Want to know the best Jeff Daniels movies? How about the worst Jeff Daniels movies? Curious about Jeff Daniels box office grosses or which Jeff Daniels movie picked up the most Oscar® nominations? Need to know which Jeff Daniels movie got the best reviews from critics and audiences and which got the worst reviews? Well you have come to the right place….because we have all of that information.
Jeff Daniels (1955-) is an American actor, musician, and playwright whose career includes roles in films, stage productions, and television, for which he has won two Emmy® Awards and received several Golden Globe®, Screen Actors Guild®, and Tony® Award nominations. He has been making movies for the last 4 decades. His IMDb page shows over 80 acting credits since 1980. This page will rank Jeff Daniels movies from Best to Worst in six different sortable columns of information. Television shows, shorts, cameos, uncredited roles and movies that were not released in North American were not included in the rankings.
Jeff Daniels Movies Ranked In Chronological Order With Ultimate Movie Rankings Score (1 to 5 UMR Tickets) *Best combo of box office, reviews and awards.
Jeff Daniels Movies Can Be Ranked 6 Ways In This Table
The really cool thing about this table is that it is “user-sortable”. Rank the movies anyway you want.
- Sort Jeff Daniels movies by his co-stars
- Sort Jeff Daniels movies by adjusted domestic box office grosses using current movie ticket cost.
- Sort Jeff Daniels movies by domestic yearly box office rank
- Sort Jeff Daniels movies how they were received by critics and audiences. 60% rating or higher should indicate a good movie.
- Sort by how many Oscar® nominations and how many Oscar® wins each Jeff Daniels movie received.
- Sort Jeff Daniels movies by Ultimate Movie Rankings (UMR) Score. UMR Score puts box office, reviews and awards into a mathematical equation and gives each movie a score.
Best IMDb Trivia on Jeff Daniels
1. Jeffrey Warren Daniels was born in Athens, Georgia in 1955. Daniels has been married to his high school sweetheart, Kathleen Rosemary Treado, since 1979….they have three children.
2. While making the 1994’s Speed, Jeff Daniels thought it would not be successful. He reversed his opinion after seeing the finished product.
3. According to the Farrelly brothers, Jeff Daniels wasn’t wanted for the film, Dumb and Dumber (1994), but Jim Carrey wanted him in it. In order to ensure a no from him, they offered Daniels $50,000 for the role. He accepted without any hesitation nor did he attempt to negotiate, despite insistence from his agent the film would “kill his career.” By 1994, the film was Daniels’ most successful.
4. Jeff Daniels’ favorite role was Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain from Gettysburg (1993) and its prequel Gods and Generals (2003).
5. Jeff Daniels has been writing song diaries for over thirty years, he has focused on recording a number of songs that he has written throughout his life, apparently marking key moments. He has kept busy with frequent gigs and two full length albums, Grandfather’s Hat and Jeff Daniels Live and Unplugged.
6. Jeff Daniels is the founder of the Purple Rose Theatre Company in Chelsea, Michigan, named after Woody Allen’s The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985) in which he starred.
Check out Jeff Daniels’ career compared to current and classic actors. Most 100 Million Dollar Movies of All-Time.
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I saw 20 including 12 of top 14. 10 and favorite speed. 10s not favorites :terms of endearment, the martian. 9 not favorite goodnight and good luck. hidden gems:fly away home 8, because of winn dixie 8, the hours 8, goodnight and good luck 9.
Hey bob cox. Thanks for the thoughts on our Jeff Daniels Page. 20 is a prett good percentage. Right there with you on Speed. I liked, and WoC loved The Martian. I love Jack Nicholson in Terms of Endearment….Daniels is also good in that one. Good thoughts as always.
Jeff Daniels eh? I don’t see any announcement that this is a new page, I only noticed when I saw Dan’s comment link.
I’ve seen 16 of the 54 films on the chart. Less than I thought. Favorites are – Speed, Looper, The Martian, Allegiant, Arachnophobia and 2 Days in the Valley.
Good to see Looper and The Martian topping the review chart.
It’s been ages since I last saw Arachnophobia, I enjoyed it despite having arachnophobia myself. Should give it another spin and watch again with my feet off the floor. 😉
I don’t think I’ve seen Good Luck & Good Night, I should watch out for it next time it’s on the telly. Steve Jobs was good I remember, need to watch it again.
Nice work Bruce. Vote Up!
