The 5 Best (& 5 Worst) Movies Starring Late Night Talk Show Hosts

by

Many popular comedians have become famous hosting late-night talk shows. Some, like Jimmy Kimmel (who co-hosted The Man Show) and Stephen Colbert (previously on The Daily Show), were well-known before getting their own shows. Others, such as Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers, started their careers on Saturday Night Live. It’s common for these late-night hosts to also try their hand at movies, either before, during, or after their time on television.

As a total movie and TV fanatic, I’ve seen a lot of actors try to break out of their ‘desk job’ roles – you know, the characters always stuck behind a computer or at a news station. What follows is a rundown of the best and the absolute worst attempts at making that transition. Some really nailed it, others… well, let’s just say it didn’t quite work out. But they all started with someone we recognize from being stuck behind a desk on TV.

Best: Stephen Colbert & Jimmy Kimmel in Monsters vs. Aliens

Despite being the most popular late-night talk show in America, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert will be ending soon. This likely means Stephen Colbert will return to acting, as he’s had some great movie roles in the past. He notably played President Hathaway in Monsters vs. Aliens early in his run with The Colbert Report. Jimmy Kimmel also contributed to that film by providing the sounds for the character Insectosaurus, though he wasn’t officially credited because the character doesn’t speak.

Although it didn’t become a huge franchise like Shrek or Madagascar, Monsters vs. Aliens is still one of DreamWorks Animation’s strongest films. It’s clearly inspired by classic 1950s science fiction and monster movies, and the voice actors seem to be genuinely enjoying themselves – especially Stephen Colbert, who plays the hilariously silly President Hathaway.

Worst: John Stewart in Death to Smoochy

While Danny DeVito’s Death to Smoochy has gained a cult following, it’s generally considered a flawed and surprisingly bleak film.

Before joining the cast of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Danny DeVito had already directed several dark comedies, including Throw Momma from the Train, The War of the Roses, and Duplex. However, Smoochy is generally considered his weakest film. It struggles to find a consistent comedic style and unfortunately casts Robin Williams in a role that’s more disturbing than humorous. Jon Stewart plays Marion Stokes, the executive overseeing the children’s show where Williams’ character, “Rainbow” Randolph, and Edward Norton’s Sheldon Mopes are competing for a job. Stokes is also secretly stealing money from the company. While it’s a decent part for Stewart, allowing him to portray a nervous and stressed character, the role doesn’t offer him much depth.

Stream Death to Smoochy for free with ads on The Roku Channel.

Best: Conan O’Brien in If I Had Legs I’d Kick You

Rose Byrne’s performance is the strongest aspect of Mary Bronstein’s new film, If I Had Legs I’d Kick You – her first since Yeast in 2008 – and the most likely to receive award recognition. Conan O’Brien also delivers a surprisingly strong and genuine dramatic performance as Linda’s therapist.

It’s surprisingly great to see comedian O’Brien tackle a serious acting role, and he delivers! Since his talk show on TBS ended in 2021, he’s been busy with several projects, including voice work in The Mitchells vs. the Machines, Weird: The Al Yankovic Story, and Please Don’t Destroy: The Treasure of Foggy Mountain. Next, he’s joining the cast of the fifth Toy Story movie, where he’ll voice the character Smarty Pants.

Worst: Seth Meyers in New Year’s Eve

As a big fan of Garry Marshall, I always loved how he moved from TV – where he wrote for shows like The Lucy Show and created classics like The Odd Couple and Happy Days – to making movies! He really hit his stride early on with some fantastic films like The Flamingo Kid, Overboard, Beaches, and of course, Pretty Woman. Honestly, his later movies weren’t quite as strong, though a lot of us still adore The Princess Diaries!

Later in his career, several of his films were clear failures, including Exit to Eden, Raising Helen, and Georgia Rule. However, his biggest critical lows came with his final three movies: Valentine’s Day, New Year’s Eve, and Mother’s Day. These films featured impressive casts, but the actors were stuck with weak dialogue and poorly developed characters. Take New Year’s Eve, for example: Saturday Night Live’s Seth Meyers plays Griffin Byrne, whose wife, Tess (Jessica Biel), is about to give birth to their first child. They compete with another couple for a $25,000 bonus for having a New Year’s Day baby. Ultimately, their baby is born first, but they lie so the other couple, who are in financial need, can receive the money. That’s the entire plot.

