Ben Stiller used to just be known as the son of Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara. Now that he has more than 25 years in the film industry as an actor, director, and producer, Ben is arguably the most known figure from the family. While he usually focuses his talents on comedy, he’s started to explore more deep, genre-rich work behind the camera. Most recently, he became one of the main creative forces backing the Apple TV+ hitSeverance. Today, we’ll go into the time machine and celebrate movies with Ben Stiller and his best of the best as an actor. From laugh-out-loud comedy to indie films with great directors, here are the best Ben Stiller movies to stream and enjoy with friends, family, or by yourself!
Reality Bites is a coming-of-age story that follows a group of recent college graduates in Houston navigating life after school. Lelaina, played by Winona Ryder, aspires to be a documentary filmmaker and chronicles the experiences of her friends, who are all struggling to find their footing in the face of a recession. Lelaina herself is stuck in a dead-end job and caught in a love triangle between her slacker best friend Troy (Ethan Hawke) and a successful but uptight TV executive (Ben Stiller). The film explores the anxieties and disillusionment of Generation X, grappling with issues like unemployment, dead-end jobs, and the search for meaning in a world that seems to have passed them by. It’s a comedic look at their struggles, but it also examines their hopes and dreams.
Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story follows the misadventures of a recreational dodgeball team. This exaggerated take on sports films allows Ben Stiller and Vince Vaughn to show off everything they’ve got in their comedic toolboxes, although some viewers and critics took umbrage with the over-the-top storytelling. If you like seeing Stiller at his goofiest, this is a pretty good place to start in his catalog.
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty tells the story of the titular character, played by Stiller, who travels the world in pursuit of a purpose. Along the way, he discovers the love and life he’s always daydreamed of, a perfect and relatable analogy for so many of the viewers watching from home. Stiller also directed this movie, a decision some critics felt led to uneven storytelling. I appreciate the feel-good arc of the main character and the change of pace Stiller accepted in this film compared to his other roles.
Not many characters Stiller plays are more famous than the fashion model Derek Zoolander. This movie with Ben Stiller follows the trials and troubles of Zoolander as he comes to grips with his place in the fashion industry after losing an award to Owen Wilson’s character, Hansel. The movie uses a lot of stereotypes and outlandish assumptions about people who work in the modeling industry, but it’s certainly good for many memorable laughs. An ill-received sequel was finally released in 2016, but we’d rather just remember the first movie here.
Flirting with Disaster is one of the earliest hits of Ben Stiller’s career, and it still presents plenty of laughs more than 25 years later. Stiller plays a man in search of his biological parents, and he forces his wife to travel the country with him to track them down. The journey is as offbeat as can be expected, and the results of the search are equally wacky. This black comedy was one of the films that proved Stiller could carry a production as the lead man. Other actors include Alan Alda and Mary Tyler Moore.
When it comes to movies that probably would be controversial if they were made today, Tropic Thunder is certainly on the top of the list. The satirical war film pokes fun at a myriad of Hollywood tropes, sometimes using outdated avenues like brown face to illicit laughs. Stiller portrays has-been actor Tugg Speedman, a former movie star who has to figure out how to get through the dangers of a real jungle with the help of his co-stars. Other big names in this one include Robert Downey Jr., Jack Black, and Tom Cruise.
Cameron Diaz is the real star of this late 1990s romantic comedy directed by the Farrelly brothers, but Ben Stiller’s character’s affection for Diaz’s Mary is the catalyst for much of the humor in this film. Stiller plays Ted Stroehmann, the man who’s still trying to figure out how to get with his high school crush all these years later. Using some of the signature humor that the Farrellys are known for from other hits like Dumb and Dumber, this film was a true comedic hit at the box office.[/dt_media]
I’m not sure if the comedic execution of Night at the Museum is all that legendary, but the concept of the film is one of the most creative of its era. Stiller plays museum night guard Larry Daley, a man who is flabbergasted at the fantastical elements of the American Museum of Natural History. The exhibits come to life after everyone goes home, leading to Daley befriending many of the historical figures on the premises. Robin Williams is the most iconic supporting actor in the film; he portrays former U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt.[/dt_media]
Although not one of Wes Anderson’s typically used actors, Ben Stiller really nails his role as Chas Tenenbaum, the son of a father who leaves during adolescence only to reappear later on in his children’s adult years to zany and absurdist results. Gwyneth Paltrow, Bill Murray, and Owen Wilson are some of the other names you’ll be excited to see in this comedy-drama film from the early 2000s. The film remains of Stiller and Anderson’s best projects due to its indie feel and unique humor surrounding family issues.
Ben Stiller is already a big star on his own. Add Robert De Niro to the mix and you have a legendary pairing that was sure to be a hit the second they were cast together. The best comedy pokes fun at the most relatable moments in our lives, and the plot of this classic 2000s family flick definitely has an innate understanding of the awkward reality of in-law relationships. Stiller and De Niro possess a golden chemistry as Stiller’s character tries to impress De Niro’s, enough to continue pursuing a relationship with his daughter. This movie spawned two sequels across more than a decade with Meet the Fockers and Little Fockers. These films never were able to quite capture the comedic magic of the original Meet the Parents, but this is often a regular occurrence when making follow-ups.
The 50 best movies of all time: Add these to your watch list
Moviemaking is an art form that transports audiences to alternate worlds, often informing our views and allowing us to learn about the people and places around us in real life. The best films try something new while staying grounded in their principles. Great actors craft memorable characters, and talented musicians provide the sound of the picture.
There are so many movies to choose from in the history of Hollywood, but what if you could only watch 50 before you die? These essential films range from science fiction to fantasy, and even superhero flicks. No matter what genre is your favorite, you'll find a fantastic movie experience amongst this GOAT list. These are the best movies of all time!
A ‘Spider-Man’ might be joining Christopher Nolan’s next movie
Details are still scant about the project, which is set for release in 2026.
Few movies are more closely watched than those directed by Christopher Nolan. We recently learned that Nolan had set up his next film at Universal, and that it would be released in July of 2026 and star Matt Damon. Now, Variety is reporting on another piece of potentially major casting.
Tom Holland is reportedly in talks to star in the film, which we know very little about otherwise. Universal had no comment on the news.
Time travel movies are fun, just try not to forget what year it is
Many people try to live in the present in order to obtain happiness. Worrying about the past or the future is pointless since we can't travel back or forward in time. That doesn't mean movies haven't tried to grapple with time's continuum, though. Sci-fi films have used time travel to explore themes and storylines in post-apocalyptic wastelands and high-tech dystopian futures. Fantasy plots revolve around using magic to navigate the passage of time. And even comedies use time travel to put forth social experiments and hilarious hypotheticals. Whatever subject time travel movies focus on, they often make us think about the world in a brand new way. These are the best time travel movies, ranked.