5 Best Steve Carell Movies To Watch, Ranked

Steve Carell has a unique knack for making us laugh, cry, and everything in between. From his hilarious antics as the clueless but lovable Michael Scott in “The Office” to his powerful performances in films like “Foxcatcher,” Carell has proven his versatility time and again. His filmography spans a wide range of genres, showcasing his talent in both comedy and drama. In this article, we'll explore the best Steve Carell movies that highlight his exceptional range as an actor, and why these films have cemented his place as one of Hollywood's finest. To help us come to a consensus list, EdNews consulted 10 expert websites for their rankings of the best Steve Carell movies. Let us know if we didn’t include your favorite performance in the comments below. 

The List

1. “The 40-Year-Old Virgin” (2008)

This ensemble comedy is widely regarded as Steve Carell’s best movie. He plays Andy Stitzer, a 40-year-old virgin who goes to great lengths – and they are hilarious lengths – to go all the way. “‘The 40-Year-Old Virgin’ marked Steve Carell’s debut as the leading man, and he knocked it out of the park with it being his best performance to date,” gushes TV Over Mind. 

This is a classic film that Carell played in his early 40's, which was perfect. “Playing the title character, Carell is charming, funny and convincing in his role in this Judd Apatow comedy,” writes ComingSoon. “One of the best comedies of the 2000’s, ‘The 40-Year-Old Virgin' sees Carell with some of his funniest dialogue and most memorable moments on screen. Who can forget his chest waxing scene? Above all that, he has tremendous chemistry with Catherine Keener as well as the rest of the cast. His friend group in the film, played by Paul Rudd, Seth Rogen and Romany Malco, is a group of guys that are entirely relatable. Carell brings a surprising amount of sensitivity and heart.”

“His first leading role in a comedy made him an instant star,” says Esquire. “Released the same year that ‘The Office’ premiered, it felt like Steve Carell became the funniest guy in Hollywood overnight. It also marked the perfect example of what Carell was capable of, anchoring a raunchy sex comedy while remaining the nicest guy on the screen. He could be funny, he could be sweet, he could be charming, and adorably nieve all at once. He could also make the name ‘Kelly Clarkson’ comedy gold.”

2. “Little Miss Sunshine” (2006)

This quirky dramedy follows a family driving – in their classic VW bus – across California so their daughter can compete in a beauty pageant. Carell plays the white-clad, depressed Uncle Frank in this critically acclaimed indie film, and it was one of his first against-type roles that won recognition.

This movie kind of slid under the radar during the time of its release, but is now favorite we will never forget. “In 2006, Carell played Frank Ginsberg in the cult-classic dramedy ‘Little Miss Sunshine,’” writes Insider. “The indie-comedy was praised by critics for being honest, gratifying, and quirky.”

Steve Carell was the perfect choice for this role as the family's suicidal Uncle Frank, according to Collider. “Though Carell stands out in his white frock, he kind of just blends in, as this isn't a big, showy performance that calls attention to itself. His performance is much more subtle, and I think his downer energy helps balance out what firecracker Breslin brings to the movie. … It's the kind of film that will make you laugh and cry in equal measure before it brings you to your feet at the end. And that sure sounds like the essence of Steve Carell to me,” they write.

“At its core, ‘Little Miss Sunshine’ is a story about family and is the epitome of a feel-good movie,” writes Movieweb. “The acting is incredible as it stars not only Steve Carell, but Abigail Breslin, Paul Dano, Greg Kinnear, Toni Collette, and Alan Arkin. ... There are so many iconic lines in the movie as well as emotional and hilarious moments that we still think about today even over 15 years after its initial release.”

3. “Foxcatcher” (2014)

In perhaps his most un-funny role to date, Carell plays eccentric multimillionaire John du Pont as he trains wrestlers for the 1988 Olympic Games. “Once again playing against type, Carell is unsettling and often terrifying as millionaire John du Pont,” writes ComingSoon. “Carell earned an Oscar nomination for this role and it was well deserved. He consumes himself as the deeply troubled, patriotic and vain du Pont, who finances a training camp for Olympic wrestlers. His win at all costs mentality and mysterious personal are brought to life by Carell who’s lifeless eyes say everything that needs to be said. It is surprisingly thrilling and a terrific movie overall. Certainly, it’s one of Carell’s most unique roles.”

