Tina Fey Movies and TV Shows – Complete Guide and Rankings

Tina Fey has built one of the most recognizable careers in modern comedy, spanning television, film, voice work, and production. From her early days as a writer and performer on Saturday Night Live to creating and starring in the Emmy-winning series 30 Rock, Fey has consistently demonstrated versatility across genres and formats. This comprehensive guide covers her complete filmography, highest-ranked projects, and everything fans need to know about her body of work.

Over more than two decades in the entertainment industry, Fey has accumulated an impressive record of credits that include starring roles, writing duties, and production credits. Her work ranges from sketch comedy and sitcoms to feature films and animated voice roles. Whether audiences know her as Liz Lemon in 30 Rock, the sharp-tongued Ms. Norbury in Mean Girls, or her recent appearances in Only Murders in the Building, her contributions to comedy have left a lasting mark on the industry.

Tina Fey’s Most Iconic TV Shows

Television has been the foundation of Tina Fey’s career, with her most celebrated work originating on the small screen. Her ability to write, produce, and perform has established her as one of the most influential figures in comedy programming.

Saturday Night Live (1997–2006)

Fey’s career took off when she joined SNL as a writer in 1997. She quickly rose to become the show’s first female head writer, a milestone that paved the way for her on-screen presence. Over nine seasons, she appeared in more than 140 episodes as a performer while writing over 170 scripts, according to Complex. Her work on the show established her reputation for sharp political satire and memorable impersonations.

30 Rock (2006–2013)

The series that cemented Fey’s legacy as a television creator and star was 30 Rock, which she created, produced, and starred in as Liz Lemon. The show ran for seven seasons on NBC, drawing inspiration from her own experiences at SNL. Co-starring Alec Baldwin and Tracy Morgan, the series earned critical acclaim with a Rotten Tomatoes score of 78%, according to Collider. The show collected multiple Emmy Awards during its run, validating Fey’s dual talent as both writer and performer.

Recent Television Work

Fey has continued to expand her television presence in recent years. She appears as Cinda Canning in the Hulu series Only Murders in the Building, starring alongside Selena Gomez, Steve Martin, and Martin Short. On Netflix, she serves as co-creator and star of The Four Seasons, an eight-episode series following midlife couples that premiered on the streaming platform. The show marks her continued collaboration with longtime partner Steve Carell, according to Screen Rant.

• Nine Emmy Awards across various categories
• Multiple Golden Globe nominations for television work
• Producer credits on series like Great News and Girls5eva
• Guest appearances on shows including Great News, Iron Chef America
• Voice work and cameo appearances across multiple formats
• Recognition as one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people

Complete List of Tina Fey Movies

Beyond television, Tina Fey has built a substantial filmography spanning live-action comedies, family animated features, and dramatic supporting roles. Her movie career demonstrates range that extends well beyond traditional comedy parameters.

Mean Girls (2004)

Mean Girls remains Fey’s most successful film venture, both commercially and critically. She adapted the screenplay from the non-fiction book by Rosalind Wiseman and delivered a sharp satire of high school social dynamics that resonated with audiences worldwide. The film earned an 84% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, according to Collider, and has achieved enduring cultural status. As Ms. Norbury, her portrayal of the morally ambiguous teacher became one of the film’s most quoted characters.

Comedy Films and Collaborations

Fey’s work with Steve Carell has produced several notable films. Date Night (2010) featured the pair as a suburban couple thrust into chaotic circumstances, earning a 67% Rotten Tomatoes score according to Complex. Baby Mama (2008) paired Fey with Amy Poehler in a fertility comedy that performed well at the box office.

Her filmography also includes Admission (2013), Whiskey Tango Foxtrot (2016, playing journalist Kim Baker), and Muppets Most Wanted (2014, as character Nadya). The Muppets collaboration earned an 80% Rotten Tomatoes score according to Screen Rant.

Dramatic and Genre Work

Fey has demonstrated versatility with projects outside pure comedy. Her supporting role in Kenneth Branagh’s A Haunting in Venice (2023) represented a departure into mystery thriller territory, according to Hollywood.com. This role showed her ability to hold her own in more serious dramatic contexts while maintaining her characteristic wit.

Tina Fey’s Best Movies and Performances Ranked

Critical consensus and audience rankings place several Fey performances above others, with her television work often receiving higher marks than her film appearances. However, specific roles have achieved standout recognition across multiple ranking sources.

Top-Ranked Performances

According to aggregated rankings from multiple sources, 30 Rock consistently appears as Fey’s top work, followed closely by her SNL material and Mean Girls. The 2004 teen comedy holds special significance as her breakthrough into mainstream film success, combining her writing talents with her acting abilities.

Voice Acting Excellence

Fey’s voice work has earned particularly strong reviews. In Pixar’s Soul (2020), she voiced the character 22, an existential counselor whose philosophical journey became one of the film’s most memorable elements. The film streams on Disney+ and received near-universal acclaim, according to Hollywood.com.

Her voice work also includes Megamind (2010) as Roxanne Ritchi and Ponyo (2008), the English dub of the Studio Ghibli film that earned a remarkable 91% Rotten Tomatoes score according to Collider. These animated roles demonstrate her ability to bring depth and humor to characters beyond live-action performance.

Lower-Tier but Notable Credits

Several Fey films receive less favorable rankings but remain significant entries in her filmography. Admission (2013), Date Night (2010), and Whiskey Tango Foxtrot (2016) represent mid-tier work that showcases her range even when projects themselves received mixed critical responses.

Her lesser-known credits include the straight-to-video Elmo and the Bookaneers (2009), guest roles in productions like Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film for Theaters (2007), and appearances in commercials and music videos including Childish Gambino’s “Real Estate” video (2012), according to Ranker.

Tina Fey Filmography Timeline

Understanding Fey’s career trajectory requires examining her work chronologically, as each phase built upon previous achievements to reach her current status as one of comedy’s most accomplished figures.

1. 1997–2006: SNL writer rises to head writer position; first major on-screen success as performer and writer; establishes industry relationships that will shape future projects.
2. 2004–2006: Breakthrough into feature films with Mean Girls screenplay; expands television presence; continues SNL contributions while developing new projects.
3. 2006–2013: Runs 30 Rock as creator and star; achieves peak television success; wins multiple Emmy Awards; establishes production company partnerships.
4. 2014–2020: Diversifies filmography with animated voice work and ensemble comedies; takes on producing roles for television projects like Great News and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.
5. 2021–present: Returns to acting in streaming series; launches Netflix collaboration with The Four Seasons; maintains industry presence across multiple platforms.

Final Thoughts on Tina Fey’s Career

Tina Fey’s career trajectory demonstrates remarkable consistency across multiple entertainment formats. From sketch comedy writing to television creation, from screenwriting to voice acting, she has maintained creative control while delivering work that resonates with audiences and critics alike.

Her ability to transition between genres—from sharp political satire to family animation, from ensemble comedies to dramatic supporting roles—sets her apart from many peers who remain confined to a single format. The critical acclaim for 30 Rock and the enduring popularity of Mean Girls suggest her influence will continue well beyond her active years in front of the camera.

For those exploring her body of work, starting with the shows and films that achieved the highest rankings provides the best introduction to her particular brand of comedy. From there, her lesser-known credits offer additional insight into her range and willingness to experiment with different genres and formats.

Frequently Asked Questions