On this date in 1994, the smash hit sitcom Friends premiered on television. It took a season or two for the gang of six to really take off, but boy did they ever. The show resonates as one of the most popular TV comedies of all time, because of the wholesome banter and minutae that, well, audiences just seemed drawn to. People have been begging for reunions and new episodes for almost two decades now, mostly to no avail (although the occasional in-public meet up goes viral online). I won’t pretend I’m the biggest Friends fan of all time, but I did grow up on the show and remember quite a bit; it’ll always have a place in my heart and my childhood, even though I don’t rewatch it all too often. There continues to be a fascination surrounding the familiar faces attached to the show, and their successes outside of the show. So, I figured I would do the same today. I’ve listed the best performances of each of the titular friends (even though that term doesn’t extend to the lovers side of things, but so be it). I’ve avoided television series or mini series, but will be sure to bring up these works in each entry when needed. For now, here are the best films by each of the Friends.

6. Matt LeBlanc-Charlie’s Angels

“Joey” has arguably had the roughest post-Friends career, with duds like Lost in Space and complete misfires like All the Queen’s Men, although he has had some television success lately including the highly accoladed Episodes and a hosting gig on the newer iteration of Top Gear (we can forget the Friends spinoff Joey, though). Cinematically, the best LeBlanc got was with the subpar revival of Charlie’s Angels, who basically served as “Angel” Alex’s partner that popped in here and there, either for comedic effect or for ironic help. That’s essentially it.

5. Matthew Perry-The Whole Nine Yards

“Chandler” didn’t have a much better filmography, although he’s had some stop-start temporary success with a variety of television shows (the best being Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip). On film, well, there’s his role in The Whole Nine Yards, which was basically Chandler in a new setting. Just to make things worse, the sequel The Whole Ten Yards was much, much more intolerable. Well, at least the previous film was… slightly subpar, I suppose?

4. Jennifer Aniston-Cake

“Rachel” has had the most successful career of all of the Friends cast members, and it isn’t even a close contest. From her many endorsements to the countless film and television parts that she has owned, Aniston has permanently been on fire. That’s not to say I’ve loved everything she’s done; I feel like many of her comedies and romances have sold her talents short. There is Cake, however, where we see Aniston at her personal best (although the film is so-so), as a grieving mother struggling with addiction and depression. Hopefully we can see more range from Aniston, because she clearly has it.

3. David Schwimmer-Madagascar Series

In films, “Ross” has kind of been hit or miss, as both a performer and a filmmaker. On television, however, Schwimmer has had quite a lot of success, particularly with the miniseries Band of Brothers and The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story. Since we’re sticking to films, I guess the role I’m going with is the anxious giraffe Melman from the Madagascar series. Serving as the overly cautious voice of reason — usually stymied by his own clumsiness — Schwimmer is perfectly cast as this frantic animal.

2. Lisa Kudrow-Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion

Even though “Phoebe” has had a bit of a wobblier filmography compared to some of the Friends below her, she still has Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion: a cult classic for nostalgic dreamers of all eras. The film plays off of Kudrow’s knack for the awkward, and she truly shines in this role. Thankfully, Kudrow has had charming parts in works like The Girl on the Train and Booksmart as of late, so we get to see her here and there; some of these roles also give her a bit of leeway to prevent complete typecasting as well.

1. Courtney Cox-Scream Series

“Monica” has had some success on the big and small screens, including shows like Cougar Town (not to mention small parts or cameos in classics like Seinfeld) and films like Bedtime Stories. Hands down her greatest none-Friends triumph (or her best work overall, depending on who you ask) is in the cult horror comedy series Scream. As the blunt heroine Gale Weathers, Cox is consistently electrifying, and an essential member of the all star cast that has upheld this series for many years. For me, the first Scream alone is the best film that any Friends member is attached to; I’m not a fan of the entire series necessarily, but the more Gale we get, the better the justification for this top entry.

Andreas Babiolakis has a Masters degree in Film and Photography Preservation and Collections Management from Ryerson University, as well as a Bachelors degree in Cinema Studies from York University. His favourite times of year are the Criterion Collection flash sales and the annual Toronto International Film Festival.

The Best Roles of All Six Friends Cast Members