Best Comedy Films List
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Last Updated: 4/21/25
Note:
It's simple and straightforward: the best of the best in comedy cinema history. In order to qualify, the film
has received a rating of at least '7' from me and then must also meet the following criteria:
1. The movie has to be funny. Get it? FUNNY.
Multiple parts (i.e. duology, trilogy, etc.) can be put together as one if there's a continuation in the narrative.
Miniseries and telefilms are fair game, but anything made after the year 2000 and documentaries are excluded.
These films have shown brilliance in most, if not all, aspects: acting, characters, screenplay, plot, direction,
editing, cinematography, and so on. They must also be "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant."
Then, I think about cultural phenomenon, uniqueness, famous movie moments, iconic scenes and/or lines, cinematic
power, and timelessness.
This list is based on what I have seen so far and is limited to the top 40 with 4 honorable mentions in that order
and some, if any, notable exceptions to the rule. While ranking the films, I am simultaneously thinking about
comedy before quality and quality before comedy.
Full of brilliant writing and brilliant acting, M*A*S*H is the best and most intelligent comedy film ever
made. The ensemble cast is unbelievable, playing unforgettable characters. So are the scenes which are so funny.
No wonder why this one spawned a highly successful TV show.
"Ladies and gentlemen, direct from Hell, Spinal Tap!!" Genius is written all over this film, one of the funniest
ever. Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, and Harry Shearer are brilliant. Many viewers thought the English band
was real, and they got fooled big time. That's how convincing these actors were. To think of the movie is to
think of the timeless quotes and scenes.
Planes, Trains & Automobiles is an all-time classic that's relatable for everybody, no matter what decade
it's viewed in. Scoring high in comedy, it's almost a laugh-a-minute all the way through. There are many funny
scenes and one-liners involving John Candy. Both he and Steve Martin have called Planes, Trains & Automobiles
their favorite movie they've done. Honestly, there's not a single flaw in it.
A Fish Called Wanda is one of the wackiest, funniest pictures made. Kevin Kline is beyond brilliant as
"Don't Call Me Stupid" Otto. "It's K-K-K-Ken! C-c-c-coming to k-k-k-kill me! How you gonna c-c-c-catch me,
K-K-K-Ken?" And the joke is on him. Jamie Lee Curtis, Michael Palin, and John Cleese are perfectly cast.
Although George Hamilton is sensational for playing the dual role of Zorro and his gay brother, it's Ron Leibman
who steals the show. Alcalde reaches the zenith of his insanity when he attempts to solve the riddle out of Zorro's
colorful costumes, resulting in a salad mix. Then, he does this finger pointing to his taxmaster, making him sit
down. One scene when Ron was walking like he's ssssaaaa and ssssswwwingg yoouurrr hipssss still cracks me up.
Unusual and perfect for Christmas, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation is a funny picture. There
are many memorable moments such as the crash landing on the Christmas tree lot, the sight of a dug-out tree,
the stickiness from the sap, the 25,000 twinkle lights plus the drum roll, "What's that sound? You hear it? It's
a funny squeaky sound," the damage caused by the squirrel, the burned-down tree, and so on.
The best film by Jim Carrey? Maybe. Liar Liar is quite funny. Imagine a normal actor playing the same role.
The results would've been totally different, losing so much of the spontaneity that could only be generated by
Jim Carrey. Just look at Cary Elwes trying to do "The Claw." Impressive is the story which is quality stuff;
there's a moral involved in regard to lying all the time.
Genius movie. There are many, many funny parts. My favorite is the balancing act in James Caan's broken-down
trailer. The back of the DVD cover says, "Only Mel Brooks would tell his laugh-packed tale about a silent
movie—as a silent movie—with one word of dialogue." That's true as the mime will ironically say it.
Brilliant stuff.
Talk about a perfect film because everything came together so well. It's best to view Young Frankenstein
as a mildly amusing spoof of the Universal horror classic pictures rather than an uproariously funny comedy. The
idea actually originated through Gene Wilder who called the film his all-time favorite. Impeccable cast, brilliant
writing, and beautiful cinematography are the hallmarks.
The best baseball picture made, Major League wins points when it comes to the cast, characters, comedy,
classic moments, one-liners, and direction. The ending is excellent. Who can forget Charlie Sheen, Wesley Snipes,
and Tom Berenger as the Wild Thing, Willie Mays Hayes, and Jake Taylor, respectively?
There are hundreds of them, but Lethal Weapon is the best buddy cop film of all time. The chemistry between
Danny Glover and Mel Gibson is terrific. It's what makes the movie. One is pretty good for a detective although
he's a big believer in "do as little as possible and, more importantly, stay alive," and the other is a true
lethal weapon. The next two sequels are funny as Joe Pesci and Rene Russo are added into the mix.
