Every John Goodman Movie Ranked Worst To Best

Since his acting career began in the early 1980s, John Goodman has appeared in over 150 movies and television shows. He has played many leading roles, but more often makes an impression as a memorable supporting character. Goodman is capable of portraying intimidating villains just as easily as he plays lovable good guys. Whether giving a full-bodied live-action performance or lending his distinctive voice to an animated film, Goodman always delivers.

Although Goodman is known for his television roles—including a beloved early career turn on "Roseanne" and a more recent spin on "The Righteous Gemstones"—this list will focus exclusively on John Goodman's feature film roles. Let's take a look at each of his major movie appearances as ranked from worst to best according to Rotten Tomatoes critics. Unfortunately, since Goodman has appeared in so many movies during his illustrious career, we didn't have room to fit everything, including some great but lesser-known films like "Matinee."

John Goodman's lowest-rated movie is the 2005 animated kids' movie "Kronk's New Groove." This is a sequel to and spinoff of "The Emperor's New Groove" from 2000, which fared better with critics and audiences alike and ranks much higher in this list. John Goodman reprises his vocal role as Pacha alongside David Spade as Kuzco, Eartha Kitt as Yzma, and Patrick Warburton as Kronk, who now takes center stage. Goodman also lent his voice to Pacha once more for the Disney Channel television show "The Emperor's New School," which ran for two seasons between 2006 and 2008.

"Kronk's New Groove" received a bottom-of-the-barrel 0% rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes. General audiences weren't quite as harsh on the movie, but still gave it a rotten aggregate score. David Cornelius of eFilmCritic found this sequel to be a massive step down from the original, writing, "It's just too generic, and generic is not what we want from a sequel to a film that managed to escape the Disney mold."

"Transformers: The Last Knight" was the fifth released movie in the live-action "Transformers" canon spearheaded by Michael Bay, though it takes place sixth in chronological order, with "Bumblebee" serving as a prequel to the rest of the series. Beyond being one of John Goodman's lowest-rated movies, "Transformers: The Last Knight" is also the lowest-rated movie in the "Transformers" franchise. In fact, they have all landed negative ratings with Rotten Tomatoes critics aside from "Bumblebee," the only one not directed by Michael Bay. 

The story of "The Last Knight" follows the ongoing war between the autobots and the decepticons and involves Optimus Prime discovering that he was responsible for the destruction of his home planet and seeking a way to restore it. John Goodman provides the voice of an autobot named Hound, whom he first voiced in "Transformers: Age of Extinction." Also returning from "Age of Extinction" is Mark Wahlberg as Cade Yeager, who took over as the series lead after the departure of Shia LaBeouf's Sam Witwicky, who helmed the first three "Transformers" movies. There's not much to enjoy here, but at least Goodman probably got paid well.  

"Transformers: Age of Extinction" is the previous entry in the franchise and the first to introduce the Hound autobot voiced by John Goodman. This was also the first movie in the live-action canon to introduce the Dinobots, though they had existed in toy and animated form long beforehand. After the destructive events of the previous three "Transformers" movies, the U.S. government has created a special team dedicated to hunting down and destroying all robots, making no distinction between autobots and decepticons. Cade Yeager becomes the new human protagonist of the series after coming into possession of a truck that he discovers to be Optimus Prime.

When "Transformers: Age of Extinction" was released in 2014, it became the lowest-rated entry in the series on Rotten Tomatoes, a feat only outdone by the subsequent "The Last Knight." The movie's gargantuan running time was a thorn in the side of many critics, such as Richard Propes of The Independent Critic, who wrote, "for the better part of the film's 165-minute running time we get Crash. Bang. Crash. Bang. Bludgeon. Crash. Bang. Bludgeon. Bang. Crash. And then we get it again.... The problem is it's too much. Too long. Too painful."

"The Jungle Book 2" is a sequel that may have flown under the radar, as Disney has a penchant for quietly releasing sequels to their big hits. This 2003 animated kids movie is a direct follow-up to the original animated "The Jungle Book" from all the way back in 1967. With so many years between the original movie and this sequel, the entire voice cast is different, though the movie features many of the same characters. John Goodman fills the role of Baloo, and Haley Joel Osment takes on the main human character of Mowgli. 

Mowgli is still a child in this sequel. After heading off to civilization, he finds himself missing his animal friends. He runs from his village back to the jungle only to wind up in more trouble with the villainous tiger Shere Khan. Neither critics nor general audiences came down favorably on "The Jungle Book 2" on Rotten Tomatoes. David Nusair of Reel Film Reviews considered this sequel to be Disney scraping the bottom of the barrel, writing that it is "difficult to recall a more underwhelming series within the Mouse House's ongoing body of work."

"Death Sentence" is a crime thriller with brutally violent action elements. The movie's presentation is bleak and harrowing to the point of nearly coming across as a horror film, which makes sense given that it was the first non-horror work from director James Wan, who had previously made "Saw" and "Dead Silence." Kevin Bacon stars as an everyman who transforms into a vigilante after his son is murdered in a gang initiation. If the story sounds reminiscent of 1974's "Death Wish," that's because it was adapted from the "Death Sentence" novel, which was a sequel to the novel that "Death Wish" was adapted from; both were written by Brian Garfield.

Garrett Hedlund plays Billy Darley, the main antagonist of the movie, and John Goodman plays Bones Darley, his domineering father. Also of note on the cast are Kelly Preston as Bacon's wife and Aisha Tyler as a Detective who tries and fails to steer Bacon's main character away from violence. General audiences on Rotten Tomatoes left the movie with a marginally fresh score, but critics were far harsher. Owen Gleiberman of Entertainment Weekly gave the film a D rating and wrote, "The morality of revenge is barely at issue in a movie that pushes the plausibility of revenge right over a cliff." Goodman was a convincingly gruff villain, at least. 

