Right now, everyone is talking about Kevin Hart after a roast of the comedian aired on Netflix. Hart is actually closely associated with roasts, having performed at famous ones for Justin Bieber and Tom Brady. He’s also someone who had a meteoric rise through Hollywood, starting out with bit appearances and supporting roles in the likes of The 40-Year-Old Virgin and Scary Movie 3 before branching out into being a star and leading man.
Kevin Hart’s stand-up specials are what he’s most known for but he’s brought that signature brand of over-the-top antics with physical comedy to the big screen for some success. Whether it’s partnering up with the likes of Dwayne Johnson, lending his voice to an animated project, or stealing the show in an ensemble romantic comedy, Hart has been at his best in several major films. He’s someone who can pop in, deliver some great laughs that appeal to so many moviegoers, and make sure they have a good time.
The best films of Kevin Hart’s career showcase that he’s great in an on-screen duo. He plays well off so many actors, from Johnson to Regina Hall to Bryan Cranston. He’s also displayed his versatility by leading a dramatic film for Netflix a few years ago and delivering one of his best performances.
10
Ride Along (2014)
Ice Cube is another actor who is very good when working as part of a funny on-screen duo, as evidenced by watching him alongside Chris Tucker and Mike Epps. He and Kevin Hart collaborated for a buddy cop action flick, Ride Along, that was a strong box office hit.
Cube plays a detective named James Payton, while Hart stars as Ben Barber, James’ sister’s boyfriend. Ben goes on the titular ride along to prove that he’s worthy of dating James’ sister. Together, they get involved in some wild antics that attracted people to the theater in droves.
9
Central Intelligence (2016)
Hollywood has quickly learned that the pairing of Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart is gold. They are mismatched physically and that lends itself to so much of why they work. In Central Intelligence, they teamed for the first time and made magic.
Central Intelligence grossed over $200 million and sees Hart’s Calvin, an accountant, get sucked into a fight against terrorists when he reconnects with Johnson’s Robbie, a CIA agent. The fun twist is that Hart used to be the star athlete and Johnson was the outcast when they were in school and now their lives have flipped.
8
Jumanji: The Next Level (2019)
After the massive success that was the 2017 sequel to Jumanji, the franchise returned two years later for another entry. Although this iteration wasn’t quite as well-received, it still grossed over $800 million and people are clamoring for another installment.
Again, people are sucked into the titular video game and end up as unexpected avatars. The fun here is that before being controlled by Fridge from the first film again, Hart’s Franklin Finbar is controlled by Danny Glover’s character, giving us a hilarious bit where Hart basically impersonates the legendary actor.
7
DC League Of Super-Pets (2022)
The least discussed pairing between Johnson and Hart comes in DC League of Super-Pets. That’s likely because it’s an animated project and while it wasn’t a huge hit, critics appreciated the entertainment brought by this star-studded superhero film.
The movie sees the pets of various DC heroes band together to save them after Lex Luthor captures them. Hart voices Ace, a dog who ultimately becomes Batman’s pet. The movie is just a good time, it has a great voice cast, and it feels different from other superhero fare.
6
Fatherhood (2021)
Fatherhood marked something different for Kevin Hart. It’s still a comedy at points and he gets to be funny, but we also get to see him lead a film and deliver some of the best dramatic bits of his career.
Based on Matt Logelin’s 2011 memoir, Two Kisses for Maddy: A Memoir of Loss and Love, Fatherhood sees Hart portray Matt, a new father who struggles to raise his daughter after his wife’s sudden passing. It’s not the best movie of this kind but it works because of Hart’s committed performance and how much heart it has.
5
About Last Night (2014)
In the first half of the 2010s, Kevin Hart started popping up in everything, especially in the romantic comedy genre. One of those saw him team back up with actors he had success with in the past, as he, Regina Hall, and Michael Ealy were part of the About Last Night remake.
This iteration featured a predominantly Black cast, as those three were joined by Joy Bryant. The story focuses on two couples (Hart’s Bernie and Hall’s Joan, Bryant’s Debbie and Ealy’s Danny)at different stages. Most of the positive reception went to Hart and Hall’s comedic chemistry.
4
Top Five (2014)
2014 was a huge year for Hart and one of his best films was Top Five. This had an interesting premise as it follows New York comedian Andre Allen (Chris Rock, who also directed and wrote the movie), who confronts his past while getting interviewed.
Hart is one of many great comedians to have a small role, playing Charles, Andre’s Ivy League-educated agent. The movie didn’t make much of a dent at the box office but it did receive strong reviews from critics.
3
Think Like A Man (2012)
It felt like Think Like a Man was where Kevin Hart truly broke out. This arrived after a couple of fantastic stand-up specials and then he stole the show here. Based on Steve Harvey’s book, Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man, the movie follows a group of men and a group of women who both use Harvey’s book to gain the upper hand in their relationships.
Hart is something of an outlier in the film. While his friends have romantic counterparts who are main characters, Hart is split from his wife and just wants to go out and have a good time. He makes us laugh in every scene before getting a great reconciliation with his wife in the end.
2
The Upside (2017)
The 2011 French film The Intouchables was critically acclaimed and got an American remake in 2017. The setup centers on a paralyzed billionaire who becomes unlikely friends with the former convict who is hired to take care of him.
There’s a heartwarming tale at the movie’s core but the real reason that The Upside works so well is because of its leads. Bryan Cranston and Kevin Hart are excellent together, with a friendship that feels easy and natural. Watching them together is a ton of fun.
1
Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle (2017)
Grossing nearly $1 billion, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle was a bigger hit than most people realized. A modern take on its 1995 predecessor, the movie sees a group of teens get pulled into a video game where they now control game avatars.
Kevin Hart’s avatar is Franklin Finbar, a small zoologist, and the fun comes from the fact that the teen controlling him is actually a star athlete. Watching each actor play against type is what makes Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle such a joy to watch and it’s one of the better modern adventure flicks.
