Rebel Wilson has proven she’s a talented actress who can handle many different types of roles. She has appeared in a variety of films and television shows, including Pitch Perfect, A Few Best Men, and Small Apartments.
Wilson also starred in Michael Bay’s Pain & Gain and hosted the 2013 MTV Movie Awards. She also starred in the Netflix series Super Fun Night, which Conan O’Brien served as executive producer on.
Bridesmaids (2014)
When Paul Feig’s film Bridesmaids hit the screen in 2011, most were unsure what to expect. The movie was met with mixed reviews but ultimately became a surprise smash hit. The film was noted for its gross-out humor and its ability to deconstruct traditional gender associations for big screen females.
While many people point to Melissa McCarthy as the star of the film, Wilson’s performance is just as noteworthy. While she is often over-the-top, she never loses sight of the deep insecurities and fears that drive her character. She is one of the most relatable comic actresses on the screen. Her work in the film is considered one of her finest performances.
Pitch Perfect 2 (2015)
Taking place in a half-imaginary world where a cappella is still dorky yet somehow glamorous, Pitch Perfect 2 stakes its value on loving pop music. Like its predecessor, it offers plenty of chuckle worthy moments and entertaining musical set pieces.
After the Bellas’ national a cappella title is stripped from them due to Fat Amy’s accidental flashing, they must use their style and a new ingenue (Hailee Steinfeld) to beat a German rival at the World Championship. While the story is predictable, it does boast a few delightful sequences and an infectious spirit. The soundtrack is also a strong point. Mostly, though, the film is a by-the-numbers money grab that fails to match its predecessor’s charm.
Pitch Perfect 3 (2017)
A third installment in the a cappella franchise finds the Bellas reunited years after graduation for one last competition. The film’s biggest strengths come from its core cast: Anna Kendrick drops dry one liners, Rebel Wilson is adorable and wildly watchable, and the rest of the ensemble (including Anna Camp, Brittany Snow, Hailee Steinfeld and Ester Dean) keep the laughs coming.
But the movie doesn’t have a lot else going for it, including an overstuffed plot that’s weighed down by everything from burgeoning romances to daddy issues to a flimsy plot adjunct involving DJ Khaled. It’s a testament to writer Kay Cannon and new director Trish Sie (Step Up All In) that they keep the comedy running smoothly.
Small Apartments (2013)
After the success of Bridesmaids, Wilson took on a number of small film roles in 2013. Among them was Small Apartments, an adaptation of Chris Millis’ novel.
Directed by Jonas Akerlund, this odd duck has enough quirkiness to appeal to a niche audience. The film focuses on Franklin, who lives alone in a small apartment. His neighbors include a jailbait wannabe stripper, a pot-head, and a gruff busybody.
Despite the lurid backdrop, it’s a comedy with a heart. It also shows off Wilson’s range as an actress. Akerlund, a music video director, takes some big chances with his script. Not every one pays off, but it’s fun to see him try.
How to Be Single (2016)
How to Be Single is another of the rom-coms Hollywood loves to sludge out each Valentine’s Day, but this ensemble comedy is interesting enough to warrant an exception. Directed by Christian Ditter, the movie follows four women in New York City who all have different views on singledom.
The film is modeled closely after Sex and the City, from its New York setting to its characters’ general archetypes (Alice is Carrie, Robin is Charlotte, Samantha is the adventurous life of the party, and Meg is the aloof but devoted one). Charm can only get you so far, however, and the movie falls into rom-com cliches. Especially with the shoehorned storyline of Lucy, a woman played by Alison Brie.
Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb (2014)
Wilson played Tilly, a museum security guard in the third installment of the Night at the Museum franchise. She also starred in the 2016 comedy How to Be Single, and acted alongside Priyanka Chopra and Liam Hemsworth in The Brothers Grimsby.
In 2023, she starred as high school outcast Taylah in Hannah Reilly’s drama The Deb. Her next film was Isn’t It Romantic, about a woman who wakes up in a romantic comedy.
While most of Rebel Wilson’s movies are comedies, not all of them have been hits with critics. Below, you can find her highest-rated and lowest-rated films.
The Brothers Grimsby (2016)
After launching her career in the United States with a supporting role as Kristen Wiig’s roommate in 2011’s Bridesmaids, Wilson became a household name after starring in both Pitch Perfect sequels. She later appeared in the comedy film Small Apartments and the Comedy Central series Workaholics.
In The Brothers Grimsby, Sacha Baron Cohen stars as Kyle Alan “Nobby” Butcher, an alcoholic football hooligan from working-class Grimsby who gets separated from his brother Sebastian Graves (Mark Strong), who happens to be one of MI6’s top agents. Director Louis Leterrier’s downstairs-upstairs spy romp occasionally earns laughs but mostly settles for a sledgehammer punchline. It also reduces Oscar nominees Barkhad Abdi and Gabourey Sidibe to bit parts as a drug dealer and a randy chambermaid.
Isn’t It Romantic (2019)
Wilson stars as Natalie in this romantic comedy that serves as both a sendup and full-throated love letter to the genre. She expertly nails all the signature pratfalls and off-kilter line delivery while showing a genuine vulnerability that recalls Julia Roberts.
Wilson returned to the “Pitch Perfect” franchise as Fat Amy for Pitch Perfect 3 (2017) and worked with Adam Devine in a reimagining of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels called The Hustle (2019). She also hosted the dog styling competition Pooch Perfect for Seven Network. The actress will make her directorial debut with the 2022 film The Debate, based on Hannah Reilly’s stage play about a high school outcast.