As one of the more popular and talented actors of his generation,Jake Gyllenhaalcarries a specific name value rivaled by very few of his contemporaries. Even at award ceremonies, he seems to get thrown to the wayside. Best Supporting Actor forBrokeback Mountain(2005) remains the only Academy Award nomination of Gyllenhaal’s career, and when you see the sheer quality featured throughout the list of films that follow, you’ll be amazed that none of them garnered him more acclaim.
He’s a truly special talent, having worked with some of the best directors the industry has to offer. And, sure some of his more acclaimed roles — or, well-known roles, at least — came inthe 2000s, likeDonnie Darko(2001), the aforementionedBrokeback Mountain(2005), and David Fincher’sZodiac(2007). However, the most recent full decade in Hollywood history is perhaps the best that Gyllenhaal has had to offer.
And while some of these films may feature better performances from Gyllenhaal from those that may be featured higher, this list will stick to the quality of the projects themselves. All that said, these are the ten best Jake Gyllenhaal movies from the 2010s, ranked.
WithEnemy(2013), Jake Gyllenhaal played dual roles, two different characters: one named Adam Bell, the other called Anthony Clair. And that’s essentially the plot — on the surface, at least. Two guys that discover one another to be exactly alike in physical appearance despite completely disparate personalities and a paucity of genetic correlations.
Directed by Denis Villeneuve, this underrated psychological drama hits home in every imaginable fashion — witty dialogue,calculated camerawork, entrancing editing, and heartfelt performances (particularly from Gyllenhaal and co-star Melanie Laurent). The film’s intriguing premise is far from the only facet worth noting, in spite of what its middling reception and lackluster box office numbers would imply.
9The Sisters Brothers
Costarring Joaquin Phoenix and John C. Reilly,The Sisters Brothers(2018) isa westernbased off a novel of the same name by Patrick deWitt. The plot chronicles two titular Sisters brothers (Charlie, played by Phoenix, and Eli, played by Reilly) as assassins who chase down two guys (played by Gyllenhaal and Riz Ahmed) during the California Gold Rush.
It attempts a bit recklessly at times to blend comedy with moments of poignancy, but its two pairings of actors manage to carry the film on horseback to an entertaining extent nonetheless. And although the film dares to be different in its tone and comes up a bit short, its occasional breaking of genre conventions results in a wild, wild journey through the west.
Made by South Korean film director Bong Joon-ho, this science-fantasy adventure film follows the adventures of a young girl who raises a giant, genetically modified pig. It’s an absurd premise, but if you know anything aboutthe director’s filmography, you’re surely intrigued nonetheless.
In this Netflix original production calledOkja(2017), Jake Gyllenhaal performed (as a supporting character) with a particular flamboyance that left critics rather polarized. But, again, this list is ranking the movies themselves, not Gyllenhaal’s performance. And ultimately,Okjamay not be among the best from either Bong Joon-ho or the American actor at hand, but it is a solid project nonetheless that lands here at number six.
Related:12 Best Original Netflix Movies, Ranked
7Spider-Man: Far From Home
As part of theMarvel Cinematic Universe, this web-slinging sequel could likely rank higher on several fans’ lists. However, it doesn’t quite hold the timelessness of other superhero films from this period. Everyone performs well, from Tom Holland as Spider-Man to Zendaya as Mary Jane Watson. And, of course, Jake Gyllenhaal — here, he plays Quentin Beck, also known as Mysterio.
One of Peter Parker’s most famous adversaries, Mysterio was portrayed to near-perfection by Gyllenhaal. He was frankly a highlight of the film, as nothing stands out as particularly special aboutSpider-Man: Far From Home(2019) from a narrative perspective. It’s your average, quality MCU film, and for that, it comes in at number seven.
This is one of those dramas that tugs at your heartstrings in a consistently unexpected fashion due to its tandem focus on comedy, though that pairing can cause jarring editing from time to time. And considering its plot, you wouldn’t exactly expect it to result in a heaven-made matchup. But for the most part, it does create a fun dynamic despite the film’s continuity shortcomings. And that’s in part due to the work ofdirector David Gordon Green, known for his early comedy films likePineapple Express(2008) and his recent horror stints such asHalloween(2018).