As funny as the movie is, there are a lot of fresh jokes that are good for big laughs. The lines are well-written
and subtle. The funniest scene is when Frank and Jane were running on the beach with their hands together and
knocking down an approaching couple. Almost in a tie is Frank on the ledge with the nude statues.
Cousins is one of the greatest romantic and also funniest movies made, being the main precursor of Hugh
Grant's British classic Four Weddings and a Funeral. Electrifying is the chemistry between Ted Danson
and Isabella Rossellini. And the rest of the cast is impeccable, giving the film a lively pace.
In comparison with other children's films, nothing beats The Goonies. Unparalleled are the acting, dialogue,
sense of humor, premise, fantasy, creativity, comedy, and action-adventure. Of the child stars, Corey Feldman
does an exceptional job. As for the rest of the cast, they're natural. The Goonies has it all that you
can possibly want in a children's film.
Once upon a time, Tom Hanks was a gifted comedian. The 'Burbs is a hysterically funny, campy picture. The
story is fun to follow, and the mystery story is what keeps the momentum going. Some of the scenes take the film
to another level, adding more to the wacky, zany fun. Great acting is rendered by the cast, most especially from
Rick Ducommun and Bruce Dern.
The coolest movie of the decade, Snatch consists of all stars giving riveting performances. The
convoluted parallel threads, which converge to a single point, are why Snatch is a confusing film to
follow from the get-go, but watching it over and over will bring more appreciation for Guy Ritchie's unique
style of storytelling.
Way better than The Truman Show, EDtv is a "joyous celebration of boobery." A favorite is the
catchy book title My Brother Pissed on Me, which was penned by Ed's brother, and Bill Maher questioned
him if it did literally happen. Showing high replayability value, it does have a lot to say about the media and
people's infatuation for celebrities with no talent.
A surprise winner in 1991, My Cousin Vinny is an unusual comedy that saw Marisa Tomei win a deserving
Oscar for Best Supporting Actress which was clinched by the automotive knowledge scene. It has been praised
often for showing off credible courtroom procedure and trial strategy. Joe Pesci, Fred Gwynne, and Austin
Pendleton are funny.
Billy Crystal's character said it the best to describe Analyze This: "What is my goal here...to make you a
happy, well-adjusted gangster?" It's a smart hilarious picture with a small amount of references to
The Godfather trilogy and Goodfellas. If not for Robert De Niro's legacy of playing gangsters,
the whole thing wouldn't have worked.
What makes Ferris Bueller's Day Off unforgettable is the moments. As many of them as there are, the best
is the parade which included over 10,000 people; it looks real and spontaneous. The timing of every scene is
dead-on, giving the film a perfect flow, and time flies by quickly. As Ferris Bueller, Matthew Broderick has
universal appeal just like James Stewart. It's impossible to dislike him. That's why the movie works.
The Monster Squad is one of the all-time great children's films with a delicious mix of horror and comedy.
Fascinating is how well it bridges the gap, giving something for everybody: horror fans, comedy fans, children,
and adults. The best part is putting together the five most famous movie monsters from Universal Studios in one
film: Count Dracula, Wolf Man, Mummy, Frankenstein's Monster, and Creature from the Black Lagoon.
Johnny Depp gives one of the best performances of his career as the eponymous director. He has a beautiful scene
when he said, "This is the one. This is the one I'll be remembered for," during the premiere of
Plan 9 from Outer Space. Well, that's an accurate statement. Moreover, Johnny Depp has a great reaction
when his eyes lit up as if he just discovered plutonium or he yelled, "Cut! Perfect!" Martin Landau is
unforgettable as well.
Tango & Cash still doesn't get the respect it deserves, featuring one of the most electrifying on-screen chemistry
between Kurt Russell and Sylvester Stallone. They're like fire and kerosene. Put these two together, and the screen ignites.
The comedy works because of the way they feed off each other so well.
Every Which Way But Loose is a one hundred percent pure cult flick. Sometimes it's funny, sometimes it's serious, and most
of the time, it's just plain old good fun. The best part is the relationship between Clint Eastwood and Clyde the orangutan. The film is
littered with many funny scenes, especially the one with Philo dropping a set of fake teeth in a soup before the snobbish college
girl discovers it.
Remember...Andre does not eat raw meat 'cause Andre is a vegetarian. The best scene is when Robert Loggia gave a halftime
speech before proceeding to tear off his clothes and then getting everybody to pray together afterwards. Memorable characters,
strong script, plenty of laughs, and solid acting are the key ingredients to make this film a winner.
The Princess Bride is memorable for being a great fantasy picture which was shot on location in England and Ireland.
What I love about it is the setup of the structure: the storytelling format, the voice-over narration, the actual story, and the
occasional interruptions by the grandson. They all make the movie special. In fact, The Princess Bride is the best example
to demonstrate the love of books.
