Top 82 Ranked

The Greatest 1990s Comedy Movies Ranked

Classic Laughs and Iconic Relics of a Golden Era

Relive the best decade of cinema with our ultimate guide to essential nineties comedies, featuring cult classics and hilarious blockbuster hits.

Draft Best 1990s Comedy Movies with friends and our judges will crown a winner!

About 1990s Comedy Movies

The 1990s was a decade of profound transition for comedy, a period where the genre shook off the neon excess of the eighties to embrace a strange mix of cynical irony and high-concept physical performance. If the previous decade was defined by the polished ensemble comedies of the Brat Pack or the high-octane action scripts of Joel Silver, the nineties belonged to the singular superstar and the rising tide of independent quirk. This was the era where the movie star became a literal genre unto themselves.

At the start of the decade, the landscape was dominated by the meteoric rise of Jim Carrey. In 1994 alone, Carrey released Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, The Mask, and Dumb and Dumber. This trinity of hits signaled a return to Chaplin-esque physicality, but with a rubber-faced, hyper-kinetic energy that felt distinctly modern. It was a pivot away from the witty, dialogue-heavy sitcom styles of the past toward a brand of maximalist clowning that demanded a theatrical experience.

Simultaneously, a shift toward the subversive was happening in the background. The early nineties birthed the slacker movement, fueled by the commercial success of Kevin Smith’s Clerks and the cultural footprint of Richard Linklater. These films traded big budgets for sharp, cynical observations about mundane life. They spoke to a generation that was skeptical of corporate success and deeply invested in the poetry of a well-timed insult. This trend eventually bled into the mainstream via films like Office Space, which captured a specific brand of pre-millennial workplace dread that still resonates today.

As the decade progressed, we saw the maturation of the high-concept spoof and the gross-out comedy. The Farrelly Brothers pushed the boundaries of what audiences were willing to stomach with There Is Something About Mary, proving that shock value could be balanced with genuine heart. Meanwhile, Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery took the parody genre and elevated it through meticulous production design and a deep affection for the source material, moving beyond the simple sight gags of the Airplane! era to create a fully realized comedic world.

Perhaps the most significant cultural shift, however, was the reinvention of the teen comedy. Influenced by the vibrant aesthetics of music videos and a burgeoning interest in postmodernism, films like Clueless transformed the genre. Amy Heckerling did not just make a movie for teenagers; she created a lexicon. By adapting Jane Austen’s Emma for the Beverly Hills set, she proved that youth cinema could be intellectually sharp while remaining commercially massive.

By the time the decade closed with the release of American Pie, the blueprint for the modern comedy had been rewritten. The nineties took the genre from the broad and often safe tropes of the Reagan era and injected it with a dose of irony, absurdity, and raw honesty. It was a decade that respected the individual voice of the performer and the writer, resulting in a library of films that feel as chaotic and creatively diverse as the decade itself.

The Complete Rankings

Based on the top picks in drafts on SnakeDrafts

See Top Ten
82
1990s Comedy in Big Daddy (1999)
Big Daddy
1999

A lazy law school grad adopts a kid to impress his girlfriend, but everything doesn't go as planned. Now he's forced to grow up while navigating the challenges of fatherhood.

Comedy
Drama
1h 33m
Dennis Dugan
Adam Sandler, Cole Sprouse, Dylan Sprouse, Joey Lauren Adams
81
1990s Comedy in Encino Man (1992)
Encino Man
1992

High school misfits Stoney and Dave discover a long-frozen primeval man buried in their backyard. But the thawed-out Link—as the boys have named him—quickly becomes a wild card in the teens' already zany Southern California lives. After a shave and some new clothes, Link's presence at school makes the daily drudgery a lot more interesting.

Comedy
1h 28m
Les Mayfield
Sean Astin, Brendan Fraser, Pauly Shore, Megan Ward
80
1990s Comedy in Problem Child (1990)
Problem Child
1990

Ben Healy and his social climbing wife Flo adopt fun-loving seven year old Junior. But they soon discover he's a little monster as he turns a camping trip, a birthday party and even a baseball game into comic nightmares.

Comedy
Family
1h 21m
Dennis Dugan
John Ritter, Jack Warden, Michael J. Oliver, Gilbert Gottfried

Draft this topic with friends

Think you'd pick differently? Start a draft with your crew and see who really has the best taste in Best 1990s Comedy Movies.

79
1990s Comedy in The Distinguished Gentleman (1992)
The Distinguished Gentleman
1992

A Florida con man uses the recent death of the long time Congressman from his district, who he just happens to share a last name with, to get elected to his version of paradise, the U.S. Congress, where the money flows from lobbyists.

Comedy
1h 52m
Jonathan Lynn
Eddie Murphy, Lane Smith, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Joe Don Baker
78
1990s Comedy in All I Want For Christmas (1991)
All I Want For Christmas
1991

Siblings Ethan and Hallie O'Fallon plot to get their divorced parents back together in time for Christmas.

