The One “Genius” Movie Jim Carrey Calls His Favourite of All Time

Jim Carrey has long been celebrated as one of Hollywood’s wildest and most unpredictable talents—a performer who embraces madness as both a creative fuel and a way of life. “Madness,” Carrey once mused, “is never that far away. It’s as close as saying yes to the wrong impulse.” His immersive approach to acting—like staying in character 24/7 for his portrayal of Andy Kaufman—earned him both admiration and exasperation from co-stars such as Timothy Olyphant, who wryly described Carrey’s method as “narcissistic and pretentious.”

Yet, for Carrey, diving deep into his craft is non-negotiable. “If you aren’t in the moment, you are either looking forward to uncertainty, or back to pain and regret,” he explained in one of his recent reflections, highlighting the philosophical core of his artistry. During an interview with the late Norm MacDonald, Carrey revealed his ultimate favourite movie—one that encapsulates his fascination with reality, consciousness, and seizing the moment, no matter how chaotic life gets.

“My favourite movie? Network. It’s fantastic. Every scene in that movie is a smorgasbord,” Carrey said with a blend of admiration and ease that underscored his status as a true artist.

Directed by Sidney Lumet and released in 1976, Network centers on a cynical television network that exploits the rants of a deranged former anchor for profit, only to lose control over his incendiary message. The film’s prescient critique of media manipulation has only grown more relevant with time, making it a touchstone for those who question the narratives shaping society.

Carrey’s reverence for the film deepened with age and contemplation of mortality. Reflecting on the poignant kitchen scene between William Holden and Faye Dunaway, he noted to MacDonald, “He’s saying, ‘I’m closer to the end than the beginning,’ and ‘Death has become a real thing with definable features.’ I mean, fuck who writes that? That is incredible.”

Network’s blend of dark satire and poetic hyperbole resonated not only with Carrey but also with other stars like George Clooney, who has called it “one of my favourite films of all time” and praised playwright Paddy Chayefsky’s genius in predicting the media landscape decades ahead.

Faye Dunaway herself remarked on the script’s unique quality: “It was almost as if it were written in verse.” This heightened, theatrical style—part parody, part poetic drama—mirrors the kind of intense, psychologically probing work Carrey cherishes, evident in films like The Truman Show.

Despite its critical acclaim, Network famously lost the Best Picture Oscar to Rocky, a result Sidney Lumet openly lamented. But for Carrey, the film’s enduring power and complex themes continue to inspire and influence his approach to both art and life.

In an era dominated by fast-paced media and fractured realities, Jim Carrey’s favourite film stands as a bold, timeless reminder of the power—and peril—of storytelling in shaping our world.