Since his early comedy beginnings on Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour, and SNL. Steve Martin has been a fixture of our lives for over 50 years; with his chesire cat grin, silver hair, and comedy chops that have endured for years. He also has a massive filmography full of fantastic performances ranging from outrageously funny to serious dramatic turns…here is a list of his greatest performances.

Steve Martin in The Jerk

#1. The Jerk (Universal Pictures)

Steve Martin’s first leading role (and obvious number one pick for this list). Martin plays Navin R. Johnson, a young man raised by a very poor African-American family in rural Mississippi. When he learns that he is in fact a white man (very shocking!), he decides to move to St. Louis to gain new experiences and falls in love with a woman named Marie Kimble Johnson (played fantastically by the legend herself, Bernadette Peters), makes a fortune from an eyeglass acessory, and a numerous amount of hijinks.

Directed By: Carl Reiner

Where To Watch: Apple TV+, Prime Video, DVD, and Roku Channel.

Steve Martin in The Spanish Prisoner

#2. The Spanish Prisoner (Sony Pictures Classic)

This film marks Steve Martin’s foray into villainy. Martin plays Jimmy Dell, a con man masquerading as a wealthy man. Joe Ross (Campbell Scott) is on a retreat in the tropics after inventing a lucrative process and he befriends Jimmy. This soon leads to a twisted web of lies and tricks…everything isn’t what it seems. Making Joe question his relationship with Jimmy. Also starring Rebecca Pidgeon, Ricky Jay, Felicity Huffman, Ben Gazzara, and a young Clark Gregg of MCU fame.

Directed By: David Mamet

Where To Watch: Tubi, Prime Video, Plex, DVD and The Roku Channel

Steve Martin in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles

#3. Planes, Trains, and Automobiles (Paramount Pictures)

In this Thanksgiving film directed by John Hughes, Steve Martin plays Neal Page, an advertising executive trying to make it to his family for Thanksgiving. When his taxi is taken by Del Griffith (John Candy),  a shower curtain ring salesman, only to then discover he is also sitting next to him on his flight…hilarity ensues. From dropping numerous F-bombs to a car rental employee to taking a shower and discovering that all the towels are soaking wet. With some humor, some crazy situations, and a lot of heart (the John Hughes way) this performance will have you laughing and crying.

Directed By: John Hughes

Where To Watch: Prime Video, Apple TV+,DVD, and VUDU.

Steve Martin in Roxanne

#4 Roxanne (Columbia Pictures)

Based upon the 1897 play Cyrano de Bergerac by Edmond Rostand, this 80s retelling of the story focuses on a fire chief named Charlie Bales or “C.D.” to his closest friends. C.D. has a nose that is slightly larger than normal (which causes him to either be embarrassed or get in fights). When a beautiful woman named Roxanne (Daryl Hannah) moves into town, C.D. falls in love with her. Soon, a young fireman named Chris (Rick Rossovich) arrives and falls in love with Roxanne as well (but does not have the words to tell her). When Chris tasks C.D. to write romantic letters to Roxanne in his name, situations and confusion arise in this romantic-comedy. The late Shelley Duvall also appears in the film as C.D.’s friend Dixie.

Directed By: Fred Schepsi

Where To Watch: Prime Video, YouTube, DVD, and Apple TV+

#5  All of Me (Universal Pictures)

In his fourth collaboration with Carl Reiner, Martin plays a lawyer named Roger Cobb who accidentally gets the soul of Edwina Cutwater (Lily Tomlin) a terminally ill millionaire trapped in his body instead of the intened body of Terry Hoskins (Victoria Tennant) a young woman who volunteered to take on her soul. While trying to get Edwina’s soul out of his body, Roger must reason with Edwina to regain full control of his body, work as a lawyer, and put her soul into Terry’s body as intended. Written by Phil Alden Robinson (yes, that Phil Alden Robinson of Field of Dreams fame).

Directed By: Carl Reiner

Where To Watch: Prime Video, Plex, YouTube, DVD, and Apple TV+

Steve Martin in ¡Three Amigos!

#6 ¡Three Amigos! (Orion Pictures)

Steve Martin is teamed with Martin Short (the first of many collaborations together) and Chevy Chase in this slapstick western written by Martin, Lorne Michaels, and Randy Newman. Martin, Short, and Chase portray three silent film stars who are hired by Carmen (Patrice Martinez), a young woman whose village has been overrun by bandits. Blind to the fact that they are actors and not true heroes, the men arrive in Mexico to fight the bandits. From dance numbers to an invisible swordsman this movie is sure to make your sides hurt.