1994's "The Flintstones" was an attempt to translate the long-lasting cartoon—which first hit television in 1960—into a live-action movie. This movie follows the Stone Age Flintstone and Rubble families in their day-to-day struggles with prehistoric life. John Goodman plays the live-action Fred Flintstone, while Elizabeth Perkins plays his wife Wilma. Barney Rubble is played by Rick Moranis, while his wife Betty is played by Rosie O'Donnell. Also of note on the cast are Kyle MacLachlan, Halle Berry, Jonathan Winters, Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Moll, Dann Florek, and Harvey Korman, who also provided his voice to multiple characters in the original animated series.

The live-action movie received negative receptions from critics and audiences alike on Rotten Tomatoes. Gene Siskel of the Chicago Tribune (one half of Siskel and Ebert's "At the Movies") came down on hard on "The Flintstones," saying that "much less thought has been put into this screenplay than into the production design and publicity campaign for this profoundly dull enterprise."

2016's "Ratchet & Clank" is another voice acting role for John Goodman on this list. "Ratchet & Clank" is a big-screen adaptation of the sci-fi action video game series of the same name, which was first released on the PlayStation 2 console in 2002. This animated movie is an amalgamation of the story of the first game in the series with elements pulled from the sequels. 

John Goodman voices Grimroth Razz, who serves as the adoptive father of the titular Ratchet and owns the garage where Ratchet learns how to be a mechanic. This was a new character created for the movie, and he was subsequently worked into the reimagining of the first game released in 2016 under the same title of "Ratchet & Clank." Other noteworthy actors on the voice cast include Paul Giamatti, Rosario Dawson, Sylvester Stallone, and Bella Thorne. 

Audiences enjoyed it more than critics on Rotten Tomatoes, but not enough for either party to give the movie a positive aggregate score. Rotten Tomatoes critics took issue with everything from the story to the quality of the animation. Wendy Ide of The Guardian wrote, "Everything about this computer animation appears cheap and tacky."

Rotten Tomatoes critics were hard on "Coyote Ugly," but general audiences took to it much more warmly. Piper Perabo stars as Violet, an aspiring musician who moves to New York City and makes a living by working at Coyote Ugly, a woman-run bar/nightclub known for the staff's provocative and mischievous behavior toward the male customers. John Goodman plays Violet's father, Bill. Also of note on the cast are Tyra Banks, Maria Bello, Adam Garcia, Bridget Moynahan, and Melanie Lynskey.

The negative critical reception didn't hurt "Coyote Ugly" too much, as the movie still turned a significant profit, bringing in nearly $114 million at the worldwide box office off of a budget of about $45 million (via Box Office Mojo). Critic Nell Minow of Common Sense Media called "Coyote Ugly" "Sexist, shallow and silly," but still ultimately gave the movie a light recommendation. Other critics were harsher, such as Scott Weinberg of DVD Talk, who remarked, "What an amazingly bad movie this is."

2007's "Evan Almighty" is a sequel to "Bruce Almighty" from 2003. Morgan Freeman plays God in both movies, who instills each film's lead character with a mission and biblical abilities. Jim Carrey stars in "Bruce Almighty," while Steve Carrell plays a supporting character named Evan Baxter who works as a news anchor. For the sequel, Evan Baxter becomes the main character. He begins "Evan Almighty" as a congressman before being enlisted by Morgan Freeman's God character to become a Noah-type figure who must build an ark and gather animals before a disastrous flood.

John Goodman was a new addition to the cast of this sequel. He plays the role of Congressman Long, one of Evan's political coworkers. Lauren Graham, John Michael Higgins, Jonah Hill, Wanda Sykes, and Molly Shannon round out the supporting cast. Both "Bruce Almighty" and "Evan Almighty" landed rotten scores with critics and audience members alike on Rotten Tomatoes, but the sequel received considerably more scorn.

"King Ralph" is a zany comedy from 1991 that stars John Goodman in the titular role of Ralph. After the entire British royal family is taken out in a freak accident, Ralph becomes the King of England through his distant blood relation to the royal family, despite being an American with no knowledge of politics, domestic or otherwise. The story was adapted from the novel "Headlong" written by Emlyn Williams. Much was changed from the source material, including updating the time period to the modern day instead of the 1935 setting of the novel. "King Ralph" was directed by Richard S. Ward, who also wrote the adapted screenplay. 

Joining John Goodman is a bevy of respected British actors, including the likes of Richard Griffiths, John Hurt, Peter O'Toole, and Leslie Phillips. Despite its A-list cast, the movie fared poorly with critics and audiences. Luke Thompson of the New Times gave it a moderately positive review, but even he described it as a "barely passable 'funny fat guy' flick." 

"Burglar" is a 1987 Whoopi Goldberg vehicle that finds her playing a burglar blackmailed by a former cop. When her ex-boyfriend is murdered shortly after she steals something from his apartment, she winds up as the prime suspect and needs to figure out who the real culprit is in order to clear her name. John Goodman plays one of the investigating detectives. G.W. Bailey, Lesley Ann Warren, James Handy, Anne DeSalvo, and Bobcat Goldthwait all play major supporting roles.

The movie was adapted from the novel "The Burglar in the Closet" by Lawrence Block. This was the second book in a long-running series following the character of Bernie Rhodenbarr, who is male in the books but portrayed by Whoopi Goldberg in the movie. Roger Ebert wrote a long, highly negative review of the movie in which he lamented Hollywood's misuse of Goldberg and asked rhetorically, "Is there anything worth seeing in this movie?" John Goodman's silly mustache and Bobcat Goldthwait's antics are the only draws here. 

"Confessions of a Shopaholic" stars Isla Fisher as Rebecca Bloomwood, a journalist with a shopping addiction who falls in love with the wealthy Luke Brandon (Hugh Dancy). John Goodman plays Rebecca's father, Graham. John Lithgow, Joan Cusack, Kristin Scott Thomas, Fred Armisen, Leslie Bibb, and Krysten Ritter make up the rest of the core supporting cast. This romantic comedy might have failed to earn fresh scores on Rotten Tomatoes with critics or general audiences, but it was a financial success, bringing in over $100 million at the domestic and international box offices (via Box Office Mojo).

