American Idol is a hit competition show for some of the U.S.'s best vocal talent; showcasing great singers and sometimes, horrible ones, the show has become a staple of American entertainment and television. However, one of the main draws of the show is its panel of judges, each of whom is a famous star in their own right.

Because of their star power, these judges are often highly sought after for movie cameos and other related appearances. So what happens when television meets film? From Simon Cowell to Mariah Carey, we take a look back at some of the films where American Idol judges had a memorable cameo.

10 Simon Cowell (Scary Movie 3, 2003)

Simon Cowell in Scary Movie 3
Dimension Films

As one of American Idol's most infamous judges, Cowell is known for his harsh criticism and stern demeanor. In Scary Movie 3, Cowell plays a part he knows all too well: a singing judge! Not only does he insult the performers at the club, but he also says that the venue is pathetic, leading to a pretty violent (but admittedly, silly) altercation.

9 Simon Cowell (Scoob!, 2020)

Simon Cowell Cameo in Scoob!
Warner Bros. Pictures

In Scoob!, Simon Cowell makes another appearance as himself. When the gang starts discussing how to legitimize Mystery Inc. as a business, they welcome Cowell as a mentor and investor. In typical Simon Cowell fashion, he suggests the gang get rid of Shaggy and Scooby after hearing their horrible singing voices and watching them in disgust as they scarf down a comically-large sandwich. Though his screen time is short, his presence certainly made an impact on the Scooby gang.

8 Katy Perry (Zoolander 2, 2016)

Katy Perry in Zoolander
Paramount Pictures

In this Zoolander 2, Katy Perry makes a quick cameo as herself. The movie features a star-studded cast of comedy vets and follows two goofy, competing male models. Katy interacts briefly with the main characters and models Derek and Hansel, questioning herself as a teen idol and sex symbol. At one point, Katy even goofily shows off her singing chops!

7 Nicki Minaj (Ice Age: Continental Drift, 2012)

Nicki Minaj as Steffie in Ice Age Continental Drift
20th Century Fox

Nicki Minaj can sing, judge, perform, and now, voice-act! In Ice Age: Continental Drift, Nicki Minaj makes an appearance as the sassy woolly mammoth named Steffie. Steffie is a part of a group of young teen mammoths called the Brat Pack. Though her role is minor, she plays an integral role in adding to the film's story as well as its entertainment value.

Related: Best Cameos in Movie History, Ranked

6 Nicki Minaj (The Angry Birds Movie 2, 2019)

Nicki Minaj in Angry Birds 2
Sony Pictures

This time around, we see Nicki make her cameo in 2019's The Angry Birds Movie 2. Nicki plays Pinky, an aptly-named Pink bird with a whole lot of personality. Nicki's voice-acting skills are definitely on display considering Pinky has a chipper English accent. We love watching Nicki soar on both the small screen and the big screen!

5 Steven Tyler (Be Cool, 2005)

Steven Tyler in Be Cool
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

Rock star judge Steven Tyler made his cameo appearance in 2005's Be Cool. Appearing as himself, Steven talks about rock and roll, his daughters, and even his hit song Sweet Emotion. Funnily enough, Steven even makes a joke in the movie about not being the type of star to make movie appearances!

4 Lionel Ritchie (Studio 666, 2022)

Lionel Ritchie in Studio 666
Open Road Films

Lionel Ritchie was an exciting addition to American Idol's star-studded judging panel. But when rock star met rock star in Ritchie's cameo in 2022's Studio 666, the excitement from fans was through the roof. The horror-comedy was created by none other than rock's Foo Fighters. Ritchie's cameo includes him yelling swears at Dave Grohl as he covers Ritchie's song "Hello". The scene is aggressive, silly, and kind of uncomfortable but hey, at least he committed to the part!

3 Jennifer Lopez (Antz, 1998)

Jennifer Lopez as Azteca in Antz
DreamWorks Pictures

Jennifer Lopez is not just a talented singer and performer, but she also has dipped her toe into voice-acting! One of her earliest cameos came in 1998's Antz where she played Azteca. As a worker ant and friend to the main character Z, J-Lo's character was present for many key scenes in this fantasy film.

2 Mariah Carey (The Lego Batman Movie, 2017)

Mariah Carey in Lego Batman
Warner Bros. Pictures

Another multimedia talent, singer and judge Mariah Carey makes a film cameo in 2017's The Lego Batman Movie. On American Idol, Mariah is a leading lady, giving awesome feedback with kindness and heart. Mariah's character in the movie is similar, acting as Gotham City's fearless leader, Mayor McCaskill. On-screen, she dons a short blonde wig and a blue suit. If only they had let Mayor McCaskill sing!

1 Mariah Carey (Girls Trip, 2017)

Mariah Carey's Glitter Soundtrack Hits #1 on iTunes 17 Years Later
20th Century Fox

In the 2017 film Girls Trip, Mariah makes another cameo, this time, in the flesh. The film follows a group of girlfriends as they party in New Orleans, Louisiana. At one point, the girls go to see Mariah live in concert, where she dazzles in a sparkly gown and has the chance to show off her singing chops. Is there anything Mariah can't do?

Related: Best Real-Life Politician Cameos on TV Shows, Ranked