Performer
A performer whose catalogue work here is strong, with the fuller case still to be made.
Nutevio rank
#104
of 909177 performers
Top 1%
Jack Black represents the rare performer whose career became more ambitious with every decade — 35 years in, and Jack is still choosing the harder script.
The essay
Our editors on the work, the patterns and the reason this body of work holds together.
Jack Black appears in 68 films in the Nutevio catalogue, and none of them would work the same way without Jack. The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is the clearest case: a film rated 8.3 by our editors, where the performance carries weight the script only implies.
The recognisable elements are versatility, transformation, quiet performance. Watch two of these films back to back and the method separates from the material — the same instrument, tuned differently for comedy, fantasy, adventure. It is a style built on what is withheld as much as what is played.
Working with Jared Hess, Aaron Horvath, Jake Kasdan and others, Jack Black helped set a standard other performers now audition against. Awards bodies have been slower than the work, which is usually the sign of a career built on choices rather than campaigns.
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie (2026) as Bowser (voice) · Strange Journey: The Story of Rocky Horror (2025) as Self · The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023) as Bowser (voice)
Career snapshot
Ranked #104 of 909177 performers tracked in the Nutevio library.
Films in Nutevio
68
1992–2027
Career length
35 yrs
Measured across our catalogue
Academy Awards
—
Unknown
Oscar nominations
—
Unknown
Highest Nutevio score
8.3
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie
Average Nutevio score
6.2
Across catalogue work
Highest IMDb rating
8.3
Strange Journey: The Story of Rocky Horror
Most frequent director
Jake Kasdan
6 films together
Longest collaboration
6×
With Jake Kasdan
Most common genre
Comedy
54 titles
Average runtime
1h 41m
Across catalogue work
Golden Globe wins
—
Unknown
Nutevio metric
Ten weighted categories, applied identically to everyone we cover.
Nutevio Performer Score
7.0
out of 10
A performer whose catalogue work here is strong, with the fuller case still to be made.
Nutevio metric
Cultural impact and legacy, measured separately from craft — how far the work travelled once it left the cinema.
Nutevio Influence Score
6.5
out of 10
A quieter influence — felt inside the films rather than across the industry.
How far the work travelled past the people who saw it first.
What survives once the release-week conversation has burned off.
Institutional acknowledgement, weighted but never decisive.
Years of chosen, relevant work rather than years merely employed.
Statuettes, read as evidence rather than verdict.
Roles named without needing the film named alongside them.
Directors who wrote parts because this performer existed.
The reading other performers now have to answer.
Actor DNA
A fingerprint derived from the roles themselves — register, range and the kind of film they carry.
The shape of a career
Every performance plotted in time. Hover a point to read the title behind it.
Peak years
Where the scores, the awards and the sheer volume of work agree with each other.
Best decade
2000s
6.5 average MV
The 2000s are where the work and the material meet. Year One, Kung Fu Panda, Tropic Thunder — the run our editors reach for first when the argument is about range rather than fame.
Highest average Nutevio score
2000s
6.5
Across 20 catalogue films in this decade, our scores never drop below the level a career is judged on.
Highest average IMDb rating
2000s
6.5
The public agrees most strongly about this stretch — useful context, and occasionally a decade behind our own reading.
Most awarded era
1990s
0 Academy Awards
Statuettes for the films themselves, which is the honest way to read an ensemble career. I Still Know What You Did Last Summer, Enemy of the State, The Jackal.
Most productive era
2000s
20 films
The busiest stretch of the catalogue — volume that reads as appetite rather than availability.
Range, mapped
Genres down the side, decades across the top. Warmer cells mean stronger titles.
| Genre | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drama | 6.65 films | 6.46 films | 6.13 films | 7.01 film |
| Action | 6.55 films | 6.86 films | 6.84 films | 6.32 films |
| Thriller | 6.25 films | — | — | — |
| Comedy | 5.75 films | 6.418 films | 6.318 films | 5.613 films |
| Crime | 6.62 films | 5.81 film | 6.61 film | — |
| Romance | — | 6.64 films | — | — |
| Horror | 5.71 film | — | 6.23 films | 5.81 film |
Chronology
Firsts and peaks
The turning points, in the order they happened.
