The best Steve Martin movies and TV shows feature some of the most iconic comedies of the 1980s and 1990s, and he remains an in-demand star on television in his later years. Martin started as a standup comedian in the late 1960s and started work on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour as a dancer and writer. Martin then began appearing on talk shows and variety shows with his standup act and broke out when he showed up on Saturday Night Live.
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After releasing some comedy albums, he began to make his name in movies. Steve Martin worked with several big names, including Carl Reiner on The Jerk and the cast of Saturday Night Live on Three Amigos. These releases turned Martin into a leading man for comedies, which stretched through the 1990s, where he starred in everything from slapstick comedies to family comedies. He is now getting a second life in the 2020s thanks to his television return on Only Murders in the Building.
10 Three Amigos (1986)
Steve Martin Plays Lucky Day
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Three Amigos! PGComedyWesternDrama
Three Amigos! (1986) is a comedy film directed by John Landis and starring Steve Martin, Chevy Chase, and Martin Short. It revolves around three silent film actors who are mistaken for real-life heroes by a small Mexican village plagued by bandits. As they attempt to live up to their fictional personas, they embark on a series of humorous misadventures.
Director John Landis Release Date December 12, 1986 Distributor(s) Orion Pictures Cast Steve Martin , Chevy Chase , Martin Short , Alfonso Arau , Tony Plana , Patrice Martinez , Joe Mantegna , Phil Hartman , Jon Lovitz Runtime 103 minutes
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In 1986, Saturday Night Live producer Lorne Michaels co-wrote the spoof movie Three Amigos, which brought Steve Martin together with SNL star Chevy Chase and Martin Short to take on the comedy Western. The three play silent movie stars who are mistaken for real heroes by people in a small Mexican village terrorized by bandits. They ask them to help rid their village of the bandits and the three hapless actors end up in a fight for their lives.
Related 10 Behind-The-Scenes Facts About The Making Of ¡Three Amigos!
John Landis’ Three Amigos was an ’80s hit, but based on the production history, the film could have turned out completely different.
The movie is full of great one-liners and visual slapstick humor, with all three comic actors at the top of their game. While there are some moments that don’t hold up as well today, it remains one of Martin’s most offbeat and silly comedies. Critics at the time were not as enamored, giving it a 45% rating on Rotten Tomatoes but the audience score is a higher 67% fresh. Three Amigos has since become a cult favorite.
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9 Cheaper By The Dozen (2003)
Steve Martin Plays Tom Baker
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Cheaper By the Dozen PGFamilyAdventureComedy
The Disney+ original movie Cheaper By the Dozen is a family-comedy movie, acting as a reboot of the 2003 hit family comedy starring Gabrielle Union and Zach Braff; the film explores the raucous exploits of the Bakers’ blended family of twelve as they navigate a hectic home life while simultaneously trying to manage their family business.
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*Availability in US Director Gail Lerner Release Date March 18, 2022 Distributor(s) Disney Cast Ron Funches , Brittany Daniel , Caylee Blosenski , Luke Prael , Erika Christensen , Christian Cote , Andre Robinson , Kylie Rogers , Mykal-Michelle Harris , Zach Braff , Journee Brown , Cynthia Daniel , Gabrielle Union , Leo A. Perry , Aryan Simhadri , Sebastian Cote Runtime 98 minutes Expand
In 2003, Steve Martin signed on to lead the ensemble comedy Cheaper by the Dozen, which was directed by Shawn Levy (Deadpool & Wolverine). In the film, Martin plays Tom Baker, a college football coach who is also the father of 12 children. When he gets a chance to coach at his alma mater, he forces his family to move, despite most of them not wanting to, and creates friction at home.
However, when his wife gets a book deal and leaves for a book tour, he realizes he is not equipped to handle his large family, and the comedy comes from Martin’s Baker getting in way over his head. The film received poor reviews, but it was a box office success, making over $190 million (via Box Office Mojo) and garnering a sequel. The cast was impressive, as well, with Piper Perabo, Tom Welling, and Hilary Duff playing three of the older kids.
