10 Best Steve Martin Movies, Ranked

Steve Martin is a legend of comedy. He started out as a writer in the 1960s, contributing jokes to shows like The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, before establishing himself as a stand-up comedian in the 1970s. (Those familiar only with his movies just check out some of his early standup; it’s great.) From there, Martin pivoted to feature films, starring in a string of hits and eventually becoming a beloved figure, especially for his warm, fatherly roles.

Not every one of his movies is good, of course, but the best of them tap into his absurdist humor, intense physical comedy, and offbeat wit. A few of them are comedy classics. They provide Martin with free rein to unleash his unique brand of humor. His comedy is straightforward on the surface but often sneakily inventive, avoiding standard structures and punchlines. “What if there were no punchlines? What if there were no indicators? What if I created tension and never released it?” he has said of his style. With this in mind, here are Steve Martin’s ten best movies, ranked.

10 ‘Roxanne’ (1987)

Directed by Fred Schepisi

“It’s not a big dream, it’s just a little dream.” Roxanne is a modern retelling of the classic Cyrano de Bergerac story. Martin plays C.D. Bales, a witty fire chief with an exceptionally large nose. Despite his physical insecurity, Bales is a beloved figure in his community. He falls for the beautiful and intelligent Roxanne (Daryl Hannah) but believes she could never return his feelings due to his appearance. Instead, he helps a handsome but less articulate firefighter named Chris (Rick Rossovich) woo her by feeding him lines and advice.

Although the story may drag at times, the comedic chemistry between Martin and Rossovich makes up for a lot. The result is a subtly charming and occasionally poignant romantic comedy. Importantly, it’s light and unserious, playing to Martin’s strengths. The plot could have collapsed into a mess, but instead, Roxanne maintains a warmth and charm that can’t help but be infectious. Martin has chalked the film’s success up to the appeal of the central character.

9 ‘All of Me’ (1984)

Directed by Carl Reiner

“Those are my tingles you’re feeling.” Martin leads this one as Roger Cobb, a struggling lawyer and part-time jazz musician whose life takes a bizarre turn when he becomes possessed by the spirit of a recently deceased millionaire, Edwina Cutwater (Lily Tomlin). The eccentric Cutwater has arranged for her soul to be transferred into the body of a healthy young woman. However, a mishap during the procedure results in her spirit occupying the right side of Cobb’s body, leading to a series of chaotic events.

The premise is rather bizarre but Carl Reiner‘s light-touch direction and the leads’ remarkable physical comedy hold it together. They turn All of Me into a screwball comedy with an endearingly farcical energy. Martin, in particular, fires on all cylinders, turning in one of his most committed performances. All of Me breezes by at just 93 minutes, cramming an impressive number of zany setpieces into this lean runtime.

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8 ‘It’s Complicated’ (2009)

Directed by Nancy Meyers

“Here comes your ex-husband. Uh-oh, not the best time to be feeling groovy!” This romantic comedy centers on Jane Adler (Meryl Streep), a successful bakery owner who finds herself romantically torn between her ex-husband Jake (Alec Baldwin) and architect Adam (Martin). This sets up a series of predictable but entertaining plot developments that tap into the elemental appeal of this genre.

It’s Complicated is not particularly deep, but a whimsical screenplay and winning performances from the ensemble cast carry it over the finish line. The clichés and absurdities are forgivable because Streep, Baldwin, and Martin are so good. On paper, their characters might have come across a little annoying, but all three manage to remain likable throughout, which is key to making this kind of movie work. This dynamic seems to have existed behind the scenes as well. “Steve made [filming] fun,” Streep said. “He’s a graceful man and [his character] is a true romantic. He’s tender.”

7 ‘Father of the Bride’ (1991)

Directed by Charles Shyer

“Drive carefully. And don’t forget to fasten your condom.” In this one, Martin plays George Banks, a loving but overprotective father who struggles to come to terms with his daughter Annie’s (Kimberly Williams) upcoming wedding. As the big day approaches, George is thrown into a whirlwind of wedding preparations, expenses, and emotional turmoil. The main draws here are relatable family drama, a steady stream of gags, and a heartwarming screenplay co-written by Nancy Meyers.

While this remake doesn’t scratch the same itch as the Spencer Tracy/Elizabeth Taylor original, it’s still good fun, in large part due to the dynamic duo of Steve Martin and Martin Short. The latter is hilarious as the eccentric European wedding coordinator. By contrast, Martin is more emotional, and George winds up being one of his most relatable and lovable characters.Father of the Bride received mixed to positive reviews but was a major hit with audiences, raking in a solid $129m against a $20m budget.

6 ‘Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid’ (1982)

Directed by Carl Reiner

“I’m working on an important case. It’s dangerous, and you’ll probably be killed.” Martin leads the cast of this noir parody as private detective Rigby Reardon. He’s hired by Juliet Forrest (Rachel Ward), to investigate the mysterious death of her father, a renowned scientist. As he delves into the case, the movie cleverly integrates clips from classic noir films, so that Martin appears on-screen with icons like Humphrey Bogart, Barbara Stanwyck, and Cary Grant. Clever over-the-shoulder shots make it seem as if Martin and these classic stars are interacting.

