45 Gilbert Gottfried Movies, Ranked Worst To Best
On April 12, 2022, Gilbert Gottfried passed away due to complications from muscular dystrophy. The New York City-born comedian was known for his famously shrill voice and deliciously raunchy brand of comedy. The man was a walking "trigger warning" who didn't believe in the concept of "too soon," famously making the first post-9/11 joke at a Friars Club roast of Hugh Hefner just three weeks after the tragic terror attacks.
He was always the comedian willing to cross the line and make a joke. It often got him into trouble and impacted his career, but his jokes allowed the world to keep on spinning and helped people move on from current events. Gottfried's comedy said, in a roundabout way, "This too, shall pass."
In addition to his lifelong career as a stand-up comedian, Gottfried worked as an actor across film and television, racking up an impressive roster of roles. In celebration of his life and body of work, let's take a look at 45 Gilbert Gottfried movies, ranked worst to best. This list includes his roles as an actor, as well as documentary appearances.
45. Problem Child 3: Junior in Love
The third and final entry in the "Problem Child" franchise lacks nearly all the charm of the original two films. This made-for-TV disaster features almost none of the original cast from the first two movies, nor any of the dark, surprisingly adult humor that made them cult classics in the first place. However, it does have Gilbert Gottfried, reprising his role of Dr. Igor Peabody. He is one of only two actors to star in all three "Problem Child" movies, the other being Jack Warden as Big Ben.
"Problem Child 3: Junior in Love" is not a good movie by any stretch of the imagination, but it's nice to see Gottfried ham it up, seemingly well aware of the fact he's the best thing in a bad movie. With all due respect to "The Greatest American Hero" actor William Katt, he's not a suitable replacement for the great John Ritter as Junior's adoptive father. There is plenty of fun to be had with the first two "Problem Child" movies, but there's basically no reason to watch this misbegotten threequel.
44. Sharknado: The 4th Awakens
Nobody will ever confuse the "Sharknado" movies with high art, but the fourth entry in The Asylum-produced franchise scarcely qualifies as a movie. If the title doesn't give it away, "The 4th Awakens" isn't so much a movie as it is a collection of memes and cameos. Some of the more high-profile cameos include legendary indie film producer Lloyd Kaufman and former "Late Show" bandleader Paul Schaffer. Other actors, like erstwhile "T.J. Hooker" actor Adrian Zmed and "Clueless" star Stacey Dash, feel like they're below even a clunker like "Sharknado: The 4th Awakens." It almost feels like absolutely anyone can be in a "Sharknado" movie if they ask The Asylum nicely.
Gottfried's role is brief and about as memorable as anything else in this movie, playing Ron McDonald (get it?), a correspondent with NBC's "Today" morning show ... which facilitates cameos for Al Roker and Natalie Morales. Cameos beget cameos; it's the raison d'être for a movie as vapid as "Sharknado."
43. The Last Sharknado: It's About Time
The sixth (!) and final "Sharknado" movie is as bizarre as it is braindead, but there's joy to be had from laughing at it, if not with it. "The Last Sharknado: It's About Time" definitively ends the franchise with a time travel story — that's largely an excuse to introduce more cameos, like Twisted Sister's Dee Snider, Tori Spelling, and Leslie Jordan, among many, many others.
Gottfried no longer plays Ron McDonald, but his identical father, Rand McDonald. At this point in the tired "Sharknado" series, Gottfried is just going through the motions, but so is every other cameo actor — and even most of the primary cast members, for that matter. The "Sharknado" movies are little more than meaningless drivel, but fans of celebrity culture will no doubt feel titillated by the appearance of their favorite stars ... or Al Roker, who inexplicably shows up in no fewer than five "Sharknado" movies. Bless his heart.
42. Bad Medicine
This slightly raunchy 1980s comedy stars Steve Guttenberg as a student enrolled at a less-than-prestigious medical school somewhere in Central America. But "Bad Medicine" never gets more specific than that in terms of geography, likely in order to avoid being overly specific with its ridiculous depictions of Latino culture. To wit, several of the film's key Latino roles are played by decidedly non-Latino actors, namely Alan Arkin and — indeed — Gilbert Gottfried.
Gottfried eschews his usual high-pitched voice in favor of a lackluster attempt at a vaguely Hispanic accent. It doesn't quite hit the mark, but it's always interesting to hear Gottfried using a different vocal style. On that note, "Bad Medicine" marks one of the few occasions where Gottfried plays a straight character role, rather than a variation of his squinty stand-up persona. As a result, Gottfried just kind of fades into the background of "Bad Medicine," a movie that can't decide whether it wants to be an over-the-top zany comedy, a spiritual successor to "M*A*S*H," or even a spin on the "Private Benjamin" formula ("Bad Medicine" is written and directed by Harvey Miller, who co-wrote that 1980 Goldie Hawn classic). In the end, "Bad Medicine" is mildly entertaining but instantly forgettable, save for Alan Arkin's horrible attempt at a Latino accent, which somehow sounds even worse that Gottfried's.
41. Longshot
"Longshot" was created to cash in on the popularity of acts like NSYNC, Britney Spears, and O-Town, among others. Alas, this 2001 stinker is a far cry from "The T.A.M.I. Show." Fans of the musical acts represented in the film may get a kick out of the film's sensibilities, but the main plot is a plodding tale of two brothers (Tony DeCamillis and Joey Sculthorpe) trying to escape the wrath of a wealthy villain (Paul Sorvino). It's half-sitcom and half-crime drama, and none of it works.
