self-serious agent of the law who contrasts naturally against the drier comedy of Jason Statham and Dwayne Johnson.
It’s a solid bit of levity in the film, and one of the funnier gags in the movie. While it may be too short for die-hard Kevin Hart fans, it’s a solid moment that highlights how good the actor is at sudden bursts of comedy.
A rare dramatic performance from Kevin Hart, Fatherhood is a solid reminder that Hart can do more than just be silly and loud. Playing a recently widowed father, Hart brings a genuine, soulful edge to his performance as a well-meaning man caught in a tragic situation. While the film may suffer from criticisms of being a bit trope-heavy, Hart is a genuine highlight.
Fans of Hart’s bigger comedies might be disappointed to see a more grounded performance from the actor, but it’s an impressive showing that feels perfect for anyone who loves melodramatic fare like This is Us (2016). If anything, Fatherhood is proof that Hart should flex his creative muscles a bit more and tackle more dramatic roles instead of just using his tried and true comedic skills.
A goofy take on the hitman sub-genre, The Man from Toronto is a perfectly fun take on the action thriller. Hart stars opposite Woody Harrelson, who plays a no-nonsense assassin who Hart’s mild-mannered Teddy Jackson is mistaken for. This leads the pair team up for a globe-trotting adventure that benefits from some creative and fun action sequences.
While it lacks the kind of seriousness or psychological depth of other assassin comedies like In Bruges (2008), there’s a certain amount of charm that Hart brings to the film that bounces well off a comically serious Harrelson. Lightweight but entertaining in all the right ways, The Man from Toronto is a fun time for fans of either performer that works best when it lets the two of them riff off each other.
Another solid entry in Kevin Hart’s animated output, DC League of Super-Pets is a goofy love letter to superheroes that has a great big heart. Hart plays opposite his frequent co-star Dwayne Johnson, this time as a pair of dogs in the city of Metropolis. Opposite Johnson’s earnest portrayal of Krypto the Super-Dog, Hart gets to have a lot of fun as the super serious pitbull Ace.
The pair builds off the legacy of superhero contrasts that often pitted Superman and Batman against one another, with Hart doing great work as the silly dog that ends up in the Dark Knight’s orbit. Not necessarily the most dramatic retelling of the Superman or Batman mythos, DC League of Super-Pets is nevertheless a charming and cute riff on the genre.
