Summary
- Jamie Lee Curtis transitioned from horror to comedy seamlessly, proving her versatile acting range and comedic talents.
- Her iconic roles in films like
Freaky Friday
,
Trading Places
, and
A Fish Called Wanda
showcased her ability to command the screen with humor. - Curtis’ performance in
Everything Everywhere All at Once
earned her an Oscar win for Best Supporting Actress, highlighting her continued success in the comedy genre.
Jamie Lee Curtis cemented herself as a legendary horror actress in the ‘70s and ‘80s, but over the years, she established herself as a scene-stealing comedian as well. She was already well-known in Hollywood when she started her movie career in 1978 with Halloween, and it was immediately clear that Jamie Lee Curtis’ parents, Janet Leigh and Tony Curtis, had set her up for the acting world. After she starred in some of the best horror movies of all time, Curtis started to dip her toes in the world of comedy.
Jamie Lee Curtis’ highest-grossing movies helped the actress’ career soar, but some of her funniest characters motivated her to continue acting. Curtis retired from appearing in films and TV shows in 2006 but returned in 2007 to star in Beverly Hills Chihuahua, and over time, her filmography started to diversify in terms of the characters she played and the genres of the titles she was in. Even though Curtis became an immediate horror icon in the Halloween films, her comedy movies continued to boost her career for years after their releases.
Related Every Halloween Movie, Ranked
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10 Everything Everywhere All At Once (2022)
Role: Deirdre Beaubeirdre
The strict and stern bureaucrat Deirdre Beaubeirdre resulted in Curtis’ first Oscar nomination and win for Best Supporting Actress in Everything Everywhere All at Once. The ridiculously funny but cynical IRS inspector was best remembered for her dry tone and lack of empathy as she attempted to close down Evelyn Wang’s laundromat business. However, Curtis’ comedic talents were amazingly showcased in the alternate versions of Deidre in every universe in Everything Everywhere All at Once.
The various renditions of the character, such as Deirdre as a top-quality martial arts fighter, were all great, but the best was easily when she was Evelyn’s live-in partner. As the main antagonist, Curtis was a prominent figure in the film. Everything Everywhere All at Once was one of Jamie Lee Curtis’ most successful movies, and while that achievement was a group effort, there was no doubt that her powerful and commanding performance as Deirdre played a significant part in the film’s success.
Everything Everywhere All at Once AdventureComedyAction Where to Watch
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In Everything Everywhere All at Once, a middle-aged laundromat owner (Michelle Yeoh) is distracted from her financial and family issues by a multiversal crisis. With just her husband (Ke Huy Quan) to support her through the confusion, she must contend with her overbearing traditional father (James Hong), a pencil-pushing auditor (Jamie Lee Curtis), and her emotionally-distant daughter (Stephanie Hsu).
Director Daniel Kwan , Daniel Scheinert Release Date March 25, 2022 Cast Jenny Slate , Ke Huy Quan , Stephanie Hsu , Harry Shum Jr. , Jamie Lee Curtis , James Hong , Michelle Yeoh Runtime 132 minutes Writers Daniel Scheinert , Daniel Kwan
9 Freaky Friday (2003)
Role: Tess Coleman
One of the best body-swap movies ever, Freaky Friday, starred Curtis as widowed parent Tess Coleman. Such a storyline required a significant amount of comedic talent, and Curtis brilliantly kept the laughter flowing alongside Lindsay Lohan as Tess’ daughter, Anna. The actress portrayed a teenager fabulously, and she slipped into the role with complete ease. Her chemistry with Lohan was particularly notable, and the mother-daughter rapport the two shared was incredibly realistic.
Curtis’ interpretation of Lohan’s moody and angsty Anna was hilarious. While Curtis had appeared in several comedy movies before this, Freaky Friday stood out because of her character’s archetype. Her performance as Anna was truly impressive, and even though her appearance was wildly different from Lohan’s, Curtis nailed the teen’s quips, body language, and overall attitude. Watching a fully grown woman as a child was highly entertaining, and it proved how powerful Curtis’ diverse acting range was.
Freaky Friday (2003) PGComedyFamilyFantasy Where to Watch
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Freaky Friday is a body-swap comedy directed by Mark Waters, featuring Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis as a teenage girl and her mother who magically exchange bodies. Released in 2003, the film explores their humorous and heartfelt journey as they navigate each other’s lives, leading to a deeper understanding and appreciation of one another.