The film's only saving grace is that it features more inexplicable cameos than a "Sharknado" movie, including members of LFO, Innosense, Take 5, C-Note, Full Force, and, um, Kenny Rogers. No, really. It also features multiple actors from "Saved By The Bell," simply because it can.
Gilbert Gottfried appears briefly as Mr. Chadwick, under whom the older brother works as a music store clerk. Gottfried wrings some genuine laughs from viewers; our favorite is when he demands to know what a headphone-wearing customer at the store is listening to by repeatedly screaming at them, "What are you listening to?!" He also gets to share a scene with the hottest pop star of the early 2000s, Art Garfunkel. Seriously, "Longshot" is a weird movie. It's nigh-unwatchable on its own merits, but we're nevertheless grateful for its existence.
40. Sharknado 5: Global Swarming
The final "Sharknado" movie on this list, "Sharknado 5: Global Swarming" explores the mythology behind the shark-tornado phenomenon, which involves an ancient temple underneath Stonehenge and ... You know what? It doesn't matter. It's a "Sharknado" movie. It exists to be bizarre, silly, and rife with celebrity cameos (and Al Roker). To that end, "Sharknado 5: Global Swarming" succeeds, but whether or not that amounts to a cinematic victory is subjective, to say the least.
At the very least, "Sharknado 5" sports an impressive list of walk-ons, possibly the best in the whole series. The supporting cast includes Dolph Lundgren, Fabio (as the Catholic Pope), "SNL" star Chris Kattan, "American Idol" runner-up Clay Aiken, and even Olivia Newton-John. It's honestly ridiculous, even if most of the cameos last scarcely a few seconds. Gilbert Gottfried reappears as Ron McDonald, who reports on the shark tornado sucking up various animals. This culminates in his declaration, "It's a safari-nado!"
39. Jack and the Beanstalk
An adaptation of the classic fairy tale, "Jack and the Beanstalk" aspires to follow in the footsteps of "The Princess Bride." Unfortunately, it does not succeed in its goal. Despite its attempt to tell a hip version of the old story, "Jack and the Beanstalk" falls into the post-"Shrek" pitfall of being crass and juvenile more than clever and witty. Still, it boasts a strong cast, including a pre-"Kick-Ass" Chloë Grace Moretz as the female lead, and stalwarts like Christopher Lloyd and James Earl Jones in supporting roles.
Gottfried plays Grayson, a goose (or at least the comedian in a feathery goose suit) who helps Jack throughout his adventure, serving as something of a sidekick. It's not a particularly exciting role for Gottfried, and it doesn't really take advantage of his shtick in any meaningful way. Overall, "Jack and the Beanstalk" has little to offer to anyone above the age of five, though its numerous allusions to other timeless stories can be mildly amusing for fairy tale enthusiasts who've already seen "Shrek" and its sequels dozens of times.
38. Look Who's Talking Too
Following the blockbuster success of 1989's "Look Who's Talking," a sequel was rushed into development. Released just 14 months after the original, "Look Who's Talking Too" carries forward the main gimmick of the first movie, having the thoughts of Baby Mikey vocalized by Bruce Willis, and adding a younger sister to the mix, voiced by Roseanne Barr. While still financially successful, the film was eviscerated by critics, who found it inferior to the original. But fans maintain it has its moments, including a jolly dance sequence led by John Travolta.
Gilbert Gottfried plays a small role in the sequel as the instructor at a play center for babies. It's a brief role, but he makes the most of his appearance, even getting to dance alongside Travolta. As Gottfried's character begins to lose control of the rambunctious babies, Travolta steals the scene by launching into a full-blown dance number that's evocative of his earlier work in "Grease," one of the most treasured song-and-dance musicals of all time. Gottfried was a tremendous talent, but he was no dancer, so his attempts to keep up with Travolta's slick moves add an extra dose of comedy to the scene.
37. Funky Monkey
"Funky Monkey" could have been so bad it's good, or even a genuinely charming action-comedy for kids. With a $30 million budget and a cast that includes Matthew Modine, Fred Ward, and Jeffrey Tambor, "Funky Monkey" had all the ingredients of something resembling a movie. Unfortunately, it was not to be. As Matthew Modine recalled on an episode of "Gilbert Gottfried's Amazing Colossal Podcast," the production immediately fell out of control. While the podcast has all the grisly details (including unwanted sexual contact between Modine and an aggressive chimpanzee), the end result is that the production, which had been slated for a theatrical release, was shuffled off into direct-to-video obscurity.
Gottfried only appears in the final half-hour of the movie, which is a mercy for him. Poor Matthew Modine has to suffer through nearly every scene of the film. Fortunately, he takes it like a champ, and "Funky Monkey" is watchable if only for the absurdity of seeing the talented Modine fight to maintain his sanity and professionalism throughout the entire movie.
36. Hot to Trot
Before he became an acclaimed director of provocative black comedies like "Father of the Year" and "God Bless America," Bobcat Goldthwait was a stand-up comedian looking to become an A-list actor. Unfortunately for him, "Hot to Trot" was not his ticket to Hollywood superstardom. On an episode of Gottfried's podcast, Goldthwait and Gottfried reflected on the movie, how bad it was, and how much of a hassle it was to make. Goldthwait even goes as far as to suggest that the film convinced him to pursue directing, since he couldn't possibly make anything worse.
