Honestly, it is kinda wild that it has been over a decade since we first saw a fake family try to smuggle two tons of "marijuana" across the border in a giant RV. If you’ve spent any time on TikTok or Instagram lately, you’ve probably seen the "You guys are getting paid?" meme or that clip of the awkward RV singalong. It’s one of those rare comedies that just stays relevant.
But when you look at the cast of We're the Millers, you realize why the movie didn't just disappear into the $5 DVD bin. It was a perfect storm of established A-listers and young actors who were right on the edge of becoming massive stars.
The Core Four: More Than Just a Fake Family
The chemistry between these four shouldn't have worked, but it did. You had the cynical drug dealer, the stripper with a heart of gold (kinda), the runaway teen, and the most awkward kid in the history of cinema.
Jason Sudeikis as David Clark
Before he was the wholesome, mustache-wearing Ted Lasso, Jason Sudeikis was the king of the "lovable jerk" role. In this flick, he plays David Clark, a small-time pot dealer who gets robbed and forced into a high-stakes smuggling job.
Sudeikis brought that specific Saturday Night Live energy where he can say something incredibly mean but make you laugh anyway. By 2026, we’ve seen him win basically every award possible for Ted Lasso, but looking back at David Clark reminds you he started as a master of fast-talking, sarcastic comedy.
Jennifer Aniston as Rose O'Reilly
Jennifer Aniston was already a legend when this came out. Playing Rose—a stripper who agrees to play the "mom" to pay off her debts—was a move that let her break away from the strictly "girl next door" image she had for years.
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You’ve probably seen the scene where she has to use her "work skills" to distract some DEA agents. It’s iconic for a reason. Aniston didn't just play the straight man to Sudeikis; she held her own with a sharpness that showed why she’s stayed at the top of Hollywood for thirty years. These days, she’s crushing it on The Morning Show, but Rose O’Reilly remains one of her funniest big-screen characters.
Will Poulter as Kenny Rossmore
If there is a MVP of the cast of We're the Millers, it is Will Poulter. No contest.
Kenny is the "son" who is so wholesome and naive it hurts. Whether he’s getting a spider bite in a very sensitive area or trying to learn how to kiss from his "sister" and "mom" (yeah, it’s still weird), Poulter’s facial expressions are comedy gold.
Since the movie, Poulter has had a crazy career transformation. He went from the dorky kid in the RV to a literal golden god in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Adam Warlock in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. He also showed up in The Bear and Midsommar, proving he’s actually one of the most versatile actors of his generation. But to most of us, he’ll always be the kid singing TLC’s "Waterfalls" at the top of his lungs.
Emma Roberts as Casey Mathis
Emma Roberts played the "daughter," Casey, a runaway with a lot of piercings and even more attitude. She was the perfect foil to Kenny’s innocence. Roberts was already known for things like Nancy Drew, but this movie helped transition her into the "cool, slightly mean girl" roles she’d later perfect in American Horror Story and Scream Queens.
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The Supporting Players You Forgot Were There
The movie is packed with "Oh, it’s that guy!" actors.
Nick Offerman and Kathryn Hahn play the Fitzgeralds, the terrifyingly "normal" family the Millers keep running into. Offerman is basically doing a slightly more suburban version of Ron Swanson, and Hahn—well, she’s Kathryn Hahn. Everything she touches turns to gold. Watching her try to be "edgy" in the RV is one of the highlights of the whole film.
Then you’ve got Ed Helms as the eccentric drug lord Brad Gurdlinger. He spends most of his time obsessed with an orca he bought with drug money. It’s a total 180 from his role in The Office, and he leans into the weirdness perfectly.
And who could forget Luis Guzmán as the corrupt Mexican cop? Or Thomas Lennon as the old college "friend" who David can't stand? The bench for this cast was incredibly deep.
Why There’s No Sequel (and Why That’s Okay)
People ask about We’re the Millers 2 all the time. For a while, it seemed like it was actually happening. In 2014, New Line Cinema even hired a writer for the script.
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But as of 2026, the project is basically dead. Will Poulter has joked in recent interviews that he’s "too old" now to play the naive kid. Jennifer Aniston has mentioned that while there were talks, they just couldn't get the script right. Honestly? That’s probably for the best. Some comedies are lightning in a bottle. Trying to recreate the "fake family" magic ten years later usually ends up feeling forced.
The "No Ragrets" Legacy
The movie’s influence on internet culture is probably bigger than its box office ever was. Between the memes and the constant streaming on platforms like Netflix and Max, a whole new generation is discovering the cast of We're the Millers.
It’s a reminder of a time when R-rated comedies were a staple of the summer movie season. It didn't need a multiverse or a CGI explosion; it just needed four people who were really good at being annoyed by each other.
If you’re looking to revisit the film or dive deeper into what the actors are up to now, here are a few things to check out:
- Watch The Bear (Season 2/3): To see Will Poulter play a sophisticated chef, which is the exact opposite of Kenny.
- Binge The Morning Show: For a look at Jennifer Aniston’s incredible dramatic range.
- Rewatch the Bloopers: Seriously, the We're the Millers blooper reel (especially the Friends theme song prank) is arguably as funny as the movie itself.
The magic of this cast was that they felt like a real, messy family, even though they were all playing criminals. That’s a hard vibe to fake.