Rather than just tackling his directorial efforts (of which, The King of Staten Island is set to only be his 6th) we decided to rank the prolific writer/producer/all around funny man's entire catalog of projects he's had some form of contributing towards. Here are the Top 10 Judd Apatow Films of All Time:
#10. Celtic Pride
Probably the most obscure film on Judd's resume, this hysterical sports comedy about a pair of die hard Celtic fans who set out to get their Jordan-esque arch nemesis too drunk to compete in the finals is criminally underrated. Damon Wayans plays the over the top ego maniacal sports icon brilliantly and Judd's hilarious script satirizing the commercial sports world of the mid 90's makes for a hilarious basketball film.
#9. Forgetting Sarah Marshall
Jason Segel's rebound rom-com is an incredibly smart and thoughtful examination of a man trying to let go of his past, even when it's looming over him and being pounded by Russell Brand. It's got the trademark blend of humor and heart you expect to find in an Apatow vehicle, even if he's only on as a producer.
#8. Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy
Will Ferrell's breakout starring feature is a murderer's row of comedic talent, so it's no wonder Judd had a hand in bringing it to fruition. Effortlessly quotable, spectacularly irreverent, and brilliantly absurd - Anchorman served as a launching pad for so many careers and set the standard for comedies to come for the next decade.
#7. Kicking and Screaming
While Apatow and Ferrell have collaborated quite frequently, their most overlooked project has to be this 2005 family comedy about a Soccer Dad trying to out-coach his overzealous father (played by Robert Duvall). It hits a lot of the familiar underdog sports comedy notes but with Ferrell leading the charge as the over the top father, the film takes on a completely new life and rather than leading by example - shows us that sometimes parents help their kids most by giving them an example of exactly what NOT to do.
#6. Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby
Anchorman may get all the credit but I truly think Will Ferrell hit his comedic peak as Ricky Bobby. An extension of American arrogance, Bobby is a complete buffoon, which Ferrell plays to absolute perfection. It's another line a minute quote factory from Ferrell who finds his offbeat improvisational match made in heaven with John C. Reiley. Their chemistry and the biting satire of Americana makes this Ferrell's most complete comedy.
#5. Bridesmaids
After launching a myriad of frat-pack inspired male lead comedies in the 2000's, Apatow along with Freaks and Geeks collaborator Paul Feig shifted the entire comedic paradigm in the 2010's with their landmark female driven ensemble, Bridesmaids. Apatow had already shown that you can infuse gross-out shock humor with heartfelt sentiment but Bridesmaids proved you can do it from the female perspective just as successfully (if not, more so). Emotional, empowering, and most of all hilarious - Bridesmaids may be the most impactful entry on the list.
#4. Heavyweights
For the life of me, I can not understand how this isn't the most beloved live action Disney film of all time. It's incredible. Judd's script about a fat camp run by a militarized Ben Stiller is absolute comedic genius and one of the most genuinely funny kids movies you'll ever see. The performances are all top notch but it's truly Apatow's intelligent script that makes everything in Heavyweights work so well.
#3. Funny People
A lot of people have called Judd Apatow the John Hughes of his generation and if that's the case, I think Funny People may end up being his Planes, Trains and Automobiles. Seen as a disappointment upon it's release and now regarded as a certified classic, Hughes was criticized for going into more dramatic territory and adult themes - and the same can be said for Apatow's Funny People. While you might expect an Adam Sandler / Seth Rogen / Jonah Hill crossover to result in an outrageous buddy comedy, Funny People tackles the much more human aspect of the comedy industry and the personal sacrifices that can sometimes accompany it.
#2. Superbad
There are plenty of high school sex comedies out there, but perhaps none of them more thoughtfully developed and tonally accurate than 2007's Superbad. Again, serving as a perfect storm of comedic talent, Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg's coming of age story is brought to life by an outstanding collection of young actors and balances an absolute onslaught of hilarious moments with the emotional turmoil of growing up that gives this a longer shelf life than almost any of it's peers.
#1. Knocked Up
Judd Apatow absolutely owned the summer of 2007 and this follow up to The 40 Year Old Virgin serves as the crown jewel in his impressive arsenal of accomplishments. With Knocked Up he doubles down on both the crass comedy and heartfelt sentimentality that made his previous film stand out and perfected the recipe. And while I definitely think Apatow tries to infuse his wife and daughters into his work maybe a little too frequently, it worked so brilliantly in this film that I really can't blame him for trying to recapture it. Leslie Mann and Paul Rudd nearly steal the film from Rogen and Heigl, giving a grounded look at marriage and parenthood from multiple perspectives. It's an absolutely perfect romantic comedy, no matter what Katherine Heigl thinks of it.
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