10 Best Jesse Eisenberg Movie Performances

Jesse Eisenberg has quietly amassed one of the most impressive filmographies of any artist working today, as he has shown a great deal of interest in all aspects of storytelling. While Eisenberg’s career began with small roles in films by noted directors like M. Night Shyamalan and Michael Hoffman, he quickly created an awkward, paranoid personality that made him an unorthodox leading man. While Eisenberg perfected this persona over the course of his subsequent film roles, he would frequently show an ability to subvert it by taking on more subversive parts. Jesse Eisenberg has written short fiction, worked in theater, delivered an amazing performance on the FX miniseries “Fleishman Is Is Trouble,” and has become an exciting writer/director who is certain to have many more great films.

Although he does make time to appear in franchises like “Now You See Me” and “Zombieland” that appeal to more average moviegoers, Eisenberg has shown bravery in attaching himself to niche projects that don’t conform to the standards of Hollywood storytelling. Some of his work has become widely recognized as excellent, but also he has just as many hidden gems within his filmography that deserve another look from those interested in cinema that pushes the definition of genre. Here are the top ten best Jesse Eisenberg movie performances, ranked.

10. Night Moves (2013)

“Night Moves” was a fascinating role for Eisenberg that allowed him to apply his assumed persona to a far more experimental project. Although Eisenberg’s geeky, socially inept persona made him an entertaining lead in more comedic projects, it also allowed him to give a very intense performance in Kelly Reichardt’s challenging environmental thriller. Jesse Eisenberg co-stars alongside Dakota Fanning and Peter Sarsgaard as a group of extremist environmental activists who plan to detonate a dam as part of a protest movement, only to realize that their mission left unintended collateral damage.

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Eisenberg does a great job at playing a character who is constantly forced to question if the ends justify the means and if his entire life has been dedicated to a cause that never had the chance to be non-violent. Given that the film itself is quite minimalistic in its approach, it is impressive that Eisenberg is able to hold the viewers’ investment and bring attention to the most subtle of actions. “Night Moves” is a complicated film that speaks to the anxieties of a generation in a very profound way, but it is thanks to the authenticity and vulnerability that Eisenberg provides in his performance that it is such an emotionally powerful experience.

9. Zombieland (2009)

Although the zombie genre had been played out for years due to the overwhelming influence of what George Romero achieved with his classics “Night of the Living Dead” and “Dawn of the Dead,” “Zombieland” managed to be one of the few post-apocalyptic adventure stories that did something inventive with the concept of the undead. Despite its comedic touch, “Zombieland” wrestled with the idea of the world as a wasteland in which humanity can only survive by sticking together, leading to groups of strangers forced to find common ground. “Zombieland” features charismatic performances by Emma Stone, Woody Harrelson, and Abigail Breslin, but it is Eisenberg who is tasked with being the film’s heart. Here is a character who has lacked the backbone to make any drastic changes in his life, and is forced to finally make his voice known due to events that are beyond his control.

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Eisenberg and Stone would build a fascinating repertoire over the course of a few films together, but they’re perfectly matched in “Zombieland” as two loners that gradually come out of their shells. Eisenberg’s reaction of complete befuddlement and confusion at the sight of anything remotely horrific is precisely what makes “Zombieland” so oddly relatable; the premise may be fantastical, but the characters still feel undeniably human.

8. Louder Than Bombs (2015)

“Louder Than Bombs” may make some bold stylistic choices, which fans of filmmaker Joachim Trier may have come to expect at this point, but the film’s strength is in its modernization of a very classical style of dramatic storytelling. With echoes of “The Ice Storm” and “Ordinary People,” “Louder Than Bombs” is a moving examination of the life of a family in the aftermath of their matriarch’s sudden demise in a car accident. Eisenberg is unusually cast as a somewhat well-adjusted, yet emotionally unstable older sibling put in a position where he must serve as the family’s uniting force.

