Tim Curryis one of those actors whose performances are felt through several generations. Some may know him as a “sweet transvestite from Transylvania,” others may know him as a dancing demon clown or a witty butler, while some will recognize him as the voice of the patriarch of a wild family. Regardless of how he is known, Curry has left an impact that most actors can only dream of.
Update June 10, 2025: This article has been updated to include more information on Tim Curry’s best movies as well as where you can stream them.
Tim Curry has mostly retiredfrom the screen following a stroke in 2012, but he has left behind a legacy of vastly entertaining content. His signature voice and his iconic attitude are one that audiences are always delighted to see and has endured for generations. Here are just a few of Curry’s movies showcasing the best he has to offer.
7FernGully: The Last Rainforest (1992)
FernGully: The Last Rainforest
The ’90s saw a huge push of environmentally friendly content marketed toward children. Cartoons such asCaptain Planet and the Planeteersattempted to teach kids to take care of the Earth while trying to entertain them. While most of these projects blended together in public memory, one film does stand out a bit more.
FernGully: The Last Rainforestdoesn’t do anything groundbreaking by any means, but it is still an entertaining enough film that many remember fondly. Tim Curry portrays Hexxus, a living cloud of toxic gas whose only purpose is to destroy rainforests. While themessage about climate changeis about as subtle as a nuclear explosion, Curry is still arguably the highlight. His sinister voice carries the film and is one of the best examples of Curry’s extensive library of voice-over roles in animation.
Stream on Starz
6The Wild Thornberrys Movie (2002)
The Wild Thornberrys Movie
Debatably the most famous of Tim Curry’s voice performances is that of Nigel Thornberry in the'90s Nickelodeon cartoonThe Wild Thornberrys. The show follows a family of wilderness explorers as told through the eyes of Eliza, a 12-year-old girl who can talk to animals.The Wild Thornberrys Movieessentially served as the finale to the show, with all the principal cast, including Curry, returning. Nigel takes a backseat throughout most of the film, with sisters Eliza and Debbie being the main focus.
Whenever he does appear, he gives the bizarre and entertaining performance fans of the show were used to. His portrayal is famous for the random mumbling noises he makes as well as his famous catchphrase, “Smashing!”
Stream on Paramount+
5Muppet Treasure Island (1996)
The Muppets made a number of straight-to-video movies where they reenact beloved literary classics. One of the best-regarded isMuppet Treasure Islandbased onTreasure Islandby Robert Loius Stevenson. While, unsurprisingly, most of the cast is made up of the Muppets team, Curry plays one of the human characters.
Tim Curry plays Long John Silver, a mutinous pirate who wants to seek out treasure for himself by any means necessary. As with most Muppet movies,Muppet Treasure Islandis filled with clever humor, catchy tunes, and the iconic Muppets' wit. It isn’t easy to stand out when acting alongside The Muppets, but Curry does an excellent job. His over-the-top performance fits right in, and he truly feels like a Muppet come to life in the best way possible.
Stream on Disney+
4Home Alone 2: Lost In New York (1992)
Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
While the first sequel toJohn Hughes' classicHome Aloneis basically a re-tread of the original, it still manages to capture the same spirit and is watched every Christmas. One reasonHome Alone 2: Lost in New Yorkis, arguably, theonly worthysequel of theHome Alonemoviesis because of the side characters. Harry and Marv return, as well as Kevin’s bonkers family. New characters are also introduced, namely Tim Curry as Mr. Hector, a hotel concierge who serves as an antagonist to Kevin before the bandits show up.
What is perhaps most interesting about this character, is that he really doesn’t do anything wrong. Outside of letting a child go out into the city alone (which leads to a hilarious slap courtesy of Kevin’s mother), Mr. Hector is simply doing his job. The audience sees him through Kevin’s eyes, so he is seen as an over-the-top villain. Tim Curry gives one of his funniest performances here, especially in theAngels With Even Filthier Soulsscene where he thinks he is being shot at.
Stream on Starz or Rent on Apple TV+
3IT (1990)
While the first adaptation of Stephen King’sITis technically a two-part miniseries, it’s essentially two TV movies, just as the remakes were two movies.ITfollows a group of friends as they return to their childhood town of Derry, Maine to face Pennywise; an evil creature who they defeated 27 years ago.
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Tim Curry plays Pennywise the clownand is an absolute riot. While he does have some scary scenes, a good chunk of the time he is hilarious, both intentionally and unintentionally. Unlike Bill Skarsgård who played the role 27 years later, Tim Curry’s Pennywise acts more like a traditional clown when baiting his prey. This portrayal is nowhere near as terrifying as Skarsgård’s, but Curry still makes it his own and laid the groundwork for the later version of the character.
Currently unavailable for streaming
2Clue (1985)
Typically, movies based on board games are a terrible idea. The one exception isCluefrom 1985. Like the classic board game it is based on (as well as theupcoming animated series),Cluefollows a group of unique characters as they try to figure out who among them murdered the person that brought them all together. Tim Curry plays Wadsworth, the butler.
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The film is filled with fantastic and zany performances, and yet Curry still manages to be a show-stealer. For the most part, Curry is a bit more reigned in than he usually is. This means that when he does go all out, it makes it all the more enjoyable. This movie is highly underrated and should be seen by any Tim Curry fan, or fan of clever comedy in general. Tim Curry fans often find this as one of Curry’s best roles, overshadowed by only one.
Stream on Amazon Prime
1The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)
The Rocky Horror Picture Show
The Rocky Horror Picture Showis the cult classic other cult films wish they could be. This incredible rock musical seems to become more popular with every passing yearand is iconic for good reason. A couple accidentally stumbles across the mansion of insane transvestite scientist Dr. Frank N. Furter, played by Tim Curry. Iconic, hilarious, and disturbing: these are just a few words to describe Tim Curry’s incredible performance in this movie. The music is incomparable and is a staple of the Halloween season.
Tim Curry is at his absolute best here. He is able to go all out with no restraint, and to many, this is what carries the film to superstar status. The film also features Susan Sarandon, Barry Bostwick, and even the late Meatloaf. Besides this colorful cast, Curry manages to shine brighter than any of them. This performance is so iconic that Curry made a rare post-stroke appearance as the narrator in the live revival that aired on Fox in 2016. This just goes to show how synonymous Curry is with the film, and it is no surprise that this is the best of his roles.
