Known for his early start in beloved comedy classics like Superbad and Knocked Up, the incredibly talented and dynamic Jonah Hill smoothly segued to dramatic roles (like several of his comedy peers), proving to the masses that he is far more than just Hollywood's funnyman. Since bursting onto 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 such as 21 Jump Street and This Is The End, as well as more serious and engrossing roles in pictures like The Wolf of Wall Street, Moneyball, and War Dogs. The actor and screenwriter has truly shown that he isn’t afraid to try something new — the performer has famously portrayed an undercover police officer, perpetual man-child(ren), arms dealer, and an absurdly amusing fictionalized version of himself.
Hill has been the recipient of two Golden Globe and Academy Award nominations, appearing in captivating dramas alongside major A-list talents like Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, Jennifer Lawrence, and Meryl Streep. The chameleonic actor also received the rather unique and amusing distinction of having sworn on film more than anyone else, surpassing the iconic Samuel L. Jackson in 2020.
Hill made his directorial debut with the 2018 coming-of-age dramedy Mid90s, for which he also wrote the screenplay. In 2023 alone, Hill has shown the dichotomy of his creative talents with the release of two hit films on Netflix; You People and Stutz. A modern love story featuring Eddie Murphy and Julia Louis-Dreyful in the former and a deep and thoughtful introspection of his therapist in the latter, Jonah Hill isn't allowing himself to be pigeonholed into one genre. So whether you are looking for a classic comedy, or something a little more high-brow, here is a list of the best Jonah Hill movies.
Updated May 2023: If you are a fan of Jonah Hill, you're in luck. This article has been updated with additional content and entries by Nicole Novo.
11 Don’t Look Up
Adam McKay’s 2021 apocalyptic black comedy Don’t Look Up is an ensemble picture starring some of cinema’s greatest such as Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Lawrence, Meryl Streep, and Jonah Hill, and tells the tale of two low-level astronomers as they embark on a large media tour to warn humanity about an approaching comet that will destroy the planet. The mastermind Adam McKay thought up the premise, telling Deadline, “From my burgeoning terror about the climate crisis and the fact that we live in a society that tends to place it as the fourth or fifth news story […] and how horrifying that is, but at the same time preposterously funny.”
Preposterously funny indeed, but the film doesn't shy away from addressing deep psychological issues our world faces including nihilism, polarized politics, and collusion between big business and government. For the star-studded film, Hill portrays the entertaining White House Chief of Staff Jason Orlean. What can we say about his character? Hill summarized it perfectly on Instagram, “I thought, what if Fyre Festival was a person and that person had power in the White House.” Don’t Look Up has been nominated for four Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay.
Alongside Meryl Streep, playing the role of Hill's mother and president of the United States, the duo make an unlikely and yet genius comedy duo. The two perfectly capture a pair of egotistical, money-driven politicians and the ridiculous antics that they get into. Hill's character feels like a more evil rendition of his role as Seth in Superbad; outspoken, inappropriate, and far too cocky, all of these things secretly stemming from a lack of self-confidence. The film is full of hysterical one-liners — from Hill and from his costars.
Jonah Hill starred alongside Joaquin Phoenix and Rooney Mara in Gus Van Sant's 2018 dramedy Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot, in which the dynamic performer appears as Alcoholics Anonymous sponsor, Donnie. A bubbly man who instantly lights up the room, John Callahan (Phoenix) is instantly enthralled by his light — even as the two meet in an AA meeting. When the two connect, Donnie self-anoints himself with the task of helping guide and inspire the quadriplegic cartoonist John Callahan (Phoenix) as he attempts to get sober following a drunk driving accident.
The emotionally-stirring picture is inspired by a true story, with the biopic being adapted from Callahan's real-life memoir; the drama had its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival where the cast's performances were lauded by critics and audiences alike. 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 feeling that Phoenix can't either. That gravitational pull is exactly right for the story."