The movie takes its title from the book "Confessions of a Shopaholic" by Sophie Kinsella but pulled its story and characters from multiple books in the "Shopaholic" series, which clocks in at nine mainline entries. Many critics called "Confessions of a Shopaholic" a stale entry in the rom-com canon. Some took issue with the movie's premise itself, such as Anthony Quinn of The Independent, who called it a "sickening ode to consumerist greed."

"The Monuments Men" features an incredible gathering of talent but failed to impress critics or audience members on Rotten Tomatoes. The movie tells the true story of a platoon of soldiers attempting to recover and preserve works of art stolen by the Nazis during World War II. The remarkable cast features John Goodman alongside the talents of George Clooney, Cate Blanchett, Bob Balaban, Jean Dujardin, Hugh Bonneville, Matt Damon, and Bill Murray.

George Clooney directed the movie, co-wrote the adapted screenplay, and co-produced the film with Grant Heslov. The story was adapted from the non-fiction book titled "The Monuments Men: Allied Heroes, Nazi Thieves, and the Greatest Treasure Hunt in History" written by Robert M. Edsel and Bret Witter. Unfortunately, Clooney didn't do a great job handling the source material. Jordan Hoffman of Times of Israel noted that his main takeaway from the film was that "not every nifty true oddity from history needs to be made into a movie." 

"Stella" is a drama from 1990 that spans years in the lives of a mother and daughter, Stella and Jenny Claire, played by Bette Midler and Trini Alvarado, respectively. John Goodman plays Ed Munn, a friend to Stella who supports her in the travails of raising her daughter as a single parent. Stephen Collins plays Jenny's father, a wealthy doctor named Stephen Dallas. The story was adapted from the novel "Stella Dallas" written by Olive Higgins Prouty and published in 1923. Before this 1990 movie with Bette Midler in the title role, the book was previously adapted twice: once as a silent film in 1925 and once as a talkie in 1937 with Barbara Stanwyck in the lead role.

Rotten Tomatoes critics were divided on the film and landed on the negative end of the spectrum, but the movie fared considerably better among general audiences. Roger Ebert recommended the movie, saying, "'Stella' may be corny, but it's got a great big heart." Other critics were less kind, like David Nusair of Reel Film Reviews, who wrote that the film was "foiled by a host of negative attributes that conspire to cement the movie's place as a seriously dull little drama."

"Fallen" is another John Goodman movie that audiences liked much more than critics on Rotten Tomatoes. Denzel Washington stars as a homicide detective who is dismayed to find that a string of serial killings resumes after the suspected killer is executed on death row. This raises questions of guilt and innocence, along with suspicions that occult happenings and/or evil spirits may be at play in the killings. John Goodman plays Detective Jonesy, Washington's partner. Elias Koteas, James Gandolfini, Embeth Davidtz, and Donald Sutherland comprise the rest of the main cast.

This serial killer thriller with a dark, supernatural edge won over some critics, but not enough to earn it a fresh rating. Major publications like The Los Angeles Times and The New York Times gave the film positive reviews, calling "Fallen" "a crafty piece of work, ending with a pair of marvelous twists," and "a stylish if seriously far-fetched nightmare," respectively. Other outlets like Total Film derided the movie, writing, "This overlong, rigidly boring affair suffers from a whole list of ailments."

2008's "Speed Racer" is a live-action adaptation of the Japanese animated television series of the same name from 1968. "Speed Racer" was notable at the time for being the first project helmed by the Wachowski sisters following up their groundbreaking "Matrix" trilogy. Needless to say, "Speed Racer" did not make as big of a splash or leave as good of an impression on critics as "The Matrix."

Emile Hirsch stars as a young race car driver who aspires to become the world champion. In yet another father role, John Goodman plays Pops, Speed Racer's dad, while his mother is played by Susan Sarandon. Many Rotten Tomatoes critics found the film only suitable for adolescent audiences, such as Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian, who wrote, "You have to be 12 to like it, and I have to say there is little or nothing here to remind us why we were all quite so excited about 'The Matrix.'" Other critics were impressed by the visual ingenuity of the movie, such as Richard Roeper of Ebert & Roeper fame, who said, "I love the look and the style and the spirit of this film."

"Beyond the Sea" is a biopic examining the life of musician Bobby Darin, played by Kevin Spacey, and by association his wife Sandra Dee, played by Kate Bosworth. John Goodman and Bob Hoskins play major supporting roles. Kevin Spacey not only stars in the lead role but also co-wrote the script with Lewis Colick and directed the film. "Beyond the Sea" is notable for being one of only two movies directed by Spacey, with the other being "Albino Alligator" from 1996. Both movies received rotten scores on Rotten Tomatoes, and Kevin Spacey's disturbing actions in his personal life might be reason enough to avoid the movie even before digging into the negative reviews.

Many critics considered "Beyond the Sea" to be an embarrassing vanity project for Spacey. When The Washington Post took aim at the film, they wrote, "This vainglorious biopic about Bobby Darin is really about what the '60s pop singer and actor means to Kevin Spacey," and film critic Mick LaSalle of the San Francisco Chronicle called the movie "jaw-droppingly awful."

"The Gambler" tells the story of a literature professor named Jim Bennett, played by Mark Wahlberg, who harbors a secret gambling addiction that threatens to destroy his life. John Goodman plays a loan shark named Frank. Jessica Lange, Michael K. Williams, George Kennedy, and Brie Larson round out the rest of the core cast. "The Gambler" is a remake of the James Caan film of the same name from 1974.

This remake was directed by Rupert Wyatt, who previously directed 2011's "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" and the prison break movie "The Escapist." The updated screenplay, which pulled heavily from the 1974 film, was written by William Monahan, who has penned screenplays for major filmmakers like Martin Scorsese with "The Departed" and Ridley Scott with "Kingdom of Heaven" and "Body of Lies." Film critic Mark Kermode appreciated Wyatt's directorial flair while heavily disliking Monahan's work updating the script, writing, "Despite stylish direction by Rupert Wyatt, who pulls off a few arresting set pieces, 'The Gambler' never manages to make sense of William Monahan's often laughably overripe screenplay."

