Ranking The 10 Best Rick Moranis Comedies of All Time Before Spaceballs 2

Rick Moranis‘s comedy movies were some of the best in the ’80s and ’90s. He appeared in a string of movies over the two decades, including a couple of movie series, before taking an acting hiatus in 1997. In the 2000s, he mostly did one-off appearances in movies and TV shows.

A sequel to Honey, I Shrunk the Kids was supposed to be his return to live-action movies. However, the sequel, titled Shrunk, was put on indefinite hold. Currently, fans expect to see him back in his role as Dark Helmet in a sequel to Spaceballs. Many were skeptical about the movie actually being made until news came last September that it began filming.

The parody movie’s announcement was received with so much excitement at the recently concluded CinemaCon, especially since the cast appeared on stage during Amazon MGM’s presentation. An official title, Spaceballs: The New One, along with a teaser, was released during the event. Moranis led the fun-filled introduction of the movie with the cast.

As the movie is set to hit our screens on April 23, 2027, fans would love to explore the other works of the actor who played Dark Helmet. Here are ten of his best comedy works ranked.

10 The Flintstones (1994)

Based on the Hanna-Barbera cartoon series of the same name, The Flintstones starred John Goodman and Elizabeth Perkins as the titular couple, while Moranis played Fred Flintstone’s best friend Barney Rubble. It was a truthful adaptation of the original, even taking the Stone Age costumes and setting from the cartoon.

The result was an absurd-looking comedy that the critics had a field day hating. For fans, it certainly didn’t live up to the brand of comedy associated with the actor. However, it turned out to be Moranis’s one of the biggest box office outings ever. The movie made over $340 million, especially since it was promoted as a family-friendly comedy for the summer holidays.

The Flintstones (1994)	Details
Director	Brian Levant
Cast	John Goodman, Moranis, Elizabeth Perkins, Rosie O’Donnell, Kyle MacLachlan, Halle Berry, and Elizabeth Taylor
Box Office (As of April 23, 2026)	$341,631,208
RT – Tomatometer | Popcornmeter (As of April 23, 2026)	23% | 25%
IMDb Score (As of April 23, 2026)	5.1/10

His character, Barney, was the funniest among the bunch. The movie saw a resurgence in recent times after funny clips from the movies were shared as short-form content on social media, introducing the franchise to a new age audience. A standalone prequel of the movie was released in 2000, and it didn’t star any of the original actors.

The Flintstones is now available for rent on Prime Video and AppleTV.

9 Ghostbusters II (1989)

Ghostbusters II is the kind of trainwreck sequel that should dissuade studios from franchising without a plan. Even the actors involved were unhappy with the movie. During a 2013 interview with Empire, Moranis was asked about his potential return to the franchise. He didn’t shut down the idea entirely, but he made his disappointment with the second movie clear. He shared (via IndieWire):

Somebody [Dan] is associated with called me and I said, ‘I wouldn’t not do it, but it’s got to be good.’ You know, I’m not interested in doing anything I’ve already done, and I thought the second one was a disappointment.

In a directionless sequel, Moranis was one of the standout performances when he reprised the role of Louis Tully briefly. His performance received praise in an otherwise forgettable movie, which even made Bill Murray stay away from the franchise until 2024. Moranis turned down the offer to appear in modern-day Ghostbusters altogether.

Ghostbusters II (1989)	Details
Director	Ivan Reitman
Cast	Bill Murray, Aykroyd, Sigourney Weaver, Ramis, Moranis, Ernie Hudson, and Annie Potts
Box Office (As of April 23, 2026)	$215,394,738
RT – Tomatometer | Popcornmeter (As of April 23, 2026)	55% | 61%
IMDb Score (As of April 23, 2026)	6.6/10

It garnered $215 million, which was still considered a massive failure by Sony, as the previous movie had made $296 million five years earlier. Interestingly, the reception for the movie has been more positive in recent years, with some considering it a better installment in the franchise than the new movies.

