One of the funniest and surprisingly nuanced character actors of the 21st century,Simon Peggis a comedic force of nature. While he’s best known for his work alongside his lifelong friendsEdgar WrightandNick Frost, Pegg has also been a part of some of the most significant movie franchises in recent memory, includingStar Trek,The Chronicles of Narnia,Mission: Impossible,Ice Age, and evenStar Wars.
In addition to being a great actor, Pegg has also done valuable work behind the scenes. With a remarkably versatile career, Pegg can improve most movies with just a single dialog.The best Simon Pegg movies showcase his range and provide him with the chance to truly shine in comedy and even drama, while having a significant impact in modern pop culture.
10’The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader' (2010)
Director: Michael Apted
While the third installment inThe Chronicles of Narniatrilogy isgenerally regarded as its weakest entry,the film does benefit from the addition of some new characters. Pegg joined the vocal cast as the mouse swordsman Reepicheep, who comes to the aid of the comically oafish Pevensive cousin Eustace Scrubb (Will Poulter).
While the film ultimately feels like a drag due to the lethargic pacing,The Voyage of the Dawn Treaderremains an intriguing entry into the series. The friendship that Reepicheep develops with Eustace helps strengthen both characters, with Pegg delivering a sweet, earnest, and quite compelling performance.
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
Visiting their annoying cousin, Eustace, Lucy (Georgie Henley) and Edmund Pevensie (Skandar Keynes) come across a painting of a majestic ship called the Dawn Treader. Suddenly, the painting comes to life and draws the youths into Narnia, where they meet their old friend, King Caspian (Ben Barnes). Caspian is on a quest to find the seven lost Lords of Telmar, whose swords will save Narnia from an evil green mist that enslaves men’s minds and bodies.
Watch on Disney+
9’Burke & Hare' (2010)
Director: John Landis
Before they starred together inStar Wars: The Force Awakens, Pegg andAndy Serkisplayed opposite each other inJohn Landis’absurd dark historical comedyBurke and Hare. Based on a shocking true story, the film follows the Ulster immigrants William Burke and William Hare in their attempt to sell corpses to anatomy labs.
Burke and Hareis the type of “true story” that would have been completely unbelievable if presented as fiction. It’s an absurd yet frightfully funny dark comedy that would’ve pushed the boundaries of good taste without the excellent chemistry between Pegg and Serkis. The two play off each other wonderfully with the kind of effortless chemistry audiences don’t often see.
Burke and Hare
Burke and Hare: In 19th-century Edinburgh, two opportunistic acquaintances stumble into the lucrative business of supplying cadavers to medical schools. As demand for fresh bodies intensifies, they resort to increasingly unethical means to fulfill orders, navigating the murky intersection of science and morality in pursuit of profit.
Watch on Tubi
8’The Adventures of Tintin' (2011)
Director: Steven Spielberg
Even if they’re not literally “on screen” together, Pegg and Frost never fail to have delightful chemistry. They added some particularly funny moments as the incompetent “keystone cops” Thompson and Tompson inSteven Spielberg’sexhilarating adaptation ofThe Adventures of Tintin.
Benefitting from Spielberg’s trademark humanistic approach,The Adventures of Tintinis an old-fashioned and thrilling ride, a callback tothe all-time best adventure moviesthat have long inspired the director. Despite being one of the more viscerally stunning animated films in recent memory,The Adventures of Tintinhas yet to inspire a sequel that would surely give Pegg and Frost more material to work with.
The Adventures of Tintin
Watch on Paramount+
7’Ready Player One' (2018)
Given that Pegg is a huge nerd (in the best way possible), it must have been a real treat for him to team up with Spielberg again for his adaptation ofReady Player One.Ernest Cline’sscience fiction novelmanages to pack in references to nearly every stone-cold genre movie classic from the 1980s.
While not as engaging on an emotional level asSteven Spielberg’s best movies,Ready Player Onegets a boost of heart thanks to Pegg’s brief performance as Oasis' co-creator Ogden Morrow. This is the definition of a stellar supporting performance; Pegg contributes heavily to the story and makes the most out of his limited screen time, leaving a lasting impression and making this short role far more memorable than many of his other, most significant characters.
Ready Player One
When the creator of a virtual reality called the OASIS dies, he makes a posthumous challenge to all OASIS users to find his Easter Egg, which will give the finder his fortune and control of his world.
Rent on Amazon Prime
6’Paul' (2011)
In another team-up with his lifelong co-star, Pegg and Frost co-starred in this 2011 comedy about best friends on a road trip to Area 51 who encounter a real alien, Paul, voiced by a wisecrackingSeth Rogen. Determined to help the alien get back to his spaceship, the two friends race against time and a slew of unexpected foes.