Director Mark Waters Release Date August 6, 2003 Cast Jamie Lee Curtis , Lindsay Lohan , Harold Gould , Chad Michael Murray , Mark Harmon Runtime 97 Minutes Writers Mary Rodgers , Heather Hach , Leslie Dixon Main Genre Comedy Expand
Related Jamie Lee Curtis Helping Freaky Friday 2 Happen Makes Me More Excited About The Sequel
Jamie Lee Curtis opened up about how Freaky Friday 2 got greenlit, and it makes me more excited about the sequel, despite its challenges.
8 Trading Places (1983)
Role: Ophelia
Trading Places changed Jamie Lee Curtis’ career and showed that her talents were not just in horror movies. Sex worker Ophelia’s outlook on life was not only funny but unique and thought-provoking. As the character had no shame and embraced her lifestyle with no embarrassment, Curtis brought depth to Ophelia and was able to have fun playing her. These qualities made Ophelia warm and engaging, but she still had plenty of moments with cutting and sometimes rather jarring humor throughout Trading Places.
Curtis took a character who appeared undeveloped at first and made her an iconic figure in cinema. Considering that Trading Places was the first comedic film she appeared in after a long stint in the horror genre, Curtis’ hilarious performance as Ophelia was unexpected but applauded. Curtis was awarded the BAFTA for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for Trading Places in 1984, which was well deserved for her portrayal of such a sharp and distinctive character.
Trading Places RComedy Where to Watch
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Trading Places is a comedy film directed by John Landis. Released in 1983, the film stars Eddie Murphy and Dan Aykroyd as a street hustler and a wealthy businessman whose lives are swapped due to a bet made by two callous millionaires. The movie explores themes of socioeconomic class and human behavior, with strong performances by Murphy and Aykroyd alongside Jamie Lee Curtis.
Director John Landis Release Date June 8, 1983 Cast Eddie Murphy , Jamie Lee Curtis , Ralph Bellamy , Don Ameche , Dan Aykroyd , Denholm Elliott Runtime 116 minutes Writers Timothy Harris , Herschel Weingrod Main Genre Comedy Expand
7 A Fish Called Wanda (1988)
Role: Wanda Gershwitz
A Fish Called Wanda was easily Curtis’ most recognizable comedy movie. The heist comedy movie about a group of diamond thieves was an interesting concept alone, but Curtis’ impact as the titular character offered a twist on the subgenre. Wanda’s oozing sexuality and quick wit drove the film forward, and her hell-bent determination to avoid being double-crossed and get what she wanted was spectacular. Despite the large personalities in the cast of A Fish Called Wanda, such as John Cleese, Kevin Kline, and Michael Palin, Curtis was by far the most intriguing to watch.
Even though A Fish Called Wanda was a movie that the Monty Python group worked on, Curtis didn’t let the fact she was an outsider stop her from being overshadowed. Curtis’ astonishing portrayal was acknowledged with nominations for the Golden Globe for Best Actress and the BAFTA for Best Actress in a Leading Role for playing Wanda. Surprisingly, the actress didn’t win. Despite this, Curtis in A Fish Called Wanda was fondly remembered by many, and it became one of her most iconic movies.
A Fish Called Wanda RComedyCrime Where to Watch
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British thief George Thomason and his advisor Ken Pile bring in two arrogant Americans, con artist Wanda Gerschwitz and weapons expert Otto West, for a diamond heist. When the plan goes wrong, Wanda tries to seduce Archie Leach to find out where George has hidden the diamonds.
Director Charles Crichton , John Cleese Release Date July 15, 1988 Cast John Cleese , Jamie Lee Curtis , Kevin Kline , Michael Palin , Maria Aitken , Tom Georgeson Runtime 108 min Writers John Cleese , Charles Crichton Main Genre Comedy Expand
6 Fierce Creatures (1997)
Role: Willa Weston
Fierce Creatures was the spiritual sequel film to A Fish Called Wanda, and although the main cast returned, they all played different characters. Curtis portrayed Willa, a recent management employee of Marwood Zoo, whose determination and abruptness made her an important character from the start of the film. However, some of Curtis’ funniest moments in Fierce Creatures came when Willa was at her most naive. For example, when Willa believed Rollo was having sex with multiple female staff members after she heard some of the animals kept in his bedroom.