This couldn't be more true. His performance is authentic and pure — Hill never strays from the pain and suffering entangled in his and other characters' lives. And yet, even as Donnie takes on the darkness and pain of his companions, he never loses his charisma and sense of humor. Hill's ability to bring joy and beautiful lightness to the film not only helps carry John but the entire audience, through strife and difficulty.
9 War Dogs
Todd Phillips directed the 2016 dark comedy-crime flickWar Dogs, based on Guy Lawson's Rolling Stonearticle and subsequent book that tells the story of arms dealers Efraim Diveroli and David Packouz, who receive a U.S. Army contract to supply ammunition for the Afghan National Army. The film stars Jonah Hill as Diveroli and Miles Teller as his partner Packouz and follows the duo as they exploit a government initiative and end up crossing paths with some violent and shady individuals.
How to describe this film? Think Crypto-Bros take on the war in Afghanistan. The film is provocative and decadent, its action sequences, sex, and party scenes over the top from start to finish. The film is also funny, using the ridiculousness of its plot and characters to weave a story full of hilarious — and horrifying–scenarios.
And when a film is looking to be ridiculous, who better to call than Jonah Hill? The man certainly delivered in his role as evil, emotionless arms dealer. For his dynamite performance, the actor garnered rave reviews, with The Guardianproclaiming, “Jonah Hill is so repellant – all swagger, sweat and unapologetic sexism – in War Dogs, that for a while, you don’t immediately realize what a blitzkrieg of a performance he delivers.” Hill received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor for his riveting role.
8 This Is The End
Comedy dream team Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg joined forces for the 2013 apocalyptic comedy This Is The End. If you are into comedies and haven't seen it yet, you certainly have to check it out. Featuring some of Hollywood’s funniest performers like Jonah Hill, Danny McBride, Craig Robinson, and Rogen, the film is full of laugh-out-loud sequences and lines that you can't help yourself from referencing.
Starting at a bar called This is The End, we follow a group of low-life celebrities (and countless cameos of celebrities, from Rihanna to Michael Cera) as they attempt to survive a global biblical apocalypse in James Franco’s house. The film is an in-your-face comedy, using its star-studded cast in increasingly ridiculous situations to pull laughter from the audience.
Hill shines as the over-the-top “nice guy” who finds himself possessed by a demon, culminating in a sidesplitting showdown between him and his pals. Frequent collaborators Rogen and Goldberg revealed on Reddit that, “We always wanted to do a movie where people played themselves and something extraordinary happened.” This Is The End is comedic gold, and was both a massive hit with audiences and critics alike.
7 Cyrus
The 2010 Duplass brothers' British dramedy Cyrus stars John C. Reilly and Marisa Tomei as John and Molly, a recent divorcee and single mother who instantly fall for each other at a mutual friend’s party. Their newfound relationship gets complicated when John meets Molly’s overprotective and older son Cyrus, who does not want to share his mother and embarks on a battle of wits with his mother’s determined suitor.
Hill is a riot as the needy and possessive man-child Cyrus, showing both his dramatic side and comedic skills in the understated flick. The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and was met with positive responses, with Time Outwriting, “Simply by treating these characters as real, with all the uncertainty, emotional baggage and bad decisions that entails, the Duplass' expertly expose the hypocrisy of the air-brushed all-American ideal.”
6 21 Jump Street
Phil Lord and Christopher Miller’s 2012 big-screen adaptation of the beloved ‘80s series 21 Jump Street follows police officers Schmidt and Jenko, as they are tasked with going undercover as high school students in order to prevent the outbreak of a new synthetic drug and catch its supplier. Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum pair up as the socially awkward Schmidt and dim-witted Jenko, with the former having also helped re-write the script and executive produced the picture.
The buddy cop flick adopted a highly comedic tone, switching gears from the more dramatic and earnest television show. The remake was a home run with moviegoers, grossing over $200 million and earning a Rotten Tomatoes approval rating of 84%; its success led to the equally lucrative follow-up, 2014’s 22 Jump Street.