Family
Drama
1h 32m
Rob Lieberman
Harley Jane Kozak, Jamey Sheridan, Thora Birch, Ethan Embry
77
1990s Comedy in Wayne's World 2 (1993)
Wayne's World 2
1993

A message from Jim Morrison in a dream prompts cable access TV stars Wayne and Garth to put on a rock concert, "Waynestock," with Aerosmith as headliners. But amid the preparations, Wayne frets that a record producer is putting the moves on his girlfriend, Cassandra, while Garth handles the advances of mega-babe Honey Hornée.

Comedy
Music
1h 35m
Stephen Surjik
76
1990s Comedy in Ernest Scared Stupid (1991)
Ernest Scared Stupid
1991

Well-intentioned, eternally bumbling Ernest P. Worrell accidentally releases an evil demon from its sacred tomb. As the demon flexes its power and goes on a ruinous rampage, good-guy Ernest tries to step in to save the town from mass destruction. Trouble is, a 200-year-old curse has scared Ernest stupid, and that means hilarity all around! So, kick back and let the laugh-ridden adventures begin.

Comedy
Family
1h 31m
John Cherry
Jim Varney, Bill Byrge, John Cadenhead, Austin Nagler
75
1990s Comedy in Black Sheep (1996)
Black Sheep
1996

When dignified Albert Donnelly runs for Governor, his team moves to keep his slow-witted and klutzy younger brother, Mike, out of the eye of the media. To baby-sit Mike, the campaign assigns sarcastic Steve, who gets the experience of a lifetime when he tries to take Mike out of town during the election.

Comedy
1h 26m
Penelope Spheeris
74
1990s Comedy in My Blue Heaven (1990)
My Blue Heaven
1990

FBI agent Barney Coopersmith is assigned to protect former Mafia figure turned informant Vincent Antonelli. In the witness protection program one is supposed to keep a low profile, but that is something that Antonelli has trouble doing. Coopersmith certainly has his hands full keeping Antonelli away from the Mafia hitmen who want to stop him testifying, not to mention the nightclubs...

Action
Comedy
1h 37m
Herbert Ross
Steve Martin, Rick Moranis, Joan Cusack, Melanie Mayron
73
1990s Comedy in City Slickers II: The Legend of Curly's Gold (1994)
City Slickers II: The Legend of Curly's Gold
1994

Mitch Robbins' 40th birthday begins quite well until he returns home and finds his brother Glen, the black sheep of the family, in his sofa. Nevertheless he is about to have a wonderful birthday-night with his wife when he discovers a treasure map of Curly by chance. Together with Phil and unfortunately Glen he tries to find the hidden gold of Curly's father in the desert of Arizona.

Comedy
Western
1h 56m
Paul Weiland
Billy Crystal, Daniel Stern, Jon Lovitz, Jack Palance
72
1990s Comedy in Robin Hood: Men in Tights (1993)
Robin Hood: Men in Tights
1993

Robin Hood comes home after fighting in the Crusades to learn that the noble King Richard is in exile and that the despotic King John now rules England, with the help of the Sheriff of Rottingham. Robin Hood assembles a band of fellow patriots to do battle with King John and the Sheriff.

Comedy
Cary Elwes, Richard Lewis, Roger Rees, Amy Yasbeck
71
1990s Comedy in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze (1991)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze
1991

The Turtles and the Shredder battle once again, this time for the last cannister of the ooze that created the Turtles, which Shredder wants to create an army of new mutants.

Science Fiction
Adventure
1h 28m
Michael Pressman
Brian Tochi, Laurie Faso, Robbie Rist, Adam Carl
70
1990s Comedy in 3 Men and a Little Lady (1990)
3 Men and a Little Lady
1990

Sylvia's work increasingly takes her away from the three men who help bring up Mary, her daughter. When she decides to move to England and take Mary with her, the three men are heartbroken at losing the two most important women in their lives.

Family
Comedy
1h 44m
Emile Ardolino
Tom Selleck, Steve Guttenberg, Ted Danson, Nancy Travis
69

When recently single Steven moves into his new apartment, cable guy Chip comes to hook him up—and doesn't let go. Initially, Chip is just overzealous in his desire to be Steven's pal, but when Steven tries to end the 'friendship', Chip shows his dark side. He begins stalking Steven, who's left to fend for himself because no one else can believe Chip's capable of such behaviour.

Comedy
Drama
68
1990s Comedy in Beavis and Butt-Head Do America (1996)
Beavis and Butt-Head Do America
1996

Slacker duo Beavis and Butt-Head wake to discover their TV has been stolen. Their search for a new one takes them on a clueless adventure across America, during which they manage to accidentally become America's most wanted.

Animation
Comedy
1h 21m
Mike Judge
67
1990s Comedy in The Big Green (1995)
The Big Green
1995

In a depressed Texas town, British foreign exchange teacher Anna attempts to inject some life into her hopeless kids by introducing them to soccer. They're terrible at first, but Anna and her football-hero assistant whip them into shape. As they work overtime, the pair help kids build their self-esteem and also get involved in solving family squabbles.

Family
Comedy
1h 40m
Holly Goldberg Sloan
Olivia D'Abo, Steve Guttenberg, Chauncey Leopardi, Patrick Renna
66
1990s Comedy in Doctor Dolittle (1998)
Doctor Dolittle
1998

A successful physician and devoted family man, John Dolittle seems to have the world by the tail, until a long suppressed talent he possessed as a child, the ability to communicate with animals is suddenly reawakened with a vengeance! Now every creature within squawking distance wants the good doctor's advice, unleashing an outrageous chain of events that turns his world upside down!

