10 Best Jonah Hill Movies, According To Letterboxd | Pretty Reel

Jonah Hill may have gotten his start in Judd Apatow’s cinematic universe via Superbad, but he’s gone on to excel just as much in films of nearly every genre, including the Academy Award-nominated political satire of Adam McKay. Oscars, Don’t Look Up. The actor has worked with ridiculously talented authors, for example, Martin Scorsese, the Coen brothers and Bennett Miller.

Naturally, his work with these talented individuals has resulted in some highly acclaimed films, including by fans on Letterboxd. The only exclusions were Hill’s voice cameos in The Lego Movie and The Lego Batman Movie and small cameos in live-action films such as Django Unchained.

10 Dogs of War (2016) – 3.3

Stream on Netflix

War Dogs is one of director Todd Phillips’ best films alongside Hill’s, and it also presents a certain opportunity for the city of Gotham. Contract negotiations allowed Colin Farrell to become Penguin in The Batman, but the role of Fredo was originally intended for Hill (per Variety), and he would have been just as amazing as (but different from) Farrell.

Since Phillips’ Joker: Folie à Deux is set to expand upon its original film in vastly different musical ways, why not push the envelope even further and call on Hill for another penguin? After all, Hill has already proven to Phillips in War Dogs (as gunslinger Efraim Diveroli) that he can portray an opportunistic, morally questionable criminal in a hugely compelling way.

9 22 Jump Street (2014) — 3.3

Rent on Amazon Prime Video

Phil Lord, Christopher Miller, Channing Tatum and Hill have managed to catch lightning in a bottle twice with the Jump Street franchise. 21 Jump Street was wickedly smart – far smarter than many expected – and the same could be said for its increasingly (but not obnoxiously) self-aware sequel.

22 Jump Street does what the ending of 21 Jump Street promised: to take Schmidt and Jenko to college. The two undercover cops may have their bond tested, explored, and even temporarily severed, and the chemistry between Hill and Tatum is as lingering as it was in 21.

Stream to Amazon Prime Video

Don’t Worry He Won’t Get Far on Foot stars Joaquin Phoenix as John Callahan, a quadriplegic man after a near-fatal car accident. With the help of his girlfriend (Rooney Mara) and his AA sponsor, Callahan seeks to become the next great cartoonist. Hill stars as Donnie Green, Callahan’s godfather who first helps him find sobriety and then helps him find a career.

Gus Van Sant’s film was one of the highest-profile and best-reviewed indie dramas of 2018, and plenty of praise went to the cast cast. In particular, Phoenix and Hill. Or, as London Evening Standard critic Charlotte O’Sullivan put it: “You basically can’t take your eyes off Hill.” And you feel like Phoenix can’t either. This gravitational pull is perfectly suited to the story. ”

7 Forget Sarah Marshall (2008) – 3.4

Stream on Tubi TV

Forgetting Sarah Marshall has small details that fans are eager to spot, but one thing not to miss is Hill’s small – but incredibly passive-aggressive and hilarious – role as a die-hard fan of Aldous Snow (Russell Brand) . He plays one of the many hotel employees in Hawaii that takes up most of the film’s runtime (alongside other comedy legends such as Paul Rudd).

But Hill isn’t Forgetting Sarah Marshall’s draw, it’s Jason Segel’s Peter Bretter and his relationships with the titular character and Rachel Jansen (Mila Kunis). But Hill’s budding waiter/musician steals every scene he’s in, even if the scenes are mostly grimace fueled.

6 21 Jump Street (2012)—3.5

Rent on Amazon Prime Video

Phil Lord and Christopher Miller pulled off the best comedy of its decade with 21 Jump Street, a weirdly clever and downright hysterical (even after 10+ viewings) movie with more in mind than meets the eye. In terms of self-aware cinema, 21 Jump is and will remain the gold standard, with a constant focus on pushing the meta bar without setting foot on it.