Ghostbusters II is now available for streaming on AMC.

8 Little Giants (1994)

Modern Family‘s Ed O’Neill appeared in this sports comedy with Moranis. The movie is about two brothers, Danny and Kevin O’Shea, who coach rival pee-wee football teams. It is your typical sports drama, where the underdog (Danny, who has no knowledge about football) takes on the arrogant star coach (Kevin, who was a college football star).

Danny and Kevin’s teams have to face off in a single match that determines which team will become the city’s one Pee-Wee Football Team. It was a box office disaster, which is not surprising as all the other sports comedies of the time shared a similar vein.

Little Giants (1994)	Details
Director	Duwayne Dunham
Cast	Moranis, Ed O’Neill, and John Madden
Box Office (As of April 23, 2026)	$19,306,362
RT – Tomatometer | Popcornmeter (As of April 23, 2026)	50% | 63%
IMDb Score (As of April 23, 2026)	6.5/10

Moranis and O’Neill sold the sibling rivalry well. However, much of the humor in the movie came from the supporting cast, especially the children who form Danny’s underdog ‘Little Giants’ team.

Little Giants is now available for rent on Prime Video and AppleTV.

7 My Blue Heaven (1990)

Rick Moranis and Steve Martin‘s My Blue Heaven has a weird connection to Martin Scorsese’s Goodfellas. Both films were based on the same person, Henry Hill, the subject of Nicholas Pileggi’s book Wiseguy. While Scorsese adapted Pileggi’s story as such, Pileggi’s wife Nora Ephron wrote a crime comedy version of the story where the relationship between the former mobster-turned-informant and a federal agent was explored.

Martin plays Vinnie Antonelli (renamed for the movie), who is in a witness protection program under the eye of Moranis’s Agent Barney Coopersmith. The story only touches upon Vinnie’s mob life, as the focus is on the bond these two men form over the course of the story.

My Blue Heaven (1990)	Details
Director	Herbert Ross
Cast	Steve Martin, Moranis, and Joan Cusack
Box Office (As of April 23, 2026)	$23,591,472
RT – Tomatometer | Popcornmeter (As of April 23, 2026)	71% | 59%
IMDb Score (As of April 23, 2026)	6.3/10

Martin’s version is a far cry from Ray Liotta’s intense character in Goodfellas. At one point, Arnold Schwarzenegger was cast in the role. Vinnie is presented as an agent of chaos in this movie, with Barney being forced to go out of his way to protect him. This was Martin and Moranis’s third movie together, and it cemented their on-screen chemistry.

My Blue Heaven is now available for rent on Prime Video and AppleTV.

6 Strange Brew (1983)

Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas reprised their SCTV characters Bob and Doug McKenzie in this feature film, marking their debut movie outing. Moranis and Thomas also co-wrote and co-directed this absurd comedy about two brothers on a quest to get as much free beer as possible. Fans of Moranis’s SCTV days absolutely loved this feature film.

In the movie, Bob and Doug’s weird mission takes them to Elsinore Brewery, where they work and drink beer. The evil Brewmeister Smith, played by Max von Sydow, is planning to take over the world by putting a mind control drug in the Elsinore beer. However, the brothers come across his evil plan when they dig into the mysterious death of the brewery’s former owner, John Elsinore.

Strange Brew (1983)	Details
Director	Dave Thomas and Moranis
Cast	Dave Thomas and Moranis
Box Office (As of April 23, 2026)	$8,571,374
RT – Tomatometer | Popcornmeter (As of April 23, 2026)	75% | 81%
IMDb Score (As of April 23, 2026)	6.6/10

It was the role in Strange Brew that brought him the attention of Hollywood filmmakers, who later put him in similar comedies for the American audience. The movie has a cult following and is considered to be one of the best Canadian comedy movies ever.

Strange Brew is now available for streaming on The Roku Channel.

