Within every generation, there seems to be a master of comedy who rises up and is able to make even the most serious person let out a giggle or two. Melissa McCarthy is one of those comedians who can make you laugh with even just a facial expression, and she often uses physical comedy to bring her jokes home. Not only is she a hilarious actress, but she's gone on to do serious roles as well, such as Nine Perfect Strangers, The Starling, and most recently, she portrayed Ursula in the live-action Little Mermaid.
Her breakout role was on Gilmore Girls, where she played Sookie St. James for all seven seasons and became a fan favorite, and since then she's gone on to do memorable roles and films. McCarthy has had such an impressive career so far, and we hope she doesn't slow down anytime soon. Let's take a look at how her top ten movies were perceived by Rotten Tomatoes.
10 The Third Wheel (2002) - 33%
In this rom-com that perfectly captures the essence of the early 2000s, a man named Stanley (Luke Wilson) finally asks out his coworker, Diana (Denise Richards), whom he's been pining after for an entire year. Once she agrees, the entire office conspires to see how long it will take Stanley and Diana to actually get together, forming a betting pool to see if Stanley will mess it all up. While they're out on their date, they encounter a homeless man who quickly attaches himself to the couple for the rest of the night, thus becoming the third wheel of the date. It's a night of unexpected obstacles as Stanley tries to woo Diana, but keeps getting interrupted by the man he hit with his car.
Why You Should Watch
The Third Wheel is goofy and doesn't take itself seriously at all, which is why it excels at being a romantic comedy in 2002. The cast works great together, especially the dynamic between Luke Wilson and Ben Affleck, who plays Michael, Stanley's friend and coworker. Unrealistic things happen in this movie, and you won't know if you're annoyed or pleased with how Stanley keeps messing up with Diana.
Rent on Apple TV
9 Pumpkin (2002) - 36%
In this quirky romantic comedy that also doubles as a black comedy, this film certainly isn't for everyone, and might be aging poorly for the content. The message is a good one, but if made today, it would be done completely differently, with more care for the subject and how people with disabilities were represented. In Pumpkin, a college girl named Carolyn (Christina Ricci) is part of a sorority that holds a version of the Special Olympics, and during the games, she meets a guy named Pumpkin. The two end up falling for each other, but receive backlash from family and friends who insist that their relationship won't work. In the end, the two are happy, and, perhaps, that's all that matters.
Why You Should Watch It
Even though some of the scenes have aged poorly due to offensive language and jokes that don't quite land, Pumpkin is one of those obscure movies that you either love or can't see the charm in. Melissa McCarthy's character, Cici, adds some relief to the film, as she's always funny and gives the scenes she's in a bit more oomph.
Rent on Apple TV
8 Life of the Party (2018) - 38%
Life of the Party
- Release Date
- May 10, 2018
- Director
- Ben Falcone
- Cast
- Melissa McCarthy, Matt Walsh, Molly Gordon, Ben Falcone, Jacki Weaver, Stephen Root
- Rating
- PG-13
- Runtime
- 105
- Main Genre
- Comedy
In this fantastic but underrated comedy, every college kid's nightmare comes true for Maddie as her middle-aged mother, Deanna, enrolls in the same college as her. After Deanna hits a midlife crisis and finds out that her husband is cheating on her, she leaves him and joins her daughter at Decatur University, and at first, things are rough. She has a reclusive roommate; college students act like high school bullies, and she's not entirely sure where she belongs after such a loss from her marriage. Over time, Deanna finds her footing, and she starts to take college life by storm, and there are truly some great moments, such as her stressing out over public speaking and giving a presentation.
Why You Should Watch It
Despite the low score from critics, Life of the Party is one of those feel-good films that you can pop in any time and feel comforted by. Plus, McCarthy hits every single comedic point she makes, and none of it feels dry or overused. Her timing and physical comedy hit right on the money, and this movie also encourages people of all ages to get their degrees if that's something they wish to do.
