(Photo by Sony/courtesy Everett Collection)
Seth Rogen – actor, producer, director, and ceramics king – is celebrating this 39th birthday, and in kind we’re taking a look at his 10 best movies! Of course, Rogen actually got his big break on television, with a beloved one-season wonder: 1999’s Freaks & Geeks. Some of the names most closely associated with Rogen and his best movies also launched out of the show, like producer Judd Apatow (Knocked Up, The 40-Year-Old-Virgin) and fellow star James Franco (The Disaster Artist).
To find Rogen’s 10 best movies, we used their Rotten Tomatoes scores, ranked from highest to not-as-high. Also, we summed up what the critics thought of each one. Find them all below!
1. 50/50 (93%, 2011). Adam (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) learns he has cancer with a 50% survival rate, and his friend (Rogen) is there for support. Critics consensus: ‘A good-hearted film about a difficult topic, 50/50 maneuvers between jokes and drama with surprising finesse.’
2. The Disaster Artist (91%, 2017). James Franco stars as auteur Tommy Wiseau as he puts together one of the most infamous movies of all time, The Room; Rogen plays one of the film’s financiers, who ultimately becomes the de facto assistant director. Critics consensus: ‘Oh, hai Mark. The Disaster Artist is a surprisingly poignant and charming movie-about-a-movie that explores the creative process with unexpected delicacy.’
3. Knocked Up (89%, 2007). After a one night stand leads to an unexpected pregnancy, two mismatched people (Katherine Heigl, Rogen) decide to stick together in Judd Apatow’s box office smash. Critics consensus: ‘Knocked Up is a hilarious, poignant and refreshing look at the rigors of courtship and child-rearing, with a sometimes raunchy, yet savvy script that is ably acted and directed.’
(Photo by Lionsgate/courtesy Everett Collection)
4. Superbad (88%, 2007). Rogen plays a cop on a wild, raunchy night of debauchery — based on a script he co-wrote in high school — that also catapulted Michael Cera, Jonah Hill, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, and Bill Hader into stardom. Critics consensus: ‘Deftly balancing vulgarity and sincerity while placing its protagonists in excessive situations, Superbad is an authentic take on friendship and the overarching awkwardness of the high school experience.’
5. Kung Fu Panda (87%, 2008). Rogen voices a praying mantis in this Jack Black-starring animated franchise; the other Pandas also received high-water marks from critics, but we’re letting the first represent the other two. Critics consensus: ‘Kung Fu Panda has a familiar message, but the pleasing mix of humor, swift martial arts action, and colorful animation makes for winning Summer entertainment.’
6. Steve Jobs (85%, 2015). Apple Inc. is about to unveil the first Macintosh in 1984, and we get to see what it was like for the founders, including Steve Wozniak (Rogen). Critics consensus: ‘Like the tech giant co-founded by its subject, Steve Jobs gathers brilliant people to deliver a product whose elegance belies the intricate complexities at its core.’
(Photo by Universal/courtesy Everett Collection)
7. The 40-Year-Old-Virgin (85%, 2005). A breakthrough film for everyone involved, especially star Steve Carell, who plays a dude who’s never done the deed, with Rogen as one of his filthy co-workers helping him out. Critics consensus: ‘Carell’s first star turn scores big with a tender treatment of its titular underdog, using raunchy but realistically funny comedy to connect with adult audiences.’
8. This Is The End (83%, 2013). With a bevy of personal pals in the cast (including Franco) and notable cameos, this movie proves that, yes, the celebrity life really is that crazy. Critics consensus: ‘Energetic, self-deprecating performances and enough guffaw-inducing humor make up for the flaws in This Is the End loosely written script.’
9. Sausage Party (82%, 2016). Another voice role, but this disgusting raunchfest is personal: Rogen also wrote and produced this movie. Critics consensus: ‘Sausage Party is definitely offensive, but backs up its enthusiastic profanity with an impressively high laugh-to-gag ratio — and a surprisingly thought-provoking storyline.’
10. Long Shot (81%, 2019). Charlize Theron does her first romantic comedy, and Rogen is there for the ride. Critics consensus: ‘A sharp and deceptively layered comedy that’s further fueled by the odd couple chemistry of its leads, this Long Shot largely hits its marks.’