Jesse Eisenberg is able to show how the weight of responsibility can lead to feelings of fear and apathy and manages to crack the emotional code of a character who can often be quite irritating. “Louder Than Bombs” avoids invoking cliches because the characters’ actions feel authentic, and the film itself does not hint at easy takeaways about a subject that is hard to emotionally wrestle with. Although a “warts and all” approach to outlining a major protagonist is something that Hollywood has been notoriously reticent to do, Eisenberg took a risk in crafting a dynamic character, who managed to feel utterly authentic, even in his worst moments.

7. The Art of Self-Defense (2019)

“The Art of Self-Defense” is an outrageous satire in which Eisenberg once again subverts expectations about the characters he tends to play. He stars in the film as a mild-mannered accountant who becomes the victim of a shockingly violent assault, which leads him to begin studying martial arts from an unusual sensei (played in a career-defining performance by Alessandro Nivolas) who runs his own dojo. What begins as an earnest attempt to boost his confidence and safety turns into participation within a cult-like fringe group, as Eiesnberg’s character begins to recognize that his new mentor is a toxic, manipulative narcissist who preys upon those who lack confidence.

“The Art of Self-Defense” is achingly awkward in showing the frustrations of real life, which gives Eisenberg the perfect opportunity to serve as a comically inept protagonist. However, the film’s shift into darker territory draws out a more conflicted side in Eisenberg, as he is tasked with showing resistance to the seductive nature of aggression. This underrated film has a lot to say about toxic masculinity, conspiracies, and paranoia, and while it is Nivola who gives the more broadly entertaining performance, “The Art of Self-Defense” would not be nearly as effective if it was not for Eisenberg’s equally brilliant work.

6. The Double (2013)

The best argument against those who claim Eisenberg simply plays the same type of character in every performance is “The Double,” a mind-blowing dark comedy from the underrated indie filmmaker Richard Ayoade. Eisenberg pulls double duties by giving two completely different performances; he stars as a hopelessly down-on-his-luck office worker who is tramped on by his employer, as well as his charming doppelganger who seems to possess indescribable charisma and an ability to avoid consequences. Whether the film is literally about two halves of the same person is a debate for those invested in digging into the subtle hints peppered throughout Ayoade’s screenplay, but Jesse Eisenberg nonetheless is able to show two pillars of one archetype. Although each of these characters possesses the same goals, it is the doppelganger who is willing to look past the morally dubious actions needed to achieve them.

“The Double” is one of Eisenberg’s most complex performances, as both characters end up being far more dynamic once the film puts them into uncomfortable territory; the fact that both personalities steadily begin to evoke each other is the film’s most genius bit of satire. Casting one actor as the twin is often seen as a gimmick, but “The Double” justifies its conceit thanks to the dedication Eisenberg shows to individualizing both roles.

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5. Adventureland (2009)

“Adventureland” is one of the best coming-of-age films of the 21st century, and is able to evoke the unique set of paranoia and pleasure that this generation is bound to experience. Jesse Eisenberg stars as a studious graduate of Oberlin College whose planned European vacation is thwarted when he recognizes that his parents lack the funds to support it. Even though he is humiliated to work a summer job at a kitschy theme park, the experience opens his eyes to the real world and introduces him to his first true love (Kristen Stewart).

Although “Adventureland” has a great deal of wacky hijinks and raunchy humor, it is certainly a more ambitious examination of adolescent anxieties than the “summer comedies” that may have inspired it, such as “Animal House” or “Caddyshack.” Eisenberg is tasked with playing a character who is forced to recognize that life is more than following a straight path and that his generation is not afforded the same dependables as their predecessors. Eisenberg’s character serves as the butt of the joke within many humorous scenarios, but he also shows a surprisingly charismatic side whenever he shares a scene with Stewart, whose energy is a perfect match for him. Few coming-of-age films are able to evoke both laughter and tears in the same way.

4. The End of the Tour (2015)

“The End of the Tour” is one of the most criminally underrated biopics of the last decade, and may have had a shot at being a serious award-season contender had A24 not only released it in a handful of theaters in the middle of the summer. Jason Segel gives a career-best performance as the acclaimed author David Foster Wallace, who suffers an extreme crisis of confidence amidst a tour promoting his latest masterpiece, “Infinite Jest.” Eisenberg co-stars as the “Rolling Stone” reporter David Lipsky, whose assignment to interview the author takes an unexpected turn when they begin to develop a complicated friendship.