Paullacked the strength of Wright’s direction. However,SuperbaddirectorGreg Mottolafinds a great way of adding references to a number of sci-fi classics that Pegg is surely a fan of. Thanks to Rogen’s energetic performance and Pegg and Frost’s certified chemistry,Paulis an endearing comedy andan underrated sci-fi moviethat deserves far more love from audiences.
5The ‘Star Trek’ Trilogy
Directors: J. J. Abrams, Justin Lin
‘Star Trek’
‘Star Trek Into Darkness’
‘Star Trek Beyond’
Rebooting a franchise as beloved asStar Trekcomes with great expectations. However, the creative “Kelvin Timeline” trilogy of the franchise found an interesting way to tie the past by defining itself as an “alternate” version of the events of the original films. It’s a credit to the strength of the cast that performances like Pegg as Montogomery Scott feel like fresh renditions of classic characters.
Pegg is perfect in the role, acting as a comedic relief while still fitting within the franchise’s larger storytelling. He never pulls focus away from the main characters; instead, he complements their performances, becoming a crucial player in an ensemble full of standouts.TheStar Trekrebooted trilogy remains highly-regarded by critics and fans; it launcheda new era ofStar Trekcontenton streaming, confirming that this franchise will never go out of style.
The brash James T. Kirk tries to live up to his father’s legacy with Mr. Spock keeping him in check as a vengeful Romulan from the future creates black holes to destroy the Federation one planet at a time.
4The ‘Mission Impossible’ Franchise (2006 - Present)
‘Mission: Impossible III’
‘Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol’
‘Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation’
‘Mission: Impossible - Fallout’
‘Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part I’
Pegg joined theMission: Impossibleseries for a brief cameo inJ.J. Abrams’Mission: Impossible IIIbut was elevated to co-star status in 2011’sMission: Impossible — Ghost Protocol. His character, expert hacker Benjamin “Benji” Dunn, returned to play an even more significant role inChristopher McQuarrie’ssequels, becoming a crucial member of Hunt’s team.
Despite the relentlessness of the series' action sequences, Pegg adds a nice touch of humor asTom Cruiserisks his life. Benji is a much-needed lighter presence in Ethan’s life, providing an interesting contrast with the super agent’s stoic intensity.Pegg and Cruise’s dynamic is incredible, helping keep theMission: Impossiblemovies fresh and exciting.
Mission: Impossible IIIis available to stream on Paramount+.
3’Hot Fuzz' (2007)
Director: Edgar Wright
The second installment in Wright’s “Cornetto Trilogy,“Hot Fuzzis a tribute to buddy cop classics likePoint BreakandBad Boys II. Pegg and Frost once again co-star as two wildly different British police officers forced to team up to unravel a conspiracy in a seemingly perfect neighborhood.
Hot Fuzzcertainly puts the “action” in “action comedy.” The final set piece features Pegg performing action stunts that Ethan Hunt would be proud of and showcase his innate ability for physical comedy. Wild and unpredictable,Hot Fuzzis a satirical triumph and further confirmation that the Wright-Pegg-Frost trio is among cinema’s most consistently hilarious.
Shaun of the Deadis the ideal zombie movie. It is a loving homage to classics likeGeorge Romero’sLiving Deadseries, but it’s also a great way to introduce new fans to the genre if they’ve had no interest. The plot centers on Shaun, a thirty-something slacker who, along with his best friend and flatmate, Ed, must defend his town from a horde of zombies.
On top of the extremely funny splatter moments,Shaun of the Deadworks as a great mid-life crisis dramedy, thanks to Pegg’s relatable performanceas the titular character. Seamlessly blending humor with existential drama,Shaun of the Deadis an instantly memorable and hilarious comedy about coming-of-age in adulthood. The film has become a certified classic, with many considering it amongthe all-time best zombie movies.Shaun of the Deadis also closely related to Pegg’s image, to the point it might be the first movie that comes to mind when thinking of the actor.
Shaun of the Dead
Watch on Hulu
1’The World’s End' (2013)
Pegg has never been more heartbreaking than he is inThe World’s End, the last of the now-iconic Cornetto Trilogy. His character, Gary King, is so rooted in his nostalgia that he can’t move forward. The plot revolves around King’s attempt to complete a pub crawl accompanied by his youth friends, only to discover his hometown is being raided by aliens.
The World’s Endis arguably Pegg’s darkest film, with Wright, Pegg, and Frost visiting themes of melancholia, regret, and longing. However, it’s also one of the funniest and most exciting entries in Pegg’s filmography, thanks to Wright’s inventive way of tying in a premise similar toInvasion of the Body Snatchers. Thoughtful yet hysterical and endlessly entertaining,The World’s Endis a worthy end for the Cornetto Trilogy and Simon Pegg’s most complex and rewarding movie.
