12 Best Movies Starring The Simpsons Actors

The Simpsons may have lost some its lustre this century, but it still goes down as the greatest animated show of the 20th century and a game changer for the television industry. An integral part of the show's staggering success was the amazing voice cast that brought our favourite characters to life. Thanks to the success of the show, many of the voice actors have picked up some pretty decent film roles.

While Harry Shearer was already a famous actor before becoming the voice behind such beloved characters as Mr Burns and Waylon Smithers, the likes of Dan Castellenata who voices Homer, and Yeardley Smith who voices Lisa, grabbed supporting roles they likely would not have received otherwise. Hank Azaria, the voice of Apu and many others, is the voice actor who really cashed in on the show's success, his five separate entries on this list testament to that.

Azaria and Shearer have proven to be the most in demand of the Simpsons main voice actors, picking up roles in some modern day classics, as well as some not so classic films. (This writer is yet to be convinced that the live action Smurfs movies or 1998's Godzilla are not abominations.) Shearer grabs two of the top three entries here, including top spot.

So prepare to put a face to those voices as we look at the best 12 movies starring the voice actors from The Simpsons.

It's hard to say if this film was ahead of its time or has dated poorly, but there's no doubt that this 1996 smash hit comedy's addressing of gay characters was well intentioned. The choice of casting straight actors Robin Williams and Hank Azaria as gay characters would most likely not happen today, especially not as openly 'flamboyant' characters as they play here.

The plot revolves around a gay couple Armand and Albert, played in appropriately in an appropriately over exaggerated fashion by Robin Williams and Nathan Lane. When Armand's son, a result of a drunken one night stand, reveals to his father that he has fallen in love with a girl called Barbara, joy soon turns to panic when a Dinner date is organised with Barbara's ultra conservative Republican father.

The film makes fun of the idea of Armand and Albert pretending to be straight to please Barbara's parents, with the plans threatening to come unstuck due to the flamboyant nature of Albert and their live-in Guatemalan housekeeper played by Azaria.

The Simpsons voice actor steals the show with every scene he is in, his over the top characterisation played for laughs, but also with a lot of heart. Robin Williams and Nathan Lane unsurprisingly make every post a winner, turning what could have been an Adam Sandleresque effort in poor taste into a genuinely enjoyable time.