"Hot to Trot" follows Goldthwait as a clueless investment broker who takes stock tips from a talking horse. Simply put, there's nothing in "Hot to Trot" that wasn't done 10 times better in any given episode of "Mister Ed" nearly three decades earlier. As with "Funky Monkey," Gottfried only appears briefly, near the end of the film, as a dentist who examines the horse. "Hot to Trot" bombed at the box office, grossing just $6 million. It's not a forgotten gem. It's just forgotten.
35. The Comedian
Released in 2016, director Taylor Hackford's "The Comedian" had the potential to be a standout entry in Robert De Niro's body of work. Unfortunately, despite an all-star cast and all the right pieces for success, the final film just missed the mark and was promptly dismissed by critics and audiences alike.
De Niro stars as Jackie Burke, an aging stand-up comedian and actor trying to revive his career. The film contains a ton of famous comedians playing themselves, including Gilbert Gottfried, Hannibal Burress, Jim Norton, and Billy Crystal, just to name a few. The more immediate supporting cast includes ringers like Edie Falco, Leslie Mann, Cloris Leachman, and Harvey Keitel.
For whatever reason, though, "The Comedian" just couldn't stick the landing. Rather than a heavy-hitting awards season contender, "The Comedian" revealed itself as a safe and light romantic comedy with an all-star cast and some funny performances. The final result is decidedly less than the sum of its parts.
34. Doctor Dolittle
The "Doctor Dolittle" novels by Hugh Lofting inspired no fewer than three cinematic adaptations. First, there was the 1967 Rex Harrison musical, and most recently the 2020 Robert Downey Jr. vehicle. Between these two versions was 1998's "Doctor Dolittle," starring Eddie Murphy as a medical professional with the uncanny ability to communicate with all creatures in the animal kingdom, most of whom are voiced by an all-star roster of Hollywood actors, including Chris Rock, Albert Brooks, Ellen DeGeneres, Norm McDonald, and many others.
One memorable scene from the 1998 movie features Gottfried playing a character billed as "Compulsive Dog." Though Gottfried's entire role is in this single scene, it's a memorable one that makes strong use of Gottfried's signature vocal style to convey the anxiety of the Compulsive Dog, who has to practically beg for the good doctor to throw a ball so he can fetch it. It's a silly joke, but it works thanks to Gottfried's manic performance.
33. Problem Child 2
The second film in the "Problem Child" trilogy was eviscerated by critics, much like its predecessor. However, unlike "Problem Child 3," which is universally despised, the first two films maintain a cult following due to their take-no-prisoners attitude and dedication to unruly black comedy in a supposed "family film." The 1991 sequel ups the ante in terms of juvenile bad taste, even getting an MPAA boost to PG-13, up from the original's PG rating.
Gottfried returns as Mr. Peabody, who has switched careers. In the original film, he was an adoption agent. Here, he's the principal of Junior's school. In any case, he's a formidable opponent for young Junior. "Problem Child 2" is as delightfully mean-spirited as ever, but succeeds due to its commitment to its aesthetics. It goes "all-in" with its audacious premise and outrageous humor. It's certainly not for everybody, but there's a lot of joy to be had in the first two "Problem Child" movies. Just skip the third entry.
32. Back by Midnight
Comedy legend Rodney Dangerfield made one of his final film appearances in "Back by Midnight," which released in January of 2005, just three months after Dangerfield's death on October 5, 2004. Dangerfield stars as the warden of a white-collar prison who decides to get revenge on the facility's owner (Randy Quaid), who is only interested in profits, not the rehabilitation or protection of the inmates. The entire ordeal plays out as a light-hearted farce. "Back by Midnight" should satisfy fans eager to see Dangerfield in his final leading role, though he does delegate a lot of the comedy to his stellar supporting cast.
The film features a strong roster of supporting players, including Paul Rodriguez, Phil LaMarr, Harland Williams, Kirstie Alley, and Gilbert Gottfried. Gottfried plays the security guard of a store that Dangerfield sends several prisoners to rob as part of his scheme. On Twitter, Gilbert replied to a fan who saw the movie with two simple words: "I'm sorry."
31. Rock Story
Produced on a budget of far less than one million dollars, "Rock Story" hails from producer Kenneth Del Vecchio, who specializes in super-cheap movies with little to no redeeming value. "Rock Story" will not be his final appearance in this story.
"Rock Story" prominently features Gilbert Gottfried's name on the poster. He's in it for about 30 seconds, pretending to be a teen in a montage that features a band looking for a new member. The real lead actors are Robert T. Bogue and "Three's Company" actress Joyce DeWitt, who deserves so much better than to be stuck in a movie that looks like it was shot by high school students over spring break. Simply put, anyone with a degree of respect for film and the art of filmmaking should stay far away from "Rock Story" and anything else produced by Ken Del Vecchio, for that matter. One can only hope Gilbert was paid handsomely for his 30 seconds of screen time in this errant grease fire of a movie.
30. When Jews Were Funny
A documentary from Alan Zweig, "When Jews Were Funny" explores the history of Jewish comedy over the generations through interviews with figures like Marc Maron, Howie Mandel, Bob Einstein, and Shecky Greene, among others — and Gilbert Gottfried, of course.
While the documentary starts out strong, those familiar with Zweig know he has a tendency to insert himself into his work in a way that can distract from the subject matter at hand. Unfortunately, "When Jews Were Funny" falls face-first into this pitfall, with much ado made of Zweig's attempts to raise his daughter in a sufficiently Jewish manner — which has nothing to do with the subject at hand. Whether or not this ruins the film is a matter of subjective opinion, but those looking for a comprehensive history of Jewish comedy might want to look elsewhere. People looking for a story about a documentary filmmaker's odyssey through the field and his own life will find a lot to love in "When Jews Were Funny."
