The dynamic and always entertaining Jason Bateman is an esteemed actor, director, and producer who has been a staple in Hollywood for nearly 40 years. The performer first gained widespread recognition as Ricky Schroder’s bad boy best friend on the famous 1980s sitcom Silver Spoons, before earning teen idol status for his role as David Hogan on The Hogan family. Bateman went on to appear in a slew of famous and infamous projects, such as the one from 1987 Teen Wolf too; the sports comedy Necessary roughness, and the short-lived 1995 sitcom Simon. After a brief hiatus from his career in the 1990s, when he struggled with substance use disorder involving alcohol and drugs, the performer returned with a vengeance in the critically acclaimed 2003 comedy series. Arrested development.
Updated October 2022: To keep the article current and relevant by adding more information, this article has been updated by Stephen Rosenberg.
Jason Bateman would star on the cult show for three seasons before returning to a film career with impressive performances in the 2007 coming-of-age dramedy Juno, superhero movie hancock, and dramatic thriller Disconnect. He embraced his comedic gifts in a plethora of hit farces such as: Terrible bosses, bad words, and game night, as well as the Disney animated blockbuster zootopia. Bateman returned to Arrested Developmentfor two additional seasons on Netflix and is currently starring and directing the very well-known and popular crime drama ozark. The actor has received numerous accolades, including a Golden Globe, Satellite and Screen Actors Guild Awards, and most recently appeared as Jerry “The Crab” in the 2021 Netflix superhero comedy Thunderpower.These are the best Jason Bateman movies.
9/9 Hancock (2008)
Peter Berg’s 2008 Superhero Movie Hancock features an impressive cast that includes Will Smith, Charlize Theron, and Jason Bateman, and tells the story of a vigilante superhero named John Hancock (Smith), whose alcoholism and reckless attitude cost the city of Los Angeles millions. When he saves the life of PR consultant Ray Embrey, the grateful man makes it his mission to improve Hancock’s overall image. From his portrayal of the optimistic Embrey, bateman said, “My character sees life through rose-colored glasses, so he doesn’t understand how people can’t see the bright side of Hancock. I like being the common man. I like being the guide, the one who sees every absurdity in a movie.” binds and helps to make that tangible for the public.” Despite mixed reviews from critics Hancock was a knockout with moviegoers, grossing over $600 million at the box office; sequel rumors continue to circulate, with Theron revealing that she would love to appear in a sequel.
8/9 Paul (2011)
Comedy geniuses Simon Pegg and Nick Frost teamed up to write and co-star in the 2011 sci-fi comedy film Paul, with the hilarious Seth Rogen and Jason Bateman joining the hilarious duo. The film revolves around two English comic strip geeks who travel across the US and encounter a sarcastic alien outside Area 51 with a taste for alcohol and cigarettes. The comedy is a parody of popular science fiction movies and sci-fi fandom in general; Pegg and Frost came up with the concept in 2003 while they were filming Shaun of the Dead and even went on a road trip across the United States for inspiration. In the film, Bateman portrays the ruthless and hilariously evil Special Agent Lorenzo Zoil, who follows and tries to capture Paul. Pegg and Frost turned the comedy around show their love for Steven Spielberg’s classics Close Encounters of the Third Kind and ET the alien; the famous director even had a short voiceover cameo.
7/9 Disconnect (2012)
The Psychological Drama of 2012 Disconnect dives deep into how people experience the negative side effects of modern communication technology by focusing on three interconnected stories. Funnyman Jason Bateman made a dramatic turn by starring in the film as the concerned father of a young boy who becomes a victim of cyberbullying and eventually tries to commit suicide. Bateman’s Rich Body embarks on a crusade to discover who has harassed his son and pushed him to take such heartbreaking measures. Disconnect garnered much praise from critics, with: the Chicago Sun-Times write, “Even when the dramatic stakes are raised to the point of pounding music at super slow motion, potentially tragic violence, Disconnect struck a chord with me in a way that few movies have done in recent years.” Bateman’s poignant portrayal of a shattered father was acclaimed and no doubt showed off his dramatic acting and range.
6/9 Zootopia (2016)
The 2016 Disney Animated Movie zootopia Set in the titular city where anthropomorphic mammals coexist, depicts the unlikely collaboration between a rabbit police officer and a red fox con artist as they investigate a criminal conspiracy that has left predators missing. The ensemble image features the voices of some of Hollywood’s finest performers such as Jason Bateman, Ginnifer Goodwin, Idris Elba and JK Simmons, with Bateman starring as the wily little con man fox, Nick Wilde. Directors Bryon Howard and Rich Moore were inspired to create something different from other anthropomorphic animal films, instead wanting to create a modern world designed by animals for the animals, without the characters living in the natural/human world. zootopia grossed over $1 billion worldwide and received the Academy Award for Best Feature Film; Disney+ will release a TV spin-off later this year.
