Since making his on-screen debut back in the early eighties, Jim Carrey has made a name for himself as one of the funniest actors in Hollywood. His performances as Ace Ventura, Stanley Ipkiss, and the unforgettable Lloyd Christmas will forever serve as a testament to his incredible ability to make people laugh. There is much more to the veteran actor than just his wicked sense of humor though, as evidenced by the latter stages of his 40-year career.
Since the turn of the century, he has slowly been transitioning away from the comedy genre and has successfully proven himself in a variety of vastly differing roles. He’s still to receive his first Oscar nomination, and it’s quite possible that he never will. Still, he has certainly done enough to break the shackles of his earlier type-casting and show the world that he’s more than just a one trick pony.
10 Man On The Moon (1999) – 58
Every actor has that one role that leaves an indelible mark on their career and forever changes the way that they approach new projects. For Jim Carrey, that role came in the 1999 movie, Man on the Moon, in which he portrays the late comedian Andy Kaufman, who just happens to be one of the actor’s comedic idols.
The precision with which he is able to replicate Kaufman’s signature stylings and quirky personality is really quite remarkable and deservedly drew plenty of praise from critics. He also picked up a Golden Globe award for his troubles as well as a string of other accolades. His familiarity with the comedian’s work certainly helped in this regard, but the ability to mirror it so flawlessly is something that required real talent and diligence.
9 The Bad Batch (2016) – 62
In a dystopian future where undesirables are cast out by society, Carrey’s mute hermit character plays a pivotal role in The Bad Batch, despite his somewhat limited screen time. While this had the potential to be a fairly forgettable appearance, the actor’s powerful presence helped the character to remain memorable long after the end credits had finished rolling.
Despite all of its interesting ideas, and the fantastic cast that was assembled to bring them to life, the movie’s mediocre story prevents it from ever really taking off. It certainly has its moments, but ultimately lacks the narrative depth required to tie everything together and keep viewers engaged for the full two-hour runtime.
8 Lemony Snicket’s A Series Of Unfortunate Events (2004) – 62
Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events is not quite as dark as the novels on which it is based. That said, it still provides plenty of sinister moments and perfectly captures the gloomy, gothic atmosphere found in Daniel Handler’s writings. There are more than a few moments when it struggles to live up to the high standards of its source material, although for the most part, it serves as a perfectly adequate adaptation.
Carey plays the corrupt Count Olaf and helps to humanize the character a little more than the books by injecting a healthy dose of his trademark humor. It works well and also helps to lighten the tone a little in some of the movie’s darker moments. Sadly, however, plans for additional Lemony Snicket movies were ultimately canceled, and he never got the chance to reprise the role.
7 Once Bitten (1985) – 64
Carrey’s first leading role came in the relatively obscure 1985 movie Once Bitten. Although not up to the high standards of some of his later roles, the movie provided audiences with glimpses of the young actor’s comedic stylings and showed that there was more than enough substance to them to carry a movie from start to finish.
He plays Mark Kendall, a mild-mannered high school student who desperately wants to lose his virginity. His girlfriend’s reluctance to have sex, and the resulting frustration, ultimately leads him to a downtown singles bar where he’s seduced by a 400 year old vampire who plans to drink his blood in order to hold onto her eternal youth and immortality. The resulting events are as strange as they are funny and make for one of the more singular Jim Carrey movies.
6 I Love You Phillip Morris (2009) – 65
The North American release of I Love You Phillip Morris was delayed multiple times following concerns that its subject matter might prove to be too risqué for American audiences. When it finally hit cinemas in late 2009, however, the movie was met with widespread critical praise and was even able to return a modest profit on its $13 million budget.
Carrey plays a former conman named Steven Jay Russell and spends the entire movie reminiscing about his first true love. The storytelling is incredibly down to earth and pulls very few punches in the face of what some may have deemed to be a sensitive subject. Both Carrey and his on-screen lover, Ewan McGregor, deliver fantastic performances with the former, once again demonstrating that he’s more than just a funny guy.
5 Liar Liar (1997) – 70
After his hugely successful appearances in the likes of The Mask, Dumb and Dumber, and Ace Ventura, Carrey suddenly found himself one of the most in-demand comedy actors in America. He appeared in numerous big-budget movies throughout the late nineties, but one of the more successful and memorable of them was Liar Liar.
Carrey plays Fletcher, a dishonest lawyer who is unable to lie for 24 hours following a birthday wish from his young son. Not only does this have a huge impact on his career, but it also leads to a plethora of problems in his personal life as well. As events unfold, however, being forced to tell the truth helps Fletcher to realize that his son should be his highest priority, and he ultimately decides to change his ways.
4 Horton Hears A Who! (2008) – 71
Having appeared in How the Grinch Stole Christmas some eight years prior, Jim Carrey returned to the world of Dr. Seus to play the titular role in Horton Hears a Who! Unlike his portrayal of the Grinch, however, the role was voice-only and therefore gave viewers the chance to see (or hear) a completely different side to Carrey’s acting abilities.
He was once again reunited with Steve Carrell, following their earlier appearance together in Bruce Almighty, and was also joined by Seth Rogen, Selena Gomez, and Will Arnett. Despite being aimed primarily at kids, there’s some decent humor in the movie as well as a rather poignant takeaway message at the end. It might not be for everyone, but it’s one of the better-animated movies to come out of the past few decades.
3 Peggy Sue Got Married (1986) – 74
The eighties was a period of learning and growth for a young Jim Carrey. He appeared in plenty of movies throughout the decade, although the majority of his roles were fairly minor when compared with some of his later appearances. One such performance came in the excellent Peggy Sue Got Married, where he lined up alongside Kathleen Turner and a young Nicolas Cage.
The movie tells the story of a woman in her mid-forties whose marriage is on the verge of breaking down. When she suddenly finds herself catapulted back in time, she resolves to save herself from her bleak and unfulfilling future. As events begin to unfold, however, she soon realizes that she and her husband were meant to be together and she wakes up in the present day with a new found appreciation of him and their relationship.
2 Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind (2004) – 89
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is yet another relatable and creative masterpiece from the brilliant mind of Charlie Kaufman. Carrey and Kate Winslet star as Joel and Clementine, two former lovers whose painful memories of each other lead to them undergoing a state of the art procedure that will help the pair completely forget about each other. As Joel is forced to relive the relationship in reverse, however, he remembers why he fell in love with her in the first place and desperately struggles to cling to his remaining memories of their time together.
The movie provided Carrey with the perfect opportunity to break free from his funny guy persona and show audiences that there’s much more in his locker than just silly voices and cheesy catchphrases. As evidenced by the movie’s strong performance with critics, it’s an opportunity that he seized with both hands. He may not have picked up any major awards, but he certainly won plenty of plaudits for his captivating performance.
1 The Truman Show (1998) – 90
Inspired by an episode of The Twilight Zone, The Truman Show is an incredibly thought-provoking movie that explores a wide range of interesting themes and ideas. It tells the story of a man named Truman who has spent his entire life unknowingly trapped in a state of the art television studio in which everything revolves firmly around him.
From his cheesy catchphrases to his childlike naivety, everything about Truman lines up with the idea that he’s been living his life in a bubble just perfectly. As he begins to uncover the truth, however, the audience sees a whole new side to the character, which culminates in an immense battle of wills between him and the show’s egotistical producer, Christof. Carrey manages this change perfectly without ever really needing to step too far out of his comfort zone. All the same though, it’s still a wonderful performance on his part.
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