The Best Jeff Daniels Movies

Updated June 14, 2019 2.7k votes 323 voters 59.2k views63 items

List RulesVote for your favorite movies, regardless of critic reviews or how big the role was.

List of the best Jeff Daniels movies, ranked best to worst with movie trailers when available. Jeff Daniels caught audiences' attention early in his career with appearances in films like Terms of Endearment and The Purple Rose of Cairo setting the stage for a fantastic filmography. Jeff Daniels's highest grossing movies have received a lot of accolades over the years, earning millions upon millions around the world. The order of these top Jeff Daniels movies is decided by how many votes they receive, so only highly rated Jeff Daniels movies will be at the top of the list. Jeff Daniels has been in a lot of films, so people often debate each other over what the greatest Jeff Daniels movie of all time is. If you and a friend are arguing about this then use this list of the most entertaining Jeff Daniels films to end the squabble once and for all.

If you think the best Jeff Daniels role isn't at the top, then upvote it so it has the chance to become number one. The greatest Jeff Daniels performances didn't necessarily come from the best movies, but in most cases they go hand in hand.

This list has a variety of films in it, from Dumb & Dumber to Pleasantville.

"This list answers the questions, "What are the best Jeff Daniels movies?" and "What are the greatest Jeff Daniels roles of all time?" If you are a fan of Daniel's humor, you might also enjoy our list of best Jim Carrey movies and best Robin Williams movies.

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Gettysburg
Martin Sheen, Tom Berenger
Released: 1993
Directed by: Ronald F. Maxwell
Gettysburg is a 1993 epic film written and directed by Ronald F. Maxwell, adapted from the... more
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Fly Away Home
Anna Paquin, Dana Delany
Released: 1996
Directed by: Carroll Ballard
Fly Away Home is a 1996 family drama film directed by Carroll Ballard. The film stars Anna... more
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Dumb and Dumber
Jim Carrey, Jeff Daniels
Released: 1994
Directed by: Peter Farrelly, Bobby Farrelly
Dumb and Dumber is a 1994 American road buddy comedy film starring Jim Carrey and Jeff... more
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Speed
Sandra Bullock, Keanu Reeves
Released: 1994
Directed by: Jan de Bont
Speed is a 1994 American action film directed by Jan de Bont in his feature film directorial... more
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Pleasantville
Reese Witherspoon, Paul Walker
Released: 1998
Directed by: Gary Ross
Pleasantville is a 1998 American fantasy comedy-drama film written, produced, and directed by... more
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Arachnophobia
John Goodman, Brandy Norwood
Released: 1990
Directed by: Frank Marshall
Arachnophobia is a 1990 American horror comedy film directed by Frank Marshall and starring... more
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#8 of 136 The Scariest Animal Horror Movies Ever Made#112 of 722 The Best Horror Movies Of All Time
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Because of Winn-Dixie
Elle Fanning, AnnaSophia Robb
Released: 2005
Directed by: Wayne Wang
Because of Winn-Dixie is a 2005 American family comedy-drama film adapted from the book of the... more
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#87 of 190 The Greatest Animal Movies Ever Made#21 of 79 The Best Live Action Animal Movies for Kids
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Timescape
Jeff Daniels, Ariana Richards
Released: 1992
Directed by: David Twohy
Timescape, released on video as Grand Tour: Disaster in Time, is a 1992 American science... more
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RV
Robin Williams, Kristin Chenoweth
Released: 2006
Directed by: Barry Sonnenfeld
RV is a 2006 American road comedy film directed by Barry Sonnenfeld, produced by Lucy Fisher... more
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#1382 of 1,540 The Most Rewatchable Movies#385 of 782 The Greatest Chick Flicks Ever Made
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The Five People You Meet in Heaven
Jon Voight, Jeff Daniels
Released: 2004
Directed by: Lloyd Kramer
The Five People You Meet in Heaven is a 2004 film directed by Lloyd Kramer.... more
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Good Night, and Good Luck
George Clooney, Robert Downey Jr.
Released: 2005
Directed by: George Clooney
Good Night, and Good Luck. is a 2005 American drama film directed by George Clooney and... more
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State of Play
Rachel McAdams, Ben Affleck
Released: 2009
Directed by: Kevin Macdonald
State of Play is a 2009 political thriller film. It is an adaptation of the six-part British... more
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Looper
Bruce Willis, Emily Blunt
Released: 2012
Directed by: Rian Johnson
Looper is a 2012 American science fiction action thriller film directed by Rian Johnson. In... more
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Escanaba in da Moonlight
Jeff Daniels, Harve Presnell
Released: 2001
Directed by: Jeff Daniels
Escanaba in da Moonlight is a 2001 movie starring Jeff Daniels. It is a comedy about hunting... more
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My Favorite Martian
Elizabeth Hurley, Christopher Lloyd
Released: 1999
Directed by: Donald Petrie
My Favorite Martian is a 1999 comic science fiction film starring Christopher Lloyd, Jeff... more
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Imaginary Heroes
Sigourney Weaver, Michelle Williams
Released: 2004
Directed by: Dan Harris
Imaginary Heroes is a 2004 American drama film written and directed by Dan Harris. It focuses... more
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Trial and Error
Charlize Theron, Jennifer Coolidge
Released: 1997
Directed by: Jonathan Lynn
Trial and Error is a 1997 release from New Line Cinema starring Michael Richards, Jeff... more
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The Answer Man
Kat Dennings, Lauren Graham
Released: 2009
Directed by: John Hindman
The Answer Man is a 2009 romantic comedy film written and directed by John Hindman with a cast... more
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The Goodbye Girl
Patricia Heaton, Alan Cumming
Released: 2004
Directed by: Richard Benjamin
The Goodbye Girl is a 2004 comedy film directed by Richard Benjamin.... more
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Radio Days
Woody Allen, Diane Keaton
Released: 1987
Directed by: Woody Allen
Radio Days is a 1987 comedy film written and directed by Woody Allen. The film looks back on... more
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Paper Man
Emma Stone, Ryan Reynolds
Released: 2009
Directed by: Kieran Mulroney, Michele Mulroney
Paper Man is a 2009 independent comedy-drama film written and directed by Kieran and Michele... more
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101 Dalmatians
Hugh Laurie, Glenn Close
Released: 1996
101 Dalmatians is a 1996 family comedy film written and produced by John Hughes and directed... more
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The Lookout
Isla Fisher, Joseph Gordon-Levitt
Released: 2007
Directed by: Scott Frank
The Lookout is a 2007 film written and directed by Scott Frank, screenwriter of Out of Sight... more

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Sweet Hearts Dance
Susan Sarandon, Bernie Sanders
Released: 1988
Directed by: Robert Greenwald
Sweet Hearts Dance is a 1988 American comedy drama film directed by Robert Greenwald. The... more
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Something Wild
Melanie Griffith, Ray Liotta
Released: 1986
Directed by: Jonathan Demme
Something Wild is a 1986 American action comedy film directed by Jonathan Demme and starring... more
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