Jim Carrey made a huge comeback in Sonic the Hedgehog as the evil genius Dr. Robotnik, and Sonic the Hedgehog 2 has just made more than the first movie's entire domestic box office gross. That's a huge feat for the kids' movie, but Carrey's appeal to most audiences and influence on its success can't be ignored.
The comedy actor has had a storied career and the huge box office numbers of his previous movies prove exactly that. Between starring in some of the highest-grossing comedies of all time and being a part of the biggest blockbuster movies ever, Carrey was studios' secret weapon in the 1990s and 2000s, and Sonic 2's success proves that he's still got it.
The Truman Show (1998) - $264 Million
So many comedy actors have attempted to make the jump to drama, and many have done it successfully, whether it's Adam Sandler in Uncut Gems or Bill Murray in Lost In Translation. But none of them have been as successful as Jim Carrey, who played an everyman who was unknowingly the subject of a reality TV show his whole life in The Truman Show. Audiences flocked to it, as it perfectly balanced Carrey's typical humor with powerful dramatic acting, and it told a story that had never been done before.
The Truman Show needs a sequel, not only because the original was financially successful and a follow-up would be too, but because there's so much to be explored. Seeing a man who has been isolated from the real world his whole life trying to adapt to normal life would make for an incredible and mortifying drama. If any movie deserves a sequel, it's The Truman Show.
Sonic The Hedgehog 2 (2022) - $288.2 Million
After the huge success of Sonic the Hedgehog, Paramount was quick to greenlight a sequel, and the follow-up was released in such quick succession. Though the sequel hasn't made quite as much as the first movie, that in no way speaks to the film's quality, which has been praised for its characters and all of the Easter eggs and references to the SEGA Genesis games.
The box office gross of Sonic The Hedgehog 2 is subject to change, as it's currently still in theatres, but its week-on-week intake has almost come to a halt. The movie has made just a hair under what its predecessor made. Though that sounds like a disappointment for Paramount, the first movie got lucky by being released just before the COVID-19 outbreak, and movie theatres are still suffering from the pandemic.
Horton Hears A Who (2008) - $298.5 Million
Carrey must be a huge fan of Dr. Seuss' books. Along with his iconic role as the Grinch, the actor plays the titular elephant in 2008's Horton Hears a Who. It almost seems like a waste putting Carrey in an animated movie, as part of the actor's big appeal is his theatricality and his movements, which could be described as animated themselves.
However, while part of the appeal is Carrey, it was Blue Sky Studios' animation and the beloved property that drew in hoards of viewers. Though Blue Sky Studios unfortunately closed its doors earlier this year, the 2008 movie marks the studio's best work outside of the Ice Age series.
Liar Liar (1997) - $302.7 Million
The 1990s is when comedian-led 90-minute offbeat comedies reigned supreme, and while Carrey starred in loads of them, Liar Liar is the crown jewel, especially when it comes to the box office. The movie isn't part of any existing property and simply had the concept of Jim Carrey playing a lawyer who can't lie to sell to audiences, and it somehow made $300 million.
The 1997 movie saw Carrey at his absolute goofiest, and audiences couldn't get enough of it. Though it isn't one of the highest-grossing comedies of all time, as the movie was released 25 years ago, adjusted for inflation, its box office number would be $500 million today, which is a feat no comedy could reach.
Sonic The Hedgehog (2020) - $319.7 Million
Sonic the Hedgehog saw Carrey return to comedy acting for the first time in six years, as his last comedy movie was 2014's Dumb and Dumber To. Unfortunately, there were so many hurdles and bumps in the road leading up to the release of Sonic, including the infamous digital rendering of sonic (found in the first trailer) that audiences hated.
According to Indie Wire, Paramount spent an extra $5 million to completely redo the character. But against all odds, the movie was a huge success and made way above what it was projected to make. While it isn't the greatest movie in the world, it's a great kids' film that adults can enjoy too, and nobody grows out of enjoying Carrey's slapstick sensibilities and body humor.
A Christmas Carol (2009) - $325.2 Million
Robert Zemeckis is one of the most prolific directors working today, and he has always been ahead of the curve when it comes to using advanced technology in movies. That's part of why he should direct Uncharted 2. But while A Christmas Carol does use advanced motion capture technology that the whole industry would soon start using, the 2009 animated remake was Zemeckis' bad day at the office.
Though $325 million sounds like a great figure, the film hardly had the mid-budget of a 90s comedy like Liar Liar. The film had an inflated budget of $200 million, and with the marketing costs and the movie theatres' cut, A Christmas Carol wouldn't have broken even.
Batman Forever (1995) - $336.5 Million
Batman Forever was the beginning of the end of the Caped Crusader in the 1990s, as it was the first of two Batman movies directed by Joel Schumacher. Both of them were way more cartoonish than Tim Burton's gothic depiction, and they were seemingly made with the sole purpose of selling toys.
However, tons of mind-blowing deleted scenes of Batman Forever can be found online, hinting that Schumacher really did want to make another dark and introspective Batman movie. Regardless of how the film turned out, it's still a Batman movie, meaning that it still made hundreds of millions at the box office. But it still grossed almost $80 million less than Burton's 1989 Batman.
How The Grinch Stole Christmas (2000) - $345.8 Million
Carrey + a Family Christmas movie + a property with an existing fanbase = a massive box office smash hit. It's simple maths. And it's a testament to how bankable of an actor Carrey is, as How the Grinch Stole Christmas was critically scathed and has a rotten 49% on Rotten Tomatoes.
That didn't matter to audiences, as the 2000 release was a massive hit and is currently the third highest-grossing Christmas movie behind Home Alone and, ironically, the 2018 remake, The Grinch. And while critics thought the movie was too frantic and shrill, it has grown a huge fanbase in the 22 years since, and it has become a staple movie for every household over the holiday season.
The Mask (1994) - $351.5 Million
The Mask should have gotten a sequel, as it's the perfect vehicle for Carrey to act like his eccentric and peculiar self. While the actor doesn't exactly need to play a superhero for an excuse to bounce off the walls and chew the scenery, Stanley Ipkiss (Carrey) is one of his funniest and most iconic roles.
The yellow zoot suit and lime green-painted face is a fond memory for almost every 90s kid. There isn't a single child who didn't see it in theatres, even though it does have shockingly mature themes and might not be suitable for younger audiences.
Bruce Almighty (2003) - $484.5 Million
Bruce Almighty is the fourth highest-grossing comedy of all time, and even though a universally hated sequel, Evan Almighty, was released not long after, it wasn't enough to tarnish the 2003 movie's legacy. Like Liar Liar, the film has another everyman restrained by a fantastical concept.
Bruce (Carrey) is given the powers of God, and while that lends itself to some hilarious hijinks, he soon learns that it's a blessing and a curse. The film is yet another off-beat comedy, and even though it made five times its budget and massively overperformed worldwide, it's unfortunately one of the last of its kind.