Jason Sudeikis' Best TV And Movie Roles To Date

Jason Sudeikis has been on our screens for some time now, making his debut with a small role in a Roger Corman movie called "Alien Avengers II" in 1997. His big breakthrough came with a writing job on "Saturday Night Live," where he eventually became a recurring cast member, cracking up audiences with a wide range of characters and impersonations — and of course, his "What's Up With That?" dance. 

Sudeikis has since navigated career twists and turns via lead and supporting roles on screens both big and small. Born in Fairfax, Virginia, the nephew of George Wendt is imbued with natural charm and charisma, and never seems to take himself too seriously. For over two decades, he was a familiar face in living rooms, albeit rarely one that would be considered an A-lister.

That is, until recently. With 2020's "Ted Lasso" on Apple TV+ giving him a considerable image boost and his first Emmys, it seems like he has entered a new phase of his career. With that in mind, let's take a look at all the TV and film work that turned him into an overnight sensation. 

What would you do if you discovered you could manifest an enormous creature that would wreak havoc on Seoul, South Korea? In fairness, this is likely something you've never encountered — but it's apparently something writer-director Nacho Vigalondo has mulled over, as it became the subject of his beguiling, bizarre "Colossal." Starring Anne Hathaway as a recently unemployed alcoholic and Sudeikis as her childhood best friend, the flick gave the actor an opportunity to show a new side, as a character far more sinister than what he is typically offered.

While "Colossal" might not be for all tastes, it's worth watching for Sudeikis fans, who have never seen a side of him like this anywhere else. The role starts as friendly and charming — qualities many would associate with Sudeikis — but then the character starts to unravel, transforming himself into something far nastier. Outlets like Bloody Disgusting appreciated the performance, writing that Sudeikis nailed "Oscar's evolution from nice guy to a–hole." What was especially impressive was how Sudeikis portrayed Oscar's character changes with impressive subtleties, as highlighted by Collider.

"As these new parts of Oscar become apparent, Sudeikis makes several exceptionally thoughtful acting choices that unleash a whole new side of him as a performer," reads the article. "For one, Oscar doesn't change drastically in his demeanor once it's made thoroughly apparent that he's an abuser. He's a little more short-tempered now but Sudeikis keeps everything from Oscar's voice to his body language to his relaxed style all consistent with his earlier scenes in 'Colossal.' Personality traits that once suggested Oscar could be a potentially calm presence in Gloria's life now capture just how nonchalant he is about treating her like an object."

For fans of Sudeikis, "Colossal" is not only a thrilling and singular film — it's an impressive showcase for the actor to hone in on some rarely-viewed, menacing qualities that other filmmakers should encourage him to further develop.

In the excellent, underseen "Sleeping with Other People," we meet Sudeikis at a sex addicts meeting, which he attends out of a deeply entrenched fear of commitment. It's there that his character Jake finds Lainey (Alison Brie), with whom he had a one-night stand years earlier. The two have an undeniable attraction, but both are unable to stop sleeping with other people. Jake and Lainey decide to stay friends without sex which, perhaps unsurprisingly, makes their relationship rather complicated. A refreshing take on modern romantic comedies, the flick features great comedic supporting performers doing memorable work, including Jason Montzoukas, Adam Scott, and Natasha Lyonne.

But it is the performance of Sudeikis that really stands out, as the film examines the notion of what a leading man can be. 

"[The film shows off] a new kind of leading man, one that Sudeikis fits neatly into with his motormouth charm," wrote Nick Allen in his review for RogerEbert.com. "He's quick with flirty repartee, but doesn't have an overbearing or slimy nature. And when the story needs it, he can be the hero, becoming a stereotypical macho man that will fight on behalf of a girl."

In this film from writer/director Leslye Headland, Sudeikis harnesses his persona to challenge the masculine ideal, resulting in an engaging, humorous, unique performance worth tracking down.

Arguably the most notable non-"SNL" role for Sudeikis prior to "Ted Lasso," this edgy family comedy took in $270 million worldwide at the box office, ranking as the most successful live-action film of the actor's career so far. It also introduced the phrase "no ragrets" into the pop culture hall of fame. 