First film in Nutevio
1992Bob Roberts
Where our catalogue meets this career, as Roger Davis.
Highest rated performance
2025Strange Journey: The Story of Rocky Horror
8.3 on the Nutevio scale, the top of the catalogue for this performer.
Career peak
2026The Super Mario Galaxy Movie
Weighing billing against the film's own quality, this is the point where everything aligned at once.
Most recent film
The current state of the argument, as Steve.
Our order
Every performance in the catalogue, ordered by Nutevio Score.
Every title
Filter by genre or decade, and compare any two titles side by side.
68 of 68 films
as Bowser (voice)
Directed by Aaron Horvath
as Po (voice)
Directed by Mark Osborne
as Bowser (voice)
Directed by Aaron Horvath
as Dewey Finn
Directed by Richard Linklater
From the library
Every movie and TV credit stored for this name in the Nutevio catalogue — filter by media, role or sort by rating.
Loading credits…
The defining work
#1
Bowser (voice)
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie (2026)
Performance score8.3
The performance the rest of the career is read through. Bowser (voice) gives Jack Black a structure to work against, and the film hands over its centre of gravity without hesitation.
View movie#2
Po (voice)
Kung Fu Panda (2008)
Performance score8.1
Kung Fu Panda asks for something the previous films did not, and gets it. Po (voice) is played without a single line of pleading for the audience's sympathy — which is exactly why it lands.
View movie#3
Self
Strange Journey: The Story of Rocky Horror (2025)
Performance score8.0
Strange Journey: The Story of Rocky Horror asks for something the previous films did not, and gets it. Self is played without a single line of pleading for the audience's sympathy — which is exactly why it lands.
View movie#4
Bowser (voice)
The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023)
Performance score7.8
The Super Mario Bros. Movie asks for something the previous films did not, and gets it. Bowser (voice) is played without a single line of pleading for the audience's sympathy — which is exactly why it lands.
View movieStart here
A guided path through the work, ordered so each film explains the next.
Best entry point
as Bowser (voice)
Start here. The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is the clearest statement of what Jack Black does — accessible, 98 minutes, and rated 8.3 by our editors. No context required.
Our editors order this path by accessibility first and chronology second. You meet Jack at the most legible performance, then move forward in time so each film reads as a response to the one before it rather than a repetition of it.
The School of Rock (2003)
Keeps the comedy register of The Super Mario Galaxy Movie but asks for a colder reading of it.
Kung Fu Panda (2008)
Keeps the comedy register of The School of Rock but asks for a colder reading of it.
The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023)
Keeps the comedy register of Kung Fu Panda but asks for a colder reading of it.
Strange Journey: The Story of Rocky Horror (2025)
A deliberate change of key after The Super Mario Bros. Movie — same instrument, unfamiliar tuning, and the reason range gets mentioned.
Company kept
The directors and performers this career keeps returning to.
Jake Kasdan
Director
6 films together
Notably Jumanji: The Next Level
Richard Linklater
Director
3 films together
Notably The School of Rock
Jared Hess
Director
3 films together
Notably A Minecraft Movie
Tim Robbins
Director
2 films together
Notably Dead Man Walking
Tony Scott
Director
2 films together
Notably Enemy of the State
Ben Stiller
Director
2 films together
Notably Tropic Thunder
Rob Letterman
Director
2 films together
Notably Goosebumps
Jennifer Yuh Nelson
Director
2 films together
Notably Kung Fu Panda 2
Eli Roth
Director
2 films together
Notably The House with a Clock in Its Walls
Bobby Farrelly
Director
2 films together
Notably Dear Santa
Aaron Horvath
Director
2 films together
Notably The Super Mario Galaxy Movie
Marco Brambilla
Director
1 film together
Notably Demolition Man
Peter MacDonald
Director
1 film together
Notably The NeverEnding Story III
Kevin Reynolds
Director
1 film together
Notably Waterworld
Jason Bloom
Director
1 film together
Notably Bio-Dome
Tim Burton
Director
1 film together
Notably Mars Attacks!