5 Parenthood (1989)

Rick Moranis was one of the stars in Ron Howard’s coming-of-age comedy-drama Parenthood. The movie inspired two NBC shows of the same name in 1990 and 2010. Moranis played Nathan, who is the husband of one of the Buckman siblings, Susan, played by Harley Jane Kozak. The story centers around the lives of these siblings, including Steve Martin’s Gil and Dianne Wiest’s Helen.

In Moranis’s storyline in this ensemble, he is a scientist who is very competitive and uptight. He worries more about his daughter’s academic capabilities than about his wife’s wish to have another baby. Their troubles eventually led to Susan leaving him. It is at this point that Nathan realizes his mistake. He apologizes and promises to change his ways, giving them a happy ending.

Parenthood (1989)	Details
Director	Ron Howard
Cast	Steve Martin, Tom Hulce, Moranis, Martha Plimpton, Keanu Reeves, Jason Robards, Mary Steenburgen, and Dianne Wiest
Box Office (As of April 23, 2026)	$126,297,830
RT – Tomatometer | Popcornmeter (As of April 23, 2026)	92% | 76%
IMDb Score (As of April 23, 2026)	7.1/10

The film was well-received among the critics, who found it to be a funny and thoughtful family drama. It largely worked for the audience because of its relatable theme and a brilliant star cast. A step away from his usual absurd comedies, the movie proved that Moranis could blend in and work with family-friendly humor. It went on to make $126 million at the box office.

Parenthood is now available for streaming on Prime Video.

4 Little Shop of Horrors (1986)

Little Shop of Horrors is one of the most underrated comedies of Moranis. It is an adaptation of the 1960 film of the same name, which was later made into a 1982 off-Broadway musical. Frank Oz directed this horror comedy musical, which also starred Ellen Greene, Vincent Gardenia, and Steve Martin. Jim Belushi, John Candy, Christopher Guest, and Bill Murray appeared in guest roles in the movie.

Moranis played Seymour, a florist who discovers a carnivorous plant that feeds on human blood. He names it Audrey II after his co-worker Audrey, whom he had always had a crush on. The sentient plant influences him to feed him actual humans. Somewhere along his descent into darkness, Seymour worries about Audrey II’s growing appetite and about losing Audrey.

Little Shop of Horrors (1986)	Details
Director	Frank Oz
Cast	Moranis, Ellen Greene, Vincent Gardenia, and Steve Martin
Box Office (As of April 23, 2026)	$39,067,762 (domestic)
RT – Tomatometer | Popcornmeter (As of April 23, 2026)	91% | 79%
IMDb Score (As of April 23, 2026)	7.1/10

The film had two climaxes, with the theatrical one opting for a happier ending for Seymour and Audrey. Test audiences didn’t approve of the original climax, which portrayed a darker, end-of-the-world ending. It was made available on Warner Home Video as a director’s cut in 2012. Both versions went on to earn a cult following.

Little Shop of Horrors is now available for rent on Prime Video and AppleTV.

3 Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (1989)

Moranis starred in this iconic children’s movie of the early ’90s, playing the role of an inventor who creates a machine that accidentally shrinks his children. It was a franchise starter, which was followed by two sequels and a TV series. It was the directorial debut of Joe Johnston. While much of the film is from the children’s perspective, showing their adventures and attempts to return to their normal selves, Moranis is the face of the chaos in this movie.

He carries the movie with his comedic timing as he tries to find his children. He turned out to be the perfect choice to make use of the situational comedy that arises out of this wacky premise. Besides the humor and performances, the movie also impressed critics and audiences with its visual effects.

Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (1989)	Details
Director	Joe Johnston
Cast	Moranis, Marcia Strassman, Amy O’Neill, Robert Oliveri, Matt Frewer, Kristine Sutherland, Thomas Wilson, Jared Rushton, Carl Steven, Mark L. Taylor, and Kimmy Robertson
Box Office (As of April 23, 2026)	$222,724,172
RT – Tomatometer | Popcornmeter (As of April 23, 2026)	76% | 54%
IMDb Score (As of April 23, 2026)	6.4/10

The result was a surprising $222 million box office earnings, which made the film Disney’s highest-grossing live-action movie at the time. It held on to that record for five years.

