Known for her comedic timing and on-screen charisma, Leslie Mann has amassed a four-decade filmography that highlights her versatility and ability to infuse humor with genuine emotion. With a penchant for collaborating with top-tier directors, the San Franciscan has carved a niche for herself in Hollywood, delivering performances that resonate with critics and fans alike.
The best Leslie Mann movies not only entertain, but also offer a deeper look into her talent at toggling nearly effortlessly between comedy and drama - with a few crime films thrown in for good measure. The assorted nature of her works ensures something for every type of viewer. This Is 40, a relatable portrayal of midlife crises blended with humor stars Leslie Mann as Debbie, a woman trying to juggle a husband, two kids, and a retail boutique. Another standout is The Other Woman, where her comedic prowess shines as she teams up with Cameron Diaz and Kate Upton in a story about betrayal and friendship. The Change-Up, where she plays the grounded wife amid a body-switch comedy, further cements her ability to bring depth to comedic roles.
Leslie Mann's filmography brims with performances that leave lasting impressions, thanks to her strong talent for blending humor with more heartfelt, nuanced roles.
Most divisive: Virgin High
Over 200 Ranker voters have come together to rank this list of The Best Leslie Mann Movies
- 1After many years of marriage, Pete (Paul Rudd) is the sole male in a household that includes his wife, Debbie (Leslie Mann), and two young daughters (Iris Apatow, Maude Apatow). As Pete struggles to keep his record label afloat, he and Debbie navigate a three-week course of sex and romance, career victories and financial hardships, aging parents and maturing children. They'll have to learn to forgive, forget and enjoy the rest of their lives -- before they kill each other.
- Released: 2012
- Directed by: Judd Apatow
- 2Rising journalist Alison Scott (Katherine Heigl) hits a serious bump in the road after a one-night stand with irresponsible slacker Ben Stone (Seth Rogen) results in pregnancy. Rather than raise the baby on her own, she decides to give Ben a chance to prove he is father material. However, he is unsure if he is ready to be a parent, and both wonder if they would be compatible lifetime partners.
- Released: 2007
- Directed by: Judd Apatow
- 3New York lawyer Carly Whitten (Cameron Diaz) lives by strict rules when it comes to romantic relationships, but when she falls for suave, handsome Mark King (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau), she begins an affair with him. A surprise visit to Mark's home reveals that he is married to devoted housewife Kate (Leslie Mann). Carly and Kate direct their hurt and anger toward Mark, and when they discover yet a third woman (Kate Upton) caught in his web of lies, the three join forces for revenge.
- Released: 2014
- Directed by: Nick Cassavetes
The 25 Best Movies Like 'The Other Woman', Ranked By FansSee all
- 1Wine Country6 Votes
- 2Bad Moms11 Votes
- 3The First Wives Club7 Votes
- 4Three dysfunctional co-workers embark on a mission to help their newfound friend lose his sexual innocence.
- Released: 2005
- Directed by: Judd Apatow
- 5Once inseparable pals, Dave (Jason Bateman) and Mitch (Ryan Reynolds) have drifted apart over the years. Dave is an overworked lawyer and family man, while Mitch has thus far avoided most of the normal responsibilities of adulthood. Each is envious of the other's life, and following a drunken binge, the men awake to find they have somehow switched bodies. Dave and Mitch soon discover that things are not as rosy as they seemed and try to find a way to return their lives to normal.
- Released: 2011
- Directed by: David Dobkin
- 6Mike O'Donnell (Matthew Perry) was a high-school basketball star with a bright future, but he threw it all away to marry his girlfriend and raise their child. Almost 20 years later, Mike's marriage has failed, his kids think he's a loser, and his job is going nowhere. He gets a chance to correct the mistakes of his past and change his life when he is miraculously transformed into a teenager (Zac Efron), but in trying to fix his past, Mike may be jeopardizing his present and future.
- Released: 2009
- Directed by: Burr Steers
- 7Thirty-two-year-old Sonny Koufax (Adam Sandler) has spent his whole life avoiding responsibility. But when his girlfriend dumps him for an older man, he's got to find a way to prove he's ready to grow up. In a desperate last-ditch effort, Sonny adopts 5-year-old Julian (Dylan Sprouse), (Cole Sprouse) to impress her. She's not impressed ... and he can't return the kid. Uh-oh for Sonny!
