Few figures in comedy filmmaking measure up to Harold Ramis, creator of some of cinema's most iconic, hilarious films - here's every movie he directed, ranked from worst to best. Though Ramis was an actor and writer, his greatest talent was his ability to direct comedies, bringing a distinct voice and decades of experience to the screen. Ramis’ filmmaking career was filled with powerhouse partnerships, innovative ideas, and a legacy that may never die.
Harold Ramis began writing, directing, and acting as part of Second City Television, an offshoot of the improvisational troupe The Second City in Chicago. Ramis’ work as a writer and actor would find him quick success, soon becoming well known for his role of Egon Spengler in Ghostbusters, a film which Ramis wrote with Dan Aykroyd. Despite his success as an actor and writer, Ramis had found his principal skill as a director and would develop his talent for the majority of his career, concluding with his death in 2014.
Ramis’ films are punctuated by the filmmaker’s signature dryness and wit, usually featuring wry characters who soberly work their way through wildly comical scenarios. A consistent sense of morality persists through all of Ramis’ work, centered on an inherent goodness in people that never sacrifices the individuality of each persons’ personality. Ramis was a legendary comedic director, and here is each movie he directed ranked from worst to best.
11. Club Paradise
Club Paradise is jam-packed with star comedians, although no one in the film seems to really have their heart in it. Robin Williams stars alongside Peter O’Toole, Rick Moranis, Eugene Levy, and Jimmy Cliff in this wildly winding island caper. When firefighter Jack Moniker, played by Williams, forms an island resort called Club Paradise, the patrons adapt to the cheap facilities and the antagonistic local military. Though the material feels stretched and the cast is somewhat misused, especially Williams, Ramis does manage to keep Club Paradise light and charming, even if it does dip into boredom at times.
10. Year One
Harold Ramis’ final film before his death, Year One is a lampooning of biblical history filled with even more huge talent. In the film, two prehistoric tribesmen, played by Jack Black and Michael Cera, venture across the ancient world after being banished from their home, meeting various crude biblical figures. The film’s humor leans vulgar and Ramis’ direction seems distracted, but Year One is held up by the likeability of its actors, who also include David Cross, Hank Azaria, and Olivia Wilde. While not Ramis’ best film, Year One does still make audiences laugh.
9. Stuart Saves His Family
Expanding on a Saturday Night Live character by Al Franken, Stuart Saves His Family follows self-help guru Stuart Smalley as he remedies issues within his family and his struggling public-access show. Stuart Saves His Family is quietly funnier than Ramis’ other films, which may be why Stuart was more suited to SNL than the big screen. Franken's performance as Stuart fluxes between charming and frustrating, indicating an apt portrayal of a man in a constant internal struggle. Ramis’ direction does not seem particularly potent in Stuart Saves His Family. The film is just shy of his genius spark.
8. Analyze That
The only sequel that Ramis directed, Analyze That continues the relationship between criminal Paul Vitti and therapist Ben Sobel of Analyze This. When Paul, played by Robert De Niro, is let out of prison, his therapist, played by Billy Crystal, gets caught up in a series of convoluted heists and schemes. While the film brings back a few laughs from the original, Analyze That is generally considered an unnecessary, meandering sequel. The plot and comedy don’t flow as organically as Ramis’ best work proves he’s capable of, but Analyze That is still a fairly funny film.
7. Multiplicity
Ramis’ Multiplicity stars Michael Keaton (Batman) as a man who produces a series of clones of himself in order to better balance work and family life. Hilarious complications arise as Keaton tries to keep his clones a secret from his wife, played by Andie MacDowell. Multiplicity’s stellar concept falls a little short of its potential, trading opportunities to explore cloning’s philosophical ramifications for easy jokes. The film is very surface level, which is surprising for Ramis, although it’s certainly one of his wackier comedies and perfect for any fan of Keaton.
6. The Ice Harvest
Ramis ventured into dark comedy with his crime comedy The Ice Harvest, starring John Cusack and Billy Bob Thornton. The pair, a mob lawyer and pornographer respectively, double-cross each other as they attempt to escape Wichita, Kansas with two-million stolen dollars. The Ice Harvest is easily Ramis’ most violent film, which feels a little off-balance with the humor that persists throughout. Ramis does develop each and every one of the characters in this film, while giving The Ice Harvest a full, genuine feel that allows real pathos to mix with its quirky laughs. With this film, Ramis perhaps intended to veer his career toward more dramatic material. The Ice Harvest shows he could’ve, had he wanted to.
5. Bedazzled
A remake of a British comedy adaption of the Faust legend, Bedazzled is a devilish comedy starring Brendan Fraser and Elizabeth Hurley. In the film, a hapless geek must save his soul after he makes a deal with the Devil for seven wishes, each with an ironic consequence. A classic tale spun with a fresh comedic voice, Ramis’ comic wit is evident in Bedazzled, brought out most in Hurley’s acclaimed performance. Ramis’ work has been funnier and more daring, but Bedazzled is undeniably a hit, one of Ramis’ most fun.
4. Analyze This
Ramis cleverly exhibits what happens when a mobster attempts to get in touch with his more sensitive side in Analyze This. Robert De Niro’s Paul Vitti, a Mafioso, secretly seeks help from Billy Crystal’s Ben Sobel, a therapist, in order to manage his worsening anxiety attacks, forming a strong friendship. De Niro has great comedic chemistry with Crystal, balancing intensity and quirkiness in a way that sets the stars above any other actor in the film. Essentially a comedic feature film version of The Sopranos, Analyze This holds up well, thanks to Ramis’ direction of his lead actors.
3. Caddyshack
Caddyshack marked Harold Ramis’ directorial debut, surprising, considering how iconic the film would become. Sometimes considered the pinnacle of sports comedies, Caddyshack follows the exploits of various nutty golfers and caddies at a golf course, most closely focusing on one caddy’s goal to afford college. The film features peak performances from its starring cast, especially from Chevy Chase, Rodney Dangerfield, and Bill Murray. Initial reception to the movie was very negative, with critics decrying the loose plot and unbridled comedy, but Caddyshack has become an endlessly quotable, beloved cult classic.
2. National Lampoon’s Vacation
The hit that launched a cavalcade of sequels, including holiday classic Christmas Vacation, National Lampoon’s Vacation is an instant hit that stands the test of time. Written by John Hughes, the film follows the Griswold family, led by Chevy Chase’s Clark, on their mishap-filled road trip to the coveted amusement park, Walley World. With Chase at his most affably egotistical, Ramis confidently and casually directs comedic showpiece after showpiece, filling every minute of Vacation with relatable, relaxed humor. National Lampoon’s Vacation is a lovable, highly acclaimed, near career height for Harold Ramis.
1. Groundhog Day
Groundhog Day marks Harold Ramis’ greatest directorial achievement. The comedy is somehow sentimental, cynical, optimistic, and potently philosophical all at once, setting a high standard for all other comedy films. Bill Murray plays a narcissistic weatherman who gets caught in a time-loop, experiencing the endless repetition with enthusiasm, horror, and acceptance. Though Ramis and Murray clashed historically over the making of Groundhog Day, their collaboration is a timeless masterpiece of cinema that not once feels pretentious. Widely considered to be one of the greatest comedy films of all time, Groundhog Day is endlessly watchable and quite possibly Harold Ramis’ greatest film.