Jake Gyllenhaal is one of the most versatile actors who can create magic with his acting skills. Be it a thriller, horror, or action, he has it all. He started his acting career when he was 11 years old, and since then, he has blessed the industry with several mind-boggling titles. Jake is popular for his remarkable role in Donny Darko, which is considered one of the best thriller movies ever produced. If you are fascinated by his acting skills, here, we have discussed the 10 best films featuring Jake Gyllenhaal and we have ranked them as well.
10. The Guilty
- Release Date: September 24, 2021
- Imdb/Rotten Tomatoes: 6.3/98%
- Director: Antoine Fuqua
- Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Peter Saarsgard, Riley Keough
- Runtime: 1 hour 30 minutes
Coming from a director who has blessed the industry with countless action and thriller projects, The Guilty is a remake of the critically acclaimed Danish film of the same name. Initially, the film saw a limited release in September 2021, and then it arrived on Netflix in October 2021. The fandom heavily praised the movie, especially for Gyllenhaal’s solid performance. Even if the remake didn’t fully convince those who had previously watched the original film, our lead actor made it a success.
The Guilty follows a demoted officer who answers a call during his night shift at the 911 call center, and thereafter, his life changes. He must do whatever it takes to protect the caller, who is in grave danger. However, he soon realizes that things are way too different from what he is acquainted with, and the only way to come out of the mess is to face the truth.
9. Life
- Release Date: March 24, 2017
- Imdb/Rotten Tomatoes: 6.6/68%
- Director: Daniel Espinosa
- Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Rebecca Ferguson, Ryan Reynolds, Hiroyuki Sanada, Ariyon Bakare, Olga Dihovichnaya
- Runtime: 104 minutes
Life is a must-watch as it features the deadly combo of Jake Gyllenhaal and Ryan Reynolds. The film grabbed every fanatic’s attention for its amazing visuals. Every actor involved in the film does a phenomenal job, and the storytelling contributed heavily to the positive reviews.
Life revolves around six scientists who board the International Space Station after getting traces of an extraterrestrial life form on Mars. However, they soon discover that the life form is way more threatening than anyone could have expected.
8. Enemy
- Release Date: September 8, 2013
- Imdb/ Rotten Tomatoes: 6.9/73%
- Director: Denis Villeneuve
- Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Mélanie Laurent, Sarah Gadon, Isabella Rossellini
- Runtime: 90 minutes
Enemy blesses the industry with one of the twisted and mind-bending concepts. It’s one such Jake Gyllenhaal movie that is hard to understand; I mean, the cinephiles who enjoy complex stories can figure out what’s happening before others. Also, Enemy is a film that will definitely push you to talk about the events featured in it with your friends.
Enemy is the story of a history professor Adam Bell and his look-alike, Anthony Claire. The former gets obsessed with the latter after spotting him in a movie. However, soon, the tables turn as Claire gets obsessed with Bell in a dangerous way.
7. Demolition
- Release Date: April 8, 2016
- Imdb/ Rotten Tomatoes: 7/54%
- Director: Jean-Marc Vallée
- Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Naomi Watts, Chris Cooper, Judah Lewis
- Runtime: 101 minutes
Demolition is a special film to be watched as it was Vallee’s final work before his death. Did you like the 2009 Disney film UP? If yes, you will surely find Demolition intriguing. Well, I am not saying that it is exactly like UP, but yes, both films let you feel the pain of losing your closed ones. Both projects see their lead men dealing with grief after the deaths of their beloved wives.
The story of the film revolves around an investment banker who loses his wife in a road accident. His outlook on life changes, and he starts behaving weirdly with the people around him. However, his younger son and a customer service representative helped him to start afresh.
6. Nocturnal Animals
- Release Date: April 8, 2016
- Imdb/ Rotten Tomatoes: 7.4/74%
- Director: Tom Ford
- Cast: Amy Adams, Jake Gyllenhaal, Michael Shannon, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Isla Fisher, Armie Hammer
- Runtime: 116 minutes
Nocturnal Animals is a film about violence, love, and revenge. It follows a dark theme, and with an average story, it still managed to get a decent viewership. The film earned $32.4 million against a budget of $22.5 million. To better understand the characters of the film, you need to put yourself in their shoes.