Rent on Amazon
7 This is 40 (2012) - 51%
This is 40
- Release Date
- December 20, 2012
- Director
- Judd Apatow
- Cast
- Paul Rudd, Leslie Mann, Maude Apatow, Iris Apatow, Jason Segel, Annie Mumolo
- Rating
- R
- Runtime
- 133
- Main Genre
- Comedy
In this follow-up to Judd Apatow's Knocked Up, married couple Pete (Paul Rudd) and Debbie (Leslie Mann) hit a few bumps in the road as they both turn forty. The audience first met Pete and Debbie in Knocked Up, with Mann's real-life daughters, Iris and Maude Apatow playing their kids, and it's a great sequel to see what they've been up to. It's a bit refreshing in this comedy to see a couple who don't have everything figured out, especially when Debbie finds out that she's having a third baby so late in her life.
Why You Should Watch It
The highlight of the movie is Melissa McCarthy in her role as Catherine, a helicopter parent who gets into numerous fights with Pete, and McCarthy is the perfect depiction of a parent you wouldn't want to be associated with. The scenes in which McCarthy and Rudd get into a verbal spar are hilarious, and you'll find yourself rewinding the scene just to get a stomach ache from laughing so hard. The blooper for this scene is even better, as McCarthy is ad-libbing random insults to say with a straight face as Rudd and Mann completely lose it on camera.
Stream on Starz
6 The Nines (2007) - 64%
The Nines
- Release Date
- January 21, 2007
- Director
- John August
- Cast
- Ryan Reynolds, Melissa McCarthy, Hope Davis, Elle Fanning, David Denman, Octavia Spencer
- Rating
- R
- Runtime
- 100
- Main Genre
- Drama
The Nines certainly isn't Ryan Reynolds' best film, but it's still something to note due to the formatting. It's split into three parts, with Reynolds appearing as different versions of his character throughout the three parts. McCarthy plays his counterpart through each life, and she's wonderful at adapting three different personas throughout the film. She even plays herself in the second part and is great at being eerie just enough that it gives you the creeps.
Why You Should Watch It
The Nines is a great film that's interactive with its audience as you try to figure out exactly what's going on before Reynolds does, and in return, it keeps you engaged until the credits roll. The formatting is also really neat, as the movie is split up into three different universes but is ultimately all connected, fitting like puzzle pieces that you might miss on your first watch.
Rent on Apple TV
5 The Heat (2013) - 66%
The Heat
- Release Date
- June 27, 2013
- Director
- Paul Feig
- Cast
- Sandra Bullock, Melissa McCarthy, Demián Bichir, Marlon Wayans, Michael Rapaport, Jane Curtin
- Rating
- R
- Runtime
- 117
- Main Genre
- Action
In The Heat, Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy come together in a duo we didn't know we needed, but we fully appreciate now. Bullock plays Ashburn, an anal cop who works for the FBI and doesn't get along with others. So, when she's paired up with an officer named Mullins (McCarthy), to take down a powerful drug dealer, the two clash and the results are truly hilarious. There's plenty of action in this comedy and the laughs truly make it that much more enjoyable to watch.
Why You Should Watch It
One quality that's great about this film is how it depicts Boston natives. One of the best scenes is when Ashburn and Mullins go to the ladder's childhood home and her entire family is there. The dynamic between the group feels very natural and funny, and the presence of Bill Burr and Michael Rappaport as McCarthy's brothers is a genius move.
Rent on Apple TV
4 Ghostbusters (2016) - 74%
Ghostbusters 2016
- Release Date
- July 14, 2016
- Director
- Paul Feig
- Cast
- Kristen Wiig, Melissa McCarthy, Kate McKinnon, Leslie Jones, Zach Woods, Ed Begley Jr.
- Rating
- PG-13
- Runtime
- 116
- Main Genre
- Comedy
When it was announced that there was going to be a Ghostbusters reboot, it wasn't that shocking. However, there was quite a bit of pushback when they announced it was going to be an all female-led cast. It seemed like people weren't ready for a female Ghostbusters crew, but the group of comedians that came together for this film exceeded expectations. Kristen Wiig, Melissa McCarthy, Leslie Jones, and Kate McKinnon have outstanding chemistry together and bring the laughs in this ghostly adventure.
