In recent years, Jake Johnson’s distinctive comedic talents and innate likability have established him as one of Hollywood’s most hilarious comedy actors. While Johnson is best known for his role as Nick Miller on the Fox sitcom New Girl, he’s also carved out an impressive career in movies, as his laid-back, self-deprecating, dry delivery brought an infectious charm to his performances that are unlike any other actor working today. Just as comfortable in acclaimed animated movies as in live-action comedy, Johnson boasts an impressive filmography.
Much like Johnson’s New Girl character Nick Miller, Johnson’s acting style blended over-the-top antics, witty comebacks, and a sense of vulnerability that led to fantastic performances in some of the best comedies of the 2010s. Through his fruitful collaborations with director Joe Swanberg, Johnson often co-writes his own material where he originates unique and compelling characters tailored to his personality. With an astounding career that includes quirky indies, blockbuster hits, and ambitious animated movies, Johnson’s willingness to branch out into new genres meant his resume was packed with fantastic films.
10 Let’s Be Cops (2014)
Jake Johnson as Ryan J. O’Malley
Jake Johnson teamed up with his New Girl co-star Damon Wayans Jr. for the buddy cop action comedy Let’s Be Cops, which offered plenty of laughs but did little to differentiate itself within the genre. While the incredible Nick and Coach chemistry has been carried forward from the pair’s sitcom, at times, Let’s Be Cops felt more like a New Girl B-plot stretched out into a feature-length film. From director and co-writer Luke Greenfield, this broad comedy had its moments but failed to do anything new or interesting with its premise.
Let’s Be Cops starred Johnson and Wayans, who, after jokingly dressing up as police officers at their college reunion, notice how much more respect and recognition they get in their uniforms. This newfound appreciation convinces the duo to continue the charade, which quickly spirals out of control as they purchase their own police car and even start trying to move in on investigations. Let’s Be Cops was wild and outrageous, but it was the type of movie viewers quickly forgot about once the credits rolled.
9 Jurassic World (2015)
Jake Johnson as Lowery Cruthers
The Jurassic World Ultimate Collection includes the 6 movies in the immensely popular dinosaur franchise. It begins with paleontologists Alan Grant and Ellie Sattler and mathematician, Ian Malcolm, as they tour an island theme park that is populated by dinosaurs that were created from prehistoric DNA. The dinosaurs eventually break free, creating the havoc that is explored in the 6 films. You can buy all 6 movies right now for $60 for Prime Day.
- Director
- Colin Trevorrow
- Release Date
- June 12, 2015
- Studio(s)
- Universal Pictures
- Distributor(s)
- Universal Pictures
- Writers
- Amanda Silver , Colin Trevorrow , Rick Jaffa , Derek Connolly
- Runtime
- 124 minutes
- Budget
- $150 million
Jurassic World was the exciting continuation of the Jurassic Park series that saw a successful theme park filled with dinosaur clones plunged into total chaos as the prehistoric creatures escaped and ran rampage. As the beginning of a brand new trilogy in the franchise, Jurassic World starred Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard and introduced a whole new generation of viewers to the incredible visuals and stunning special effects of the series. With new additions like the hybrid dinosaur the Indominus Rex, Jurassic World was an enjoyable summer blockbuster that paled in comparison to the inventiveness of the original.
One excellent addition to the supporting cast of Jurassic World was Jake Johnson as Lowery Cruthers, a Jurassic World employee stationed in the control room. Johnson brought his unique comedic sensibility to the role, adding some enjoyable levity to this story of prehistoric havoc. One of Jurassic World’s funniest moments came when Lowery tried to make a move on his colleague Vivian (Lauren Lapkus), only to be turned down when she revealed she had a boyfriend. This hilarious interaction showcased Johnson’s impeccable talent for cringe humor, even in the midst of an imminent dinosaur attack.
8 Digging For Fire (2015)
Jake Johnson as Tim
Digging for Fire is a 2015 film exploring the divergent paths of a married couple, Tim and Lee, during a weekend stay in the Hollywood Hills. When Tim discovers mysterious items in the yard, their ensuing adventures examine themes of mystery, marriage, and parenthood against a backdrop of contrasting priorities.
