Judd Apatow is one of the most successful directors of all time and has managed to create a handful of major box office hits. His movies stand out from most Hollywood flicks due to the authenticity behind the characters he creates, capturing people and circumstances that we can all associate to our everyday lives.
Specializing in “underdog” characters, we can always count on Apatow to deliver content that is as hilarious as it is relatable. Most of his films have made their way into becoming instant classics, yet some weren’t quite as lucky. Here are Apatow’s best and worst rated films according to Rotten Tomatoes.
10. THE BIG SICK -(BEST)
The Big Sick is an Apatow-produced rom-com from 2017. It is his highest-rated film to date, and we can certainly understand why. The romantic comedy genre seems to be the man’s strong suit and you can tell how passionate he is when it comes to portraying realistic relationships in his films.
In The Big Sick starring Kumail Nanjiani and Zoe Kazan, their characters Kumail and Emily share a bond that is as endearing as it is genuine. Plus, there is an incredible storyline that involves family dynamics and it is hard not to feel touched at the authenticity of these characters along with their relationships with one another.
DRILLBIT TAYLOR (WORST)
Drillbit Taylor is an Apatow-produced comedy about a group of kids who need protection from their high school bullies. So what do they do to get said protection? They hire a soldier to protect them. Who other than the loveable Owen Wilson to play their own personal bodyguard?
Although the Drillbit Taylor means well, most critics describe the film as “clunky” and “frustrating to watch” with too much violence and uneven characters. According to Apatow though when it came to his name attached to the film, he had this to say: “I had nothing to do with Drillbit Taylor, my name was added as a courtesy. When I was originally pitched the concept I was told it would be funny… unfortunately that is not what we got.”
BRIDESMAIDS - (BEST)
Bridesmaids is heavily regarded as one of the funniest movies of all time, thanks to Judd Apatow and the all-star cast. With bigtime comedians such as Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, and Melissa Mccarthy, Apatow as the producer along with the rest of the film’s creators seemed to trust these talented stars enough to let them improvise the majority of their scenes rather than relying too heavily on a script.
Giving these actors the freedom to riff off of each other ultimately makes for a film that is filled with endless laughter. What makes Bridesmaids so incredible is the amount of energy bursting throughout the film. Everyone seems as though they are having a blast while making Bridesmaids, and you can tell that the entire cast is doing what they love best (which is making people laugh so hard they nearly pee their pants).
YEAR ONE - (WORST)
Year One is a 2009 comedy starring Michael Cera and Jack Black, with Apatow as the producer. In this historical comedy, the two play cavemen who get kicked out of their tribe.
They must venture out on various quests filled with biblical references that you don’t have to be religious to understand. (If you zoned out during Sunday School as a kid, you will still get these references just fine). With a 15% score on Rotten Tomatoes and a 32% from audience scores, most felt as though the film was sloppy and uninspired despite the great talent from the cast.
SUPERBAD - (BEST)
Some of Judd Apatow’s best pieces of work revolve around platonic friendships rather than conventional romances. He realizes that sometimes your soul mate is your best friend rather than your boyfriend or girlfriend. Apatow knows more than anyone how to perfectly capture the beauty of the bromance and he does so perfectly in Superbad where he worked as the film’s producer.
Bromances are fascinating because the sight of two men openly expressing their love and affection for one another is unfortunately stigmatized, but luckily, this film embraces the love as opposed to making fun of it. Jonah Hill and Michael Cera have the perfect chemistry to replicate a beautiful friendship that we can all relate to, thus making the film an instant classic.
HEAVYWEIGHTS - (WORST)
With a 29% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, Heavyweights reveals what really goes down at fat camp. Unlike Apatow’s usual R-rated films, this ’90s flick is a Disney film meant for kids.
Despite critics who deem the film as “lightweight entertainment”, it has a fresh score by audiences of 77%. Perhaps people enjoy this movie more than critics because of the nostalgia element, perhaps they get a kick out of Ben Stiller’s role as the evil fitness trainer. Regardless, it was one of Apatow’s first written movies, so it’s easy to cut him some slack.
4. KNOCKED UP - (BEST)
Knocked Up is a 2007 hit which is written, directed, and co-produced by Apatow. It tells the clumsy love story of two people who manage to make it work after having a one night stand. As expected from the title, this one night stand leads to Seth Rogen’s character impregnating Katherine Heigel’s character.
What makes the movie work so well is the realism behind it. It manages to paint an accurate picture of how most people would act in this situation rather than depicting a typical Hollywood story filled with glamour and unrealistic expectations. Sure, Rogen and Heigel may not be Romeo and Juliet when it comes to their budding romance, but even without all of the dramatized glitz, you still find yourself actively rooting for them to work out.
FUN WITH DICK AND JANE - (WORST)
Dick and Jane, (Jim Carrey and Tea Leoni), start as a well-off couple until Dick loses his job and is now swimming in debt. So in order to survive, the happy couple resorts to acts of robbery in this Apatow written comedy. With a 28% score on Rotten Tomatoes, most people are quick to say that Fun With Dick and Jane isn’t all that fun.
Critics complained that the tone of the film was too mismatched to be consistent, with too few laughs to be considered a memorable comedy. Compared to the original Fun with Dick and Jane from 1977, many were quick to call the 2005 remake a lackluster film.
MAY IT LAST: A PORTRAIT OF THE AVETT BROTHERS (BEST)
May It Last: A Portrait of the Avett Brothers is a beautiful Apatow-directed documentary about the Avett Brothers, who describe themselves as “self-centered hillbillies.” Yet despite their self-described personas, the documentary reveals two people, Scott and Seth Avett, who are loving and humble.
More than anything, the Avett Brothers just want to create music that will leave people feeling something. Even those who have never even heard of The Avett Brothers will shed a tear or two at this heart-warming documentary about a pair of brothers who get to do what they love most. Make music that speaks to people.
1. CELTIC PRIDE - (WORST)
Celtic Pride is one of Apatow’s first written films, with an unfortunate 9% rating. Unlike some of his other films with low critic ratings and high audience ratings, Celtic Pride, unfortunately, is just as unliked by critics as it is by worldwide audiences.
The movie centers around massive Boston Celtics fans who eventually come to discover that their sports obsession is taking over their personal lives. Critics have claimed this movie to be a major disappointment even for the biggest Celtic fans. Luckily, Apatow would move on to become a well-respected director with a handful of epic films under his belt.
