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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. John Mulaney & the Sack Lunch Bunch (2019)
‘John Mulaney & the Sack Lunch Bunch’ is a children’s musical comedy special that takes inspiration from classic children’s shows like ‘Sesame Street’ and ‘The Electric Company.’ Hosted by stand-up comedian John Mulaney, the special has 15 child actors and singers who sing songs, perform skits, and engage in other activities. There are other adult stars who show up, one of them being Gyllenhaal, who plays a character named Mr. Music, who shows how to make music without instruments. The other stars include Richard Kind, David Byrne, André De Shields, and Natasha Lyonne. ‘John Mulaney & the Sack Lunch Bunch’ can be streamed here.
6. 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.
5. 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.
4. 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.
3. 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.
2. 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.
1. Everest (2015)
Directed by Baltasar Kormákur, ‘Everest’ tells the true story of the 1996 Mount Everest disaster that cost the lives of eight mountaineers. The film follows two groups as they set out to conquer Mt. Everest, with Kormákur leaving almost no stone unturned to show the harsh and potentially fatal nature of the adventure. The issues the teams face, including ice-cold winds, sudden drops in temperature, blizzards, lack of oxygen, altitude sickness, hypothermia, hallucinations, and more, are showcased in an authentic manner that will make even the strong-hearted skip a beat. The movie pits humanity’s urge to push its limits and achieve the impossible against the wrath of Nature. ‘Everest’ stars Jason Clarke, Jake Gyllenhaal, Josh Brolin, John Hawkes, and Sam Worthington. Gyllenhaal plays real-life American mountaineer Scott Fischer. You can watch ‘Everest’ here.
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