20 Best Paul Rudd Movies of All Time!
From 'Ant-Man' to 'Wanderlust,' Moviefone is counting down the 20 best movies of Paul Rudd's career.
Paul Rudd as Scott Lang/Ant-Man in Marvel Studios' 'Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.' Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. © 2022 Marvel.
Everyone loves Paul Rudd!
The actor began his career acting opposite Alicia Silverstone in 'Clueless' and went on to appear in Judd Apatow comedies like 'Knocked Up' and 'This Is 40' before starring in the 'Ant-Man' franchise for Marvel.
In honor of his latest Marvel movie, 'Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania,' which opens in theaters on February 17th, Moviefone is counting down the 20 best movies of Paul Rudd's career.
Let's begin!
20. 'Wanderlust' (2012)
Universal Pictures
Rattled by sudden unemployment, a Manhattan couple (Jennifer Aniston and Rudd) surveys alternative living options, ultimately deciding to experiment with living on a rural commune where free love rules.
19. 'Romeo + Juliet' (1996)
In director Baz Luhrmann's contemporary take on William Shakespeare's classic tragedy, the Montagues and Capulets have moved their ongoing feud to the sweltering suburb of Verona Beach, where Romeo (Leonardo DiCaprio) and Juliet (Claire Danes) fall in love and secretly wed. Though the film is visually modern, the bard's dialogue remains.
18. 'Dinner for Schmucks' (2010)
Rising executive Tim Conrad (Rudd) works for a boss who hosts a monthly dinner in which the guest who brings the biggest buffoon gets a career-boost. Tim plans on not attending until he meets Barry (Steve Carell), a man who builds dioramas using stuffed mice. Barry's blundering but good intentions send Tim's life into a downward spiral, threatening a major business deal and possibly scuttling Tim's engagement to his fiancee.
17. 'The Perks of Being a Wallflower' (2012)
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 1991. High school freshman Charlie (Logan Lerman) is a wallflower, always watching life from the sidelines, until two senior students, Sam (Emma Watson) and her stepbrother Patrick (Ezra Miller), become his mentors, helping him discover the joys of friendship, music and love.
16. 'The Fundamentals of Caring' (2016)
Having suffered a tragedy, Ben (Rudd) becomes a caregiver to earn money. His first client, Trevor (Craig Roberts), is a hilarious 18-year-old with muscular dystrophy. One paralyzed emotionally, one paralyzed physically, Ben and Trevor hit the road on a trip into the western states. The folks they collect along the way will help them test their skills for surviving outside their calculated existence. Together, they come to understand the importance of hope and the necessity of true friendship.
15. 'Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues' (2013)
Paramount Pictures
With the 70s behind him, San Diego's top rated newsman, Ron Burgundy (Will Ferrell), returns to take New York's first 24-hour news channel by storm.
Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues
14. 'Admission' (2013)
Straitlaced Princeton University admissions officer, Portia Nathan (Tine Fey) is caught off-guard when she makes a recruiting visit to an alternative high school overseen by her former college classmate, the freewheeling John Pressman (Rudd). Pressman has surmised that Jeremiah (Nat Wolff), his gifted yet very unconventional student, might well be the son that Portia secretly gave up for adoption many years ago.
13. 'Captain America: Civil War' (2016)
Following the events of 'Age of Ultron,' the collective governments of the world pass an act designed to regulate all superhuman activity. This polarizes opinion amongst the Avengers, causing two factions to side with Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.) or Captain America (Chris Evans), which causes an epic battle between former allies.
Captain America: Civil War
12. 'Forgetting Sarah Marshall' (2008)
When Sarah Marshall (Kristen Bell) dumps aspiring musician Peter Bretter (Jason Segel) for rock star Aldous Snow (Russell Brand), Peter's world comes crashing down. His best friend suggests that Peter should get away from everything and to fly off to Hawaii to escape all his problems. After arriving in Hawaii and meeting the beautiful Rachel Jansen (Mila Kunis), Peter is shocked to see not only Aldous Snow in Hawaii, but also Sarah Marshall.