"Blues Brothers 2000" was the long-awaited and much-derided 1998 follow up to the original "Blues Brothers" film from 1980. John Landis returned to direct, and the screenplay was again written in collaboration between Landis and star Dan Aykroyd, but the magic was gone. Most Rotten Tomatoes critics agreed that this sequel was a shallow, joyless rehash of the original.

John Belushi, who starred in the first film, had tragically passed away in 1982 at the age of 33. Filling the void left by Belushi was John Goodman as a new character in the other half of the duo with Elwood Blues, Mighty Mack McTeer. Similar to the first film, "Blues Brothers 2000" contains a number of supporting and cameo roles from comedic actors and musicians, such as B.B. King, Frank Oz, and Aretha Franklin, who returned from the first film. Critic Madeleine Williams of Cinematter summed up the issues with the movie, writing, "If simply copying the original 'Blues Brothers' wasn't bad enough, writers Aykroyd and John Landis dumb it down, removing any memorable characters, and replacing them with flashy, but unbelievable, magical gimmicks."

John Goodman plays Babe Ruth in this biopic about the iconic baseball player. The movie begins with Babe's childhood growing up in an orphanage and progresses through his entire career and rise to stardom. "The Babe" was written by John Fusco, who also wrote movies like "Hidalgo" and "Young Guns." Filling the director's chair of "The Babe" was Arthur Hiller, who had a long career directing movies and television stretching from the 1950s all the way to the 2010s. "The Babe" was one of his final movies.

Some major outlets, like TIME Magazine, gave "The Babe" a favorable review, describing it as "an honestly unheroic view of a hero, with a grand-slam performance by John Goodman." Other large publications were less kind to the film, however, with outlets like Rolling Stone saying, "What could have been the 'Raging Bull' of baseball movies becomes the nibble of a mouse on the legend of a giant." Even they had plenty of praise of Goodman's performance, though they lamented that he was restrained by the silly script. 

"Bee Movie" is a 2007 animated children's movie that stars Jerry Seinfeld as the voice of a honey bee named Barry B. Benson. The story follows his first departure from the hive as he interacts with humans and even starts a lawsuit that attempts to hold the human race responsible for stealing and consuming their honey. John Goodman plays Layton T. Montgomery, the antagonistic human lawyer who opposes Barry's suit in court. The full voice cast is packed with big names like Renée Zellweger, Matthew Broderick, Patrick Warburton, Kathy Bates, Oprah Winfrey, Chris Rock, Megan Mullally, Larry Miller, and Rip Torn. Even Ray Liotta, Sting, and Larry King appear as fictionalized versions of themselves.

While "Bee Movie" might be an entertaining enough animated movie for children, most Rotten Tomatoes critics and general audiences agreed that it isn't up to par. Film critic Dorothy Woodend gave the film a negative review, writing that "even the horde of celebrity cameos can't really lift the story off the ground." It is perhaps now best remembered as a meme. 

"Trouble with the Curve" is another baseball movie featuring John Goodman. Clint Eastwood and Amy Adams star as a father and daughter who embark on a baseball recruiting trip together despite their tumultuous history. Eastwood's character is sick and might not have many good years left in him, so Adams' character hopes to patch up their relationship before it's too late. Clint Eastwood's son Scott Eastwood is on the supporting cast, alongside Justin Timberlake, Matthew Lillard, Robert Patrick, and Ed Lauter.

Robert Lorenz made "Trouble with the Curve" as his directorial debut after earlier establishing himself as a producer. He has a long history of producing movies directed by Clint Eastwood, including "Blood Work," "Flags of Our Fathers," "Letters From Iwo Jima," and "Gran Torino." Lorenz's first stint in the director's chair didn't fare as well with critics as the majority of the movies he produced. Benjamin Wright of The Playlist wrote: "Lacking narrative momentum, saddled with thin characterizations and uninspired plotting, 'Trouble with the Curve' should've stayed on the bench."

"Storytelling" is a movie written and directed by controversial filmmaker Todd Solondz, the man behind movies like "Happiness" and "Welcome to the Dollhouse." The movie takes a vignette approach, comprising two distinct halves of a narrative, one titled "Fiction" and the other titled "Non-Fiction." John Goodman appears in the "Non-Fiction" segment as Marty Livingston, the father of high schooler Mikey Livingston. There are appearances from Leo Fitzpatrick, Paul Giamatti, Xander Berkeley, Mark Webber, Julie Hagerty, Franka Potente, and even talk show host Conan O'Brien as himself.

Though Todd Solondz took big swings with the structure and presentation of "Storytelling," it didn't pay off with enough critics to earn the film a fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Ann Hornaday of The Washington Post wrote in her review of the film that "Solondz is without doubt an artist of uncompromising vision, but that vision is beginning to feel, if not morally bankrupt, at least terribly monotonous."

"In the Electric Mist" is a thriller from 2009 set in New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Tommy Lee Jones stars as a detective on the hunt for a serial killer who is murdering prostitutes. His investigation takes on a surreal nature as the past and present intertwine to form a complex mystery that stretches back to 1965—and even further back to the Civil War at points. John Goodman plays the major role of a mobster named Julie 'Baby Feet' Balboni, who is suspected of being involved in the crimes. Also of note on the cast are Kelly Macdonald, Ned Beatty, Pruitt Taylor Vince, and Mary Steenburgen.

The story was adapted from the novel "In the Electric Mist With the Confederate Dead," by author James Lee Burke. Acclaimed French filmmaker Bertrand Tavernier directed the big-screen adaptation. It was never released cinematically in the U.S., only in Europe and Asia. Critics were divided, with some appreciating its meandering approach and others finding its message muddled. Goodman got praise from the director, if no one else; Tavernier said Goodman was "very easy to work with." 

"Red State" is the first John Goodman movie on this list to secure a fresh rating with Rotten Tomatoes critics, though it still landed a marginally rotten rating with general audiences. This satirical thriller—which is dark enough to border on horror—begins with a trio of teenagers falling victim to a homophobic group of religious fundamentalists. It then shifts to the ATF officers who respond to the crime. 

