Jon Favreau’s Movies from Best to Worst – RT Critics

Jonathan “Jon” Favreau (born 19 October 1966) is an American actor and filmmaker.  His best known acting roles include Happy Hogan in the Marvel Cinematic Universe franchise, and roles in the films Rudy (1993), Swingers (1996), Very Bad Things (1998), The Replacements (2000), Daredevil (2003), The Break-Up (2006), Couples Retreat (2009) and Chef (2014), as well as playing Pete Becker in the TV series Friends (1994-2004).  He is known for directing the MCU’s first and third installments, Marvel Studios’ Iron Man (2008) and Marvel Studios’ Iron Man 2 (2010), as well as Elf (2003), Zathura (2005), Cowboys & Aliens (2011), The Jungle Book (2016) and The Lion King (2019).  He was executive producer on Marvel Studios’ Avengers: Endgame (2019) – the highest-grossing film of all time – and several other MCU movies.  He is also creator and executive producer of the web TV series The Mandalorian (2019-present), part of the Star Wars universe.  The following are all his movies – which I haven’t bothered to count – arranged in order from “best” to “worst” according to the collective opinions of Rotten Tomatoes film critics.  Contained is each film’s critical approval, average rating, and critical consensus (if there is one).

Marvel Studios’ Avengers: Endgame (2019)

94% – 8.24/10 (504 reviews)

Exciting, entertaining, and emotionally impactful, Avengers: Endgame does whatever it takes to deliver a satisfying finale to Marvel’s epic Infinity Saga.

The Jungle Book (2016)

94% – 7.73/10 (318 reviews)

As lovely to behold as it is engrossing to watch, The Jungle Book is the rare remake that actually improves upon its predecessors — all while setting a new standard for CGI.

Marvel Studios’ Iron Man (2008)

94% – 7.71/10 (278 reviews)

Powered by Robert Downey Jr.’s vibrant charm, Iron Man turbo-charges the superhero genre with a deft intelligence and infectious sense of fun.

Marvel’s Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)

92% – 7.67/10 (383 reviews)

Spider-Man: Homecoming does whatever a second reboot can, delivering a colorful, fun adventure that fits snugly in the sprawling MCU without getting bogged down in franchise-building.

Marvel’s The Avengers (2012)

91% – 8.05/10 (352 reviews)

Thanks to a script that emphasizes its heroes’ humanity and a wealth of superpowered set pieces, The Avengers lives up to its hype and raises the bar for Marvel at the movies.

Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)

91% – 7.45/10 (425 reviews)

A breezily unpredictable blend of teen romance and superhero action, Spider-Man: Far from Home stylishly sets the stage for the next era of the MCU.

Swingers (1996)

87% – 7.71/10 (54 reviews)

Funny, heartfelt, and effortlessly cool, Swingers made stars out of Vince Vaughn and Jon Favreau, established Doug Liman as a director to watch.

Chef (2014)

87% – 6.79/10 (187 reviews)

Chef‘s charming cast and sharp, funny script add enough spice to make this feel-good comedy a flavorful — if familiar — treat.

Avengers: Infinity War (2018)

85% – 7.63/10 (453 reviews)

Avengers: Infinity War ably juggles a dizzying array of MCU heroes in the fight against their gravest threat yet, and the result is a thrilling, emotionally resonant blockbuster that (mostly) realizes its gargantuan ambitions.

Elf (2003)

84% – 7.03/10 (193 reviews)

A movie full of Yuletide cheer, Elf is a spirited, good-natured family comedy, and it benefits greatly from Will Ferrell’s funny and charming performance as one of Santa’s biggest helpers.

I Love You, Man (2009)

83% – 6.88/10 (207 reviews)

I Love You, Man makes the most of its simple premise due to the heartfelt and hilarious performances of Paul Rudd and Jason Segel.

The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)

79% – 7.79/10 (277 reviews)

Funny, self-referential, and irreverent to a fault, The Wolf of Wall Street finds Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio at their most infectiously dynamic.

Iron Man Three (2013)

79% – 6.97/10 (318 reviews)

With the help of its charismatic lead, some impressive action sequences, and even a few surprises, Iron Man 3 is a witty, entertaining adventure and a strong addition to the Marvel canon.

Rudy (1993)

78% – 6.92/10 (46 reviews)

Though undeniably sentimental and predictable, Rudy succeeds with an uplifting spirit and determination.

Marvel’s Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)

75% – 6.75/10 (360 reviews)

Exuberant and eye-popping, Avengers: Age of Ultron serves as an overstuffed but mostly satisfying sequel, reuniting its predecessor’s unwieldy cast with a few new additions and a worthy foe.

Zathura (2005)

75% – 6.54/10 (159 reviews)

Dazzling special effects for the kids + well-crafted storytelling for the ‘rents = cinematic satisfaction for the whole family.

Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle (1994)

74% – 6.3/10 (31 reviews)

Marvel Studios’ Iron Man 2 (2010)

73% – 6.49/10 (297 reviews)

It isn’t quite the breath of fresh air that Iron Man was, but this sequel comes close with solid performances and an action-packed plot.

