Funnyman and acting legend Jim Carrey has decades of experience and a list of acting credits that is incredibly versatile and iconic. One of the most obvious ways to see if a movie is good, or even great, is to see how Rotten Tomatoes perceives it after the critics watch the film. Jim Carrey is known for his funny faces, comedic timing, and the amount of accents he can do, but Rotten Tomatoes seems to enjoy Carrey’s serious side when it comes to his best movies.
You might be surprised when you peruse this list and see what Rotten Tomatoes has deemed to be Jim Carrey’s top ten movies, and even more surprised by what they left out. Let’s take a look at Jim Carrey’s 10 best movies, ranked by Rotten Tomatoes.
10 Earth Girls are Easy (1989) – 68%
Coming in last with a score of 68% on the Rotten Tomatoes scale, Earth Girls Are Easy is quite the ride when it comes to alien invasion films mashed with musical components. It’s a great cast with the likes of Geena Davis, Jeff Goldblum, Jim Carrey, Damon Wayons, and more. Earth Girls Are Easy follows the plot of three aliens landing on Earth and being discovered by a woman who’s essentially in a midlife crisis.
They’re extremely hairy and eager to learn about Earth and the women that inhabit it after consuming the culture from television. It’s a messy yet enjoyable movie if you’re interested in seeing what Carrey was up to in 1989.
9 Dumb and Dumber (1994) – 68%
Dumb and Dumber is one of those classic comedy movies you either love because of how stupid it is, or hate because of how dumb the content and characters are. It was a box office smash but wasn’t entirely loved by critics with a score of 68%, receiving mixed reviews, but one thing we know for sure: Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels are the ultimate duo.
The plot is stupid, lighthearted, funny, and just nuts as Lloyd and Harry get caught up in a kidnapping heist and travel cross-country, not knowing they’re being literally hunted down by not only killers but also cops. Dumb and Dumber could be considered a comfort movie because of how mindless the plot is and how great a pair Carrey and Daniels are.
8 Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (2022) – 69%
It’s almost weird to think that Carrey’s work in the first Sonic isn’t included in this top ten list, but rather his work in the sequel. Sonic the Hedgehog 2 features everyone’s favorite blue hedgehog trying to settle down in the quiet town of Green Hills but being targeted once again by Robotnik and, this time, Knuckles. Jim Carrey as Robotnik was genuinely perfect casting because of how crazy and out of control Carrey can appear, but also evil and malicious at the same time.
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 received a 69% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, but it was heavily loved by audiences, with a 96% audience score.
7 I Love You Philip Morris (2009) – 71%
I Love You Phillip Morris certainly wasn’t for everyone, seeing as it only pulled in about two million at the box office and received an audience score of 61%, but the film has special qualities you can appreciate. It’s always an important conversation when straight actors play characters who are in the LGBTQ+ community, but most reviews state that Carrey’s portrayal of Steven Russell is one of his best character portrayals and should be appreciated.
The plot follows a man who’s addicted to spending money and committing crimes, and when he’s sentenced to 25 years in prison, he seemingly meets the love of his life, Phillip Morris.
6 Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004) – 72%
If you read the books as a kid or know anything about them, then you know that the children in Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events really had it rough. After their house burns down, and they are left as orphans, the three siblings, Klaus, Violet, and Sunny, are left to essentially fend for themselves as they get moved around and chased after an evil man. Carrey portrays Count Olaf is slightly goofy, which makes you think he’s not as bad as he really is.
In the books, he just tortures the kids, but in the movie, he’s rather dull. Rotten Tomatoes seemed to enjoy this adaptation and gave it a score of 72%, while audiences didn’t enjoy it as much and said it lacked the charm of the books, giving it an audience score of 63%.
5 The Mask (1994) – 80%
When you think of Jim Carrey, there are most likely a number of movies that instantly come to mind or characters that he has portrayed that are both extremely memorable and out of control. Carrey’s work in The Mask is hilarious, raunchy, and overall very fun and entertaining. Stanley Ipkiss is your average Joe who works a boring job at the bank until he discovers a green mask that hosts the Norse god Loki.
He puts it on, and his entire life changes within a single night, becoming a ladies’ man and also a criminal. The cartoon effects really make this movie great, as does Carrey’s comedic timing.
4 Horton Hears a Who (2008) – 80%
The only animated film in this top ten list, Horton Hears a Who, which was adapted from the book of the same name by Dr. Suess, was ultimately praised for how great of an adaptation it was regarding the source material. It’s a great movie for kids but also for adults, as it touches on things such as caring for other people, the world being your oyster, and taking care of the earth.
Carrey voices Horton the elephant, who stumbles upon a tiny speck of dust that hosts the entire city of Who-ville and all of its residents. As you watch this movie, you’ll find yourself googling who plays who when you recognize certain voices.
3 Liar Liar (1997) – 83%
Liar Liar is one of the funniest movies on this list because not only does it rely on dry humor but also physical humor, with Jim Carrey doing some of his best work as lawyer Fletcher Reede. It’s a comedy, but there’s certainly more to it, as a very tender yet broken father-son relationship is shown and strengthened as the movie progresses.
With a Rotten Tomatoes score of 83%, Liar Liar shines in its own right as Fletcher’s son wishes him to only be able to tell the truth for twenty-four hours, and the outcome is a mess but also downright hilarious.
2 Eternal Sunshine on the Spotless Mind (2004) – 92%
Warning: Do not watch this movie if you’re experiencing a painful breakup or some sort of heartache; it won’t make it better! Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is one of Jim Carrey’s more serious movies because of how raw and real it is, highlighting the pain someone goes through after a monumental breakup. Clementine (Kate Winslet) sets out to have a procedure to erase the relationship between her and Joel (Carrey) because it’s too painful to bear the memories.
Joel decides to have the same procedure, wanting to forget Clementine as well, but slowly, over time, the two come back together and once again fall in love. It’s a very beautiful but emotionally driven film that touches on real feelings and topics, earning a 92% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
1 The Truman Show (1998) – 95%
Coming in at number one, which might be surprising if you were expecting a comedy entry, is The Truman Show. It’s labeled as a comedy/drama, but it’s more dramatic than anything as you watch Truman start to realize that his entire life has been a lie and has been broadcasted to the entire world for years. Jim Carrey is truly captivating and funny as he lives his life normally before starting to suspect something weird is going on as more product placements start popping up and his “wife” starts to act quite weird.