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8 Shopgirl (2005)
Steve Martin Plays Ray Porter
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Shopgirl RDramaRomance
Shopgirl is a romantic drama directed by Anand Tucker, based on Steve Martin’s novella. The film stars Claire Danes as Mirabelle, a lonely Vermont transplant who works in a posh Beverly Hills boutique, and Steve Martin as Ray Porter, a wealthy older man. Their complicated relationship explores themes of love, loneliness, and the search for connection in a dispassionate world. Jason Schwartzman co-stars as Jeremy, a young and awkward suitor.
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*Availability in US Director Anand Tucker Release Date November 4, 2005 Cast Steve Martin , Claire Danes , Jason Schwartzman , Bridgette Wilson , Sam Bottoms , Frances Conroy Runtime 107 minutes
In 2005, Steve Martin starred in the indie romantic comedy-drama movie Shopgirl. Based on the novella Mirabelle by Martin, the story involves a love triangle between a saleswoman named Mirabelle (Claire Danes), a wealthy businessman named Ray (Martin), and an aimless young man named Jeremy (Jason Schwartzman). The film is an interesting look at the difficulties surrounding people from different parts of life trying to find love.
It also received attention at that year’s Saturn Awards, where Martin, Danes, and Schwartzman all received nominations
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Critics were lukewarm to the film, awarding it only a 61% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, although both Martin and Danes received praise for their performances. It was also only a small box office success, mostly remaining a smaller low-budget release. It also received attention at that year’s Saturn Awards, where Martin, Danes, and Schwartzman all received nominations (Martin for the screenplay, the other two for acting), as well as a nomination for Best Picture.
7 Little Shop Of Horrors (1986)
Steve Martin Plays Orin Scrivello, DDS
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The Little Shop Of Horrors PG-13MusicalComedyHorror
The Little Shop Of Horrors is a dark comedy musical film directed by Frank Oz. Released in 1986, the film stars Rick Moranis as Seymour Krelborn, a florist who discovers a mysterious plant that thrives on human blood. As Seymour grapples with the plant’s growing demands, his affection for his coworker Audrey and the sinister nature of the plant create a gripping narrative. Ellen Greene and Steve Martin also star.
Director Frank Oz Release Date December 19, 1986 Cast Rick Moranis , Ellen Greene , Vincent Gardenia , Levi Stubbs , Steve Martin , Tichina Arnold , Michelle Weeks , Tisha Campbell-Martin Runtime 94 Minutes
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Frank Oz (Yoda from the Star Wars movies) directed the horror comedy musical Little Shop of Horrors, based on the off-Broadway musical of the same name. Rick Moranis was the main star of the film, playing Seymour Krelborn, a man who works for a flower shop in a rundown neighborhood. When the owner threatens to close the shop, Seymour brings his own personal plant to show off to bring in customers.
It is rare to see Martin playing a true villain, but that was the case here, and he was fantastic in the role.
However, this plant (named Audrey II) needs human blood to thrive, creating the horror story when Audrey II begins to demand more blood, and the deaths begin. Steve Martin stars as Orin Scrivello, a violent dentist who is also the ex-boyfriend of Seymour’s love interest, Audrey. It is rare to see Martin playing a true villain, but that was the case here, and he was fantastic in the role. Critics loved the movie, giving it a 91% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes and it even earned two Oscar nominations.
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6 Parenthood (1989)
Steve Martin Plays Gil Buckman
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Parenthood PG-13ComedyDocumentaryDramaFamily Where to Watch
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*Availability in US Director Ron Howard Release Date July 31, 1989 Cast Steve Martin , Mary Steenburgen , Dianne Wiest , Jason Robards , Rick Moranis , Tom Hulce Runtime 124 minutes
Ron Howard directed Steve Martin in the 1989 family comedy-drama Parenthood. The film was based largely on the parenting experiences of Howard, screenwriters Lowell Ganz and Babaloo Mandel, and producer Brian Grazer. Martin stars as Gil Buckman, a sales executive who learns that his three kids have emotional and psychological issues and need counseling. As a result, he begins to question his self-worth as a parent. This struggle becomes even more distressing when his wife ends up pregnant again.