29. Problem Child
One of the biggest cult classics of the early 1990s, "Problem Child" was not a hit with critics, but proved surprisingly popular with audiences, grossing $72 million at the worldwide box office, spawning two sequels and an animated spin-off. The film follows a couple (John Ritter and Amy Yasbeck) who adopt a young boy (Michael Oliver). Unfortunately for them, Junior is no angel, and he causes chaos everywhere he goes.
"Problem Child" could almost be a horror movie in the vein of "The Omen," except its sensibilities are so cartoonish and silly that even its darkest moments are played for comedy, like when John Ritter seriously considers murdering his own adopted son. Gilbert Gottfried plays Mr. Peabody, a shady adoption agent who will do anything to keep Junior away from the orphanage. Mr. Peabody appears in all three movies and even the animated series, with Gottfried reprising the role for all of the character's appearances.
28. The Return of Jafar
Disney's first ever straight-to-video sequel, "The Return of Jafar" follows up on the events of 1992's "Aladdin." Most of the cast from the original film reprise their roles, with the glaring exception of Robin Williams, who refused to play the genie again due to a falling out with Disney. Ostensibly a pilot for the Disney Channel's "Aladdin" television series, "The Return of Jafar" gives an expanded role to the character of Iago, played by Gilbert Gottfried, to the point where he could arguably be considered the lead character of the story.
The plot involves Iago trying to turn over a new leaf and warn Aladdin and his friends about the looming return of their greatest enemy, Jafar. However, due to his villainous past, the heroes don't believe him until it's too late. While it suffers from a cheap animation budget and television sensibilities compared to the big-budget original, "The Return of Jafar" nevertheless tells a touching story about forgiveness and second chances. While it's easily the weakest movie in the "Aladdin" trilogy, it also features one of the best performances in Gilbert Gottfried's cinematic career.
27. Disney Princess Enchanted Tales: Follow Your Dreams
Released straight to video in 2007, "Disney Princess Enchanted Tales: Follow Your Dreams" is an anthology featuring two stories starring Disney Princess characters. The first follows the events of 1959's "Sleeping Beauty," while the other revisits the world of Agrabah, following the events of "Aladdin and the King of Thieves." Each of the stories is about 25 minutes, the length of a typical sitcom episode.
Iago features in the second story, "More Than a Peacock Princess," which explores the daily life of Princess Jasmine as she grows tired of the same old routine. Eventually, she enlists Iago's help to recover a lost horse. It's a trite and shallow story designed to appeal to pre-school children, lacking much of the charm and wide appeal of the greater "Aladdin" franchise. "Follow Your Dreams" was intended to be the first in a series, with stories following Belle, Mulan, and other Disney Princess characters planned for future releases. But due to the poor reception of "Follow Your Dreams," additional entries in the "Disney Princess Enchanted Tales" line were promptly cancelled.
26. A Million Ways to Die in the West
Seth MacFarlane's 2014 comedy, "A Million Ways to Die in the West," didn't exactly set the world on fire. Still, the film entertained audiences with its wacky take on the Western genre. It also contains a cavalcade of cameos, including Jamie Foxx, Christopher Lloyd, and Bill Maher, among many others. Most of these cameos are allusions to the performers' previous work; Foxx plays Django, Lloyd plays Doc Brown circa "Back to the Future Part III," and Bill Maher basically plays himself. The cameos are memorable, but rarely contain new jokes, relying instead on knowing winks and nods to the audience.
The best cameo in "A Million Ways to Die in the West" belongs to Gilbert Gottfried, who appears as President Abraham Lincoln, delivering a commencement address to a group of students. Gottfried makes no attempt to hide his distinct voice, and his speech is a boastful and bizarre tirade, which leads MacFarlane's character to mutter out loud, "I don't think that's the real President Lincoln." It's a hilarious moment that leans on Gottfried's persona while adding humor beyond the cameo itself.
25. Unbelievable!!!!!
There's some promise to the premise of "Unbelievable!!!!!," which features Kevin Carlson as the voice of a Captain Kirk-esque space hero in this well-intentioned, if dreadfully unfunny, parody of "Star Trek." Like so many doomed spoof movies, most of the film's entertainment value comes from seeing who the producers were able to wrangle for cameo appearances. To that end, there's actually a fantastic roster of faces here, many of whom are drawn from "Star Trek" history, including Walter Koenig, Tim Russ, Garrett Wang, Michael Dorn, Marina Sirtis, Nichelle Nichols, and many more.
"Unbelievable!!!!!" suffers from leaning a bit too heavily on the presumed star power of Snoop Dogg as the main villain, a ruthless space warlord who seeks to conquer Earth using an army of suspiciously aromatic plants. Get it? Because Snoop likes weed? The lead character, voiced by Carlson, is a poorly-operated puppet, which makes for pretty funny action sequences that serve as the highlight of the film. There are some Easter eggs for fans of "Star Trek" to pore over, and a brief appearance from Gilbert Gottfried playing himself, but beyond that, "Unbelievable!!!!!" doesn't have much to offer to anyone but stoner Trekkies.
24. Hospital Arrest
First of all, let it be known that Gilbert Gottfried did not shoot any scenes for "A Wrestling Christmas Miracle," produced by Ken Del Vecchio. That film inexplicably uses footage from "Hospital Arrest," a different Del Vecchio movie which actually does feature Gilbert. As a result, "A Wrestling Christmas Miracle" feels like half a movie with footage from another, equally terrible film spliced in to pad out its runtime.
