Jim Carrey’s 8 Most Serious Movies, Ranked

Jim Carrey is known for his incredible work in classic comedies, but he’s also a talented dramatic actor. While he’s famous for films like Ace Ventura, Dumb and Dumber, and The Mask, Carrey has consistently proven he can handle complex and thoughtful roles in a variety of movies.

While Jim Carrey is widely known for his comedic roles, he’s also delivered powerful performances in dramatic films. He’s consistently challenged himself with complex characters, appearing in both celebrated biographical movies and lesser-known psychological thrillers. Though many people primarily see him as a comedian, he’s built an acting career that isn’t afraid of taking chances.

Dark Crimes (2016)

Jim Carrey’s performance in the obscure crime thriller Dark Crimes was widely panned, earning a 0% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The film follows a detective who has fallen from grace as he investigates a cold case that eerily mirrors a popular novel, leading him to suspect the author is a murderer.

As a big fan of crime dramas, I was really hoping Dark Crimes would deliver something special, especially since it seemed to be aiming for that same moody, atmospheric vibe as True Detective. Unfortunately, despite Jim Carrey giving a committed performance, the story just didn’t grab me. It ended up feeling really bleak, unnecessarily depressing, and honestly, a bit problematic in how it portrayed women. It’s great that Carrey is stretching himself as an actor, but this particular attempt at a darker, crime-focused role just didn’t quite work for me – it wasn’t a very memorable film, sadly.

The Number 23 (2007)

Jim Carrey worked with Joel Schumacher again – the director of Batman Forever – but this time for a dark and intense psychological thriller. It was a far cry from the over-the-top, quirky role Carrey played as The Riddler. The film centers on a man who becomes consumed by the mystery of the number 23 after discovering a book about it and realizing unsettling connections to his own life.

While The Number 23 showed a darker side of Jim Carrey – something fans had seen glimpses of in The Cable Guy – the movie itself doesn’t quite work. Carrey’s performance is strong, but the film’s confusing and rambling story prioritizes style over a coherent plot, ultimately making it feel pretentious and messy.

The Majestic (2001)

This romantic drama, directed by Frank Darabont, stands out as his only film not based on a Stephen King story. Unlike his more famous works like The Shawshank Redemption and The Green Mile, it didn’t achieve the same widespread recognition and has largely been overlooked—a sweet, but ultimately forgotten, story about love and a case of mistaken identity.

In the film The Majestic, Jim Carrey portrays a screenwriter with amnesia who is wrongly identified as a missing WWII soldier by a small town. While the movie has some clever concepts and a strong performance from Carrey, it doesn’t quite reach the level of his most impactful dramatic roles.

The Cable Guy (1996)

When The Cable Guy came out in 1996, it really surprised viewers. People were used to Jim Carrey being silly and over-the-top in movies like Ace Ventura, Dumb and Dumber, and The Mask, but this comedy was much more unsettling and showed a darker, more menacing side of the actor that audiences hadn’t expected.

Jim Carrey really surprised me in “The Cable Guy.” He played Chip, the overly-friendly cable installer, and while he was definitely irritating, you initially figured he was just a lonely guy craving connection. But as the movie went on, his obsession with Matthew Broderick’s character, Steven, became seriously unsettling. Honestly, this film was a real turning point – it showed us a completely different side of Carrey, and I think it proved he could handle more complex, dramatic roles, paving the way for some of his bolder choices later in his career.

I Love You Phillip Morris (2009)

As a film buff, I was really fascinated by I Love You, Phillip Morris. It’s based on the unbelievable true story of Steven Jay Russell, a master con artist and escape artist! Jim Carrey really showed off his range with this one. While it’s often played for laughs as a dark comedy, the movie actually tackles some really important and serious issues – it’s a surprisingly touching LGBTQ+ love story set against the backdrop of the AIDS crisis in the 80s and 90s. It’s a film that stays with you, honestly.

Jim Carrey gives a fantastic performance alongside Ewan McGregor in this unbelievable true story about two men in prison and their daring escapes. I Love You Phillip Morris is both a brilliant display of Carrey’s comedic talent and one of his strongest dramatic performances yet.

Man On The Moon (1999)

I still think about Jim Carrey’s performance in Man on the Moon. It was his first really serious role, and he played Andy Kaufman so brilliantly! He didn’t just play Kaufman, he totally became him – and all his characters, like Tony Clifton and Latka Gravas too. Honestly, I can’t imagine anyone else pulling that off. It felt like Carrey was born to play him.

Jim Carrey didn’t just play a role in Man on the Moon; he fully immersed himself in the part of Andy Kaufman, even staying in character off-camera, as shown in the documentary Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond. Though the film wasn’t initially successful, it’s now considered one of Carrey’s most important and memorable performances.

The Truman Show (1998)

It’s rare for a movie to grab your attention like The Truman Show. The film centers on a man whose whole life is secretly a reality TV show. Starring Jim Carrey as Truman Burbank, the movie is captivating as he gradually realizes that everyone around him is an actor and that his entire life has been fake.

With its exploration of ethics, the media, and what makes us who we are, The Truman Show proved Jim Carrey was capable of much more than just silly comedy. The film was both funny and deeply thought-provoking, offering a fascinating look at the nature of identity and setting the stage for the more serious roles Carrey would take on later in his career.

Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind (2004)

Jim Carrey had hinted at wanting to play more serious roles for some time, but it was with the film Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind that he fully committed to that side of himself. Playing Joel Barish in this thoughtful and moving story about love, loss, and memory is considered one of his strongest performances.

Eternal Sunshine is a film about a man named Joel who comes to regret erasing his memories of a past relationship. The movie takes us through the highs and lows of his love life, powerfully portraying the pain and regret he feels as he tries to move on – and it’s often considered one of the best breakup movies ever made.

2026-02-01 21:04