Catherine O’Hara Was One of a Kind—Here Are Her 16 Must-Watch Performances You Can Stream Right Now

Catherine O’Hara Was One of a Kind—Here Are Her 16 Must-Watch Performances You Can Stream Right Now

When a performer this singular is gone, the impulse is to rewatch the biggest hits, but Catherine O’Hara’s best work isn’t just “iconic,” it’s surprisingly layered.

She could play broad comedy without ever feeling hollow, then pivot into a quiet moment that makes the joke land even harder.

That range is why her characters stick with us long after the credits roll, whether she’s doing razor-sharp satire, warm family chaos, or voice acting that feels oddly human for a stop-motion world.

Below is a streaming-friendly guide to the movies and shows that capture her gifts from multiple angles.

Some picks are comfort watches you’ll want on in the background, while others reward a closer look because there’s always another choice, glance, or line reading that you missed the first time.

Queue a few, start anywhere, and let the marathon turn into a tribute.

1. Schitt’s Creek (2015–2020)

Few modern TV performances have become as instantly quotable—and as emotionally satisfying—as O’Hara’s work as Moira Rose.

What starts as flamboyant fish-out-of-water comedy gradually reveals a character built from pride, vulnerability, and stubborn love, which is exactly why she never becomes a one-note punchline.

O’Hara turns every eccentricity into texture, from the unpredictable accent to the fearless fashion, but she also gives Moira a softness that sneaks up on you.

The show’s genius is how it lets its characters evolve without losing their humor, and O’Hara’s timing makes that balancing act look effortless.

If you’re rewatching, pay attention to her reactions in group scenes, because she’s often delivering an extra joke without speaking.

2. The Studio (2025– )

Instead of leaning on nostalgia, this newer project highlights how O’Hara stayed sharp and current, even late in her career.

The premise plays with entertainment-industry absurdity, which gives her the perfect playground for satire that’s stylish rather than mean.

Her presence elevates every scene because she treats comedy like a serious craft, building laughs through specificity instead of volume.

There’s a precision to the way she listens, pauses, and lands a line, which makes the funniest moments feel earned rather than manufactured.

What’s especially satisfying is how she can suggest a whole backstory with a single look, turning what could be a typical workplace character into someone you want to keep watching.

If you like Hollywood comedies with bite, this one is an easy click.

3. The Last of Us (2023– )

Seeing O’Hara pop up in a darker prestige series is a reminder that her talent was never limited to comedy, even if comedy was where she shined brightest.

In a world defined by tension and survival, she brings a grounded human energy that cuts through the bleakness without undermining the tone.

She’s especially effective at making small moments feel real, because she understands how people cope when life is unrecognizable, whether that coping looks like humor, denial, or sudden honesty.

Her performance adds emotional contrast, which is crucial in a show that can be relentless, and it proves how valuable a seasoned actor can be in a genre setting.

Even a brief appearance can feel memorable when it’s built on choices this specific.

4. Home Alone (1990)

Holiday rewatches tend to focus on the booby traps, but the secret sauce is the family chaos that feels oddly familiar, and O’Hara anchors that energy beautifully.

As Kevin’s mom, she’s funny without being cartoonish, giving the film its emotional center so the slapstick never floats away.

The performance works because she plays the panic as real, not cute, and that honesty makes the comedy hit harder.

You can see her comedic intelligence in how she navigates overlapping dialogue and frantic movement while still keeping the character’s love obvious.

Her scenes also provide a warm counterbalance to the villains’ antics, which helps the movie stay cozy even when the humor gets physical.

If you’re introducing this film to someone new, watch how she sells the heart of it.

5. Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992)

Sequels often feel like copies, but O’Hara makes the second outing worth revisiting because she keeps the family dynamic lively instead of recycled.

The story gets bigger, the setting gets flashier, and the chaos escalates, yet she continues to play the emotional stakes with sincerity.