Why You Should Watch It
The Ghostbusters reboot did so well because it knew exactly what the audience needed but made it modern enough that this new generation would love it. McCarthy is one of the best parts of the movie, since she once again uses physical humor to get big laughs. Her comedic timing, facial expressions, and even the cadence of her voice really make it great. Plus, the cast and crew were mostly women, so watching Ghostbusters supports the predominantly women-led crew, which is great. You can't lose with this reboot of Ghostbusters.
Rent on Amazon
3 Bridesmaids (2011) - 89%
Bridesmaids
- Release Date
- May 13, 2011
- Director
- Paul Feig
- Cast
- Kristen Wiig, Rose Byrne, Maya Rudolph, Melissa McCarthy, Ellie Kemper, Wendi McLendon-Covey
- Rating
- R
- Runtime
- 125
- Main Genre
- Comedy
- Genres
- Comedy, Romance
For many, Bridesmaids remains one of the funniest movies they've ever seen, and it's a great representation of how friendships change as you grow up and get further into adulthood. Two childhood best friends start to have problems as Lillian becomes engaged, and Annie isn't sure how to accept the information, thus creating a rivalry between herself and Lillian's friend Helen. Chaos and hilarious situations start to take place as Helen and Annie try to one-up each other, all the while the wedding activities aren't going as planned and the group is falling apart.
Why You Should Watch It
The ensemble cast that makes up Bridesmaids is one of the greatest groups of women featured in a comedy, and their chemistry is off the charts. Melissa McCarthy steals the spotlight as Megan, the sister to the groom, and she's unapologetically herself as she adopts nine puppies, ruins a bridal boutique's sink, and flirts with the Air Marshal on a flight. One can't forget the madness that ensued after they all got food poisoning and then went to a bridal store to try on dresses, and it's one of the funniest scenes in a comedy, ever.
Stream on Peacock Premium
2 Spy (2015) - 95%
Spy
- Release Date
- May 6, 2015
- Director
- Paul Feig
- Cast
- Jude Law, Raad Rawi, Melissa McCarthy, Jessica Chaffin, Miranda Hart, Sam Richardson
- Rating
- R
- Runtime
- 120
- Main Genre
- Comedy
After Spy was released almost ten years ago, the campaign for Melissa McCarthy to have her own franchise quickly began, and fans of the film are still waiting for a sequel to this day. Susan Cooper is a CIA employee who's glued to her desk as she helps her field agent partner, Bradley Fine, on each of his missions. Hopelessly in love with Fine, she's put into the field with zero training when he goes missing, and quickly she's able to pick up on how to be a spy. Jason Statham and Melissa McCarthy's dynamic really makes the movie, as they argue with each other and try to be the hero.
Why You Should Watch It
Spy was such a success because it leaned into what McCarthy is great at, comedy that doesn't require too much to be funny, and that's the sweet spot. The action is solid, and there are great fight and chase scenes that any spy movie lover would appreciate, such as when Susan fights someone with a pan and then chokes someone out with her coat.
Stream on MAX
1 Can You Ever Forgive Me (2018) - 98%
Can You Ever Forgive Me?
- Release Date
- October 19, 2018
- Director
- Marielle Heller
- Cast
- Melissa McCarthy, Richard E. Grant, Dolly Wells, Ben Falcone, Gregory Korostishevsky, Jane Curtin
- Rating
- R
- Runtime
- 107
- Main Genre
- Drama
In one of her most serious roles to date, McCarthy takes on the role of Lee Israel, a real-life writer who got into some trouble when times were tough. In this true story, Israel is a struggling writer who's an alcoholic and spends most of her money on things that aren't her bills. That leads Israel to do the one thing writers vow to never do-she plagiarizes. She starts to steal poetry and other written works from "unknown" authors that were published years ago and steadily starts to make an income. Eventually, she's exposed for her crimes after an FBI full-fledged investigation seeks her out, and her plagiarism ways are put to an end.
Why You Should Watch It
With a near-perfect score of 98%, McCarthy proves in this drama that she's more than just the comedic relief, and that she can take on such a role as Lee Israel. It's also an interesting point when you realize that Lee Israel exposed herself in her autobiography, Can You Ever Forgive Me?which was used as screenplay material for the movie that came out four years after she died.
Rent on Amazon
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