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

There aren't many actors in Hollywood with careers as versatile as Steve Carell's. He has been great in everything from heavy dramas to hilarious comedies to blockbuster animated projects. Carell also portrayed one of the most iconic and memorable television characters of all time.

When looking at Carell's filmography, there are so many great roles that it's hard to narrow it down to the best of the best. No matter which way you slice it, there's a good chance you'll be leaving some of his best work out because there are just so many to choose from. Carell has one of Hollywood's best careers.

The Morning Show (2019-2021)

Steve Carell made his long-awaited return to the small screen in the Apple TV+ original series, The Morning Show. It was one of the tentpole programs for the streaming service upon its launch, featuring a stellar cast and being met with widespread critical acclaim.

The Morning Show mainly focuses on three people. There's TV host Alex Levy (Jennifer Aniston), her former co-host, Mitch Kessler, who was fired for sexual misconduct (Carell), and his replacement on the series, Bradley Jackson (Reese Witherspoon), as they all navigate the new normal they're living in.

Carell's performance landed him an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series and was totally different from his other roles. Instead of the lovable goof he's known for, he was slimy and unlikable and he nailed it. Alas, Carell only appears in the first two seasons.

Despicable Me (2010)

The biggest film role for Steve Carell is one where he lends his voice to an animated project. In Despicable Me, Carell voices the protagonist, Gru, a career supervillain who adopts three girls to use as a pawn in his latest scheme, only to become a true father to them.

It's a heartwarming setup that audiences fell in love with. The original Despicable Me grossed over $540 million, while the sequels have all done better, including a few that broke the $1 billion barrier. While each installment is enjoyable, the first remains the best in the eyes of most.

Despicable Me is truly Carell's place to shine. This was before several long-running supporting characters were introduced, so it's mostly him and the girls. You can feel his fatherly affection through every line and you buy into their bond from the start because it's so endearing.

The Way, Way Back (2013)

Although he's most known for his funniest performances, Steve Carell also does great work when he's asked to be something more. That's what happened in The Way, Way Back, where he plays Trent Ramsey, a man who nobody watching will root for at any point.

The Way, Way Back centers on Duncan (Liam James), an introverted teen who starts to find himself and gain confidence when he befriends the workers at a water park while on summer vacation. Carell's Trent is the overbearing boyfriend of Trent's mother, Pam (Toni Collette).

Trent is a jerk from his opening scene, as he's mean and condescending to Duncan. He's also revealed to be cheating on Pam, only further adding to his status as the antagonist. It's one of Carell's most underrated performances and an early indicator that he'd nail someone like the aforementioned Mitch Kessler.

Anchorman: The Legend Of Ron Burgundy (2004)

For a lot of people, Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy was their first look at Steve Carell. He wasn't known to the world yet and hadn't landed any starring parts to this point, yet he's the scene stealer in one of the funniest movies of its time.

In Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burdungy, we follow Will Ferrell's titular character and his news crew buddies as their world is turned upside down when a female co-anchor is added to their show. Carell appears as Brick Tamland, the kind-hearted but dim-witted weatherman.

In a film with Ferrell, Paul Rudd, Christina Applegate, and some absurdly hilarious cameos, it's Carell who gets the biggest laughs. From running around holding a grenade to him inviting someone to his "pants party" to his declaration of love for a lamp, Brick is hilarious.

Foxcatcher (2014)

As noted, we've seen Steve Carell do some fantastic work in his more serious roles. While he has played some unlikable people in the past, he's never taken on a part quite as dark or disturbing as that of John Eleuthère du Pont in Foxcatcher.

The film tells the harrowing true story of how John Eleuthère du Pont, one of the wealthiest men in the world, recruited Olympic gold medalist brothers Dave and Mark Schulz to help coach American wrestlers. John was a huge wrestling enthusiast and seemed to have good intentions at the start.

