The 20 best Jack Black movies

School of Rock, directed by Richard Linklater, was the breakout role that made Black a star. He plays Dewey Finn, who gets kicked out of his rock band and takes his friend’s job by posing as a substitute teacher. Instead of teaching reading and numbers, he starts to train the students to form their own rock band. Thanks to Black’s charisma and the film’s warmth and humor, it is often regarded as one of the best comedies of the twenty-first century so far. Safe to say, it rocks.

When it comes to voice performances in animated movies, they don’t get much better than Black as Po in Kung Fu Panda. Po is a clumsy and unfit kung fu enthusiast obsessed with the Furious Five. When he is surprisingly chosen as the Dragon Warrior to protect the Valley of Peace, he must prove his worth. Black is perfectly cast as Po, making the character extremely likable and endearing, and bringing his signature energy to the role.  

There are so many Christmas movies, and The Holiday is always one that audiences love returning to. The rom-com classic follows two women from different countries who swap homes for the holiday season, and both fall for local guys. Black plays Miles, a movie score composer and the love interest of Kate Winslet’s Iris. Black proves he’s perfect leading man material, thanks to his charm and sweet chemistry with Winslet. Jude Law may be the heartthrob, but Black is just as swoon-worthy.

High Fidelity is a classic early 2000s rom-com starring John Cusack in the leading role. He plays the owner of a record store who tries to understand why he is so unlucky in love. Black plays Barry, one of the store's employees, and steals every scene he is in. His character is a musician himself and has a band called Barry Jive and the Uptown Five. He and Cusack bounce off of each other brilliantly, making for a dynamic pair that is anchored by Black.

Peter Jackson’s King Kong was one of the biggest blockbusters of the 2000s. In the film, Black plays Carl Denham, a movie producer who brings a crew to Skull Island. There, they encounter a giant ape and bring it back to New York. Denham is greedy and naive, putting his team in great danger. The film is a technical feast, with incredible visual effects and action. Black co-stars alongside Naomi Watts, Adrien Brody, Andy Serkis, Jamie Bell, and more. 

The world of Jumanji was given a fresh twist with 2017’s Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle , a sequel to the 1995 film starring Robin Williams. It sees a group of teens get transported into a magical video game, where they become their avatars. Black hilariously plays Bethany, a popular teen trapped in his body as game character Professor Shelly Oberon. He brilliantly exaggerates the mannerisms of a teenage girl and the absurdity of her being stuck in a middle-aged man’s body.

Tropic Thunder is the 2008 Ben Stiller-directed satirical comedy, which he also stars in alongside Robert Downey Jr., Tom Cruise, and, of course, Black. It follows a crew shooting a film in Southeast Asia. When one of the actors is kidnapped by thugs, the actors are forced to become the soldiers they are portraying in the film. Black plays drug-addicted comedian Jeff Portnoy, comedically showcasing the mood swings, desperation, and withdrawals of his addiction.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie brings Nintendo’s iconic video game franchise to the big screen and has been hailed as one of the better video game film adaptations. The story follows Mario and Luigi, who must save the Mushroom Kingdom from the evil Bowser. Black voices none other than the spikey-shelled villain, bringing all his commitment to a highly entertaining performance. His musical number in the film, "Peaches," also topped streaming charts around the world. 

Be Kind Rewind is a little-known indie comedy that celebrates cinema and the community it can build. When Mike and his friend Jerry (Black) accidentally wipe all the content from tapes from the VHS rental store that Mike works at, they set out to film and recreate the movies themselves. Jerry is a conspiracy theorist who works in a junkyard and receives an electric shock that causes the tapes to be erased. Black is perfectly silly and juvenile in this fun buddy comedy. 

From the director of Napoleon Dynamite, Nacho Libre is one of Black’s most popular and ridiculous comedies. He plays Nacho, a monk who decides to follow his dream of becoming a luchador. Black’s comedic style is heavily imbued in his character and the film, which takes a more silly and lighthearted approach to typical sports movies. It is very 2000s, and while it might not be Citizen Kane, it’s hard not to have fun thanks to Black’s commitment and gusto. 

