An Updated Ranking of the Best Paul Rudd Performances to Date

It goes without saying, but Paul Rudd is one of our more enjoyable comedic actors out there. He’s also one of our more enjoyable superheroes. So, whether he’s running around the Marvel Cinematic Universe like with Ant-Man and it’s MCU sequels, or appearing in almost every Judd Apatow film, he brings an everyman quality as well as expert timing to every role. As such, he’s achieved a likability status that few in Hollywood can even hope to attain. With his latest movie, Power Ballad, hitting theaters this weekend, it seems like a perfect time to put forth a new ranking of Rudd’s best performances so far.

In my review of Power Ballad (here), I said the following about Rudd’s performance, alongside Nick Jonas:

Nick Jonas and especially Paul Rudd are very good here, with the latter turning in some of his most complete work to date. Jonas gets to play off of his real life musical career, with charming results. He never makes Danny a villain, and you always understand his desperation, no matter how well things are going for him. Rudd goes above and beyond in giving us a layered portrait of a happy man who can’t help but also think about what might have been. When he lays his cards on the table in the third act and reveals something the audience might already know but another character doesn’t, it’s the best bit of acting he’s ever done.

Below, you can see my Rudd ranking, in all its glory. For me, it’s a combination of his Apatow work, which is comedically brilliant, as well as some of his earliest performances, which had drama sprinkled in. The Shape of Things, for example. Whether you’re a fan of The 40 Year Old Virgin, Knocked Up, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, and This is 40, or if you’re more into All is Bright, I Love You, Man, Prince Avalanche, and the like, there’s still plenty to celebrate here. It’s no surprise where Power Ballad debuts on the list, but what about everything else? Find out next…

Here now is my updated list of the best Paul Rudd performances to date. Behold:

Honorable Mention: The Catcher Was a Spy, How Do You Know, I Could Never Be Your Woman, Ideal Home, Mute, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, and They Came Together

10. Our Idiot Brother

9. I Love You, Man

8. Forgetting Sarah Marshall

7. All is Bright

6. This is 40

5. Prince Avalanche

4. Knocked Up

3. The Shape of Things

2. The 40 Year Old Virgin

1. Power Ballad

What is your favorite Paul Rudd performance? Let us know!