With over 50 film and TV credits under his belt,Jamie Foxxhas established himself as a true force in the film industry. Although he started out over 20 years ago as a sitcom and comedy star, he made his way into the film world in the early-90s with series such asRocandIn Living Color.Foxx has become the epitome of a stand-upcomedian turned great actor. Since then, he has launched a lucrative career, landing roles in major films likeAli, Miami Vice, andDue Date. In the years after launching his filming career, Foxx has racked up over 30 awards from a variety of major institutions, such as the Oscars, the BET Awards, and the Golden Globes.
Updated July 07, 2025: This article has been updated byAmira Abdel-Fadilwith even more great Jamie Foxx films and also reflects Foxx’s recent film slate.
Jamie Foxx has had an interesting 2023. His first summer release will beGod Is a Bullet, an occult horror film set for August 10, 2025. He will follow that up withThey Cloned Tyronecame to a close, anticipated to be launched soon. He then will close out the summer movie season withStrays, an upcoming comedy about a group of dogs who seek revenge on one of their owners.Foxx also was recently hospitalizedfor an unspecified illness, and his daughter said he is recovering nicely. Take a look at Jamie Foxx’s best movies, according to Rotten Tomatoes.
12Ali (2001) — 68%
Nominated for two Academy Awards,Alichronicles the life of Muhammad Ali, the most famous boxer of all time. The film highlights his victories, rise to the ring, and life’s controversies. While Smith generated most of the headlines in the starring role, Foxx also shines in the film. Foxx plays Ali’s trainer and right-hand man, Drew Bundini Brown. Even for non-boxing fans, the movie is a powerful watch. The movie currently has a 68 % rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
11Horrible Bosses (2011) — 69%
Horrible Bossesis a comedy film that zooms in on the lives of three individuals who plan to kill their bosses to escape the horrible things they make them go through every day. In order to do it, they hire a murder consultant to help them solidify their plan. Starring Jamie Fox, Jennifer Aniston, Kevin Spacey, and Jason Bateman, this movie has an ensemble cast that is bound to entertain. With A-listers, blunt jokes, and a premise that is all too relatable,Horrible Bossesis great fun, and its 69% on Rotten Tomatoes is a reflection of that.
10Rio (2011) — 72%
Riois a delightful-animated movie full of adventure and fun. It tells the story of Blu, a Macaw that was captured and taken to the US by smugglers from Rio de Janeiro. As a result, he hasn’t lived a normal life and hasn’t learned to fly, and is now domesticated. Years later, a lady finds him and his owner and takes him back to Rio de Janeiro as a way to preserve the endangered species. The task, however, is not easy as Blu is always targeted in order to be sold.
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The movie is a beautiful depiction of discovering your own wings, trying to stand up for yourself, and discovering a world that feels like your true home after being robbed of your identity and true environment. In this heartwarming motion picture, Jamie Fox narrates the character of Nico, a yellow Canary that guides a blue on his journey. The motion picture, with stunning visuals, has earned itself a 72% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
9Ray (2004) — 79%
Marked as one of the most sensational movies of the early-2000s,Rayfeatured a story of the 30 great years Ray Charles spent in the life of rhythm and blues. This biographical/musical film starred Foxx in the leading role of Ray Charles, and according to spectators, he fulfilled the role beautifully.
Roger Ebert described the role as “Foxx so accurately reflects my own images and memories of Charles that I abandoned thoughts of how much ‘like’ Charles he was and just accepted him as Charles, and got on with the story.” This role alone gathered Foxxan Academy Awardfor Best Actor, as well as the BAFTA, Golden Globe, Critics' Choice, and Screen Actors Guild.Raysits at a solid 79% on Rotten Tomatoes.
8Dreamgirls (2006) — 79%
Dreamgirlsfeatured a whole onslaught of great performers, such as Beyoncé, Jennifer Hudson, Anika Noni Rose, Eddie Murphy, Loretta Devine, and, of course, Foxx. In this film, Foxx is cast as Curtis Taylor Jr, a Cadillac dealer turned record executive who founds Rainbow Records. He sets out on a quest to make Black artists known and loved among white households.
The story strongly follows the evolution of American R&B music during the 60s/70s. It garnered positive reviews from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, scoring 79%, with critics noting the film’s “electrifying performances and the dazzling musical numbers.”
7The Truth About Cats & Dogs (1996) — 85%
The oldest entry on the list, with an 85% Rotten Tomatoes score,The Truth About Cats & Dogsfollows veterinarian Abby (Janeane Garofalo), who also hosts a radio show where they answer questions about pets. Abby takes a phone call on her radio show from Brian (Ben Chaplin) and falls for him over the phone. Being self-conscious, Abby lies about what she looks like and describes her ultra-beautiful neighbor, Noelle (Uma Thurman). When Ben and Abby decide to meet in person, Abby has Noelle stand in for her — only Ben realizes this Abby looks right, but her personality is different. Although Foxx’s role is small in this film, it’s a crucial point in his career as he started ticking upwards into fame.
6Just Mercy (2019) — 85%
This powerful film isbased on a true storydepicting Bryan Stevenson (Michael B. Jordan), a lawyer seeking justice for clients wrongfully sentenced to capital punishment by a racist system, and Walter McMillian (Foxx), his first case.Just Mercytouches on powerful social injustices and provides us with an inside look into a different view. Foxx plays a heartfelt role in this film, with critics citing the strong performances in this film.Just Mercygarnered an impressive Rotten Tomatoes score of 85%, with an almost-perfect user score of 99%.
5Collateral (2004) — 86%
InCollateral, Foxx plays Max, a kidnapped taxi driver who spends the night driving a hitman (Tom Cruise) around Los Angeles with the authorities chasing after them. According to many critics, this was a wonderful performance on Foxx’s part, with them citing his perfect level of anger and character development. Foxx received a nomination at the 77th Academy Awards for Best Supporting Actor for his part inCollateralin the same year he won the Best Actor Academy Award inRay. The film scored 86% on Rotten Tomatoes.
4Django Unchained (2012) — 87%
Django Unchainedis a Western film set in the 1800s, following Django (Foxx), a slave turned bounty hunter who seeks his wife’s freedom and thus kills those who Schultz (Christopher Waltz) wants dead in exchange for his freedom from slavery and a start at a new life with his wife, who has been sold off and is missing. Since this is a Quentin Tarantino film, there is plenty of sharp dialogue, unlikely protagonists, and extremely unique plots. Critics titled this film “bold, bloody, and stylistically daring,” so it’s no wonder that it sits at 87% on Rotten Tomatoes.
3Baby Driver (2017) — 92%
This action film features the story of Baby (Ansel Elgort), a getaway driver seeking freedom from the crime life, along with his girlfriend Debora (Lily James).Baby Driverfeatures Foxx as an antagonist this time, in the role of Leon Jefferson III, Doc’s sadistic henchman who will mow anyone down if they are in the way. Critics were a fan of this film, whether professional or casual, for its thrills, smart writing, and acting performances. With a 92% score on Rotten Tomatoes, it’s one of the highest-rated in Foxx’s filmography.