Foxcatcher goes on to show that John is increasingly unstable, berating his wrestlers and worse, culminating in him committing a tragic murder. Carell is almost unrecognizable in the role and landed a Best Actor nomination at the Academy Awards, proving it's one of his finest performances.

The Big Short (2015)

Another biographical film, The Big Short is quite different from Foxcatcher. Instead of telling the true tale of one specific person, it centers on the 2008 financial crisis, showing how it was started by the United States housing bubble. Carell plays Mark Baum, based on Steve Eisman, the leader of a small trading firm.

The Big Short benefits from a tremendous cast as Carell is joined by Christian Bale, Ryan Gosling, Jeremy Strong, Marisa Tomei, Brad Pitt, and more. The film also stands out because the filmmakers understood that the jargon used is hard to grasp, so they had cameos from the likes of Margot Robbie and Selena Gomez pop up to explain things.

Reviews for The Big Short were strong and was praised for being more accurate than many expected. The movie's screenplay won an Oscar, while Carell scored nominations at the Critics' Choice Awards and Golden Globe Awards, among others.

The 40-Year-Old Virgin (2005)

It might not have the high level of outstanding reviews that The Big Short or Foxcatcher have, but The 40-Year-Old Virgin is incredibly important in Steve Carell's career. It's the movie that proved the actor could lead his own movie.

After stealing scenes in other comedies, Carell delivered the goods as the lead in The 40-Year-Old Virgin. He plays the titular virgin, Andy Stitzer, an introverted man who gave up on trying to have sex after some failed, awkward encounters. His co-workers learn of this and make it their mission to help him get laid.

The premise lends itself to raunchy comedy, yet it was Carell's endearing performance that grounded things. You root for him to not just lose his virginity but to find love, because under his awkward exterior beats the heart of a sweet man. The movie was a hit critically and commercially, making Carell a bona fide star.

Crazy, Stupid, Love (2011)

Years before they starred together in The Big Short, Steve Carell and Ryan Gosling proved to be a stellar on-screen duo in Crazy, Stupid, Love. The film follows a series of interconnected love stories with Carell's Cal Weaver at the center as he looks to rebound after his wife cheats on him.

Cal gets help from the womanizing Jacob (Gosling) and their scenes together are golden. The odd pairing works so well and lends itself to the film's biggest laughs. Carell is great alongside everyone on screen, from Julianne Moore to Lio Tipton to Marisa Tomei.

Crazy, Stupid, Love was a success commercially and was a hit with critics. It also features one of the best plot twists in any romantic film in history, which is why the movie is so fondly remembered over a decade after it was released.

Little Miss Sunshine (2006)

One of the greatest success stories of the 2000s in cinema was Little Miss Sunshine. Made for only $8 million, the movie premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, was beloved by critics, and ended up grossing more than $100 million. On top of that, it was a darling at the Academy Awards.

Little Miss Sunshine follows a dysfunctional family that embarks on a road trip so the youngest member can compete in a child beauty pageant. Along the way, their relationships, futures, and more are tested, leading to some highly emotional scenes.

Steve Carell plays Frank, the uncle of the family and a gay scholar who is staying with his sister after attempting to take his own life. His performance is quietly fantastic and the cast won the SAG Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture.

The Office (2005-2011; 2013)

It doesn't matter how great Steve Carell is in almost anything else he does, it'll be next to impossible to top his performance as Michael Scott in The Office. The comedy show about a Scranton paper company is one of the most popular and rewatched series in the world.

Michael Scott is a character who, in another actor's hands, could've failed miserably. He is often incompetent, unprofessional, and even offensive, yet Carell made sure he was somehow still lovable. It's a tremendous balancing act that he pulled off masterfully.

Carell landed six Emmy nominations as Michael Scott, and the fact that he never won is considered a travesty. He did win a Golden Globe for the role and Michael Scott is one of the most legendary comedy characters ever put to the screen, thanks in large part to Carell's performance.