5 Will Arnett movies and TV shows that deserve a spot on your watchlist

Will Arnett is that kind of actor who somehow is always aura-farming his screen presence, and that is why you get so hooked onto him being there right in front of your eyes. There sure is something very oddly comforting about the way he's able to wrap himself into any given role. I mean, it surely does not matter if he's the one who's causing some trouble, hiding some pain, or just making any scene funnier than it has the right to be. He does it all. Effortlessly, might I add.

But if you want to get familiar with the guy and are wondering where to start, we do have a small list curated just for you! These five picks are most definitely your safest bet if you want the actors' characters and jokes to stay with you, no matter how utterly wild the plot might get!

5 Will Arnett movies and TV shows that deserve a spot on your watchlist

1) Arrested Development

When people start talking about Will Arnett, it's usually this show that comes up first, and honestly? It does make a whole lot of sense. In Arrested Development, Arnett plays Gob Bluth. Now, Bluth is a "wannabe magician" who thinks every single dramatic pause is a spectacular performance.

The series follows the totally unprepared Bluth family as they fall apart after losing their massive fortune.

Even with all of the handheld shots, the narration, and jokes, it's mostly always Gob's overconfidence that steals the spotlight every single time. What makes this show a must-watch is the way it stacks up so much of humor, even though the premise might be serious, where you get to see a family that keeps on pretending that everything is a-okay, even though nothing around them is fine.

Will Arnett fits this character perfectly because Gob never understands the trouble he causes. Instead, he reacts with a smile, a dramatic spin, or one of his magic illusions that always go wrong. This is where you see Arnett use timing like a superpower. He jumps from proud to embarrassed to confused in seconds, and the funniest part is that Gob still walks away thinking he won.

The show built a huge following for a reason. The storytelling is clever, the gags repeat in unpredictable ways, and every character has a moment that sticks with you. But Gob brings a different kind of energy. With Arnett playing him, the character feels both ridiculous and strangely believable. You can tell he’s out of his depth, yet he keeps moving as if the world exists to support his magic tricks.

If you want to see where Will Arnett became a true standout in comedy, Arrested Development is the place to start. It shows you how naturally he blends loud humor with tiny emotional beats that hit harder than you expect.

2) BoJack Horseman

If you only know Will Arnett from comedy, then BoJack Horseman might just surprise you a little bit. I mean, yeah, we see talking animals, a weird style of animation, and digs at Hollywood everywhere.

However, once you truly start getting into the show, you start to realize that BoJack Horseman is one of the most brutally honest shows about broken people trying so hard to fix themselves you could find in animation. And in the lead is Arnett as BoJack, a washed-up '90s sitcom star who keeps spiraling no matter how hard he tries to climb out.

The magic of this show is how it refuses to pretend everything can be easily solved with one big speech or a neat ending. Now you see, BoJack is a really messy character. His relationships with Diane, Todd, Princess Carolyn, and even his own younger self show cracks that run just that deep.

We also get the show openly talking about addiction, loneliness, guilt, and the very pressures of being someone who people once adored. Through all of this, Will Arnett gives a performance that feels real even though the character is quiet literally an animated horse with a huge head...?

Every single season of BoJack Horseman keeps getting heavier and brighter. Sometimes the show tends to lean into humor, sometimes it falls into the realm of heartbreak. Will Arnett carries both of these angles with a voice that sounds sharp and disappointing all at once (which is something that keeps us entertained). Arnett's performance is one of the main reasons why BoJack Horseman became such a major and iconic show, and it has stayed well-loved ever since its release.

The show also isn't really a casual watch. It asks you for patience. It asks you to sit with comfortable moments. However, it also gives the characters more than enough room to fail, but also room to try again. If you want to see Will Arnett completely transform into an animated horse, Bojack Horseman is your go-to place.

3) The Millers

Okay, let's be honest. Sometimes, you just want to watch a show that makes it feel like real life has turned up a little louder than usual, and that is where The Millers comes in. With this show, Will Arnett plays a character named Nathan Miller, a TV reporter whose life seems pretty organized until one normal day turns into complete chaos.

