Jamie Foxx is one of those performers who seems naturally gifted at everything he tries. He got his start as a stand-up comedian before moving into movies and television. He soon stepped out of his comedic persona and began taking on dramatic parts and winning awards. All these accomplishments and we haven’t even mentioned his singing career.
Foxx is a fantastic addition to any cast, with a wide range of talents. He has been a part of some amazing films in his career with plenty more interesting projects still to come. Here are Jamie Foxx’s best movies according to IMDb.
Any Given Sunday (6.9)
Oliver Stone is a director who has tackled many heavy subjects in his films including the Vietnam War, the JFK assassination, and the media’s love of serial killers. So tackling American football in Any Given Sunday did seem like an odd move.
The movie is a raw behind-the-scenes look at the brutal sport from the perspective of those on the field and the sidelines. Foxx plays a young, untested quarterback who gets his shot at the spotlight. The movie is an intense, hard-hitting film with an all-star cast including Al Pacino, Cameron Diaz, and Dennis Quaid.
Rio (6.9)
Foxx’s onscreen charisma translates well to the animated genre as we can see in the family-friendly adventure, Rio. The movie follows a small-town bird who meets and falls for an adventurous macaw and heads off on a journey with her to Rio de Janeiro. Foxx voices a music-loving canary.
The movie is the kind of silly and fun adventure that children and adults can find enjoyment in. Foxx is joined by a great cast of voice actors, including Jesse Eisenberg and Anne Hathaway. Add in some fun music and great sequences, and it all adds up to a good time.
Horrible Bosses (6.9)
Given the amazing dramatic performances Foxx has given over the years, it’s easy to forget how funny he can be when he returns to comedy. Foxx was part of the fantastic ensemble of Horrible Bosses, a comedy about three professionals who plan to improve their terrible work situations by killing their abusive bosses.
Foxx plays an ex-con, brilliantly named, Motherf**ker Jones, who helps the hapless men in their murder plot. The movie is a dark and hilarious ride featuring some great comedic performances from the likes of Colin Farrell and Jennifer Aniston.
The Kingdom (7.0)
Foxx has sometimes dabbled as an action hero but not always with the most successful results. However, The Kingdom proved to be a more grounded and heavy action film that audiences really embraced.
Foxx plays the leader of a small team of U.S. agents sent to investigate a bombing at an American facility in the Middle East. The movie is packed with solid performances from its cast as well as tense action sequences courtesy of director Peter Berg. It addresses some serious real-world topics while also being a satisfying genre film.
Jarhead (7.0)
Part of what makes Foxx’s career so interesting is his penchant for switching between leading man roles and supporting roles in solid films. At the height of his popularity, Foxx took a smaller role in Sam Mendes’ film about the Gulf War. Jake Gyllenhaal stars as a fiery marine struggling to cope with his life in the army. Foxx plays his commanding officer.
The movie is unlike any other war film you’re likely to see. It is a psychological study of the soldier rather than a depiction of the violence of war. It makes for a fascinating film experience with great performances from the cast.
Law Abiding Citizen (7.4)
Sometimes critics and fans don’t see eye-to-eye on films and Law Abiding Citizen seems to be one of those cases. The thriller stars Jamie Foxx as a district attorney who becomes a target of a dangerous man (Gerard Butler) who seeks revenge after the justice system failed him.
Critics weren’t onboard with the escalating plot turns, but the intense revenge story did strike a chord with audiences. Foxx and Butler make a great pair on opposite sides of this cat-and-mouse story that keeps you guessing the whole time.
Collateral (7.5)
Foxx is an incredibly charismatic and electric performer so it’s very impressive when he can take a more subdued role like he does in Collateral. Foxx plays a taxi driver working a night shift in Los Angeles when he picks up a passenger (Tom Cruise) who forces him to transport him around the city as he carries out several assassinations.
The high-concept thriller is elevated thanks to the slick and stylish direction of Michael Mann. Cruise is extremely compelling in a rare villain role while Foxx grounds the story as the unassuming and unexpected hero.
Baby Driver (7.6)
Once again, Foxx benefited from taking a smaller role in a film by a great director. Baby Driver is Edgar Wright’s music-infused heist film about a getaway driver named Baby who uses songs to score his jobs. Foxx plays an unhinged and predictable criminal who works with Baby.
Wright brings his signature fast-paced style and sharp wit to the heist genre and the results and endlessly enjoyable. The chase sequences are inventive and fun. The performances are all stellar. And, of course, the soundtrack is killer.
Ray (7.7)
While he had proven himself to be a multitalented artist before, Ray was the movie that cemented Foxx as a truly great actor. The movie is a biopic about the life of legendary musician Ray Charles, played by Foxx. It chronicles his life as a blind man, his ground-breaking role in the music industry, and his struggles with drugs.
Foxx gives a mesmerizing performance, disappearing into the role completely. He carries the movie with his singing, piano playing, and channeling of the iconic man. Foxx won a well-deserved Oscar for the role.
Django Unchained (8.4)
Few actors are lucky enough to headline a Quentin Tarantino movie and Foxx can count himself as part of that special group. He stars as the titular Django in Tarantino’s violent Western about a slave who teams with a bounty hunter to rescue his wife from a cruel plantation owner.
As you can expect with a Tarantino movie, Django Unchained is filled with brutal violence, brilliant dialogue and homages to obscure cinema history. Foxx makes for a swaggering hero, Christoph Waltz steals the show as the gentleman bounty hunter, and Leonardo DiCaprio makes for a terrifying villain.
