Kumail Nanjiani Names His All-Time Favorite Film
The Silicon Valley actor and Marvel star reveals the unexpected 1994 romantic comedy that launched his stand-up career and remains his most-watched movie of all time.
Fans of the comedy panel show Taskmaster have plenty to celebrate with the announcement of season 21's stellar lineup. The roster includes heavy hitters like Armando Iannucci and Joanna Page, but the real showstopper is Kumail Nanjiani, the Pakistani-American comedian who climbed from New York comedy clubs to Hollywood's biggest stages.
Nanjiani's journey reads like a modern American success story. After moving from Karachi to the US at 18, he built his reputation through stand-up before landing his breakout role on HBO's Silicon Valley. His 2017 film The Big Sick, which he co-wrote based on his own life, earned him an Oscar nomination and opened doors to major projects including Men in Black: International and Jordan Peele's Twilight Zone reboot.
From Marvel Heights to Personal Struggles
The comedian's biggest Hollywood moment came with Marvel's Eternals in 2021. Despite the film's box office success, harsh critical reception hit Nanjiani hard. He later revealed seeking therapy to cope with the negative response to what many expected would launch a major franchise.
His career continued with high-profile projects like Disney's Obi-Wan Kenobi series alongside Ewan McGregor. More recently, he's returned to his comedy roots with the acclaimed TV special Night Thoughts, bringing his career full circle back to stand-up.
An Unlikely British Inspiration
The source of Nanjiani's comedy inspiration might surprise fans. Growing up in Pakistan, he became obsessed with Richard Curtis's 1994 romantic comedy Four Weddings and a Funeral. He saw Hugh Grant's stammering character as performing extended stand-up routines, particularly during the memorable best man's speech scene.
This observation sparked an unusual career aspiration. Nanjiani found himself wishing he could make a living giving wedding speeches, which led him to discover stand-up comedy as the closest alternative.
When asked about his favorite film of all time, Nanjiani doesn't hesitate: "I would say Four Weddings and a Funeral, just because I have seen it the most times, and I just love it every time. It's so funny and charming, and everybody's great in it. It just looks good. It just feels good. I'd be lying if I put any other movie on top, because that's the movie I've seen the most."
Curtis's Comedy Legacy
The 1994 film transformed Hugh Grant into a global star and established Richard Curtis as a master of romantic comedy. Curtis went on to create beloved hits like Love Actually and Notting Hill, the latter reuniting Grant with Julia Roberts in what many consider a spiritual successor to Four Weddings.
Beyond Taskmaster, Nanjiani continues expanding his range with appearances in the popular video game adaptation Fallout. His upcoming projects include Thread, an Insidious universe spin-off co-starring Mandy Moore. The supernatural thriller follows a couple who use ancient magic to travel back in time and prevent their daughter's death, with predictably disastrous consequences.