Although humor is subjective, some comedy movies are so great that everyone seems to agree that they are funny. When they work and the jokes land, comedies can be among them greatest movie of all time. From Mel Brooks to Monty Python to the Zucker brothers, the best comedy filmmakers have mastered both the comedic side and the medium, ensuring that their films are well-staged and well-shot in addition to having plenty of laughs.
Comedy is one of the most hit-and-miss genres, but the hits really hit. There are some comedies from more than 50 years ago that still hold up today, e.g Dr. Strange love and Some like it hot. Some 21st century comedies, e.g Bridesmaids and Shaun of the Deadare so great that they rank with the all-time greats, which include not only the pitch-perfect Back to the future but also the prescient self-aware Monty Python and the Holy Grail.
20
Step Brothers (2008)
Cruelly underrated by critics upon release, Adam McKay’s delightfully silly comedy Step brothers is one of Will Ferrell’s funniest movies. Teaming up with John C Reilly in a partnership that should prove surprisingly productive, Ferrell plays Brennan, a 40-year-old manchild forced to face the prospect of a stepbrother (Reilly’s Dale) violating his cozy one-child setup when his mother (Mary Steenburgen) remarries.
What follows is a 98-minute war between the two developmentally disabled foes, the escalation of which memorably includes the scrotal defilement of a drum kit. Endlessly quotable and immensely funny, Step brothers is easy to watch with a slapstick kicker that gets better every time you watch it.
19
American Pie (1999)
This great classic launched an entire subgenre of teen comedies in the early 2000s. American Pie follows a group of high school students who make a pact to lose their virginity before they graduate. It’s a classic setup for a raucous comedy about sex and coming of age. But what does American Pie standing above the rest is how it injects a clever emotional story between the lines.
The interactions between the characters make this movie not just funny, but heartfelt. Oz and Heather in particular have the cutest story leading up to prom. The writing makes this film one of the more substantial comedies, while also delivering loud moments like the infamous apple pie scene.
18
Raising Arizona (1987)
After bursting onto the scene with their creepy neo-noir Blood Simplethe Coen brothers followed it up with a tonal 180-degree turn. Raising Arizona‘s story sounds dark on paper—an ex-convict and his wife, desperate to start a family, kidnap one of a local businessman’s octuplets to raise as their own—but the Coens’ execution couldn’t be crazier. Most comedies use standard coverage to keep the audience focused on the performances and dialogue, but Raising Arizona uses a fast-moving camera to enhance the humor.
17
Withnail And I (1987)
As with only the best comedy characters, almost everything Richard E. Grant’s Withnail says could be a t-shirt slogan. So beloved is the cult-classic British comedy that its most famous lines are quoted back and forth among fans in a perpetual loop celebrating the unemployed actor and his straighter sidekick (Paul McGann’s “I”). Withnail and I delightfully challenges the idea of British elegance, introducing the pair of debauched, possibly depraved down-and-outs who seek a weekend of respite at a country house owned by Withnail’s wealthy, lascivious uncle Monty (the excellent Richard Griffiths). Roaringly funny and desperately sad, Withnail and I gave the world Richard E Grant, thanks to his amazing breakout performance, and should be on every comedy fan’s to-watch list.
16
Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping (2016)
Taking heavy inspiration from Rob Reiners This is Spinal Tap, Pop star is a hysterical mockumentary that chronicles the career of Connor 4 Real. The film is made by comedy group The Lonely Island and their greatest strengths are on full display. There are plenty of outrageous moments that deliver memorable laughs, including a scene where you hear a violent argument with a bee while the cameras are off.
What does Pop star that’s how special the music is though. The Lonely Island are known for their comedy songs and this film features them at their absolute best. Every tune is catchy and fun. Plus, at a breezy 87 minutes, this is a quick and easy watch for someone looking to check out something on the short side.
15
Back to the Future (1985)
When Marty McFly is thrown 30 years into the past in his inventor friend’s time machine, he accidentally prevents his parents from meeting for the first time and must ensure that they reunite so that he is not erased from history. Back to the future is as close to a perfect movie as there has ever been, with a perfectly crafted script. Everything that is set up in the present in the opening act ends up having real meaning when Marty goes back in time. What is really impressive is that Back to the future manages to pack so many laughs into his airtight narrative.
14
Team America: World Police (2004)
From the twisted minds of South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone, Team America: The World Police did for traditional marionettes what Book of Mormon did for musicals, making the art form accessible to a new generation by tapping into the same anarchic spirit of animation its creators are best known for.
Upsetting and provocative in equal measure, Team America pushing the actors’ perceived self-importance and positioning their skills as the most valuable asset in the global fight against terrorism to frankly ludicrous results. With a sex scene that has to be seen to be believed and a blatant disregard for conventional offensiveness, it’s actually a far more clever parody than it’s ever given credit for. And it absolutely sells the idea that almost anything could be possible if the world just opened its arms to dolls more.
13
Game Night (2018)
One of the biggest surprises of the 2010s, Game night is a hilarious comedy that has a funny premise to boot. It follows a couple named Max and Annie who are invited by Max to take part in an unusual game night with a kidnapping. But when they realize that what’s happening might be real, they must work with their friends to save Max’s brother.
Jason Bateman and Rachel McAdams star in this unexpected comedy. They work incredibly well off each other and deliver some of the film’s best jokes. In addition, they are joined by other hysterical actors and actresses who all get their time to shine. This is a comedy that has flown under so many people’s radar, and if you haven’t checked it out yet, now is the best time to watch it.
12
Blazing Saddles (1974)
Mel Brooks has made many good parody films throughout his career, but Burning saddles is undoubtedly the biggest. Burning saddles doesn’t just poke fun at the clichés of the Western genre; it also points out the inherent racism in glorifying this period of American history. It’s about a corrupt politician who hires a black sheriff in an attempt to destroy a town, and the sheriff turns out to be so good at his job that he saves the town and takes down the politician and his cronies. The fourth wall breaking finale is a meta masterpiece.
11
Dr. Strangelove Or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)
Stanley Kubrick made his political satire Dr. Strange love to reflect the Cold War era fears of nuclear war in the 1960s. However, as mankind is unfortunately still on the brink of nuclear annihilation, the film is still just as current and relevant today. Peter Sellers gives a trio of hysterical performances at the center of a star-studded cast. Dr. Strange love has a wonderfully deranged sense of humor, but its depiction of warfare and mutually assured destruction is surprisingly accurate. Kubrick ends with the perfect punchline, using Vera Lynn’s “We’ll Meet Again” to show that World War II optimism is at stake in the age of nuclear weapons.