Honey, I Shrunk the Kids is now available for streaming on Disney+.

2 Ghostbusters (1984)

While the sequel didn’t impress many, Ghostbusters was a one-of-a-kind movie when it was released in 1984. Arriving in theaters with little faith from its studio, the movie went on to become a cultural phenomenon. And Moranis was part of this classic horror comedy, playing the role of Louis Tully. He is the neighbor of Sigourney Weaver’s character, Dana Barrett.

In the movie, Louis gets possessed by Vinz Clortho, the Keymaster. He and Dana, who is possessed by the demigod Zuul, want to summon Gozer the Gozerian, who is the god of destruction. Eventually, the Ghostbusters defeat Gozer and rescue both Louis and Dana from their possessed states.

Ghostbusters (1984)	Details
Director	Ivan Reitman
Cast	Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Sigourney Weaver, Harold Ramis, and Moranis
Box Office (As of April 23, 2026)	$296,640,120 (not including reruns)
RT – Tomatometer | Popcornmeter (As of April 23, 2026)	95% | 88%
IMDb Score (As of April 23, 2026)	7.8/10

The role of Louis was initially offered to John Candy, but he rejected it after his creative choices were not acceptable to the makers. Ivan Reitman was friends with Moranis and offered him the role. Moranis played a part in developing his character and even ad-libbed portions of his dialogue in the movie.

Ghostbusters is now available for streaming on Netflix.

1 Spaceballs (1987)

1987’s Spaceballs is clearly a niche selection for the number 1 position in this list. It was a movie that was right on brand for Moranis, who played the character of Dark Helmet, which was a spoof of Darth Vader from Star Wars. It made fun of the many space opera and sci-fi movies of the time, including Star Wars, Star Trek, 2001: A Space Odyssey, and Transformers.

In the movie, he kidnaps Princess Vespa (played by Daphne Zuniga), and Bill Pullman’s renegade pilot Lone Starr arrives to rescue her with his sidekick Barf (played by John Candy). Mel Brooks plays President Skroob, the leader of Planet Spaceball, and Yogurt, a parody of Yoda.

The film didn’t impress critics at the time, who weren’t amused by Brooks’ spoofery. It went on to win the Worst Picture at the 10th Stinkers Bad Movie Awards.

Spaceballs (1987)	Details
Director	Mel Brooks
Cast	Brooks, Bill Pullman, John Candy, Moranis, Daphne Zuniga, Dick Van Patten, George Wyner, and Lorene Yarnell
Box Office (As of April 23, 2026)	$38,120,460
RT – Tomatometer | Popcornmeter (As of April 23, 2026)	52% | 83%
IMDb Score (As of April 23, 2026)	7.1/10

The film went on to gain a cult following later, with many of the film’s references being used even today. Elon Musk’s Tesla borrowed the movie’s starship speeds, consisting of Light Speed, Ridiculous Speed, Ludicrous Speed, and Plaid Speed, to name their acceleration models. Moranis will return in his iconic character for the upcoming Spaceballs 2.

Spaceballs is now available for streaming on Prime Video and AMC+.

Rank	Rick Moranis movies
1	Spaceballs (1987)
2	Ghostbusters (1984)
3	Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (1989)
4	Little Shop of Horrors (1986)
5	Parenthood (1989)
6	Strange Brew (1983)
7	My Blue Heaven (1990)
8	Little Giants (1994)
9	Ghostbusters II (1989)
10	The Flintstones (1994)

Here are a few questions you might want the answers to about Rick Moranis’s comedy movies.

Which Moranis movie will you pick up for a rewatch? Do you have any picks from here that you are excited to watch for the first time? Let us know in the comments below!