Seth Rogen started with a series of lovable slacker roles that would eventually grow into a prolific career as an actor, writer, and producer of several successful comedy and dramatic projects. This Canadian-born actor has come to dominate comedy in film for over 20 years. With endless memorable films to choose from, we sought out to discover the top five best Seth Rogen movies of all time.
Rogen’s entertainment appeal could be because his films are generally irreverent comedies sprinkled with some biopics and character-driven art house films. Some nights people just aren’t in the mood for a good scare, or an action-packed journey as heroes save the world. Sometimes, TV viewers just want a light-hearted, feel-good movie to cap off the day. Now, a new study is revealing which factors make feel-good movies so appealing.
“In addition to an element of humor and the classic happy ending, feel-good films can be identified by certain recurring plot patterns and characters,” explains study leader and first author Keyvan Sarkhosh. “Often these involve outsiders in search of true love, who have to prove themselves and fight against adverse circumstances, and who eventually find their role in the community.”
Seth Rogen has established himself as one of the most hilarious and versatile actors in the comedy genre, delivering memorable performances in numerous films. From his early breakout role in “Superbad” (2007), where he showcased his impeccable comedic timing and lovable charm, to his successful forays into writing and producing with films like “Pineapple Express” (2008) and “This Is the End” (2013), Rogen has consistently brought laughter to audiences worldwide. His collaborations with Evan Goldberg have yielded comedic gems like “Knocked Up” (2007) and “The Interview” (2014), which further highlight Rogen’s ability to balance humor with genuine emotional depth. Rogen’s unique blend of wit, relatability, and infectious laughter has made him a staple in the comedy genre, and his movies continue to be cherished by fans who appreciate his signature brand of humor.
Whether it’s for a good laugh or a bit of stoner-comedy, the works of Seth Rogen might be just right. Our sources listed many titles that make up his most legendary work, but we determined the top five best Seth Rogen movies that were mentioned most often. Let us know your favorites in the comments below!
The List: Best Seth Rogen Movies, According to Fans
1. “Superbad” (2007)
Hailed as a comedy classic from 2007, “Superbad” is filled with talent and charm. “Raucously funny and bursting with the sincere heartbreak of growing pains, ‘Superbad’ isn’t just the best Seth Rogen film, it’s one of the greatest comedies of all time. Rogen only plays a supporting role, but between co-writing the screenplay in his teen years and premiering two months after ‘Knocked Up,’ ‘Superbad’ cemented Rogen as a bona fide Hollywood presence,” praises Screenrant.
Are you a fan of Superbad (2007)? pic.twitter.com/jsDENGklQv
— Sage O'Hare (@BigShade55) December 10, 2022
This film is considered Rogen’s writing debut and helped to establish his Hollywood legitimacy. “A crude comedy that’s undeniably a classic, ‘Superbad’ is probably the most popular work of comedy produced by writers Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg in their prime… Written at a very young age (and refined at a later date) about their own personal high school experience, ‘Superbad’ also functions as an origin story for Rogen’s particular brand of humor. What’s even funnier is that Rogen plays one of two not-so-great cops that end up trying to bust the party,” details The Manual.
Raunchy humor with heart helps to paint a relatable picture of youth in the early 2000s. “Rogen and his writing partner, Evan Goldberg, started writing this movie when they were just 13 years old. It’s been a comedy sensation ever since —a teen movie that not only makes us laugh, but feels like a landmark in the genre. This is the closest thing to a ‘Fast Times at Ridgemont High’ for a certain generation. Sure, it has its gross out moments and raunchy humor, sure, but Superbad stands apart because not only is it uproariously funny, but it’s got a lot of heart behind it too. And that’s why it’s a classic,” opines Men’s Health.
2. “Knocked Up” (2007)
In his breakout role, Rogen showed his talent as a leading man in “Knocked Up.” “Undeniably the film that took Seth Rogen from funnyman to Hollywood’s leading comedic movie star, 2007’s ‘Knocked Up’ was written and directed by creative genius Judd Apatow and depicts the repercussions of a drunken one-night stand between a slacker stoner and a career-driven media personality, resulting in an unplanned pregnancy,” explains MovieWeb.
“Rogen does an expert job of communicating a young man’s anxieties about fatherhood, and Apatow’s casting of Harold Ramis as Ben’s own father is a stroke of brilliance on its own. I’m not a parent myself, nor am I ready to be a parent, but the point of ‘Knocked Up’ is that no one is ever really ‘ready.’ You have nine months to prepare, but until that baby arrives, nothing can prepare you, as everyone learns on the fly,” offers Collider.
In one of his most recognized starring roles, Rogen expresses both comedy and heart. “Rogen’s breakout lead debut and still his best star vehicle, ‘Knocked Up’ may well be the finest film Judd Apatow has yet directed… What follows is a scathing critique of male arrested development, where men sit around smoking weed and building a website documenting movies where women take off their clothes. While that sounds introspective and heady, Apatow and company imbue it with the buoyancy of any great comedy, and Rogen anchors it all with plenty of laughs and his signature warmth,” writes ScreenRant.