- Released: 1999
- Directed by: Dennis Dugan
- 8Oddball cable installer Chip Douglas (Jim Carrey) attempts to strike up a friendship with customer Steven Kovacs (Matthew Broderick) by offering him premium channels at no cost. When Steven rebuffs Chip's frequent need for companionship, Chip goes from a mildly eccentric acquaintance to a full-fledged psycho stalker. Though it's increasingly apparent to Steven that the cable guy is dangerous, convincing his friends, family and the authorities of that is another matter entirely.
- Released: 1996
- Directed by: Ben Stiller
- 9Recently learning that he has a fatal disease, comic George Simmons (Adam Sandler) spots a struggling performer named Ira (Seth Rogen) and decides to become his mentor. The men become close friends as George teaches Ira the art of stand-up comedy, and Ira helps George define his legacy. When an old flame (Leslie Mann) reappears and the disease goes into remission, George gets a chance to re-evaluate his life and figure out what is truly important to him.
- Released: 2009
- Directed by: Judd Apatow
- 10Julie, Kayla and Sam are three high school seniors who make a pact to lose their virginity on prom night. Lisa, Mitchell and Hunter are three overprotective parents who flip out when they find out about their daughters' plans. They soon join forces for a wild and chaotic quest to stop the girls from sealing the deal -- no matter what the cost.
- Released: 2018
- Directed by: Kay Cannon
- 11George (Brendan Fraser) has raised himself since since he was a baby and a plane crash stranded him in an African jungle. Now an adult, George has his first human contact in years when he rescues explorer Ursula Stanhope (Leslie Mann) from a lion. George and Ursula connect, and she leaves her fiancé, Lyle (Thomas Haden Church), and takes George back to San Francisco. But when George learns that his gorilla buddy has been captured, he and Ursula return on a rescue mission.
- Released: 1997
- Directed by: Sam Weisman
- 12Captured by smugglers when he was just a hatchling, a macaw named Blu (Jesse Eisenberg) never learned to fly and lives a happily domesticated life in Minnesota with his human friend, Linda. Blu is thought to be the last of his kind, but when word comes that Jewel (Anne Hathaway), a lone female, lives in Rio de Janeiro, Blu and Linda go to meet her. Animal smugglers kidnap Blu and Jewel, but the pair soon escape and begin a perilous adventure back to freedom -- and Linda.
- Released: 2011
- Directed by: Carlos Saldanha
- 13The lives -- and relationships -- of married brothers Mickey and Francis Fitzpatrick are disrupted by the presence of Heather, Mickey's ex-girlfriend. Heather has just reentered Mickey's life, but at the same time she's sleeping with Francis. Romantic entanglements, marital woes, and sibling rivalries result ... and teach the brothers Fitzpatrick a few things about the game of life.
- Released: 1996
- Directed by: Edward Burns
- 14In Wes Anderson's first feature film, Anthony (Luke Wilson) has just been released from a mental hospital, only to find his wacky friend Dignan (Owen C. Wilson) determined to begin an outrageous crime spree. After recruiting their neighbor, Bob (Robert Musgrave), the team embarks on a road trip in search of Dignan's previous boss, Mr. Henry (James Caan). But the more they learn, the more they realize that they do not know the first thing about crime.
- Released: 1996
- Directed by: Wes Anderson
- 15Searching for a safer habitat, the prehistoric Crood family discovers an idyllic, walled-in paradise that meets all of its needs. Unfortunately, they must also learn to live with the Bettermans -- a family that's a couple of steps above the Croods on the evolutionary ladder. As tensions between the new neighbors start to rise, a new threat soon propels both clans on an epic adventure that forces them to embrace their differences, draw strength from one another, and survive together.
- Released: 2020
- Directed by: Joel Crawford
- 16Drillbit Taylor is a 2008 comedy film starring Owen Wilson as the eponymous character and based on an original idea by John Hughes. It was directed by Steven Brill and the screenplay was written by Kristofor Brown and Seth Rogen. Paramount Pictures released the film on March 21, 2008.
- Released: 2008
- Directed by: Steven Brill
- 17A smart high-school student with his heart set on going to Stanford is horrified when his guidance counselor accidentally sends the wrong transcript with his college application. He spends the rest of the film trying to prove that he's actually a good student with a terrific grade-point average.
