Top 10 Jim Carrey Performances

A role that seemed to have been written for him, Count Olaf is an evil old man who just so happens to also be an old timey stage actor that disguises himself to keep tabs on three children whose fortune he desires. Playing to his uncanny ability to create textured comedic personalities and his all-encompassing commitment to the moment, nobody else could have played the character - taken from Lemony Snicket's children's novels - better. It takes incredible skill to be likeable no matter your evil deeds but hate-able enough that audiences cherish your inevitable just desserts and that's exactly what Jim Carrey achieves in this fantasy comedy.

This is perhaps the least known film on this list, arguably due to its overt homosexual content which ensured it only received a limited release; and that is a real shame as the comedy should have garnered a much larger following. Anchored by Carrey's performance as a man who is hopelessly in love and will do whatever it takes to be with the man he loves, this is some of the actor's best work. Despite his status as a prisoner, he remains innocent and sweet throughout and we root for his happiness from beginning to end.

When the credits come down and the movie is over, we think we've learned something about this man with the lisp, but he may just be fooling us as he did so many in the film. What we do know though, is that we had a ball watching him and are entirely happy that we never found ourselves in his gaze. At the time of its release, “The Cable Guy” was seen by some as the first failure since Carrey's career took flight, but we'd argue that some people were not prepared for its masterfully dark tone.

Playing a lawyer who cannot tell a lie for 24 hours, Jim uses his ample comedic timing and elastic body to elicit laughs out of every moment he has on screen in this late '90s classic. On top of bringing the laughs though, this film's more tender moments between father and son begin to hint at the dramatic efforts that the actor had not yet tapped into. A harbinger of things to come and a hilarious movie to boot, this comedy is a great addition to the Carrey's resume.

A comic book movie before comic book movies were cool, “The Mask” is a silly but good time with some crime noir elements thrown in for good measure. Providing some of the biggest belly laughs of his career, this movie sees Jim playing an absolute cartoon character and an everyday sucker who you can't help but love. As great as the film as a whole undoubtedly is, there are few moments more funny than when Stanley Ipkiss makes a thug a balloon dog and then breaks the man's heart by popping it because of “rabies.”

When a comedy legend plays another comedy legend on screen, things could easily go over the top, but Jim yet again proves his ability to tone things down when needed in this biographical comedy-drama. That's not to say that things don't get crazy as Andy was arguably one of the fiendishly crazy comedians to ever live, and few actors are more capable of playing huge characters than Carrey. An example of the range that sometimes goes criminally underappreciated, this film could also be used as an example for up and coming actors for years to come.

It's often been said that it takes an intelligent actor to play a stupid person, and though that may seem counter-intuitive, we believe it to be completely true. We also think it takes a hilarious man to play the lead in what may just be one of the funniest films ever put to celluloid, so it's lucky for the Farrelly brothers that they landed mister Carrey for this one. Can you imagine anyone else pulling off the most annoying noise ever or the fantasy fight sequence?! Because we surely can't.

The first film of the man's career that had the masses crying for an Oscar nomination, “The Truman Show”'s Truman Burbank was so lovable and endearing that he brought tears to many eyes. As a person overcoming deep-seated fears to accomplish great things that speaks to almost all of us in an innate way could have easily come off as manipulative in the hands of a less talented actor. With Jim Carrey working his magic, though, we spend this movie alternating between sad contemplation and fist pumping joy, but we can't think of a better compliment for it.

Ace Ventura was the character that served the world notice that Jim Carrey was a star. With a plot that you never really care about and many co-stars that serve mainly as an audience for his incredibly amusing antics, this film would have been an abject failure if it weren't for the titular detective. The sequel “When Nature Calls” has some great stuff in it, most notably the rhino birth, but it pales in comparison to the first, especially when you recall Ace's tutu-wearing football speech complete with a rewind.

Before we reveal our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
- Charlie Baileygates / Hank Evans
“Me, Myself & Irene” (2000)
- Bruce Nolan
“Bruce Almighty” (2003)
- The Riddler / Edward Nygma
“Batman Forever” (1995)
- Colonel Stars and Stripes / Sal Bertolinni
“Kick-Ass 2” (2013)

If you have not had the pleasure of watching this movie that serves as the favorite of many film nerds, we feel sorry for you. Watching a man relive the defining relationship of his life, from the horrible arguments that ended it to the beautiful awkwardness that began it is both heart breaking and inspiring. Carrey perfectly embraces the meek nature of Joel, yet in the end, even the most outrageous of us can identify with the emotional journey he goes through in this romantic sci-fi comedy-drama. Of special note is the incredible moment in which he hides from the rain under a table.

Do you agree with our list? What's your favorite Jim Carrey performance? For more acting Top 10s published daily, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.