Willa was business-hungry and wanted a cut of the zoo’s profits, but Kevin Kline’s character, Vince, often ignored these factors because of his attraction to her. However, Willa frequently used her sexuality as a power move against him and everyone in general. Even though Curtis’ character was quite a stereotype at times, the actress still made Willa remarkable and striking with her comic timing and sharp retorts.
5 True Lies (1994)
Role: Helen Tasker
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The comedy action movie True Lies was a rather different project for Curtis, but one that she did excellently in. Curtis’ lovely and tame character Helen, the wife of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Harry, went through some amusing development throughout True Lies. The unraveling of Helen’s uneventful marriage after she discovered Harry’s double life as a secret government agent was wild, but it resulted in some ridiculously funny moments. For example, her striptease in the hotel was hilarious, and it highlighted how much the character had changed in such a short time.
Curtis’ fantastic comic timing and ability to adapt continuously evolved and became better with every passing second in True Lies. There were plenty of laugh-out-loud scenes in True Lies, and Curtis was responsible for several of them, so it made sense that she was awarded Best Actress in a Motion Picture at the Golden Globes in 1995. Although action movies haven’t made a massive impact on Curtis’ filmography, the death-defying stunt in True Lies, in particular, established just how easily she was able to make an impression in any movie genre.
True Lies RComedyThrillerAction Where to Watch
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In James Cameron’s 1994 action comedy True Lies, the spy Harry Tasker (Arnold Schwarzenegger) lives a double life as a mellow computer salesman and keeps his real job secret from his wife Helen (Jamie Lee Curtis). However, she joins him when he discovers a terrorist plot to destroy America.
Director James Cameron Release Date July 15, 1994 Writers James Cameron Cast Tom Arnold , Eliza Dushku , Bill Paxton , Arnold Schwarzenegger , Jamie Lee Curtis Runtime 141 minutes Studio(s) 20th Century Distributor(s) 20th Century , Universal Pictures Expand
Related What Jamie Lee Curtis Requested When Filming True Lies’ Big Stunts
When filming True Lies, Jamie Lee Curtis did some of her own stunts – and had only one request to make them safer.
4 Christmas With The Kranks (2004)
Role: Nora Krank
Curtis’ energetic portrayal of Nora Krank in Christmas with the Kranks was very memorable. Despite it not being one of the best Christmas movies, Christmas with the Kranks provided audiences with a heartwarming and enjoyable film, and Nora was a significant factor. However, Curtis’ sensational wackiness as Nora was also attributed to her chemistry with Tim Allen as Luther. The married couple were so eccentric and unpredictable, but it was these qualities that made them so entertaining, and Curtis and Allen’s back and forth was undeniably strong.
Many could relate to Nora’s frazzled state in the lead-up to her daughter’s return home for the holidays. Her attempts to scramble together a full-blown Christmas celebration against the clock allowed Curtis to show off her physical comedy skills, too. While Nora was undoubtedly comical, it was also easy to connect with the character, and Curtis did an amazing job of creating a personality that was equally funny and soothing.
Christmas With the Kranks PGComedyFamilyHoliday Where to Watch
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Christmas With the Kranks is a 2004 holiday comedy directed by Joe Roth, starring Tim Allen and Jamie Lee Curtis. The film follows Luther and Nora Krank, who decide to skip Christmas festivities in favor of a Caribbean cruise, much to the dismay of their holiday-obsessed neighbors. Their plans are upended when their daughter announces a surprise visit, forcing them to celebrate Christmas at the last minute.
Director Joe Roth Release Date November 24, 2004 Cast Tim Allen , Jamie Lee Curtis , Dan Aykroyd , Erik Per Sullivan , Cheech Marin , Jake Busey , M. Emmet Walsh Runtime 98 minutes Writers Chris Columbus
Related 20 Best Quotes From Christmas With The Kranks
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3 Knives Out (2019)
Role: Linda Drysdale
While the murder mystery movieKnives Out wasn’t directly written as a comedy, it was clear from early in its runtime that the film was overlapping several genres. The mix of action and suspense, along with the enigmatic storyline, naturally resulted in some funny moments, and the use of intelligent humor was one of Knives Out’s best qualities. Curtis’ role as Harlan Thrombey’s daughter Linda was cutthroat. Her uptight attitude and ability to command a room fit the dark comedic tone of Knives Out brilliantly, especially as the character was so selfish and self-centered.