Stronger(2017), however, is focused for the most part on emotional resonance. It follows the real-life story of Jeff Bauman, a man whose legs were lost in the Boston Marathon bombings as he attempts to walk again while simultaneously juggling the increasingly stressful dynamics now present in his personal life. His relationship with his family, his ex-girlfriend, and even himself. It’s a truly moving piece, and within it, Gyllenhaal performs to absolute perfection.
Related:Best David Gordon Green Movies, Ranked
5Source Code
Though it garnered both money at the box office and reverence from critics,Source Code(2011) has seemed to become increasingly more underrated as the years go by. Directed by Duncan Jones, the plot follows U.S. Army pilot Captain Colter Stevens (played by Gyllenhaal) as he is assigned a dangerous mission by Air Force Captain Colleen Goodwin (played by Vera Farmiga). After a train explosion, Jones is sent into a digital recreation of the incident to identify the terrorist who detonated the bomb.
It’s an intelligent and fascinating sci-fi flick that hits home with its premise alone, let alone its engagingaction sequencesand tantalizing performances. And all of those superlatives culminate in a complete, thrilling package with a science fiction backdrop. It’s undoubtedly worth a watch.
Based on the 1990 novel of the same name by Richard Ford, this drama with Carey Mulligan and Jake Gyllenhaal actually marks the debut directorial feature fromacclaimed American actor Paul Dano. He also co-wrote the script with Zoe Kazan, and their efforts hit home with critics unlike few other films featured on this list.
It follows Mulligan and Gyllenhaal’s characters as their marriage falls apart amid the outbreak of forest fires near the border of Canada and their home state of Montana. Plus, their fourteen-year-old son is forced to deal with this sudden shift in lifestyle in tandem with his parents — a plot that facilitates great performances across the board. WhileWildlife(2018) only made $4 million at the box office, there’s no denying its quality in the end.
3End of Watch
Written and directed by David Ayer, this police procedural action-thriller features Jake Gyllenhaal and Michael Peña in the lead roles as two Los Angeles police officers who work in South Central. And what’s worth noting off the bat here is that, on its surface,End of Watch(2013) has many tendencies ofa buddy cop film. The two leads share brilliant chemistry with witty, back-and-forth dialogue, and their performances are just spot on.
But the total package also featured brilliant, documentary-style camerawork that created a specific degree of realism replicated by few films since. It’s completely engrossing from start to finish, for all of these reasons and more. Definitely worth checking out if you haven’t already.
2Nightcrawler
Sure, while this may be his best performance of the decade, that doesn’t necessarily render it the highest quality film. But that said:Nightcrawler(2014) does come in at number two, so, to hand out a real critique with endless superlatives feels a bit redundant. After all, the film holds a whopping 95% approval rating onRotten Tomatoes, and made decent money when it came to ticket sales.
Perhaps the biggest story herein is that Gyllenhaal was nominated for Best Actor across the board of award ceremonies, except for the most important: the Oscars. However, writer-director Dan Gilroy did receive a nod for his screenplay at the Academy Awards, and despite coming up short, his story of a stringer (Gyllenhaal, in the starring role) who sells violent footage to a local news station was worthy of endless praise. Now, and for many decades to come.
1Prisoners
Released in the same year and by the same director asEnemy, Denis Villeneuve teamed up with Gyllenhaal once again in what is perhaps their greatest project to-date, respectively. He appears here inPrisoners(2013) as Detective Loki, who’s never failed a case and is currently leading the search for two missing girls. And, sure, there’s an easy argument that Jake put up the better performance inNightcrawler.
But make no mistake: his mannerisms, his verbal ticks, his stone-cold demeanors that suddenly shift on a moment’s notice to play into whatever emotion his current suspect is exuding — all of those tendencies helped drive this intense psychological-thriller in tandem with other A-class performances. Theensemble castalone is impressive: Hugh Jackman, Maria Bello, Viola Davis, Terrence Howard, Melissa Leo, and Paul Dano. And the plot’s many twist and turns will have you speculating the meaning of it all months after an initial viewing, let alone a second.