- Released: 2002
- Directed by: Jake Kasdan
- 18After four years of college, young Alice (Dakota Johnson) decides she needs a break from her long-term boyfriend Josh. Excited and ready for new challenges, the eager grad moves to New York to take a job as a paralegal. Helping her navigate her way through an unfamiliar city is Robin (Rebel Wilson), a fun-loving, wild co-worker who enjoys partying and one-night stands. With Robin as her freewheeling guide, Alice can now learn how to get free drinks, meet men and enjoy the single lifestyle.
- Released: 2016
- Directed by: Christian Ditter
- 19Steven Russell (Jim Carrey) becomes a cop, gets married and starts a family, but after a terrible car accident, he vows to be true to himself. He comes out of the closet, moves to Florida, and finances a luxurious lifestyle with bad checks and credit cards. In prison, Steven meets Phillip (Ewan McGregor), a mild-mannered inmate who becomes the love of his life. Determined to build a beautiful life with his lover, Steven embarks on another crime spree.
- Released: 2009
- Directed by: Glenn Ficarra, John Requa
- 20After learning that a young pig's days are numbered, a literate spider (Julia Roberts) weaves an elaborate plan to save her friend from the butcher's block.
- Released: 2006
- Directed by: Gary Winick
- 21A production company begins casting for its next feature, and an up-and-coming actress named Rose (Salma Hayek) tries to manipulate her filmmaker boyfriend, Alex, into giving her a screen test. Alex's wife, Emma (Saffron Burrows), knows about the affair and is considering divorce, while Rose's girlfriend secretly spies on her and attempts to sabotage the relationship. The four storylines in the film were each shot in one take and are shown simultaneously, each taking up a quarter of the screen.
- Released: 2000
- Directed by: Mike Figgis
- 22John (Jason Lee) is a hard-working guy who only wants to marry his longtime girlfriend Elaine (Leslie Mann). Elaine and John have vowed to marry once they save $30,000 for their dream house. Things are fine until John's sister calls to remind him of his promise to pay his niece's tuition, which costs $29,829 and is due in two weeks! John turns to his friend Duff (Tom Green) to help him make $30,000 quickly. Duff convinces John to make a short-term commitment to petty crime.
- Released: 2002
- Directed by: Bruce McCulloch
- 23In the animated horror-comedy ParaNorman, Norman Babcock (voiced by Kodi Smit-McPhee) is a misunderstood boy who can speak with the dead. Living in the town of Blithe Hollow, Massachusetts, which has an infamous witch trial history, Norman's peculiar skills are put to the test when he is tasked with saving his town from a centuries-old curse. As he battles zombies, ghosts, and grown-ups who don't understand him, Norman must summon his courage to stop a vengeful witch's (Jodelle Ferland) curse. Laika's second feature film won an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. The movie stands out for its unique blend of comedy, horror and poignant storytelling about embracing one's uniqueness.
- Released: 2012
- Directed by: Chris Butler, Sam Fell
- 24
Virgin High
Leslie Mann, Burt Ward, Linnea Quigley- Released: 1991
- Directed by: Richard Gabai
- 25Perfume is a 2001 film about the fashion industry in New York City.
- Released: 2001
- Directed by: Michael Rymer
- 26"Little Birds emanates both a harsh reality and an innocent luster as it explores the vigorous desire to escape one’s home—and the heavy price it can cost. Fifteen-year-old Lily and her best friend, Alison, live on the shores of the Salton Sea. Sprinting toward adulthood, Lily wants to escape her depressing hometown. But Alison is content with her life; she enjoys being sheltered from the uncertainty of growing up. When the girls meet three street kids, Lily convinces Alison to follow the boys to Los Angeles. Thrust into a world of excitement and danger, the girls must decide how far they are willing to go to get what they want. Writer/director Elgin James possesses an innate understanding of the fledgling characters, valiantly brought to life on the screen by Juno Temple and Kay Panabaker, who perfectly embody their strength and fragility. Brutally honest and beautifully rendered, Little Birds delivers a stunning portrait of innocence lost." Quoting the description from the 2011 Sundance Film Festival site.
- Released: 2011
- Directed by: Elgin James
- 27Things I Never Told You is a 1996 dramatic comedy written and directed by Isabel Coixet.
- Released: 1996
- Directed by: Isabel Coixet
- 28The Bubble is a comedy film that satirizes the challenges of filmmaking during a pandemic. The plot follows a group of actors and a film crew sequestered in a hotel as they attempt to complete a sequel to a popular action franchise, Cliff Beasts. The ensemble cast features Karen Gillan, David Duchovny, Keegan-Michael Key, and Leslie Mann, among others. Directed by Judd Apatow, the film takes a humorous look at the absurdity of their bubble-wrapped production environment, the actors' egos, and the farcical lengths the industry goes to keep the cameras rolling - amid real-world interruptions.