That sincerity matters, because it prevents the film from turning into pure noise, especially when the plot is at its most outrageous.

She threads the needle between comedic frustration and parental worry, showing how a mother can be exhausted and loving at the same time.

There’s also something satisfying about seeing her timing in a faster, louder movie, because she still finds little beats that feel personal.

It’s a holiday watch that proves warmth and humor can coexist.

6. Beetlejuice (1988)

Long before “quirky” became a default aesthetic, O’Hara’s Delia Deetz defined a kind of glamorous, self-serious eccentricity that’s hilarious because it’s played with total conviction.

She doesn’t wink at the audience, which is why every absurd moment feels grounded in Delia’s very real belief that she is an artistic visionary.

The film’s tone is a perfect match for O’Hara’s ability to be bold without losing control, and she uses her physicality in a way that’s both theatrical and precise.

Her line readings are sharp, but it’s often her reactions—slight pauses, a thoughtful stare, a sudden burst of intensity—that make the character unforgettable.

If you love spooky comedies, this is essential, and it shows how she could dominate a scene without ever forcing it.

7. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024)

Returning to a beloved world years later is risky, but O’Hara’s presence helps the follow-up feel connected to what fans loved in the first place.

She slides back into the character’s rhythm with the ease of someone who understands exactly why Delia works, even when the story is doing something new.

The fun here is watching how she updates the performance without sanding off the weirdness, because she knows the point is commitment, not realism.

She still finds room for sharp satire, especially in moments that poke at taste, status, and self-mythologizing, which Delia embodies perfectly.

If you’re nostalgic for the original, this is a satisfying companion watch, and if you’re new, it’s a stylish entry point into O’Hara’s wonderfully fearless comedy.

8. Waiting for Guffman (1997)

Mockumentary comedy lives or dies on believable behavior, and O’Hara is a master at making heightened characters feel like people you might actually meet.

The genius of this film is how it captures small-town ambition with affection rather than cruelty, and she helps set that tone by playing vanity, insecurity, and hope all at once.

Her character’s confidence can be ridiculous, but it’s also recognizably human, which is what makes the jokes land without feeling cheap.

She’s especially good at the “earnest delusion” style that Christopher Guest films do so well, where everyone thinks they’re moments away from greatness.

Watch closely and you’ll notice how much of the humor comes from her sincerity, because she never plays the character as dumb, only determined.

9. Best in Show (2000)

Dog people love this movie because it understands how intense and absurd competitive hobbies can get, but even if you’ve never been near a show ring, O’Hara’s work makes the chaos irresistible.

The performances feel improvised and alive, yet she keeps her character’s emotional logic clear, which is hard to do when the comedy is so fast and weird.

She finds humor in obsession, in awkward social rituals, and in the way couples perform “normal” for other people, even when they’re unraveling privately.

Her chemistry with the ensemble is a big reason the film feels like a real ecosystem of eccentrics instead of isolated sketches.

This is one of those comedies where a rewatch is almost mandatory, because every viewing reveals a new background moment or throwaway line that’s secretly brilliant.

10. A Mighty Wind (2003)

There’s something quietly beautiful about how this film blends comedy with longing, and O’Hara shines in that bittersweet space.

The folk-music world is played with affectionate detail, so the jokes feel like they come from familiarity rather than mockery, and her performance fits that approach perfectly.

She can be hilarious while still letting you sense the character’s history, which adds emotional weight to scenes that could have been simple gags.

The songs are part of the charm, but the real pleasure is watching how she interacts with others, listening and responding in ways that feel unforced.

It’s the kind of film that can make you laugh and then unexpectedly soften, which is a very O’Hara trick.

If you want a tribute watch that feels warm, this is an excellent pick.

11. For Your Consideration (2006)

Awards-season satire is a tricky genre because it’s easy to become smug, but this movie works best when it leans into character-driven absurdity, and O’Hara helps keep it grounded.

