James Earl Jones: Movies, Awards & Box Office
- films
- 123
- on screen
- 1967–2021
- box office
- $3.2B
- award wins
- 2
- average score
- 54
The Best James Earl Jones Movies
The highest-rated films James Earl Jones is credited on, by the Movie Echo Score that blends critic reviews, audience ratings and lasting impact. Coming 2 America (2021) scores highest, at 55. The full ranking adds the biggest box office hits and the most awarded films.
James Earl Jones's Career in Numbers
James Earl Jones's films in numbers — as an actor, not counting appearances as themselves: when they were made, the genres James Earl Jones works in most and the milestones along the way. The filmography runs from The Comedians (1967) to Coming 2 America (2021), and the 1990s were the busiest decade.
James Earl Jones Movies by Decade
- 1960s 1
- 1970s 19
- 1980s 22
- 1990s 34
- 2000s 13
- 2010s 8
- 2020s 1
The 1990s were James Earl Jones's busiest decade, with 34 films.
James Earl Jones Movies by Genre
- Drama 27
- Comedy 11
- Documentary 9
- Action 8
- Tv movie 7
- Sci-Fi 7
- Family 7
- Adventure 6
- Thriller 3
- Animation 3
Drama is the genre James Earl Jones has worked in most, with 27 films, ahead of comedy (11).
James Earl Jones Career Milestones
- First film
- The Comedians 1967
- Biggest box office hit
- The Lion King $1.66B worldwide
- Best-rated film
- Coming 2 America Movie Echo Score 55
- Newest film
- Coming 2 America 2021
James Earl Jones Filmography: Every Movie
Every film James Earl Jones is credited on, newest first, with the role, the box office and the Movie Echo Score. Rated films average a score of 54. Re-order the list to see the best-rated films or the biggest hits first.
James Earl Jones Movies as an Actor
98- 2021
Coming 2 America Comedy Movie Echo Score: 55 - 2019
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker as Darth Vader (voice) · Adventure Movie Echo Score: 46 - 2019
The Lion King as Mufasa · Adventure Worldwide box office: $1.66B Movie Echo Score: 46 - 2018
Warning Shot as Pendleton · Thriller Movie Echo Score: 42 - 2015
The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar as Mufasa (voice) · Tv movie - 2015
Star Wars Rebels: The Siege of Lothal as Darth Vader (voice) · Sci-Fi - 2014
Star Wars Rebels: Spark of Rebellion as Darth Vader (voice) · Family - 2014
Gimme Shelter Drama Worldwide box office: $1.36M - 2010
Quantum Quest: A Cassini Space Odyssey as Admiral (voice) · Sci-Fi - 2009
Jack and the Beanstalk as The Giant (voice) · Adventure - 2005
The Reading Room as William · Drama - 2005
The Sandlot 2 as Mr. Mertle · Comedy - 2005
By Any Means Necessary: The Making of ‘Malcolm X’ as Narrator · Documentary - 2004
Nine Dog Christmas as Storyteller (voice) · Family - 2004
The Story of Star Wars as Darth Vader (archive footage) · Documentary - 2001
Feast of All Saints as Older Marcel · Drama - 2001
Recess Christmas: Miracle On Third Street as Mister (voice) · Comedy - 2001
The Annihilation of Fish Romance - 2001
Finder’s Fee as Avery Phillips · Thriller - 2001
Disney’s American Legends as Narrator · Fantasy - 2000
Summer’s End as Dr. William 'Bill' Blakely · Family - 2000
Sidney Poitier: One Bright Light Documentary - 1999
Santa and Pete as James Earl Jones · Drama - 1999
The Annihilation of Fish as Fish · Drama Worldwide box office: $70.8K - 1999
Undercover Angel as The Judge · Drama - 1999
Our Friend, Martin as Daddy King (voice) · Family - 1998
The Lion King II: Simba’s Pride as Mufasa (voice) · Family - 1997
Alone as Grey · Drama - 1997
What the Deaf Man Heard as Archibald Thacker · Drama - 1997
Gang Related Action Worldwide box office: $5.91M - 1997
The Second Civil War as Jim Kalla · Tv movie - 1996
Timepiece as Lawrence · Drama - 1996
Rebound: The Legend of Earl ‘The Goat’ Manigault as Dr. McDuffie · Tv movie - 1996
A Family Thing Drama Worldwide box office: $10.1M - 1995
Cry, the Beloved Country Drama Worldwide box office: $671K - 1995
Judge Dredd as Narrator (uncredited) · Sci-Fi Worldwide box office: $113M - 1995
The Making of ‘Jurassic Park’ as Host · Tv movie - 1994
The Lion King Adventure Worldwide box office: $979M - 1994