Hey Steve. Thanks for checking out our Jeff Daniels page. I have been told more than a few times that I resemble Mr. Daniels. I have seen 33 of his movies…including 30 of his Top 31. I have seen all of your favorites. With Speed, Looper and The Martian being my Top 3 Jeff Daniels movies. I have not seen Arachnophobia in ages myself….my vague memory of that movie…Goodman is funny…and it takes place in a barn for a lot of the movie. As for the ones you have missed…Good Luck and Good Night is a good movie….Steve Jobs was ok. Thanks for the votes up and the comment. Good stuff as always.
My wife has holiday traditions with certain movies. One film, albeit a TV film, she runs every Christmas is The Crossing with Jeff as George Washington.
Jeff is # 377 on the Oracle of Bacon Top 1000 Center of the Hollywood Universe list; these are the other actors on the list he appears with.
10 MARTIN SHEEN Gettysburg (1993)
11 SAMUEL L. JACKSON Ragtime (1981)
19 DENNIS HOPPER Speed (1994)
27 FRANK WELKER 101 Dalmatians (1996)
33 MORGAN FREEMAN Marie (1985)
40 ROBERT DUVALL Gods and Generals (2003)
54 JACK NICHOLSON Heartburn (1986)
54 JACK NICHOLSON Ragtime (1981)
54 JACK NICHOLSON Terms of Endearment (1983)
58 HELEN MIRREN State of Play (2009)
63 ED HARRIS The Hours (2002)
64 TOM WILKINSON THE CATCHER WAS A SPY (2018)
66 BRUCE WILLIS Looper (2012)
68 CHRISTOPHER LLOYD My Favorite Martian (1999)
70 SUSAN SARANDON Sweet Hearts Dance (1988)
98 JOHN GOODMAN Arachnophobia (1990)
100 ELI WALLACH Mama’s Boy (2007)
102 RIP TORN Trial and Error (1997)
103 CLINT EASTWOOD Blood Work (2002)
106 BRAD DOURIF Ragtime (1981)
112 SHIRLEY MACLAINE Terms of Endearment (1983)
153 ROBERT FORSTER All the Rage (1999)
157 MATT DAMON THE MARTIAN (2015)
169 CLINT HOWARD A Plumm Summer (2007)
174 ANJELICA HUSTON Blood Work (2002)
176 STEPHEN TOBOLOWSKY Checking Out (1989)
176 STEPHEN TOBOLOWSKY Welcome Home, Roxy Carmichael (1990)
178 RICHARD GRIFFITHS Ragtime (1981)
179 XANDER BERKELEY THE DIVERGENT SERIES ALLEGIANT (2016)
184 NICOLE KIDMAN The Hours (2002)
190 MIKE STARR Dumb & Dumber (1994)
190 MIKE STARR Radio Days (1987)
194 GIANCARLO GIANNINI THE CATCHER WAS A SPY (2018)
199 BILL MURRAY DUMB AND DUMBER TO (2014)
206 STANLEY TUCCI Space Chimps (2008)
209 KEANU REEVES Speed (1994)
210 BRUCE MCGILL The Lookout (2007)
212 DAVID STRAITHAIRN Good Night, and Good Luck. (2005)
212 DAVID STRAITHAIRN Howl (2010)
213 DANNY DEVITO Terms of Endearment (1983)
214 NAOMI WATTS THE DIVERGENT SERIES ALLEGIANT (2016)
225 BOB BALABAN Howl (2010)
231 TREAT WILLIAMS Howl (2010)
234 TOM BERENGER Gettysburg (1993)
237 MERYL STREEP Heartburn (1986)
237 MERYL STREEP The Hours (2002)
238 TONY SHALHOUB HEARTBURN (1986)
247 JOHN WOOD Heartburn (1986)
247 JOHN WOOD The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985)
