Rick Moranis, now mostly retired, was one ofthe most beloved comedic actorsof the 1980s and early ’90s, known for his quirky characters and deadpan humor. Whether playing an eccentric inventor, a nebbish accountant, or a bumbling villain, Moranis brought an endearing quality to each of his roles. His unique ability to blend understated wit with larger-than-life characters won him a ton of fans.
Moranis showcased his range and comedic chops across a variety of genres, from sci-fi parodies to family comedies and musicals. The following are ten of his best movies, each highlighting his versatility, humor, and undeniable charm. Some of these films have left a lasting impact on comedy cinema. Though Moranis stepped away from acting in the late 1990s to focus on raising his children, his legacy remains intact thanks to them.
10’My Blue Heaven' (1990)
Directed by Herbert Ross
“You know, it’s dangerous for you to be here in the frozen food section. You could melt all this stuff.” This fish-out-of-water comedy features Moranis as Barney Coopersmith, a strait-laced law enforcement officer who is completely unprepared to deal with Vinnie Antonelli(Steve Martin), a flamboyant and unapologetic ex-mobster. Vinnie’s wild antics turn Barney’s orderly life upside down, but the two also form an unlikely bond, learning from each other in the process.
The finished product is solid if not great, with some good scenes and a few missteps. The fun, feel-good screenplay was written byNora Ephron(When Harry Met Sally…,You’ve Got Mail) and it gives the leads a decent amount to work with. Their chemistry goes a long way toward holding the viewer’s attention. Intriguingly,My Blue Heavenwas loosely inspired by the life of gangsterHenry Hill, though it’s a far cry in tone fromGoodfellas.
My Blue Heaven
My Blue Heaven stars Steve Martin as Vinnie Antonelli, a mobster entering witness protection under the supervision of FBI agent Barney Coopersmith, played by Rick Moranis. Directed by Herbert Ross, this comedy unfolds as Vinnie tries to adapt to his new suburban life while Barney faces the challenges of keeping him out of trouble and harm’s way. The film humorously explores themes of crime, identity, and unlikely friendships.
9’Streets of Fire' (1984)
Directed by Walter Hill
“She’s the only thing I’ve ever cared about.“Streets of Fireis anambitious mix of action, rock ’n’ roll, and urban fantasyfocusing on a mercenary named Tom Cody (Michael Paré) who sets out to rescue his kidnapped singer ex-girlfriend, Ellen Aim (Diane Lane) from a gang of ruthless bikers. Moranis has a supporting role as Ellen’s current boyfriend, the brash, fast-talking music manager Billy Fish. In a film filled with larger-than-life characters and a stylized neo-noir setting, Moranis stands out with his sharp, sarcastic wit and commanding presence.
Willem Dafoealso makes an appearance as one of the villainous greasers. The movie overall stumbles occasionally and falls short of some of its aspirations (some would call it style over substance), butit’s still enjoyable and commendably bold.For this reason,Streets of Firequickly developed a cult following and proved inordinately influential. Subsequent movies likeRoboCopandSe7enare said to have taken inspiration from it.
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8’Ghostbusters II' (1989)
Directed by Ivan Reitman
“You’re not gonna get a green card with that attitude, pal!” InGhostbusters II, Moranis reprises his role as Louis Tully, the lovably awkward accountant-turned-lawyer, who once again finds himself caught up in the Ghostbusters' supernatural shenanigans. This time around, Louis steps up to defend the Ghostbusters in court and even joins the team in the climactic battle against an ancient evil threatening New York City.
Moranis’s performance here is enjoyable, though the movie as a whole is fairly average.It’s not as good as the first one, but that’s generally the case with comedy sequels. The movie fails to deliver enough fresh content and mostly just recycled ideas from the first one, but with less energy. That said, it’s amusing enough, and nicely weaves together several narrative threads in the third act. Some modern critics actually make the case it received too much hate on release due to fans' high expectations.