"Hospital Arrest" is a low-budget comedy set in a hospital-prison run by a mentally handicapped warden. It's as deliberately offensive as it is cluelessly unfunny. That's just about all there is to it. It's got a cheap, shot-on-video look that evokes the flat direction of cut-rate pornography, but without the requisite spicy action, so to speak. It's a dreadful excuse for a movie that not even Gilbert Gottfried can liven up with his clearly-improvised shtick. He tries, but some tasks are simply impossible, even for someone as gifted as Gottfried.
23. Highway to Hell
Before he hit it big with "L.A. Confidential" and "Payback," Brian Helgeland wrote "Highway to Hell," a 1992 horror/comedy about a young man (Chad Lowe) who winds up on a satanic odyssey through the streets of Hell itself in an effort to rescue his girlfriend (Kristy Swanson), who is kidnapped by a Zombie Hell Cop. Naturally, Gilbert Gottfried plays Adolf Hitler, who is pretty popular down there.
"Highway to Hell" is one of the quieter cult films of the 1990s, but those who have seen it swear by its sense of black comedy, exciting action sequences, and off-the-wall sensibilities. After all, this is a movie where Gilbert Gottfried plays Adolf Hitler. He's seated at a table with other historical figures and goes on a rant that lasts for several minutes, usually in the background of the main action of the scene. It's a hilarious little moment that stands out as particularly weird in a movie that's already delightfully bizarre.
22. Miss December
Gilbert plays a cop in 2011's "Miss December," formerly known as "Calendar Girl." This twisted, micro-budget romantic comedy follows a sexy waitress (Jensen Jacobs) who believes she's being targeted by a serial killer. The murderer kills a different woman every month and treats them like pin-up calendar girls. However, instead of being terrified by the prospect of being murdered by a psycho, Ari is intrigued by the prospect of someone being infatuated with her, and embarks on a quest to discover the secret identity of her true love. It's a delightfully surreal premise, one that will either alienate or enrapture viewers.
What "Miss December" lacks in production values, it makes up for with black comedy and a genuinely intriguing mystery. It doesn't quite succeed in being "Horror Clerks" like it wants to be, but it's still worth a watch. The film was distributed by Kevin Smith's SModcast Pictures and features "Clerks" star Brian O'Halloran in a minor role, making it something of a curiosity for Kevin Smith scholars.
21. Aladdin and the King of Thieves
The third entry in the "Aladdin" series, "Aladdin and the King of Thieves" is a marked improvement over "The Return of Jafar," though it still can't match the cinematic grandeur of the original. Thus the film suffers from the common Disney stigma of being "pretty good, for a straight-to-video sequel."
While he doesn't take center stage like in "The Return of Jafar," Gottfried's Iago still plays a prominent role as an ally of Aladdin in his final adventure. "Aladdin and the King of Thieves" ends with Iago paired off with Cassim, Aladdin's long-lost father, to go see the world on a globetrotting adventure of their own. Alas, though it seems like an obvious setup for a spin-off, the story of Iago effectively ends with "The King of Thieves," save for appearances in associated media like the "Kingdom Hearts" video game series and the aforementioned "Disney Princess" standalone feature.
20. Hysterical Psycho
The rare self-aware horror parody that manages to be both scary and funny, "Hysterical Psycho" marks the directorial debut of actor Dan Fogler, who also wrote the (mostly) black and white film about a group of friends who are driven to madness and murder by, um, lunar radiation. Or maybe they're cursed for desecrating an Indian burial ground. The "why" isn't important. All that matters is that crazy, horror-themed events transpire. Gilbert Gottfried has a brief cameo in the film's opening sequence, which helps set the tone for the rest of the film.
"Hysterical Psycho" is full of imaginative sequences that showcase Fogler's love of filmmaking and playing with genre aesthetics. While he's directed since this 2009 romp, he has yet to tackle a big-budget affair. Hopefully he'll show us what he can do with a real budget. Maybe he's waiting to finish up his run on the "Fantastic Beasts" franchise.
19. Beverly Hills Cop II
After "Beverly Hills Cop" proved to be one of the biggest hits of 1984, work began on a sequel. Released in 1987, "Beverly Hills Cop II" sees Eddie Murphy return as Axel Foley, a Detroit detective who finds himself tackling crime in sunny California for a second time. The sequel is highly derivative of the original, but when the original is such a classic, that's not necessarily a bad thing. "Beverly Hills Cop II" is like eating leftovers for dinner: it lacks the potential of a fresh meal, but you already know it's a tasty dish.
Gilbert Gottfried appears briefly as an accountant who offers a bribe to Foley. It's a short scene, but Gottfried and Murphy have a fun chemistry that makes us wish Gottfried had a larger role in the film. Years before "Beverly Hills Cop," Gottfried and Murphy starred together on the infamous sixth season of "Saturday Night Live." Gottfried only lasted 12 episodes before being dropped from the struggling show along with several other cast members. But Gottfried and Murphy must have gotten along, since they appeared together in both "Beverly Hills Cop II" and "Dr. Dolittle."