Memorable for being a funny movie with one of the strongest black ensemble casts, Coming America is
Eddie Murphy's best work next to Beverly Hills Cop. There are many classic scenes and lines. The story is very good
as well. Rick Baker's makeup job for Eddie Murphy's and Arsenio Hall's multiple supporting characters is remarkable.
There exists an underrated Steve Martin comedy, and it's called Parenthood. Ron Howard seamlessly handles vignettes
of four different families which crisscross throughout the picture. The best performances come from Steve Martin and Dianne Wiest.
Their characters are special. Ironically, Steve Martin didn't become a parent until 2012 although it seems like a natural
thing for him.
Memorable characters come and go. Clever is the plot that's backed by well-written dialogue which is heavily laden with profanity
and a dry sense of humor. Jeff Bridges is The Dude. Motivated by weed, bowling, and White Russian drinks, he's the
hippie version of Sam Spade, Jake Gittes, and Philip Marlowe all rolled into one.
This one has it all: drugs, hookers, bestiality, and more hookers. Bachelor Party is a great Tom Hanks comedy that
provides a marathon of laughs. Sure, it has plenty of unrealistic situations, but make no mistake: it's an extremely funny picture.
What a great cast.
"I was born a poor black child." So begins the story of Navin R. Johnson for The Jerk. It's a funny movie, and Steve
Martin was born to play the role. Witty dialogue is peppered throughout that's full of ingeniousness. The comedy touches a
lot of areas rather than just a single one. The characters are likeable, and there are many wacky ones.
The only non-Pink Panther film by Peter Sellers and Blake Edwards, The Party is different and unexpected.
Although brownfaced to play an Indian, Peter Sellers is funny, and he's wacky in a quiet way by making a mistake
after mistake. A lot of scenes are memorable, having been improvised at the moment. It's safe to say he was Mr. Bean
before there was Mr. Bean.
Great writing, great acting, and great story are all the hallmarks of The Madness of King George. The Oscar-nominated
Nigel Hawthorne is terrific. This one has a good sense of humor that's a play on a historical fact, and it ends well with
everybody going through a bad period of time while their loyalty has been put to test.
Campy, weird, and unique, After Hours is a different kind of comedy. The film might have a slow start, but it picks
up the pace when the meeting occurs for a potential sexual encounter. Then, it turns out the protagonist has to die
for it. Finally, he realizes that sex isn't worth losing his life for and that he must survive to get home.
Let's go back to the very first episode of Seinfeld when Kramer (or should I say Kessler?) once told Jerry Seinfeld, "Did you
know that I was almost a lawyer? This close." Well, well, well...who knew that, eight years later, he would be in
Trial and Error? It's among the funniest courtroom pictures made. Jeff Daniels is certainly "trial" while Michael Richards
is "error."
Compellingly funny, Road Trip is easy to watch and always fresh every time. The aftermath of the car jump scene is
the clincher of the film's comedy along with E.L. stealing a yellow bus from the school for the blind. Seann William Scott
is outstanding while Tom Green makes things interesting, especially when he's narrating the story. The latter's character
who can't wait for the feeding of the mouse to the snake is absolutely hilarious.
You got to love Peter Sellers. Some of the best moments are Clouseau's fly being ripped off from the key that's still attached
to the drawer, his hand stuck in the spinning globe which led him to say, "Look, I've got Africa all over my hand now," and his
brilliant deduction: "Then I submit, Inspector Ballon, that you arrived home, found Miguel with Maria Gambrelli, and killed him
in a rit of fealous jage!"
Out of the two versions of The Front Page and His Girl Friday, Billy Wilder's is the best. The pairing of Jack
Lemmon and Walter Matthau for the respective roles of Hildy Johnson and Walter Burns is genius. Their comedic timing is
unbelievable. It's a funny movie which has the pace just right. Billy Wilder was smart enough to end the film
with Walter Matthau saying, "The son of a bitch stole my watch."
Fletch is a classic Chevy Chase picture. It's subtle and witty, making me laugh unexpectedly. Chevy
Chase has a deadpan way of getting the little things go through with success. What works largely in his favor
is whenever he assumes a disguise and/or a different name which is fourteen in total.
For a MTV picture, Dead Man on Campus scores big time. The result is a lot of comedy. It's a funny, clever
movie. The two principal stars work off each other: Robert Sean Leonard and Mark-Paul Gosselaar as Abbott and
Costello, respectively. Adding a few more guys into the mix makes this more insane in terms of antics: Lochlyn
Munro, Jason Segel, and Randy Pearlstein.
Honorable Mentions:
Captain Ron (1992),
Murder by Death (1976),
Groundhog Day (1993),
Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (1989),
and
The Great Outdoors (1988)
Notable Exceptions:
Freddy Got Fingered (2001)
and
Man of the House (2005)