J.K. Simmons Turns 70: 10 Most Underrated Works 

As Hollywood’s one of the most versatile actors recently turned 70, it is time to consider more than the roles J.K. Simmons is best known for, like J. Jonah Jameson in Spider-Man or the terrifying music teacher in Whiplash. Simmons now has more than 200 films and TV appearances to his credit, building a career of supporting character work combined with memorable scenes.

Not only with his big win at the Oscars but also over the years, he has shown how he can steal any scene with his screen presence. However, under the familiar top hits, there are a number of underappreciated films that need to be appreciated more.

10 The Front Runner (2018)

In this political drama, J.K. Simmons left a strong impact portraying Bill Dixon, Gary Hart’s campaign manager. His performance brought layers to a story of media, politics, and personal accountability. Simmons was able to develop a character alongside Hugh Jackman who is dealing with a campaign in crisis.

Jason Reitman’s film based on the former senator brings out the period when journalism transitioned from political reporting to tabloid journalism. Simmons’ portrayal of Dixon is noteworthy for its complex approach to the idea of old-school politics in today’s world filled with media exposure. 

These dramatic performances might not have gotten the desired reception, but the effort Simmons made here ranks as high as one of his best. He adds some pressure and urgency in every scene to show how an expert campaign manager manages the unmanageable. 

The Front Runner is available to stream on Prime Video.

9 Off the Map (2003)

This offbeat drama shot in the picturesque regions of New Mexico features Simmons as George, the only friend of a family who chooses to live in isolation. His character is an embodiment of the interface between their isolated existence and society and plays a more important role when an IRS agent investigates their lifestyle.

With Campbell Scott in the director’s chair, Simmons gets to play the softer character, something not often seen from him. The film’s strength comes from its cast, as Simmons shares the screen with Joan Allen and Sam Elliott, who portray a believable community of outsiders.

Simmons tries to portray the protective side of George for the family without overemphasizing it in the main plot. It is a lesson in how to provide a supporting performance and shows that some of the most minor characters are often the ones that stick in the memory.

8 I’m Not Here (2017)

J.K. Simmons is almost without dialogue in this movie, which may be one of his most challenging roles. As the lonely alcoholic Steve, he effortlessly shows that actions must be louder than words. Michelle Schumacher made Simmons portray all sorts of deep emotions physically.

The audience follows Steve’s memories and the mistakes he made along with the decisions he regrets. Simmons plays the character in a real, vulnerable way, breaking the fans’ expectations from Simmons. His face becomes a picture of silent suffering. Simmons plays old Steve while Sebastian Stan plays his younger version. The rest of the cast does a great job supporting the story of a man coping with his dark past. 

Simmons’ acting received praise from many critics for his courage to play such an experimental part. However, the mass audience didn’t like the movie much, perhaps due to its slow pacing.

I’m Not Here is available to stream on Prime Video.

7 The Meddler (2015)

To prove he can do more than stoic and aggressive roles, Simmons takes on the role of Zipper, a former policeman interested in Susan Sarandon’s meddling mother character. It is a departure from the heavier roles, making a case as to how he can handle a romantic role quite easily.

Director Lorene Scafaria tells a story of love and second opportunities through the chemistry between Simmons and Sarandon. The level of comfort when they are around each other makes for a believable movie even though it could have been just a romcom.

Zipper, with its non-mainstream-like characters, shows Simmons’s versatility, as he also mentioned many times that this was the role he chose deliberately after Whiplash, for which he won an Oscar. The real strength of the film is felt during its silent moments, where Simmons shows his subtle humor and warmth.

The Meddler is available to buy or rent on Prime Video.

6 Rendition (2007)

In this political thriller, Simmons was cast in the role of Lee Mayer, a CIA official. His portrayal adds moral complexity to already complex questions thrown up by the film about security and human rights.

Even in the company of Meryl Streep, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Reese Witherspoon, Simmons held his own and managed to show a lack of interest in bureaucrats. He brings ruthless realism to the part and shows how ordinary men can justify extraordinary actions.