Although there were a few key moments that stood out as funny, one of the best was easily after the revelation that Harlan had left his estate to Marta. Another notable instance in which Curtis’ comedy truly shone was during Linda’s interrogation. The sarcasm Linda offered law enforcement about the previous night’s party and the blunt commentary she provided on the other guests were subtle, but the way Curtis delivered the lines was simply hilarious. Curtis was sadly only nominated for Best Supporting Actress at the Saturn Awards for Knives Out, but her appearance was still well remembered.
Knives Out PG-13DramaCrimeMystery Where to Watch
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When renowned crime novelist Harlan Thrombey is found dead at his estate just after his 85th birthday, the inquisitive and debonair Detective Benoit Blanc is mysteriously enlisted to investigate. From Harlan’s dysfunctional family to his devoted staff, there are suspects aplenty. Blanc sifts through a web of red herrings and self-serving lies to uncover the truth behind Harlan’s untimely death.
Director Rian Johnson Release Date November 27, 2019 Cast Chris Evans , LaKeith Stanfield , Katherine Langford , Daniel Craig , Toni Collette , Jamie Lee Curtis , Ana De Armas , Michael Shannon , Christopher Plummer , Don Johnson , Riki Lindhome Runtime 130 minutes Distributor(s) 20th Century Writers Rian Johnson Expand
Related Harlan’s Letter To Linda In Knives Out, Explained
Harlan wrote a letter to Linda in Knives Out exposing Richard and his affair, but there’s an irony behind how the Jamie Lee Curtis character found it.
2 You Again (2010)
Role: Gail Byer Olsen
The underrated movie You Again saw Curtis join a star-studded ensemble cast, which included the likes of Betty White, Sigourney Weaver, Kristen Bell, and Kristin Chenoweth. Despite the film’s mixed reviews, You Again was still one of Curtis’ best comedy movies because of how she elevated her character, Gail. As the mother of the main character, Marni, Gail was set up to be a rather mild and uninteresting character, but Curtis gave her depth and made her more dimensional.
Curtis and Weaver’s rapport provided some of the funniest moments in You Again. The two former rivals were brilliantly comical, and the tension between the pair made it even better. Mona and Gail’s scene together in the hotel and the rehearsal scenes were great examples of this. While You Again had the potential to be so much more than what it was, Curtis proved that no matter the movie, she’d always provide a good performance.
You Again PGComedyRomance Where to Watch
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You Again is a comedy film directed by Andy Fickman, featuring Kristen Bell, Jamie Lee Curtis, Sigourney Weaver, and Betty White. The plot centers on Marni, played by Bell, who discovers that her brother is marrying her high school nemesis. As family and friends gather for the wedding, unresolved issues and old rivalries resurface, leading to humorous and heartfelt moments.
Director Andy Fickman Release Date September 24, 2010 Cast Kristen Bell , Jamie Lee Curtis , Sigourney Weaver , Odette Annable , Victor Garber , Betty White Runtime 105 minutes Writers Moe Jelline Main Genre Comedy Expand
1 Grandview, U.S.A. (1984)
Role: Michelle “Mike” Cody
Grandview, U.S.A. was one of Curtis’ lesser-known movies, but one that cemented her as a comedic actress. Mechanic Michelle “Mike” Cody was tough yet empathetic, which resulted in Curtis’ comedic and dramatic talents being highlighted throughout the film. Mike ran the local demolition derby but struggled with keeping the business left to her by her father. While Curtis was funny, her character also had several more profound moments, which allowed the actress to show off her versatility.
Mike was flawed and far from perfect, but that was why she was so humorous. Her gritty outlook on the world and multi-layered attitude were easy to resonate with, but it also made her interactions with other characters that much more enjoyable. Curtis’ chemistry with co-star Patrick Swayze, who played Slam, was celebrated upon the film’s release, and their characters’ romance subplot was also an integral part of the overall story. Although Grandview, U.S.A. wasn’t the most memorable comedy movie in Jamie Lee Curtis’ filmography, it was still a stellar addition to her long list of acting appearances.