This premise is certainly gimmicky, but it’s so well-executed that it ends up becoming absorbing. In the process, Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid morphs from wacky parody to affectionate pastiche, repurposing lines and scenes from scores of classic noirs. It works because the crew poured so much effort into this homage. For example, cinematographer Michael Chapman spent six months studying the angles and lighting popular among ’40s noir.

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5 ‘Parenthood’ (1989)

Directed by Ron Howard

“Hey, let’s have five. Let’s have six. Let’s have a dozen and pretend they’re donuts!” Once again, Martin takes on the role of a harried father; his specialty. Here, he is Gil Buckman, a dad of three (with a fourth on the way) who strives to be the perfect parent while dealing with the pressures of work and family. Meanwhile, his siblings Helen (Dianne Wiest), Susan (Harley Jane Kozak), and Larry (Tom Hulce) all struggle with parenting challenges of their own.

Parenthood makes for a sweet and thoughtful look at the ups and downs of domestic life, spiced up with moderate slapstick and Martin’s characteristic humor. It’s a little more realistic than most comedies of this type while remaining fundamentally optimistic and sweet. Part of its success probably comes from the fact that director Ron Howard drew on his own experiences of being a parent. These elements resonated; Parenthood was another box office smash, grossing $126m against a budget of $20m.

4 ‘The Spanish Prisoner’ (1997)

Directed by David Mamet

“Good people, bad people, they generally look like what they are.” This thriller represented something of a change of pace for Martin. It centers on Joe Ross (Campbell Scott), an inventor who has created a valuable industrial process. When Joe’s employer fails to recognize his contribution, he becomes entangled in a complex scheme orchestrated by a mysterious businessman named Jimmy Dell (Martin).

The Spanish Prisoner boasts the punchy dialogue one would expect from writer-director David Mamet, along with a lean and meticulously constructed plot. It’s essentially Mamet paying homage to Alfred Hitchcock. The surprise is Martin’s terrifically cold, menacing performance. Rather than goofy and bumbling, he’s cool, collected, and genuinely intimidating. The viewer keeps expecting him to break into his trademark but he never does, which only makes the character more intriguing. The role makes one wonder what other villain performances Martin would be capable of if he’d only pushed himself outside his comfort zone more often.

3 ‘Dirty Rotten Scoundrels’ (1988)

Directed by Frank Oz

“To be with another woman, that is French. To be caught, that is American.” Martin and Michael Caine helm this delightful comedy as Freddy and Lawrence, two men who prowl the French Riviera, swindling wealthy women out of their fortunes. When they discover they are working the same territory, they make a bet: the first to con $50,000 from a naive American heiress, Janet Colgate (Glenne Headley), wins, and the other must leave town.

Much of the hilarity stems from the characters’ attempts to outwit and sabotage each other. Their escapades involve everything from runaway wheelchairs to outlandish seduction attempts. Caine and Martin are great together, each seeming to bounce off the other energetically. The former is seasoned and bewitching while the latter is brash and unrelenting. They elevate the somewhat average script into one of the more memorable comedies from the late 1980s. A catchy soundtrack and rhythmic editing do the rest of the heavy lifting.

2 ‘The Jerk’ (1979)

Directed by Carl Reiner

“He hates these cans. Stay away from the cans.” Martin had the transition from stand-up to feature film with this offbeat but undeniably funny comedy. It centers on Navin R. Johnson, a naive and kindhearted man who was raised as the adopted son of a poor Black sharecropping family. Believing he is destined for greater things, Navin sets out to find his place in the world. He finds himself on endlessly wacky adventures, including making and then losing a great fortune.

The Jerk is absurd and self-mocking, in the best way. It alternates between vulgar, silly, and sneakily clever, serving up one quotable line after another. At the heart of it all is Martin’s madcap and delightfully dimwitted performance. He’s a genius when it comes to playing dumb. Taken together, all these elements have won The Jerk a legion of fans, and it has since appeared on some publications’ lists of the funniest movies ever made.

1 ‘Planes, Trains & Automobiles’ (1987)

Directed by John Hughes

“If I wanted a joke, I’d follow you into the john and watch you take a leak.” In terms of laughs-per-minute, the only entry in Martin’s filmography that can compete with The Jerk is this John Hughesroad trip comedy. Martin plays Neal Page, a high-strung marketing executive whose plans to fly home to Chicago are derailed by a snowstorm. He reluctantly teams up with Del Griffith (John Candy), a good-natured but annoying shower curtain ring salesman, leading to an anarchic cross-country odyssey.

Fundamentally, the film succeeds because Martin and Candy don’t so much play characters as simply exaggerate their actual selves. They are just so well-cast here. Together, they produce a steady stream of sidesplitting scenes, like their hotel stay and Neal’s run-in with a chirpy car rental. However, Hughes manages to keep the emotion front and center. The movie has lasting appeal because there’s a ton of heart alongside the laughter. It’s Martin’s finest project.

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