Forgetting Sarah Marshall
11. 'Ant-Man and the Wasp' (2018)
Just when his time under house arrest is about to end, Scott Lang (Rudd) once again puts his freedom at risk to help Hope van Dyne (Evangeline Lilly) and Dr. Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) dive into the quantum realm and try to accomplish, against time and any chance of success, a very dangerous rescue mission.
10. 'Knocked Up' (2007)
Universal Pictures
For fun loving party animal Ben Stone (Seth Rogen), the last thing he ever expected was for his one night stand (Katherine Heigl) to show up on his doorstep eight weeks later to tell him she's pregnant.
9. 'Ghostbusters: Afterlife' (2021)
When a single mom (Carrie Coon) and her two kids (Finn Wolfhard and McKenna Grace) arrive in a small town, they begin to discover their connection to the original Ghostbusters and the secret legacy their grandfather (Harold Ramis) left behind.
Ghostbusters: Afterlife
8. 'The 40 Year Old Virgin' (2005)
Andy Stitzer (Steve Carell) has a pleasant life with a nice apartment and a job stamping invoices at an electronics store. But at age 40, there's one thing Andy hasn't done, and it's really bothering his sex-obsessed male co-workers: Andy is still a virgin. Determined to help Andy get laid, the guys make it their mission to de-virginize him. But it all seems hopeless until Andy meets small business owner Trish, a single mom.
7. 'Role Models' (2008)
Two salesmen (Rudd and Seann William Scott) trash a company truck on an energy drink-fueled bender. Upon their arrest, the court gives them a choice: do hard time or spend 150 service hours with a mentorship program. After one day with the kids, however, jail doesn't look half bad.
6. 'I Love You, Man' (2009)
Peter Klaven (Rudd) is a successful real estate agent who, upon getting engaged to the woman of his dreams, Zooey (Rashida Jones), discovers, to his dismay and chagrin, that he has no male friend close enough to serve as his Best Man. Peter immediately sets out to rectify the situation, embarking on a series of bizarre and awkward "man-dates."
5. 'Clueless' (1995)
Paramount
Shallow, rich and socially successful Cher (Alicia Silverstone) is at the top of her Beverly Hills high school's pecking scale. Seeing herself as a matchmaker, Cher first coaxes two teachers into dating each other. Emboldened by her success, she decides to give hopelessly klutzy new student Tai (Brittany Murphy) a makeover. When Tai becomes more popular than she is, Cher realizes that her disapproving ex-stepbrother (Rudd) was right about how misguided she was -- and falls for him.
Clueless
4. 'Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy' (2004)
It's the 1970s and San Diego anchorman Ron Burgundy (Will Ferrell) is the top dog in local TV, but that's all about to change when ambitious reporter Veronica Corningstone (Christina Applegate) arrives as a new employee at his station.
Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy
3. 'Avengers: Endgame' (2019)
After the devastating events of 'Avengers: Infinity War,' the universe is in ruins due to the efforts of the Mad Titan, Thanos (Josh Brolin). With the help of remaining allies, the Avengers must assemble once more in order to undo Thanos' actions and restore order to the universe once and for all, no matter what consequences may be in store.
2. 'This Is 40' (2012)
Pete (Rudd) and Debbie (Leslie Mann) are both about to turn 40, their kids hate each other, both of their businesses are failing, they're on the verge of losing their house, and their relationship is threatening to fall apart.
1. 'Ant-Man' (2015)
Marvel Studios
Armed with the astonishing ability to shrink in scale but increase in strength, master thief Scott Lang (Rudd) must embrace his inner-hero and help his mentor, Doctor Hank Pym (Michael Douglas), protect the secret behind his spectacular Ant-Man suit from a new generation of towering threats. Against seemingly insurmountable obstacles, Pym and Lang must plan and pull off a heist that will save the world.
