Zach Galifianakis: 10 Best Roles, According To Rotten Tomatoes

Actor Zach Galifianakis broke into the mainstream with his part in 2008’s hit comedy The Hangover, but fans of off-beat and strange comedy were already familiar with him. Galifianakis is one of the most prolific contemporary American comedians, known for stand-up, movies, and television work. He’s starred in everything from Kayne West music videos to dystopian science fiction films, bringing a peculiar edge to anything he does.

In recent years, Galifianakis has won critical acclaim for his FX dark comedy, Baskets. He’s also contributed his voice acting skills to multiple well-received animated features. Here are Zach Galifianakis’s 10 best roles according to Rotten Tomatoes.

10 Between Two Ferns: The Movie (2019) – 74%

Since 2008, Galifianakis has played an exaggerated version of himself in the web series Between Two Ferns. The series is composed of improvised interviews with celebrities. They all take place between two fern plants, and Galifianakis tries to make the experience as awkward as possible for everyone he interviews.

He’s interviewed folks from Michael Cera to President Barack Obama. The Between Two Ferns movie is based on the web series. In it, Galifianakis’s reputation is ruined after Will Ferrel uploads his interviews to Funny or Die without his consent. Galifianakis goes on a tour around the country to fix his reputation, interviewing celebrities along the way.

9 The Hangover (2009) – 78%

Galifianakis’s wolfpack speech in this bro-tastic Las Vegas comedy made him a household name, and The Hangover turned out to be one of those rare contemporary comedies that was both a theatrical and critical success. The film’s events focus around a group of men trying to recover from an insane bachelor party.

In the movie, the groom, Doug, goes missing, and Galifianakis plays his socially inept and strange future brother-in-law, Alan. This ensemble comedy also stars Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, and Heather Graham.

8 Bored to Death (2009 – 2011) – 79%

Galifianakis performed alongside Ted Danson and Jason Schwartzman in this kinky and unique HBO comedy that lasted three seasons. In it, Schwartzman plays a struggling writer turned private detective named Jonathan Ames whose life gets wacky after his girlfriend dumps him. Galifianakis plays Jonathan’s best friend, Ray, an immature comic book artist in a codependent relationship with a woman named Leah.

The show received mostly positive reviews, especially in terms of the main cast’s performances. Combining noir, literary, and sexual themes, Bored to Death proves to be a niche, high-brow comedic venture.

7 Puss in Boots (2011) – 86%

A big hit in theatres, this DreamWorks animated feature is a spin-off of the Shrek movies. It focuses on the trials and tribulations of Puss in Boots, voiced by Antonio Banderas. Galifianakis voices Humpty Dumpty, who hopes to retrieve the golden eggs from a magical goose.

Puss in Boots incorporates fairy tales, action adventuring, and humor in a way that is entertaining for young and old. Amy Sedaris, Billy Bob Thornton, Salma Hayek, and Guillermo Del Toro also provide voice acting in the film.

6 The Lego Batman Movie (2017) – 89%

This Warner Bros. animated venture makes the world of Gotham palatable for younger audiences. Conceived using 3D animation, the movie is exactly what it’s title implies: Batman meets Legos.

Galifianakis gives voice to the Joker, Batman’s archenemy. In the movie, Joker is up to his usual antics, assisted by his girlfriend Harley Quinn. He brings an array of famous monsters on board to defeat Batman, including King Kong, Jaws, and the Gremlins. Other actors involved in the film include Will Arnett and Michael Cera.

5 Missing Link (2019) – 89%

This cute stop-animation feature won the 2020 Golden Globe for Best Animated Feature Film. Galifianakis voices the main character, a sasquatch named Mr. Susan Link who is trying to track down his relatives. Despite receiving positive reviews, Missing Link turned out to be a box office bomb, coming nowhere close to earning back its budget.

In the movie, Link travels to the Himalayas in hopes of connecting with cousins, the Yetis. A film about belonging, Missing Link is a fun, timeless family film.

4 Up In The Air (2009) – 91%

An independent comedy starring George Clooney and Anna Kendrick, Jason Reitman is at the helm of Up In The Air. A film about the contemporary American work landscape, Clooney plays a traveling human resources consultant named Ryan Bingham who moves around the country firing people on behalf of different companies.

Galifianakis was relatively unknown when the film came out, and he left a lasting impression on audiences with his portrayal of a man named Steve whoM Ryan is tasked with firing.

3 Birdman (2014) – 91%

This Alejandro Inarritu gem blew away audiences and critics when it was released, winning multiple awards and accolades. Michael Keaton stars in Birdman, playing an aging Hollywood actor named Riggan Thomson attempting to make a comeback by starring in a Broadway adaptation of a Raymond Carver short story.

A single-shot film, Birdman is a spastic and lively on-screen adventure. Galifianakis plays Thomson’s best friend Jake, who is also his lawyer. He’s producing the play Thomson is working on, What We Talk About When We Talk About Love.

2 Baskets (2016) – 92%

Baskets has won awards and praise since its release. This FX comedy with a unique premise stars Zach Galifianakis as both an aspiring clown named Chip and his twin brother Dale. They live in Bakersfield, California, and their mother, Christine, is played by Louie Anderson.

Even with its peculiar premise, Baskets is one of the most harrowing character studies on television during the 2010s. Equal parts hilarious and heartbreaking, it’s Galifianakis at his best.

1 The Muppets (2011) – 95%

According to Rotten Tomatoes, The Muppets is Zach Galifianakis’s highest-rated project. This musical revamp of the Jim Henson franchise stars Jason Segel and Amy Adams. It was a big success, winning an Oscar for Best Original Song and earning quite a bit of dough in theatres.

Galifianakis plays Hobo Joe, the first audience member for The Muppet Telethon. He reprised this role for Muppets Most Wanted.

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