These are the Steve Carell movies everyone needs to watch once. Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re looking at films that best showcase Steve Carell’s abilities as an actor.
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00:00 (gibberish)
00:05 Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're looking at films that best showcase Steve Carell's abilities as an actor.
00:11 "Uh-oh, here comes trouble."
00:14 Number 10. Anchorman, the legend of Ron Burgundy.
00:21 Few comedy sidekicks are as memorable or absurd as Brick in Anchorman.
00:26 Despite his supporting role as the weatherman, the comedian steals almost every scene.
00:31 "I don't know what we're yelling about!"
00:34 "You're with us, Ron. What do you think?"
00:37 "She... it's terrible! She has beautiful eyes and her hair smells like cinnamon!"
00:42 "Mm-hmm."
00:43 "Loud noises!"
00:45 In a cast of comedy legends, it speaks to the power of Steve Carell that he could out-funny even the likes of Will Ferrell.
00:52 Whether he's delivering a weather forecast or throwing a trident, the always-unpredictable character delights audiences with his nonstop insanity.
01:00 "I love lamp."
01:01 "Do you really love the lamp, or are you just saying it because you saw it?"
01:05 "I love lamp. I love lamp."
01:09 It's no wonder the actors work as Brick spawned a number of catchphrases, including one about his love for lamps.
01:15 In a fan-favorite role, Carell's breakthrough part secured him a prosperous future in film.
01:21 "Yeah, I stabbed a man in the heart."
01:23 "I saw that. Brick killed a guy. Did you throw a trident?"
01:28 "Yeah, there were horses and a man on fire, and I killed a guy with a trident."
01:32 Number 9. Get Smart
01:34 In a stroke of genius casting, the filmmakers behind Get Smart picked Steve Carell to portray Agent Maxwell Smart.
01:41 "23, you killed me!"
01:43 "Uh, I could if I wanted to."
01:44 "Yes, you could. Oh, oh! Did you see that face he made?"
01:47 Owing a debt to the original show's star, Don Adams, the actor plays an inept leading man as well as anyone.
01:54 As an analyst forced into the field, the secret agent role provides more than enough material for Carell to shine.
02:00 Between fumbling with gadgets and sneaking his way through a laser grid,
02:04 Smart gives the performer ample opportunity for physical and verbal comedy.
02:08 With Anne Hathaway as his partner, the comedian turns what could've been a lackluster adaptation into a hilarious spy parody.
02:15 "That'll work."
02:17 "No."
02:18 "Yes."
02:19 "No."
02:21 "Yes."
02:23 Number 8. The Way, Way Back
02:25 In this overlooked film, Steve Carell functions as the antithesis of his trademark comedic persona.
02:31 Playing Trent, Pam's uptight boyfriend, the funnyman plays it straight as the antagonist to teenager Duncan.
02:38 "Any chance you were on top of my car?"
02:40 "No."
02:42 "Okay. Because there was a dent in the roof. Big dent. It popped out. It was fine. I was just wondering if you know anything about that."
02:50 While the film didn't receive the attention of a big budget comedy, its low-key charms compete with the likes of any blockbuster.
02:57 Who would've thought Steve could pull off such a subtle and evil performance?
03:01 "Wanna be with Dad?"
03:03 "Duncan."
03:06 "Your father? Good luck with that."
03:09 "Hey, Trent. Don't."
03:11 "He doesn't want you, kid."
03:12 Defying his usual typecasting, the actor delivers an understated role in an enjoyable coming-of-age movie.
03:19 For those looking for a diamond in the rough, The Way, Way Back provides plenty of laughs along with an entirely unique performance from Carell.
03:27 "Are we done?"
03:28 "Oh, you must be Trent. I'm Owen. I'm a good friend of the three."
03:33 "Come on, let's go."
03:35 Number 7. Dan in Real Life
03:37 Among his most underrated films, Dan in Real Life follows the titular character as he juggles his personal life and his three daughters.
03:45 "The plan."
03:46 "The plan. Cara, Dad's about to reveal the plan."
03:50 "I'll pack up the car, pick you up right after school, and then we'll drive straight through."
03:57 Falling for his brother's girlfriend Marie, Dan finds himself torn between loyalty and love.
04:03 Less remembered than his other films, this heartfelt comedy sees Carell provide a naturally funny and grounded lead performance.