Directed By: John Landis

Where To Watch: AMC+, Prime Video, YouTube, DVD, and Hulu

Steve Martin in Parenthood

#7  Parenthood (Universal Pictures)

Parenthood is a wonderful film about family and the perspective of parenting children. Steve Martin plays Gil Buckman, a sales executive who is trying to right the wrongs of his dad (played brilliantly by Jason Robards). While he and his wife (Mary Steenburgen) are dealing with their son Kevin (who suffers from severe anxiety attacks and might be on the spectrum), his siblings Susan, Helen, and Larry are dealing with problems of their own such as money problems and rebellious children. But in the end the Buckman’s come together to celebrate life and the joy that parenting brings.

Directed By: Ron Howard

Where To Watch: Prime Video, Apple TV+, DVD

Steve Martin in Father of the Bride

#8 Father of the Bride (Touchstone Pictures)

In this remake of the 1950s classic directed by Charles Shyer and written by Nancy Myers; Steve Martin plays George Banks, a tennis shoe manufacturer whose daughter Annie is getting married. While trying to learn if Annie actually wants to be married, he meets the future in-laws, deals with an eccentric wedding planner, and goes to jail over hot dog buns. Rounding out the cast is Diane Keaton as Nina Banks (George’s wife), Kimberly Williams-Paisley as Annie, Kieran Culkin as Matty Banks, George Newbern as Brian Mackenzie (Annie’s future husband), B.D. Wong as Howard Weinstein (Franck’s assistant), and Martin Short as Franck.

Directed By: Charles Shyer

Where To Watch: Disney+, Hulu, Prime Video, YouTube, DVD, and Apple TV+

Steve Martin in Little Shop of Horrors

#9 Little Shop of Horrors (Warner Bros. Pictures)

Steve Martin plays the most evil (yet hilarious) dentist in the history of film in Frank Oz’s adaptation of the hit musical play Little Shop of Horrors. Martin is Orin Scrivello, a dentist who is abusive to his girlfriend Audrey (Ellen Green), tortures his patients, and gets high on laughing gas on the job. He is almost a mix of Elvis and Dr. Szell from Marathon Man. From his darkly comic number “Dentist” to his violent death at the hands of Seymour (Rick Moranis) and Audrey II, the alien plant that feeds on humans. This small performance has left a large impact on every audience that has seen the movie.

Directed By: Frank Oz

Where To Watch: YouTube, Prime Video, DVD, and Apple TV+

#10 Bowfinger (Universal Pictures)

This 1999 comedy does not only have Steve Martin as a star but also Eddie Murphy. Martin plays Bobby Bowfinger, an independent producer/director who wants to make a movie starring Kit Ramsey (Eddie Murphy). When he assembles a cast and crew of hopefuls wishing to make a break in Hollywood they stalk and confuse Kit Ramsey to the point of paranoia. Soon they have to cast a look-alike in Kit’s place and they discover that he is Kit’s twin brother. With great supporting turns from Robert Downey Jr., Christine Baranski, Heather Graham, Jamie Kennedy, and Terence Stamp.

Directed By: Frank Oz

Where To Watch: Prime Video, DVD, and Apple TV+

Honorable Mentions

Shopgirl (Touchstone Pictures)

Steve Martin plays Ray Porter, a rich business man who is caught in a love triangle with Claire Danes and Jason Schwartzman.

It’s Complicated (Universal Pictures)

In this delightful romantic-comedy, Martin re-teams with Nancy Meyers in yet another movie about a love triangle but this time with Meryl Streep and Alec Baldwin.

Home (DreamWorks Animation)

Steve Martin comically plays the antagonist Captain Smek in this animated film that stars Rhianna, Jim Parsons, and Jennifer Lopez.

Leap of Faith (Paramount Pictures)

In a film that pokes fun at traveling evangelists that heal, Steve Martin plays a con man named Jonas Nightengale who poses as a preacher. It also stars Debra Winger, Lukas Haas, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Meatloaf, and Liam Neeson.

My Blue Heaven (Warner Bros. Pictures)

In this unofficial sequal to Goodfellas; Steve Martin plays Vinnie Antonelli, a former mob member that is now under witness protection by the F.B.I. his costars include Rick Moranis (in their third collaboration), Joan Cusack, Carol Kane, William Hickey, Bill Irwin, and Daniel Stern.