John Goodman becomes the protagonist about halfway through the film when he steps in as the lead ATF agent tasked with controlling the situation, which has begun to spiral into small-scale warfare. Veteran actor Michael Parks gives a chilling and magnetic performance as Abin Cooper, the head of the religious fundamentalists. Melissa Leo, Michael Angarano, Nicholas Braun, Kyle Gallner, Anna Gunn, Matt Jones, Stephen Root, and Michael Parks' son James Parks flesh out the rest of the cast. Goodman was no slouch, with some critics noting that he was at the "top of his game" despite being underpaid. 

"Red State" was a drastic departure from writer/director Kevin Smith's usual fare, which previously consisted entirely of comedies. It was also noteworthy for kicking up an extremely vocal reaction and protest from the real-life Westboro Baptist Church, who clearly inspired the film's fictional group of religious fanatics. 

This family-friendly romantic drama with fantastical elements is the first movie on the list thus far to land fresh ratings with critics and general audiences alike on Rotten Tomatoes. "Always" tells the story of a pair of pilots, played by Richard Dreyfuss and John Goodman, who fight wildfires from the air. After Dreyfuss' character dies in an accident, his spirit watches over Goodman's less-experienced character, as well as Dreyfuss' grieving girlfriend, played by Holly Hunter. A romance blossoms between Goodman and Hunter in Dreyfuss' physical absence. Keith David and Audrey Hepburn also have roles; in fact, this film marks Hepburn's final performance. 

"Always" is a remake of the 1943 movie "A Guy Named Joe." Steven Spielberg directed this remake of one of his favorite movies of all time between "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade" and "Hook." While it may not be one of Spielberg's most acclaimed movies, it fared well with most critics. Film critic Rob Thomas summed up "Always" as "whimsical and affecting enough, but certainly a lesser Spielberg film."

"Revenge of the Nerds" was an early stepping stone in John Goodman's career as one of his first movie roles. "Revenge of the Nerds" is an '80s comedy that's pretty much exactly as described on the tin. It follows a group of college-aged nerds who team up to get back at the jocks who mercilessly bully and torment them.

Goodman plays Harris, the coach of the football team. He's most notable for giving a scolding speech to the jocks; you can catch a hint of Goodman's future genius in the hilarious way he pronounces "whipped." Curtis Armstrong, Robert Carradine, Anthony Edwards, Larry B. Scott, Timothy Busfield, Julia Montgomery, Ted McGinley, and James Cromwell play important roles as well. 

The movie was a massive financial success, bringing in over $40 million at the box office against an $8 million budget (via Box Office Mojo). It's often considered a classic of '80s comedy. Don Peretta of Time Out called "Revenge of the Nerds" "the only worthy successor to 'Animal House.'" 

"Bringing Out the Dead" is a Martin Scorsese movie about the night-to-night life of a nocturnal New York City ambulance driver haunted by those he couldn't save. Nicholas Cage has the lead role with a large cast of supporting characters played by the likes of John Goodman, Ving Rhames, Patricia Arquette, Tom Sizemore, Cliff Curtis, Sonja Sohn, and Marc Anthony. This is the first John Goodman movie so far on the list to earn the coveted certified fresh badge on Rotten Tomatoes.

The movie was adapted from the novel of the same name written by Joe Connelly. Penning the adapted screenplay was screenwriter Paul Schrader, who has collaborated with Scorsese many times on "Taxi Driver," "Raging Bull," and "The Last Temptation of Christ." Film critic Sean Burns said of the film, "It's an older, wiser Scorsese and Schrader back together 23 years after 'Taxi Driver' telling the story of another insomniac basket case driving around New York City late at night. Except now instead of an avenging angel he's on a mission of mercy."

"Kong: Skull Island" is another certified fresh John Goodman movie. The movie follows soldiers and scientists as they explore the mysterious Skull Island in the aftermath of the Vietnam war. The movie reboots the classic King Kong movie monster for a modernized kaiju franchise that recently pitted him against Godzilla in "Godzilla vs. Kong." Alongside John Goodman on the cast are the likes of Brie Larson, Tom Hiddleston, John C. Reilly, Samuel L. Jackson, and Richard Jenkins. 

Director Jordan Vogt-Roberts previously made the coming-of-age movie "The Kings of Summer" and currently has both a "Gundam" movie and a "Metal Gear Solid" movie in the works. Critic Leslie Combemale said of the movie, "'Kong: Skull Island' is a worthy popcorn flick where you can easily cheer for both human and creature," while Kaitlyn Booth of Bleeding Cool declared that "longtime fans of Kong will find a lot to love here."

"Trumbo" is a 2015 biopic about a screenwriter from the golden age of Hollywood, Dalton Trumbo. Bryan Cranston plays the titular character, who was one of many film industry figures of the time who were blacklisted as alleged Communist sympathizers in 1947. Cranston earned Academy Award and BAFTA nominations for his performance. Many other big names portrayed real Hollywood figures in "Trumbo," including John Goodman and Stephen Root as the King Brothers, Helen Mirren as Hedda Hopper, Louis C.K. as a composite of multiple figures, and Diane Lane and Elle Fanning as Trumbo's wife and daughter.

The film's screenplay was adapted from the non-fiction biography "Dalton Trumbo" written by Bruce Cook and first published in 1977. In the director's chair for this adaptation was Jay Roach, who had previously directed comedies like the "Meet the Parents" and the "Austin Powers" trilogy. "Trumbo" got largely positive reviews, with most praise reserved for Cranston, but there's something undeniably entertaining about watching Goodman wield a baseball bat in righteous anger. 

"Sea of Love" is a romantic thriller that stars Al Pacino as a homicide detective on the hunt for a serial killer in New York City. As the detective investigates the case, he finds himself falling in love with its main suspect, played by Ellen Barkin. John Goodman plays Sherman, another NYPD detective.  

The movie was written by Richard Price, who began his writing career as a fiction author. Before turning to screenwriting, he wrote novels like "The Wanderers," "Freedomland," and "Bloodbrothers." After shifting to screenwriting, Price wrote the screenplays for movies like "The Color of Money" and "Mad Dog and Glory." He also wrote for a number of HBO television projects, including "The Wire," "The Deuce," "The Night Of," and "The Outsider." Film critic Roger Ebert recommended "Sea of Love," writing, "What impressed me most in the film was the personal chemistry between Pacino and Barkin." Ebert also noted that Goodman was a "good partner" for Pacino.