04:10 "Mitch is a great guy."
04:11 "He is. He's fun and funny. Uncomplicated and in a good way. Just what I need."
04:18 "He's a great guy."
04:19 Instead of containing numerous comic set pieces, the movie plays out as a subtle dramedy.
04:24 Drawing a more complex portrait of a man, Carell colors Dan with a hint of vulnerability that makes Dan in Real Life all the more remarkable.
04:31 "Okay, that's hilarious. But you know what? I, I'm gonna stop thinking about you."
04:36 As Mark Baum in The Big Short, Carell mixes comedy and tragedy into a timely satire about the 2008 financial crisis.
04:45 "We have talked about this numerous times. You can't come in late and hijack the entire session."
04:51 "What do you mean? I didn't hijack the meeting. Did I hijack this session?"
04:54 "Yeah."
04:55 Reteaming with director Adam McKay, the actor lends nuance to an otherwise morally questionable investor.
05:01 While Mark discovers the true horrors behind the impending economic collapse, Carell invites us to discover the intricacies of finance while trading humorous jabs.
05:10 "And then that happens."
05:12 "What is that?"
05:13 "That's America's housing market."
05:17 It's a role that few people could pull off, with the comedian getting laughs one minute and struggling with his personal limits the next.
05:23 Expertly deconstructing the typical antihero, Mark's true humanity comes out as his brother's death haunts him.
05:30 All the while, the performer skillfully maneuvers through the complicated script of The Big Short.
05:35 "We don't want to spook everybody. Can you do that? You got a big mouth, you like to run it. Can you just keep it shut for a few minutes?"
05:41 "Okay. Yeah, don't worry."
05:42 With the dominance of animated films, it was inevitable that Steve Carell found his way into at least one.
05:50 "Your dog has been leaving little bombs all over my yard and I don't appreciate it."
05:56 "Sorry. You know dogs, they go wherever they want to go."
06:00 "Unless they're dead."
06:02 Spinning the role of a cartoon villain on its head, the comedy star disappears into the evil and unlikely father figure, Gru.
06:12 Adopting three girls, the supervillain must trade in his devilish plans to become a parent and outsmart his rival.
06:18 "Ah, bleh, bleh, bleh. Come on girls, let's go."
06:21 Carell gradually peels back the villain's eccentricities to reveal the hero lurking underneath.
06:27 Fun for the whole family, Despicable Me upends the usual trappings of a kids' movie with help from the performer's wacky vocal talents.
06:34 "Wow, this is garbage. You actually like this?"
06:38 "Keep reading."
06:39 "Come on."
06:41 "Alright, alright, alright."
06:43 Off the strength of this crowd-pleasing performance, the actor continued as Gru in several successful sequels.
06:49 In 2006, Carell rounded out the impressive ensemble cast in the indie film Little Miss Sunshine.
06:57 "Cheryl, I couldn't help noticing Dwayne has stopped speaking."
07:00 "Oh, yeah, he's taken a vow of silence."
07:03 "You've taken a vow of silence?"
07:05 When his character Frank survives a depressive episode, he joins his misfit family on a trip to his niece's beauty pageant.
07:12 At the time, this was among the more serious parts in Carell's filmography.
07:16 Mixing dry comedy and dramatic intensity, the role gave audiences their first glimpse at the actor's versatile acting chops.
07:23 "Do you think there's a heaven?"
07:25 "It's hard to say, Olive. I don't think anyone knows for sure."
07:31 "I know, but what do you think?"
07:36 Not only does the comedian manage to be authentically funny, but he also sells a beautifully drawn character without gimmicks or cliches.
07:44 A surprise hit that received several Oscar nominations, Little Miss Sunshine captures Steve in one of the many emotional counterpoints to his usually playful image.
07:53 "Glad you're talking again, Dwayne. You're not nearly as stupid as you look."
08:02 In what might be his darkest film, Foxcatcher finds Carell unrecognizable as the deeply troubled millionaire John DuPont.
08:10 "I wanted to speak with you about your future, about what you hope to achieve. What do you hope to achieve, Mark?"
08:20 Behind a stellar makeup job, the star and his nose provide a sinister presence throughout the bleak movie.
08:27 Manipulating wrestlers into joining his private team, John haunts the film as a disturbed man unable to connect with the world around him.
