Comedian Chris Farley is considered by many longtime fans of Saturday Night Live as perhaps the funniest cast member who ever appeared on the show. Practically every week, Farley threw caution to the wind through his very physical comedy, and he was always willing to go above and beyond to get a laugh.
Whether it was as motivational speaker Matt Foley who lived in a 'van down by the river,' dancing at a Chippendale’s audition and trying to get the gig against Patrick Swayze, or dressed in drag as one of the Gap Girls, you never knew what he was going to do next. His success on SNL soon led to opportunities on the big screen, which for the better part of the 90s, took Farley’s rising star to even greater heights.
Updated December 10th 2022: If you're a fan of the legendary comedian Chris Farley, you'll be happy to know that we've updated this article with new entries.
Initially starting his career as a member of the legendary Chicago improv comedy troop, The Second City, Saturday Night Live was an obvious next step. However, Farley’s ascent into Hollywood helped cement his legacy for all time, eventually leading to a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2005. Following in the footsteps of his idol, comedian John Belushi, Farley starred in a handful of comedy classics, although sometimes only played interesting side characters, which usually stole the film during practically any scene he appeared in.
Farley battled various drug and alcohol issues during his life, however, which eventually resulted in his death at only 33 years old in December 1997. In roughly five years in the mainstream spotlight, Farley accomplished more than many actors and comedians accomplish in an entire lifetime. For that reason, here are Chris Farley’s best movies, ranked.
10 Almost Heroes
Released shortly after his death, 1998's underrated comedy Almost Heroes stars Chris Farley as Bartholomew Hunt, an explorer competing against the famed Lewis and Clark team after the Louisiana Purchase by the United States in the early 1800s. Bartholomew is hired to travel all the way west and cross the country before Lewis and Clark are able to do so themselves.
Matthew Perry (as Leslie Edwards) is his partner on the journey and the two (along with all their personality differences and contrasting upbringings) get into a lot of trouble along the way in the process.
9 Dirty Work
Farley’s other posthumous film was his small role in 1998's Dirty Work, which starred fellow SNL alum Norm McDonald. Based on Roald Dahl’s story, this hilarious, dark buddy comedy follows losers and long-time friends, Mitch and Sam (played by McDonald and Artie Lange), who find success in the revenge-for-hire business. In Dirty Work, Farley played Jimmy, Mitch and Sam's shady friend who got his nose bitten off on more than one occasion.
8 Airheads
In 1994's well-cast comedy Airheads, Farley plays Officer Wilson, who’s trying to stop Chazz (Brendan Fraser), Pip (Adam Sandler), and Rex (Steve Buscemi) during a radio station hostage situation. The band began holding the employees inside the building hostage in a desperate bid to have their band’s Lone Rangers demo played on the air. The most memorable scene has Farley rip out a man’s nipple ring who acts disrespectfully towards him.
7 Coneheads
The long-time Saturday Night Live skit became a big-screen film Coneheads in 1993. Chris Farley played Ronnie the mechanic, who begins a relationship with the Coneheads' daughter, Connie (Michelle Burke). This greatly upsets Connie’s Dad Beldar (played by Dan Aykroyd), who tears the roof off Ronnie’s car with him in it to show his displeasure. Despite this, Ronnie and Connie brave on and end up making a sweet couple in this alien-based sci-fi comedy.
6 Wayne's World
Based on the Saturday Night Live sketch of the same name, the 1992 oddball party-down comedy Wayne's World centers on a pair of rock and heavy metal fans and slacker friends, Wayne and Garth (Mike Myers and Dana Carvey), who promote their television show. It is one of the funniest films of the early 90s and Farley’s big-screen debut. In Wayne’s World, Farley stars in a supporting role as the well-informed security guard at an Alice Cooper concert.
5 Wayne’s World 2
Farley got a significantly larger role in the sequel of Wayne’s World. In 1993's Wayne’s World 2, Farley is a wannabe roadie for Wayne and Garth’s concert extravaganza, named 'Wayne Stock.' Farley (playing the role of Milton) is clearly unqualified for the job but states he 'has no place else to go' and ultimately gets the gig anyway.