Comedy
Family
1h 25m
Betty Thomas
Eddie Murphy, Ossie Davis, Oliver Platt, Peter Boyle
65
1990s Comedy in Father of the Bride Part II (1995)
Father of the Bride Part II
1995

Just when George Banks has recovered from his daughter's wedding, he receives the news that she's pregnant ... and that George's wife is expecting too. He was planning on selling their home, but that's a plan that—like George—will have to change with the arrival of both a grandchild and a kid of his own.

Comedy
Family
1h 46m
Charles Shyer
Steve Martin, Diane Keaton, Martin Short, Kimberly Williams-Paisley
64
1990s Comedy in Vegas Vacation (1997)
Vegas Vacation
1997

The Griswold family hits the road again for a typically ill-fated vacation, this time to the glitzy mecca of slots and showgirls—Las Vegas.

Comedy
1h 33m
Stephen Kessler
Chevy Chase, Beverly D'Angelo, Randy Quaid, Ethan Embry
63
1990s Comedy in MouseHunt (1997)
MouseHunt
1997

Down-on-their luck brothers, Lars and Ernie Smuntz, aren't happy with the crumbling old mansion they inherit... until they discover the estate is worth millions. Before they can cash in, they have to rid the house of its single, stubborn occupant—a tiny and tenacious mouse.

Comedy
Family
Nathan Lane, Lee Evans, Vicki Lewis, Maury Chaykin
62

On Christmas Eve, divorced dad Scott Calvin and his son discover Santa Claus has fallen off their roof. When Scott takes the reins of the magical sleigh, he finds he is now the new Santa, and must convince a world of disbelievers, including himself.

Fantasy
Drama
1h 37m
John Pasquin
Tim Allen, Judge Reinhold, Wendy Crewson, Eric Lloyd
61
1990s Comedy in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
1990

A quartet of humanoid turtles, trained by their mentor in ninjitsu, must learn to work together to face the menace of Shredder and the Foot Clan.

Science Fiction
Action
1h 33m
Steve Barron
Brian Tochi, Josh Pais, Corey Feldman, Robbie Rist
60

London bookstore owner William Thacker's quiet life turns upside down when a chance encounter with famous actress Anna Scott sparks an unlikely romance challenged by their vastly different worlds.

Romance
Comedy
2h 4m
Roger Michell
Julia Roberts, Hugh Grant, Gina McKee, Tim McInnerny
59
1990s Comedy in The Addams Family (1991)
The Addams Family
1991

When a man claiming to be long-lost Uncle Fester reappears after 25 years lost, the family plans a celebration to wake the dead. But the kids barely have time to warm up the electric chair before Morticia begins to suspect Fester is fraud when he can't recall any of the details of Fester's life.

Comedy
Fantasy
Raúl Juliá, Anjelica Huston, Christopher Lloyd, Dan Hedaya
58
1990s Comedy in Happy, Texas (1999)
Happy, Texas
1999

Two escaped convicts roll into the village of Happy, Texas, where they're mistaken for a gay couple who work as beauty pageant consultants. They go along with it to duck the police, but the local sheriff has a secret of his own.

Comedy
Crime
1h 38m
Mark Illsley
Jeremy Northam, Steve Zahn, William H. Macy, Ally Walker
57
1990s Comedy in In & Out (1997)
In & Out
1997

A midwestern teacher questions his sexuality after a former student makes a comment about him at the Academy Awards.

Comedy
1h 30m
Frank Oz
Kevin Kline, Joan Cusack, Tom Selleck, Matt Dillon
56
1990s Comedy in A Night at the Roxbury (1998)
A Night at the Roxbury
1998

Despite being well into adulthood, brothers Doug and Steve Butabi still live at home and work in the flower shop owned by their dad. They exist only to hit on women at discos, though they're routinely unsuccessful until a chance run-in with Richard Grieco gets them inside the swank Roxbury club. Mistaken for high rollers, they meet their dream women, Vivica and Cambi, and resolve to open a club of their own.

Comedy
Romance
1h 22m
John Fortenberry
Chris Kattan, Will Ferrell, Dan Hedaya, Molly Shannon
55

Countless wiseguy films are spoofed in this film that centers on the neuroses and angst of a powerful Mafia racketeer who suffers from panic attacks. When Paul Vitti needs help dealing with his role in the "family," unlucky shrink Dr. Ben Sobel is given just days to resolve Vitti's emotional crisis and turn him into a happy, well-adjusted gangster.

54
1990s Comedy in Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood (1996)
Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood
1996

When Ashtray moves to South Central L.A. to live with his father (who appears to be the same age he is) and grandmother (who likes to talk tough and smoke reefer), he falls in with his gang-banging cousin Loc Dog, who along with the requisite pistols and Uzi carries a thermo-nuclear warhead for self-defense. Will Ashtray be able to keep living the straight life?