The Twilight Zone: Rod Serling’s Lost Classics as Host · Sci-Fi - 1994
Clean Slate as John Dolby · Comedy Worldwide box office: $7.36M - 1994
Africa: The Serengeti as Narrator · Documentary - 1994
Confessions: Two Faces of Evil as Charles Lloyd · Drama - 1994
The Vernon Johns Story as Vernon Johns · Drama - 1993
The Meteor Man as Earnest Moses · Sci-Fi Worldwide box office: $8.02M - 1993
Excessive Force as Jake · Action Worldwide box office: $1.15M - 1993
Sommersby as Judge Barry Conrad Issacs · Thriller Worldwide box office: $140M - 1992
Lincoln as Narrator (voice) · Documentary - 1991
True Identity as James Earl Jones · Comedy Worldwide box office: $4.69M - 1991
When It Was a Game as (voice) · History - 1991
Scorchers as Bear · Comedy - 1991
Visitors from the Unknown as Narrator (voice) · Documentary - 1991
Convicts as Ben Johnson · Drama Worldwide box office: $13.6K - 1990
Grim Prairie Tales as Morrison · Horror - 1990
Ivory Hunters as Inspector Nkuru · Tv movie - 1990
By Dawn’s Early Light as Alice · Action - 1990
The Ambulance as Lt. Spencer · Comedy - 1989
Best of the Best Action Worldwide box office: $1.7M - 1989
Field of Dreams Drama Worldwide box office: $84.5M - 1989
Three Fugitives Action Worldwide box office: $40.6M - 1988
Michael Jackson: The Legend Continues as Narrator (voice) · Documentary - 1987
Pinocchio and the Emperor of the Night as Emperor of the Night (voice) · Animation Worldwide box office: $3.26M - 1987
Gardens of Stone as Sgt. Maj.'Goody' Nelson · Drama Worldwide box office: $5.26M - 1986
Allan Quatermain and the Lost City of Gold as Umslopogaas · Mystery Worldwide box office: $3.75M - 1986
Soul Man Comedy Worldwide box office: $27.8M - 1986
My Little Girl as Ike Bailey · Drama Worldwide box office: $25K - 1986
Aladdin and His Wonderful Lamp as Genie / Narrator · Romance - 1985
The Atlanta Child Murders as Major Walker · Drama - 1984
The Vegas Strip War as Jack Madrid · Tv movie - 1984
City Limits as Albert · Action - 1984
Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People’s Ears as Narrator · Animation - 1983
Return of the Jedi as Darth Vader (voice) · Sci-Fi - 1982
Blood Tide as Frye · Action - 1982
The Flight of Dragons as Ommadon (voice) · Family - 1982
Conan the Barbarian Action Worldwide box office: $68.9M - 1981
The Creation as Narrator (voice) · Animation - 1981
The Bushido Blade as The Prisoner · History - 1980
The Empire Strikes Back as Darth Vader (voice) (uncredited) · Sci-Fi - 1980
Guyana Tragedy: The Story of Jim Jones as Father Divine · Drama - 1979
Roots: The Next Generations as Alex Haley · Drama - 1978
The Star Wars Holiday Special as Darth Vader (voice) · Music - 1978
The Story of the Faithful Wookiee as Darth Vader (uncredited) (voice) · Adventure - 1977
A Piece of the Action as Joshua Burke · Comedy - 1977
The Making of Star Wars as Darth Vader (voice) (uncredited) · Documentary - 1977
Exorcist II: The Heretic Horror Worldwide box office: $30.7M - 1977
The Last Remake of Beau Geste as Sheikh · Adventure - 1977
The Greatest as Malcolm X · Drama - 1977
Jesus of Nazareth as Balthazar · Drama - 1976
Swashbuckler as Nick Debrett · Comedy - 1976
The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings as Leon · Comedy - 1976
The River Niger as Johnny Williams · Drama - 1975
Deadly Hero as Rabbit Shazam · Crime - 1975
The UFO Incident as Barney Hill · Tv movie - 1974
The Cay as Timothy · Family - 1974
Claudine as Rupert D. "Roop" Marshall · Drama - 1972
Malcolm X as Biographical Narration (voice) · Documentary - 1970
The Great White Hope Drama - 1970
End of the Road as Doctor D · Drama - 1967
The Comedians as Dr. Magiot · Drama
James Earl Jones in Documentaries & Specials
25- 2019
On Broadway as Self (archive footage) · Documentary Worldwide box office: $82.7K Movie Echo Score: 80 - 2019
Raúl Juliá: The World’s a Stage as Self · Documentary - 2019
Words from a Bear as Self · Documentary - 2017
Broadway: The Next Generation as Self · Tv movie - 2015
August Wilson: The Ground on Which I Stand as Self · Documentary - 2013
Muse of Fire as Self · Documentary - 2013
