Jamie Foxx's best movies ranked: From ‘The Burial’ to his Oscar-winning ‘Ray’

Is there anything that Jamie Foxx can't do? Not really, which is why he can play both a street-smart Boston Terrier and soul man Ray Charles.

From his days as a stand-up comedian and starting out on "In Living Color" in the 1990s to snagging a Grammy Award, Foxx's career has been one of joyful versatility – which we've been reminded of in a year full of his movies but also scary health issues. In Foxx's Oscar-winning filmography, he's sung and danced, took snaps as a big-screen quarterback and inhabited a number of real-life roles, including his latest: Foxx, 55, stars as flashy lawyer Willie Gary, who takes the case of a Mississippi funeral home owner (Tommy Lee Jones) in the dramedy "The Burial" (streaming now on Amazon Prime Video).

But how does it compare with his outings as a comic-book supervillain and an animated band director? Here are Foxx's 15 essential movies, ranked:

15. 'Strays' (2023)

A talking dog comedy just edges out "Miami Vice" on this list, simply because of the vocal energy Foxx brings to the delightfully crass Bugs. He's an independent pooch who humps inanimate objects and trips on magic mushrooms, yet Foxx also adds needed depth to scenes where the canine comes clean about his complicated past.

Where to watch: Peacock

14. 'White House Down' (2013)

Who wouldn't vote for Foxx for president? But the actor's POTUS role, James Sawyer, is also an action hero in Roland Emmerich's political thriller. When the White House is under siege and taken over by Secret Service bad guys and mercenaries, Sawyer teams with a Capitol cop (Channing Tatum) to save the day and look cool doing it.

Where to watch: Netflix

13. 'Spider-Man: No Way Home' (2021)

Foxx's supervillain Electro was a blue-skinned travesty we'd all like to forget in "The Amazing Spider-Man 2." However, Foxx nailed a second chance at the character in "No Way Home," giving the dude an electrifying menace and making the most of a rare quiet moment opposite his Spidey (played by Andrew Garfield).

Where to watch: Apple TV, Vudu, Amazon

12. 'Jarhead' (2005)

Sam Mendes' stirring look at life as a Marine during the Gulf War starred Jake Gyllenhaal as Swofford, a new recruit following in his dad's military footsteps, and Foxx as Sykes, a staff sergeant who sees his potential and takes him to sniper school. Sykes also really loves his job, revealed via a scary good Foxx in the film's best scene.

Where to watch: Prime Video

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11. 'They Cloned Tyrone' (2023)

Playing pimp Slick Charles, Foxx's groovy style fits well in the satirical sci-fi pulp mystery. With his associates, a drug dealer (John Boyega) and a clever prostitute (Teyonah Parris), his character dives deep into a sinister underground conspiracy in the Black community that involves mind control and doppelgangers.

Where to watch: Netflix

10. 'Baby Driver' (2017)

With this revved-up, innovative crime thriller, writer/director Edgar Wright crafts exhilarating car chases and gun fights fueled by catchy songs, and Foxx’s bank-robbing Bats is a bonkers delight that ties into the movie's subtext about the 1% and the downtrodden doing bad things to get what they think they deserve.

Where to watch: Apple TV, Vudu, Prime Video

9. 'Soul' (2020)

Foxx made a little history with this existential animated comedy: He voiced Pixar's first Black lead character, a middle school band teacher named Joe who dreams of being a jazz pianist before falling down a manhole and right into the afterlife. Foxx brings warmth, humor and an occasional touch of exasperation when Joe's dealing with 22, an irascible little soul played by Tina Fey.

Where to watch: Disney+

8. 'Ali' (2001)

The boxing biopic is obviously a Will Smith vehicle – he stars as the iconic Muhammad Ali, after all. Yet Foxx was brilliantly cast in the key role of Drew "Bundini" ("rhymes with Houdini") Brown, the trainer who fought to be in Ali's corner, gave the champ some of his best lines and was with Ali through his most victorious times.

Where to watch: Apple TV, Vudu, Prime Video

7. 'Just Mercy' (2019)

In the true-life story, Foxx plays a Black logger wrongfully convicted of strangling and fatally shooting an 18-year-old white woman while Michael B. Jordan is the lawyer out to make sure he gets justice. Both turn in powerful performances as men moving from a place of distrust to making an immeasurable mark on each other.