Nocturnal Animals follows a woman named Susan whose life takes a horrifying turn after she receives a manuscript from her ex-husband, with whom she parted ways 20 years ago. She finds the book intriguing until it starts haunting her with some disturbing realizations about her first marriage.
5. Zodiac
- Release Date: March 2, 2007
- Imdb/ Rotten Tomatoes: 7.7/90%
- Director: David Fincher
- Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Mark Ruffalo, Robert Downey Jr., Anthony Edwards, Brian Cox, Elias Koteas
- Runtime: 157 minutes
The mystery thriller Zodiac is one of the most intriguing entries on this list. That’s because it features two of the most popular MCU actors, Mark Ruffalo and Robert Downey Jr. Zodiac is a film based on the real-life serial killer who terrorized the civilians of the Bay Area in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The film mostly received positive reviews for its historical accuracy and writing. It is also considered one of the greatest films of the 21st century.
An amateur detective gets obsessed with the Zodiac killer, who’s on his killing spree in Northern California. The police are taunted by the letters and messages left by him, but no one really knows who he is or how to track him. So, the amateur detective decides to track him down and close the case once and for all.
4. October Sky
- Release Date: March 2, 2007
- Imdb/ Rotten Tomatoes: 7.8/91%
- Director: Joe Johnston
- Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Chris Cooper, Chris Owen, Laura Dern
- Runtime: 107 minutes
October Sky is an old-school inspirational film that will leave you motivated towards your goals. The movie was released when Jake was 19 years old. However, no one would say that he was an inexperienced actor at that time. October Sky is a father-son tale that makes you shed tears at the end. The film starts strong and ends even stronger, so the ones who have missed this underrated Gyllenhaal film should definitely add it to their watchlist.
The film follows a kid named Homer Hickam, who is destined to become a rocket scientist, but society pressurizes him to follow in the footsteps of his father, who is a coal miner. However, with his friends and a high school teacher by his side, Homer must achieve what he is born for.
3. Nightcrawler
- Release Date: October 31, 2014
- Imdb/ Rotten Tomatoes: 7.8/95%
- Director: Dan Gilroy
- Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Rene Russo, Riz Ahmed, Bill Paxton
- Runtime: 117 minutes
Nightcrawler is a psychological thriller that takes Gyllenhaal’s acting skills to the next level. The suspense elements keep you on the edge of your seats and don’t let you blink your eyes even for a second. It was Dan Gilroy’s directorial debut, and we can’t deny that direction and the writing were the primary reasons for the film’s success at the box office.
Nightcrawlers revolves around Lou Bloom, who enters the world of crime journalism with a bunch of freelance camera crews after struggling to find a job for a while. Having some of the potent team members on his side, Bloom soon gets the fame he has always looked for.
2. Donnie Darko
- Release Date: October 26, 2001
- Imdb/ Rotten Tomatoes: 8/87%
- Director: Richard Kelly
- Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Jena Malone, Drew Barrymore, Mary McDonnell, Katharine Ross
- Runtime: 113 minutes
Again, here we have a psychological thriller that does not disappoint even for a minute. The film keeps you hooked from the very start and doesn’t allow you to leave your seats until the end. Donnie Darko features a storyline that you cannot discuss with anyone who hasn’t watched it, as they will never understand anything until they watch the film themselves. That’s because it is one movie with one of the most complex storylines.
Donnie Darko is a troubled teenager who isn’t able to connect with people around him. However, one day, he befriends a man in a large rabbit suit whom no one else except him can see. His new friend starts manipulating him and pushing him to commit crimes.
1. Prisoners
- Release Date: September 20, 2013
- Imdb/ Rotten Tomatoes: 8.2/87%
- Director: Denis Villeneuve
- Cast: Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Viola Davis, Maria Bello, Terrence Howard
- Runtime: 153 minutes
Here comes the best Gyllenhaal movie on the list that also stars Wolverine aka. Hugh Jackman in a prominent role. Well, this movie does feature Gyllenhaal, but Jackman overshadowed him with his stellar performance. Jackman’s character in the film will make you love the character at times, and you’ll also feel hatred for the character in the other moment. Besides the acting part, the vibe of the film made it stand out in the crowd.
Keller Dover (Hugh Jackman) is a father whose daughter goes missing with one of her friends. So, basically, the film showcases a father’s love for his family and to what extent he can go to protect them. Detective Loki (Jake Gyllenhaal) steps forward to help this desperate father for the greater cause.
