From Ant-Man to a camp counselor who may be the worst lifeguard ever, Paul Rudd’s 15 best movie roles are ranked—ending with his new “Power Ballad” character Rick Power front and center.
By the time Paul Rudd shows up on screen. you can feel it: the timing. the smile. the way a scene turns even when the plot is going off the rails. His new music dramedy “Power Ballad,” now in theaters, adds to the proof. In the film. Rudd plays Rick Power. a wedding band frontman whose past as a music stardom fades into something sharper—while a former boy bander. Nick Jonas. sparks the story’s messy. fame-and-credit questions.
The list that follows ranks Rudd’s 15 best movie roles, from iconic franchises to one-off comedy turns—each showing the same rare gift. He can be the grounded “everyman” in a world that’s wildly not grounded at all.
15. Tommy Doyle (’Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers. ’ 1995)
Rudd admits he’s “awful” in the sixth “Halloween” installment. where he plays an older version of a boy that Jamie Lee Curtis babysat in the original 1978 movie. Still. stepping into the shoes of masked man Michael Myers in his first movie—and in one cut of the film actually beating the horror villain—earns the respect.
14. John Lennon (’Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story,’ 2007)
In “Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story,” Dewey (John C. Reilly) takes LSD with the Beatles. and Rudd plays Lennon alongside Jack Black as Paul McCartney. Justin Long as George Harrison. and Jason Schwartzman as Ringo Starr. The appearance is brief, but the comedy lands, helped by Rudd’s hilariously over-the-top Liverpudlian pronunciation of “imagine.”.
13. Josh (’Clueless. ’ 1995)
Cher (Alicia Silverstone) and her older stepbrother Josh (Rudd) having the hots for each other is a little weird—yet it also becomes an early showcase for Rudd’s charm. His character is pulled into the love-triangle drama and sibling banter that helps drive the teen-comedy cult classic.
12. Elliot (’Death of a Unicorn,’ 2025)
In the dark comedy “Death of a Unicorn,” Rudd plays recently widowed attorney Elliot. On his way to a work meeting in the Rockies with his estranged daughter (Jenna Ortega). Elliot hits a baby unicorn with his rental SUV. The role builds an arc from corporate shill to hero dad when the foal’s angry parents show up. trading polish for bonkers gore.
11. Gary Grooberson (’Ghostbusters: Afterlife. ’ 2021)
In “Ghostbusters: Afterlife. ” Rudd emerges as one of the more steady highlights in a youthful reboot with rocky edges. Gary is a fun summer school teacher who connects with bright and weird Phoebe Spengler (Mckenna Grace) and also has to deal with mischievous mini-Stay Pufts. expanding the “Ghostbusters” mythology.
10. Chuck (’Forgetting Sarah Marshall. ’ 2008)
Jason Segel plays a sad sack in Hawaii trying to move on from his ex. only to run into her in paradise. Rudd is one of the guys helping him get his groove back as an oddly philosophical surf instructor. The laidback vibes come with sharp punchlines. including the creative bon mot: “When life gives you lemons. just say ‘f— the lemons’ and bail.”.
9. Austin Carmichael (’Friendship. ’ 2024)
Rudd plays a life-of-the-party weatherman. serving as the straight man to Tim Robinson’s awkward marketing executive Craig in the suburban dark comedy “Friendship.” Neighbors strike up a bond. but Craig’s oddly clingy behavior sours things. turning the “relationship” into a cringe-y train wreck that crashes off the rails.
8. Andy (’Wet Hot American Summer. ’ 2001)
Rudd has proven he can be more than just the good dude he’s often cast as. In “Wet Hot American Summer,” set in 1981, he plays an insufferable camp counselor. He cheats on his girlfriend and is “quite possibly the worst lifeguard ever. ” part of a fast-moving summer-camp chaos that also featured early outings for Bradley Cooper. Elizabeth Banks. and Amy Poehler.
7. Pete (’Knocked Up. ’ 2007. and ’This Is 40. ’ 2012)
Rudd and Leslie Mann’s couple Pete and Debbie started as supporting players in Judd Apatow’s “Knocked Up” before taking the spotlight in the quasi-sequel “This Is 40.” Pete is usually irritating the higher-maintenance Debbie. but watching them work through trust issues and the question of another kid keeps the humor from staying flat.
6. Rick Power (’Power Ballad,’ 2026)
In “Power Ballad,” Rudd doesn’t just act—he sings. Years after his music stardom, Rick now fronts a wedding band. He also gets into a fruitful jam session with a former boy bander, Nick Jonas. The younger dude uses Rick’s musical idea and turns it into a worldwide hit. sparking the movie’s thoughtful quest about fame and credit.
5. David (’The 40-Year-Old Virgin. ’ 2005)
Rudd’s David works in electronics—one of the buddies trying to help an older coworker (Steve Carell) finally lose his virginity. The role gives him a mix of good friend and chaos agent. Even with everyone navigating their own issues, the part that stands out is David’s delightful disdain for Michael McDonald.
4. Danny (’Role Models,’ 2008)
“Role Models” is built on joyously wacky energy, and Rudd gets an arc that fits the mess. Danny starts as a jaded jerk who begins to figure things out after a run-in with the law leads to community service. He befriends a “little brother” character played by Christopher Mintz-Plasse and spends time inside the kid’s nerdy world.
3. Peter Klaven (’I Love You. Man. ’ 2009)
In “I Love You. Man. ” Rudd plays a real estate agent who’s getting married and needs a best man—and. more broadly. needs a best pal. He leans hard into the bromance, “slappa da bass, mon,” alongside a mercurial fellow Rush fan played by Jason Segel. The funny chemistry is a big part of what makes the movie’s exploration of how men interact feel real rather than forced.
2. Scott Lang (Marvel’s ’Ant-Man’ movies. 2015 to present)
Rudd has played Ant-Man more than any other character on this list. shaping arguably the most relatable Avenger. Scott Lang is a super-shrinking hero among people who have powers of gods. but at his core he’s an ex-criminal who wants to be a good guy and a better dad.
1. Brian Fantana (’Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy. ’ 2004)
Will Ferrell’s Ron Burgundy may seem like the coolest Channel 4 news team member. In this ranking, it’s wrong. The top spot goes to Brian Fantana: the San Diego field reporter with the lush mustache and an absolute lack of game when it comes to women. He wears Sex Panther cologne—“60% of the time. it works every time”—and in the world of the movie it smells “reeks of gasoline and desperation.” Brian is ride-or-die for his male coworkers. and Rudd makes even the sleaziest character lovable.
Rudd’s career. across genres and decades. keeps finding the same sweet spot: familiar enough to feel close. strange enough to stay memorable. From “Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers” to “Ant-Man. ” and now into the fame-and-credit tangle of “Power Ballad. ” the roles build a portrait of an actor who can make chaos look effortless—and somehow. make it land.
Paul Rudd Power Ballad Rick Power Ant-Man rankings movie roles Nick Jonas comedy films Anchorman Ghostbusters Afterlife Clueless Role Models