Where to watch: Apple TV, Vudu, Prime Video

6. 'Any Given Sunday' (1999)

Foxx's first dramatic role came in Oliver Stone's over-the-top football drama. Before the acting and the comedy, Foxx was a high school quarterback in Texas and he lined up under center again on the big screen, as the insanely talented, hard-partying third-string passer who butts heads with teammates (like LL Cool J's star running back).

Where to watch: Apple TV, Vudu, Prime Video

5. 'Django Unchained' (2012)

In Quentin Tarantino's brutal take on the spaghetti Western, the title character (Foxx), a former enslaved man, and a dentist bounty hunter (Christoph Waltz) take down Southern sibling outlaws and then head off to find Django’s wife in Mississippi. Foxx's watchably righteous fury plays well off Leonardo DiCaprio’s sinister plantation-owning villain.

Where to watch: Apple TV, Vudu

4. 'Dreamgirls' (2006)

Starring the likes of Beyoncé and Jennifer Hudson, not to mention Eddie Murphy, Bill Condon's Motown-influenced musical is rife with A-listers. Foxx gets a lot to chew on dramatically as Curtis Taylor Jr., an ambitious Detroit car salesman who becomes the manipulative manager of a girl group and gets too close to his singers.

Where to watch: Apple TV, Vudu, Prime Video

3. 'The Burial' (2023)

Foxx's sheer and sizable charisma is in full force for the real-life legal dramedy as Florida attorney Willie Gary, who helps the cash-strapped owner (Tommy Lee Jones) of a Mississippi funeral home business take on a corporate "deathcare" behemoth. Foxx dazzles as a showboat with heart while holding court in a movie that balances humor with a deeper message.

Where to watch: Prime Video

2. 'Collateral' (2004)

In Michael Mann's noir action thriller, Foxx is low-key fantastic – and earned a supporting actor Oscar nomination – as LA cab driver Max, who picks up a fare wanting to go a bunch of different places. Worse, the guy (Tom Cruise) turns out to be an assassin on a killing spree, and Foxx is an ace at playing Max's fear and frustration through a harrowing night.

Where to watch: Netflix

1. 'Ray' (2004)

Foxx actually scored two Academy Award nominations in the same year but while he didn't win for "Collateral," though no one was going to beat him out for best actor. Bringing all his skills to bear, Foxx's portrayal of Ray Charles – in a movie chronicling his life, loves and songs – is absolutely breathtaking, not just playing the genius musician and businessman but inhabiting the soul of a soul legend.

Where to watch: Apple TV, Vudu, Prime Video

Every Jamie Foxx movie:

“Toys” (1992)

“The Truth About Cats & Dogs” (1996)

“The Great White Hype” (1996)

“Booty Call” (1997)

“The Players Club” (1998)

“Any Given Sunday” (1999)

“Held Up” (2000)

“Bait” (2000)

“Ali” (2001)

“Shade” (2003)

“Breakin' All the Rules” (2004)

“Collateral” (2004)

“Ray” (2004)

“Stealth” (2005)

“Jarhead” (2005)

“Miami Vice” (2006)

“Dreamgirls” (2006)

“The Kingdom” (2007)

“The Soloist” (2009)

“Law Abiding Citizen” (2009)

“Valentine's Day” (2010)

“Due Date” (2010)

“I'm Still Here” (2010)

“Rio” (2011)

“Horrible Bosses” (2011)

“Django Unchained” (2012)

“White House Down” (2013)

“Rio 2” (2014)

“The Amazing Spider-Man 2” (2014)

“A Million Ways to Die in the West” (2014)

“Horrible Bosses 2” (2014)

“Annie” (2014)

“Sleepless” (2017)

“Baby Driver” (2017)

“Robin Hood” (2018)

“Just Mercy” (2019)

“Project Power” (2020)

“Soul” (2020)

“Spider-Man: No Way Home” (2021)

“Day Shift” (2022)

“God Is a Bullet” (2023)

“They Cloned Tyrone” (2023)

“Strays” (2023)

“The Burial” (2023)

Contributing: Olivia Munson

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jamie Foxx movies ranked: A full list from 'Ray' to 'Collateral'