18. The Aristocrats
The dirtiest joke of all time isn't so much a typical "setup-punchline" affair, but an exercise in expression and provocative audacity, usually told by comedians to fellow comedians and not fit for public consumption. The joke is called "The Aristocrats," and is the subject of a 2005 documentary of the same name. The joke spent countless decades as an inside secret within the comedy community, until Gilbert Gottfried's 9/11 joke at the Hugh Hefner roast. In a last-ditch attempt to win back the crowd who did not respond well to the terrorism-based humor, Gottfried launched into an impromptu version of "The Aristocrats." This routine was well-received and led to public interest in the joke, leading to this documentary.
The film features dozens of comedians telling various versions of the joke, including the likes of George Carlin, Bob Saget, Sarah Silverman, Martin Mull, Kevin Pollak, and many others. "The Aristocrats" is as much about the joke itself as it is about the nature of blue humor. It's also about the ability of comedians to riff on a common subject and push their audience to the absolute limit, all the while reminding them of one universal truth: it's okay to laugh.
17. Thumbelina
One of the legendary Disney animators who went on to find success outside the House of Mouse, Don Bluth scored critical hits with movies like "An American Tail," "The Land Before Time," and "Anastasia." His 1994 directorial effort, "Thumbelina," features voice work from Jodi Benson (Ariel from "The Little Mermaid") and Gilbert Gottfried, the voice of Iago from "Aladdin," though its animation style is more realistic and detailed than the traditional Disney style. Unfortunately, "Thumbelina" failed to find an audience at the box office, and ultimately crashed and burned, only grossing $17 million worldwide — not nearly enough to cover its budget of $28 million.
Gottfried plays Berkeley Beetle, but doesn't provide his singing voice, with those honors going to Randy Crenshaw. Gottfried had already sang in "The Return of Jafar," so it's odd that he didn't get to do his own singing in "Thumbelina." Maybe the song, "Yer Beautiful, Baby," was too difficult for his style? In any case, while Crenshaw does a pretty good job and is an incredibly talented singer, it's obvious he's not Gilbert Gottfried. Simply put, nobody in the world sounds like Gottfried. And now that he's gone, chances are his legendary voice will never be replicated by human vocal cords.
16. Abnormal Attraction
A little imagination goes a long way, but not far enough in "Abnormal Attraction," a 2018 fantasy-comedy set in a world where humans and mythical monsters co-exist. Despite its ambitions of exploring a land filled with wondrous creatures, the poor costumes and visual effects instead give the impression of a low-budget Halloween party gone awry. Perhaps the filmmakers spent all their money securing actors like Bruce Davison and Malcolm McDowell, so they figured they could skimp on the costume budget.
Still, we have to admit, it's fun to see Gilbert Gottfried decked out in ugly piggy makeup. He plays a character referred to in the credits as "Pig Man," and plays an enforcer within the monster community working against the humans. There's a story buried under the juvenile comic antics about tolerance and integration, but "Abnormal Attraction" is just so cheap, flat, and poorly constructed, it's hard to recommend to anybody outside the Bruce Davison Fan Club.
15. Def Jam's How to Be a Player
"Def Jam's How to Be a Player" comes from director Lionel C. Martin, the same filmmaker who helmed "Longshot." While this 1997 effort is marginally better, it feels cut from the same cloth. "How to Be a Player" is less about the movie at hand and more about the soundtrack and the inexplicably all-star cast. Both "How to Be a Player" and "Longshot" feature Gilbert Gottfried, though Gottfried's role in the Def Jam movie is a mere cameo, as opposed to a full supporting role like in "Longshot."
On the other hand, Lark Voorhees (Lisa from "Saved by the Bell") plays a leading role in "How to Be a Player" but only has a brief cameo in "Longshot." Honestly, she's better served in "Longshot," since any and all female characters in "Def Jam's How to Be a Player" are treated with disdain and contempt that feels cruel, even for a trashy 1990s sex comedy. At the end of the day, "How to Be a Player" came and went without much fuss, quietly bombing at the box office, gone from the public discourse as though it had never existed in the first place.
14. The Adventures of Ford Fairlane
Once upon a time, Andrew Dice Clay was the hottest name in stand-up comedy. His brand of raunchy lowbrow humor earned him a sizable following, and it wasn't long before Hollywood gave him a movie deal. The result, "The Adventures of Ford Fairlane," had the potential to kickstart a franchise, but failed with critics and audiences, who had grown tired of Clay's shtick by 1990. To put it nicely, Andrew Dice Clay was not destined to be a movie star. He looks uncomfortable as Ford Fairlane, and lacks the charisma and swagger of his comedic persona.
Today, "The Adventures of Ford Fairlane" is best known for its cast. As a detective-themed action comedy about the music industry, "Ford Fairlane" features appearances from several prominent musicians, including Morris Day, Sheila E., Vince Neil, and Wayne Newton in a prominent role for some reason. Gottfried appears as Johnny Crunch, a radio host who helps out with the case. The character is dubbed "king of the shock jocks," and was written with Howard Stern in mind, but Gottfried is entertaining in the role of a deliberately grating radio personality.
13. A Series of Unfortunate Events
Gilbert Gottfried only has a single line in the 2004 cinematic adaptation of "A Series of Unfortunate Events." In fact, it isn't even a line, just a scream of fear. Gottfried's cameo is a nod to his role as the Aflac duck in a series of commercials beginning in 1999. In the film, as Aunt Josephine's house is destroyed, a duck, presumably the Aflac duck itself, flees from the falling debris while screaming. Gottfried provides the scream. That's it. That's his entire role in the film.