08:35 "387 days to sold, gentlemen. Let's have a good practice, shall we?"
08:41 Orchestrating a violent finale, John's possessive nature gives the actor a chance to unleash the creepiest screen outing of his career.
08:49 While not for everyone, Foxcatcher excels at slow-burn character drama that showcases Carell's most daring work yet.
08:56 "I'm going to need you, and I will be relying on you to a great extent. I want more than anything to win a gold medal."
09:10 Ushering in another decade of standout films, Carell's 2010 role in Crazy Stupid Love proved his career was only getting started.
09:20 "Who told you that Emily and I are getting divorced?"
09:24 "You're getting a divorce?"
09:26 "Yeah."
09:27 "Amy heard you crying in the bathroom. We all thought it was cancer."
09:34 "Oh."
09:35 "Thank God, man."
09:36 "Yeah, just my relationship."
09:38 Playing one of his signature roles, the tragically funny dad, the actor delivered an uproarious performance in a modern rom-com classic.
09:48 Re-entering the dating scene in Middle Age, Carell's Cal gets a much-needed makeover from womanizer Jacob.
09:54 "I feel like I'm going skiing."
09:56 "Did you sleep with him?"
09:57 "Jesus God!"
09:59 "Yeah, probably."
10:00 "What?"
10:01 Paired with Ryan Gosling, the leading man holds his own as a romantically incompetent divorcee.
10:07 With the comedian at his awkward best, Crazy Stupid Love allows Carell to deliver a hilariously authentic look at a man struggling to find himself.
10:15 "If he gets handsy, let me know."
10:18 "I wouldn't touch you. My life depended on it."
10:21 Before we unveil our top pick, here are some honorable mentions.
10:25 Date Night
10:26 Carell shines alongside Tina Fey in this zany and comedic thrill ride.
10:30 "How about I am taking you to dinner in the city?"
10:34 "We don't have to do that."
10:36 "Yes, we do."
10:37 Vice
10:38 As Rumsfeld, the actor delivers an unlikely and entertaining role as the controversial man.
10:42 "What's it gonna be? Is it a yes or a no?"
10:45 "It's a yes."
10:46 "You don't even know what the question is."
10:48 Beautiful Boy
10:49 In a heart-wrenching story, Steve plays a vulnerable dad trying to help his son.
10:54 "Let's just go inside."
10:55 "No."
10:56 "They're professionals. Let's just listen to what they have to say."
10:58 Battle of the Sexes
10:59 Playing the showman Bobby Riggs, the actor rounds out a crowd-pleasing sports film.
11:04 "Think of the publicity that we get. Think of the money."
11:06 "No."
11:07 "35 grand."
11:09 "Where'd you get that kind of money?"
11:11 "You see? You see? You're tempted."
11:13 Seeking a Friend for the End of the World
11:15 An underrated Steve performance that effectively mixes emotion, romance, and comedy.
11:20 "I'm fine."
11:21 "No, honey, you're not fine. You're gonna die alone. Doesn't that bother you?"
11:25 "He's not gonna die alone."
11:26 "Yes, he is."
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11:43 Number 1. The 40-Year-Old Virgin
11:46 While he's had many fantastic roles, The 40-Year-Old Virgin brought a fully realized Steve Carell to the forefront of the comedy film world.
11:54 "It feels like a bag of sand when you're touching it."
11:58 "Bag of sand?"
12:00 "You know what I mean."
12:04 Shining in previous supporting parts, this film finally delivered on the promise of the character actor becoming a true leading man.
12:11 Directed by Judd Apatow, it encapsulates the many facets of Carell's winning comedic energy.
12:16 "I didn't expect that at all. I really didn't expect that."
12:19 He's goofy, manic, and romantic all rolled into one fantastic performance.
12:24 Take any number of scenes, including the infamous chest wax moment, and you'll find the actor in top form.
12:30 In a career of comedic highs, The 40-Year-Old Virgin is the best example of the comedian's perpetual talents.
12:37 "Wow, you gotta be kidding. Oh."
12:39 "I am Aquaman."
12:41 What's your favorite Steve Carell movie? Let us know in the comments below.
12:45 "The bears can smell the menstruation."
12:47 "Well, that's just great."
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12:58 [Music]