Steve Carell's most distinctive and memorable character has to be Michael Scott from The Office (U.S.). NBCUniversal paid $500 M to get the series off Netflix and onto their new streaming service, Peacock, to many fans' dismay. Despite the massive financial success of Carell's staple series, one would be surprised to know it isn't one of Carrel's best roles, according to film critics.
Carell's worst roles appear to be from projects he was a part of earlier in his career. Since the success of The Office, it seems Carell has become more selective of the roles he takes later in his career, making some of his latest roles his best in the eyes of Metacritic.
Worst: Sleepover (33)
The 2004 comedy teenage flick made the slightest profit at the box-office and Steve Carell's role in the film isn't exactly memorable. He played the side role of Sherman, a responding officer to the scene of the teen girls' scavenger hunt.
Sleepover is the third movie Carell was cast in, coming after his performance in Anchorman. It continues to be the most forgettable chapter of his acting career.
Worst: Bewitched (34)
Bewitched is a 2005 romance/fantasy starring Nicole Kidman and Will Ferrell. Carell is squeezed into a lineup of notable supporting cast members, including Stephen Colbert and Michael Caine. The film did fairly well at the box office, but critics' weren't convinced.
Carell played Uncle Arthur, succeeding Paul Lynde, who portrayed the jokester warlock in the original. Carell's performance is brief but fresh, offering a preview of his success to come, as The Office had begun season one in the same year.
Worst: Evan Almighty (37)
The original Bruce Almighty was Carell's first major role in a movie as Evan Baxter, but unfortunately the sequel did not live up to the original.
Filmmakers were impressed with Carell's performance and noticed his surging popularity, so they rebooted the film and put Carell at the center. Despite strategies to broaden the audience, Evan Almighty fell flat on its face financially, losing over $100 M.
Worst: Welcome To Marwen (40)
Carell's drama/fantasy effort in 2018 was a mixed bag for most critics, offering a soul-warming, original premise that is dragged down by an under-executed story in terms of character development. The imaginative toy visuals are certainly amusing, but the glitzy animation doesn't quite hit the mark.
Welcome To Marwen makes for a decent watch with children, but its PG-13 rating is confusing regarding what kind of audience the film is aimed towards. It's certainly one of the hokier titles in the famed actor's filmography.
Worst: Bruce Almighty (46)
Bruce Almighty, Carell's first major film, contrasts with other low-rated films he's contributed to, as users on Metacritic rated the 2003 comedy far higher than the critics. The Jim Carrey-starring film is certainly a fan favorite and makes for one of his more memorable projects.
The Office actor's performance as Evan the broadcaster has close to 6.5 M views on YouTube while representing a bright starting point for one of the funniest men in America.
Best: Battle Of The Sexes (73)
In this sports/historical dramedy, Carell shares the spotlight with Emma Stone. The two first collaborated on the funny and emotional hit from 2011, Crazy, Stupid, Love.
Six years later, the duo face-off as Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs in a highly publicized co-ed tennis match. The sports film is set in 1973 and terrifically recaptures the time period while portraying complex characters who deal with the likes of confused sexuality and recapturing old glory.
Best: The 40-Year-Old Virgin (73)
Critics and fans alike raved for the Judd Apatow-directed comedy back in 2005, and it continues to create countless laughs today. Andy Stitzer is a bit of a lovable sad-sack, and Carell absolutely thrives in these 'doofus' roles.
Except for his role in Space Force, Carell seems less inclined to take roles similar to Michael Scott and Stitzer and has found great success with his more-dramatic roles as of late.
Best: Little Miss Sunshine (80)
Little Miss Sunshine is an essential watch from 2006—a modern classic that may deserve an even higher rating from critics' accumulated scores on Metacritic. Carell plays Frank, Sheryl's brother, who was recently held in the hospital after a suicide attempt.
The masterfully-crafted Oscar winner succeeds in hitting the emotions without taking itself too seriously or delivering its warmth in an oversaturated fashion. Little Miss Sunshine will continue to be one of the brightest points in Carell's accomplished career.
Best: The Big Short (81)
In The Big Short, Carell teams back up with Anchorman director Adam McKay as they both test their boundaries outside of comedy. Consequently, the film is both funny, gripping, informative, and clever, while Carell submits a fantastic performance as the deeply conflicted Mark Baum.
The retelling of the financial crash of 2007–2008 also flexes undeniable star-power in Christian Bale, Brad Pitt, Ryan Gosling, and others. It is no surprise that The Big Short is one of Carell's best roles.
Best: Foxcatcher (81)
Audiences aren't used to Carell being cast as the bad guy. Nevertheless, his best role (according to Metacritic) is one of the only times in the actor's many films and shows where viewers are rooting against him.
Carell absolutely crushes his performance as John du Pont, with his timid mannerisms and creepily withered voice, leading him to his first and only Academy Award nomination for Best Lead Actor. However, he was beaten out by Eddie Redmayne for his performance as Stephen Hawking in The Theory of Everything. Carell honestly deserved the accolade, although Redmayne was massively impressive in the historical romance/drama.