Stream New Year’s Eve on Starz.

Best: Craig Ferguson in How to Train Your Dragon

DreamWorks’ How to Train Your Dragon was both a huge hit with audiences and highly praised by critics. This is no surprise, considering its beautiful animation, touching story, and genuine emotional impact.

Craig Ferguson brings a lot of laughs to the ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ movies as Gobber the Belch. He delivers the funniest lines and also portrays Gobber as a loyal and kind character, all with a strong Scottish accent.

Stream How to Train Your Dragon on Peacock.

Worst: Jay Leno in Collision Course

Buddy cop movies are a familiar genre, so to be successful, they need a unique element. A great example is the film 48 Hrs., which features Eddie Murphy and Nick Nolte as very different characters who form a genuine connection.

I always find it telling when a film like Collision Course gets shelved for years before finally appearing on video. And honestly, it’s exactly what you’d anticipate from a movie about a Japanese detective investigating a case in Detroit – unfortunately, that means a lot of casual racism. Pat Morita and Jay Leno really do their best with the material, but it’s clear this wasn’t the vehicle to launch Leno into movie stardom, seeing as it turned out to be his only leading role.

Stream Collision Course on Cinemax.

Best: Arsenio Hall in Coming to America

While Coming to America is largely considered Eddie Murphy’s film and remains one of his most hilarious, Arsenio Hall deserves significant credit for the movie’s overall success.

Hall delivers a charming performance as Semmi, Prince Akeem’s loyal friend and assistant, making their connection believable. Eddie Murphy shines playing multiple roles, most notably the enthusiastic Reverend Brown and Morris, a barber stuck listening to a colorful, profanity-filled rant about boxing legend Joe Louis.

Worst: Jimmy Fallon in Taxi

Jimmy Fallon has appeared in some great films, and we’ll be talking about those shortly. However, Tim Story’s Taxi definitely isn’t among them.

Even with Queen Latifah, who was incredibly popular at the time, this movie doesn’t manage to get a single laugh from the audience when it comes to Jimmy Fallon’s performance. However, it’s difficult to fault Fallon entirely, as the movie itself suffers from a very uninspired and dull script.

Stream Taxi on Starz.

Best: Jimmy Fallon in Almost Famous

Cameron Crowe’s Almost Famous is widely considered his best film. It’s a heartfelt story with believable characters and powerfully portrays how relationships evolve. Plus, it beautifully captures the atmosphere of the 1970s. Whether it’s the best movie from the year 2000 is debatable, but it’s definitely among the top contenders.

Jeremy Fallon delivers a standout performance as Dennis Hope, the tour manager for the band Stillwater. He lets a young journalist, William Miller, follow them around hoping the coverage will boost both Miller’s career and the band’s popularity. Even people who aren’t Fallon fans often agree he’s excellent as the constantly frustrated Hope. This role came early in his time on Saturday Night Live, and he hasn’t quite replicated it since, though his work in Fever Pitch and Whip It are also very good.

Stream Almost Famous on fuboTV.

Worst: John Oliver and Stephen Colbert in The Love Guru

Look, I love a good comedic romp as much as the next critic, but The Love Guru really felt like Mike Myers just kept hammering away at a joke that wasn’t landing. He nailed the multiple-character thing in Austin Powers and even So I Married an Axe Murderer, but here, it just felt…off. It reminded me a lot of The Cat in the Hat. Just because How the Grinch Stole Christmas was a hit doesn’t automatically mean any other Dr. Seuss adaptation will work, especially when you take any clever, grown-up humor and crank it up to eleven. It’s a pattern with Myers, and The Love Guru unfortunately feels like another example of it.

Almost everyone comes away from The Love Guru feeling a little pained. The cast – including Mike Myers, Jessica Alba, Verne Troyer, and Justin Timberlake – all have to work with jokes that just aren’t funny, and sometimes even cross the line. Myers and Timberlake spend much of the movie overacting, thankfully Stephen Colbert’s small role as an NHL commentator is brief, appearing only near the end.

Stream The Love Guru for free on Hoopla.

https://comicbook.com/movies/news/comedy-movie-legacy-sequels-ranked-worst-best/embed/#

Read More

2025-12-15 01:13