Will Arnett is a charismatic actor and comedian who first rose to prominence as Gob Bluth in the side-splitting sitcom Arrested Development. After appearing as the character for three seasons (and two subsequent installments in the Netflix revival), Arnett took the big screen by storm and starred in a slew of uproarious comedies like Blades of Glory, Semi-Pro, and Let’s Go To Prison, before firmly establishing himself as a celebrated voice actor.
He would go on to lend his distinct voice to projects like Despicable Me, The Lego Movie, and Ratatouille (among countless others), as well as the smash hit adult animated comedy BoJack Horseman. The funnyman will next appear in Taika Waititi’s upcoming biographical sports dramedy Next Goal Wins and also recently had a role as Sweet Tooth in 2023’s Twisted Metal. These are Will Arnett’s best movies, as ranked by Rotten Tomatoes.
10 Dr. Seuss’ Horton Hears a Who! - 80%
The delightfully zany Jim Carrey voiced the lovable eponymous elephant in the 2008 animated adventure comedy Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears a Who!, which tells the story of the kind-hearted character as he discovers a wondrous speck of dust that harbors a tiny city known as Whoville, with Horton being able to hear its microscopic residents referred to as Whos. As the goofy elephant gets to know the city's inhabitants, he becomes fast friends with its eccentric mayor Ned McDodd (Steve Carell) despite his fellow jungle animals believing that he's crazy and making up a lie.
Will Arnett voices the scary but idiotic vulture Vlad Vladikoff, who is tasked with stealing Horton's beloved speck by the diabolical, power-hungry Sour Kangaroo (Carol Burnett). Horton Hears a Who! was a knockout at the box office, earning nearly $300 million while garnering praise for its stunning visuals and charming performances from its dynamic ensemble cast.
9 Despicable Me - 80%
The smash hit that launched a lucrative and enduring franchise, the 2010 animated comedy Despicable Me famously follows the ultimate supervillain Gru (Steve Carell) as he concocts a master plan to steal the moon with the help of his devoted little yellow minions, but finds his devious scheme dashed when three little orphan girls arrive in hopes the longtime criminal will be their new dad. The endearing flick features the additional talents of popular stars like Jason Segel, Kristen Wiig, and Russell Brand, with Arnett voicing the Mr. Perkins, the director of the Bank of Evil.
Despicable Me dominated the box office upon its release, raking in over $543 million and receiving an impressive A CinemaScore from audiences. It earned numerous accolades including six Annie Award nominations and a Golden Globe nod, and its overwhelming success helped lead to five additional film installments while establishing a billion-dollar animated series.
8 Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers - 80%
John Mulaney and Andy Samberg voice the titular dynamic cartoon duo in the 2022 animated adventure comedy Chip 'n' Dale: Rescue Rangers, a continuation of the '80s TV series of the same name that centers on the famous characters as they live in a world filled with cartoons and humans in Los Angeles, as the once inseparable pair are brought back together after being estranged for 30 years. Chip and Dale are compelled to work on their fractured friendship and don their iconic detective personas after one of their former cast members disappears and they set out to investigate.
Arnett voices the character Sweet Pea, a toon actor who previously portrayed Peter Pan and who now has embraced his villainous side and established the dangerous Valley Gang. Upon its release on Disney+, Rescue Rangers was the most-watched movie across all platforms for its first two weeks and won the Primetime Emmy Award for Oustanding Television Movie.
7 The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part - 84%
In the highly-anticipated sequel to the original blockbuster hit, the 2019 animated adventure comedy The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part, Chris Pratt once again voices the charismatic everyman and master builder Emmet Brickowski as he and pals like Lucy, MetalBeard, and Benny set out to protect their city from dangerous Lego Duplo invaders determined to destroy anything in its path. Emmet enlists the help of key members of the Justice League like Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman to combat the attacks and keep his fellow residents safe from harm.
The popular and buzzed about flick stars a decorated ensemble cast including Elizabeth Banks, Tiffany Haddish, Charlie Day, and Nick Offerman, and though it failed to match the box office success of its predecessor still took in nearly $200 million and received appreciation for its wholesome premise and overall playful humor.
6 The Lego Batman Movie - 90%
Will Arnett once again voiced the caped crusader in the 2017 animated superhero comedy The Lego Batman Movie, which follows the protector of Gotham City as he faces off against his archenemy the Joker (Zach Galifianakis) and teams up with his trusted sidekick Robin (Michael Cera) and loyal butler Alfred (Ralph Fiennes) to defeat his formidable foe. A spin-off of The Lego Movie, the installment was inspired by comedies like Airplane! and The Naked Gun and pays homage to the Batman films of the past.
