Known for his early start in beloved comedy classics such as Super bad and Whipped up, the incredibly talented and dynamic Jonah Hill smoothly transitioned into dramatic roles (like several of his comedic peers), proving to the masses that he is much more than just a prankster. Ever since he entered the cinema scene with a brief appearance in Judd Apatow’s hit The 40-year-old virgin, Hill has taken the silver screen by storm; he has gone on to star in some of the funniest and most memorable comedies like 21 Jump Street and This is the end, as well as more serious and engaging roles in pictures like The Wolf of Wall Street, Moneyball, and War dogs. The actor and screenwriter has really shown that he is not afraid to try something new — the artist has famously portrayed an undercover police officer, perpetual man-child(ren), arms dealer and an absurdly funny fictional version of himself.
Hill is the recipient of two Golden Globe and Academy Award nominations, appearing in compelling dramas alongside major A-list talents such as Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, Jennifer Lawrence and Meryl Streep. The chameleon actor also received the rather unique and funny award from swore on film more than anyone and surpass the iconic Samuel L. Jackson in 2020.
Hill made his directorial debut with the coming-of-age drama of 2018 mid 90s, for which he also wrote the screenplay. His next role will be in the upcoming Netflix comedy Kenya Barris you people, alongside Eddie Murphy and Julia Louis-Dreyfus; he’s also slated to play Grateful Dead frontman Jerry Garcia in a Martin Scorsese project, oddly enough. These are the best Jonah Hill movies.
9 don’t look up
Adam McKay’s Apocalyptic Black Comedy 2021 don’t look up is an ensemble film starring some of the biggest movie stars, such as Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Lawrence, Meryl Streep and Jonah Hill, telling the story of two low-ranking astronomers as they embark on a major media tour to warn humanity of an approaching comet it will destroy the planet. Mastermind Adam McKay came up with the premise, telling: Deadline“From my burgeoning terror over the climate crisis and the fact that we live in a society that tends to put it as the fourth or fifth news story […] and how horrible that is, but at the same time ridiculously funny.”
For the star-studded film, Hill portrays the entertaining White House Chief of Staff Jason Orlean, revealing on Instagram, “I thought, what if Fyre Festival was a person and that person had the power in the White House.” don’t look up has been nominated for four Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay.
Jonah Hill starred alongside Joaquin Phoenix and Rooney Mara in Gus Van Sant’s 2018 drama Don’t worry, he won’t get far on foot, in which the dynamic performer appears as Donnie, the sponsor of Alcoholics Anonymous, who helps guide and inspire quadriplegic cartoonist John Callahan (Phoenix) as he tries to sober up after a drink-driving accident.
The emotionally moving photo is inspired by a true story, with the biopic adapted from Callahan’s real-life memoir; the drama premiered at the Sundance Film Festival where the cast’s performances were praised by critics and audiences. Hill steals every scene he’s in as the encouraging AA sponsor, with the London Evening Star noting, “Basically, you can’t take your eyes off Hill. And you get the sense that Phoenix can’t either. That pull is just right for the story.”
7 war dogs
Todd Phillips Directed the 2016 Dark Comedy Crime Movie war dogs, based on Guy Lawson’s Rolling Stone article and subsequent book that tells the story of arms dealers Efraim Diveroli and David Packouz, who are contracted by the US military to supply ammunition to the Afghan National Army. Starring Jonah Hill as Diveroli and Miles Teller as his partner Packouz, the film follows the duo as they exploit a government initiative and eventually cross paths with violent and shady individuals.
For his dynamite performance, the actor received critical acclaim, with the guardproclaim, “Jonah Hill is so repulsive – all the swagger, sweat and brazen sexism – in war dogs, that you don’t immediately realize what a blitzkrieg of a performance he delivers.” Hill received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor for his compelling role.
6 This is the end
Comedy dream team Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg joined forces for 2013’s apocalyptic comedy This is the end, featuring some of Hollywood’s funniest artists such as Jonah Hill, Danny McBride, Craig Robinson and Rogen. The hilarious farce revolves around fictionalized versions of the cast (and countless celebrity cameos, from Rihanna to Michael Cera) as they try to survive a global biblical apocalypse at the home of James Franco.
Hill stars as the over-the-top “nice guy” who is possessed by a demon, which culminates in a sideshow between him and his friends. Frequent employees Rogen and Goldberg revealed on Reddit said, “We always wanted to make a movie where people played themselves and something extraordinary happened.” This is the end is comic gold and was a huge hit with audiences and critics alike.
