Steve Martin’s Biggest Hit Isn’t What Fans Think It Is

Steve Martin has starred in countless movies since the late 1970s. The actor landed his breakthrough hit in 1979’s The Jerk, which he also co-wrote. And it didn’t take long for Martin to rack up an impressive run of comedy classics. But of all Martin’s hilarious contributions to cinema, even his most ardent fans might be shocked to learn the surprising movie that is actually the biggest hit of his career.

Steve Martin has starred in some iconic comedy hits

Throughout the 1980s and 1990s and into the 2000s, Martin emerged as one of Hollywood’s most bankable comedy stars. Films like All of Me, Three Amigos, and Planes, Trains, and Automobiles showed off his range. And he gained critical acclaim and fan goodwill for his commitment to physical comedy and razor-sharp wordplay.

Although the 1990s continued to bring Martin’s manic energy to the screen, he also balanced it with more paternal roles. Movies such as Parenthood, Father of the Bride, and Cheaper by the Dozen positioned him as the go-to comedy father figure. All the while, he kept working behind the scenes too, writing hits like Bowfinger and The Pink Panther.

But fans will be shocked by his biggest hit movie

Yet, for all the above-mentioned classics starring Martin, none of them sit among his most successful movies. Rather, 2015’s animated sci-fi comedy-adventure Home is his highest-grossing film to date. According to The-Numbers.com, the film — which stars the voices of Rihanna and Jim Parsons — earned $386 million at the worldwide box office.

It’s Complicated — written and directed by Nancy Meyers (Something’s Gotta Give) — is in second place with $225 million worldwide. That 2009 film stars Meryl Streep and Alec Baldwin and features Martin in a supporting role. Likewise, the actor’s third biggest box office hit is 1998’s Oscar-winning animated hit The Prince of Egypt, in which Martin voices a character opposite his Only Murders in the Building co-star Martin Short.

What is Steve Martin working on now?

As of this writing, Martin’s last major movie was 2016’s Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk. Since then, he’s appeared in the web short Father of the Bride, Part 3(ish), reteaming with Meyers (who wrote the first two films) as writer-director. But there doesn’t appear to be any plans to make an actual follow-up to the Father of the Bride movies Martin, Diane Keaton, and company made back in the 1990s.

Instead, it seems Martin is focusing his career on Only Murders in the Building. In addition to starring, Martin co-created the show and serves as a writer and executive producer. The show co-stars Short and Selena Gomez and quickly became a hit after hitting Hulu in 2021. The streaming service already renewed the series for a second season, which is set to premiere on June 28, 2022.