Stephen Merchant’s Best Films Ranked (According To IMDb)

Stephen Merchant has gone from strength to strength since he made his name as one of the co-creators of The Office along with Ricky Gervais way back in 2001. Since then, he has become a successful actor in his own right, featuring in numerous films and television series in both the UK and America.

Lending his unique brand of awkward witty humor—as well as his imposing height—to many ensemble comedies and the occasional serious drama, as only the best comedic actors can. With this in mind, here are the 10 best Stephen Merchant films, ranked by IMDb.

10 I Give It A Year (5.7)

Stephen Merchant had a supporting role in the 2013 romantic comedy I Give It a Year. In the film, Stephen plays Danny, the world’s worst and most inappropriate best man. In addition to providing his trademark humor, Stephen livens up the mediocre comedy and steals every scene he’s in with his witty-one-liners.

His best man speech is without a doubt the funniest scene of the film and is delivered entirely by Stephen as he says all the wrong things and manages to upset just about everyone.

9 Hall Pass (5.8)

Though only a minor role Stephen Merchant appeared in 2011’s Hall Pass. Once again, he is tasked with brightening up this mediocre comedy. The film sees two bored husbands given a hall pass, which then allows them to do whatever they want for a week.

This leads to a series of amusing but predictable scenarios. However, this is flipped on its head when Stephen’s character imagines what it would like if he was put in the same situation, leading him to kill the husband of the woman he slept with and eventually end up in jail. The quick montage is by far the film’s high point and demonstrates Stephens’ comic ability

8 Table 19 (5.8)

Table 19 focuses on a group of misfits at a wedding who have been seated at the last table. They don’t know one another and don’t belong at the wedding.

The ensemble cast features some talented comedic performers including Anna Kendrick. However, the romantic comedy fails to deliver the laughs promised by its concept. The film was panned by critics for being predictable. Stephen Merchant plays Walter and undoubtedly gets some of the films funniest lines and best scenes.

7 Gnomeo and Juliet (5.9)

Stephen Merchant featured in 2011’s Gnomeo and Juliet. The garden-based animated film retold the classic Shakespeare story with a Gnome twist. In the film, Stephen lends his voice to Paris, a red Gnome who was originally intended to marry Juliet, though she doesn’t reciprocate his feelings.

Stephen breathes life into the character with as much enthusiasm as any of his other roles and makes this fast-talking, bookish gnome enjoyable for the whole family to watch.

6 Burke and Hare (6.2)

2010’s Burke and Hare tells the story of the real grave robbers Burke and Hare who found success grave robbing and selling body parts to an Edinburgh medical school. The dark comedy twists facts into a more lighthearted story while still presenting both characters as the criminals that they are.

Stephen Merchant had a minor role as a Footman, and, although he is only given limited screen time, he manages to deliver his trademark brand of humor that made him famous.

5 Run Fatboy Run (6.6)

The British romantic comedy Run Fatboy Run featured Simon Pegg as an out-of-shape loser who is trying to lose weight so that he can win back his ex who he jilted on the day of their wedding.

Stephen Merchant features in the film in a supporting role, and, in one of the films funniest moments, is hit by a wheelchair dropped down a flight of stairs. Despite its all-star cast, Run Fatboy Run went on to garner mixed reviews.

4 Cemetery Junction (6.9)

Cemetery Junction was spawned as another collaboration between Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, but this time marked a departure from their usual style, as they aimed at a more serious and less comedic tone.

The coming of age film tells the story of a group of young people who want to get out of their home town and see the world. Stephen had a minor role in the film as Dougie, and, although he only featured briefly in the film, he manages to inject them with his unique brand of humor.

3 Fighting With My Family (7.1)

Fighting With My Family adapts the real-life story of wrestling superstar Paige and charts her journey from her humble beginnings to the stage of WWE. Stephen Merchant directed the 2019 dramedy, making it the first feature film directed by him alone.

In addition to this, Stephen has a supporting role in the film as a middle-class father welcomed into the home of Paige’s family. This then leads to comical misunderstanding and miscommunications, allowing Stephen to do what he does best.

2 Jojo Rabbit (7.9)

In Jojo Rabbit, Stephen Merchant plays a high ranking Gestapo officer who searches Jojo’s home for Jews. Stephen steals the scene, and it proves to be one of the films funniest moments.

Due to Stephen’s over-the-top performance, the film is able to ridicule the absurdities of the Nazi party and show them for the cowardly fools that they are. Jojo Rabbit marks one of the more dramatic and serious roles Stephen has taken on and demonstrates his range as an actor.

1 Logan (8.1)

In contrast to so many of his other roles, Stephen starred as the mutant Caliban in 2017 critically acclaimed Logan alongside Hugh Jackman as Wolverine. The role required Stephen to shave his head, and he is almost unrecognizable in the film.

Caliban was portrayed previously by another actor in 2016’s X-Men: Apocolypse, but there’s no doubt that Stephen’s take on the character was superior. Gone is Stephen’s trademark fast-talking wit, replaced with a broken, morally complex character who ultimately sacrifices himself.

About The Author