- Director
- Joe Swanberg
- Release Date
- August 21, 2015
- Cast
- Jake Johnson , Rosemarie DeWitt , Jude Swanberg , Alicia Van Couvering , Timothy Simons , Jenny Slate , Jeff Baena , Mike Birbiglia , Steve Berg , Kent Osborne , Sam Rockwell , Chris Messina , Anna Kendrick , Brie Larson , Judith Light , Sam Elliott , Tom Bower , Megan Mercier , Melanie Lynskey , Ron Livingston , Aislinn Brooke Plair , Noah Nelson , Lindsay Burdge , David Siskind , David Bly
- Character(s)
- Tim , Lee , Jude , Cashier , Yoga Couple , BB Gun Friend , Phil , Paul , Adam , Ray , Tango , Alicia , Max , Grandma , Pop Pop , Tom the Neighbor , Uber Driver #1 , Squiggy , Bob , Squiggy and Bob’s Daughter , Squiggy and Bob’s Son , Lucy , Uber Driver #2 , Waiter
- Runtime
- 83 minutes
Jake Johnson reunited with his Drinking Buddies director, Joe Swanberg, for Digging for Fire, an ensemble comedy they wrote together. Featuring Johnson alongside major stars like Brie Larson, Sam Rockwell, Anna Kendrick, and Orlando Bloom, the story starts with a couple discovering a bone and a gun in a house they are staying and soon end up digging up the surrounding area in search of a body. With a natural tone and talented performers, Digging for Fire can have a unique appeal as it delves into the psychology of its characters.
The casual feeling of Digging for Fire came from its improvised nature, as Johnson and Swanberg wrote an outline for the plot, but their script did not have any dialogue (via Tribeca.) This meant the actors came up with their lines on the spot, which gave the movie a more free-flowing and everyday aesthetic. While this interesting work ethic paid off in many ways, it also made Digging for Fire feel slightly meandering at times. Although the dialogue felt natural, maybe this film would have benefited from a tighter script.
7 Drinking Buddies (2013)
Jake Johnson as Luke
Kate and Luke are employees at a brewery. With similar tastes, the two have always flirted with each other, but have never entered into a relationship, as Luke is thinking of marrying his girlfriend, while Kate is in a relationship with a music producer. However, the more they drink, the more open they become to the possibility of going out together.
- Director
- Joe Swanberg
- Release Date
- August 23, 2013
- Writers
- Joe Swanberg
- Runtime
- 95 minutes
The comedy-drama Drinking Buddies was Jake Johnson’s first movie with director Joe Swanberg, which powerfully deconstructed complex social relationships. Johnson played Luke, whose close friendship with his Chicago craft brewery co-worker Kate (Olivia Wilde) causes conflict with his girlfriend Jil (Anna Kendrick), all while Kate’s partner Chris (Ron Livingston) was also caught in the middle. This classic love quadrangle story explored the difficulties in maintaining heterosexual same-sex friendships without romantic feelings taking over or partners experiencing jealousy.
Much like Johnson and Swanberg’s later movie together, Digging for Fire, this dialogue in Drinking Buddies was improvised. This free-flowing style worked to the film’s benefit, and this smart and sweet piece of observational comedy felt real and believable. While Johnson had some moments to show off his famous comedic talents, Drinking Buddies also hinted at his underappreciated skills as a dramatic actor capable of real emotional intensity.
6 The Lego Movie (2014)
Jake Johnson as Barry
The first film in the Lego movie franchise, 2014’s The Lego Movie tells the story of Emmett Brickowski (Chris Pratt), an average construction worker from the Lego city of Bricksburg. After finding the fabled “Piece of Resistance”, Emmett finds himself opposing the plans of the villainous Lord Business (Will Ferrell) with the help of both original characters and licensed ones such as Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman.