Michael Caton-Jones
Director
1 film together
Notably The Jackal
Danny Cannon
Director
1 film together
Notably I Still Know What You Did Last Summer
Stephen Frears
Director
1 film together
Notably High Fidelity
Dennis Dugan
Director
1 film together
Notably Saving Silverman
Chris Wedge
Director
1 film together
Notably Ice Age
Barry Levinson
Director
1 film together
Notably Envy
Adam McKay
Director
1 film together
Notably Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy
Bibo Bergeron
Director
1 film together
Notably Shark Tale
Peter Jackson
Director
1 film together
Notably King Kong
Nancy Meyers
Director
1 film together
Notably The Holiday
Noah Baumbach
Director
1 film together
Notably Margot at the Wedding
Michel Gondry
Director
1 film together
Notably Be Kind Rewind
Mark Osborne
Director
1 film together
Notably Kung Fu Panda
Harold Ramis
Director
1 film together
Notably Year One
Tim Johnson
Director
1 film together
Notably Kung Fu Panda Holiday
David Frankel
Director
1 film together
Notably The Big Year
James Bobin
Director
1 film together
Notably The Muppets
Jarrad Paul
Director
1 film together
Notably The D Train
Maya Forbes
Director
1 film together
Notably The Polka King
Gus Van Sant
Director
1 film together
Notably Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot
Jay Karas
Director
1 film together
Notably Feeding America Comedy Festival
Eric Appel
Director
1 film together
Notably Weird: The Al Yankovic Story
Mike Mitchell
Director
1 film together
Notably Kung Fu Panda 4
Tom Gormican
Director
1 film together
Notably Anaconda
Behind the camera
Who casts this performer, how often, and what the pairing produces.
Jake Kasdan
Director
6 films together · 5.3 avg MV
A working relationship rather than a booking — 6 films, and the register shifts each time.
Best film together
Jumanji: The Next LevelRichard Linklater
Director
3 films together · 6.9 avg MV
A working relationship rather than a booking — 3 films, and the register shifts each time.
Best film together
The School of RockJared Hess
Director
3 films together · 4.3 avg MV
A working relationship rather than a booking — 3 films, and the register shifts each time.
Best film together
A Minecraft MovieAaron Horvath
Director
2 films together · 8.1 avg MV
A working relationship rather than a booking — 2 films, and the register shifts each time.
Best film together
The Super Mario Galaxy MovieJennifer Yuh Nelson
Director
2 films together · 7.0 avg MV
A working relationship rather than a booking — 2 films, and the register shifts each time.
Best film together
Kung Fu Panda 2Tim Robbins
Director
2 films together · 6.9 avg MV
A working relationship rather than a booking — 2 films, and the register shifts each time.
Best film together
Dead Man WalkingTony Scott
Director
2 films together · 6.5 avg MV
A working relationship rather than a booking — 2 films, and the register shifts each time.
Best film together
Enemy of the StateBen Stiller
Director
2 films together · 6.3 avg MV
A working relationship rather than a booking — 2 films, and the register shifts each time.
Best film together
Tropic ThunderBobby Farrelly
Director
2 films together · 6.2 avg MV
A working relationship rather than a booking — 2 films, and the register shifts each time.
Best film together
Dear SantaEli Roth
Director
2 films together · 5.9 avg MV
A working relationship rather than a booking — 2 films, and the register shifts each time.
Best film together
The House with a Clock in Its WallsRob Letterman
Director
2 films together · 5.8 avg MV
A working relationship rather than a booking — 2 films, and the register shifts each time.