There's not much else to say about it. Gottfried lends his voice to "A Series of Unfortunate Events" in what has to be one of the smallest cameos in Hollywood history. It lasts no more than a few seconds and only has his voice. Perhaps this was intended to be a running gag throughout the film series, but that potential was never realized: any sequels were cancelled when "A Series of Unfortunate Events" only managed to bring in $211 million worldwide, not nearly enough to recoup its budget of $140 million. For a big-budget movie based on a hit book series and starring Jim Carrey, it simply wasn't enough.
A decade later, the book series was adapted again, more successfully, in the form of a Netflix series — minus the Aflac duck.
12. The Truth About Santa Claus
The final film released during Gilbert Gottfried's lifetime, "The Truth About Santa Claus" isn't exactly a triumphant note to go out on, but at least it's not produced by Ken Del Vecchio!
Gottfried plays Dr. Leland, a psychiatrist whose patient meets the real Santa and suddenly sees everybody, even adults, as children — including his wife, which is weird. Fortunately, "The Truth About Santa Claus" is a family-friendly movie, so any gross-out implications are completely bypassed. Then again, perhaps it seems wasteful to have a movie with such a bizarre premise and not let Gilbert Gottfried swing for the fences. In any case, "The Truth About Santa Claus" is not a good movie, but it's not an outright disaster. It has some funny moments, mostly from the child actors pretending to be grown-ups, but it's hard to imagine the movie becoming a Christmas classic in any self-respecting household.
11. Gender Bender
A low-budget 2016 comedy from director/star Richard Lampone, "Gender Bender" follows three men who have their male genitals magically swapped with those of the opposite gender by an Asian mystic. Yeah, it doesn't exactly put its best foot forward, and things only go downhill from there. "Gender Bender" is the kind of movie that does not include any of its leading actors on the poster, instead offering top billing to actors who play cameo roles — in this case, Gilbert Gottfried and Eric Roberts.
Gottfried plays a gynecologist who scares his patients with his complete lack of tactful bedside manner. His role in the film is miniscule, but he's the funniest part of the whole movie. He's also the one funny part. Fortunately, most of his performance can be found in the trailer, which will spare you the trouble of having to watch the entire 110-minute misfire. "Gender Bender" is like a middle-aged man's version of a National Lampoon straight-to-video teen comedy. It's safe to say, you can skip this one.
10. Animal Crackers
"Animal Crackers" is a computer-animated family film co-directed by frequent Disney collaborator Tony Bancroft and "The Dreamland Chronicles" creator Scott Christian Sava. Despite being finished in 2017, the film was delayed numerous times before quietly being dumped out by Netflix in July of 2020. The film boasts an all-star cast of voice actors, but maybe some of that money would have been better spent refining the animation, which looks choppy and half-cooked. It's not nearly as bad as something like the straight-to-video "Open Season" sequels, but it's a far cry from anything by Disney and Pixar.
To focus on the positive, "Animal Crackers" has an intriguing premise, with its lead characters (a husband-wife duo voiced by real life spouses John Krasinski and Emily Blunt) trying to save a circus by utilizing a magical box of animal crackers; eating a cracker transforms them into that animal, leading to a variety of humorous and exciting scenarios. The supporting cast includes big names like Sylvester Stallone, Danny DeVito, and Gilbert Gottfried, who plays the chief minion of the villain, played by Ian McKellen.
9. Too Soon: Comedy After 9/11
Released to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the September 11th terror attacks, "Too Soon: Comedy After 9/11" explores the idea of how comedy can address tragedy. It does this by showcasing the perspective of the performers whose duty is to remind their audience that no subject can ever be off limits in the world of humor. Simply put, laughter is the best medicine.
Gilbert Gottfried infamously made what many consider to be the first post-9/11 joke, just three weeks after that tragic day. While he was widely ridiculed for his attempt at turning tragedy into comedy, the simple truth is, somebody had to do it. Somebody had to take the first step, to assert that there's nothing that can stop people from laughing and nothing that can't be addressed through humor. Gottfried was willing to step into the line of fire when nobody else would and say something that made people uncomfortable.
8. Joan Rivers: Exit Laughing
Gilbert Gottfried, Dick Cavett, Kathy Griffin, and many others pay tribute to the so-called "Queen of Mean" in the 2016 PBS documentary, "Joan Rivers: Exit Laughing." She was best known to younger audiences for hosting "Fashion Police" on the E! Network and for her numerous cosmetic surgeries, but her career as a comedian, actress, and late night television host is the stuff of legend. She was one of the most influential comedians of her time, and her fearless brand of razor-sharp insult humor paved the way for an entire generation of comedians from every gender.
Joan and Gottfried crossed paths when the latter participated in the Comedy Central Roast of Joan Rivers in 2009. We won't dare reprint any of his jokes here, but they are very nasty and very funny, and Joan surely wouldn't have had it any other way. Rest assured, she got him back by imitating his high-pitched vocal style and telling him to open his eyes so he can see the audience leaving!
7. The Last Laugh
Another documentary about pushing the boundaries of comedy, "The Last Laugh" uses the Holocaust as its inciting incident. One of the darkest and most horrific events in world history, the Holocaust represents the absolute lowest potential of humanity to commit evil. "The Last Laugh" is about comedians — many of whom are Jewish — who make jokes about the Holocaust.