Comedy
Crime
1h 29m
Paris Barclay
Shawn Wayans, Marlon Wayans, Tracey Cherelle Jones, Chris Spencer
53
1990s Comedy in Babe: Pig in the City (1998)
Babe: Pig in the City
1998

Babe, fresh from his victory in the sheepherding contest, returns to Farmer Hoggett's farm, but after Farmer Hoggett is injured and unable to work, Babe has to go to the big city to save the farm.

Family
Adventure
E. G. Daily, Magda Szubanski, James Cromwell, Mickey Rooney
52

Sheffield, England. Gaz, a jobless steelworker in need of quick cash persuades his mates to bare it all in a one-night-only strip show.

Comedy
1h 31m
Peter Cattaneo
Robert Carlyle, Mark Addy, Wim Snape, Steve Huison
51
1990s Comedy in Junior (1994)
Junior
1994

A research scientist becomes the world's first pregnant man in order to test a drug he and a colleague have designed for expectant women. To carry out the trial, he has an embryo implant, believing that he will only carry the baby for three months – hardly expecting to face the prospect of giving birth.

Comedy
Science Fiction
50
1990s Comedy in It Could Happen to You (1994)
It Could Happen to You
1994

Charlie Lang is a simple, kindhearted New York City cop. When he realizes he has no money to tip waitress Yvonne Biasi, Lang offers her half the winnings of his lottery ticket. Amazingly, the ticket happens to be a winner, in the sum of $4 million. True to his word, Lang proceeds to share the prize money with Biasi, which infuriates his greedy wife, Muriel. Not content with the arrangement, Muriel begins scheming to take all the money.

Comedy
Drama
1h 41m
Andrew Bergman
Nicolas Cage, Bridget Fonda, Rosie Perez, Wendell Pierce
49
1990s Comedy in The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear (1991)
The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear
1991

Bumbling lieutenant Frank Drebin is out to foil the big boys in the energy industry, who intend to suppress technology that will put them out of business.

Comedy
Crime
1h 26m
David Zucker
Leslie Nielsen, Priscilla Presley, George Kennedy, O. J. Simpson
48
1990s Comedy in Multiplicity (1996)
Multiplicity
1996

Construction worker Doug Kinney finds that the pressures of his working life, combined with his duties to his wife Laura and daughter Jennifer leaves him with little time for himself. However, he is approached by geneticist Dr. Owen Leeds, who offers Doug a rather unusual solution to his problems: cloning.

Comedy
Fantasy
Michael Keaton, Andie MacDowell, Harris Yulin, Eugene Levy
47
1990s Comedy in So I Married an Axe Murderer (1993)
So I Married an Axe Murderer
1993

Just after a bad breakup, Charlie MacKenzie falls for lovely butcher Harriet Michaels and introduces her to his parents. But, as voracious consumers of sensational tabloids, his parents soon come to suspect that Harriet is actually a notorious serial killer -- "Mrs. X" -- wanted in connection with a string of bizarre honeymoon killings. Thinking his parents foolish, Charlie proposes to Harriet. But while on his honeymoon with her, he begins to fear they were right.

Comedy
Crime
1h 33m
Thomas Schlamme
Mike Myers, Nancy Travis, Anthony LaPaglia, Amanda Plummer
46
1990s Comedy in Father of the Bride (1991)
Father of the Bride
1991

George Banks is an ordinary, middle-class man whose 22 year-old daughter Annie has decided to marry a man from an upper-class family, but George can't think of what life would be like without his daughter. His wife tries to make him happy for Annie, but when the wedding takes place at their home and a foreign wedding planner takes over the ceremony, he becomes slightly insane.

Comedy
Romance
1h 45m
Charles Shyer
Steve Martin, Diane Keaton, Kimberly Williams-Paisley, Kieran Culkin
45

A Reno singer witnesses a mob murder and the cops stash her in a nunnery to protect her from the mob's hitmen. The mother superior does not trust her, and takes steps to limit her influence on the other nuns. Eventually the singer rescues the failing choir and begins helping with community projects, which gets her an interview on TV—and identification by the mob.

Music
Comedy
1h 40m
Emile Ardolino
Whoopi Goldberg, Maggie Smith, Kathy Najimy, Wendy Makkena
44
1990s Comedy in House Party (1990)
House Party
1990

Young Kid has been invited to a party at his friend Play's house. But after a fight at school, Kid's father grounds him. None the less, Kid sneaks out when his father falls asleep. But Kid doesn't know that three of the thugs at school have decided to give him a lesson in behavior.

Comedy
1h 44m
Reginald Hudlin
Christopher Reid, Christopher Martin, Paul Anthony, Bowlegged Lou
43

Chili Palmer is a Miami mobster who gets sent to L.A. to collect a bad debt from Harry Zimm, a Hollywood producer who specializes in cheesy horror films. When Chili meets Harry's leading lady, the romantic sparks fly. After pitching his own life story as a movie idea, Chili learns that being a mobster and being a Hollywood producer really aren't all that different.

42
1990s Comedy in Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult (1994)
Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult
1994

Frank Drebin is persuaded out of retirement to go undercover in a state prison. There he has to find out what top terrorist, Rocco, has planned for when he escapes. Adding to his problems, Frank's wife, Jane, is desperate for a baby.