2012's "Flight" is a drama following an airline pilot whose remarkable performance following a plane malfunction results in a best-case scenario crash, but his abilities and judgment are called into question when he is discovered to be a high-functioning addict. John Goodman plays Harling Mays, who is a close friend of Washington's pilot character as well as his drug dealer.  

After a decade-long stint making computer-animated movies like "The Polar Express" and 2009's "A Christmas Carol," "Flight" marked a return to live-action filmmaking for director Robert Zemeckis. His previous live-action movie was "Cast Away" from 2000. Zemeckis also directed classic movies like "Forrest Gump," "Who Framed Roger Rabbit," and the "Back to the Future" trilogy. Denzel Washington received an Academy Award nomination for his performance in the lead role, and screenwriter John Gatins earned an Oscar nomination as well for his work on the script.

"O Brother, Where Art Thou?" is the first of five Coen Brothers movies to rank in the top half of John Goodman's filmography, all of which landed the coveted certified fresh badge on Rotten Tomatoes. This 1930s period piece comedy with strong musical elements was released in 2000 and made history as the first movie ever to utilize an all-digital color grading process in post-production.

George Clooney, Tim Blake Nelson, and John Turturro star as three convicts who run away from a chain gang and attempt to uncover buried treasure while evading lawmen hot on their heels. The story pulled heavily from the ancient epic "The Odyssey." John Goodman plays the supporting but memorable role of Big Dan Teague, an eyepatch-wearing, jolly-yet-menacing criminal who swindles the escaped convicts. Charles Durning, Lee Weaver, Stephen Root, Michael Badalucco, and Daniel von Bargen all play small parts the heroes encounter on their journey.

"Atomic Blonde" is a 2017 action-star vehicle for Charlize Theron. The movie is set in Germany as the Berlin Wall is about to fall. Theron's character, Lorraine, is sent into the dangerous city to retrieve important documents as a spy working for Britain's MI6 agency. James McAvoy co-stars as a local spy she is forced to team up with despite a complete lack of trust. John Goodman plays Emmett Kurzfield, a handler who questions Lorraine about the events of the film after the fact in the movie's wraparound segments.  

The story of "Atomic Blonde" was based on a graphic novel originally titled "The Coldest City" written by Anthony Johnston and illustrated by Sam Hart. In the director's chair was David Leitch, who previously co-directed the first "John Wick" alongside Chad Stahelski, though he was uncredited. Critics praised its style-over-substance approach. 

"True Stories" is a unique movie and remains the only feature film directed by "Talking Heads" frontman David Byrne. Byrne co-wrote the screenplay alongside Beth Henley and character actor Stephen Tobolowsky, who received his first of just two screenwriting credits for "True Stories." Byrne also plays the role of the narrator of "True Stories." John Goodman stars as Lewis Fyne, a kindly man in search of love on the eve of a Texas town's big sesquicentennial celebration.

Music is a major part of "True Stories," as one might expect with David Byrne at the helm, but the movie is not a musical. Roger Ebert summed up the film and gave it a strong recommendation, saying, "This is not a musical. It's a bold attempt to paint a bizarre American landscape. This movie does what some painters try to do: It recasts ordinary images into strange new shapes."

"Monsters University" is a 2013 prequel to the 2001 Pixar animated movie "Monsters, Inc." Billy Crystal and John Goodman reprise their leading roles as Mike Wazowski and James P. Sullivan. Steve Buscemi also returns as the younger version of his villain from the first movie, Randall Boggs.  

This prequel is set long before Mike and Sully ever start working for the Monsters, Inc. company during their college days. The two are roommates in "Monsters University" and haven't yet formed their enduring friendship. Only Daniel Gerson returned from the six-person writing team behind the original movie; none of the original three directors (Pete Doctor, David Silverman, and Lee Unkrich) returned. Filling their vacancy was Dan Scanlon, who would go on to direct "Onward" for Pixar as well.

Neither critics nor general audiences on Rotten Tomatoes were quite as jubilant about "Monsters University" as they were about the original "Monsters, Inc.," but this prequel still earned highly respectable ratings with both camps.

"Patriots Day" is one of five movie collaborations between director Peter Berg and Mark Wahlberg released within the last decade, with the others being "Lone Survivor," "Deepwater Horizon," "Mile 22," and "Spenser Confidential." "Deepwater Horizon" and "Patriot's Day" were released in the same year.

This thriller takes a look at the true story of the 2013 bombing of the Boston Marathon and the manhunt that ensued to catch those responsible. John Goodman plays Commissioner Davis as part of the big-name cast, which also includes Mark Wahlberg, Kevin Bacon, and J.K. Simmons.

Most Rotten Tomatoes critics agreed that "Patriots Day" was well made and avoided exploiting or overdramatizing the real-world tragedy it sought to recreate. David Sexton of the London Evening Standard described the movie, writing that it wasn't suspenseful "so much as commemorative and even, in paying tribute to the resilient spirit of Boston and all of those caught up in this attack, celebratory. It's a kind of civic tribute."

"The Big Lebowski" is another collaboration between John Goodman and the Coen Brothers, who routinely give Goodman some of his best roles. Jeff Bridges stars as the iconic character of The Dude, a simple stoner who loves bowling and White Russians. The Dude gets wrapped up in a complex kidnapping plot worthy of a film noir mystery after a couple of goons mistake him for a rich man who shares his name and urinate on his rug (which is a shame, 'cause it really tied the room together). John Goodman co-stars as The Dude's friend Walter, a well-meaning but largely inept partner in crime. Walter's a gun nut with an explosive personality but a big heart underneath it all. Goodman was made for the part.

