For Danny McBride’s sharpest work as both a performer and a comedy creator, start with his HBO series: Eastbound & Down, The Righteous Gemstones, and Vice Principals. This ranked list puts those shows alongside films that reveal his early, abrasive comic persona, his ensemble work, and a striking genre detour. The order is an editorial pick—not a consensus poll or ratings-based ranking.
How this ranking weighs McBride’s work
The list favors projects that make the best case for McBride’s screen presence and creative voice. It weighs how central he is to a title, the distinctiveness of his performance, what the work reveals about a phase or facet of his career, and the kind of viewing experience it offers. HBO’s three creator-led comedies rank highly for their sustained showcase of his authorship; the films broaden the picture.
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Your Highness (Unrated) | $12.99 | Buy on Amazon |
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Your Highness | $4.99 | Buy on Amazon |
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![Smoke and Mirrors: The Story of Tom Savini [Blu-ray]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51m65Ui5UHL._SL160_.jpg)
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Smoke and Mirrors: The Story of Tom Savini [Blu-ray] | $25.89 | Buy on Amazon |
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Underworld - Blood Wars | $15.73 | Buy on Amazon |
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Despicable Me | Buy on Amazon |
10. Alien: Covenant (2017)
McBride’s appearance in Ridley Scott’s science-fiction horror film is the most unexpected turn on this list. Set in the Alien universe, the movie trades his familiar comic territory for a tense ensemble story. It is not a showcase for his comedy, but it is a useful pick for viewers curious to see him in a different genre.
9. The Mitchells vs. the Machines (2021)
This animated family adventure adds a warmer, all-ages option to McBride’s film credits. The story follows a family caught in a machine uprising, giving viewers a very different context from the sharp-edged characters that made his live-action reputation. Choose it when you want an accessible ensemble comedy rather than his more adult work.
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8. Hot Rod (2007)
In this offbeat comedy about an aspiring stuntman, McBride is part of a broad, deliberately silly ensemble. It is a strong choice for viewers who enjoy comedy that builds its own absurd world rather than relying on a conventional plot. His role is supporting, so this is a supporting-cast showcase, not a McBride-led vehicle.
7. Tropic Thunder (2008)
This Hollywood satire assembles an outsized cast around a movie production gone wrong. McBride’s contribution works best as part of the ensemble’s escalating comic chaos. It suits viewers who want a big, irreverent studio comedy and a glimpse of how his persona plays against a crowded cast.
Rank #2
6. This Is the End (2013)
Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg’s apocalyptic comedy turns a group of actors playing exaggerated versions of themselves into the center of a disaster story. McBride’s brash, combustible energy fits the film’s deliberately unruly setup. It is a good next stop after his HBO work if you want the same comic abrasiveness in a movie-length ensemble.
5. Pineapple Express (2008)
McBride plays Red, a volatile figure in this action comedy about a process server and his dealer becoming targets after witnessing a crime. The film pairs stoner-comedy looseness with chase-movie momentum, and Red gives McBride room to be funny, unpredictable, and memorable without carrying the whole story. Sony lists the film in 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and DVD formats on its official film page; listings and availability can vary.
Rank #3
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4. The Foot Fist Way (2006)
This early starring role is essential for understanding the comic character McBride would keep refining: overconfident, insecure, and convinced he deserves more respect than he gets. Set in the world of a small-town tae kwon do instructor, the film is rougher and narrower than his later work, but that intimacy is part of its appeal. It is the best place on this list to see the foundations of his persona.
3. Vice Principals (2016–2017)
McBride co-created and stars in this HBO comedy about two high-school administrators whose rivalry spirals into increasingly reckless behavior. Its compact two-season run gives the feud a clear arc, while the show’s dark, mean-spirited humor makes it a natural fit for viewers who like comedy with real bite. HBO identifies it as part of the Rough House Pictures work that preceded The Righteous Gemstones.
Rank #4
2. The Righteous Gemstones (2019–2025)
McBride created, wrote, directed, executive-produced, and starred in this HBO comedy about a wealthy, dysfunctional family of televangelists. That combination of roles makes it his fullest television showcase on this list: the show’s elaborate family conflicts and religious-world satire are not just a setting for his performance, but part of a sustained creative project. The series concluded with its fourth and final season in 2025, as the Associated Press reported.
McBride has said he hoped religious viewers would watch and recognize that the show was not making fun of them, but of people they might identify with and find annoying. That intention helps explain why the series works as more than a string of irreverent jokes: its satire has targets within the world it depicts.
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1. Eastbound & Down (2009–2013)
At the top is the HBO comedy that most cleanly distills McBride’s comic strengths. He stars as Kenny Powers, a disgraced former baseball pitcher whose arrogance and self-sabotage keep colliding with attempts to reclaim his glory. The character is outrageous, but the show’s long-form story gives his delusions room to evolve rather than repeating the same joke. HBO describes Eastbound & Down as one of the Rough House Pictures series that led into The Righteous Gemstones; it remains the clearest starting point for McBride’s signature on-screen persona.
Where to start watching
- For McBride’s signature character comedy: begin with Eastbound & Down.
- For the clearest view of his creator-star work: choose The Righteous Gemstones.
- For a shorter, darker rivalry: try Vice Principals.
- For film roles and ensemble comedy: start with Pineapple Express or This Is the End.
- For a genre change: watch Alien: Covenant.
HBO connects the three series as part of McBride’s work with Rough House Pictures, while the Television Academy interview offers his perspective on the collaborative creative environment behind The Righteous Gemstones. Film and television credits for these selections are cross-checkable through Rotten Tomatoes, TV Guide, and Prime Video’s Danny McBride profile; those credit listings establish titles, not a definitive ranking.
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