Jack Black is one of the most popular and talented actors of the last quarter of a century, having been involved in over 30 films that granted him a variety of roles, from trecking through the jungle and rocking out with the devil, to voicing a panda or dealing with clocks in the walls.
Black is incredibly gifted and has tons of personality to offer any part he is cast in, with a brilliant mix of comedic work with drama and action, which makes him very versatile. Due to his popularity, his films always tend to do well at the box office as well.
Throughout his lengthy career in acting, Black has starred in some incredible movies, and within this list, we will rank his 10 best movies according to Rotten Tomatoes.
Goosebumps (78%)
We kickstart this list with the movie, Goosebumps, which gained a 78% rating on Rotten Tomatoes with this family-friendly movie being a perfect spooky film for a Halloween season in order for young viewers to enjoy some spooks at that time of year.
Being based on the popular book series, Goosebumps is a fantastic movie and was a role that Jack Black thrived in. Black played R.L. Stine, the author of the bestselling Goosebumps series, being a prisoner of his own imagination as his monsters become reality.
While Black didn't have as much of a role in the sequel, the fact that the movie was able to spawn a second film shows just how popular this movie was.
Jesus' Son (81%)
Released in 1999, Jesus' Son has a massive 81% rating, and even though it might not be one of Jack Black's most talked-about roles, considering that it has such a high rating from critics, it is a movie that people should certainly check out.
This is quite an intense movie and it doesn't get talked about as much as other films on this list, with this film following the journey of a young man from drugs and crime to compassion. While the film does have comedic moments, the vast majority of this film is quite serious and is certainly not a family-friendly movie as people typically think about when it comes to Black.
Kung Fu Panda 2 (81%)
Jack Black's role as Po in the Kung Fu Panda series is one of the most memorable of his career, with his voice-over work being superb throughout all of the three movies, and while Kung Fu Panda 2 is the lowest rated of the trio on Rotten Tomatoes, an 81% rating is still a very solid score.
This movie continues on from the first, with Po now being a member of the Dragon Warriors, protecting the Valley of Peace alongside the rest of the kung fu masters, but that ends up being threatened with the rise of a brand new formidable villain. His aim is to destroy kung fu altogether, which forces the Furious Five to step up and take on the new challenge in what is another very fun animated movie.
Tropic Thunder (81%)
Tropic Thunder is certainly one of Jack Black's funniest roles, with this action-packed movie that has a star-studded cast, and an 81% rating on Rotten Tomatoes to back it up. Jack Black was perfect casting in this movie as he is someone who is always willing to laugh and joke at himself to entertain others, which is why he worked in this film.
Black's character in this movie is a drug-addicted comic who is attempting to change his image by being part of this serious movie, and the humor really is superb throughout.
King Kong (84%)
Released back in 2005, King Kong still remains an incredibly impressive movie visually, with the film using cutting edge technology to make the classic ape look more impressive than it ever has done, but it isn't just the stunning effects that make this film a hit.
The movie has an excellent story and while it is Kong itself that is the scene-stealer, the human performances within the film are what really help it to go along, with Jack Black providing a great performance in what is less of a comedic role than normal for him. While there was certainly pressure on this movie to live up to the original, it is fair to say they certainly did a great job here, and with an 84% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, the critics clearly felt that way.
Kung Fu Panda 3 (87%)
The third movie in the Kung Fu Panda franchise saw Jack Black once again return to the role of Po, and the film didn't let anyone down, maintaining the same level of fun and emotion that the previous installments in the franchise had provided.
Kung Fu Panda 3 focuses the story on Po and his long-lost panda father, with the duo reuniting and traveling to a panda paradise to meet tons of new panda characters, which changed the pace of the franchise a little.
However, when a supernatural villain in Kai arrived, defeating all of China's kung fu masters, it was up to Po to become a master and train a village full of clumsy pandas to learn the way of the warrior, just as he had to do in the original movie.
Kung Fu Panda (87%)
The original movie in the franchise which started everything off, Kung Fu Panda is an excellent animated film that saw Jack Black bring a tremendous performance with his charisma and over the top voice acting helping to bring life to the character of Po.
The story of an overweight panda becoming a Dragon Warrior against all the odds was one that just worked, providing a bright and colorful world that attracted children to want to see the film. Black is the key voice in this film, and the pressure is on him here due to being the voice of the lead character, but if anyone was born to be in an animated movie, it was Black.
Bernie (88%)
Jack Black was massively praised for his performance in the movie, Bernie, where he plays Bernie Tiede, an assistant funeral director and is one of the most popular residents of the town, teaching in the school and always helping people throughout.
Befriending an affluent widow, Bernie ends up managing her banking affairs, as she ends up not being seen for several months. It is then revealed that she has been dead for a while and he was being charged with the murder. This is a very different role for Jack Black, with a focus on serious acting rather than comedy which he is typically known for, and this performance proves just how talented of an actor he really is.
High Fidelity (91%)
Released back in 2000, High Fidelity might be one of Jack Black's older roles, but the fact that it still rates so highly on his list of credits proves just how good of a movie it is.
This romantic comedy is a classic movie that everyone should watch at least once in their life, and even though Black doesn't play the lead role here, he still does have a large role in the film, which focuses on a character who is the owner of a semi-failing record store and ends up having his girlfriend leave him. He is then forced to examine his life, as he ends up being dragged through adulthood by his friends, which is where plenty of comedy ends up taking place.
School Of Rock (91%)
When it comes to the highest-rated Jack Black movie on Rotten Tomatoes it is School Of Rock which takes the top prize with a 91% rating, and rightfully so as this is a fantastic film that has aged incredibly well. It still somehow feels just as fresh and funny today as it did when it was first released.
Within this movie, Black pretends to be a substitute teacher in order to make some money but winds up learning that the class is full of gifted musicians, which leads him on an adventure of leading them to the battle of the band's competition.
Combining Black's acting talent with his love of music which is well known from his band, Tenacious D, it made him the perfect fit for this role as he excels in bringing both comedy and sincerity in what is a very fun film.