248 WOODY ALLEN Radio Days (1987)
254 FRANK LANGELLA Good Night, and Good Luck. (2005)
255 EDWARD HERRMANN The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985)
262 WALLACE SHAWN My Favorite Martian (1999)
262 WALLACE SHAWN Radio Days (1987)
263 DANNY AIELLO 2 Days in the Valley (1996)
263 DANNY AIELLO Radio Days (1987)
263 DANNY AIELLO The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985)
274 MIA FARROW Radio Days (1987)
274 MIA FARROW The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985)
275 PAUL GIAMATTI THE CATCHER WAS A SPY (2018)
278 AUSTIN PENDLETON 2 Days in the Valley (1996)
278 AUSTIN PENDLETON Rain Without Thunder (1992)
278 AUSTIN PENDLETON Trial and Error (1997)
281 CLORIS LEACHMAN Love Hurts (1990)
284 JULIANNE MOORE The Hours (2002)
286 SIGOURNEY WEAVER Imaginary Heroes (2004)
286 SIGOURNEY WEAVER Infamous (2006)
287 GLENN CLOSE 101 Dalmatians (1996)
288 JULIAN SANDS Arachnophobia (1990)
293 ALLISON JANNEY AWAY WE GO (2009)
293 ALLISON JANNEY THE HOURS (2002)
294 MELANIE GRIFFITH Something Wild (1986)
304 MARY STEENBURGEN Ragtime (1981)
304 MARY STEENBURGEN The Butcher’s Wife (1991)
310 TOM KENNY SPACE CHIMPS (2008)
312 HARRIS YULIN There Goes the Neighborhood (1992)
315 MARK STRONG THE CATCHER WAS A SPY (2018)
318 STOCKARD CHANNING Heartburn (1986)
319 PETER JASON Arachnophobia (1990)
327 DARYL HANNAH My Favorite Martian (1999)
328 MIRANDA RICHARDSON The Hours (2002)
348 KEITH CARRADINE 2 Days in the Valley (1996)
354 WILLIAM H. MACY Pleasantville (1998)
354 WILLIAM H. MACY Radio Days (1987)
359 DIANE KEATON Mama’s Boy (2007)
359 DIANE KEATON Radio Days (1987)
361 JOHN LITHGOW Terms of Endearment (1983)
364 RAY LIOTTA Something Wild (1986)
375 TERI GARR Dumb & Dumber (1994)
382 ROBERT DOWNEY JR. Good Night, and Good Luck. (2005)
383 JOHN RATZENBERGER Ragtime (1981)
387 LIN SHAYE Dumb & Dumber (1994)
407 JOHN ORTIZ STEVE JOBS (2015)
409 MICHAEL LERNER My Favorite Martian (1999)
421 SEAN BEAN THE MARTIAN (2015)
429 DON CHEADLE Traitor (2008)
437 TOBY JONES INFAMOUS (2006)
445 DABNEY COLEMAN There Goes the Neighborhood (1992)
448 DEMI MOORE The Butcher’s Wife (1991)
449 CHARLES NAPIER Something Wild (1986)
458 SAM ELLIOTT Gettysburg (1993)
477 TRACEY WALTER Something Wild (1986)
490 DALE DYE Trial and Error (1997)
500 JOSH BROLIN All the Rage (1999)
518 ERIC STOLTZ 2 Days in the Valley (1996)
520 SHEA WHIGHAM THE CATCHER WAS A SPY (2018)
522 WINONA RYDER Welcome Home, Roxy Carmichael (1990)
526 MIRA SORVINO Gods and Generals (2003)
530 CHARLIZE THERON 2 Days in the Valley (1996)
530 CHARLIZE THERON Trial and Error (1997)
545 ISABELLA ROSSELLINI Infamous (2006)
550 JAMES REBHORN The House on Carroll Street (1988)
552 GEORGE CLOONEY Good Night, and Good Luck. (2005)
554 RICHARD JORDAN Gettysburg (1993)