4 Billy Madison
The 1995 comedy Billy Madison stars Adam Sandler as an immature and lazy 27-year-old man who must repeat grade school all over again to take over his father's hotel empire. In a small role as the angry school bus driver, Farley channels his inner rage against the young school kids. During a school field trip, the bus driver takes it upon himself to eat the kid’s lunch as revenge for their never-ending yapping on the bus and being hit by sandwiches. Farley also has an interesting interaction with Billy Madison star Sandler in the film.
3 Beverly Hills Ninja
Chris Farley shines as Haru, a clearly not-so-typical ninja, in Beverly Hills Ninja. Taken in as a baby by an elder group of ninjas, as an adult, he helps an American woman investigate the criminal dealings of her boyfriend. In order to do this, Haru must travel from Asia all the way to Beverly Hills, California to get to the bottom of the issue. This was the first and only film in Chris Farley’s career where he received top-billing as the star of the film without having a sidekick (such as David Spade or Mathew Perry) alongside him.
2 Black Sheep
In order to capitalize on the obvious chemistry between Chris Farley and David Spade in Tommy Boy, a second film with the two was quickly made. In 1996's comedy Black Sheep, Farley stars as Mike Donnelly, the brother of a gubernatorial candidate. The candidate (played by Tim Matheson) hires a special assistant (played by David Spade) whose only job is to make sure the candidate's well-meaning but incompetent brother doesn't ruin the election.
While the movie also stars Gary Busey in a memorable role, something feels a little lacking in comparison to Tommy Boy. This may be for good reason. The script was not even completed when the project was initially green-lit and this film may have been expedited to keep Farley from working on a competing comedy, The Cable Guy. All that aside, if you love Farley’s over-the-top humor as well as the sarcasm of Spade, this is a must-see. Black Sheep (not to be confused with a 2006 New Zealand comedy-horror film with the same name) is a movie you’d never accuse of taking itself too seriously. Fans of 90s rock music will also likely enjoy the cameo by legendary grunge band, Mudhoney.
1 Tommy Boy
Ranked by Rolling Stone Magazine readers as one of the Top 25 Comedy Films of all-time, Tommy Boy is without question Chris Farley’s best film in a lead role. The amount of quotable jokes here is likely in the dozens and this is by far Farley’s funniest film role overall. Farley (as Tommy Callahan) must save his family business when his father unexpectedly dies shortly after marrying his new wife (Bo Derek).
Tommy’s new Mom also has a questionable son (played by Rob Lowe), who both try to sabotage Tommy, so they can gain control of the family fortune now that “Big Tom” Callahan is gone. Thankfully Tommy has some help from his romantic interest Michelle (Julie Warner) and most importantly from his Father’s assistant Richard (played by David Spade).
Despite the insults hurled towards one another, Tommy Boy eventually turns into a buddy comedy as Tommy and Richard go on a cross-country adventure to keep the business of the Callahan Auto’s clients, which is needed to keep the company going and to avoid laying off thousands of workers. Tommy Boy is able to pull at the heartstrings while also keeping you barreling over in laughter. It’s easily one of the best comedies of the 90s and solidified Farley as a bankable Hollywood movie star.
It’s easy to wonder what would have been next for Chris Farley had he lived. It’s possible Farley could have played the roles Kevin James ultimately secured in numerous Adam Sandler & Happy Madison Productions films like Grownups and Paul Blart: Mall Cop. What we do know for sure is that Farley was set to be the voice of Shrek and had already recorded nearly all the dialog for the role before it was later re-written for comedian Mike Myers after Farley’s death. Farley was also reportedly excited about doing a dramatic biopic film starring as the late-comedian, Fatty Arbuckle. Unfortunately, that film never went forward after Farley passed away.
Check out the recent documentary, I Am Chris Farley, for a great look back at Farley’s career from many of the people who were there. Thankfully, the roles we were fortunate to enjoy from Farley will certainly continue to live on in the hearts and minds of fans for many years to come and stand the test of time.