If there are any people out there who don’t like Michael J. Fox, we don’t want to meet them. Michael J. Fox (or MJF as we’ll abbreviate below) rose to fame with his role as Alex P. Keaton on Family Ties, which ran from 1982 to 1989. Throughout the ‘80s and ‘90s, MJF would also star in many different movies, including some rather dramatic fare such as Casualties of War, but we’re here today to strictly celebrate his comedies. Because, let’s be honest, if you’re like, I want to watch a Michael J. Fox movie, are you really going to pick a movie about the Vietnam War? No. No, you’re not. And the below are all comedic movies where he’s one of the main stars, so The American President doesn’t count.
But enough preamble, let’s get to the goods! Below please find our ranking of MJF’s comedies from the ‘80s and ‘90s!
9. Greedy (1994)
In some ways, you could say that Greedy is a precursor of sorts to Knives Out, with a little less murder. An old millionaire’s family is flying around him like vultures, just waiting for him to die, hoping to get all of his money. Essentially, it’s all about how too much money leads to greed and corruption in even those who weren’t inclined that way beforehand. There are some twists and turns, but ultimately the pacing is a bit languid, and it’s certainly not the most re-watchable of all of these films.
8. The Hard Way (1991)
In The Hard Way, MJF plays a bigshot actor who isn’t taken super seriously. As research for his next role, he works out a deal to shadow a New York police lieutenant, played by James Woods. Woods’ character is very no-nonsense and doesn’t want anything to do with the superficial and kinda annoying MJF tagging along with him. The story is fairly typical here, and doesn’t feature anything super memorable, so we’d consider this movie a pass unless you really want to watch every MJF film.
7. Life with Mikey (1993)
In Life with Mikey, MJF plays a former child star who has grown up to become a talent agent for the next generation of child stars. He sets his sights on the young pickpocket Angie Vega (Christina Vidal) as the next big child star that will save his fledgling agency. It’s the tried and true recipe of a kinda hapless adult being paired up with a precocious kid who is wise beyond their years, and how each of them can help the other. Is it the greatest movie ever? No, but it does have some fun moments.
6. For Love or Money (1993)
MJF is a concierge with a mission to open his own hotel in For Love or Money. He’s the best at his job and has a dream and a plan for his hotel — he just doesn’t have the capital to build his own place. Of course, he gets the opportunity to help out a man who could give him all of that money, the only problem is that help involves entertaining said man’s mistress, who he of course starts falling for. At times this movie is extremely cheesy, and the very ending is rather abrupt, but overall it’s fun and light with some physical and situational comedy that’s decent.
5. Teen Wolf (1985)
No, we’re not talking about the MTV television remake of Teen Wolf, but rather the OG with Michael J. Fox starring as the erstwhile Teen Wolf, Scott Howard. Though the movie was filmed before Back to the Future, it ended up being released in theaters afterward to capitalize on MJF’s newfound popularity. It’s your quintessential story about a teen who finds out he’s a werewolf, becomes a basketball star while wolf-ed out, then realizes it’s changed him into a jerk, and starts being himself again. You know, typical.
4. The Secret of My Success (1987)
In The Secret of My Success, a young man from Kansas (MJF) with a good education and big dreams to make it in business, discovers it’s not so easy to get a job when he moves to New York City. It’s still the case today — you need experience to get a job, but you can’t get experience until you have a job. He ends up coming up with a scheme to pretend to be a high profile executive at his uncle’s company, even coming up with a fake name to escape detection. It’s definitely a “fake it ‘til you make it” story, with an added bonus of semi-incest when he has a bizarre relationship with his step-aunt, all while falling in love with his uncle’s mistress, who’s another executive at the company. Despite the somewhat silly premise, it still works thanks in large part to MJF’s likability.
3. The Frighteners (1996)
One of Michael J. Fox’s last leading roles in a feature film was The Frighteners, a movie that really deserves a lot more attention than it gets, or especially than it got at the time of release. It’s a rare mix of comedy, fantasy, and horror from writer/director Peter Jackson, starring MJF as a man who recently lost his wife and realizes he can communicate with the dead. But, he uses his ability to con people rather than help them. Of course, something much more sinister than he usually deals with appears, and he must put aside his selfish endeavors to save everyone. If you haven’t seen this movie, please do. It’s worth it, and almost got the second spot on this list.
2. Doc Hollywood (1991)
Another classic Michael J. Fox role where he plays someone who’s a bit of a jerk at first, but still lovable regardless. In Doc Hollywood, MJF is a young doctor driving across the country for an interview in LA for a cushy plastic surgeon gig. He ends up crashing his car in a small town, where he has to serve community service at the local hospital. Though he hates it at first and just wants to leave, eventually he becomes fond of the local community, and, of course, the pretty ambulance driver that resides there. It’s a fairly archetypal tale of a big city dude in a small town, and though it’s something you’ve seen before, it still works its charm.
1. Back to the Future trilogy (1985-1990)
Was there really any doubt that the Back to the Future trilogy would be in the top spot? Puh-lease. Of COURSE it’s in the top spot! We could have split all three movies up, but honestly what’s the point? They’d likely all be near the top, so it was better to just lump the whole trilogy together. Back to the Future is a classic for a reason. The first movie is pretty much flawless, and is often studied in film schools because its structure is so tight. If you don’t like these movies, we’re left to wonder what’s wrong with you. The story, the actors, the music, the effects — it’s all top notch.
What’s your favorite Michael J. Fox comedy? Do you agree with our ranking? Let us know in the comments!
- In 1998, MJF revealed that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease seven years earlier, in 1991. He started The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research in 2000 to help search for a cure for the disease.
- MJF met his future wife, Tracy Pollan, on an episode of Family Ties. They married in 1988, have four children together, and are still together themselves, which is quite a feat in Hollywood.
- Michael’s middle name is Andrew, so why does he use a J as the middle initial in his official onscreen moniker? The name Michael Fox was already registered with the Screen Actors Guild, and he didn’t want magazines to be able to use headlines like, “Michael, A Fox!” So, he went with a J instead of his actual middle initial A as a tribute to actor Michael J. Pollard.
- MJF never officially graduated from high school — he quit school during his senior year. But, he was given an honorary diploma in 1984 when he spoke at the graduation of John Dewey High School in Coney Island, and got his GED in 1995.
- Michael wasn’t the first choice to play Alex P. Keaton on Family Ties — producers originally wanted Matthew Broderick, but Broderick didn’t want to sign on to a potentially long-running television show.
- In 1998, MJF revealed that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease seven years earlier, in 1991. He started The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research in 2000 to help search for a cure for the disease.
- MJF met his future wife, Tracy Pollan, on an episode of Family Ties. They married in 1988, have four children together, and are still together themselves, which is quite a feat in Hollywood.
- Michael’s middle name is Andrew, so why does he use a J as the middle initial in his official onscreen moniker? The name Michael Fox was already registered with the Screen Actors Guild, and he didn’t want magazines to be able to use headlines like, “Michael, A Fox!” So, he went with a J instead of his actual middle initial A as a tribute to actor Michael J. Pollard.
- MJF never officially graduated from high school — he quit school during his senior year. But, he was given an honorary diploma in 1984 when he spoke at the graduation of John Dewey High School in Coney Island, and got his GED in 1995.
- Michael wasn’t the first choice to play Alex P. Keaton on Family Ties — producers originally wanted Matthew Broderick, but Broderick didn’t want to sign on to a potentially long-running television show.