Comedy
Crime
1h 23m
Peter Segal
Leslie Nielsen, Priscilla Presley, George Kennedy, O. J. Simpson
41
1990s Comedy in The Brady Bunch Movie (1995)
The Brady Bunch Movie
1995

The original '70s TV family is now placed in the 1990s, where they're even more square and out of place than ever.

Family
Comedy
1h 29m
Betty Thomas
Shelley Long, Gary Cole, Christine Taylor, Christopher Daniel Barnes
40
1990s Comedy in Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo (1999)
Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo
1999

Deuce Bigalow is a less than attractive, down on his luck aquarium cleaner. One day he wrecks the house of a gigolo and needs quick money to repair it. The only way he can make it is to become a gigolo himself, taking on an unusual mix of female clients. He encounters a couple of problems, though. He falls in love with one of his unusual clients, and a sleazy police officer is hot on his trail.

Comedy
Romance
1h 28m
Mike Mitchell
Rob Schneider, William Forsythe, Eddie Griffin, Arija Bareikis
39

When diabolical genius Dr. Evil travels back in time to steal superspy Austin Powers's ‘mojo,’ Austin must return to the swingin' '60s himself - with the help of American agent, Felicity Shagwell - to stop the dastardly plan. Once there, Austin faces off against Dr. Evil's army of minions to try to save the world in his own unbelievably groovy way.

Comedy
Adventure
1h 35m
Jay Roach
Mike Myers, Heather Graham, Verne Troyer, Michael York
38

The gang that created Airplane! and The Naked Gun sets its sights on Top Gun in this spoof. Topper Harley is a talented but unstable fighter pilot with an axe to grind: clearing the family name. His mission is to avenge his father and save a mission sabotaged by greedy weapons manufacturers. He also gets involved in a relationship with Ramada Thompson, a woman with an unusually talented stomach. Hot Shots! makes fun of a variety of other films, from Dances with Wolves to The Fabulous Baker Boys.

Action
Comedy
1h 25m
Jim Abrahams
Charlie Sheen, Cary Elwes, Valeria Golino, Lloyd Bridges
37
1990s Comedy in Bio-Dome (1996)
Bio-Dome
1996

Moronic best friends get themselves locked inside the Bio-Dome, a science experiment, along with a group of environmental scientists for one year.

Comedy
1h 35m
Jason Bloom
Pauly Shore, Stephen Baldwin, William Atherton, Joey Lauren Adams
36

A Hollywood studio executive is being sent death threats by a writer whose script he rejected - but which one?

Mystery
Drama
Tim Robbins, Greta Scacchi, Fred Ward, Whoopi Goldberg
35
1990s Comedy in Stuart Little (1999)
Stuart Little
1999

When the Littles adopt Stuart, the mouse, George is initially unwelcoming to his new brother, and the family cat, Snowbell, is even less enthusiastic. Stuart resolves to face these difficulties with as much pluck and courage as he can muster.

Family
Fantasy
1h 24m
Rob Minkoff
34
1990s Comedy in Beverly Hills Ninja (1997)
Beverly Hills Ninja
1997

Haru, an orphaned American who washes ashore in Japan and is mistaken for the great White Ninja of legend. Raised among the finest Ninjas, Haru grows strong and big - very big. With the grace of all Three Stooges rolled into one body, Haru is an embarrassment to his clan. But when a beautiful blonde pleads for his help, Haru is given one dangerous, disastrously funny chance to prove himself.

Comedy
Action
1h 28m
Dennis Dugan
Chris Farley, Nicollette Sheridan, Robin Shou, Nathaniel Parker
33

The mostly true story of the legendary "worst director of all time", who, with the help of his strange friends, filmed countless B-movies without ever becoming famous or successful.

32
1990s Comedy in Bowfinger (1999)
Bowfinger
1999

On the verge of bankruptcy and desperate for his big break, aspiring filmmaker Bobby Bowfinger concocts a crazy plan to make his ultimate dream movie. Rallying a ragtag team that includes a starry-eyed ingenue, a has-been diva and a film studio gofer, he sets out to shoot a blockbuster featuring the biggest star in Hollywood, Kit Ramsey -- only without letting Ramsey know he's in the picture.

Comedy
1h 37m
Frank Oz
31
1990s Comedy in Bean (1997)
Bean
1997

Childlike Englishman, Mr. Bean, is an incompetent watchman at the Royal National Gallery. After the museum's board of directors' attempt to have him fired is blocked by the chairman, who has taken a liking to Bean, they send him to Los Angeles to act as their ambassador for the unveiling of a historic painting to humiliate him. Fooled, Mr. Bean must now successfully unveil the painting or risk his and a hapless Los Angeles curator's termination.

Family
Adventure
1h 29m
Mel Smith
Rowan Atkinson, Peter MacNicol, Pamela Reed, Tricia Vessey
30

After a police chase with an otherworldly being, a New York City cop is recruited as an agent in a top-secret organization established to monitor and police alien activity on Earth: the Men in Black. Agent K and new recruit Agent J find themselves in the middle of a deadly plot by an intergalactic terrorist who has arrived on Earth to assassinate two ambassadors from opposing galaxies.

Action
Adventure
29
1990s Comedy in Half Baked (1998)
Half Baked
1998

Three lovable party buds try to bail their friend out of jail. But just when the guys have mastered a plan, everything comes dangerously close to going up in smoke.

