Jim Carrey Names The Number 23 as the Weirdest Movie He’s Ever Made — and What It Taught Him

Jim Carrey is no stranger to quirky and unconventional roles, but when asked about the weirdest movie in his career, he points to The Number 23 (2007). In this psychological thriller, Carrey plays a man consumed by the obsession with the number 23, leading him down a dark path of paranoia and self-questioning. Despite the film’s mixed critical reception, Carrey looks back on the project with pride, appreciating how it pushed him to explore the darker facets of his own personality—a challenge he found both demanding and rewarding.

Carrey’s willingness to embrace such unusual material is part of a broader dedication to his craft. His commitment is perhaps most famously exemplified in his portrayal of Andy Kaufman in Man on the Moon (1999). There, Carrey took method acting to an extreme, staying in character both on and off the set. His immersion was so deep that he engaged in eccentric behaviors, including wearing a bag over his head and even crashing a car while embodying Kaufman’s alter ego, Tony Clifton. This intense approach was later detailed in the documentary Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond, where Carrey reflects on the complexities and costs of such total immersion.

From The Number 23 to Man on the Moon and beyond, Jim Carrey’s readiness to dive into unconventional and boundary-pushing roles has solidified his reputation as one of Hollywood’s most versatile and fearless actors. His journey through strange and challenging projects reveals an artist continually willing to confront new territories—both on screen and within himself.