Jon Favreau is often hailed as one of the most influential directors in Hollywood today. While his career has spanned a great number of franchises and huge blockbusters, he has also become well known for his acting appearances, from Friends to his time as Happy Hogan in the MCU.
At heart he is a creative storyteller and director. He has produced some fantastic films over the years and has recently seemed to have taken his work to another level, especially with his partnership with Disney. IMDB is a fantastic source for ranking movies and has rankings of all of the films (and one TV show) that he has directed.
Cowboys And Aliens (2011) 6.0
Cowboys and Aliens wasn't exactly well-received when it first released. Despite the massive stars attached to the project, it failed to make a big impact at the box office. There are certainly some redeeming features about this film though.
It may be one of Favreau's worst movies, but it's still a lot of fun to see Harrison Ford and Daniel Craig team up to fight off some alien invaders. It's a unique concept and visually it's totally different from anything else out there.
Zathura: A Space Adventure (2005) 6.2
Zathura: A Space Adventure is the spiritual successor to Jumanji and is seemingly set within the same universe. It's probably one of the most underrated projects from Favreau's filmography and was a great testing ground for him to develop techniques for future films.
It's a family adventure that's still being re-watched to this day, which took the Jumanji concept and brought it from the jungles into space! It also has some surprise stars, such as a young Josh Hutcherson.
Made (2001) 6.4
Made is a movie that's almost forgotten from Favreau's past and yet it's really the movie that gave him his big start as a director. He'd put together TV movies before this, but this was his first, full-fledged feature film.
Two boxers and friends end up in way over their heads when they get involved with a money-laundering scheme and a criminal organization. It's a tense movie and demonstrates just how powerful Favreau is at storytelling, even way back in 2001.
The Lion King (2019) 6.9
One of Jon Favreau's most recent productions was lauded for its beautiful cinematography and technological advancements, although many people questioned the need to bring The Lion King back to screens, when the original was so perfect.
As a director, Favreau still managed to put together a movie that was both fun and emotional, and something that could pull in big numbers at the box office. It's actually inspired a sequel that appears to be going in a different direction and is perhaps one of the most talked-about additions to Disney's live action adaptations.
Elf (2003) 6.9
Elf is a Christmas classic and the IMDB rating for this film is perhaps a little harsh, considering the love that Favreau's festive film has. With a charming cast, an absurd plot, and a number of hilarious and heart-warming moments, this film is perfect for the holiday season.
In many ways Elf launched Favreau to the next level, demonstrating his talent for comedic timing as well as his ability to construct worlds. It's a movie that will still be loved in decades to come and a much-celebrated part of his career.
Iron Man 2 (2010) 7
Jon Favreau has directed two films within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, although he has since become a vital part of the behind the scenes production team and as an on screen talent. Iron Man 2 is perhaps the more controversial of his two projects.
The film is famous for huge amounts of studio interference and was actually shot without much of a script. Years after its release it has gathered a bigger following thanks to its brilliant villains and the impact it has had on the MCU as a whole.
Chef (2014) 7.3
Chef was absolutely a passion project for Favreau. Identifying as a foodie himself, this story of a man and his son traveling across America in a food truck was clearly a labor of love for everyone involved.
It's since inspired a Netflix spin-off show and is perhaps one of Jon Favreau's most personal films. It has a fantastic cast line-up and the food itself would make any mouth water. This movie is simply a lot of fun, especially for food fans.
The Jungle Book (2016) 7.4
Another live-action remake of a classic Disney movie, this was Jon Favreau's first try at bringing something animated into reality and he largely succeeded. In fact, The Jungle Book is considered one of the best adaptations thanks to its improvement on the original.
Not only is the story even more compelling but this was a place for Favreau to work on the technology that would then play into many of his later projects. It's a touching story and may be more beloved than the original.
Iron Man (2008) 7.9
It's no surprise that Favreau's first foray into the MCU and the film that kicked off the golden age of Marvel movies, is so high up on IMDB's ranking. The original Iron Man is simply a superhero classic unlike any other.
It created the idea of a shared universe, modernized the genre itself, created a mega star in Robert Downey Jr, and guaranteed a successful franchise that has now been running for over 10 years. This is a movie that will always be linked to Favreau's career.
The Mandalorian (2019-2020) 8.7
While it's not a movie, it's difficult to ignore the cinematic experience Jon Favreau has created, alongside Dave Filoni. As the executive producer, Favreau is wearing a lot of hats, including taking on some directing, writing, and every other role in between.
This is another passion project for Favreau and it's fair to say that The Mandalorian is one of the best received Star Wars properties of recent years. For many years he has brought a new energy to a tiring franchise.