5 The Wolf of Wall Street
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The critically renowned filmmaker Martin Scorsese directed the 2013 Oscar-nominated crime comedy The Wolf of Wall Street, based on the memoir of entrepreneur and former felon Jordan Belfort. The biopic recounts Belfort’s perspective on his fruitful career as a stockbroker in New York City to his ultimate fall from the high life into one involving crime and corruption. Leonardo DiCaprio headlines the film as Belfort, with Jonah Hill as his conniving partner and close friend Donnie Azoff, a character inspired by “pump and dump” stock fraud schemer Danny Porush.
The comedy depicts the two leads engaging in wild and nefarious activity, including the use of cocaine; Vitamin D was used as the fake substance for the drug, and Hill even was hospitalized with bronchitis during production due to snorting large quantities of it. The Wolf of Wall Street garnered critical acclaim for its powerhouse performances and fantastic direction, with both DiCaprio and Hill nabbing Academy Award nominations for their portrayals.
4 Moneyball
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Bennett Miller’s 2011 sports drama Moneyball is inspired by the Michael Lewis novel that analyzes the 2002 season of the Oakland Athletics and their general manager Billy Beane’s efforts to assemble a competitive team. Brad Pitt stars as Beane, who along with assistant general manager Peter Brand (Jonah Hill) attempt to build a team of talented baseball players despite a severely lean budget. The inspiring movie was a departure from Hill’s usual comedic roles, and the performer showcases his outstanding range and capabilities as a talented dramatic actor. Moneyball is an engaging 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 to universal acclaim, earning praise for its moving screenplay and top-notch acting. Hill’s decision to switch genre lanes proved to be a wise choice, as he was nominated for both a Golden Globe and Academy Award.
3 Superbad
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You can't a list of Jonah Hill's best movies without putting this little gem on it. Jonah Hill’s first and arguably most iconic leading role was in the 2007 Judd Apatow-produced coming-of-age comedy Superbad, which centers on two codependent high school seniors who set out to attend a booze-soaked party where they hope to lose their virginity. Their master plan hits a snag when a pair of bumbling police officers and separation anxiety threaten to destroy their epic crusade. Hill and Michael Cera star in the raunchy buddy comedy as screenplay writers Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg’s counterparts, with Christopher Mintz-Plasse joining the friends as the hilariously notorious Fogell.
Superbad is widely credited with launching the careers of its young and gifted leads. When you watch the film and experience the genius hilarity that is the duo Cera and Hill, you will immediately know why. Hill and Cera's inappropriate, boyish comedy combined with their awkwardness as two high school nerds creates a relatable and yet over-the-top kind of funny that has become a hallmark of American comedy.
Superbad is heavily regarded as one of the best high school movies of all time. The crude yet heartfelt film was lauded by critics and audiences, with The Los Angeles Timeswriting, “Physically, Hill and Cera recall the classic comedic duos–Laurel and Hardy, Abbott and Costello, Aykroyd and Belushi. But they are contemporary kids, sophisticated and sensitive to nuance.” Hilarious and heartwarming, Superbad remains one of the best comedy movies of all time.
2 You People
Landing on Netflix in 2023, You People is a romantic comedy co-written by Hill. When Ezrs Cohen (Hill), a finance broker and podcaster meets Amia Mohammed (Lauren Londo), he had no idea he would fall so hard. Meeting in true meet-cute fashion — Ezra accidentally thinks Amira is his Uber drive — the two head into a tail-spinning relationship.
Outside of the hilarious performances of Hill and London, You People has appearances from tons of amazing comedians, including Eddie Murphy and Julia Louis-Dreyfus. Hill proves with this love story that not only can he enact comedy, but write it too.
1 Stutz
Last but not least is the unlikely documentary created by Hill in 2022, Stutz. Mental health is a trigger word these days, meaning loads of different things to loads of different people. Through a beautiful conversational piece between Hill and his psychiatrist, Phil Stutz, audiences watch as the two attempt to make sense of what it means to be a human being living with those little things we call emotions.
Stutz is beautiful, authentic, and joyful. Hill weaves an interesting tale that approaches vulnerability and struggle without falling prey to nihilism. A much more serious project than is common for the king of comedy, Stutz is still full of good humor.
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