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The movie was a huge success, both critically and at the box office. The critical score was a very high 92% fresh, with much of the praise going to the Steve Martin-led cast and critics calling it a funny look at family. It was a major success at the box office and earned two Oscar nominations, including one for Dianne Wiest. Steve Martin also earned a Golden Globe nomination for her performance. Parenthood ended up revived as a television series, first in 1990 and then in 2010, with the latter running for six seasons.
5 Father Of The Bride (1991)
Steve Martin Plays George Banks
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Father of the Bride (1991) PGComedyRomance
Father of the Bride is a family comedy directed by Charles Shyer, featuring Steve Martin as George Banks, a father coming to terms with his daughter’s impending wedding. The film examines the emotional and humorous aspects of family dynamics and explores the challenges of letting go. Diane Keaton stars as George’s supportive wife, alongside Kimberly Williams-Paisley as their daughter, Annie.
Director Charles Shyer Release Date December 20, 1991 Cast Steve Martin , Diane Keaton , Kimberly Williams-Paisley , Kieran Culkin , George Newbern , Martin Short , BD Wong , Peter Michael Goetz Runtime 105 Minutes
In 1991, Steve Martin plays a dad who isn’t sure how to react when his daughter announces she is getting married. Martin stars as George Banks, while Kimberly Williams stars as his daughter Annie. George narrates the film as a father who is not willing to accept that anyone is good enough to marry his daughter, and he fights it every step of the way until he finally gives in to accept his daughter’s happiness in the end.
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Related 9 Differences Between 1991’s And 2022’s Father Of The Bride
The newest remake of Father of the Bride adds emotional depth and higher stakes to the timeless story without compromising rollicking good fun.
The movie was a success at the box office while critics praised the humor and cast, awarding it a 70% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The movie, which itself was a remake of a 1950 classic starring Spencer Tracy, also received a sequel in 1995 where Annie is now pregnant, and George is freaking out because he is about to be a grandfather. Steve Martin returned for the sequel.
4 Planes, Trains And Automobiles (1987)
Steve Martin Plays Neal Page
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8/10 Planes, Trains & Automobiles pg-13Comedy
Directed by John Hughes, Planes, Trains and Automobiles stars Steve Martin as Neal Page, a busy advertising executive who finds himself the unwilling traveling companion of salesman Del Griffith as the two attempt to return to Chicago for the Thanksgiving holiday. Beset by bad weather and a continuing comedy of errors in attempting to make travel plans, Neal and Del must work together, however unwillingly, to accomplish their shared goal. John Candy also stars alongside Martin as Del.
Director John Hughes Release Date November 25, 1987 Distributor(s) Paramount Pictures Cast John Candy , Steve Martin , Kevin Bacon Runtime 93minutes
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Planes, Trains and Automobiles was a John Hughes movie from 1987 that saw Steve Martin and John Candy team up for a buddy comedy film. In the story, Martin plays Neal, an uptight marketing executive on a business trip who has to get home in time for Thanksgiving Day dinner with his family. However, when his flight is diverted, he agrees to drive back with a man he just met at the airport, Candy’s Del.
The entire film is a mismatched buddy comedy with Martin playing the straight man to Candy’s over-the-top funnyman. However, it is also a film that offers a lot of heart, as while Del was driving Neal crazy, John Candy was able to deliver such a heartfelt performance that it made it hard to dislike him at any moment in the movie. This Martin release has a high 92% fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes and Planes, Trains and Automobiles remains a beloved holiday classic.
