The 10 Best Jack Black Movies, Ranked
It feels like Jack Black is everywhere. Sometimes he’s loud and belting rock anthems with his band Tenacious D, other times he’s stealthily sneaking into iconic franchises as pool boy Titus Telesco in I Still Know What You Did Last Summer, and leaving a mark even without being the centrepiece. Regardless of the genre and his role, Black has built his career on the kind of energy that shapes the movie and that you can feel through the screen. When Black’s in a movie, you know it’s going to be good and that you’ll leave entertained!
Black’s versatility is his biggest strength; he’s equal parts childlike enthusiasm and surprisingly tender moments, which is what I think makes him more than just a comedian; he’s a force of nature. Ranking only ten of Jack Black’s movies is going to be tough, but we’re going to give this a go anyways. From moonlighting as a Mexican wrestler, to playing a panda who masters the martial arts, and then a warlock in a creaky house (I never thought I’d say that sentence with a straight face), here are 10 of Black’s movies that you can find on Paramount+ Essential, Prime Video, and more!
Starting at #10, we have a Jack Black performance in which while he does come to life as the loud, opinionated record store employee Barry, he just doesn’t dominate High Fidelity like the other entries that are higher on the list. This is first and foremost John Cusack’s movie, where he navigates his heartbreak and reflection through his past failed relationships, but be it rocking out at the store or insulting customers, Black steals every scene he’s in.
This early career Jack Black movie is perfect for those who are obsessed with music and enjoy a character-driven plot that goes with it. Black’s role is relatively small and he isn’t driving the movie, so it’s not a must-watch for Jack Black purists, however, if you still want to see him sharply define Barry as a character in a pretty fun, indie-comedy-esque movie, then give it a try! He packs High Fidelity with that classic attitude and comedic rhythm that he would go on to become famous for, so if you’ve been hesitating to watch this one, then now could be the time to rectify that.
Being Po and Jeff Portnoy in the same year might be tough for some people, but not Black. Tropic Thunder sees Black as a comedy star who has built his career on crude humor. When he’s dropped into a war ‘movie’, things spin out of control (which doesn’t really seem surprising). This one is definitely for adult audiences who enjoy ensemble comedies and satire, where subtlety is unheard of.
Black fits into that environment like a glove, as he’s able to act on his style of humor without holding back. Not only Black, but the entire cast including Ben Stiller, Robert Downey Jr., and more, are all fully committed to the Hollywood satire. Where Jumanji was more of a jungle-based family-friendly adventure, Tropic Thunder is anything but. I can’t place this title any higher because other than the fact that Black isn’t the central focus, this isn’t really a movie I’d rewatch multiple times, but if you’re looking for something that prides on being cynical and sits alongside other films like Bowfinger, then you might have won the jackpot with Tropic Thunder.
The House with a Clock in its Walls is exactly what it sounds like. We’ve got Black as Jonathan Barnavelt, a warlock who ends up becoming an eccentric mentor figure for his nephew. Black’s character is quirky and is the main reason why the movie is as lively as it is, even amidst the creepy vibe. Add to that Cate Blanchett’s Florence and we’ve got something out of the ordinary on our hands. (Their banter was everything!)
Based on the book by John Bellairs, this gothic family-adventure caters to older kids (and I can’t say with certainty that adults won’t like this) and fans of whimsical fantasy films. Jonathan is a step away from Black’s usual roles, nevertheless, he brings a charming personality in a film that reminds me a lot of Scorsese’s Hugo. Sure, this movie might fly under the radar in Black’s filmography, but it shows another side of him where he gets to be a little peculiar and frankly, it was an enjoyable performance. And who wouldn’t want that? Will we ever see Black in another fantasy movie with darker magical elements? I for one, sure hope we do.
One of gaming’s most flexible cube universes comes to life in A Minecraft Movie, with Black playing Steve, and injecting so much humor and personality into him that the movie never feels flat. A Minecraft Movie is fun, inventive, and imaginative, and although Black had chemistry with the rest of the cast, I loved seeing him and Malgosha together. (I was laughing throughout!)
Younger audiences and families will have a gala time with this film, but being that it’s adapted from a game, gamers will enjoy the in-jokes and nods to the source material. Not unlike Super Mario Bros. which brings the world of Mario and Luigi to the forefront, A Minecraft Movie is built around exploration and creativity that made the game such a global phenomenon. Though the plot isn’t mind-bending, Black carries a lot of the energy and becomes a character who’s a vessel for this film. Even if you’ve never played Minecraft, the film can still be viewed as a standalone experience because of how well Black drives the narrative in that iconic light blue shirt.
Jack Black as a villain? It’s a performance we didn’t know we needed but thanks to the Nintendo universe, we got it anyway in The Super Mario Bros. Movie. The actor takes Bowser, the iconic villain, and turns him into a delight who’s downfall I found really hard to root for (his love ballad for Princess Peach had me cheering for him against my better judgement).