- Director
- Phil Lord , Chris Miller
- Release Date
- February 7, 2014
- Studio(s)
- Village Roadshow , Vertigo Entertainment , Lego System A/S , Warner Animation Group , Lin Productions
- Distributor(s)
- Warner Bros. Pictures
- Writers
- Dan Hageman , Kevin Hageman , Phil Lord , Chris Miller
- Cast
- Chris Pratt , Alison Brie , Channing Tatum , Nick Offerman , Liam Neeson , Will Ferrell , Cobie Smulders , Elizabeth Banks , Will Arnett , Charlie Day , Jonah Hill
- Runtime
- 100 Minutes
- Budget
- $60-65 Million
While the concept of The Lego Movie may initially appear like a cheap ploy to market toys to children, the result was actually one of the best animated movies of the 2010s. With a creative story, great animation, and truly catchy music, The Lego Movie surpassed cynical viewers’ expectations and amounted to a modern classic that could be enjoyed by children and adults alike. With a premise that allowed for the inclusion of almost any character, it was exciting to see the likes of Batman, Superman, and even characters from Star Wars and The Lord of the Rings make appearances.
Alongside all these recognizable IPs was Jake Johnson, who briefly appeared in The Lego Movie as Barry, a construction worker at the construction site in Bricksburg. Johnson was joined by his fellow construction workers, Wally and Foreman, voiced by Dave Franco and Keegan-Michael Key, in his brief appearance. With a cast list made of a real who’s who of modern American comedy, it was a testament to Johnson’s then-rising star that he was among the incredible cast of The Lego Movie.
5 21 Jump Street (2012)
Jake Johnson as Principal Dadier
An adaptation of the TV series of the same name, 21 Jump Street stars Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill as two police officers (and best friends) who are sent into a high school undercover in order to bust a drug ring. Learning that high school has changed considerably since they were teenagers, the pair are forced to adapt in order to maintain their cover, threatening their friendship in the process.
- Director
- Phil Lord , Christopher Miller
- Release Date
- March 14, 2012
- Writers
- Michael Bacall
- Runtime
- 109 minutes
- Franchise(s)
- 21 Jump Street
- Budget
- $42 million
When an updated adaptation of the 1980s police procedural series 21 Jump Street was first announced, it felt like Hollywood had run out of ideas. However, this buddy cop comedy from Phil Lord and Christopher Miller was packed with humor and managed to exceed all expectations. With a great cast led by Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum, 21 Jump Street was genuinely hilarious as it told the story of two cops going undercover at a local high school.
With Hill as Morton Schmidt and Tatum as Greg Jenko, 21 Jump Street was both an affectionate satire of the 1980s series and an excellent throwback to teen movie tropes of times past. Jake Johnson played Principal Dadier, the burnt-out educator who’d rather be anywhere but at work, added to all of this. Sadly, Johnson didn’t return when the duo went to college in 22 Jump Street, but his lone appearance still made him a standout character in the series.
4 Win It All (2017)
Jake Johnson as Eddie Garrett
Jake Johnson once again teamed up with his frequent collaborator, director Joe Swanberg, for the Netflix crime comedy Win It All. Johnson starred as the gambling addict Eddie Garrett with a script he co-wrote with Swanberg. While this gambling story of risk and reward didn’t quite reach the same anxious-ridden highs of films like Uncut Gems, it signaled a maturity in Johnson and Swanberg’s fruitful collaboration, and of the three movies they have made together, this was the best one yet.
Win It All depicts Eddie as a small-time gambler who agrees to store a bag of cash for an acquaintance going to prison, only for him to be unable to stop himself from dipping into the stash to fund his own habit. As a dark comedy about troubled people, Win It All was a subtle and stripped-down story of a man on an avoidable path toward self-destruction. Once again, Win It All utilized Swanberg’s more laid-back improvisational directing style, which has become a cornerstone of his work with Johnson.
3 Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse (2023)
Jake Johnson as Peter B. Parker / Spider-Man
Miles Morales returns in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, the sequel to Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. With his identity still safe but “grounded” by his parents, Miles Morales is visited by his friend from another dimension, Gwen Stacy. Inviting him on a new adventure, Miles jumps at the opportunity but is seemingly accosted by an unknown assailant on his journey. Miles and Gwen will unite with new and old Spider-Heroes to face a villain of immeasurable power.
