10 Of The Best Judd Apatow Movies
Some of you may not know his name, but you'll be hard-pressed to come across someone that hasn't seen one of the movies Judd Apatow been involved with. From using many of the same actors throughout his movies to including his actual wife and children in key roles, the model for Apatow's film making seems to be a formula for success. Apatow is also credited in making the careers for on-screen comedians like Jonah Hill, Russell Brand, and Seth Rogen.
Scroll down to see our list on 10 of the best Judd Apatow-produced movies.
10. Funny People:
Funny People tells the story of a once prolific comedian who is diagnosed with a terminal disease at the height of his career and the steps he takes thereafter to make peace with his peers in the time he believes he has left on Earth. Even though Adam Sandler might not seem like the first choice for a Judd Apatow movie, many don't know that Sandler and Apatow shared an apartment at one time. The comedy club Improv, which is seen in the movie, also served as an early stomping ground for these two as well.
9. Fun With Dick & Jane:
A remake of the 1977 movie bearing the same name and with the US's economy being the way it is, Fun With Dick & Jane is a story that more and more Americans can relate to. A VP of Communications loses his job and everything that came with it when that same company's stock plummets leaving its employees with nothing. After trying to find other work, Dick and his wife Jane turn to a life of crime for their income raising the question on if any of Enron's former employees did the same.
8. The Cable Guy: 
One of the first movies Apatow ever had producing credits on, this 1996 film has Jim Carey playing Chip Douglas, a lonely cable installer who tries to befriend a cable patron (played by Matthew Broderick) going above and beyond the normal call of duty. We all know how awkward it could be to have someone you know through business association overstep their bounds to try and have a relationship with you outside of your normal association and I'm sure The Cable Guy made many watch exactly how nice they were with people like that, I know I did.
7. Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy:
Anchorman tells the story of San Fransisco's Ron Burgundy and his news team from the Channel 4 Evening News. When a woman news anchor joins the team in San Diego, Burgundy has a hard time dealing with the change causing the once adored anchorman to have a complete meltdown. From gangfights and bearfights to romance and group musical numbers, this movie has something in it for everyone.
6. The 40-Year-Old Virgin:
40-Year-Old Virgin tells the story of Andy who is...well...a 40-year-old virgin. Andy is assisted by his co-workers who make it their mission to get this man laid. While going on the most random collection of dates (and discovering man hair removal) he manages to fall for a woman working across the highway from his job at Smart Tech while also enjoying a companionship that he has never known. Of all Apatow's movies, this one might be the most quotable.
5. Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby:
Will Ferrell and John C Reilly play off each other very well and Talladega Nights was the first movie to show this on the big screen. This movie tells the story of a Nascar sensation by the name of Ricky Bobby. Once believed to be untouchable in his field, his winning spirit is crushed when a new driver from France joins the team and rises through the ranks as the best driver; not just on the team but in Nascar. Who knew the big black guy from The Green Mile could be so funny?
4. Knocked Up:
After a one-night stand between strangers led to pregnancy the two main characters Alison and Ben, played by Katherine Heigl and Seth Rogen try to make things work between them for the childs' sake. Ever gotten a girl pregnant or become pregnant yourself after a one-night stand? Despite how different they are with their respective friends, Alison and Ben find the solace in each other which they don't get from their peers. If you are fortunate enough to not have had this happen to you then Knocked Up is definitely something you can find funny. I've noticed that the only people who don't laugh at this movie are those who this is a reality for. And even those individuals living this movie can't help but chuckle.
3. Superbad:
During high school years some of the most eventful times of life are times involve the opposite sex and alcohol, even if it meant having any of the two. Something that Superbad does well is chronicle how much of a hassle things like sex and getting liquor for parties are for the average high school student. When first written, Seth Rogen was originally suppose to play Jonah Hill's role but was deemed too old to continue to pass for a high school student; and thank goodness for that change. This movie not only introduced Hill to a wider audience but it was also the first time many layed eyes on the monotone wonder child that is Michael Cera.
.2 Pineapple Express:
A stoner movie for the new generation, long-time Apatow affiliate Seth Rogen stars in this alongside James Franco. In the movie, the two actors, a process server and pot dealer respectively, are the thing that can link a drug kingpin to a murder that had taken place and with the local police in on the murder the two protagonists are forced to go on the run. Even though it was denied, for a while it was heavily debated if real marijuana was smoked on set and with the performance that Rogen and Franco gave, I'm still not 100 percent convinced that it wasn't.
1. Step Brothers:
One thing that Apatow has always been able to do well was take situations that most people understand very well and normally wouldn't laugh at and exaggerate them to the point of hilarity. Step Brothers is the perfect comedy about two adults who are still dependent on their parents and what happens when two 40-year-old men who haven't grown up yet join forces. This is one of the few comedies that can be absolutely absurd and still have a feel-good ending; a true cult classic.
Not saying that this guy strikes gold every time his name graces a movie's credits (ex. Drillbit Taylor), but you have to admit that many of those listed have a high replay value.
Think we left one off or should have a movie ranked higher then it is? Let us know in the comments below.
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