9 best Jon Favreau movies and TV shows that made him a Hollywood powerhouse

Jon Favreau is an American director, producer, and actor who became one of Hollywood's most influential voices. His early career consisted of background acting until his debut as a writer with the film Swingers (1996). His career was marked by the pool of his talents in front of and behind the camera.

Jon Favreau has demonstrated his skills by making dramatic movies like Chef. He also delivered huge blockbusters such as Iron Man and The Jungle Book. In 2019, he also brought Star Wars back to life with the popular show, The Mandalorian. His work has made a significant impact on contemporary TV shows and movies.

Disclaimer: This article is based on the author's opinions. Reader discretion is advised.

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Here is the list of the 9 best Jon Favreau movies and TV shows that made him a Hollywood powerhouse:

9. The Mandalorian & Grogu (Upcoming Film, 2026)

Jon Favreau wrote and will direct Star Wars: The Mandalorian & Grogu with Dave Filoni. It is a Star Wars movie, and it picks up where the popular Disney+ series ends. It continues the story of the Mandalorian and gives a larger role to Grogu. It was filmed in late 2024 and will be released in theaters on May 22, 2026.

Fans also had the opportunity to sample it at D23 and the Star Wars Celebration, when Favreau and Filoni gave a sneak peek. It is a story centering on relationships and takes Mando and Grogu's narrative in a different direction for the big screen. It is a huge step in Favreau's progression in the Star Wars franchise.

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8. The Book of Boba Fett (2021-2022)

Jon Favreau worked as the executive producer on The Book of Boba Fett. The TV show exists in the same universe as The Mandalorian, as disclosed in the post-credits scene in the second season finale. Favreau played a pivotal role in shaping the series, even though it branched off independently from The Mandalorian. His creative impact guaranteed that this new plot remained relevant to the beloved realm.

The series follows Boba Fett attempting to run a crime syndicate. The involvement of Favreau allowed the show to fit into the bigger streaming universe that he is building. His position as an executive producer demonstrates that he is encouraging new lines of Star Wars without necessarily participating in all of them.

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7. The Mandalorian (2019)

Jon Favreau's film The Mandalorian premiered on the Disney+ network in 2019. He has collaborated with Dave Filoni to move the Star Wars universe into a new era. Pedro Pascal features in the series as a lone bounty hunter called Din Djarin. Favreau helped to set the style and tone of the series. He combined the Mandalorian history of Filoni with his ideas.

The Mandalorian had been an enormous hit on the new platform. It became a cultural smash, introducing new generations to the Star Wars franchise. With his increased engagement as a producer and writer, Favreau became one of the key voices in the modern-day Star Wars narration.

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6. The Jungle Book (2016)

The Jungle Book was adapted into a movie in 2016 by Jon Favreau. The movie was filmed using revolutionary visual technologies. Everything was filmed within a warehouse in Los Angeles, with no need for an exterior location. The jungle setting and the other animals were computer-generated, except the actual Mowgli actor, who was on location.

In 2017, the film received an Oscar for visual effects. Favreau used "virtual production" techniques that made films like Gravity and Avatar a reality, giving rise to a multicolored and water-shedding re-enactment of the old story. His film skills enabled him to demonstrate that he could tell a poignant and captivating story using visual effects.

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5. Chef (2014)

Jon Favreau wrote, directed, and performed the lead character in Chef. He plays a chef who walks out of his luxurious restaurant following a heated, on-the-record confrontation with a food critic. Then he starts a food truck with his ex-wife, his best friend, and his son. It is a narrative about food, family, and rediscovering enthusiasm.

Favreau also interviewed real chef Roy Choi to make sure that the food was as realistic and appealing on camera. The film premiered in theaters in May, following its international premiere at the South by Southwest Film Festival. It was a big success in the media, earning more than four times its budget. Favreau's love of food and simple human connection is the subject of the deeply intimate and moving movie Chef.

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4. Iron Man (2008)

Iron Man is a 2008 film directed by Jon Favreau. Robert Downey Jr.'s speech as Tony Stark was not particularly inventive. The actor drew from his real-life conversations with Gwyneth Paltrow. He even made a real acting appearance as Happy Hogan. The suit combined real-world assembled armors and computer-generated images intelligently to make the action come alive in a manner that appeared believable.

This Marvel film performed well at the box office, receiving both critical acclaim and box office income. It finally helped to create the massive Marvel Cinematic Universe. The work of Favreau in this movie made him one of the best Hollywood film directors and led to several other Marvel features.

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3. Elf (2003)

Jon Favreau directed Elf in 2003. The movie depicts Will Ferrell as a human being brought up in the world of elves and traveling to New York to find his people. Favreau developed the film to resemble a vintage Christmas film.

The movie emerged to be the biggest Christmas film hit ever. Favreau revealed later that he never intended to write a follow-up as the story had been finished. It was his capability to merge emotion and humor that made him create a holiday classic.

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2. Made (2001)

The first film produced by Jon Favreau was titled Made. It was also a film he wrote and starred in with Vince Vaughn. In the narrative, the two friends get sucked into a money-laundering scheme. The film had a limited budget.

Reviewers agreed that it was humorous but fell short of Swingers' standards. It was a film in which Favreau stepped out boldly in front of the camera. It was his transition from actor to director that paved the way for his subsequent larger films.

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1. Swingers (1996)

Swingers is an American buddy comedy film that follows the lives of unmarried, jobless actors during the swing revival of the 1990s who reside on the east side of Hollywood, California. Swingers was written in 1996 by Jon Favreau and also starred himself. It tells the story of struggling performers in Los Angeles during the resurgence of swing music. It was a low-budget film. This film received a 58 out of 100 score on the list of 100 Funniest Movies by Bravo. The movie received an award at the Spike TV Guys' Choice Awards (2007).

The movie did not do very well in theatres but turned into a DVD cult hit. It was the beginning of Favreau and his co-star, Vince Vaughn. It also took Favreau to Tinseltown and made him an aspiring star as an actor and screenwriter.

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Jon Favreau's career has demonstrated that an individual can succeed in a great variety of creative jobs. He has authored, directed, produced, and acted in productions that were liked by many audiences. From small independent projects to large-budgeted Marvel epics, his projects always added something personal to them.

Favreau brought stories to life to engage audiences and often develop cultural sensations. His projects in the Marvel universe revolutionized superhero films, and his Star Wars projects remade the television series. He evolved from a newcomer to a Hollywood powerhouse. His career proved that passion and vision were capable of taking concepts and turning them into lasting success.