At the beginning of the film, the Sudeikis character is anything but lovable. Playing a low-level drug dealer whose overwhelming debt forces him to participate in a scheme to smuggle marijuana across the border from Mexico, his character enlists a group of ne'er-do-wells (including Jennifer Aniston and Emma Roberts) to travel with him so they can pose as a charming, sweet family and avoid suspicion.

"Sudeikis and Aniston are likable in such similar ways — their self-deprecating charm, understated comic delivery, girl- and guy-next-door good looks, fundamental decency," wrote the LA Times, praising the actors but panning the film's poor casting decisions. "It's as if the actors actually came from the same, stable, sweet, heartland family. But they are definitely not the Millers."

Although "Millers" still retains just a 49% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, the film seems to be remembered fondly by many; in 2021, Slash Film named it one of the best ten comedies of the last ten years.

Few comedies in the 21st century have earned as much critical acclaim as "30 Rock," as evidenced by more than 100 Emmy nominations over seven years (it won 16). The Tina Fey-driven series cast Sudeikis as a potential love interest for her Liz Lemon, starting with the show's second season — and if you've witnessed any of the scenes they shared together on the show, it's obvious Fey was a big fan of Sudeikis from the start. 

Crafting a charming, quick-witted character, it was easy to see why Lemon fell hard for his Floyd. Unfortunately for Lemon, Floyd's endless love of Cleveland (and also, maybe his problems with alcohol) proved too much for them to be together. It did, however, give viewers a brand new look (and song) about the oft-maligned Ohio city. As one of the funnyman's first major roles, at a time when he was still finding his footing on "SNL," Floyd provided a great opportunity for Sudeikis to build his persona in front of a massive audience, providing an unforgettable character with an endless array of memorable moments.

It's difficult to find something that the majority of the entire world has experienced, but when it comes to the mobile game "Angry Birds," that might be as close to a multi-cultural touchstone as one can get. The original bird-flipping phone game boasts over 500 million downloads, has spawned endless merchandise, a tv show, game sequels and "The Angry Birds Movie," which took in over $350 million worldwide.

Jason Sudeikis starred in the film (which would get a sequel in 2019) as Red, a bird marked by his bushy black eyebrows and remarkably short temper. After getting into trouble, he would be forced to go to anger management, meeting Chuck (Josh Gad) and Bomb (Danny McBride) and beginning an adventure that would see them facing off against the mysterious green pigs who start arriving on Bird Island. 

With its 43% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, "Angry Birds" isn't exactly considered a landmark achievement in the cinema. Nevertheless, Sudeikis turned in a winning  performance as Red; in a weird way, it's the opposite of "Colossal," where the Sudeikis character goes from unlikable to a character whose motivations and responses seem somewhat reasonable.

Capping things off with what many would consider the role he was born to play, Sudeikis and "Ted Lasso" became a winning combination as soon as the show debuted on Apple TV+, becoming a sensation whose first season would receive 20 Emmy Nominations, winning 7, including Outstanding Comedy Series and Outstanding Lead Actor for Sudeikis. 

The series has a remarkably bizarre origin story, as the character Ted Lasso actually came from a commercial featuring Sudeikis where he played the titular character to promote their broadcasts of English Premier League soccer. Who could have predicted that it would have led to an international sensation?

Sudeikis plays the titular Lasso, a college football coach recruited by Rebecca Welton (Hannah Waddingham), the owner of English soccer team AFC Richmond, to coach the team. While Lasso's earnest, unyielding optimism allows him to believe he'll be able to succeed, he's actually hired by Welton in the hopes he'll destroy her ex-husband's beloved team. Sudeikis is a revelation in the show — or, at least for those who haven't been paying closer attention to his career. 

Employing a lot of the charm and charisma fans have been watching him hone over the last two decades, he gives Lasso a tremendously rich, deep sense of humanity and unbridled optimism. This is certainly the' meatiest role to date for Sudeikis, and while the entire cast of the beloved show is pitch-perfect, it's the former "SNL" funnyman who provides its heart and soul.