Something’s Gotta Give (2003)

72% – 6.6/10 (170 reviews)

Though it occasionally stumbles into sitcom territory, Something’s Gotta Give is mostly a smart, funny romantic comedy, with sharp performances from Jack Nicholson, Diane Keaton, and Keanu Reeves.

Made (2001)

71% – 6.3/10 (107 reviews)

Not as good as Swingers, but it’s still witty and goofy enough for some laughs.

The Big Empty (2003)

71% – 5.29/10 (7 reviews)

Solo (2018)

70% – 6.42/10 (463 reviews)

A flawed yet fun and fast-paced space adventure, Solo: A Star Wars Story should satisfy newcomers to the saga as well as longtime fans who check their expectations at the theater door.

Wimbledon (2004)

61% – 5.87/10 (145 reviews)

A predictable, bland rom-com, but Bettany proves to be an appealing lead.

The Lion King (2019)

53% – 6.01/10 (403 reviews)

While it can take pride in its visual achievements,The Lion King is a by-the-numbers retelling that lacks the energy and heart that made the original so beloved–though for some fans that may just be enough.

People Like Us (2012)

53% – 5.69/10 (119 reviews)

Though calculated and melodramatic, People Like Us benefits from a pair of solid leads and its rare screenplay that caters to adult filmgoers.

John Carter (2012)

52% – 5.77/10 (235 reviews)

While John Carter looks terrific and delivers its share of pulpy thrills, it also suffers from uneven pacing and occasionally incomprehensible plotting and characterization.

Hoffa (1992)

52% – 5.46/10 (25 reviews)

Jack Nicholson embodies Hoffa with malevolent relish, but a dearth of meaningful insight knocks this crime epic off the mark by a nose.

Love & Sex (2000)

48% – 5.23/10 (48 reviews)

Famke Janssen’s charm fails to rescue the movie from a dull screenplay.

Open Season (2006)

48% – 5.4/10 (101 reviews)

Open Season is a cliched palette of tired jokes and CG animal shenanigans that have been seen multiple times this cinematic year.

PCU (1993)

47% – 5.2/10 (15 reviews)

Deep Impact (1998)

45% – 5.77/10 (86 reviews)

A tidal wave of melodrama sinks Deep Impact‘s chance at being the memorable disaster flick it aspires to be.

Cowboys & Aliens (2011)

45% – 5.57/10 (253 reviews)

Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford are as dependably appealing as ever, but they’re let down by director Jon Favreau’s inability to smooth Cowboys & Aliens‘ jarring tonal shifts.

Daredevil (2003)

44% – 5.2/10 (227 reviews)

While Ben Affleck fits the role and the story is sporadically interesting, Daredevil is ultimately a dull, brooding origin story that fails to bring anything new to the genre.

Very Bad Things (1998)

43% – 5.65/10 (56 reviews)

Mean-spirited and empty.

The Replacements (2000)

41% – 4.96/10 (108 reviews)

The cliched characters and obvious outcome make all the fun and excitement amount to nothing.

Forever (1995)

39% – 5.24/10 (66 reviews)

Loud, excessively busy, and often boring, Batman Forever nonetheless has the charisma of Jim Carrey and Tommy Lee Jones to offer mild relief.

The Break-Up (2006)

34% – 5.01/10 (192 reviews)

This anti-romantic comedy lacks both laughs and insight, resulting in an odd and unsatisfying experience.

Rocky Marciano (1999)

33% – 5.63/10 (6 reviews)

Entourage (2015)

33% – 4.71/10 (208 reviews)

Entourage retains many elements of the HBO series, but feels less like a film than a particularly shallow, cameo-studded extended episode of the show.

Four Christmases (2008)

24% – 4.29/10 (144 reviews)

Despite a strong cast, this sour holiday comedy suffers from a hackneyed script.

G-Force (2009)

22% – 4.43/10 (126 reviews)

G-Force features manic action, but fails to come up with interesting characters or an inspired plot.

Identity Thief (2013)

19% – 4.07/10 (174 reviews)

Identity Thief‘s few laughs are attributable to Melissa McCarthy and Jason Bateman, who labor mightily to create a framework for the movie’s undisciplined plotline.

Persons Unknown (1996)

14% – 4.56/10 (7 reviews)

Zookeeper (2011)

14% – 3.41/10 (131 reviews)

Zookeeper smothers Kevin James’s with a sodden script and a surfeit of jokes inappropriate for the young viewers who would be intrigued by its juvenile storyline.

Speechless (1994)

11% – 3.96/10 (28 reviews)

Couples Retreat (2009)

10% – 3.64/10 (162 reviews)

Despite a talented cast and some reliably pleasant interplay between Jon Favreau and Vince Vaughn, Couples Retreat leaves viewers stranded in an arid, mirthless comedy.

Folks! (1992)

0% – 2.5/10 (20 reviews)

Term Life (2016)

0% – 2.09/10 (7 reviews)

[What do you think of these films?  Be sure to let me know in the comments!  Also, send me your review for any movie, and I’ll post it on this site.]

Index of films

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