556 JAMES SPADER 2 DAYS IN THE VALLEY (1996)
556 JAMES SPADER I WITNESS (2003)
557 JEREMY PIVEN There Goes the Neighborhood (1992)
569 RICHARD RIEHLE A Plumm Summer (2007)
573 RICHARD SCHIFF Speed (1994)
585 PAUL RUDD THE CATCHER WAS A SPY (2018)
590 BEN AFFLECK State of Play (2009)
592 JOHN C. REILLY The Hours (2002)
597 FRANCES MCDORMAND The Butcher’s Wife (1991)
602 KEVIN SPACEY Heartburn (1986)
626 GWYNETH PALTROW Infamous (2006)
630 MIRIAM MARGOLYES The Butcher’s Wife (1991)
636 TONI COLLETTE THE HOURS (2002)
670 J.T. WALSH Pleasantville (1998)
673 CARLA GUGINO The Lookout (2007)
673 CARLA GUGINO Welcome Home, Roxy Carmichael (1990)
679 RICHARD MASUR Heartburn (1986)
684 C. THOMAS HOWELL Gettysburg (1993)
684 C. THOMAS HOWELL Gods and Generals (2003)
706 RICHARD PORTNOW Radio Days (1987)
706 RICHARD PORTNOW There Goes the Neighborhood (1992)
710 SETH GREEN RADIO DAYS (1987)
722 BESSIE LOVE Ragtime (1981)
730 LOUISE FLETCHER 2 Days in the Valley (1996)
733 DANIEL CRAIG Infamous (2006)
742 DIANNE WIEST RADIO DAYS (1987)
742 DIANNE WIEST THE PURPLE ROSE OF CAIRO (1985)
754 CHIWETEL EJIOFOR THE MARTIAN (2015)
761 JAMES FRANCO Howl (2010)
764 FRANKIE FAISON Gods and Generals (2003)
764 FRANKIE FAISON Ragtime (1981)
771 LAURA LINNEY THE SQUID AND THE WHALE (2005)
778 SANDRA BULLOCK Infamous (2006)
778 SANDRA BULLOCK Speed (1994)
789 EMILY BLUNT LOOPER (2012)
790 WILLIAM MORGAN SHEPPARD Gettysburg (1993)
790 WILLIAM MORGAN SHEPPARD Gods and Generals (2003)
790 WILLIAM MORGAN SHEPPARD There Goes the Neighborhood (1992)
822 GIOVANNI RIBISI ALL THE RAGE (1999)
826 MICHAEL PENA THE MARTIAN (2015)
834 JIM CARREY Dumb & Dumber (1994)
834 JIM CARREY DUMB AND DUMBER TO (2014)
850 KATE WINSLET STEVE JOBS (2015)
854 PAT O’BRIEN Ragtime (1981)
868 JOHN DIEHL Gettysburg (1993)
869 RICHARD ANDERSON Gettysburg (1993)
872 STEPHEN DILLANE THE HOURS (2002)
873 MAGGIE GYLLENHAAL Away We Go (2009)
875 PATRICIA CLARKSON Good Night, and Good Luck. (2005)
881 ELIZABETH MCGOVERN RAGTIME (1981)
886 STEPHEN LANG GETTYSBURG (1993)
886 STEPHEN LANG GODS AND GENERALS (2003)
887 JEFFREY DEMUNN RAGTIME (1981)
903 JANE LYNCH SPACE CHIMPS (2008)
934 SISSY SPACEK Marie (1985)
947 MARY KAY PLACE MAMA’S BOY (2007)
947 MARY KAY PLACE TERMS OF ENDEARMENT (1983)
954 RUSSELL CROWE State of Play (2009)
963 CARLOS ALAZRAQI SPACE CHIMPS (2008)
981 EILEEN ATKINS THE HOURS (2002)
986 KENNETH WELSH Heartburn (1986)
986 KENNETH WELSH Radio Days (1987)
986 KENNETH WELSH The House on Carroll Street (1988)
994 DONAL LOGUE Gettysburg (1993)
1000 MANDY PATINKIN Ragtime (1981)
1000 MANDY PATINKIN The House on Carroll Street (1988)
HM (1000) GLENN MORSHOWER Blood Work (2002)
HM (1000) GLENN MORSHOWER Good Night, and Good Luck. (2005)
HM (862) JOAN PLOWRIGHT 101 DALMATIANS (1996)
Jeff has appeared with 37 Oscar winners.
