Steve Carell’s Top 10 Movies And TV Shows, Ranked

Steve Carell is one of Hollywood’s most adaptable actors. He’s excelled in a wide range of roles, from serious dramas and laugh-out-loud comedies to big-budget animated films. He’s also famous for playing a truly unforgettable character on television.

It’s tough to pick Steve Carell’s best roles because he’s had such a consistently excellent career. With so many great performances to choose from, any attempt to narrow it down is bound to leave out some gems. He’s truly one of Hollywood’s most successful actors.

The Morning Show (2019-2021)

Steve Carell recently returned to television in the Apple TV+ series, The Morning Show. The show was a key program when the streaming service launched, boasting a fantastic cast and receiving positive reviews from critics.

I’m really hooked on The Morning Show! It mostly follows the lives of three people: Alex Levy, played by Jennifer Aniston, who’s a big TV host, Mitch Kessler (Steve Carell), her former co-host who lost his job because of some serious misconduct, and Bradley Jackson (Reese Witherspoon), the new person who steps in to take Mitch’s place. It’s all about how they’re dealing with everything that’s changed.

Steve Carell’s performance earned him an Emmy nomination for his leading role in the drama. It was a significant departure from his usual comedic characters; he convincingly played a truly unpleasant and unlikeable character. Unfortunately, he only appeared in the show for its first two seasons.

Despicable Me (2010)

Steve Carell’s most prominent film role is as a voice actor in the animated movie Despicable Me. He plays Gru, a supervillain who plans to use three adopted girls to help with a scheme, but unexpectedly becomes a loving father to them.

The original Despicable Me was a huge hit with audiences, earning over $540 million. The sequels have continued to be successful, with several earning over $1 billion worldwide. Though all the films are fun to watch, many fans still consider the first one the strongest.

Steve Carell is fantastic in Despicable Me, and it’s really a showcase for his talent. The movie focuses heavily on him and the girls before a lot of other characters were added, and you genuinely believe in their heartwarming father-daughter relationship from the very beginning. You can feel his love for them in every scene.

The Way, Way Back (2013)

Steve Carell is famous for his comedic roles, but he’s also a talented actor when given more serious parts. He really shines in The Way, Way Back, playing Trent Ramsey, a character the audience is never meant to like or support.

The Way, Way Back tells the story of Duncan (Liam James), a shy teenager who begins to come into his own during a summer vacation. He finds friendship and builds confidence while working at a water park. The film also features Steve Carell as Trent, the controlling boyfriend of Duncan’s mother, Pam (Toni Collette).

From the very beginning, Trent is unlikeable – he’s rude and talks down to Duncan, and we quickly learn he’s having an affair with Pam, solidifying his role as the villain. This is actually one of Steve Carell’s best, yet often overlooked, performances, and it foreshadows his ability to play characters like Mitch Kessler.

Anchorman: The Legend Of Ron Burgundy (2004)

Many viewers first discovered Steve Carell in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy. Before this film, he wasn’t a well-known actor and hadn’t yet taken on a leading role, but he quickly became a standout performer in what’s considered one of the era’s most hilarious comedies.

The movie Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy centers on Will Ferrell’s character, Ron Burgundy, and his news team. Their established world is disrupted when a female co-anchor joins the broadcast. Steve Carell plays Brick Tamland, a sweet but not very bright weatherman on the team.

The movie stars Will Ferrell, Paul Rudd, and Christina Applegate, with some incredibly funny guest appearances, but Steve Carell steals the show with his comedic performance. His character, Brick, is consistently hilarious – whether he’s running with a grenade, throwing a ridiculous ‘pants party,’ or even professing his love for a lamp.

Foxcatcher (2014)

Steve Carell is known for great performances in dramatic roles. Though he’s played flawed characters before, his portrayal of John Eleuthère du Pont in Foxcatcher is particularly unsettling and unlike anything he’s done previously.

I was completely captivated by this movie – it’s based on a truly shocking true story. It follows John du Pont, an incredibly wealthy man, and how he brought in Olympic wrestling champions Dave and Mark Schulz to help train a team. At first, he seemed like a genuine wrestling fan and wanted to do something positive, but things quickly took a dark turn. It’s a really unsettling story about power and obsession.

