Jack Black is truly a jack of all trades (excuse the pun). From founding and playing with platinum selling hard rock band Tenacious D, to appearing across multiple genres in some of the biggest movies of the last few decades, to managing to successfully dive headfirst into the world of social media — taking it by storm and obtaining millions of subscribers along the way — there’s not much in the creative industries that Black can’t do.

Known for his unbeatable charisma and his physical and expressive comedy, Black first hit the big screen with a number of bit roles in movies like Demolition Man and Enemy of the State. It wasn’t long before his talents were recognized, and he started to dominate mainstream comedy movies in the early 2000s, labeled by the media, as a member of the ‘frat pack’ with fellow comedy giants of the time, including Ben Stiller, Will Ferrell, Vince Vaughn, and Owen Wilson. He has since branched out to appear in animated movies (Kung Fu Panda, Shark’s Tale), popular romantic comedies (The Holiday), family movies (Gulliver's Travels, Goosebumps), indies (Bernie) and more dramatic movies (King Kong). With dozens of acting credits to his name, here is our pick for Jack Black's 8 best movies, ranked.

Related: Kung Fu Panda: The Dragon Knight Series Announced at Netflix, Jack Black to Return

8 The Holiday

jack-black-the-holiday
Sony Pictures Releasing

Despite being released to mixed reviews, The Holiday has gone to become somewhat of a beloved Christmas time classic. One of the highlights is seeing Jack Black shine against type as one of the two romantic leading men alongside Jude Law. Toning down his normal manic approach in favor of a more subtle and nuanced performance, there’s still plenty of wit and humor to be found. Kate Winslet and Cameron Diaz are also great, and despite a fairly predictable plot revolving around Christmas romances, the film still manages to pull at the heart strings every time.

7 Kung Fu Panda

jack-black-kung-fu-panda
DreamWorks Animation

Coming from DreamWorks animation, the studio that brought to us Shrek and Madagascar, it’s safe to say expectations were high for their next project, especially when the A-list voice cast was announced, starring Jack Black in the lead role, supported by the likes of Dustin Hoffman, Angelina Jolie, Seth Rogen, Lucy Liu, and Jackie Chan. Fortunately, they completely smashed it out the park with Kung Fu Panda, and audiences were treated to a beautifully animated movie full of martial arts action, wit, and heart. Black voices Po, a bumbling, idle panda, determined to become a Kung Fu master warrior. Since his first appearance in the original movie, he has gone on to star in multiple sequels, shorts, and television series, a testament to the enduring likability of the character.

6 King Kong

jack-black-king-kong
Universal Pictures

Jack Black is primarily known as a comedic actor, and a fine one at that, but Peter Jackson’s take on the iconic King Kong franchise allowed Black to flex his dramatic acting chops, and he did not disappoint. The movie itself was met with universal acclaim, and despite it being one of the most expensive movies of all time to create, still performed well at the box office. This epic adventure movie ticks all the right boxes, and it was nice to see Black shine against type.

5 Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle

Jack Black in Jumanji Welcome to the Jungle
Sony Pictures Releasing

This sequel seemed like an odd idea at the time. The original movie, released more than 20 years prior, had all but been forgotten. Despite it being an enjoyable flick with a fantastic premise and a strong lead performance from Robin Williams, it had opened to mixed reviews and, over time, became overshadowed by some of Williams’ more well-known hits of the 90s. However, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle defied all expectations and delivered a thoroughly entertaining comedy adventure film, fun for all the family. Bringing in the acting powerhouse duo of Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart, it acted more as a reboot, taking the original premise and flipping it on its head, making it relatable to today’s audience. Characters, this time around, were mysteriously sucked into a video game as opposed to a board game. The lead cast perfectly pulled off their body swap rolls, with Black in particular, shining in playing a girl stuck in Black’s body for her in-game avatar. Thankfully, there was still a few nods and references to the original movie, for the older audience members to keep the nostalgia alive.

4 Bernie

jack-black-bernie
Castle Rock Entertainment

Jack Black has appeared in some of the most expensive movies ever made, so to see him in this small indie flick was actually rather refreshing. It reminds us of what was endearing about Black in the first place: his inimitable charm. In the dark-as-night comedy Bernie, based on the real-life murder of 81-year-old millionairess Marjorie Nugent, Black plays the town’s friendly local mortician. His character is so friendly, here, that despite being arrested and admitting to the heinous murder, the townsfolk still rally around him — that’s what we call charm! This hidden gem is a must-see for fans of black comedy and Jack Black.

Related: Here Are Some of the Best Dark Comedies Ever Made

3 High Fidelity

jack-black-high-fidelity
Touchstone Pictures

A smart, engaging, and thoroughly entertaining adaptation of Nick Hornby’s novel of the same name, High Fidelity is arguably the movie that provided Jack Black with his breakthrough role. Yes, he’d been in many films beforehand, and yes, it’s John Cusack playing the lead role, but this was the first time the world was really treated to the Black we’ve come to know and love. His role was substantial enough to leave a lasting impression in this critically acclaimed cult classic. Both he and Cusack shine in this romantic, coming-of-(middle?)-age comedy, focused on the life of a record store owner (Cusack) as he looks back at his top five break-ups (including one in progress).

2 Tropic Thunder

jack-black-tropic-thunder (1)
Paramount Pictures

Jack Black stars as a drug-addicted prima donna in this hugely successful commercial and critical hit. Tropic Thunder received numerous accolades, including an Oscar nod for Robert Downey Jr.’s performance and Golden Globe nominations for both him and Tom Cruise. It has also gone down as one of the most controversial movies of all time as well, with some finding Downey Jr.’s use of blackface, Ben Stiller’s portrayal of the mentally handicapped, and Cruise’s overly stereotyped Jewish character, particularly offensive and insensitive. Controversy aside, the premise is certainly intriguing. It follows a group of actors, who, while shooting a Vietnam War film in a jungle, encounter real danger and have to rely on what they've learnt from acting to survive. In essence, the movie acts as a parody of the Vietnam War epic of the past. The movie also features what is probably the greatest cast ever put together for a comedy movie, including Black, Stiller, Downey Jr., Cruise, Steve Coogan, Bill Hader, Matthew McConaughey, Danny McBride, Nick Nolte, and more celebrity cameos than you could shake a stick at.

1 School of Rock

Jack Black teaches kids how to rest their heads on their hands in School of Rock
Paramount Pictures

Loved by children and adults alike, School of Rock stars Jack Black at his most Jack Black: hard rocking, exuberant, and near impossible to dislike. The movie was universally acclaimed, not just for Black’s performance, but for the performances of all the supporting cast (especially the children), as well as the script, humor, and general gleeful tone. Black stars as a failing rock musician, who poses as a substitute teacher in an attempt to use the students to form a band and enter into a competition and win a cash prize. There’s plenty of heart and plenty of laughs, resulting in a well-received Broadway adaptation from Andrew Lloyd Webber (and a not quite as well received TV show spinoff).