Performer
A performer whose catalogue work here is strong, with the fuller case still to be made.
Nutevio rank
#208
of 909177 performers
Top 1%
John Goodman represents the rare performer whose career became more ambitious with every decade — 40 years in, and John is still choosing the harder script.
The essay
Our editors on the work, the patterns and the reason this body of work holds together.
John Goodman appears in 57 films in the Nutevio catalogue, and none of them would work the same way without John. Monsters, Inc. is the clearest case: a film rated 8.1 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 horror, comedy, fantasy. It is a style built on what is withheld as much as what is played.
Working with JT Mollner, Alejandro G. Iñárritu, Chris Miller and others, John Goodman 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.
Monsters, Inc. (2001) as Sullivan (voice) · The Big Lebowski (1998) as Walter Sobchak · The Emperor's New Groove (2000) as Pacha (voice)
Career snapshot
Ranked #208 of 909177 performers tracked in the Nutevio library.
Films in Nutevio
57
1987–2027
Career length
40 yrs
Measured across our catalogue
Academy Awards
—
Unknown
Oscar nominations
—
Unknown
Highest Nutevio score
8.1
Monsters, Inc.
Average Nutevio score
6.2
Across catalogue work
Highest IMDb rating
7.9
Monsters, Inc.
Most frequent director
Joel Coen
6 films together
Longest collaboration
6×
With Joel Coen
Most common genre
Comedy
28 titles
Average runtime
1h 42m
Across catalogue work
Golden Globe wins
—
Unknown
Nutevio metric
Ten weighted categories, applied identically to everyone we cover.
Nutevio Performer Score
7.1
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
6.6
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
6.7 average MV
The 2000s are where the work and the material meet. The Princess and the Frog, Confessions of a Shopaholic, Speed Racer — the run our editors reach for first when the argument is about range rather than fame.
Highest average Nutevio score
2000s
6.7
Across 13 catalogue films in this decade, our scores never drop below the level a career is judged on.
Highest average IMDb rating
2000s
6.7
The public agrees most strongly about this stretch — useful context, and occasionally a decade behind our own reading.
Most awarded era
1980s
0 Academy Awards
Statuettes for the films themselves, which is the honest way to read an ensemble career. Always, Sea of Love, Raising Arizona.
Most productive era
2010s
25 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 | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drama | 6.42 films | 6.95 films | 6.34 films | 6.812 films | — |
| Action | — | 6.11 film | 6.62 films | 6.29 films | 3.31 film |
| Thriller | — | 7.22 films | 6.81 film | 6.47 films | — |
| Comedy | 7.01 film | 6.87 films | 6.711 films | 6.36 films | 1.13 films |
| Crime | 6.82 films | 7.42 films | 7.02 films | 6.52 films | 3.31 film |
| Romance | 6.42 films | — | 6.44 films | 7.01 film | — |
| Horror | — | — | — | 7.01 film | 0.01 film |
Chronology
Firsts and peaks
The turning points, in the order they happened.
First film in Nutevio
1987Raising Arizona
Where our catalogue meets this career, as Gale.
Highest rated performance · Career peak
2001Monsters, Inc.
8.1 on the Nutevio scale, the top of the catalogue for this performer. Weighing billing against the film's own quality, this is the point where everything aligned at once.
Most recent film
2027Skeletons
The current state of the argument.
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.
57 of 57 films
as Sullivan (voice)
Directed by Pete Docter
as Walter Sobchak
Directed by Joel Coen
as Pacha (voice)
Directed by Mark Dindal
as Charlie Meadows
Directed by Joel Coen
as Howard
Directed by Dan Trachtenberg
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
Sullivan (voice)
Monsters, Inc. (2001)
Performance score8.6
The performance the rest of the career is read through. Sullivan (voice) gives John Goodman a structure to work against, and the film hands over its centre of gravity without hesitation.
View movie#2
Walter Sobchak
The Big Lebowski (1998)
Performance score8.2
The Big Lebowski asks for something the previous films did not, and gets it. Walter Sobchak is played without a single line of pleading for the audience's sympathy — which is exactly why it lands.
View movie#3
Pacha (voice)
The Emperor's New Groove (2000)
Performance score8.0
The Emperor's New Groove asks for something the previous films did not, and gets it. Pacha (voice) is played without a single line of pleading for the audience's sympathy — which is exactly why it lands.