- Director
- Joaquim Dos Santos , Kemp Powers , Justin K. Thompson
- Release Date
- June 2, 2023
- Writers
- Dave Callaham , Phil Lord , Christopher Miller
- Runtime
- 140 Minutes
- Budget
- $100 Million
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse followed up the excellent Into the Spider-Verse with yet another mind-bending adventure featuring Miles Morales. This alternative universe reimagining of Spider-Man was a fascinating way to tell new and exciting stories involving Spider-Mad that weren’t intrinsically attached to the character of Peter Parker. However, Parker’s Spider-Man still existed in this new cinematic Multiverse, and he’s expertly voiced by Jake Johnson.
Johnson portrayed Parker as an older Spider-Man from Earth-616B who acted as a mentor to the young Miles. However, Across the Spider-Verse focused on much more than just Miles and Peter, as, after Miles was catapulted through the Multiverse, he encountered a team of Spider-People tasked with projecting his very existence. This complex and unique take on Spider-Man’s mythos made this animated film series among the most creative and compelling feature film takes on the Friendly Neighborhood Webslinger ever seen on the big screen.
2 Safety Not Guaranteed (2012)
Jake Johnson as Jeff Schwensen
Safety Not Guaranteed follows a disillusioned magazine intern, Darius, who answers a classified ad seeking a partner for time travel. She and her colleagues investigate the ad’s author, Kenneth, a quirky yet seemingly unstable man preparing for a journey to the past. Directed by Colin Trevorrow and starring Aubrey Plaza and Mark Duplass, the film blends elements of comedy, drama, and science fiction, exploring themes of connection and belief.
- Director
- Colin Trevorrow
- Release Date
- June 15, 2012
- Writers
- Derek Connolly
- Runtime
- 86 Minutes
The quirky, low-budget indie movie Safety Not Guaranteed proved that a clever premise and strong performances could more than make up for budgetary constraints. With a fantastic trio of Aubrey Plaza, Mark Duplass, and Jake Johnson, this Colin Trevorrow film was based on a classified ad that ran in Backwoods Home Magazine in 1997 by a man who was looking for a companion to time travel with him (via Sundance.) This fascinating idea was pushed to its absolute extreme as Plaza and Johnson played two magazine employees investigating Duplass’s character’s bizarre ad.
With plenty of heart and tons of ambition, Safety Not Guaranteed was more about the innately human desire to go back and change the past, as it was a sci-fi story. This highly rewarding slow-burn indie got to the heart of its characters’ disillusioned existences as they found meaning and excitement through the idea that they just might be able to travel back in time. Safety Not Guaranteed was Trevorrow’s feature-length directional debut before graduating to the big-budget blockbuster Jurassic World, also featuring Johnson.
1 Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse (2018)
Jake Johnson as Peter B. Parker / Spider-Man
In the first animated Spider-Man film released in theaters, Miles Morales, a teenager who idolizes Spider-Man, gains Spider-Man powers of his own. While learning to use his new abilities, Miles crosses parallel dimensions and teams up with the different versions of Spider-Man from those dimensions to stop a threat to all reality.
- Director
- Bob Persichetti , Peter Ramsey
- Release Date
- December 14, 2018
- Writers
- Phil Lord , Chris Miller
- Cast
- Jake Johnson , Kimiko Glenn , Hailee Steinfeld , Liev Schreiber , Luna Lauren Velez , Nicolas Cage , Lily Tomlin , Mahershala Ali , John Mulaney , Shameik Moore , Brian Tyree Henry
- Runtime
- 117 minutes
- Budget
- $90 million
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse kicked off the Spider-Verse franchise with a bang. Rather than focus on Peter Parker, this animated series followed Miles Morales, an alternative universe New York City teenager who also gained web-slinging superpowers. Telling the story of how Miles became the new Spider-Man and joined up with other Spider-People from alternative universes to save the city from the menacing Kingpin.
Johnson played an older, more disheveled reimagining of Peter Parker, who, at 38 years old, was jaded from his crime-fighting days in another dimension. Parker became Miles’s reluctant mentor in Into the Spider-Verse, and producers Phil Lord and Christopher Miller revealed that he intended to be an amalgamation of all pop culture Spider-Man adaptations and interpretations (via Fandango.) Jake Johnson’s recognizable voice and innate likability made him the perfect candidate to play Peter Parker in this highly creative and unique Spider-Man story.
Sources: Tribeca, Sundance, Fandango