Arnett garnered rave reviews for his charismatic performance as Batman, and the film was appreciated for its tongue-in-cheek humor and action-packed sequences. Empire Magazine wrote in their glowing review, "A highly quotable, visual treat that's packed with in-jokes but is entertaining enough on its own terms to work for fans and non-fans alike. The best Batman film in years."
5 Teen Titans GO! To the Movies - 91%
Based on the Cartoon Network series of the same name, the 2018 animated superhero comedy Teen Titans GO! To the Movies focuses on the crime-fighting team as take on their diabolical enemy Slade (Arnett) while trying to have a big-budget Hollywood movie be made about their spectacular lives. Set during the premise of the fifth season of the show, the big screen extravaganza follows the lovable heroes Starfire, Robin, Cyborg, Raven, and Beast Boy as they take on the villain as he goes undercover as a filmmaking director.
Teen Titans GO! To the Movies was lauded for its lively screenplay, stylized visuals and animation, and engaging cast performances, with some critics deeming the flick "Deadpool for kids." It earned nominations for both an Annie Award and a Kids' Choice Award and received a B+ CinemaScore from audiences.
4 Who Killed Santa? A Murderville Murder Mystery - 91%
Touting a stacked ensemble cast including Will Arnett, Jason Bateman, and Maya Rudolph, the 2022 holiday comedy Who Killed Santa? A Murderville Murder Mystery tells the story of a savvy Detective Terry Seattle (Arnett) as he sets out to figure out who killed Santa Claus and enlists the help of movie stars Bateman and Rudolph to help him figure out just what happened to Saint Nick. The Netflix Christmas special is a sequel to the series of the same name and features the lead stars improvising what happens next, much to the delight of audiences everywhere.
The festive flick shined due to the undeniable chemistry of its lead trio, with its zany humor and spontaneous performances propelling the side-splitting comedy. The Chicago Sun-Times complimented the talented actors and wrote, "Arnett manages to play it straight most of the time, while Bateman and in particular Rudolph frequently break up at the absurdity of it all."
3 The Secret World of Arrietty - 94%
From the brilliant mind of Studio Ghibli comes the riveting 2010 fantasy film The Secret World of Arrietty, an adaptation of Mary Norton's novel The Borrowers that focuses on a miniature family that clandestinely lives in the home of an unsuspecting clan, with the eponymous borrower girl developing an unexpected bond with the human boy Shō.
Bridgit Mendler, Amy Poehler, Will Arnett, and Carol Burnett are just a few of the talented stars who provide their vocals in the English US dubbed version, which chronicles the endearing friendship between Arrietty and Shō despite their mismatched backgrounds.
Hiromasa Yonebayashi made his feature film debut with the breathtaking picture, and it went on to become the highest-grossing Japanese release of the year, raking in $146 million. Unsurprisingly, The Secret World of Arrietty garnered acclaim for its visually stunning animation, enchanting soundtrack, and magnetic performances and was an exceptional addition to the studio's impressive repertoire.
2 The Lego Movie - 96%
With a stellar ensemble cast including Chris Pratt, Will Ferrell, Elizabeth Banks, and Will Arnett, the 2014 animated adventure comedy The Lego Movie follows everyday man minifigure Emmet Brickowski (Pratt) as he sets out to help stop the devious dictatorial businessman Lord Business (Ferrell) from creating his own twisted version of Lego world to fit his desired fantasy. Emmet seeks help from some of the world's most legendary superheroes like Batman (Arnett), Green Lantern (Jonah Hill), and Wonder Woman (Colbie Smulders) to thwart Lord Business' attempts to conquer the world and fights to keep his fellow Legos safe.
The Lego Movie helped launch a massively popular film franchise that went on to spawn three additional films and was selected as one of the best pictures of the year by the National Board of Review. The Lego Movie earned both an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song and won countless accolades such as an Annie Award and the Saturn Award for Best Animated Film.
1 Ratatouille - 96%
Brad Bird directed the smash hit 2007 animated dramedy Ratatouille, centering on aspiring Parisian chef (and rat) Remy (Patton Oswalt) as he finds himself beneath the sewers of a prestigious restaurant where he teams up with down-on-his-luck garbage boy Alfredo Linguini (Lou Romano) to create a delicious culinary masterpiece that will kick-off his potential food career. Will Arnett appears as Horst, the German sous chef to the cruel owner of the restaurant Gusteau’s who witnesses Remy's genius via Alfredo.
Ratatouille was a critical and commercial success, amassing a whopping $623.7 million at the box office while also winning the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. The heartwarming picture was lauded for its delightful voice performances, stunning visuals, and playful humor, and was voted as one of the 100 greatest motion pictures of the 21st century by the BBC. It is one of Pixar's most celebrated and cherished pictures and remains a beloved fan-favorite by audiences.