It’s a movie that ages like wine, where little lines like “Why do you have salt?” only get funnier with even more rewarding later viewings. Mix in perfect chemistry between Hill and Channing Tatum (whose role as Jenko helped revitalize his career) and 21 Jump Street was a classic by the time it left theaters.

5 Megamind (2010) — 3.6

Rent on Amazon Prime Video

Megamind had the misfortune of being released the same year as its fellow animated supervillain movie Despicable Me. Of course, Despicable Me won out. But Megamind (starring Will Ferrell as the title character) is arguably the superior movie, and certainly just as funny.

It also gives Hill a fluffy role as the film’s central villain, and he plays the role of a despised, angry man with big aspirations very well. Mix in Ferrell and Tina Fey, and Megamind is an underrated family movie with some hilarious talent behind it. The same viewers who gave Gru and the Minions a shot should opt for Megamind, as they’re similarly toned movies with nearly identical reviews.

4 Silver Ball (2011) – 3.8

Stream on Hulu

In addition to featuring one of Brad Pitt’s funniest and most heartfelt performances, Moneyball announced to the world that Jonah Hill was more than just a repeat Judd Apatow player. Hill stars as Ivy League graduate Peter Brand, who assists Pitt’s Billy Beane (GM of the Oakland A’s) in his quest to make the team more than a laughingstock.

There’s an argument to be made that Moneyball is Hill’s best film. It is at least considered one of them by the vast majority of critics who have seen it, most of whom have cited Bennett Miller’s film as one of their favorites of the year. Hill is outstanding in the film, more so than standing up for himself in every scene he shares with Pitt (the vast majority of the film’s runtime).

3 How to Train Your Dragon (2010) – 3.9

Stream to Amazon Prime Video

One of the best Viking movies, as well as one of the best kids movies of the 2010s, How to Train Your Dragon is the first of three well-reviewed animated episodes under Hill’s belt. However, while the other two came close, they couldn’t top the critical reaction to the original. In all three, Hill portrays Rustik Jorgenson, one of series protagonist Hiccup’s most important and loyal allies in battle and friendship.

The original How to Train Your Dragon was adored by audiences and critics alike. It was universally regarded as one of DreamWorks’ most significant efforts, featuring gorgeous animation, a moving narrative, and pitch-perfect voice work from Jay Baruchel, Gerard Butler, America Ferrera, and Hill.

2 Superbad (2007) – 3.9

Stream on TBS

One of the many 2000s comedies in need of a sequel, Superbad was a major breakthrough for Hill. Even with pitch-perfect performances from Michael Cera, Emma Stone, and Christopher Mintz-Plasse (all of whom saw their stars rise), it’s Seth de Hill who carries the film.

While Letterboxd critics opposed to the profanity and general vulgarity were put off by the film’s tone, even they had to admit that the film had a lot of heart. Critics pointed out that it was a party movie on the surface, but much more right under it. It’s a movie about growing up, in a much deeper way than just making a deal with the cutest girl in class.

1 The Wolf of Wall Street (2011) — 4.0

Stream to Amazon Prime Video

It makes perfect sense and not at all surprising that Hill’s most beloved film on Letterboxd is his one-time collaboration (so far) with living legend Martin Scorsese. The Wolf of Wall Street was divisive from the start, with his nearly 3-hour analysis of depravity proving too much for some. But it’s also just a wildly entertaining ride and a suitably condescending take on humanity’s greed.

The fuel for most of this depravity is not Leonardo DiCaprio’s Jordan Belfort but his friend, Hill’s Donnie Azoff. Azoff cracks Belfort, Azoff exposes himself at a party, and Azoff exposes their entire operation to the FBI via his sloppy party girl style. Hill sells everything, making the character just the right amount of gritty and self-absorbed, but he’s never less than hysterical and magnetic. Critics loved The Wolf of Wall Street much more than they hated it, and Hill’s performance was universally considered a highlight.

We wish to give thanks to the writer of this post for this incredible material

10 Best Jonah Hill Movies, According To Letterboxd | Pretty Reel