15 best Seth Rogen movies
By Amy Kaplan
3. The Interview
A movie about two Americans sneaking into North Korea to kill Kim Jong-un? Sure… what could go wrong?
Uhhh, everything… and that’s why we love it.
The Interview, starring Rogen and James Franco, is the first film on this list that Rogen had more than just an on-screen role. He was also co-director, co-producer and one of three who came up with the story.
The film was briefly halted from release when the North Korean government threatened action against the United States if Columbia Pictures released the film. They delayed it, reportedly re-edited the film and then released it online and in select theaters. The thing is, I don’t know what they took out of it, because as-is it was pretty anti-North Korea, so it must have been pretty bad.
Regardless, it did well with $40 million in digital rentals, making it Sony’s most successful digital release to date.
4. Pineapple Express
Rogen proves his writing chops are top-notch once more when he wrote and starred in Pineapple Express, a 2008 action comedy. The film was directed by David Gordon Green and produced by Judd Apatow (which we’ve already established makes the film something pretty special).
Rogen starred alongside Franco yet again as a process server and his marijuana dealer (Franco) are forced to flee from hitmen and a corrupt police officer after witnessing them commit a murder.
The film was an instant success, grossing $102 million worldwide and even earned Franco a Golden Globe nomination. There was even a sequel in the discussion, but nothing ever came of that.