Comedy star Jack Black has shared the story of the brief, miserable job that convinced him to go all-in on a career in showbusiness. The revelation came during a light-hearted interview with his co-star Paul Rudd for Rotten Tomatoes, promoting their new comedy film Anaconda.
The 'Shameful' Career Attempt That Lasted a Day
When Paul Rudd asked if Black ever had a job to support himself before his acting break, the 56-year-old initially claimed he never had one, a response that made Rudd spit out his coffee in mock shock. Black then clarified his short-lived foray into the workforce. "I did one day of telemarketing, and I didn't make one sale," Black confessed. "And I was like, 'I can already tell my soul is being sucked.' And I bailed."
That single day was enough to set his future path in stone. The School of Rock alumnus decided there and then that it was "showbiz or bust." He committed fully to acting and music, with no backup plan, joking that his fallback was simply to "live at my mom's." Rudd supported his friend's all-or-nothing approach, telling him, "You didn't need it. You were destined for this."
New Film 'Anaconda' and Box Office Buzz
The pair's new project, Anaconda, is a meta-comedy in which Black plays Doug, who alongside his best friend Griff (Rudd) attempts to remake the cult 1997 monster movie. Their plan goes awry when they encounter a real 25-foot snake in the Amazonian jungle. The film also stars Steve Zahn and Thandiwe Newton as Doug's childhood friends.
Despite being panned by critics, the film, released on 25 December 2025, is estimated to gross a strong $20 million in its US opening weekend. Given its relatively low budget of $45 million, it is expected to turn a profit.
Black's Box Office Habit
In a separate interview with The Times, Black admitted he closely follows the commercial performance of his films. "I like to go on to Box Office Mojo and see how well a film did at the weekend," he said. "How are the numbers? It's a f***ing fun game. It's a competition." He noted the challenge of releasing a film in a crowded market, often against Oscar contenders, in today's streaming-dominated landscape.
Black's journey from a one-day telemarketer to a beloved film star, now keenly watching his box office numbers, underscores his unwavering, if initially desperate, commitment to the entertainment industry.