Comedy
Crime
1h 22m
Tamra Davis
Dave Chappelle, Jim Breuer, Harland Williams, Guillermo Díaz
28

A gay cabaret owner and his drag queen partner agree to put up a false heterosexual front so that their son can introduce them to his fiancée's conservative parents.

27
1990s Comedy in The Waterboy (1998)
The Waterboy
1998

Bobby Boucher is a water boy for a struggling college football team. The coach discovers Boucher's hidden rage makes him a tackling machine whose bone-crushing power might vault his team into the playoffs.

Comedy
1h 30m
Frank Coraci
Adam Sandler, Kathy Bates, Henry Winkler, Fairuza Balk
26

When a beautiful first-grade teacher arrives at a prep school, she soon attracts the attention of an ambitious teenager named Max, who quickly falls in love with her. Max turns to the father of two of his schoolmates for advice on how to woo the teacher. However, the situation soon gets complicated when Max's new friend becomes involved with her, setting the two pals against one another in a war for her attention.

Comedy
Drama
25
1990s Comedy in Romy and Michele's High School Reunion (1997)
Romy and Michele's High School Reunion
1997

Two not-too-bright party girls reinvent themselves for their high school reunion. Armed with a borrowed Jaguar, new clothes and the story of their success as the inventors of Post-It notes, Romy and Michele descend on their alma mater, but their façade crumbles quickly.

Comedy
1h 32m
David Mirkin
Mira Sorvino, Lisa Kudrow, Janeane Garofalo, Alan Cumming
24
1990s Comedy in Liar Liar (1997)
Liar Liar
1997

Forced by his son's birthday wish, fast-talking attorney and habitual liar Fletcher Reede must tell the truth for the next 24 hours.

Comedy
1h 26m
Tom Shadyac
Jim Carrey, Maura Tierney, Justin Cooper, Cary Elwes
23

After bowler Roy Munson swindles the wrong crowd and is left with a hook for a hand, he settles into impoverished obscurity. That is, until he uncovers the next big thing: an Amish kid named Ishmael. So, the corrupt and the hopelessly naive hit the circuit intent on settling an old score with Big Ern.

Comedy
1h 54m
Bobby Farrelly
22
1990s Comedy in Billy Madison (1995)
Billy Madison
1995

Billy Madison is the 27 year-old son of Bryan Madison, a very rich man who has made his living in the hotel industry. Billy stands to inherit his father's empire, but only if he can make it through all 12 grades, 2 weeks per grade, to prove that he has what it takes to run the family business.

Comedy
1h 30m
Tamra Davis
Adam Sandler, Bradley Whitford, Josh Mostel, Bridgette Wilson-Sampras
21
1990s Comedy in Friday (1995)
1995

Craig and Smokey are two guys in Los Angeles hanging out on their porch on a Friday afternoon, smoking and drinking, looking for something to do.

Comedy
Drama
1h 31m
F. Gary Gray
Ice Cube, Chris Tucker, Nia Long, Tommy Lister Jr.
20

On the first day at his new school, Cameron instantly falls for Bianca, the gorgeous girl of his dreams. The only problem is that Bianca is forbidden to date until her ill-tempered, completely un-dateable older sister Kat goes out, too. In an attempt to solve his problem, Cameron singles out the only guy who could possibly be a match for Kat: a mysterious bad boy with a nasty reputation of his own.

Comedy
Romance
1h 37m
Gil Junger
19

For four years, the courageous crew of the NSEA Protector — Commander Peter Quincy Taggart, Lieutenant Tawny Madison, and Doctor Lazarus — set off on a thrilling and often dangerous mission in space ... until their series was cancelled! Now, twenty years later, aliens under attack have mistaken the Galaxy Quest television transmissions for "historical documents" and beam up the crew of has-been actors to save the universe. With no script, no director, and no clue, the actors must turn in the performances of their lives.

Comedy
Science Fiction
1h 42m
Dean Parisot
18

A depressed white-collar worker tries hypnotherapy, only to find himself in a perpetual state of devil-may-care bliss that prompts him to start living by his own rules, and hatch a hapless attempt to embezzle money from his soul-killing employers.

Comedy
1h 30m
Mike Judge
Ron Livingston, Jennifer Aniston, David Herman, Ajay Naidu
17
1990s Comedy in The Nutty Professor (1996)
The Nutty Professor
1996

When beautiful Carla Purty joins the university faculty, genetic professor Dr. Sherman Klump grows desperate to whittle his 400-pound frame down to size and win her heart. So, with one swig of his experimental fat-reducing serum, Sherman becomes 'Buddy Love', a fast-talking, pumped-up, plumped down Don Juan.

Fantasy
Comedy
1h 35m
Tom Shadyac
16

He's Ace Ventura: Pet Detective. The Ace is on the case to find the Miami Dolphins' missing mascot and quarterback Dan Marino. He goes eyeball to eyeball with a man-eating shark, stakes out the Miami Dolphins and woos and wows the ladies. Whether he's undercover, under fire or underwater, he always gets his man… or beast!