Ghostbusters 2 (1989)
Ghostbusters II is the first sequel to the 1984 film starring Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson, and Harold Ramis. The sequel follows the Ghostbusters as they investigate a river of ectoplasm and battle against a living painting of Vigo the Carpathia. Sigourney Weaver returns for the sequel alongside Rick Moranis and Annie Potts.
7’Parenthood' (1989)
Directed by Ron Howard
“You know, when I was eleven years old, I audited my parents.“Parenthoodis an ensemble family comedy-drama that explores the ups and downs of parenting through various interconnected storylines. Steve Martin has top billing as Gil, a man trying to balance his family life and career, while Moranis is Nathan Huffner, a hyper-competitive, academically-obsessed father who pressures his young daughter to excel in school.
Martin’s predictably strong performance as the film’s central figure is complemented by standout supporting work fromKeanu Reeves,Dianne Wiest, andTom Hulce, in addition to Moranis. Consequently,Parenthoodis surprisingly thoughtful for this kind of comedy, mostly thanks to some mature direction fromRon Howard, who was himself the father of young kids at the time. He serves up a series of well-developed segments and subplots, such as Gil’s attempt to be a birthday clown for his son or Helen’s (West) struggles to connect with her withdrawn, moody child.
Parenthood
6’Honey, I Shrunk the Kids' (1989)
Directed by Joe Johnston
“I’ll tell you the honest truth—the machine works!” Moranis turns in one of his most well-known performances here as Wayne Szalinski, an eccentric inventor whoaccidentally shrinks his children(and the neighbor’s) down to the size of ants. The children must navigate the dangers of their own backyard while Wayne scrambles to find a way to reverse the process.
Moranis carries much of the project. He shines as a bumbling, well-meaning father whose invention leads to larger-than-life problems. His comedic timing is impeccable, andhe plays the character with a perfect blend of nerdy enthusiasm and heartfelt sincerity.Despite some pacing problems and a third act that gets a bit repetitive,Honey, I Shrunk the Kidsis an engaging slice of entertainment, elevated further by quirky special effects. Not for nothing, it was an outsized commercial success,grossing$222.7m against a budget of just $18m. For a movie about shrinking, it certainly blew up.
Honey, I Shrunk the Kids
5’Strange Brew' (1983)
Directed by Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas
“Take off, eh!” This cult classic stars Moranis andDave Thomasas Bob and Doug McKenzie, two hapless Canadian brothers who love beer and inadvertently get caught up in a sinister plot involving mind control and a brewery. Based on their popular characters from the sketch comedy showSCTV, the film takes a goofy, absurdist approach to its plot, filled with over-the-top antics and slapstick humor.
Strange Brewis unapologetically silly, cramming an impressive number of gags into its lean 90-minute runtime. It certainly won’t be for everyone but a certain kind of offbeat comedy fan will appreciate it.Moranis’s portrayal of Bob here is quintessential ’80s comedy, filled with catchphrases, bumbling charm, and committed physical comedy. That said, for the best Bob and Doug McKenzie project, rather check out their 1981 comedy albumThe Great White North. It sold over a million copies and went a long way toward launching Moranis’s career.
Strange Brew
4’Brother Bear' (2003)
Directed by Aaron Blaise and Robert Walker
“I don’t care who you are, you’re my brother!” In an ursine riff onThe Emperor’s New Groove,Brother Beartells the story of Kenai (voiced byJoaquin Phoenix), an Alaskan boy who kills a bear and is turned into one by the gods as punishment. Both Moranis and Thomas show up as Rutt and Tuke, two moose who help Kenai on his journey. Their goofy antics and playful banter are a nod to Moranis and Thomas’Strange Brewcharacters.The actors' enjoyment of the recording process is clear, as they bounce off one another energetically.