5/9 Bad Words (2013)
Jason Bateman made his directorial debut with the 2013 dark comedy bad words, in which he hilariously stars as a middle-aged dropout who enters the National Golden Quill Spelling Bee through a loophole. Bateman didn’t initially intend to headline the photo, but he eventually felt it would be easier to… playing the part yourself because of the “awkward tone” required, and to ensure that the character remained likable despite his terrible qualities. The veteran performer was also eager to put on his director’s hat after explaining that being able to direct movies was “Basically the only reason I’ve been acting for the last 20 years of this career.” bad words made its world premiere at the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival to mixed reviews; many enjoyed the sharp wit and direction, while others found it offensive. Regardless, Bateman was able to show off his many talents and ability to bring a story to life both in front of and behind the camera.
4/9 Juno (2007)
The classic 2007 coming-of-age drama Juno Starring Elliot Page as the title character, an unusual sixteen-year-old faced with an unplanned pregnancy and subsequent events that strain her adult life. Jennifer Garner and Jason Bateman appear as the future adoptive parents of Juno’s child, Vanessa and Mark Loring. Juno and Mark befriend after discovering they share many common interests, but the dynamics get complicated when Mark reveals his true feelings and intentions with his wife to Juno. Written by Cody Diablo, the dramedy has garnered both criticism and praise from members of both the anti-abortion and abortion rights communities; on the matter, Diablo revealed, “You can think of it as a film that celebrates life and childbirth, or you can think of it as a film about a liberated young girl who makes the choice to continue liberating.”
3/9 Game Night (2018)
The action comedy of 2018 Game night Jason Bateman and Rachel McAdams play a married couple whose game night with a group of friends turns into a true mystery after one of them is kidnapped by apparent burglars. Bateman and McAdams star as the competitive gamer couple Max and Annie Davis, who are invited to a game night at the house of Max’s obnoxious older brother and find themselves at the center of the real crimes. Bateman stars and produced the comedy, with his portrayal garnering high praise from critics; the funny man received nominations at both the Critics Choice Awards and the San Diego Film Critics Society Awards for Best Performance by a Comedy Actor. A possible sequel to the successful hit is currently under discussion.
2/9 Terrible Bosses (2011)
Seth Gordon’s 2011 Dark Comedy Terrible Bosses features some of the comedy world’s most gifted performers, including Jason Bateman, Charlie Day and Jason Sudeikis, and follows a trio of friends who decide to kill their respective overbearing, abusive bosses, played by the dynamite Jennifer Anison, Kevin Spacey and Colin Farrell . The farce was written by Michael Markowitz, who created the role of financial director Nick Hendricks, especially for Jason Bateman. Terrible Bosses received generally positive reviews and was a huge success with the public, raising more than $200 million and far exceeding financial expectations. Critics praised the A-list ensemble’s silly and side-splitting performances, and its monumental success led to its 2014 follow-up Terrible Bosses 2. The New York Times praised the hilarious comedy, writing: “The laugh is mean but also strangely pure; it dispels shame and leaves you feeling dizzy, a little embarrassed and also excited, a bit like the cocaine the two main characters accidentally consume.
1/9 The Gift (2015)
For his directorial debut, actor Joel Edgerton wrote, produced and starred 2015’s psychological thriller The gift, which follows married couple Simon and Robyn Callem as they are intimidated by a menacing figure from Simon’s past, played by Edgerton. They begin to receive mysterious gifts and uninvited encounters from the dangerous Gordo, an old classmate of Simon’s in high school who harbors a chilling secret. The actor who became a director was inspired by Alfred Hitchcock, fatal attraction, and the French film from 2005 cache, and on his release The gift was heralded by critics for Edgerton’s screenplay and direction as well as Bateman’s compelling performance. Bateman demonstrated his exceptional acting skills and range, with his portrayal of the terrorized Simon, proving to the public that he is much more than just a comedic star. The masterful thriller currently has a Rotten Tomatoes rating of 91%, with Vulture praising the photo, have written: “The gift starts like so many other thrillers before it—with an attractive, well-heeled couple buying a big new house—then forges its own uniquely tense and twisted path from there.” Among The gift and Disconnectthere was no doubt that Jason Bateman would succeed in the thrilling, dramatic thriller ozark.