- Released: 2022
- Directed by: Judd Apatow
- 29In the little town of Black Falls, every house looks the same and almost everyone works for Black Box Unlimited Worldwide Industries, purveyors of a device that is sweeping the nation. Toe Johnson, 11, is unimpressed with the company and its wares; he just wants a few friends. Then, a wish-granting rock falls from the sky and changes everything. The town swarms with wishes gone amok, but the trouble really begins when adults get their hands on the rock.
- Released: 2009
- Directed by: Robert Rodriguez
- 30Loyal to nobody but himself, John Smith (Bruce Willis) hires his services out to Fredo Strozzi (Ned Eisenberg), a bootlegging gangster who operates in a drab Texas town. However, he is quick to trade information to Strozzi's rival, Doyle (David Patrick Kelly). Then, having learned about Doyle's infatuation with beautiful Felina (Karina Lombard), Smith uses her to push both bosses into full-scale bloodshed. The only one who suspects anything is Hickey (Christopher Walken), Doyle's lieutenant.
- Released: 1996
- Directed by: Walter Hill
- 31A married crime novelist finds himself in a tough predicament when an eccentric mystic summons the spirit of his first wife during a séance.
- Released: 2020
- Directed by: Edward Hall
- 32No one expects Mark Hogancamp to recover from a devastating assault that wipes away all of his memories. Putting together pieces from the past and present, Mark meticulously creates a Belgian town and becomes a heroic World War II fighter pilot. His astonishing art installation soon comes to life with breathtakingly realistic dolls -- a testament to the most powerful women he knows. Through this fantasy world, Hogancamp finds the strength to triumph in the real world and face his attackers.
- Released: 2018
- Directed by: Robert Zemeckis
- 33Blue macaws Blu (Jesse Eisenberg), Jewel (Anne Hathaway) and their three children are comfortably settled in the city -- perhaps too comfortably. Jewel fears that the children are becoming more like humans than birds. After learning that she and Blu may not be the last blue macaws after all, Jewel decides that their little family should visit the Amazon jungle. It's there that Blu meets his formidable father-in-law (Andy Garcia) and goes beak-to-beak with archnemesis Nigel (Jemaine Clement).
- Released: 2014
- Directed by: Carlos Saldanha
- 34A teenager (Israel Broussard) and his gang of fame-obsessed youths (Katie Chang, Taissa Farmiga) use the Internet to track the whereabouts of celebrities, then rob their homes.
- Released: 2013
- Directed by: Sofia Coppola
- 35Remembering fond, childhood memories of his trip to Walley World, Rusty Griswold (Ed Helms) surprises his wife (Christina Applegate) and two sons with a cross-country excursion to America's favorite fun park. Following in his father's (Chevy Chase) footsteps, Rusty and the gang pack up the car and hit the road for some much-needed family bonding. Soon, the promise of fun turns into one misadventure after another for the next generation of Griswolds and anyone who encounters them.
- Released: 2015
- Directed by: Jonathan M. Goldstein, John Francis Daley
- 36Motherless Brooklyn is a 2019 crime drama film directed by Edward Norton, based on the 1999 novel of the same name by Jonathan Lethem. A private investigator (Edward Norton) with Tourette syndrome works to solve the mystery of his mentor's (Bruce Willis) murder in 1950s New York.
- Released: 2019
- Directed by: Edward Norton
- 37Mr. Peabody (Ty Burrell), the most accomplished canine in the world, and his boy, Sherman (Max Charles), use a time machine called the Wabac to embark on outrageous adventures. However, when Sherman takes the Wabac without permission to impress his friend Penny (Ariel Winter), he accidentally rips a hole in the universe and causes havoc with world history. It's up to Mr. Peabody to mount a rescue and prevent the past, present and future from being permanently altered.
- Released: 2014
- Directed by: Rob Minkoff
- 38Jackie Burke, an aging comic icon, has seen better days. Despite his efforts to reinvent himself and his comic genius, the audience only wants to know him as the former television character he once played. Already a strain on his younger brother and his wife, Jackie is forced to serve out a sentence doing community service for accosting an audience member. While there, he meets Harmony, the daughter of a sleazy Florida real estate mogul, and the two find inspiration in each other.
- Released: 2016
- Directed by: Taylor Hackford
