Jonah Hill was once known as the goofy friend in comedies before gradually transforming into one of the most dynamic actors working today. He has shown a great talent for picking bold and innovative projects which allow him to show new sides of his talents.
Hill has mostly steered away from the bigger franchise movies and focused on collaborating with talented people. This has led him to work with some of the best filmmakers currently working, including Quentin Tarantino, Joel and Ethan Coen, and Martin Scorsese to name a few. Given that roster of talent, it’s no surprise he’s been in such acclaimed films. Here are Jonah Hill’s best movies, according to Rotten Tomatoes.
Hail, Caesar! (86%)
Hill has proven that he will take any role, no matter the size, just for the chance to work with talented filmmakers. Such is the case with Hail, Caesar!, which allowed Hill to briefly work with the Coen Brothers. The star-studded period piece follows a Hollywood executive (Josh Brolin) who must contend with numerous problems like a pregnant starlet, a cowboy actor in over his head, and a kidnapped movie star.
Hill has a small cameo as a loyal studio fall guy. The movie is a hilarious and goofy look at the madness of movie-making, and it features actors like George Clooney, Channing Tatum, and Scarlett Johansson.
Django Unchained (87%)
Much like Hail Caesar!, Hill took a tiny role in Django Unchained likely for the opportunity to be on a Quentin Tarantino set. The Western stars Jamie Foxx as a runaway slave who partners with a bounty hunter to find his wife who is in the hands of a sadistic slave owner in Mississippi. Hill appears in one hilarious scene as a Ku Klux Klan member.
The movie features Tarantino’s signature mix of dark humor, extreme violence, and obscure homages. It is a thrilling Western like no other with great supporting performances from Leonardo DiCaprio, Samuel L. Jackson, and an Oscar-winning Christoph Waltz.
Superbad (88%)
Hill had starting to get some attention in Hollywood when a starring role in Superbad came around at the perfect time. Written by Hill’s good friend Seth Rogen, the high school comedy starred Hill and Michael Cera as two unpopular teens who attempt to impress girls by buying alcohol for a party.
The movie is an epically hilarious comedy filled with vulgar humor and outlandish situations, as well as a surprising amount of heart. The film proved Hill could headline a movie with his own unique charm.
The Lego Batman Movie (89%)
As you’ll see through the rest of this list, Hill’s most acclaimed films seem to feature a fair amount of voice acting roles. The Lego Batman Movie takes a lighter, more comedic approach to the Batman story with the Caped Crusader forced to confront his closed-off life after he adopts an orphan boy who becomes his sidekick. Hill provides the voice of Green Lantern, the most obnoxious of the Justice League members.
Given all the darker takes on Batman, this hilarious and ridiculous version felt refreshing. And with all the in-jokes and references, it’s the kind of movie that demands multiple viewings.
Knocked Up (90%)
Hill owes a lot of his success to the fact that he was welcomed into Judd Apatow’s troupe of comedy actors. Knocked Up brought many of Apatow’s favorite young stars into this unconventional rom-com that starred Seth Rogen and Katherine Heigl as a mismatched pair whose one-night stand leads to an unexpected pregnancy.
Hill had the chance to steal some scenes as one of Rogen’s directionless friends. The movie itself is a hysterical take on the genre that featured some genuine heart to go along with the laughs.
How To Train Your Dragon: Hidden World (90%)
As Snotlout, one of the dragon trainers, Hill has been with the How to Train Your Dragon since the beginning and helped bring it to a close with this third and final film. The new adventure follows Hiccup and Toothless discovering another Night Fury dragon and seeking out a dragon utopia while evil forces attempt to stop them.
The film continues the spectacle and visual magic of the first two films while remaining a fun adventure for the whole family. And while it is sad to see the story end, it went out on a satisfying note.
How To Train Your Dragon 2 (92%)
The first sequel in the How to Train Your Dragon slightly edges out the final film to become Hill’s third highest-rated film on this list. The sequel finds the Vikings and dragons now living in harmony, only for the peace to be threatened by the emergence of a new villain and a discovery from Hiccup’s past.
With some new characters and a bigger adventure, the sequel cements this franchise as one of the best family-friendly series of all time. The movie also proves it’s willing to take some risks with its storytelling.
Moneyball (94%)
It must be daunting for an actor like Hill to share the screen with a movie star icon like Brad Pitt, but he held his own in Moneyball. Pitt stars as Billy Beane, the general manager of the Oakland Athletics who challenged baseball traditions by using statistics to build a winning team. Hill plays a math wiz who helps him devise this unique strategy. Both actors were nominated for Academy Awards for their performances.
While a movie about math and baseball might not appeal to everyone, Moneyball is a surprisingly fascinating, thrilling and inspiring story about underdogs making the system work for them.
The LEGO Movie (96%)
Making a movie based on Lego toys seemed like a pretty flimsy idea. So it was much to the surprise of everyone that this resulted in one of the most original films in recent years. The story follows a mild-mannered citizen of Bricksburg who becomes the chosen one who must defeat the evil Lord Business. Hill originates his obnoxious Green Lantern role here.
The unique animation style is mesmerizing and captures the fun of playing with Lego. The movie is also a hilarious comedy with a touching message and plenty of clever twists that make it a very special animated adventure.
How To Train Your Dragon (99%)
Despite the sequels having impressive Rotten Tomatoes scores, there was no beating the original How To Train Your Dragon, which received nearly unanimous praise from critics. The adventure film is set in Viking times where a community is threatened by dragons until a boy named Hiccup forms a bond with an outcast dragon.
The movie is a funny, thrilling and moving journey that sets itself apart from other animated films with its incredible visuals, thoughtful message and willingness to take risks.