5 Cyrus
The British dramedy of the Duplass brothers from 2010 Cyrus John C. Reilly and Marisa Tomei play John and Molly, a recently divorced woman and single mother who fall in love at a mutual friend’s party. Their new relationship is complicated when John meets Molly’s overprotective and older son Cyrus, who doesn’t want to share his mother and starts a battle with his mother’s determined lover.
Hill is a riot as the needy and possessive man Cyrus, who showcases both his dramatic side and comedic skills in the understated film. The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and received positive response, with Time-outto write, “Just by treating these characters as real, with all the uncertainty, emotional baggage and bad decisions that come with it, the Duplass’ skillfully exposes the hypocrisy of the airbrushed-al-American ideal.”
4 21 Jump Street
Phil Lord and Christopher Miller’s 2012 film version of the beloved ’80s series 21 Jump Street follows police officers Schmidt and Jenko, who, as high school students, must go undercover to prevent an outbreak of a new synthetic drug and catch its supplier. Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum team up as the socially awkward Schmidt and dumb Jenko, with the former also helping rewrite the script and the executive producing the picture.
The buddy police movie took on a very comedic tone, switching from the more dramatic and serious television show. The remake was a home run with moviegoers, grossing over $200 million and a Rotten tomatoes approval score of 84%; the success led to the equally lucrative follow-up, 2014’s Spring Street 22.
3 The Wolf of Wall Street
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Acclaimed filmmaker Martin Scorsese directed the 2013 Oscar-nominated crime comedy The Wolf of Wall Street, based on the memoirs of entrepreneur and former criminal Jordan Belfort. The biopic tells Belfort’s perspective from his prolific career as a stockbroker in New York City to his eventual fall from high life into a life of crime and corruption. Leonardo DiCaprio headlines the film as Belfort, with Jonah Hill as his conspiratorial partner and close friend Donnie Azoff, a character inspired by the “pump and dump” stock fraud schemer Danny Porush.
The comedy depicts the two protagonists engaged in wild and nefarious activities, including the use of cocaine; Vitamin D was used as the fake substance for the drug, and Hill even hospitalized with bronchitis during production by sniffing large quantities. The Wolf of Wall Street received critical acclaim for its powerful performances and fantastic directing, with both DiCaprio and Hill garnering Academy Award nominations for their portrayals.
2 money ball
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Bennett Miller’s 2011 Sports Drama money ball is inspired by the novel by Michael Lewis analyzing the 2002 season of the Oakland Athletics and the efforts of their general manager Billy Beane to build a competitive team. Brad Pitt plays Beane, who along with Assistant General Manager Peter Brand (Jonah Hill) tries to build a team of talented baseball players despite a very meager budget. The inspirational film was a departure from Hill’s usual comedic roles, and the performer showcases his outstanding range and abilities as a talented dramatic actor. money ball is a captivating portrait of America’s beloved pastime and America’s uncertain future (filled with algorithms and analytics).
The film debuted at the Toronto International Film Festival and was widely acclaimed, receiving acclaim for its moving screenplay and top-notch acting. Hill’s decision to switch genres turned out to be a wise one, as he was nominated for both a Golden Globe and an Academy Award.
1 Super bad
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Jonah Hill’s first and arguably most iconic lead role was in the 2007 Judd Apatow-produced coming-of-age comedy Super bad, which revolves around two codependent high school students on their way to a booze-soaked party where they hope to lose their virginity. Their master plan runs into trouble when a few bumbling cops and separation anxiety threaten to destroy their epic crusade. Hill and Michael Cera star in the raunchy buddy comedy as screenwriters Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg’s counterparts, with Christopher Mintz-Plasse joining the pals as the hilariously infamous Fogell, aka McLovin.
Super bad is widely credited with launching the careers of its young and gifted leads, and is heavily regarded as one of the greatest high school films of all time. The raw but heartfelt film has been praised by critics and audiences alike, with: The Los Angeles Timeswriting, “Physically, Hill and Cera remember the classic comedy duos — Laurel and Hardy, Abbott and Costello, Aykroyd and Belushi. But they are contemporary kids, sophisticated and sensitive to nuance.” Hilarious and heartwarming, Super bad remains one of the best comedy films of all time.