3. “Pineapple Express” (2008)
In one example of cannabis-fueled misadventures, “Pineapple Express” manages to be the archetype for stoner comedies. “Pineapple Express is quintessential Rogen. It’s not his highest-grossing film, nor is it the most critically acclaimed, but it’s hard to think of a film that is encapsulates Rogen’s career more perfectly. A stoner film through and through, ‘Pineapple Express’ follows a guy and his dealer escaping from a hitman, and it’s bananas the whole way through. When Seth Rogen comes to mind, ‘Pineapple Express’ is likely not far behind,” writes Esquire.
Filled with darker humor than some of his other films, “Pineapple Express” doesn’t fit neatly into a single genre. “But the R-rated action-comedy also has a big, beating heart, amid the smoking and shooting, for his scrappy low-life characters who become unlikely action superstars in the midst of the movie’s fast-moving turn-of-events. That fine mix of raunchiness and sweetness became more consistent than ever in Seth Rogen’s resume through this heartfelt, fun-loving comedy, providing Rogen and Franco with another starring vehicle worth cruising at high speeds,” according to Cinema Blend.
“In his second big writing and starring hit after ‘Superbad,’ ‘Pineapple Express’ established a new era of stoner comedies. Following a process server named Dale Denton (Seth Rogen) who witnesses his next ‘client’ brutally murder somebody in his home. When it turns out that ‘client’ (Gary Cole) is actually the top dog of the local underground marijuana industry, Dale and his regular dealer (James Franco) have to get lost for fear of retribution. Full of quotable one-liners and unforgettable comedy moments, this legendary stoner flick might be the closest thing to ‘Up in Smoke’ for a younger generation,” adds The Manual.
4. “This is the End” (2013)
Raucous semi-fictional comedy is an oddly specific niche that Rogen has claimed. “’This Is the End’ is somehow about four movies at once. It’s a stoner hangout comedy about dudes bonding through adversity. It’s an apocalyptic nightmare that features a well-hung demon. It’s a heavily meta commentary on celebrity and celebrity culture in which all the actors play semi-fictionalized version of themselves, some more fictionalization than other, and yes, this is where we mention Michael Cera as Michael Cera as a coke-tooting maniac. It’s a movie where — spoilers, I guess — Channing Tatum ends up as Danny McBride’s leashed slave. There is a lot going on in ‘This Is the End.’ It probably shouldn’t work. That’s why it’s so amazing that it does,” explains Uproxx.
Sharing the spotlight with many of his long-time collaborators, Rogen is lauded for his role in this ensemble movie. “Benefitted nicely by allowing the talented actors to stay (mostly) restrained to their surroundings, allowing the talented actors to bounce off each other frequently and letting the improvisation comedy come naturally, while never entirely overdoing it in the process, ‘This Is The End’ was a fine step forward for Seth Rogen as a screenwriter and newly-minted director, as well as another fine showcase of his buddy acting charms working off Jay Baruchel,” writes Cinema Blend.
This film is premise-heavy and relies on meta humor as celebrities play themselves in a fictional apocalypse. “If you thought some of the other movies on this list were both raunchy and absurd, just wait until you see ‘This Is the End.’ This movie turns the apocalypse into a satirical work of comedy brilliance that also makes use of some impressive visual effects. Following a group of Hollywood stars who are all trapped inside James Franco’s house when the biblical apocalypse strikes, the movie is really about the massive egos and baggage they have as a group,” claims The Manual.
5. “Steve Jobs” (2015)
In a rare purely dramatic role, Rogen shines in this 2015 biopic about Apple’s CEO Steve Jobs. “Steve Jobs was a flawed man who was hailed as a genius by those who barely knew anything about him. He’s the subject of Danny Boyle’s ‘Steve Jobs,’ a brilliant film carried by Michael Fassbender’s powerhouse performance as the eponymous tech billionaire. While it failed to be a hit at the box office, ‘Steve Jobs’ sang the right song to critics, who adored the film en masse,” posits What Nerd.
Director Danny Boyle coaxed out a highly rated dramatic performance from Rogen. “Rogen steps right into a drama by Danny Boyle with an Aaron Sorkin script starring the likes of Michael Fassbender and Kate Winslet and doesn’t miss a beat. Rogen has admitted to not knowing much about Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak prior to the film, but that’s somehow perfect for the role – on the surface, Wozniak seemed happy to let Jobs bask in the spotlight. But in one of the film’s finest scenes, Wozniak confronts Jobs, pointing out that he’s done so much of the work and yet no one knows his name,” offers Variety.
This nuanced performance is hailed as one of Rogen’s best. “Rogen plays Steve Wozniak, the co-founder of Apple who nonetheless defers the spotlight to his partner, Steve Jobs. Most of the time, Rogen’s Woz is just begging Jobs to mention the Apple II team in his speech, as they built a reliable product that got Apple to the place where it could afford to focus on innovation, but Jobs, ever-insistent, wants to keep the focus on the new product launch, and doesn’t believe in looking backwards,” details Collider.
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Sources
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.