If you’re familiar with the game, you’ll know that the movie follows Mario, Princess Peach, and others, on a quest to save Luigi and Mushroom Kingdom from Bowser’s tyranny, but truthfully for me, my reason for watching was Bowser through and through. Everyone will find Super Mario Bros. fun to watch with its bright visuals, action, and attention to the source material. We know Black thrives in hilarious family-friendly premises, and this film delivers a Koopa King with surprisingly great vocals, becoming one of the most talked about parts of the movie. The sequel, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, released this year, and while Black is back to his villainy, he shares the spotlight with Bowser’s son, Bowser Jr.
Don’t come at me, but I had no idea Jack Black was voicing Po in Kung Fu Panda until Kung Fu Panda 3. He plays the overeager and clumsy noodle shop worker who accidentally gets chosen as a Dragon Warrior with finesse, and that’s saying something. Black voices Po with warmth and brings layers to Po’s personality, making Kung Fu Panda a DreamWorks film worth watching and rewatching multiple times.
The beauty of this film is that it’s for everyone; the animation and action will engage the kids, and the adults watching with them (or alone) will enjoy the well-structured and heartwarming storytelling. Jack Black fans in particular will get a blend of silliness, humor, and emotion. Black’s line delivery is strong, even though he’s not visually present on screen, and this speaks to one of the reasons why Kung Fu Panda is a fan favorite and such a hit. I mean, the success of the franchise can be validated because of the other movies and television series that came after the original, proving that Po’s world and his underdog journey is something people can’t get enough of.
Jack Black in a Nancy Meyer’s seasonal film? Now that’s a curveball I wasn’t expecting, but will happily accept. In The Holiday, Black plays Miles, a slightly awkward yet funny film composer against Kate Winslet’s Iris. Is The Holiday a, well, holiday staple during the Christmas season? Yes, but it’s so warm it can be watched any time of the year when you’re yearning for a sweet romance.
Many people might think that Miles doesn’t stick in your memory long enough like his other louder roles and hence, don’t see it as a defining performance, but to me, that’s exactly what sets him apart. Even though The Holiday is obviously romance heavy, Black brings a dialed back and human presence which totally works in this context. Fans who can’t get enough of rom-coms or cozy seasonal films in the line of The Family Stone, will love the comfort viewing The Holiday provides. Even viewers who come purely for the romance can appreciate Miles’ genuine likability in the film. Run, don’t walk, to see Black in a lovable romantic hero lead that he makes his own. (Can someone cast him in more rom-coms films, please?)
Hooray for a board game concept adapted into a video game movie adventure! Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle is the third film in the series, and acts as a sequel to the 1995 movie, Jumanji. This was my first foray into the Jumanji universe and watching four teens get sucked into a jungle world, into adult avatars no less, was a hilarious ride I was pleasantly surprised by (and honestly, no one could have done it like Black!)
Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Karen Gillian, and Nick Jonas were all great, but the highlight of the movie for me was definitely Jack Black as Professor Shelly Oberon. His awkwardness as a vain and dramatic teenage girl trapped in an older man’s body stands out, even amongst the other top-notch performances from the ensemble cast. Welcome to the Jungle is an easy watch if you like films that don’t take themselves too seriously, with a near-perfect blend of adventure and family-friendly comedy, and any fans of over-the-top characters and body swap concepts will find a lot to love and should see it immediately.
Playing a monastery cook-turned-masked wrestler in a Mexican town, Black puts his best foot (and leftovers) forward in Nacho Libre. The film is quite endearing, even amongst the ridiculous antics, and that’s mainly thanks to Black’s committed performance as Ignacio, aka Nacho, a role that seems impossible it’d work on paper, but absolutely does. When I first saw Nacho Libre, I found myself questioning the premise, but boy, was I wrong.
Nacho dedicates himself to his very strange dream, and despite being out of his depth, throws himself into physical comedy and refuses to stop trying. It’s his exaggerated movements that sets this character apart from the others in the bunch, and if offbeat comedies and underdog stories are your cup of tea, then you’ll feel right at home with the character-focused Nacho Libre. Some of the more hilarious scenes like Black smacking corn cobs out of his face are moments that should be enshrined and that effortless performance is why Nacho Libre has developed the cult-like status it has today. (The stretchy pants were just the tip of the iceberg!)
The Jack Black movie that holds the top spot without much competition is School of Rock. If you’ve ever wanted to see an adult man hijack a classroom and teach kids how to rock, well this is your movie. As Dewey Finn, Black is no less than a hurricane of energy, and his portrayal of the guitarist posing as a substitute teacher defined his career and grabbed the #1 spot in the bag.
What makes School of Rock watchable is simple: Jack Black’s impossible to ignore performance (and stage dive). He single-handedly made Dewey one of the most recognizable comedy characters from the 2000s and it’s a shame we didn’t get more of his adventures. But along with Black, I’d be remiss if I didn’t give special mentions to the music and to the kids who actually come through with genuine talent; they’re not just props in this film, but add extra life to a movie that’s already filled with heart. Never watched a Jack Black film? No worries, start here, because School of Rock brings together everything Black is so good at—comedic timing, music, and unexpected sincerity—all in one rocking package.