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“The End of the Tour” is the study of two writers who fear that any investment they put into their work is inherently narcissistic. While Lipsky fears that his best writing is done in the shadow of others, Wallace grows concerned that he is preaching underdeveloped truths to an audience that accepts his word as gospel. The brittle, yet open friendship that they develop is beautifully orchestrated through the chemistry between Jesse Eisenberg and Jason Segel. Listening to a pair of intellectuals debate the intentionality of art could become very grating, yet “The End of the Tour” grows far more impactful when the relationship heads into more personal territory.

3. The Squid and the Whale (2005)

Working with a filmmaker like Noah Baumbach is a pretty exciting way to start one’s career, as the notoriously idiosyncratic writer/director has an unparalleled ability to examine the absurdities, frustrations, and futilities of modern relationships and familial dynamics. “The Squid and the Whale” is among the most caustic divorce films ever made, with Laura Linney and Jeff Daniels cast as two egotistical mavericks who are unwilling to grant the other any leeway. Eisenberg finds himself caught in the middle as the older of two children, who are forced to choose between two negative role models as he realizes that his interests have been shaped by his parents.

The brilliance of Eisenberg’s performance is that he is playing a self-assured teenager who fears that any signs of vulnerability indicate immaturity, and thus stunts his own emotional development in an effort to be taken seriously. The wisdom of “The Squid and the Whale” is that there isn’t a single role model that young people have to look up to that can replace the development of their own ideals and values. It’s a testament to the self-awareness that Eisenberg showed at a very young age that he is able to play an irritable, challenging character who nonetheless serves as the most endearing aspect of a very cynical film.

2. A Real Pain (2024)

Eisenberg’s first directorial venture “When You Finish Saving The World” was a noble failure, as his attempts at hyper-specific satire were undone by an inability to deepen his ideas. Thankfully, Eisenberg evolved dramatically with his second directorial effort, as “A Real Pain” is a powerfully authentic examination of familial dynamics as they relate to tragedies both recent and historic. Eisenberg stars as a moderately successful family man and advertising developer who takes a tour of his ancestral homeland in Poland with his idiosyncratic cousin (Kieran Culkin. The two are in the process of mourning the loss of their recently departed grandmother.

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While Culkin has the scene-stealing and immensely entertaining role, Eisenberg saddles himself with being the more emotionally reserved, unadventurous character. He gives a performance that shows the price of maturity, as seeing the frivolousness of being a free spirit means that it is much harder to be surprised by blocks on the road. Eisenberg’s screenplay is funny, moving, and highly emotional, yet the deep conversations within it still feel like authentic banter between two relatives who have learned to appreciate each other’s qualities. While he has been widely acclaimed for his masterful writing and directing, Eisenberg should not be denied praise for giving one of his greatest performances ever in “A Real Pain.”

1. The Social Network (2010)

“The Social Network” isn’t just one of the best films of the 21st century, but perhaps the most concise examination of the consequences of the Internet era. It’s possible that in an attempt to get closer together, the world has become more stratified as interactions become less personal, and all aspects of one’s personality can be easily summarized on a digital page. At the center of this epic social commentary is Eisnberg’s nuanced portrayal of Facebook creator Mark Zuckerberg, whose rise to power was dogged by lawsuits, scandals, and the steady realization that his greatest work was the product of spite and loneliness.

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Eisenberg had the rare challenge of crafting a nuanced portrayal of a well-known public figure that did not slip into caricature. Although he captured all of Zuckerberg’s mannerisms perfectly, they are entwined within an epic story about the collapse of the American dream, which could certainly draw comparisons to “There Will Be Blood” or “Citizen Kane.” Few actors have been able to deliver Aaron Sorkin’s snappy dialogue with such venomous intention, but Eisenberg also brings out erratic, dangerous qualities that are perfectly suited for the work of David Fincher. As “The Social Network” continues to become even more relevant due to recent events, Eisenberg’s magnificent performance has earned the reputation of being an all-time great.