Very few actors have the success and versatility of Canadian-American actorJim Carrey. His seamless transition from a slapstick gag comedian to a dramatic actor remains impressive. Carrey has shown his acting talents from early in his career as the goofy Ace Ventura inAce Ventura: Pet Detective(1994) to the disillusioned Truman Burbank inThe Truman Show(1998).
Apart from a few cult classics, Carrey has also demonstrated that he is a viable actor on screen and at the box office, making millions and generating even more. Additionally, he holds two Golden Globe awards out of seven nominations, among other trophies. In a career full of bangers,the best Jim Carrey films have magnified his popularity and acting talents. It’s hard to determine what are his absolute best efforts, especially considering worthy stuff likeBatman Forever(1995),Horton Hears a Who!(2008), andSonic the Hedgehog(2020) doesn’t quite make the cut.
10’The Cable Guy' (1996)
Directed by Ben Stiller
One of Carrey’s lesser-known roles is the black comedyThe Cable Guy, which also starredMatthew Broderick,Jack Black, andOwen Wilson. The film revolves around Steven Kovacs (Broderick), who recently moved into an apartment after a rough breakup. After moving in, Kovacs hires a cable TV installer (Carrey) who becomes obsessed with his personal affairs.
Although a moderate success at the box office and despite mixed reviews,The Cable Guyremains a cult classic. The film’s producer,Judd Apatow, suggests that because Carrey’s humor is more subtle and dark, different than his usual exaggerated slapstick, fans were blindsided by the change. Indeed, Carrey is at his most unnerving and menacing inThe Cable Guy, yet still offering a dash of charm into what is undoubtedly his darkest and most mean-spirited comedy.
The Cable Guy
Watch on Hulu
9’How the Grinch Stole Christmas' (2000)
Directed by Ron Howard
Based on children’s authorDr. Seuss’ book of the same name, Carrey stars as the grumpy green loner, The Grinch, who sets out to destroy Christmas for the residents in Whoville.How the Grinch Stole Christmaswas the first Dr. Suess book to be adapted into a feature-length film. The film was commercially successful as itearned $346.5 millionat the box office with a budget of $123 million. It won an Academy Award for Best Makeup and was nominated for Best Costume Design and Best Art Direction.
Underneath the detailed prosthetics, quirky set design, and dark themes,Carrey shines as the disgruntled antihero. His eccentricity and exaggerated humor allow audience members to laugh at the Grinch’s antics while sympathizing with his loneliness and past. Because of the costume and heavy prosthetics,Carrey became openly frustrated and upset, but Howard encouraged Carrey to redirect his frustrations by improvising and ad-libbing his lines. While Carrey’s interpretation of the Grinch is campy and too dramatic for some viewers, it remains a cult classic among other Christmas movies.
Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas!
8’Bruce Almighty' (2003)
Directed by Tom Shadyac
Bruce Almightyrevolves around an unhappy New York news reporter, Bruce Nolan (Carrey), who, on one fateful night, is bestowed the powers of God (Morgan Freeman). With a budget of $81 million, the film was a box-office success,earning $484.6 million. The film’s success prompted a sequel in 2007,Evan Almighty, starringSteve Carrell, who plays Bruce’s workplace rival.
Bruce Almightyis Carrey’s third time working withTom Shadyac, but the formula is better than ever, with the film delving into themes of free will, spirituality, humility, and faith.Carrey exhibits his classic over-the-top slapstick humorin the film’s first two-thirds, but in the last act, he flexes his dramatic acting talents. He carefully balances out the silly comedic gags with powerful and heartfelt speeches by the deeply flawed Nolan.Bruce Almightyis amongCarrey’s funniest and most purely enjoyable movies, a testament to his comedic prowess.
Bruce Almighty
7’Ace Ventura: Pet Detective' (1994)
Ace Ventura is one of Carrey’s most exaggerated and vibrant characters. The film follows Ace, a private detective in Miami, Florida, hired by football team Miami Dolphins publicist to recuse the kidnapped dolphin mascot, Snowflake. Its success at thebox office of $107.2 millionwith a $15 million budget prompted a sequel titledAce Ventura: When Nature Calls(1995), an animated series and a TV movie.
Ace Ventura: Pet Detectiveis Carrey’s first breakout role. While there are many great gags, the film hasn’t aged as gracefully as other Carrey movies of the time. Still, the film remains crucial when analyzing Carrey’s career; it launched him into stardom and cemented his reputation as his generation’s most expressive and explosive performer. Although it stands at49% rotten on Rotten Tomatoes,Ace Ventura: Pet Detectiveis considered a cult classic among Carrey’s superfans.
Ace Ventura: Pet Detective
6’The Mask' (1994)
Directed by Chuck Russell
BeforeRyan Reynolds’ debut as the Marvel antihero Deadpool, there wasThe Mask. Based on a comic book series of the same name by Michael Richardson, the film follows bank teller Stanley Ipkiss (Carrey), who discovers a magical mask that transforms him into a cartoonish antihero. As The Mask, Ipkiss can break the fourth wall and use Looney Tunes-style logic to fight enemies. Due to its success at the box office, the film led to the foundation of Carrey’s andCameron Diaz’s acting careers.