The movie’s analysis takes on an even more critical perspective after post-9/11 policies are introduced in the storyline. Rather than transforming Mayer into a villainous character, Simmons explains a man who is entirely convinced that by acting in the way he does, he serves his nation’s interests, irrespective of ethics and morals.

Rendition is available to buy or rent on Prime Video.

5 The Gift (2000)

In his early works, Simmons brought seriousness to playing the part of Sheriff Pearl Johnson in Sam Raimi’s horror film. He also got the chance to share the screen with Cate Blanchett, who was a psychic character in the movie. The film also features other big names like Keanu Reeves and Katie Holmes.

This movie, which is based on the alleged psychic experiences of Billy Bob Thornton’s mother, shows how Simmons’ small-town law enforcement officer gets forced to consider supernatural explanations for crimes happening in the real world. 

What makes his character interesting is that this was before his popular work with Raimi in the Spider-Man trilogy. Simmons proves he has the seeds of the commanding presence that would make his J. Jonah Jameson character stand out later.

The Gift is available to buy or rent on Prime Video.

4 Thank You for Smoking (2005)

Simmons brings out some of the film’s finest moments as BR, the no-nonsense cigarette industry lobbyist go-getter. His character shows the moral flexibility of corporate America. When performing alongside Aaron Eckhart, Simmons brings humor and menace to his role.

The part is a perfect example of how Simmons can bring out the human touch in a character who is hardly loved by anyone. Most importantly, BR is not simply a corporate villain, he is a man who has absorbed all the industry’s twisted logic. Director Jason Reitman lets Simmons do his own job, which shows the twisted comedic aspect of this role. 

Thank You for Smoking (2005) is available to buy or rent on Prime Video.

3 First Snow (2006)

This noir thriller stars Simmons as Vacaro, a fortune teller whose prophecies get the story rolling. He plays both the trigger and the moral compass of Guy Pearce’s character while turning in an unforgettable performance even when he is not on screen.

It is an exciting role that lets Simmons go even further into mystical space and still keep the viewer glued to his raw intensity. His Vacaro carries an excess of knowledge, and Simmons embodies its weight with physicality and language. 

Director Mark Fergus takes what comes naturally to Simmons and builds tension in every scene. His scenes with Pearce are some of the most memorable interactions of the movie. 

What really sets Simmons’ performance apart is that the mystery is balanced perfectly with the real. It never feels like some cliched fortune-teller character. It truly shows the viewer how to make something otherworldly, effortlessly believable.

First Snow is available to stream on Prime Video.

2 3 Geezers! (2013)

3 Geezers! is a meta-comedy about aging and Hollywood’s representation of old people and generally can be described as a satire. The movie tries to convey a message that life is worth living even irrespective of old age and also shows Hollywood’s superficial approach to storytelling. 

Directed by Michelle Schumacher, Simmons plays an over-the-top version of himself who is getting too absorbed by the absurdity of method acting. He completely captures the spirit of a satirical character and at the same time makes him innocent and lovable. 

Even though the movie does not try to do full-on social commentary, it is refreshing to see that the film’s protagonists are the representatives of the aged population presented as cheerful and witty. 

1 The Vicious Kind (2009)

While portraying a character named Donald Sinclaire, a father who is trying to keep his entire family together, Simons gives one of the most impressive dramatic performances of his career. The premise of the movie creates enough complications in family dynamics, and that keeps the actor busy throughout.

The themes of broken relations as well as betrayal, which are presented in the story, can be considered as the strengths of the movie. The dramatic situation calls for many different emotional conflicts while at the same time, Simmons’ character needs to have a dominant father figure. 

In the film, Simmons and supporting actors like Adam Scott and Brittany Snow create a believable environment about how a family can be torn apart due to conflicting desires and hidden resentment. It is to the director Lee Toland Krieger’s credit that Simmons shows how less can be more through his performance. 

The Vicious Kind is available to stream on Prime Video.

As fans celebrate the seventh decade of J.K. Simmons, these 10 performances illustrate the versatility and passion of the actor. Although people probably know him most for some of his major characters, these films highlight an actor eager to go the extra mile and add layers to any of the characters he portrays.