Audiences may know Spike Jonze from his music videos or small roles in movies like The Wolf Of Wall Street and Jackass Number Two. Others know him from his feature films. The director seems to wear many hats in the entertainment world, but fans might say his theatrical movies are some of the most interesting of the last twenty years.
Some fans say Spike Jonze is responsible for one of the best must-see movies of the 2010s. Viewers might say his films present original stories with deliberate filmmaking. Movies like Her and Adaptation are vividly remembered by Jonze fans.
Where The Wild Things Are (73%)
Spike Jonze's lowest-rated film on the Tomatometer stands out from the rest of his theatrical filmography for another reason. Where The Wild Things Are is the only film he directed geared toward children, exemplified in its PG rating. It is also based off on a children's book of the same name. The film features a live-action cast, actors performing in animatronic suits, and voices lent to some of the mystical creatures on screen.
Fans of the movie might say it brought a beloved children's book to life. Others may point to the movie's curated soundtrack. Different audiences might say it is Spike Jonze's most unique movie. The film features an impressive cast including Mark Ruffalo, James Gandolfini, Catherine O'Hara, and Chris Cooper. Critics of the film might say it was too ambitious to bring such a simple children's story to theaters, despite its spectacular production and talented cast.
Being John Malcovich (94%)
Being John Malcovich is Spike Jonze's first directed theatrical movie. It takes a surreal Charlie Kaufman script to screen with a cast of expert comedic actors. Some fans say Being John Malcovich is one of Charlie Kaufman's best movies. John Cusack stars as Craig Schwartz, an aspiring puppeteer who discovers a doorway into the mind of legendary actor John Malcovich. Malcovich, Cameron Diaz, and Catherine Keener also star.
Spike Jonze laid the foundation for his career directing unbelievably original scripts with Being John Malcovich. Fans might say it is one of the weirdest mainstream Hollywood movies of the late 1990s. Others might point to the engaging story that develops beyond its strange concept. Being John Malcovich stands out against other films of the time period for several reasons, but Jonze fans would say it is simply because it is better.
Adaptation (91%)
Jonze followed Being John Malcovich with Adaptation, and the movie presents similar elements, even referencing the former film in the plot. It follows a fictional version of Charlie Kaufman, the writer behind Being John Malcovich, as he attempts to adapt a book about orchids into a feature film. Lines of reality blur in the movie, between the book Kaufman tries to adapt and his waking life, as well as the movie itself with its self-aware characters.
Nic Cage stars as Kaufman and is supported by stars like Chris Cooper, Meryl Streep, and Tilda Swinton. Some fans say Adaptation is one of Chris Cooper's best films. It was nominated for several Academy Awards, among others, and Cooper won for Best Supporting Actor. Fans of the film might point to its performances for its high rating. However, it is hard to ignore the movie's rich and unique script, and viewers might say Jonze brings a transcendent experience to the screen in one of the most original mainstream drama-comedies of the last twenty years.
Her (94%)
Her is Spike Jonze's most recent fictional feature film. It stars Joaquin Phoenix, who was always the first choice for the lead in Her, and Scarlett Johansson. The two are supported by stars like Amy Adams and Rooney Mara. The science-fiction film presents a more straightforward story than some of his other works. It follows Phoenix's Theodore Twombly in the not-so-distant future. In the time period, A.I. has advanced to such a level that humans can develop relationships with their operating systems, a situation that befalls Twombly with his, Samantha.
Jonze won the Academy Award for Best Screenplay for Her, which he also wrote. The film was also nominated for Best Picture. Fans of the film might say it is the most accessible Spike Jonze feature, while it remains consistent with Jonze's surreal themes. Others might say it is the sweetest movie he ever directed, and the romantic story is touching. Those who rate it highly might say it stands out above similar sci-fi films of the time like Ex-Machina. Her takes the highest Tomatometer score for any of Jonze's fictional features.
Beastie Boys Story (94%)
Beastie Boys Story is both Spike Jonze's most recently directed film and his only theatrical documentary. Jonze is no stranger to directing real-life moments, having made short documentaries like Amarillo by Morning and skateboarding videos like Yeah Right!. However, Beastie Boys Story placed Jonze with the undertaking of telling the true story of one of music's most influential hip-hop groups.
Fans of Beastie Boys Story may have rated it highly because it showcases the amazing true story of The Beastie Boys with clarity, sensitivity, and palpable appreciation. Others might point to its editing and intimate interviews. It received nominations and wins from several film organizations, including earning a Critics’ Choice Documentary Award for Best Music Documentary. The film shows audiences Jonze is capable of bringing a true story to life in a long-form theatrical documentary.