List compiled by Eddie on 23/05/2025

Active since the early 80’s and spending the best part of two decades working his way into breaking out into the big time in the early 2000’s, the instantly recognisable and unique Jack Black is one of Hollywood’s biggest crowd favourites.

While he’s undeniably entered into a phase of his career where it appears as though he’s resigned himself to picking the low hanging fruit and hiring himself out to big Hollywood paycheques (and signing up to any videogame adaptation going around), there’s an no question that Black has tried it all and constantly reinvented and pushed himself to try new things and keep his career fresh.

Whether it’s key roles in huge blockbusters such as King Kong or getting the hands dirty in indies such as Bernie or Be Kind Rewind, Black’s dabbled in it all and while he’s not for everyone approach and sensibilities are always going to divisive, no one can accuse Black of not pushing himself at multiple points in his career.

The below list of films collates over four decades of work for Black, culminating in a list of worthwhile features that are part of the puzzle of what has made Black a household name across the world.

Happy reading, see you at the movies!

Disclaimer – Plot Summaries from IMDB

10. Enemy of the State (1998)

A lawyer becomes targeted by a corrupt politician and his N.S.A. goons when he accidentally receives key evidence to a politically motivated crime.

Black Plays – Fiedler

A typically slight but undeniably fun Tony Scott action thriller that paired screen legends Gene Hackman and Will Smith against one another to entertaining results, Enemy of the State might not be high level cinema but its one of the 90’s most enjoyable genre romps regardless.

9. Demolition Man (1993)

A police officer is brought out of suspended animation in prison to pursue an old ultra-violent nemesis who is loose in a non-violent future society.

Black Plays – Wasteland Scrap

A sci-fi actioner that has gained reputation over the years after some initially ho-hum early receptions and analysis, Demolition Man is an oddly prophetic genre escapade that brilliantly played off stars Sylvester Stallone and Wesley Snipes against each other. A genuinely fun cult classic.

8. Kung Fu Panda (2008)

To everyone’s surprise, including his own, Po, an overweight, clumsy panda, is chosen as protector of the Valley of Peace. His suitability will soon be tested as the valley’s arch-enemy is on his way.

Black Plays – Po (voice)

One of the 2000’s most well-liked pieces of family entertainment that spawned an endless array of follow-ups and off-shoots, Kung Fu Panda found its voice with Black bringing loveable panda Po to life in a typically energetic way. One of those rare family films that works for all ages and one of Dreamworks most fully-formed animation hits.

7. High Fidelity (2000)

Rob, a record store owner and compulsive list maker, recounts his top five breakups, including the one in progress.

Black Plays – Barry Judd

A nicely realised slice of life dramedy from British director Stephen Frears that has endeared itself these near three decades on from its original release, High Fidelity is a fan favourite to many a music loving cinema fan and teamed up Black with a charismatic John Cusack to great effect as the two talk life, love and music as we watch on.

6. Tropic Thunder (2008)

Through a series of freak occurrences, a group of actors shooting a big-budget war movie are forced to become the soldiers they are portraying.

Black Plays – Jeff Portnoy – Hot LZ

A comedic jaunt that absolutely would not see the light of day in today’s climate, Tropic Thunder is a riotous adventure directed by Ben Stiller who stars alongside a collection of some of Hollywood’s elite that just so happened to feature a legendary Robert Downey Jr. in one of the modern eras most controversial roles.

5. King Kong (2005)

A greedy film producer assembles a team of moviemakers and sets out for the infamous Skull Island, where they find more than just cannibalistic natives.

Black Plays – Carl Denham

Peter Jackson’s follow-on from his triumphant Lord of the Rings series has for various reasons been mostly forgotten about but you can’t help but feel many sleep on the fact his King Kong remake is actually a brilliantly designed old-school Hollywood adventure that may be long in the tooth but also wondrously entertaining and made. Well worth a re-watch and re-evaluation with Black toning things way down as he brings filmmaker Carl Denham to life.

4. Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)

In the 1970s, an anchorman’s stint as San Diego’s top-rated newsreader is challenged when an ambitious newswoman becomes his co-anchor.

Black Plays – Motorcyclist

While Black’s appearance in cult-comedy favourite Anchorman is merely a cameo, he is a part of what makes this mad-cap escapade such an ageless joy. Introducing a whole new way of comedy into the Hollywood system, Anchorman was a game-changer for all involved and shaped the next decade of comedy in the cinema space.

Read my review here.

3. Apollo 10½: A Space Age Childhood (2022)

A coming-of-age story set in the suburbs of Houston, Texas in the summer of 1969, centered around the historic Apollo 11 moon landing.

Black Plays – Grown Up Stan (voice)

A criminally underrated and underseen Richard Linklater animation, Apollo 10 1/2 came out in the midst of the global pandemic and got lost in amongst a plethora of higher profile streaming releases at the time but it’s a fantastic coming of age experience nonetheless. Working as both a piece of art and storytelling vehicle, if you’ve past up on the film previously you should rectify that mistake at the next available opportunity.

Read my review here.

2. Dead Man Walking (1995)

A nun, while comforting a convicted killer on death row, empathizes with both the killer and his victim’s families.

Black Plays – Craig Poncelet

Tim Robbins Oscar winning Sean Penn starring drama may not get talked about a whole lot in the modern film space but it remains one of the 90’s most fully formed dramas and one of Penn’s greatest acting achievements. It’s a shame Robbins didn’t go on to make more films as this is a film that showcased he could have been a top-tier filmmaker not just a world-class actor.

1. School of Rock (2003)

After being kicked out of his rock band, Dewey Finn becomes a substitute teacher of an uptight elementary private school, only to try and turn his class into a rock band.

Black Plays – Dewey Finn

If there was ever a case of a film and actor meeting in perfect unison, Richard Linklater’s School of Rock must surely be in the conversation for the top pick.

The stars aligned for this simplistic set-up to be bought to rocking life by music superfan Rock who gives it his in this lovable piece of family entertainment that is still beloved to this day. Proving how important it can be to unlock an actor’s true ability, School of Rock set Black up to take on more leading man turns in Hollywood and will forever remain the film that people associate the actor too the most.

What are your favourite Jack Black films? Let me know in the comments below!