Black teamed with director Noah Baumbach for the indie film Margot at the Wedding , which co-stars Nicole Kidman and Jennifer Jason Leigh. It follows Margot (Kidman) and her son Claude, when they visit her sister, who is marrying the slack and unimpressive Malcolm (Black). There’s a lot of tension between the sisters throughout the film, and Black provides the perfect comedy relief to balance it all out. It proves that Black works well in the indie world as well as the mainstream.

Black joins a star-studded cast in Gus Van Sant’s Don’t Worry, He Won’t Get Far on Foot . It is based on the true story of John Callohan, an alcoholic and cartoonist who becomes paralyzed after a tragic accident. His life drastically changes as he begins a path to sobriety and healing. Black plays Dexter, who goes on a drinking binge with John and is behind the wheel when he has his accident. This moving film also stars Joaquin Phoenix, Jonah Hill, and Rooney Mara. 

In 2011, Black reunited with School of Rock director Richard Linklater for a very different film called Bernie. The dark comedy tells the true story of a small-town mortician, Bernie (Black), who befriends a wealthy widow named Majorie. When Marjorie starts to become obsessive, Bernie takes violent measures to get rid of her. Filmed in a documentary style, this true crime features one of the most nuanced performances of Black’s career. It also stars Shirley Henderson and Matthew McConaughey. 

Black reprised his beloved role as Po for 2011’s Kung Fu Panda 2. The sequel sees Po uncover his past as he comes face to face with a villainous peacock, voiced by Gary Oldman. Here, Po fully embraces his responsibility as the Dragon Warrior, and the film tells a darker story with more emotional depth. Black is able to deliver on both comedic and dramatic fronts, further cementing Po as one of DreamWorks’s best characters and the film as one of the studio’s best sequels.

Aside from acting, Black is also part of the comedic rock duo Tenacious D, alongside Kyle Glass. Tenacious D in the Pick of Destiny fictionalizes and satirizes their origin story, and sees the pair on a quest to find a mythical guitar pick that gives its player amazing guitar playing skills. However, they will have to face Satan himself in order to retrieve it. With its rocking soundtrack and the duo of Black and Glass, it’s a must-watch for Tenacious D fans and those who love Black’s comedy.

Ice Age is one of the most prominent family films to come out of the 2000s, and spawned an entire franchise. The original film sees a mammoth, a sloth, and a saber-tooth tiger try to reunite a baby with its family. Many viewers are unaware that Black provides one of the voices in the film, playing Zeke. He is another saber-tooth tiger part of Diego’s pack, who intends to hunt down a tribe of humans. If you listen closely, Black’s voice is hard to miss as the loudmouthed villain. 

Shark Tale is another one of the many movies Black has lent his voice talents to. The DreamWorks film follows Oscar, a fish who falsely claims that he killed the son of the shark mob boss in order to gain more merit. However, his false claim soon reveals its consequences. Black voices, Lenny, the vegetarian brother of the shark, who was killed. He helps Oscar keep up his facade. The film also stars Will Smith, Robert De Niro, Renée Zellweger, Angelina Jolie and Martin Scorsese. 

The Cable Guy is a ‘90s comedy thriller starring Jim Carrey. He plays Chip, a cable guy who forces a friendship with Steven after installing a cable at his apartment. The relationship escalates to stalking, and as Steven rejects his friendship, Chip makes his life hell. Black plays Rick, who is Steven’s best friend, and becomes alienated due to Chip. It’s a small role, but Black still manages to leave an impact and brings some much-needed warmth to what can be a creepy film.

The Polka King is a Netflix comedy based on a true story. The plot follows Jan Lewan, a Pennsylvanian polka band leader who swindles millions of dollars from investors, shocking fans and landing him in jail. Black portrays Lewan as a lovable criminal, despite the scheme he is hiding behind and his devious actions. The music in the film is a lot of fun, and it also co-stars Jenny Slate, Jason Schwartzman, Vanessa Bayer, J.B. Smoove, and Jacki Weaver. 

Black previously worked with Jumanji director Jack Kasdan in the 2002 comedy Orange County. The film follows Shaun, a writer who applies to Stanford University. When his application is mixed up with that of an overachieving high schooler, he does everything in his power to get accepted. Black plays Lance, Shaun’s dim-witted stoner brother. The antics of Shaun’s dysfunctional family members, particularly Lance, don’t help his chances, even though they do their best to try.