She understands how insecurity can masquerade as confidence in show business, and she plays those contradictions with precision.

The funniest moments often come from her ability to communicate panic under a polished surface, which is the perfect energy for a story about reputation, validation, and public performance.

Even when the scenes feel crowded, she finds a way to make her choices specific, so the comedy remains sharp instead of generic.

If you’ve ever side-eyed red carpet culture or campaign-season desperation, this one will hit, and it also shows how O’Hara could thrive in ensemble satire without disappearing into it.

12. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

Voice acting doesn’t always get credit, but O’Hara’s performance as Sally is a big reason this film feels emotionally grounded beneath its candy-colored darkness.

She gives the character a warmth that contrasts beautifully with the spooky aesthetic, and she makes Sally’s sadness feel gentle rather than melodramatic.

The musical sequences matter here, because her voice helps communicate longing and quiet strength in a way that sticks with you, even if you haven’t watched the movie in years.

What’s impressive is how she conveys tenderness without making Sally passive, which gives the character an inner life beyond romance.

This is an essential watch if you want to see O’Hara’s range, because it proves she could create a fully realized character with nothing but sound.

It’s cozy, gothic, and surprisingly heartfelt.

13. Frankenweenie (2012)

Stop-motion worlds can feel distant, but O’Hara brings a human pulse to this film through her voice work, helping the story land as more than a spooky gimmick.

The movie mixes grief, curiosity, and dark humor in a way that feels classic Tim Burton, and she understands how to play sincerity inside that heightened tone.

Her character work adds warmth and gentle comedy, which matters because the central premise is emotional, even when it’s packaged as a monster-movie homage.

You’ll hear how she shapes a line to sound natural, not “voice-actor perfect,” which makes the world feel lived-in.

If you’re building a tribute watchlist, this is a smart inclusion because it highlights her versatility, and it’s also a great pick if you want something that’s eerie but still family-friendly.

14. A Series of Unfortunate Events (2017–2019)

The show’s stylized gloom is half the fun, but what makes it work is the actors’ commitment to a heightened reality, and O’Hara understands that assignment immediately.

She leans into the theatrical tone while still making her character feel like a person with motivations, not just a costumed gag.

That balance is crucial in a world where everything is exaggerated, because the humor needs a little truth underneath the whimsy.

Her scenes often sparkle with sharp timing and expressive reactions, and she adds texture to a series that already has a strong comic rhythm.

This is also a great watch if you like O’Hara in “character mode,” because she gets to play with disguises, vanity, and authority in ways that feel deliciously absurd.

It’s witty, dark, and visually playful.

15. Penelope (2006/2008)

This is one of those slightly offbeat fantasy romances that becomes more charming once you settle into its gentle weirdness, and O’Hara is a big reason it holds together.

The film’s world is whimsical, but she treats the stakes as real, which prevents the story from feeling like pure fluff.

Her performance adds both humor and emotional grounding, especially in scenes where family expectations and social image start to press in.

She’s excellent at playing characters who think they’re doing the right thing while clearly being a little misguided, which creates comedy without turning anyone into a villain.

If you want something lighter than the mockumentaries but still unmistakably “her,” this is a great choice, and it’s easy to stream when you’re in the mood for a softer tribute watch.

16. Orange County (2002)

Coming-of-age comedies can age poorly when they rely on easy stereotypes, but O’Hara’s presence gives this one an extra layer of character-based humor.

She brings a sharp, lived-in energy to the family dynamic, playing exasperation and affection in the same breath, which makes the household chaos feel recognizable.

Even when the movie gets broad, she stays grounded in believable reactions, and that steadiness improves the surrounding comedy.

There’s also something satisfying about watching her in a supporting role where she doesn’t need to dominate the plot to leave an impression, because her timing does the work.

If you’re building a streaming list with variety, this is a nice mid-2000s option that shows her ability to elevate mainstream studio comedy.

It’s messy, energetic, and surprisingly rewatchable.