Also excelling in supporting roles are Steve Buscemi as the understated Donny; John Turturro as the bowling sex offender Jesus; Julianne Moore as the pretentious artist Maude; David Huddleston as the crazy rich Big Lebowski of the title; Tara Reid as his wife, the supposedly kidnapped Bunny; Peter Stormare as the head of a trio of German toe-amputating nihilists; and Philip Seymour Hoffman as the Big Lebowski's likable associate, Brandt. "The Big Lebowski" was misunderstood by many critics when it was first released in 1998. The Coen Brothers' previous film, "Fargo," was a massive critical success and a big hit at the Academy Awards, but "The Big Lebowski" was a different beast, one that took time to garner the acclaim it has today. Even Roger Ebert was colder toward the film in his review at the time of release than he was in his second review of "The Big Lebowski" in 2010, when he bumped up his score an entire star higher.

Ranking much, much higher than its rotten sequel "Kronk's New Groove," "The Emperor's New Groove" is one of John Goodman's highest-rated movies. David Spade voices the lead character of Emperor Kuzco, who winds up transformed into a llama after an attempted poisoning goes wrong at the behest of the villainous Yzma (Eartha Kitt) and her inept manservant Kronk (Patrick Warburton). John Goodman voices Pacha, a kindly villager determined to see the good in the petulant, selfish, and arrogant Kuzco.

This animated kids' movie was nominated for an Academy Award. It was also a big hit at the 2001 Annies, an award show focused solely on animated movies, shorts, and television shows. "The Emperor's New Groove" racked up a staggering 11 Annie nominations and took home three of the awards. Many Rotten Tomatoes critics noted a stark difference from the typical Disney animated movie mold as a refreshing departure. David Ansen of Newsweek captured this sentiment in his review, writing, "The unfussy, tossed-off quality actually helps give this original story zippy irreverence some of Disney's plusher cartoons lack." Nell Minnow also hit on this idea in her review for Common Sense Media, saying, "More fun, goofy cartoon antics than Disney polish."

Another animated vocal performance from John Goodman becomes the first movie to crack his top 10 highest-rated movies. Kodi Smit-McPhee voices the titular role of Norman Babcock, an outsider with the ability to communicate with the dead. John Goodman lends his distinctive voice to Norman's Uncle Prenderghast, who warns the boy about an impending curse that will soon overrun the town with zombies. Other big names on the voice cast include the likes of Anna Kendrick, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Leslie Mann, Elaine Stritch, Bernard Hill, and Casey Affleck.

The creation of "ParaNorman" made history as the largest stop-motion production ever undertaken as of 2012. The movie was executed using the stereoscopic 3D techniques pioneered by LAIKA animation for "Coraline" in 2009, via Focus Features. The movie was written and co-directed by Chris Butler as his first feature-length film. He would go on to co-write the LAIKA film "Kubo and the Two Strings" and write and direct 2019's "Missing Link," all stop-motion animated projects.

"The Big Easy" is a romance drama with a crime film storyline involving gangs, murder, and police corruption. As you might guess from the title, "The Big Easy" is set in New Orleans. Dennis Quaid and Ellen Barkin star as a corrupt police officer and a prosecutor on the D.A.'s anti-corruption task force, respectively. The two should be at odds given their livelihoods, but a passionate romance blossoms between them. A series of suspected gang killings proliferate across the city as Quaid's character is held responsible for his corrupt actions and a trial gets underway. John Goodman co-stars as one of Quaid's corrupt coworkers, Detective DeSoto.

Rotten Tomatoes critics were taken with the romantic chemistry between Quaid and Barkin as the film's biggest selling point. Peter Travers of Rolling Stone called "The Big Easy" a "scorchingly sexy movie," while film critic Nell Minnow called the movie "one of the smartest, sexiest thrill rides ever." The leads weren't the only ones to receive praise; Kim Newman of Empire also wrote that the "big, genial" Goodman "could be convicted of repeatedly trying to steal any scenes that aren't nailed down." 

"10 Cloverfield Lane" is a small, contained thriller with a sci-fi twist. "10 Cloverfield Lane" was the second movie in the loosely connected "Cloverfield" anthology of films, which began with the original "Cloverfield" in 2008 and also includes the Netflix original "The Cloverfield Paradox" from 2018. This movie wasn't always a part of the "Cloverfield" universe, however. "10 Cloverfield Lane" started out as a spec script titled "The Basement" before being reworked to fit within the broader cinematic universe that was being constructed.

Mary Elizabeth Winstead stars as Michelle, a woman who gets in a car accident and wakes up in captivity in an underground bunker run by the intense and intimidating Howard, played by John Goodman. Emmett, played by John Gallagher Jr., is also held captive in the bunker and works with Michelle to plot an escape. Howard swears that the air up above in the outside world is poisonous and that he is holding them there for their own safety, but his captives doubt him. The big, explosive finale may or may not feel like a bit of a jump-the-shark moment for some viewers, but Rotten Tomatoes critics largely agreed that the majority of the film was tense, claustrophobic, and well-acted. The Atlantic called it one of Goodman's "best performances in years." 

"Barton Fink" is another noteworthy collaboration between the Coen Brothers and John Goodman. John Turturro stars as the titular Barton Fink, a New York City playwright who winds up writing a B-movie wrestling picture in 1941 Los Angeles. As his writers' block reaches intolerable levels, the hotel he finds himself in grows more and more hellish. John Goodman co-stars as Charlie Meadows, Barton's friendly, gregarious neighbor in the hotel who harbors a dark secret. Jon Polito, John Mahoney, Judy Davis, Tony Shalhoub, and Michael Lerner co-star, the latter of whom earned an Oscar nomination for his supporting role. Coen Brothers' regular Steve Buscemi also has a fun cameo as the hotel's bellhop who rises up from a hatch in the floor.

In addition to Michael Lerner's Oscar nomination, "Barton Fink" also received Academy Awards acknowledgments in the costuming and art direction categories. "Barton Fink" fared even better at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival, where John Turturro won best actor, Joel Coen won best director (during a time when the Coen Brothers were still dividing credit to meet DGA regulations), and the movie as a whole won the festival's top prize, The Palme d'Or.

"Raising Arizona" was the second film written and directed by the Coen Brothers and marked the first of many collaborations between the brothers and John Goodman. Nicolas Cage stars as H.I. McDunnough, a petty criminal who passes in and out of incarceration so frequently that he's able to fall in love with the officer who takes his mugshots each time. H.I. and Ed, played by Holly Hunter, get married and plan to start a family, but when they learn that Ed is unable to have children, they hatch a plan to steal one of the "Arizona Quints," quintuplets belonging to a wealthy Arizona family.