View movie#4
Charlie Meadows
Barton Fink (1991)
Performance score7.8
Barton Fink asks for something the previous films did not, and gets it. Charlie Meadows 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 Sullivan (voice)
Start here. Monsters, Inc. is the clearest statement of what John Goodman does — accessible, 92 minutes, and rated 8.1 by our editors. No context required.
Our editors order this path by accessibility first and chronology second. You meet John 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.
Barton Fink (1991)
Keeps the comedy register of Monsters, Inc. but asks for a colder reading of it.
The Big Lebowski (1998)
Same director as Barton Fink, different problem to solve. Watching them in order shows how much of the effect was the collaboration.
The Emperor's New Groove (2000)
Keeps the comedy register of The Big Lebowski but asks for a colder reading of it.
10 Cloverfield Lane (2016)
A deliberate change of key after The Emperor's New Groove — same instrument, unfamiliar tuning, and the reason range gets mentioned.
Company kept
The directors and performers this career keeps returning to.
Joel Coen
Director
6 films together
Notably The Big Lebowski
Michael Bay
Director
2 films together
Notably Transformers: The Last Knight
Rupert Wyatt
Director
2 films together
Notably The Gambler
Steven Spielberg
Director
1 film together
Notably Always
Joe Dante
Director
1 film together
Notably Matinee
Brian Levant
Director
1 film together
Notably The Flintstones
Peter Hewitt
Director
1 film together
Notably The Borrowers
Gregory Hoblit
Director
1 film together
Notably Fallen
Bob Saget
Director
1 film together
Notably Dirty Work
William R. Kowalchuk Jr.
Director
1 film together
Notably Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Movie
Martin Scorsese
Director
1 film together
Notably Bringing Out the Dead
Mike Nichols
Director
1 film together
Notably What Planet Are You From?
Mark Dindal
Director
1 film together
Notably The Emperor's New Groove
Pete Docter
Director
1 film together
Notably Monsters, Inc.
John Lasseter
Director
1 film together
Notably Cars
James Wan
Director
1 film together
Notably Death Sentence
Tom Shadyac
Director
1 film together
Notably Evan Almighty
Simon J. Smith
Director
1 film together
Notably Bee Movie
Lilly Wachowski
Director
1 film together
Notably Speed Racer
P.J. Hogan
Director
1 film together
Notably Confessions of a Shopaholic
John Musker
Director
1 film together
Notably The Princess and the Frog
Barry Levinson
Director
1 film together
Notably You Don't Know Jack
Stephen Daldry
Director
1 film together
Notably Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close
Robert Zemeckis
Director
1 film together
Notably Flight
Ben Affleck
Director
1 film together
Notably Argo
Robert Lorenz
Director
1 film together
Notably Trouble with the Curve
Shawn Levy
Director
1 film together
Notably The Internship
Todd Phillips
Director
1 film together
Notably The Hangover Part III
George Clooney
Director
1 film together
Notably The Monuments Men
Jay Roach
Director
1 film together
Notably Trumbo
Jessie Nelson
Director
1 film together
Notably Love the Coopers
Dan Trachtenberg
Director
1 film together
Notably 10 Cloverfield Lane
Peter Berg
Director
1 film together
Notably Patriots Day
Luc Besson
Director
1 film together
Notably Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets
Jordan Vogt-Roberts
Director
1 film together
Notably Kong: Skull Island
Robb Cullen
Director
1 film together
Notably Once Upon a Time in Venice
David Leitch
Director
1 film together
Notably Atomic Blonde
Brent Hodge
Director
1 film together
Notably Chris Farley: Anything for a Laugh
Taika Waititi
Director
1 film together
Notably A Holiday Short: Best Christmas Ever
Chris Miller
Director
1 film together
Notably Smurfs
Alejandro G. Iñárritu
Director
1 film together
Notably Digger
JT Mollner
Director
1 film together
Notably Skeletons
Behind the camera
Who casts this performer, how often, and what the pairing produces.
Joel Coen
Director
6 films together · 7.4 avg MV
A working relationship rather than a booking — 6 films, and the register shifts each time.
Best film together
The Big LebowskiMichael Bay
Director
2 films together · 6.0 avg MV
A working relationship rather than a booking — 2 films, and the register shifts each time.