For his performance, Carell earned nominations for the BAFTA Award for Best Actor and the Golden Globe Award, and the Academy Award for Best Actor.“Having dabbled in drama at points throughout his career, ‘Foxcatcher’ marks Carell’s greatest transformation, becoming John Eleuthère du Pont, the notorious heir to the du Pont family fortune who helped recruit two Olympic gold medalists and was eventually convicted of the murder of one,” states Esquire.

“Yes, Carell's best film features him as a total creep,” says Mandatory. “In this based-on-a-true-story flick, Carell plays billionaire John du Pont, a chemical fortune heir who built a facility on his estate to train Olympic-level wrestlers, specifically, a pair of brothers. The situation turned sinister, however, and Du Pont was eventually convicted of murder.”

4. “The Big Short” (2015)

In this funny retelling of the American housing crisis in 2007 to 2008, Steve Carell stars as Mark Baum, an in-your-face hedge fund operator based on the real-life investor Steven Eisman. “Carell's character is based on Steve Eisman, an American businessman who famously profited from the collapse of the US housing market between 2007 and 2008,” writes Insider. “Critics praised ‘The Big Short' for injecting genuine humor into the tragic drama.”

Despite the sad outcome for millions of Americans, the story keeps the laughs coming. “Until ‘The Big Short’ came along, no filmmaker had been able to make the world of banking or the 2008 financial crisis look all that riveting on the big screen,” notes Screen Rant. “The concept of regular working people’s lives being destroyed this way should make for a powerful drama, but it’s hard to convey that with numbers on a computer screen. Then, The Big Short came along, with jokes, A-list stars, fourth-wall-breaking, and Margot Robbie in a bathtub. It was still mostly numbers on a computer screen and it still wasn’t all that riveting, but Adam McKay still managed to make the most exciting movie about the mortgage crisis to date.”

“In a major change of pace from their usual collaborations, Carell reunited with ‘Anchorman’ director Adam McKay for this comedic satire about the 2007-2008 financial crisis that triggered the housing bubble collapse,” writes Gold Derby. “At times hilarious and enraging, ‘The Big Short’ is a brash, scathing, and entertaining recreation of an American tragedy. Carell received a Golden Globe nomination as Best Musical/Comedy Actor for his performance.”

5. “Crazy, Stupid Love” (2010)

In this romantic comedy, Carell plays recently divorced Cal Weaver as he tries to navigate dating and regain his confidence after having his heart broken. “What could have been a mindless rom-com is elevated to something far more memorable thanks in large part to the effortless charm of both Carell and Ryan Gosling,” says Esquire. “Though it adheres to basically every gender stereotype, Carell is in prime form as the most relatable version of the broken, recently divorced man.”

It’s a charming, funny feel-good movie that reminds us how to believe in love. “Critics found ‘Crazy, Stupid, Love’ to be a fresh take on the classic rom-com formula,” states Insider.

“This is sort of where it all came together for Steve Carell as a movie star,” writes Collider. “Let's face it, looks matter in a romantic comedy, and my man is looking like a snack here. Not only does he sleep with Marisa Tomei, but his 17-year-old babysitter (Analeigh Tipton) has the hots for him, and his ex (Julianne Moore) may even want him back. … And though everything that can go wrong for Cal does go wrong, in the end, he realizes that things will work out if they're meant to be, and that you're never too old to give up on love.

Sources used to form this consensus list

• Gold Derby
• TV Over Mind
• Esquire
• Insider
• Collider
• Movieweb
• Screen Rant
• ComingSoon
• Mandatory
• The Second Angle

Note: This article was not paid for nor sponsored. EdNews is not connected to nor partnered with any of the brands mentioned and receives no compensation for its recommendations. This article may contain affiliate links in which we receive a commission if you make a purchase.