John Goodman and William Forsythe play Gale and Evelle, a pair of escaped prisoners who incompetently attempt to rob a bank. Also on the cast are the likes of Randall 'Tex' Cobb, Sam McMurray, Trey Wilson, and Frances McDormand, who is married to director Joel Coen in real life. Rotten Tomatoes critics praised "Raising Arizona" for its sense of humor and ingenuity, as well as for its bold originality. Geoff Andrew of Time Out summed up the experience of the film, writing, "Starting from a point of delirious excess, the film leaps into dark and virtually uncharted territory to soar like a comet."

"Inside Llewyn Davis" is a music-centered drama with plenty of that trademark Coen Brothers dark comedy. Oscar Isaac stars as the titular Llewyn Davis, a stubborn and struggling folk musician in Greenwich Village in 1961, shortly before Bob Dylan took the scene by storm and became the figurehead of folk music of the time; there's even a brief glimpse of him performing in a nightclub near the end of the film. John Goodman plays a heroin-hooked musician in a performance that Vanity Fair called "brilliantly nutty." 

The impressive cast also features the talents of Carey Mulligan, Adam Driver, Justin Timberlake, Garrett Hedlund, Alex Karpovsky, and F. Murray Abraham. The diegetic musical numbers are numerous and highlights of the film for folk music fans. "Inside Llewyn Davis" earned Oscar and BAFTA nominations in the sound and cinematography categories, and the BAFTAs also nominated the original screenplay written by the Coen Brothers as well. Film critic Larushka Ivan-Zadeh of Metro gave the film a perfect score and wrote, "the direction is pitch-perfect; the characters unique and eccentric yet fully realised and the script, woven with absurdist comedy, a marvel."

"Arachnophobia" is the only movie on this list since "Red State" to wind up with a rotten rating with general audiences on Rotten Tomatoes, though of course, critics enjoyed the film far more, landing it a certified fresh rating in the 90% range. The story tracks a deadly spider outbreak in a small town in California when a large jungle arachnid is set loose in the town and mates with local spiders. This 1990 movie is a throwback to the classic B-monster movies of the 1950s. "Arachnophobia" was the feature-length directorial debut of Frank Marshall, who had long since established himself as a successful movie producer. Marshall previously produced acclaimed films like "Paper Moon," "Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark," and "Poltergeist."

The core cast consists of Jeff Daniels, John Goodman, Julian Sands, Stuart Pankin, Harley Jane Kozak, Brian McNamara, and more. Rotten Tomatoes critics praised the movie for its sense of fun and its ability to be both frightening and laugh-inducing. Gene Siskel, of the acclaimed Ebert & Siskel film critic duo, praised Goodman's performance in particular, saying, "[Goodman] is a quiet hoot, fancying himself as the last samurai in the battle against bugs. His performance takes the edge off the horror and makes 'Arachnophobia' palatable for people of all ages."

"The Artist" (2011) won five Oscars out of its impressive 10 nominations. "The Artist" was also a big hit at the BAFTAs, with 12 total nominations and seven wins. Presented in the style of a silent film, "The Artist" tells the story of the romance between movie star George Valentin, played by Jean Dujardin, and Peppy Miller, played by Bérénice Bejo, as the industry changes and Valentin struggles to keep his career afloat. John Goodman costars as Al Zimmer, a bigshot Hollywood executive. Also on the supporting cast are the likes of Ed Lauter, Malcolm McDowell, Missi Pyle, and James Cromwell. 

Anna Smith of the UK's Daily Mirror rated "The Artist" five out of five and wrote, "uplifting, heart-warming, hilarious... not necessarily words you'd expect to apply to a black and white silent French film. But 'The Artist' is no ordinary movie." Richard Propes of The Independent Critic also gave the film a perfect score and said that the movie "achieves a contemporary greatness."

"Argo" is another best picture Oscar winner. It also took home the best adapted screenplay and best editing Academy Awards alongside four additional nominations. In the U.K., "Argo" won the best film prize at the BAFTAs, William Goldenberg won the best editing award, and Ben Affleck won best director. Beyond directing the film, Ben Affleck also stars in the lead role as Tony Mendez, a CIA exfiltration expert tasked with safely rescuing hostages from the revolutionaries who invaded the American Embassy in Iran. His plan involves creating a fake film production as a ruse to get into the country and carry out the operation.

John Goodman, Bryan Cranston, Alan Arkin, Clea DuVall, Scoot McNairy, and Kyle Chandler flesh out the impressive cast. Rotten Tomatoes critics praised "Argo" for turning true events into exciting and energetic entertainment. Critic Anthony Quinn summed up the effectiveness of "Argo" in his review for The Independent (UK): "The old saw 'truth is stranger than fiction' has had its teeth properly sharpened in the superb thriller 'Argo,' a blend of political history and Hollywood hijinks that goes right for the jugular."  

The top spot on this ranking goes to one of his many vocal performances. "Monsters, Inc." is a crowd-pleasing animated movie from Pixar animation studio. This was the fourth movie released by Pixar, following the first two "Toy Story" movies and "A Bug's Life." Billy Crystal and John Goodman each lend their distinct voices to the playfully antagonistic buddy duo of Mike and Sully, roommates and coworkers at the titular Monsters, Inc. company where they spend their days scaring children and collecting their screams to use as an energy source. When a human girl sneaks back into the monster world, Mike and Sully's perception of their livelihood is challenged.

Steve Buscemi and James Coburn voice Randall Boggs and Henry J. Waternoose respectively, the two main villains of the film. Frank Oz, Jennifer Tilly, Bob Peterson, and Bonnie Hunt make up the rest of the main voice cast. Rotten Tomatoes critics agree nearly universally that "Monsters, Inc." is a gem of the animated family movie genre. David Ansen of Newsweek called the movie "a terrific piece of work: smart, inventive and executed with state-of-the-art finesse."