Like many comedians before him, Tim Robinson got his start on Saturday Night Live, beginning as a cast member in Season 38 before moving to the writers’ room for the next three seasons. While his time on the show was brief, it offered a wide network of SNL alums which Robinson would later collaborate with as he branched out into movies and TV shows.
It’s not that Robinson is an underrated actor. His comedy is niche — it’s bizarre, absurd, and favors cringeworthy moments that might make audiences slightly uncomfortable but always keep them intrigued. Whether in a main or supporting role, most projects to which Robinson is attached receive critical acclaim, the most recent being HBO’s ongoing series, The Chair Company. From silly voice acting in Digman! to his own sketch show, I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson, these are Tim Robinson’s best movies and TV shows, ranked.
8
‘Digman!’ (2023–)
Loosely inspired by the adventures of Indiana Jones, Digman! follows a group of archaeologists who venture around the world to discover ancient artifacts and secrets — and in this show, these archaeologists are as highly regarded as celebrities. Specifically, Rip Digman (Andy Samberg), a somewhat fallen hero, is attempting to regain his reputation more than a decade later.
Samberg serves as co-creator and lead in this adult animated sitcom. Digman! is one of numerous times Robinson — who voices Rip’s pilot, Swooper — appeared in a project helmed by a fellow SNL alum. This makes sense as their absurdist humor mimics one another. Digman! is still finding its footing within the genre, but a second season is on the way.
7
‘Teenage Euthanasia’ (2021–2023)
Robinson stars as Uncle Pete in another adult animated sitcom, Teenage Euthanasia, which teeters on the edge of dark comedy. This makes sense considering the ominous title. When the deceased but recently resurrected mother, Trophy Fantasy (Maria Bamford), returns to her family, she must learn to navigate this new life and, more importantly, reconnect with her daughter, Euthanisia Fantasy (Jo Firestone), as they get a second chance at forming a bond that was absent during Trophy’s time alive.
Death surrounds the Fantasy family — not just in the case of Trophy’s return. Their Florida-based funeral home is filled with stories of the dead. Robinson plays a crucial character in yet another voice-over role — a testament to his cadence, which transcends mediums. Although the fate of the series was uncertain, it was confirmed that Teenage Euthanasia, unfortunately, would not return for another season. Aside from Robinson, the series got big names to join as voice actors in cameos or brief guest appearances.
6
‘Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers’ (2022)
Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers pays homage to the eponymous 1989 TV series, told through an action-packed adventure blending animation and live action. The movie was a clever sequel to the original, in which Chip (John Mulaney) and Dale (Samberg) traverse Los Angeles to find their missing friend. It offered meta-commentary on the film industry and the challenges of succeeding in Hollywood. Unfortunately, Ugly Sonic — voiced by Robinson — is one of them, becoming a source of comedic relief as a character who faces such adversity.
Part of the movie’s appeal lies in its nostalgic factor. As such, Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers became an unexpected hit, earning a score of 81% on Rotten Tomatoes and overall praise from critics and fans. But what else would you expect from Andy Samberg attached to the project? While Robinson’s role is small, his tragically hilarious interpretation of Ugly Sonic became a standout success in the movie.
5
‘Saturday Night Live’ (1975–)
The world was introduced to Robinson in 2012 when he joined the show as a featured player during SNL‘s 38th season. While Robinson’s stint as a cast member on SNL was brief, he remained a writer for three additional seasons, until 2017. However, he managed to star in and create memorable sketches. In retrospect, Robinson was too weird for SNL. As it turns out, this was a good thing.
But SNL served as a launching pad for the young talent. It provided access to a wide network of alumni, including fellow writer and future collaborator Zach Kanin (I Think You Should Leave, The Chair Company, Detroiters). Robinson’s time on SNL was a welcome teaser for what fans might expect in the future. It’s all about finding the right audience; this is something that Robinson succeeded at.
4
‘Detroiters’ (2017–2018)
Detroiters, as the title would suggest, is set in the city of Detroit — Robinson’s own hometown. Tim Cramblin (Robinson) must make a name for himself beyond his father’s legacy in the local advertising world, with the help of neighbor and business partner, Sam Duvet (Sam Richardson). They may lack the talent, but make up for it with enthusiasm. It’s a classic case of “the blind leading the blind.”
It’s a buddy series similar to Robinson’s 2024 film, Friendship. But Detroiters is more than that. It aims to shift the narrative of what people expect from the city and celebrates all that the city has to offer. Much like Robinson’s growing filmography, Detroiters is fueled by absurdist comedy and moments of unnecessary intensity. He’s found his style and sticks with it.
3
‘The Chair Company’ (2025–)
Robinson and Kanin pair up for the third time to create this 2025 HBO comedy thriller. The Chair Company follows a property developer employee, William Trosper (Robinson), on a mission to uncover a deep conspiracy about, as the title alludes to, a chair company. All because of an incident in which his chair broke during a presentation in front of his company.
It’s an objectively ridiculous premise that suits Robinson’s ability to escalate situations to the extreme. Only this time, Robinson and Kanin are provided with an HBO budget and a writer’s room that elevates their antics. Although The Chair Company is only a few episodes in, it is proving to be a clever and captivating series — earning a 100% on Rotten Tomatoes. There is still much more to come, but The Chair Company will undoubtedly give Robinson the widespread attention that he deserves and expand his fan base.
2
‘Friendship’ (2024)
In the sleepy suburban town of Clovis, marketing executive Craig Waterman (Robinson) befriends a new neighbor and local meteorologist, Austin Carmichael (Paul Rudd). But for Craig and Austin, it’s (platonic) love at first sight. Is this too good to be true? Craig quickly becomes obsessed to the point where it begins to ruin his own life.
In a movie titled Friendship, the two characters’ relationship becomes anything but. This tragedy, however, makes for a hilariously uncomfortable dynamic that only Robinson and Rudd could pull off — they proved to be a worthy comedic duo. Male friendships can be challenging to maintain (or start, for that matter).
1
‘I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson’ (2019–)
I Think You Should Leave was Robinson’s first role after SNL and her first time partnering with Kanin. Interestingly, the format was relatively similar, presenting short situational sketches. Each episode is approximately 20 minutes long and consists of 4–5 segments. It’s made for easy viewing.
Fans — and even non-fans — might recognize moments from the show, particularly trending audio clips and scenes. As a result, I Think You Should Leave‘s cultural significance expands beyond the small screen. Notably, Robinson earned an Emmy Award for Outstanding Actor in a Short Form or Comedy or Drama Series in 2023. This achievement signified a turning point for Robinson as an actor. A fourth season is underway, but currently delayed as Robinson takes on more projects — which is a good thing!
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