As a whole, the movie received mixed reviews, with praise for the animation and some of the characters, but criticism for the plot, episodic structure, and the music byPhil Collins. Nevertheless, itperformedwell at the box office, earning $250m. It’s the kind of movie that will delight younger viewers without necessarily having much crossover appeal.
Brother Bear
Kenai (Joaquin Phoenix) is a young Indian brave with a particular distaste for bears. When his brother Sitka (D.B. Sweeney) is killed by one, Kenai in turn kills the bear, only to be magically transformed into one himself. To make matters worse, his other brother Denahi (Jason Raize) vows to kill the bear Kenai has become. Kenai’s only hope is a magical mountain where he believes he can be changed back to a human, and he enlists a real bear cub, Koda, to get him there.
3’Spaceballs' (1987)
Directed by Mel Brooks
“Now you see that evil will always triumph because good is dumb.“Spaceballsis a charming, decidedly silly parody of sci-fi movies in general andStar Warsin particular.Bill PullmanandJohn Candylead the cast as the space-faring mercenary Lone Starr and his half-human, half-dog sidekick Barf. Moranis is even wackier as Lord Dark Helmet, a Darth Vader-like villain with an oversized helmet and a comically petty personality. There’s a memorable shot of him ineffectually swinging his “lightsaber” while Starr holds him away with one hand.
The movie is pretty niche but, for the right viewer, a grand old time, with its jibes atAlien,Planet of the Apes,Star Trek, and more. (The chestburster scenewithJohn Hurtis particularly enjoyable.) The movie’s starship speeds (Light Speed, Ridiculous Speed, Ludicrous Speed, and Plaid Speed) are also memorable and have been referenced many times since, most notably by Tesla Motors.
Spaceballs
A star-pilot for hire and his trusty sidekick must come to the rescue of a princess and save Planet Druidia from the clutches of the evil Spaceballs.
2’Ghostbusters' (1984)
“Many Shuvs and Zuuls knew what it was to be roasted in the depths of the Slor that day, I can tell you!” Among the most beloved movies of the 1980s,GhostbustersseesBill Murray,Dan Aykroyd, andHarold Ramisstealing the show as a trio of ghost-catchers who find themselves in over their heads. Moranis is great as Louis Tully, a nerdy accountant who gets caught up in a supernatural battle. He becomes possessed by the demonic spirit Vinz Clortho and is hilariously oblivious to the chaos around him.
Moranis’s ability to turn Louis into a lovable, endearing character despite his awkwardness makes him a fan favorite.He nails every aspect of the role, from his famous party scene to his transformation into a “Keymaster”. He’s just one of many fantastic components to this cartoony, spooky classic. The movie was an instant phenomenon and remains influential, even if not every sequel and spinoff has lived up to its legacy.
Ghostbusters
Three parapsychologists forced out of their university funding set up shop as a unique ghost removal service in New York City, attracting frightened yet skeptical customers.
1’Little Shop of Horrors' (1986)
Directed by Frank Oz
“Feed me, Seymour!” When it comes to Moranis’s best movies, it’s hard to top thissui generiscomedy-horror-camp-musical hybrid. He stars as Seymour Krelborn, a shy, awkward florist who discovers a mysterious plant with a taste for human blood. As Seymour struggles to keep the plant, named Audrey II, alive, he finds himself in increasingly dangerous situations, all while pining for his co-worker Audrey (Ellen Greene).
Moranis’s performance is complemented by killer tunes and fantastic, elaborate animatronics.The puppetry for the plant is stellar and made even smoother by clever trickery with frame rates. (No less a puppetry legend thanJim Hensonpraised their efforts,saying, “The lip sync on the plant in that film is just absolutely amazing.") On the acting side, Steve Martin is great as the sadistic, nitrous-addicted dentist, andLevi Stubbsis pitch-perfect as the voice of the carnivorous carnation. Not for nothing,Little Shop of Horrorsquickly became a cult movie and still holds up well today.
Little Shop of Horrors
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