Best film together
Transformers: The Last KnightRupert Wyatt
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
The GamblerPete Docter
Director
1 film together · 8.1 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Monsters, Inc.Mark Dindal
Director
1 film together · 7.7 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
The Emperor's New GrooveBen Affleck
Director
1 film together · 7.3 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
ArgoJohn Musker
Director
1 film together · 7.3 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
The Princess and the FrogBrent Hodge
Director
1 film together · 7.2 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Chris Farley: Anything for a LaughJay Roach
Director
1 film together · 7.2 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
TrumboJohn Lasseter
Director
1 film together · 7.2 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
CarsPeter Berg
Director
1 film together · 7.1 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Patriots DayDan Trachtenberg
Director
1 film together · 7.0 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
10 Cloverfield LaneRobert Lorenz
Director
1 film together · 7.0 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Trouble with the CurveStephen Daldry
Director
1 film together · 7.0 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Extremely Loud & Incredibly CloseBarry Levinson
Director
1 film together · 7.0 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
You Don't Know JackRobert Zemeckis
Director
1 film together · 6.9 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
FlightJames Wan
Director
1 film together · 6.8 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Death SentenceGregory Hoblit
Director
1 film together · 6.8 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
FallenLuc Besson
Director
1 film together · 6.7 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Valerian and the City of a Thousand PlanetsJoe Dante
Director
1 film together · 6.7 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
MatineeJordan Vogt-Roberts
Director
1 film together · 6.6 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Kong: Skull IslandMartin Scorsese
Director
1 film together · 6.6 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Bringing Out the DeadP.J. Hogan
Director
1 film together · 6.5 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Confessions of a ShopaholicDavid Leitch
Director
1 film together · 6.4 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Atomic BlondeLilly Wachowski
Director
1 film together · 6.4 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Speed RacerTodd Phillips
Director
1 film together · 6.2 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
The Hangover Part IIIShawn Levy
Director
1 film together · 6.2 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
The InternshipSimon J. Smith
Director
1 film together · 6.2 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Bee MovieWilliam R. Kowalchuk Jr.
Director
1 film together · 6.2 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The MovieBob Saget
Director
1 film together · 6.2 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Dirty WorkSteven Spielberg
Director
1 film together · 6.2 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
AlwaysTaika Waititi
Director
1 film together · 6.1 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
A Holiday Short: Best Christmas EverGeorge Clooney
Director
1 film together · 6.1 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
The Monuments MenPeter Hewitt
Director
1 film together · 6.1 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
The BorrowersJessie Nelson
Director
1 film together · 6.0 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Love the CoopersChris Miller
Director
1 film together · 5.8 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
SmurfsBrian Levant
Director
1 film together · 5.7 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
The FlintstonesTom Shadyac
Director
1 film together · 5.6 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Evan AlmightyMike Nichols
Director
1 film together · 5.4 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
What Planet Are You From?Robb Cullen
Director
1 film together · 5.2 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Once Upon a Time in VeniceJT Mollner
Director
1 film together · 0.0 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
SkeletonsAlejandro G. Iñárritu
Director
1 film together · 0.0 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
DiggerSix 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 Big Lebowski
as Walter Sobchak
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 Princess and the Frog
as "Big Daddy" La Bouff (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
Monsters, Inc.
as Sullivan (voice)
You can hear this reading in other actors' auditions a decade later — the surest measure of influence there is.
Best ensemble performance
Transformers: The Last Knight
as Hound (voice)
Work that makes everyone else in the frame better without ever pulling the camera towards itself.
Career defining performance
Monsters, Inc.
as Sullivan (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. John Goodman 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
40 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
28 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
Monsters, Inc.
as Sullivan (voice)
The last five minutes reorganise everything before them, and hold up when you already know what's coming.
Best opening
Patriots Day
as Commisioner Ed Davis
A first sequence that states the rules of the film without explaining a single one of them.
Most emotional
Smurfs
as Papa Smurf (voice)
The film where the technique steps aside and lets the feeling arrive undefended.
Best twist
Fallen
as Jonesy
A reversal earned by information the film gave you and trusted you to misread.
Best visual achievement
Monsters, Inc.
as Sullivan (voice)
Images that would survive with the sound switched off.
Best action sequence
Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets
as Igon Siruss (voice)
Geography, stakes and consequence held in the same frame — spectacle you can follow.
Best dialogue
Coyote Ugly
as Bill
Lines written to be spoken, staged so the pauses do half the work.
Most underrated film
The Flintstones
as Fred Flintstone
The public vote sits below ours on this one, and the direction is the reason for the gap.
If you like this performer
Matt Damon
Works with the same directors — Martin Scorsese
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
Leonardo DiCaprio
Works with the same directors — Martin Scorsese
Robert De Niro
Works with the same directors — Martin Scorsese
Have your say
Community
Which John Goodman performance holds up best?
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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