Steve Carell turns 64 on August 16, and film fans have been celebrating what they call his most underrated performance: his role as the unlikable antagonist Trent in the 2013 comedy-drama The Way Way Back, starring alongside Toni Collette.
Known for his comedy roles, Carell has played characters like Michael Scott in The Office, Brick in Anchorman, and Gru in Despicable Me. According to The Richest, he has brought in more than $9 billion at the global box office through over 40 films. He also earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor for Foxcatcher in 2014 and an Emmy nomination for the 2026 series Rooster.
Fans pick The Way Way Back
In a Reddit post, a fan asked: "What is the most underrated Steve Carell movie?" and shared the poster for The Way Way Back. The film follows Duncan, a timid teenage boy on a summer holiday with his mother, her boyfriend Trent, and Trent's daughter. Duncan befriends Owen, a waterpark manager, who helps him build confidence.
Carell plays Trent, the film's main antagonist, rather than the expected comedic role. The supporting cast includes Sam Rockwell as Owen and Toni Collette as Duncan's mother, Pam.
Fan reactions and ratings
Comments praised the film: one said "This is a great movie," while the original poster replied, "It has a charming simplicity I feel a lot of modern movies lack." Another noted, "Every movie lover I know that sees this is shocked that they didn't already hear of it." A fourth commented, "Excellent cast with Sam Rockwell as a standout, and great coming-of-age story. Also interesting to see Carrell play against type."
The Way Way Back holds an 83% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics and audiences praising the "very witty" screenplay, "fabulous characters," and "poignant ending."