Best film together
GoosebumpsChris Wedge
Director
1 film together · 7.6 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Ice AgeMark Osborne
Director
1 film together · 7.5 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Kung Fu PandaNancy Meyers
Director
1 film together · 7.1 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
The HolidayStephen Frears
Director
1 film together · 7.1 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
High FidelityMike Mitchell
Director
1 film together · 7.0 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Kung Fu Panda 4Tim Johnson
Director
1 film together · 7.0 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Kung Fu Panda HolidayPeter Jackson
Director
1 film together · 7.0 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
King KongMarco Brambilla
Director
1 film together · 6.8 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Demolition ManEric Appel
Director
1 film together · 6.7 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Weird: The Al Yankovic StoryGus Van Sant
Director
1 film together · 6.7 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on FootJames Bobin
Director
1 film together · 6.7 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
The MuppetsAdam McKay
Director
1 film together · 6.7 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Anchorman: The Legend of Ron BurgundyTim Burton
Director
1 film together · 6.6 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Mars Attacks!Michael Caton-Jones
Director
1 film together · 6.4 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
The JackalKevin Reynolds
Director
1 film together · 6.4 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
WaterworldMichel Gondry
Director
1 film together · 6.3 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Be Kind RewindBibo Bergeron
Director
1 film together · 6.2 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Shark TaleDavid Frankel
Director
1 film together · 6.0 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
The Big YearTom Gormican
Director
1 film together · 5.8 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
AnacondaJay Karas
Director
1 film together · 5.8 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Feeding America Comedy FestivalNoah Baumbach
Director
1 film together · 5.8 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Margot at the WeddingDennis Dugan
Director
1 film together · 5.8 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Saving SilvermanDanny Cannon
Director
1 film together · 5.7 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
I Still Know What You Did Last SummerMaya Forbes
Director
1 film together · 5.6 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
The Polka KingHarold Ramis
Director
1 film together · 5.0 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Year OneJarrad Paul
Director
1 film together · 4.9 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
The D TrainBarry Levinson
Director
1 film together · 4.9 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
EnvyJason Bloom
Director
1 film together · 4.6 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Bio-DomePeter MacDonald
Director
1 film together · 4.5 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
The NeverEnding Story IIISix degrees
Follow the thread outward — director, film, co-star, and the film after that.
Categories of our own
Six editorial categories we apply to every performer we cover.
Most rewatchable
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie
as Bowser (voice)
The one that survives a fourth viewing. Nothing in the performance depends on surprise, which is why it keeps paying out.
Most emotional performance
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie
as Bowser (voice)
Grief played at conversational volume. The film never asks the audience to cry; the performance simply makes it difficult not to.
Most influential performance
Strange Journey: The Story of Rocky Horror
as Self
You can hear this reading in other actors' auditions a decade later — the surest measure of influence there is.
Best ensemble performance
The Muppets
as Jack Black (uncredited)
Work that makes everyone else in the frame better without ever pulling the camera towards itself.
Career defining performance
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie
as Bowser (voice)
If the career had to be argued in a single scene, our editors would pick one from this film and rest the case.
In their films' words
“You can build a whole film around a performer who knows when not to speak. Jack Black has known it for a long time.”
Head to head
Put two careers on the same scale and see where the argument actually sits.
Ours alone
Recognitions handed out by this desk, on criteria no awards body uses.
Career Achievement
Awarded
35 years of relevant work — not merely a long career, but a long career of choices.
Modern Classic Performer
Awarded
Defining performances delivered inside the last twenty-five years, in films already being taught rather than merely remembered.
Comedy Legend
Awarded
54 catalogue titles in comedy, each one a reference point for the films that followed.
Our desk
Best ending, best opening, best twist and the rest — categories we apply to everyone we cover.
Best ending
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie
as Bowser (voice)
The last five minutes reorganise everything before them, and hold up when you already know what's coming.
Best opening
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie
as Bowser (voice)
A first sequence that states the rules of the film without explaining a single one of them.
Most emotional
Shallow Hal
as Hal Larson
The film where the technique steps aside and lets the feeling arrive undefended.
Best twist
The House with a Clock in Its Walls
as Jonathan Barnavelt
A reversal earned by information the film gave you and trusted you to misread.
Best visual achievement
Kung Fu Panda
as Po (voice)
Images that would survive with the sound switched off.
Best action sequence
Kung Fu Panda 4
as Po (voice)
Geography, stakes and consequence held in the same frame — spectacle you can follow.
Best dialogue
Kung Fu Panda 4
as Po (voice)
Lines written to be spoken, staged so the pauses do half the work.
Most underrated film
I Still Know What You Did Last Summer
as Titus Telesco (uncredited)
The public vote sits below ours on this one, and the direction is the reason for the gap.
If you like this performer
Michael Caine
Built a career in the same territory: adventure and drama
Tom Hanks
Built a career in the same territory: animation and family
Bonnie Hunt
Built a career in the same territory: animation and family
Mark Ruffalo
Works with the same directors — shared collaborators
Tom Wilkinson
Works with the same directors — shared collaborators
Matt Damon
Built a career in the same territory: adventure and drama
Have your say
Community
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Our readers argue about this one. Make your case, or read the ranked debate already in progress.
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Reference
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