ALLISON JANNEY AWAY WE GO (2009)
ALLISON JANNEY THE HOURS (2002)
ANJELICA HUSTON Blood Work (2002)
CHARLIZE THERON 2 Days in the Valley (1996)
CHARLIZE THERON Trial and Error (1997)
CLORIS LEACHMAN Love Hurts (1990)
DIANE KEATON Mama’s Boy (2007)
DIANE KEATON Radio Days (1987)
DIANNE WIEST RADIO DAYS (1987)
DIANNE WIEST THE PURPLE ROSE OF CAIRO (1985)
EMMA STONE PAPER MAN (2009)
EVA MARIE SAINT Because of Winn-Dixie (2005)
FRANCES MCDORMAND The Butcher’s Wife (1991)
GEORGE CLOONEY Good Night, and Good Luck. (2005)
GWYNETH PALTROW Infamous (2006)
HELEN MIRREN State of Play (2009)
JACK NICHOLSON Heartburn (1986)
JACK NICHOLSON Ragtime (1981)
JACK NICHOLSON Terms of Endearment (1983)
JAMES CAGNEY Ragtime (1981)
JESSICA TANDY The House on Carroll Street (1988)
JULIANNE MOORE The Hours (2002)
KATE WINSLET STEVE JOBS (2015)
KEVIN SPACEY Heartburn (1986)
LOUISE FLETCHER 2 Days in the Valley (1996)
MARSHA MASON 2 Days in the Valley (1996)
MARY STEENBURGEN Ragtime (1981)
MARY STEENBURGEN The Butcher’s Wife (1991)
MAUREEN STAPLETON Heartburn (1986)
MERYL STREEP Heartburn (1986)
MERYL STREEP The Hours (2002)
MIRA SORVINO Gods and Generals (2003)
MORGAN FREEMAN Marie (1985)
NICOLE KIDMAN The Hours (2002)
OCTAVIA SPENCER THE DIVERGENT SERIES ALLEGIANT (2016)
REESE WITHERSPOON Pleasantville (1998)
ROBERT DUVALL Gods and Generals (2003)
RUSSELL CROWE State of Play (2009)
SANDRA BULLOCK Infamous (2006)
SANDRA BULLOCK Speed (1994)
SHIRLEY MACLAINE Terms of Endearment (1983)
SISSY SPACEK Marie (1985)
SUSAN SARANDON Sweet Hearts Dance (1988)
VIOLA DAVIS STATE OF PLAY (2009)
Hey Dan. As always…thanks for sharing this impressive movie trivia list. Interesting that The Crossing is your wife’s holiday movie. So Jeff is number 377….I suspect he was higher…but he actually did not make many movies in the 2010s….I think he was concentrating on his singing career. First list….nobody in the Top 9…. I found that surprising. Second list….37 Oscar winning co-stars…don’t think that number increased after last night. Good stuff as always.
Always enjoyed watching Jeff Daniels in movies. Loved him in Pleasantville, Speed, Purple Rose, Something Wild and Dumb and Dumber.
Hey Taylor. I had forgotten about Something Wild when I was mentioning my favorite Jeff Daniels movies. I also liked him in Purple Rose of Cairo. Good comment.
The Dumb and Dumber pair of movies are not my cup of tea but I have enjoyed Jeff in: Ragtime; Heartburn; Arachnophobia; Speed; Blood Work; Terms of Endearment; and especially Gorgeous George’s Good Night and Good Luck.
The Work Horse faithfully highlights above Jeff’s diverse artistic talents and his multi-medium contribution to big screen, stage and television. Wikipedia gives details of 14 plays in which he appeared between 1976 and the 2018-2019 period in which he has been playing Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird and receiving a Tony nomination for his labours.
Wiki also gives details of his 21 television productions between 1980 and the present. A big hit with my own family were the 25 episodes of the mini-series The Newsroom [2012-2014] with Jeff in contrast to his Dumb and Dumber character [I think!] playing a moderate Republican news anchor man who tries not to offend outsiders but is difficult to work with. Ironically Jeff in real life is a Democrat. “They stone those in Vermont!” joked Crosby in White Christmas. Boatman: “As we travel up this spooky river you may see many predatory beasts.” “Democrats!” spoofs Leslie Towns Hope as wise-cracking actor Wally Campbell in 1939’s The Cat and the Canary.
Next for Jeff on the small screen are (1) the political mini-series A Higher Loyalty with Jeff in the lead as FBI Director James Comey, Brendan Gleeson as Donald Trump and Holly Hunter as Sally Yates. The series is based on Comey’s book [A Higher loyalty: Truth, Lies and Leadership] and is currently filming in Toronto. Those Canucks must be given something to keep them busy! (2) at pre-production stage is Rust, apparently a full series about a criminal investigation in Pennsylvania with Jeff again in the lead role. For me, both projects look good
On the big screen Jeff will soon appear in the just-completed Adam with Aaron Paul in the title role and also starring Lena Olin and Tom Berenger. Busy-bee Jeff certainly deserves his new page here and has been rewarded for his labours financially with a reported net worth of $45 million [his Dumb and Dumber pal Jim Carrey has supposedly $180 million in net wealth] IMDB credits Jeff with24 acting awards and 43 noms. Good choice Bruce;“Vote UP!”
Hey Bob. Thanks for such a detailed comment on Jeff Daniels and his stage career and upcoming movie and television projects. I have always enjoyed his performances. He is very good in The Martian. He plays the director of NASA. I actually don’t remember his role in Good Luck George…a movie I have only seen once. I have been trying to find Ragtime on DVD but have not done that so far. I saw it years ago…. but want to watch it again…as I do not remember Daniels or Samuel L. Jackson’s roles at all. Good stuff as always.