Top 94 Ranked

The Definitive Ranking of Comedy Movies

Classic Laughs and Timeless Comedy Gold

Explore the ultimate list of riotous comedy films. From slapstick classics to witty satires, find the funniest movies ever made for your next movie night.

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What Defines Comedy Movies

Comedy is the oldest trick in the cinematic book. Long before we had synchronized sound or sophisticated digital effects, we had a guy slipping on a banana peel. The genre is rooted in the primal human need to laugh at absurdity, misfortune, or the sheer chaos of existing. It began in the silent era with the physical poetry of Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton. These pioneers understood that a well-timed stumble or a deadpan stare could translate across any language barrier. Their work established the visual vocabulary of the gag, proving that cinema was uniquely suited for the art of the pratfall.

As movies found their voice, the genre splintered into a dozen distinct directions. The 1930s and 40s gave us the sophisticated machine gun dialogue of screwball comedies like It Happened One Night and His Girl Friday. These films turned the battle of the sexes into a high speed verbal sparring match. By the time the 1950s rolled around, Billy Wilder was pushing the boundaries of taste and gender roles with Some Like It Hot, which remains a masterclass in pacing and chemistry.

The key characteristic of comedy is its inherent fragility. A horror movie can still be scary decades later, but humor is deeply tied to the cultural anxieties and social norms of its time. What makes comedy fascinating is how it evolves to reflect the world around it. The 1970s brought the surrealist subversion of Monty Python and the Holy Grail, which dismantled historical epics with absurdist glee. The 1980s and 90s saw the rise of the high concept blockbuster and the relatable teen comedy, where John Hughes captured the melancholy of adolescence and Harold Ramis perfected the philosophical farce with Groundhog Day.

In the early 2000s, comedy shifted toward the raw and the improvisational. Movies like Superbad and The 40 Year Old Virgin traded polished scripts for naturalistic R rated banter, emphasizing the awkwardness of male friendship. This era prioritized a certain kind of vulnerability hidden behind gross out gags.

Today, comedy is undergoing another metamorphosis. We are seeing a move away from the traditional standalone theatrical comedy in favor of genre blending. Today’s funniest films often wear the mask of a thriller, a sci-fi epic, or a period drama. This evolution reflects a modern audience that craves complexity. We want the laughs to come with a side of social commentary or existential dread.

Ultimately, the goal of the genre remains the same. Whether it is a silent tramp evading the police or a group of friends making fools of themselves in a Vegas hotel suite, comedy serves as a release valve. It invites us to recognize our own flaws in the characters on screen. It tells us that while the world might be a tragedy in the long shot, it is always a comedy in the close up. As long as there are things that make us uncomfortable or situations that seem unfair, there will be a filmmaker ready to turn those frustrations into a punchline. Laughing at the absurdity of life is not just entertainment. It is a survival tactic.

The Complete Rankings

Based on the top picks in drafts on SnakeDrafts

See Top Ten
94
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
93
Comedy in We're the Millers (2013)
We're the Millers
2013

A veteran pot dealer creates a fake family as part of his plan to move a huge shipment of weed into the U.S. from Mexico.

Comedy
Crime
1h 50m
Rawson Marshall Thurber
92
Comedy in Date Night (2010)
Date Night
2010

Phil and Claire Foster fear that their mild-mannered relationship may be falling into a stale rut. During their weekly date night, their dinner reservation leads to their being mistaken for a couple of thieves—and now a number of unsavoury characters want Phil and Claire killed.

Comedy
Action
1h 28m
Shawn Levy

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91
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
90
Comedy in This Is the End (2013)
This Is the End
2013

While attending a party at James Franco's house, Seth Rogen, Jay Baruchel and many other celebrities are faced with the apocalypse.

Action
Comedy
89
Comedy in Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story (2007)
Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story
2007

Following a childhood tragedy, Dewey Cox follows a long and winding road to music stardom. Dewey perseveres through changing musical styles, an addiction to nearly every drug known and bouts of uncontrollable rage.

Comedy
Music
1h 36m
Jake Kasdan
John C. Reilly, Jenna Fischer, Raymond J. Barry, Kristen Wiig
88
Comedy in Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle (2004)
Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle
2004

Nerdy accountant Harold and his irrepressible friend, Kumar, get stoned watching television and find themselves utterly bewitched by a commercial for White Castle. Convinced there must be one nearby, the two set out on a late-night odyssey that takes them deep into New Jersey. Somehow, the boys manage to run afoul of rednecks, cops and even a car-stealing Neil Patrick Harris before getting anywhere near their beloved sliders.

Comedy
Adventure
1h 28m
Danny Leiner
John Cho, Kal Penn, Paula Garcés, Neil Patrick Harris
87
Comedy in Game Night (2018)
Game Night
2018

Max and Annie's weekly game night gets kicked up a notch when Max's brother Brooks arranges a murder mystery party -- complete with fake thugs and federal agents. So when Brooks gets kidnapped, it's all supposed to be part of the game. As the competitors set out to solve the case, they start to learn that neither the game nor Brooks are what they seem to be. The friends soon find themselves in over their heads as each twist leads to another unexpected turn over the course of one chaotic night.