His parents decide to separate after decades of marriage, and instead of handling the situation in a proper and adult manner, they both move in with their now-adult children. Nathan ends up living with his mother, and every single peaceful time he once seemed to have on his hand, has now been taken away from him in an instant.

The charm of the show lies in the really small things. We see family habits, arguments, and misunderstandings in every episode, and Will Arnett plays Nathan as someone who is constantly two steps behind but still trying his best to stay on track. His reactions feel extremely relatable because he does not scream or explode (even though he wants to), but he tries to cope with the situation, even though nothing is going the way he expects.

Even though The Millers did not last very long, it has a warm and familiar tone that fans still remember. It's the kind of show you put on when you want something simple but still very much entertaining, something that reflects the strange way families work. If you enjoy Will Arnett in a role where he's not over-the-top but still very funny, The Millers is a great place to start.

4) The Brothers Solomon

If at all you tend to enjoy humor that feels a little bit strange but also sweet, then The Brothers Solomon might be the surprise favorite on your list. In this film, Will Arnett teams up with Will Forte to play two brothers who grew up at a remote research station and learned everything about the world from books rather than real life. It is because of this sheltered childhood that they enter a normal society with zero understanding of how people actually behave.

The plot centers on their attempt to give their father the one thing he always wanted: a grandchild. Their dad slips into a coma, and the brothers think that bringing him a grandchild will help him wake up. It's a simple idea, but their lack of social cues and awareness turns every step they take into something absolutely hilarious every single time.

The comedy in this movie is strange, but that is what makes it so memorable. The brothers' attempts at dating, building friendships, and creating a family are so out of touch that you can't help but laugh. Still, there's a small emotional thread running through the story. Even though they make mistake after mistake, they're doing everything out of love for their father.

As the story moves forward, Will Arnett shows just how well he can play a character who sees the world differently from everyone else. The film gets silly, of course, but that's part of what makes it special. It's a different type of comedy that still gives Will Arnett enough of room to shine. If you want something quirky but heartwarming, The Brothers Solomon absolutely deserves a try.

5) Let’s Go to Prison

This movie is a great pick if you want to see Will Arnett thrown into a story full of wild twists and turns. In Let's Go to Prison, he plays Nelson, a privileged man who has never faced real trouble until one mistake sends him straight into the criminal justice system. The twist is that another inmate, John, has been waiting for this day. John blames Nelson's father for ruining his life, and now he sees Nelson as his target for payback.

The setup does sound heavy, but the movie has its fair share of comedy and unexpected turns. In the film, Nelson is not prepared for prison at all, but somehow he keeps surviving situations that should completely overwhelm him. Each time he escapes danger, you see another side of his character. It's almost like he grows stronger without realizing what's happening.

The story grows even more chaotic once John forces himself into Nelson's daily life, pretending to help while actually making things worse. Will Arnett handles these moments with sharp timing, letting Nelson react slowly, as if his brain is buffering while trying to understand the madness around him. You watch Nelson go from terrified to oddly respected in prison, and that transformation is one of the funniest parts of the film.

What makes this movie a strong contender to be on this list is how openly it plays with personality clashes. You now have a character who expects life to be predictable, suddenly thrown into an environment that follows no rules.

And yet, Will Arnett makes Nelson's journey feel believable, showing how someone can accidentally become tougher while trying to do the exact opposite. If you enjoy unpredictable plots and characters, Let's Go to Prison should absolutely be on your list.

Will Arnett has a way of turning every character into someone unforgettable. Whether he's voicing a deeply broken character in animation or is playing someone who's confused and out of their comfort zone in live action, Will Arnett brings something to the table every single time.

These five picks show the range of what the guy can do. If you want stories that make you think, laugh, or just feel something, each of these movies and TV Shows will deliver. Make sure to add these projects to your watchlist and enjoy watching Will Arnett at his best!