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Born in a Hollywood family with film director and screenwriter parents, and brother to actress Maggie Gyllenhaal, Jake Gyllenhaal made his acting debut at the age of 10 with the 1991 film ‘City Slickers.’ Following a number of big-screen appearances, his breakthrough role came in 1999, playing American legend Homer Hickam in the biopic ‘October Sky.’ Jake found appreciation among critics early in his career, choosing films like ‘Donnie Darko,’ ‘Brokeback Mountain,’ and ‘Zodiac.’ While he showed off his range with commercial productions such as ‘The Day After Tomorrow,’ ‘Love & Other Drugs,’ and ‘Spider-Man: Far From Home,’ Jake’s quirky choices helped him carve out his own niche. These included projects as diverse as ‘Source Code,’ ‘Enemy,’ and ‘Road House.’ If you’re looking for his films to stream on Netflix, the following list will help you get started.
7. Okja (2017)
Directed by Bong Joon Ho, ‘Okja’ tells the story of a genetically modified super-pig that is created by a multinational conglomerate, Mirando Corporation. As a part of an experiment to create such a species, the company sent 26 specimens to farmers across the globe. Living and growing in the mountains of South Korea, Okja has been a constant companion of the teenager Mija. When the corporation decides to transport Okja to New York, Mija sets out on an epic journey to rescue her friend and return home. Jake Gyllenhaal stars in the film as Johnny Wilcox, a zoologist and television personality who declares Okja as the best among all the genetically modified “super-pigs.” Watch the science fiction adventure here.
6. Ambulance (2022)
Helmed by Michael Bay, ‘Ambulance’ features Jake Gyllenhaal and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as adoptive brothers Danny and Will Sharp. When Will, an army veteran, reaches out to Danny, a criminal, for money for his wife’s treatment, Danny offers him a chance to take part in a bank heist. The elaborate heist goes wrong, and the brothers are forced to hijack an ambulance, with a patient and a medical technician, to escape the cops. The movie features the quintessential Michael Bay elements, including car crashes, explosions, and gripping action. However, it is the use of drones that adds to the thrill of the chase in Los Angeles. ‘Ambulance’ is based on the Danish movie of the same name by Laurits Munch-Petersen. You can watch it here.
5. Wildlife (2018)
Directed by Paul Dano, ‘Wildlife’ concerns the Brinson family, comprising Jerry, his wife Jeanette, and their teenage son Joe. The intimate and psychological family drama, centering on the human condition, has Jerry being fired from his job, after which his ego prevents him from getting any job “beneath” him. As the financial struggle intensifies, Jeanette and Joe begin earning money, while the family starts to fall apart. Infidelity makes the situation worse, and Joe finds himself struggling to figure out whom he wants to be with, since it is clear that his parents are headed in the direction of separation. Will they get separated? Starring Gyllenhaal as Jerry, Carey Mulligan as Jeanette, and Ed Oxenbould as Joe, ‘Wildlife’ is an engrossing family drama about life where nothing is as simple as it seems until it is. The movie was nominated for the Caméra d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival. It can be streamed here.
4. The Covenant (2023)
‘Guy Ritchie’s The Covenant,’ also known as ‘The Covenant,’ stars Jake Gyllenhaal and Dar Salim. It explores the unusual friendship between U.S. Special Forces Master Sergeant John Kinley (Gyllenhaal) and his interpreter, Ahmed Abdullah (Salim), stationed in Afghanistan. When Kinley’s unit is attacked by the Taliban, and he takes a hit, Abdullah carries him on foot across the mountains and the woods to an American base. After being brought back to America, Kinley discovers that Abdullah and his family were forced to hide underground. He thus decides to go back, find them, and get them to America safe and sound. The way Ritchie upholds the deeply personal aspect while constantly reminding us of the state of war in the background is praiseworthy. You can watch ‘The Covenant’ here and find out.
3. Donnie Darko (2001)
Marking the directorial debut of Richard Kelly, ‘Donnie Darko’ stars Jake Gyllenhaal in the titular role of an introverted high school student who is kept occupied by the dark, outlandish thoughts inside his head. As a result, he does not get along much with his family, teachers, or classmates. However, he finds a kind and sympathetic friend in Gretchen Ross (Jena Malone). The other person who listens to Donnie is his psychiatrist, who helps him make sense of his ideas. Donnie starts to have visions and commits a series of crimes, claiming that he is forced to do so. One of the most prominent visions he has is that of a large, grotesque rabbit, which follows him everywhere. The psychological science fiction thriller blurs the line between reality and delusion, and feeds conversations on subjects ranging from mental health to time travel. Watch the film here.
2. Velvet Buzzsaw (2019)
Helmed by Dan Gilroy, ‘Velvet Buzzsaw’ takes place in the contemporary art scene of Los Angeles, where rich artists and even richer collectors decide the worth of creation. Jake Gyllenhaal stars as an art critic named Morf Vandewalt, who finds his job limiting and emotionally draining, but does it anyway. He finds himself bored at a prominent art exhibition, much to the annoyance of the celebrated creators whose works are on display. However, he later finds the paintings of a recently deceased artist, which leave him mesmerized. Uncovering more of his works and deciding to put them on display, he unknowingly unleashes a supernatural force that enacts revenge on his professional circle, which has allowed commerce to dictate art. You can stream the satirical black comedy horror film here.
1. The Guilty (2021)
A remake of Gustav Möller’s Danish film, ‘Den skyldige,’ ‘The Guilty’ by Antoine Fuqua follows Joe Baylor (Jake Gyllenhaal), a demoted police officer assigned to a call dispatch desk. The story takes place over the course of a single morning when Joe receives an emergency phone call from a woman who has been abducted. The woman speaks to him like she is speaking to her child to fool her abductor, and only manages to share that she is currently being taken away in a white van. As the highway patrol to whom Joe relays the information tells him it is not enough to go on, he becomes conflicted over his duty. You can watch the crime thriller on Netflix.
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