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This article was first published on August 24, 2018.
Weve since updated it to include subsequent Melissa McCarthy films including Netflixs new comedyUnfrosted.
No one in the Hollywood biosphere is quite like Melissa McCarthy.
Ranking her performances proves to be a bit bittersweet.
We decided to forgo most of her blink-and-youll-miss-her walk-ons to focus on the more major work.
May there be more major work to come in the near future.
21.The Hangover Part III(2013)
21.
Yeah, you forgot she was in this, didnt you?
(Part IIImade less than half of whatPart IIdid.)
She looks more excited to be there than Galifianakis, but just barely.
Its okay if you forget you ever read this paragraph.
20.The Boss(2016)
20.
None of the Falcone movies are very good, but this is the most senseless.
19.Unfrosted(2024)
19.
Most people will ultimately forget shes in this, which seems to have been her strategy.
It was the correct one.
18.Identity Thief(2013)
18.
McCarthys first starring vehicle afterBridesmaidsrode the wave of that breakthrough smash, except with none of the charm.
She plays Diane, a woman who lives off other peoples identities and their credit cards.
17.Pretty Ugly People(2010)
17.
Its hard to believe Taylor would makeThe Helpthree years later.
16.Tammy(2014)
16.
McCarthy doesnt really have a character to play, but nobody does here.
15.The Starling(2021)
15.
McCarthy first hooked up with director Theodore Melfi for the milquetoast dramaSt.
14.Life of the Party(2018)
14.
Its still pedestrian and uninspired, and the timing is oddly tin-eared.
Still, McCarthy seems to be enjoying herself.
13.Thunder Force(2021)
13.
(Imagine if Robert RodriguezsSpy Kidsmovies were directed by … well, by Ben Falcone.)
12.The Happytime Murders(2018)
12.
But the films Hey, look!
These puppets curse and have lots of sex!
shtick gets old fast.
11.Superintelligence(2020)
11.
But it rarely leaves them alone.
10.The Little Mermaid(2023)
10.
(Also, God that crab is terrifying.)
The movie doesnt have nearly enough of her (another reason it stinks), but McCarthy emerges unscathed.
Vincent(2014)
9.
A change-of-pace role for McCarthy after her brash blockbusters,St.
After a series of high-wattage star vehicles,St.
Vincentwas an opportunity to downshift to portray a more muted character.
Its too bad the character is so cliched, although McCarthys loveliness goes a long way.
8.This Is 40(2012)
8.
7.The Heat(2013)
7.
And part of the problem is McCarthy, whose vulgar, uncouth character doesnt have that many dimensions.
But becauseThe Heatwas a hit, it only encouraged her to keep pulling this shtick.
6.Ghostbusters(2016)
6.
(In some ways, Kate McKinnon really gets the more traditional McCarthy role.)
5.TheKitchen(2019)
5.
Even when the movie loses its way, McCarthy is a dynamo as a woman finally finding her voice.
4.The Nines(2007)
4.
And in each, McCarthy pops up.
In one, shes the hotshot PR agent to Reynoldss actor character.
Her career would send her off in other, far more commercial directions.
ButThe Ninesis a reminder of what she could do.
3.Bridesmaids(2011)
3.
2.Can You Ever Forgive Me?
(2018)
2.
InCan You Ever Forgive Me?, that desperation is all over Israels face, movingly.
1.Spy(2015)
1.
Spyis the perfect Melissa McCarthy film, in part because it doesnt really feel like a Melissa McCarthy film.
Maybe thats whySpydoesnt rely so much on the broad slapstick and crass characterizations that were becoming McCarthys M.O.
None of this makes her any less funny, of course.
