Comedic influences: Paul Rudd’s all-time favourite films
Whether you first stumbled across Paul Rudd in his coming-of-age debut, the string of classic American comedies that defined his career in the 2000s, or as the shrinking Marvel superhero Ant-Man, he’s an actor who has likely endeared himself to you at some point during the last three decades. Stealing scenes with his loveable on-screen presence, he’s become a staple figure in the contemporary comedy realm.
Since finding his way onto the big screen opposite Alicia Silverstone in the 1990s’ most iconic teen film, Rudd has honed a mammoth filmography. With so many credits now to his name, it makes sense that Rudd has tried his hand at a plethora of genres. He’s ventured into everything from war films to animation, but he just can’t seem to keep himself away from comedy.
Even his excursions into the Marvel Cinematic Universe have been infused with his characteristic sense of humour. Both Rudd and his audiences are aware of just how well he thrives in that setting, in perfect timing and effortless improvisation, so it’s no surprise that his own favourite films also reflect his interest in comedy.
Perhaps expectedly, when picking out his top four films of all time during a conversation with Letterboxd, Rudd was keen to shout out some of his favourite entries into the genre. Like much of his filmography, his picks often blur the boundaries of genre, pushing comedy into drama or into romance.
Withnail and I is just one example, a classic British comedy that Rudd deems one of his “all-time favourites.” It’s a darkly comedic film, which has contributed to its cult following, finding humour and pain between pub trips. Rudd clearly holds great admiration for comedy from across the Atlantic, having previously shared his love for the original The Office and the strangeness of Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace.
Rudd also shared his love for two films that traverse romance and comedy, 1979’s A Little Romance and 1991’s Defending Your Life. Neither film could be described as an outright entry into his favoured genre, but they blend humour into their discussions of love and life after death. While Rudd has taken roles in his fair share of more straightforward comedy movies, he’s also proven his own softer side in Clueless and even I Love You, Man.
The only film on Rudd’s list to entirely divert from comedic influences is Stuart Rosenberg’s Cool Hand Luke, which sits far more firmly within the dramatic realm. The film discusses power and prisons through the lens of its titular character. Though it may stray a little further from Rudd’s love for comedy, it’s a worthy inclusion on his list.
Considering just how heavily it dominates his own filmography, it’s no surprise that the majority of Rudd’s favourite films also take from comedy. His interest in on-screen humour extends far beyond his own work, and perhaps it was the influence of his predecessors that led to his own success in the genre.
Rudd’s aptitude for comedy clearly stems from his wide-ranging knowledge and genuine adoration for laugh-inducing cinema. Before he began modernising comedy himself with appearances in The 40-Year-Old Virgin and Anchorman, he was studying the work of the comedy greats that came before him. Find the full list of Paul Rudd’s favourite films below.
Paul Rudd names his four favourite movies of all time
- Cool Hand Luke (Stuart Rosenberg, 1967)
- A Little Romance (George Roy Hill, 1979)
- Withnail and I (Bruce Robinson, 1987)
- Defending Your Life (Albert Brooks, 1991)