Equal parts protagonist and antagonist,The Mask is perhaps Carrey’s most beloved character, allowing him to transform into and transition between the insecure Ipkiss and the flamboyant antihero. Carrey shows off his classic slapstick and raunchy humor with exaggerated facial expressions. However, as Ipkiss, he becomes meek and shy, which makes him relatable and sympathetic to the audience. In many ways,The Maskestablished Carrey’s big-screen persona as a wacky force of nature with enough appeal to be a leading man.
5’Liar Liar' (1997)
Liar Liarfollows LA lawyer Fletcher Reede (Carrey), who is recently divorced due to being an absent father and pathological liar. As a result of a magical wish from his son Max (Justin Cooper), Reede is cursed only to speak the absolute truth for one day. The film was a critical and commercial success,earning $302.7 millionat the box office with a budget of $45 million, while Carrey was nominated at the 1995 Golden Globes for Best Actor in a Motion Picture–Musical or Comedy.
Although the film contains many comedic stunts, it mainly focuses on meaningful topics regarding family and fatherhood. In an interview with Shadyac, Carrey explains thatLiar Liarwasrefreshing because his character has a familyand romantic relationship, whereas his previous films depicted his characters as bachelors. Additionally, Carrey notes that all the stunts and the “constant suppression of angst” were physically taxing, resulting in him being completely exhausted after shooting. The effort paid off, asLiar Liarremains one of Carrey’s most beloved filmsand a grand showcase for his now-iconic and distinctive gift for physical comedy.
Watch on Netflix
4’Man on the Moon' (1999)
Directed by Miloš Forman
Based on the life of American entertainerAndy Kaufman,Man on the Moondepicts Kaufman’s rise to fame. The film starsCourtney Love,Paul Giamatti, andDanny DeVito, who also served as a producer because he worked closely with Kaufman during the sitcom seriesTaxi(1978-1983). While Carrey won a Golden Globe for his performance,Man on the Moonunderperformed at the box office and received mixed reviews from audience members and critics.
Due to Kaufman’s eccentric and quirky work ethic, Carrey was an excellent choice for the role. In hopes of capturing Kaufman’s true nature, Carrey reportedly used the method acting technique as the comic on and off set. Interestingly, during the film’s production, Carrey auditioned for his future role inThe Grinchwithout breaking his Kaufman character. Although far from perfect and more than a little historically inaccurate,Man on the Moonis a showcase for Carrey’s talentsand a love letter to one of showbusiness' most talented entertainers.
Man on the Moon
Rent on Amazon
3’Dumb and Dumber' (1994)
Directed by Peter Farrelly
Dumb and Dumberfollows friends Lloyd Christmas (Carrey) and Harry Dunne (Jeff Daniels) as they travel cross-country from Rhode Island to Colorado to return a suspicious briefcase full of money. The film was a major box office success,earning $247.3 millionwith only a budget of $17 million. Additionally, it not onlyrevitalized Daniels’ careerbut alsosolidified Carrey as a comedic superstar in Hollywoodduring the 1990s.
If it had not been for his successful performance inAce Ventura: Pet Detective, Farrelly would not have championed for Carrey to co-lead, asSteve Martin and Martin Short were also eyedfor the role.The original script was written by directorJohn Hughes, who eventually sold it to Farrelly, and the rest is history. Carrey and Daniels created magic withDumb and Dumber, delivering one of cinema’s best duos, a pairing that makes idiocy more entertaining than ever.
Dumb and Dumber
2’The Truman Show' (1998)
Directed by Peter Weir
There is no doubt that Carrey is a comedic genius. However,his performance inThe Truman Showshowed his range and talentas a dramatic actor. The film follows salesman Truman Burbank, who discovers his life is a reality television show.The Truman Showwas critically acclaimed, earning multiple Oscar, BAFTA, and Golden Globe nominations.
Carrey’s performance as Ace Ventura also helped him secure this monumental role. Carrey states that the role for Burbank wasthe fastest he’s ever accepted. ScreenwriterAndrew Niccolrevealed that the script wasinspired by the tragic life of Princess Diana, whose life was constantly criticized and on public display by the intrusive press. Niccol expressed that he wanted audience members to feel the agony of continually being surveilled for entertainment.The Truman Showremains arguably Carrey’s finest moment as an actor; the actor is vulnerable, relatable, endearing, and easy to root for, creating a brilliant protagonist that ranks among the best in modern cinema.
The Truman Show
1’Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind' (2004)
Directed by Michel Gondry
Written by acclaimed writer-directorCharlie Kaufman,Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mindfollows Joel Barish (Carrey) and his former lover, Clementine Kruczynski (Kate Winslet), who undergo a memory erasure procedure to forget their tumultuous relationship. The film was an instant success, both critically and commercially. At the box office,it earned $74 millionwith a $20 million budget, and Kaufman won an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay, while Winslet was nominated for Best Actress.
With his experienceworking on psychological and existential movieslikeThe Truman Show, Carrey was well-prepared for his role as Barish. Besides a few dry jokes, the actor is wholly immersed in his position as a dramatic actor.Carrey can masterfully convey such emotional depthin the film’s most dramatic scenes, imbuing the character with a rich layer of self-loathing and vulnerability. He also has excellent on-screen chemistry with Winslet, which beautifully depicts their love and bitterness for each other.
