When it comes to movies, as soon as there’s the mention of a lovable geek, thousands of people will instantly think of the inimitable beloved actor Rick Moranis. Due to his slightly scrawny frame and his unique brand of ‘awkward’ humor, he was absolutely perfect for whenever the role of an eccentric professor or socially awkward nerd needed filling. He’s admitted himself that he didn’t mind being typecast and fully embraced the opportunities given to him, although he once told The Guardian that he wouldn’t mind a few Schwarzenegger-type leading action roles being thrown his way once in a while. Despite becoming somewhat of a superstar in the 80s, Moranis’ career was fairly short-lived and, as we entered the 90s, his movie appearances seemed to become more sporadic until, by the end of the decade, he had all but vanished off the face of Hollywood.
While, for many actors, this might simply be a product of changing times and waning popularity, Moranis’ reason for disappearing into obscurity is far more wholesome. As a single parent, he was struggling to juggle his time between shooting movies around the world and spending time with and raising his children. It was for this reason that he stepped back from acting, pushing it to the background while his family was pushed firmly to the forefront. His legacy certainly lived on though and despite being on hiatus, his older work continued to entertain and amassing a cult following. Now that his children have blossomed into adulthood, it has been reported that Moranis will be making a return to acting, after over 20 years in the Disney+ Honey, I Shrunk the Kids TV spinoff Shrunk. In the meantime, here are his six greatest movies, ranked.
6 Ghostbusters II
Columbia Pictures
Ghostbusters II was always going to be a difficult feat to pull off. The first had already become iconic in every sense of the word, from the hilarious riffing between the lead cast to the soundtrack and the mischievous Slimer and the gigantic Marshmallow Man. It was a huge commercial and critical success and to say the sequel had some big shoes to fill would have been an understatement. Unfortunately, as many suspected, the second wasn’t able to completely recapture the magic of the first with many claiming it retread old ground, emulating the original’s structure too closely. That’s not to say it’s a bad movie; it certainly had its moments with Moranis’ return receiving praise in particular and delighting fans as he finally gets to don the famous Ghostbusters uniform.
5 Parenthood
Imagine Entertainment
The 1989 family-based comedy Parenthood had a heck of a lot of talent involved including Steve Martin, Dianne Wiest, and fresh-faced appearances from Keanu Reeves and Joaquin Phoenix, so it could have been easy for Rick Moranis’ supporting role of the nerdy scientist to be overshadowed. But Moranis rose to the occasion and every second of his screen time was hilarious and just subtle and nuanced enough not to fall into the realms of outright parody or to become a caricature. His talent was recognized by fans and critics which was proven by the fact he won the American Comedy Award for Funniest Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture.
4 Spaceballs
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Spaceballs is a sci-fi parody movie directed by the legendary Mel Brookes, and it stars Rick Moranis alongside Bill Pullman, Joan Rivers, and John Candy as they navigate the solar system while avoiding being captured by ‘Spaceballs’. The cast does a fantastic job of spoofing classic sci-fi movies like Star Wars, Star Trek, Alien and Planet of the Apes. Moranis is unforgettable as he’s given the freedom to truly revel in ridiculousness, appearing as Lord Dark Helmet, a bargain-basement version of Darth Vader, except with a really, really, large helmet. Surprisingly, the movie was only a minor hit at the time and garnered rather mixed reviews from critics, though it has since amassed a large cult following.
3 Little Shop of Horrors
The Geffen Company
Rick Moranis once again appears alongside comedy legends like Steve Martin and John Candy and more than holds his own. This whacky 1986’s dark comedy horror-musical hybrid centers on a floral shop owner who discovers a Venus flytrap that feeds on human blood. Based on the lesser known Off-Broadway musical and 1960 Roger Corman film, this campy and charmingly off-kilter flick has since developed a cult following, re-appeared on Broadway, and, per Digital Spy, there’s even rumblings about a reboot coming soon with Chris Evans attached to star.
2 Honey, I Shrunk the Kids
Walt Disney Pictures
Honey, I Shrunk the Kids sees Moranis playing perfectly to type as an eccentric scientist who creates a shrink ray gun that can shrink whatever object it is fired at. What could go wrong you ask? Well, in this case, the ‘father of the year’ somehow fails to keep the majorly dangerous science gun out of the reach of children, which results in his kids getting shrunk! The film is actually a fine mixture of fun, excitement and humor as the children, now only a quarter of an inch in height and having been discarded in the trash, have to work together to make it through the backyard and overcome the dangers within. Just imagine potentially being over-powered by a single ant, and you’ll get the idea.
1 Ghostbusters
Columbia-Delphi Productions
Ghostbusters is arguably amongst the greatest comedies of all time. Fun for all the family, the movie manages to successfully blend just enough scares and adult humor to appeal to adults, but never loses the fun factor that makes it so appealing to a younger audience. Fresh off their success on SNL, Bill Murray and Dan Ackroyd appear alongside Harold Ramis as the titular Ghostbusters (later joined by Ernie Hudson) as they set out to protect New York City from an all-out supernatural invasion. Rick Moranis stars as a geeky accountant who lives in the same apartment block as Sigourney Weaver’s character as they both become helplessly possessed by a demonic entity. The film was a huge success with critics and audiences alike and went on to become the second highest grossing movie of 1984, narrowly missing out on the top spot to Beverly Hills Cop. The movie has had a huge impact on popular culture being referenced on countless occasions since its release. Moranis’ likeability quickly established him as a firm fan favorite, which saw him reprising his role for the sequel. And just to think, the role almost went to John Candy…
