Michael Cera has made a career as an awkward everyman character actor. Cera’s earliest acting projects took place when he was just 11 years old on television shows and commercials. By the time Cera was cast in his famous role in “Superbad” (2007), he already had several supporting roles under his belt. Our list of the top five best Michael Cera movies is a collection of comedy, drama, and iconic pop culture roles.
Canadian actor Michael Cera is a lifelong career entertainer who has focused on his work as an actor since childhood. Once “Superbad” cemented Cera’s position as an A-list talent, it seemed as though he had a supporting role in just about everything. In the following years, Cera would co-star in several films that secured acclaim from audiences and critics. Movies including “Juno” (2007) and “Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist” (2008) were romantic comedy dramas that showcased his growth as a screen actor.
Cera’s awkward characterizations and stumbling guys with a good heart seem to have become his signature style. Though there are several projects where Cera would stray out of his comfort zone, audiences seem to love him best as a loveable boy-man. Michael Cera’s cameo role in 2023 mega-hit “Barbie” as Allan earned huge pops from the crowd when he first appeared.
Among the wide range of films on his resume, we looked to our sources to review the best Michael Cera movies of all time. Since we are only considering his filmography, “Arrested Development” was not in the running. That said, Cera’s role as cousin-loving George Michael Bluth deserves recognition as well. Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
The List: Michael Cera Movies, According to Fans
1. “Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist” (2008)
Michael Cera stars opposite Kat Dennings in “Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist.” This romantic comedy gave audiences a rare look at Cera as a charming lead. A.Frame claims, “Cera plays Nick, a recently dumped aspiring musician, while Kat Dennings plays Norah, a lovelorn young woman who likes his taste in music… Cera is completely charming as Nick, providing a matured take on his previous teen-centric roles.”
“Michael Cera’s sensational performance and his onscreen chemistry with Kat Dennings give the movie a surreal and gripping allure. This performance shows that Cera might have been known for playing the awkward kid, but he also had what it took to be a romantic leading man,” relates MovieWeb.
Looper reviews, “The delightful film features a talented comedic cast, powering a fun, smile-inducing plotline. Winning over critics and audiences, ‘Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist’ earned over three times its budget at the box office. The film helped establish Cera as not only a funnyman, but an unorthodox romantic leading man as well.”
2. “Scott Pilgrim vs. The World” (2010)
“Scott Pilgrim vs. The World” is based on a comic book of the same name. Living inside what is essentially a “video game world” this pop culture fantasy features Michael Cera as the heroic lead. Far Out says, “Combining his excellent proficiency for comedy and his impressive dramatic chops, Cera’s role in Edgar Wright’s vibrant comic book movie ‘Scott Pilgrim vs. The World’ is the very best of his career. Playing the titular teenager Scott Pilgrim, Cera thrives in Wright’s film, based on the graphic novels by Bryan Lee O’Malley.”
“In many ways, this was the defining role of Cera’s career, as it played off the type of role Cera had become known for but also effectively ending it, as the film deconstructed the nice guy image. From this point on, Cera would take on various roles and tone down the number of movies he was in, but ‘Scott Pilgrim vs. the World’ was a true milestone in his career and likely will be known as his best role,” describes Movie Web.
Looper elaborates, “Though the film was a box office flop, the stylish comic book adaptation won over many critics. The movie’s frenetic pace, video game and comic book-inspired special effects, and performances by its star-studded cast gained a cult following, if not mainstream success.”
3. “Juno” (2007)
A movie that tackles teen pregnancy, “Juno” captures what moviegoers seem to love best about Michael Cera. He plays a confused young man about to become a dad with a sweet awkwardness that resonated with audiences. Insider raves, “Critics were impressed by the film’s sharp writing, heartfelt characters, and unique take on the coming-of-age genre. It even received several Oscar nominations and a win for best original screenplay.”
ScreenRant praises, “Perfectly embodying the indie comedy spirit, ‘Juno’ set the pace for what was possible in the niche genre that it lived in. Juno is a precocious teenager who finds herself pregnant by her dweebish high school boyfriend. Weighing all of her options carefully, Juno eventually decides to adopt her child to a loving couple who can’t conceive.”
A.Frame exclaims, “‘Juno’ stars Elliot Page as the titular character, a teenager who becomes pregnant by her friend (and potential boyfriend) Paulie Bleeker (Cera). Neither is ready to become a parent and face adulthood, and both actors nail the conflicting feelings around their situation. They deftly handle comedy stylings punctuated with quirky slang and turns of phrase created by Diablo Cody, who won the Best Original Screenplay Oscar for her writing.”
4. “Superbad” (2007)
Once this raucous comedy hit the box office, it became an instant success. This iconic comedy features a cast of sensational young actors that would go on to major stardom. Collider comments, “In ‘Superbad,’ high school seniors Evan (Cera) and Seth (Jonah Hill) embark on a wild night to score alcohol for a party, leading to a series of hilarious and raucous misadventures. A smash during its release, the movie catapulted all the young actors, which includes Emma Stone and Christopher Mintz-Plasse (as the memorable McLovin) into stardom.”
Through the Clutter adds, “Inseparable friends Seth and Evan, who are unpopular at school, are invited to a girl’s party and offer to buy the drinks to impress their respective crushes, and hopefully, make sexual advances before school ends. However, their plan goes awry after their nerdy friend with a fake ID, Fogell, is stopped by two inept cops.”
“This was the mainstream audience’s first real look at Cera and he immediately won the hearts of all in his pursuit of Becca. ‘Superbad’ was the aughties version of ‘American Pie,’ which saw two seemingly ‘normal’ high school kids attempting to hook up with the girls of their dreams at a party,” details ComingSoon.net.
5. “The LEGO Batman Movie” (2017)
Reuniting Michael Cera with his “Arrested Development” co-star Will Arnett, “The LEGO Batman Movie” shows that they still make a great comedy duo. Cera stars as a rather runty rendition of Robin the Boy Wonder. Wealth of Geeks explains, “Will Arnett brilliantly voices Batman, and Zach Galifianakis is a joy as the Joker. The terrific supporting voice cast includes… Cera, who enthusiastically plays Dick Grayson, AKA Robin. ‘The LEGO Batman Movie’ is a gorgeously animated, hilarious, energetically performed, family-friendly film.”
Insider offers, “The film received widespread acclaim for its hilarious humor, references to Batman‘s history, and impressive animation. ‘It’s a bit over-the-top and a little too pleased with its own cleverness, but there is a lot of genuine, inoffensive fun in ‘The LEGO Batman Movie,’ [movie reviewer] Wenlei Ma wrote.”
ScreenRant states, “Cera plays Robin and his vocal talents are on full display next to his co-star Will Arnett. As a duo, the combo of Arnett’s Batman and Cera’s Robin is one of the best interpretations of the characters and is a refreshingly funny take. Despite being based on toys, the LEGO films went above and beyond viewers’ expectations and were perfect films for kids and adults alike.”
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Sources:
- A.Frame
- Movie Web
- Looper
- Far Out
- Insider
- Collider
- Through the Clutter
- ComingSoon.net
- Wealth of Geeks
- ScreenRant
Note: This article was not paid for nor sponsored. StudyFinds is not connected to nor partnered with any of the brands mentioned and receives no compensation for its recommendations.
My favorite is the one where he acts like an awkward teenager!