Watching Foxcatcher, it became clear that John du Pont was really falling apart. He started yelling at his wrestlers, and things just kept getting worse until he did something truly awful. Steve Carell completely transformed for this role – I barely recognized him! It’s no surprise he was nominated for an Oscar; it’s honestly one of the best performances I’ve ever seen from him.

The Big Short (2015)

Unlike the film Foxcatcher, which focuses on a single person’s life story, The Big Short tells the story of the 2008 financial crisis and how the housing bubble caused it. Steve Carell plays Mark Baum, a character based on real-life trader Steve Eisman, who led a small investment firm.

The film The Big Short features a fantastic cast, including Steve Carell, Christian Bale, Ryan Gosling, and many other talented actors. What really makes it stand out, though, is how it tackles complex financial terms. The filmmakers cleverly used celebrity cameos – like Margot Robbie and Selena Gomez – to break down these complicated ideas in a way that’s easy to understand.

I was really impressed with The Big Short. Everyone said it was surprisingly accurate, which made it even more impactful. It was fantastic to see the screenplay win an Oscar, and Steve Carell absolutely deserved all the recognition he got – I remember seeing his name up for awards at the Critics’ Choice and Golden Globes, and it was well-earned!

The 40-Year-Old Virgin (2005)

While it doesn’t have quite as many rave reviews as films like The Big Short or Foxcatcher, The 40-Year-Old Virgin was a turning point for Steve Carell. It was the first movie where he truly showed he could carry a film as the lead actor.

Steve Carell became a star by stealing the show in several comedies, and he proved his leading man potential with The 40-Year-Old Virgin. He plays Andy Stitzer, a shy guy who stopped trying to have sex after some embarrassing experiences. When his coworkers find out, they decide to help him lose his virginity.

The story could have easily become overly crude, but Steve Carell’s charming performance kept it relatable. You genuinely want him to succeed, not just in losing his virginity, but in finding real connection, because he portrays a genuinely kind and sweet person beneath his clumsy exterior. The film was a success with both critics and audiences, solidifying Carell’s status as a major star.

Crazy, Stupid, Love (2011)

Image via Warner Bros. Pictures

Before appearing together in The Big Short, Steve Carell and Ryan Gosling showed great chemistry in Crazy, Stupid, Love. The movie centers on Cal Weaver, played by Carell, as he navigates life after discovering his wife has been unfaithful, and it weaves together several related love stories.

Cal receives support from the charming but womanizing Jacob, played by Ryan Gosling, and their scenes together are particularly strong. This unlikely duo has great chemistry and provides some of the film’s funniest moments. Steve Carell shines in every scene, delivering excellent performances alongside the entire cast, including Julianne Moore, Lio Tipton, and Marisa Tomei.

Crazy, Stupid, Love was both a popular and critically acclaimed movie. It’s especially remembered for its surprising plot twist, which makes it a favorite even years after its release.

Little Miss Sunshine (2006)

The film Little Miss Sunshine was a huge success story of the 2000s. Despite a small $8 million budget, it premiered at Sundance, received rave reviews, and ultimately earned over $100 million at the box office. It was also a major hit with the Academy Awards.

I absolutely adore the movie Little Miss Sunshine. It’s about a really quirky family who pile into a VW bus and drive across the country so their little girl can compete in a beauty pageant. It’s not just about the pageant though; the trip really forces them to confront everything going on in their lives and with each other. There are moments that are hilarious, but also incredibly touching and raw – it’s a film that really stays with you.

Steve Carell delivers a subtle and impressive performance as Frank, a gay academic and the family’s uncle, who is recovering from a suicide attempt while staying with his sister. The entire cast received the Screen Actors Guild Award for their work in the film.

The Office (2005-2011; 2013)

No matter how good Steve Carell is in other roles, it’s hard to imagine he’ll ever surpass his iconic performance as Michael Scott on The Office. The show, which follows the everyday lives of employees at a paper company in Scranton, remains incredibly popular and is watched repeatedly by fans worldwide.

Michael Scott is a character that easily could have been unlikable with a different actor. Despite being often clumsy, inappropriate, and even saying offensive things, Steve Carell managed to make him endearing. It was a difficult role to play, and he handled it brilliantly.

Steve Carell was nominated for an Emmy six times for his role as Michael Scott, and many believe he should have won. While he did receive a Golden Globe for the part, Michael Scott is widely considered a truly iconic comedy character, largely due to Carell’s brilliant performance.

2026-01-27 18:04