Comedy
Mystery
1h 26m
Tom Shadyac
15
1990s Comedy in Tommy Boy (1995)
Tommy Boy
1995

To save the family business, two ne’er-do-well traveling salesmen hit the road with disastrously funny consequences.

Comedy
1h 38m
Peter Segal
14
1990s Comedy in Happy Gilmore (1996)
Happy Gilmore
1996

Failed hockey player-turned-golf whiz Happy Gilmore — whose unconventional approach and antics on the green courts the ire of rival Shooter McGavin — is determined to win a PGA tournament so he can save his granny's house with the prize money. Meanwhile, an attractive tour publicist tries to soften Happy's image.

Comedy
1h 32m
Dennis Dugan
Adam Sandler, Christopher McDonald, Julie Bowen, Frances Bay
13
1990s Comedy in American Pie (1999)
American Pie
1999

At a high-school party, four friends find that losing their collective virginity isn't as easy as they had thought. But they still believe that they need to do so before college. To motivate themselves, they enter a pact to all "score" by their senior prom.

Comedy
Romance
1h 35m
Paul Weitz
Jason Biggs, Chris Klein, Thomas Ian Nicholas, Alyson Hannigan
12

Stanley Ipkiss, an insecure banker who has lost his zest for life stumbles upon an ancient mask, that turns him into a confident suave cartoon-like character who upsets his ordinary life.

Romance
Comedy
1h 41m
Chuck Russell
Jim Carrey, Peter Riegert, Peter Greene, Amy Yasbeck
11

Robbie, a local rock star turned wedding singer, is dumped on the day of his wedding. Meanwhile, waitress Julia finally sets a wedding date with her fiancée Glenn. When Julia and Robbie meet and hit it off, they find that things are more complicated than anybody thought.

Romance
Comedy
1h 37m
Frank Coraci
Adam Sandler, Drew Barrymore, Christine Taylor, Allen Covert
10

The adventures of two amiably aimless metal-head friends, Wayne and Garth. From Wayne's basement, the pair broadcast a talk-show called "Wayne's World" on local public access television. The show comes to the attention of a sleazy network executive who wants to produce a big-budget version of "Wayne's World"—and he also wants Wayne's girlfriend, a rock singer named Cassandra. Wayne and Garth have to battle the executive not only to save their show, but also Cassandra.

Comedy
Music
1h 34m
Penelope Spheeris
Why it ranks

Breaking the fourth wall with reckless abandon, this Saturday Night Live spinoff successfully scales its sketch-comedy roots into a feature-length celebration of rock culture. It remains a cornerstone of the nineties zeitgeist, fueled by its surreal non-sequiturs and lovable underdog chemistry.

9
1990s Comedy in My Cousin Vinny (1992)
My Cousin Vinny
1992

Two carefree pals traveling through rural Alabama on their way back to college are mistakenly arrested and charged with murder. Fortunately, one of them has a cousin who's a lawyer - Vincent Gambini, a former auto mechanic from Brooklyn who has just passed his bar exam after his sixth try. When he arrives with his leather-clad girlfriend to try his first case, it's a real shock - for him and the Deep South!

Comedy
Drama
2h 0m
Jonathan Lynn
Joe Pesci, Marisa Tomei, Ralph Macchio, Mitchell Whitfield
Why it ranks

The collision of Brooklyn bravado and Southern jurisprudence creates a brilliant friction that fuels this watertight courtroom comedy. Marisa Tomei’s Oscar-winning energy and Joe Pesci’s relentless persistence make for a sharp, impeccably paced character study.

8

Loving but irresponsible dad Daniel Hillard, estranged from his exasperated spouse, is crushed by a court order allowing only weekly visits with his kids. When Daniel learns his ex needs a housekeeper, he gets the job -- disguised as a British nanny. Soon he becomes not only his children's best pal but the kind of parent he should have been from the start.

Comedy
Drama
2h 5m
Chris Columbus
Robin Williams, Sally Field, Lisa Jakub, Matthew Lawrence
Why it ranks

Robin Williams utilizes his unparalleled improvisational engine to turn a frantic premise into a heartwarming exploration of familial devotion. It is a showcase of prosthetic wizardry and manic comedic timing that solidifies Williams as a singular force in cinematic performance.

7

Eight-year-old Kevin McCallister makes the most of the situation after his family unwittingly leaves him behind when they go on Christmas vacation. When thieves try to break into his home, he puts up a fight like no other.

Comedy
Family
1h 43m
Chris Columbus
Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern, John Heard
Why it ranks

John Hughes translates childhood anxiety into a violent, cartoonish ballet of domestic defense. The film’s enduring legacy is anchored by its perfect tonal marriage of sentimental holiday warmth and inventive, slapstick-driven retribution.

6

As a swinging fashion photographer by day and a groovy British superagent by night, Austin Powers is the '60s' most shagadelic spy. But can he stop megalomaniac Dr. Evil after the bald villain freezes himself and unthaws in the '90s? With the help of sexy sidekick Vanessa Kensington, he just might.

Comedy
Crime
1h 29m
Jay Roach
Why it ranks

Mike Myers crafts a psychedelic love letter to Sixties spy cinema that relies on infectious catchphrases and brilliantly executed double entendres. The film’s success stems from its joyful embrace of the shagadelic, effectively parodying masculinity and monolithic villains alike.