Naturally, Gilbert Gottfried appears prominently in the documentary, alongside folks like Sarah Silverman, Jeff Ross, and the legendary Mel Brooks. Brooks, like Charlie Chaplin before him, famously used humor to disarm Nazi ideology; in many ways, Brooks' film, "The Producers," is the heir apparent to Chaplin's 1940 satire, "The Great Dictator." Today, comedians who joke about taboo subjects send a message to their audience: nothing is too sacred for comedians to make fun of. Laughter is a way to confront trauma, and comedians play a tremendous role in allowing entire cultures to process grief and move on.
6. Director's Cut
Director Adam Rifkin called the shots on "Director's Cut," a lowbrow B-movie horror flick with a memorable cast and a meta sense of humor. Penn Jillette stars as an unhinged film director who kidnaps an actress (Missi Pyle) in an attempt to make the ultimate horror movie. Pyle and Harry Hamlin get to ham it up as over-the-top caricatures of themselves, while Jillette is surprisingly menacing as the villain protagonist who will stop at nothing to create his perfect, well, "Director's Cut." As far as meta horror-comedy stories go, "Director's Cut" feels kind of like a spiritual successor to "Wes Craven's New Nightmare," even if it's too cheap and dirty for mainstream audiences.
Gottfried doesn't have a large role in the film, but his cameo is in good company, since the film also features appearances from Lin Shaye, Nestor Carbonell, and Penn's onstage magic and comedy partner, Teller.
5. Can We Take a Joke?
A 2015 documentary about free speech and comedy, "Can We Take a Joke?" examines comedy through the lens of the 1st Amendment to the Constitution, which gives Americans the right to free speech. Obviously, a documentary with this subject matter has to include Gilbert Gottfried, who plays a large role as one of the many talking heads featured in the film.
In the film, Gottfried lays out the truth of what his job entails: "It's the duty of a comedian to find out where the line is drawn and deliberately cross over it." While there are certainly free speech extremists who use their platform to spread misinformation and hatred, provocative comedians are in an entirely different boat, as this documentary suggests. The film includes interviews with the likes of Jim Norton, Penn Jillette, Lisa Lampanelli, and Adam Carolla. Notably, "Can We Take a Joke?" is significantly more even-handed than Carolla's own 1st Amentment-themed documentary, "No Safe Spaces," which he co-produced with the founder of the right-wing Prager U group — but that's a different discussion entirely.
4. Life, Animated
The documentary, "Life, Animated," tells the story of Owen Suskind, son of journalist Ron Suskind. Owen lives with autism, and from an early age, learned that the best way he could communicate with others was through the language of cinema, particularly Disney animated films. "Life, Animated" explores Owen's attempts to communicate with his family through Disney, to the point of writing his own fan fiction to convey his thoughts and feelings to others.
After learning what "Life, Animated" was about, the Disney company allowed the filmmakers to use their characters in the documentary. The film features original animation using Disney characters, a rarity in the film business outside of "fair use parody" instances. Even better, the original animation, featuring the characters of Iago and Jafar, uses their original voice actors, Gilbert Gottfried and Jonathan Freeman. All told, no fewer than five entries on this list feature Gilbert Gottfried playing Iago the parrot.
3. Boy Band
"Boy Band" is a little seen 2018 indie comedy starring Steve Agee, Seth Herzog, Jordan Carlos, and Dave Hill. They play The Heartthrob Boyz, a 1990s boy band trying to make a comeback in the present day. Unfortunately, all of the pretty boy band members have grown old, out of shape, and immature, leading to friction, drama, and comedy.
Gilbert Gottfried plays their manager, Mort. Or rather, he provides the character's voice. For reasons better left unexplained, Mort is a puppet. He's also not a terribly effective manager. "Boy Band" was never destined to be a popular movie, but it's something of a hidden treasure for those in the know. With Agee's profile rising thanks to his breakout performances in James Gunn's "The Suicide Squad" and "Peacemaker," there's no time like the present to take a chance on The Heartthrob Boys and their ill-advised, but thoroughly entertaining, comeback story.
2. Gilbert
Following the death of Gilbert Gottfried, fellow comedian Bill Maher lamented never getting the chance to know the man beyond his comic persona, saying, "He was a hard guy to get to know well. He was so funny and so always on." For those looking to get a (somewhat) closer look at the man behind the squinty eyes and iconic vocal patterns, look no further than the 2017 documentary, "Gilbert."
Through interviews and archival footage, "Gilbert" explores the life and career of its subject, touching upon his most controversial moments, including his 9/11 joke and jokes he made about the 2011 Japanese earthquake — cracks that led to him getting fired from his lucrative gig as the spokesman for the Aflac company. The film also includes lots of behind-the-scenes footage of Gottfried without his famous persona, speaking with family and friends in his normal voice, without the shtick that made him such an instantly recognizable figure in the world of comedy.
1. Aladdin
Released at the height of the Disney Renaissance period, "Aladdin" reimagines the classic fairy tale through the timeless lens of the Mouse House's bombastic musical formula. "Aladdin" gets an extra shot in the arm thanks to a kinetic vocal performance from the late Robin Williams, who shines as the mystical Genie of the Lamp. Then, of course, there's Gilbert Gottfried as Iago, the parrot of Jafar, the Sultan's duplicitous vizier.
In a movie filled with breakout characters, Iago still manages to stand out as a fan favorite. He was popular enough to become the central character in the sequel, "The Return of Jafar," and Gottfried would reprise his role numerous times across various films, television shows, and video games featuring the world of Agrabah. Oddly, he did not return to voice the character in the 2019 live-action remake. While the immensely talented Alan Tudyk did a serviceable job in the role, it would have been nice to see Gottfried play a next-generation version of the iconic parrot.