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."

"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.  

"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."

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."

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."

"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." 

"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."

"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."

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."

"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."

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. 

"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."

"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." 

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."

"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."

"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. 

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.

"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. 

"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.

"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.

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.

"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." 

"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."

"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."

"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."