5

Shallow, rich and socially successful Cher is at the top of her Beverly Hills high school's pecking scale. Seeing herself as a matchmaker, Cher first coaxes two teachers into dating each other. Emboldened by her success, she decides to give hopelessly klutzy new student Tai a makeover. When Tai becomes more popular than she is, Cher realizes that her disapproving ex-stepbrother was right about how misguided she was -- and falls for him.

Comedy
Romance
1h 37m
Amy Heckerling
Alicia Silverstone, Stacey Dash, Brittany Murphy, Paul Rudd
Why it ranks

Amy Heckerling’s sharp-witted reimagining of Jane Austen captures the vibrant aesthetic and rapid-fire vernacular of Beverly Hills youth culture. It transcends the teen genre through its whip-smart social satire and an iconic, star-making turn by Alicia Silverstone.

4

For Ted, prom night went about as bad as it’s possible for any night to go. Thirteen years later, he finally gets another chance with his old prom date, only to run up against other suitors including the sleazy detective he hired to find her.

Romance
Comedy
2h 0m
Bobby Farrelly
Why it ranks

A fearless exploration of cringe-inducing spectacle, this film pushed the boundaries of the R-rated romantic comedy into uncharted, visceral territory. It manages to balance gross-out gags with a genuine, albeit twisted, sweetness that defined the era’s provocative edge.

3

Jeffrey 'The Dude' Lebowski, a Los Angeles slacker who only wants to bowl and drink White Russians, is mistaken for another Jeffrey Lebowski, a wheelchair-bound millionaire, and finds himself dragged into a strange series of events involving nihilists, adult film producers, ferrets, errant toes, and large sums of money.

Why it ranks

This Coen brothers masterpiece reinvented the noir detective story through a hazy, bathrobe-clad lens of stoner apathy. Its lasting power survives on a hyper-stylized script and a cult-classic ensemble that captures the quintessential oddball spirit of the late nineties.

2

Lloyd and Harry are two men whose stupidity is really indescribable. When Mary, a beautiful woman, loses an important suitcase with money before she leaves for Aspen, the two friends (who have found the suitcase) decide to return it to her. After some "adventures" they finally get to Aspen where, using the lost money they live it up and fight for Mary's heart.

Comedy
1h 47m
Peter Farrelly
Jim Carrey, Jeff Daniels, Lauren Holly, Teri Garr
Why it ranks

The Farrelly brothers weaponize pure idiocy, elevated by Jim Carrey’s elastic physicality and Jeff Daniels’ surprising commitment to the absurd. It remains the definitive benchmark for the decade’s fascination with unashamedly lowbrow, high-energy slapstick.

1

A cynical TV weatherman, along with his idealistic producer and his sardonic cameraman, is sent to report on Groundhog Day in the small town of Punxsutawney, where he finds himself repeating the same day over and over.

Romance
Fantasy
Bill Murray, Andie MacDowell, Chris Elliott, Stephen Tobolowsky
Why it ranks

Bill Murray delivers a masterclass in existential cynicism, transforming a high-concept temporal loop into a profound meditation on redemption. Its genius lies in the seamless fusion of philosophical weight with impeccably timed deadpan humor.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about this list and SnakeDrafts

Several films intertwine genres to create unique comedic effects, such as 'Groundhog Day' which combines romance, fantasy, and comedy, and 'The Mask' which mixes romance, comedy, crime, and fantasy. This blend allows these movies to appeal to a wider audience while delivering multiple layers of entertainment.

Both 'There's Something About Mary' and 'Clueless' showcase a blend of romantic comedy with a strong emphasis on quirky, character-driven humor. These films explore relationships and social dynamics with wit and charm, reflecting 1990s trends of combining heartfelt storytelling with laugh-out-loud moments.

Independent films brought a distinctive offbeat sensibility to 1990s comedy, exemplified by 'The Big Lebowski,' which is praised for its quirky narrative and unconventional humor. This shift gave rise to cult classics that embraced cynicism and irony, distinguishing them from mainstream comedy fare.

Star performances were crucial, as many comedies like 'Dumb and Dumber' and 'Wayne's World' heavily relied on charismatic leads whose unique comedic timing and personas defined the movies' humor styles. The 1990s spotlight on charismatic stars helped these films achieve lasting popularity and box office success.

Family-oriented comedies like 'Home Alone' and 'Mrs. Doubtfire' offered heartwarming humor balanced with slapstick and emotional depth, making them accessible to all ages. These films emphasized family values while providing the decade’s trademark blend of wit and physical comedy.

'Austin Powers' parodies spy films with exaggerated characters and absurd humor, reflecting the 1990s trend of high-concept physical comedy combined with genre spoofing. Its success paved the way for future comedies embracing satire and nostalgic references.

'American Pie' stands out with its candid approach to teenage sexuality and awkwardness, helping to define a subgenre of raunchy yet relatable young adult comedy. Its influence shaped subsequent coming-of-age films throughout the decade and beyond.
Join Thousands of Drafters

Think You Can Pick Better?

Challenge your friends, make your picks, and let AI + human judges decide who has the best taste!

Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play