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3 Roxanne (1987)
Steve Martin Plays C.D. Bales
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Roxanne PGComedyRomance
Roxanne, directed by Fred Schepisi, is a romantic comedy starring Steve Martin as C.D. Bales, a witty fire chief with an unusually large nose, and Daryl Hannah as Roxanne, a beautiful astronomer. The film is a modern retelling of Edmond Rostand’s play Cyrano de Bergerac, focusing on themes of love, self-acceptance, and inner beauty while delivering a mix of humor and heartfelt moments.
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*Availability in US Director Fred Schepisi Release Date June 19, 1987 Cast Steve Martin , Daryl Hannah , Shelley Duvall , John Kapelos , Fred Willard , Michael J. Pollard Runtime 107 Minutes
Roxanne is a Steve Martin romantic comedy based on the 1897 Edmond Rostand play Cyrano de Bergerac. Martin is C.D. Bales, a fire chief in a small town who is popular with the local residents. However, he is also self-conscious and sensitive about his very large nose, and the townspeople know not to say anything about it to not hurt his feelings. Bales then develops a romantic attraction to a young woman who arrives in town named Rosanne (Daryl Hannah).
Martin received a Golden Globes nomination for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Comedy/Musical
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Critics praised the film and Martin’s performance as C.D., awarding Roxanne an 88% fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes. In fact, Martin received a Golden Globes nomination for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Comedy/Musical. Martin also picked up a Writer’s Guild of America award for writing the screenplay, cementing how impressive the overall project was.
2 Only Murders In The Building (2021-)
Steve Martin Plays Charles Haden-Savage
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18 9.4/10 Only Murders in the Building PG-13ComedyMysteryCrime
Only Murders in the Building follows three strangers, each with a shared interest in true crime, who team up to investigate a death in their apartment building, unraveling secrets and uncovering unexpected twists.
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*Availability in US Cast Michael Cyril Creighton , Aaron Dominguez , Ryan Broussard , Selena Gomez , Martin Short , Vanessa Aspillaga , Steve Martin , Amy Ryan , Jeena Yi Release Date August 31, 2021 Seasons 4 Creator(s) Steve Martin , John Hoffman
Steve Martin saw his acting career get a second life when he signed on for the television series Only Murders in the Building for Hulu. He teamed up here with Martin Short, who he had previously worked with on Three Amigos, Father of the Bride, and other films, and what resulted was a massive success. With Selena Gomez as the third lead, the three play true crime aficionados who end up trying to solve a murder that takes place in their own apartment building.
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Related Only Murders In The Building Season 5: Cast, Story Everything We Know
Hulu’s quirky murder mystery comedy series Only Murders in the Building returned for its fourth season in 2024, and season 5 is on the way.
The series remains one of Hulu’s most successful streaming shows, with four seasons and a fifth one coming. Each season sees a new murder mystery that the three have to solve and features an amazing list of co-stars, including Paul Rudd, Meryl Streep, Zach Galifianakis, Eugene Levy, Eva Longoria, and many more. The show has earned 49 Emmy nominations, with Martin receiving nominations for his writing and acting.
1 The Jerk (1979)
Steve Martin Plays Navin R. Johnson
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The movie that made Steve Martin a star arrived in 1979 with The Jerk. Directed by Carl Reiner, Martin plays Navin Johnson, a homeless man who tells the viewers his life story. He was a child adopted by Black sharecroppers in Mississippi and grew up in that atmosphere while having no knowledge of the outside world. When he sets out to find his way in the real world, his nativity causes him all kinds of problems along the way.
The entire film is a slapstick comedy, with Navin going from one ridiculous event to another, while mostly angering and alienating everyone that he meets thanks to his often-unintended bad behavior. However, he soon finds great success thanks to something he invented, but a class action lawsuit leaves him broke and homeless. The Jerk was a massive success commercially and critically, sitting at 82% on Rotten Tomatoes. It is problematic in areas in today’s society but remains a comedy classic and Martin’s best overall performance in a movie.
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