Milius as Self · Documentary - 2012
An Amazing Time: A Conversation About End of the Road as Self · Documentary - 2012
Joe Papp in Five Acts as Self · Documentary - 2006
Searching for Orson as Self · Documentary - 2005
Hollywood’s Greatest Villains as Self · Documentary - 2004
No Fighting in the War Room Or: ‘Dr Strangelove’ and the Nuclear Threat as Self · Documentary - 2004
Empire of Dreams: The Story of the Star Wars Trilogy as Self · Documentary - 2001
Muhammad Ali - Through The Eyes Of The World as Self · Documentary - 2000
Conan Unchained: The Making of ‘Conan’ as Self · Documentary - 2000
Inside: ‘Dr. Strangelove or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb’ as Self - 'Lieutenant Lothar Zogg' · Documentary - 2000
The Art of Stanley Kubrick: From Short Films to Strangelove as Self · Documentary - 1996
Looking for Richard as Self - Interviewee · Documentary Worldwide box office: $1.41M - 1995
The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Movies as Self · Documentary - 1994
The Making of the Lion King as Self · Documentary - 1985
Night of 100 Stars II as Self · Music - 1982
Night of 100 Stars as Self · Comedy - 1981
There Was Always Sun Shining Someplace: Life in the Negro Baseball Leagues as himself, voice · Documentary - 1979
A Walking Tour of Sesame Street as Self - Host · Family - 1978
Black Theatre: The Making of a Movement as Self · Documentary
James Earl Jones: Awards & Nominations
2 wins from 6 nominations across 4 award bodies, from 1970 to 1996. Every ceremony is listed newest first, with the category and the film.
-
Golden Globes 2 wins from 3 nominations -
Actor Awards (SAG) 1 nomination -
Spirit Awards 1 nomination -
Oscars 1 nomination
- 2nd Screen Actors Guild Awards
- James Earl Jones: Nominated Outstanding Leading Male Actor Cry, the Beloved Country
- 3rd Independent Spirit Awards
- James Earl Jones: Nominated Best Supporting Male Matewan
- 43rd Academy Awards
- James Earl Jones: Nominated Best Actor The Great White Hope
- 28th Golden Globe Awards
- James Earl Jones: Nominated Best Actor – Drama The Great White Hope
- James Earl Jones: Win New Star of the Year – Actor The Great White Hope
- 27th Golden Globe Awards
- James Earl Jones: Win New Star of the Year – Actor The Great White Hope
Who James Earl Jones Makes Movies With
The actors and directors James Earl Jones shares the most films with. Mark Hamill comes first, with 10 films together, followed by Harrison Ford (9).
James Earl Jones: Questions & Answers
How many movies James Earl Jones has made, the biggest hit, the best-rated film, the award record and more, answered from the filmography above.
How many movies has James Earl Jones been in?
James Earl Jones is credited on 123 films, from 1967 to 2021. The filmography on this page lists every one of them, newest first, with the role and the Movie Echo Score.
What is James Earl Jones's highest-grossing movie?
The Lion King (2019) is James Earl Jones's biggest box office hit, with $1.66B worldwide, ahead of The Lion King (1994) ($979M). Across every film with box office figures, James Earl Jones's movies have made $3.2B.
James Earl Jones's biggest hits What is the best James Earl Jones movie?
By the Movie Echo Score, which blends critic reviews, audience ratings and lasting impact, James Earl Jones's best-rated film is On Broadway (2019) with a score of 80, followed by Coming 2 America (2021) (55).
Best James Earl Jones movies, ranked Has James Earl Jones won an Oscar?
James Earl Jones has been nominated for an Oscar but has not won one yet. Across every ceremony in the awards database, James Earl Jones has 2 wins from 6 nominations.
What is James Earl Jones's newest movie?
The most recent film on James Earl Jones's filmography is Coming 2 America (2021).
Who does James Earl Jones work with most often?
James Earl Jones shares the most films with Mark Hamill (10 films), Harrison Ford (9 films) and Anthony Daniels (8 films).
The Best James Earl Jones Movies, Ranked
Top rated, most awarded and biggest box office hits from 123 credits.
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