Mystery
Comedy
1h 40m
John Francis Daley
86

Fired from his band and hard up for cash, guitarist and vocalist Dewey Finn finagles his way into a job as a fifth-grade substitute teacher at a private school, where he secretly begins teaching his straight-A students the finer points of rock 'n' roll and the power of sticking it to the man. But as the school’s stern principal closes in and the Battle of the Bands looms, Dewey risks everything to prove that rock ’n’ roll can change lives.

85
Comedy in Waiting for Guffman (1997)
Waiting for Guffman
1997

Aspiring director Corky St. Clair and the marginally talented amateur cast of his hokey small-town musical production go overboard when they learn that Broadway theater agent Mort Guffman will be in attendance.

Comedy
Music
1h 24m
Christopher Guest
Christopher Guest, Eugene Levy, Fred Willard, Catherine O'Hara
84

The tension is palpable, the excitement is mounting and the heady scent of competition is in the air as hundreds of eager contestants from across America prepare to take part in what is undoubtedly one of the greatest events of their lives -- the Mayflower Dog Show. The canine contestants and their owners are as wondrously diverse as the great country that has bred them.

Comedy
1h 30m
Christopher Guest
Bob Balaban, Jennifer Coolidge, Christopher Guest, John Michael Higgins
83
Comedy in Deadpool (2016)
Deadpool
2016

The origin story of former Special Forces operative turned mercenary Wade Wilson, who, after being subjected to a rogue experiment that leaves him with accelerated healing powers, adopts the alter ego Deadpool. Armed with his new abilities and a dark, twisted sense of humor, Deadpool hunts down the man who nearly destroyed his life.

Action
Adventure
1h 48m
Tim Miller
Ryan Reynolds, Morena Baccarin, Ed Skrein, T.J. Miller
82

When actress Sarah Marshall dumps aspiring musician Peter Bretter for rock star Aldous Snow, Peter's world comes crashing down. His best friend Brian suggests that Peter should get away from everything and to fly off to Hawaii to escape all his problems. After arriving in Hawaii and meeting the beautiful receptionist Rachel Jansen, Peter is shocked to see not only Aldous in Hawaii, but also Sarah.

Comedy
Romance
1h 51m
Nicholas Stoller
Jason Segel, Kristen Bell, Mila Kunis, Russell Brand
81

Buck Russell, a lovable but slovenly bachelor, suddenly becomes the temporary caretaker of his nephew and nieces after a family emergency. His freewheeling attitude soon causes tension with his older niece Tia, loyal girlfriend Chanice and just about everyone else who crosses his path.

Comedy
Drama
1h 40m
John Hughes
John Candy, Jean Louisa Kelly, Gaby Hoffmann, Macaulay Culkin
80

A family loaded with quirky, colorful characters piles into an old van and road trips to California for little Olive to compete in a beauty pageant.

Comedy
Drama
1h 42m
Jonathan Dayton
79

The Grand Budapest Hotel tells of a legendary concierge at a famous European hotel between the wars and his friendship with a young employee who becomes his trusted protégé. The story involves the theft and recovery of a priceless Renaissance painting, the battle for an enormous family fortune and the slow and then sudden upheavals that transformed Europe during the first half of the 20th century.

Comedy
Drama
78
Comedy in Super Troopers (2001)
Super Troopers
2001

Five bored, occasionally high and always ineffective Vermont state troopers must prove their worth to the governor or lose their jobs. After stumbling on a drug ring, they plan to make a bust, but a rival police force is out to steal the glory.

Comedy
Crime
1h 40m
Jay Chandrasekhar
Jay Chandrasekhar, Kevin Heffernan, Steve Lemme, Paul Soter
77

When megalomaniacal White Goodman, the owner of a trendy, high-end fitness center, makes a move to take over the struggling local gym run by happy-go-lucky Pete La Fleur, there's only one way for La Fleur to fight back: dodgeball. Aided by a dodgeball guru and Goodman's attorney, La Fleur and his rag-tag team of underdogs launch a knock-down, drag-out battle in which the winner takes all.

Comedy
1h 33m
Rawson Marshall Thurber
Vince Vaughn, Christine Taylor, Ben Stiller, Rip Torn
76

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
75
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
74
Comedy in Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (2006)
Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby
2006

The fastest man on four wheels, Ricky Bobby, is one of the greatest drivers in NASCAR history. A big, hairy American winning machine, Ricky has everything a dimwitted daredevil could want, a luxurious mansion, a smokin' hot wife, and all the fast food he can eat. But Ricky's turbo-charged lifestyle hits an unexpected speed bump when he's bested by flamboyant Euro-idiot Jean Girard and reduced to a fear-ridden wreck.

73

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
72

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
71

When North Korean ruler Kim Jong-il orchestrates a global terrorist plot, it's up to the heavily armed, highly specialized Team America unit to stop his dastardly scheme. The group, which has recruited troubled Broadway actor Gary Johnston, not only has to face off against Jong-il, but they must also contend with the Film Actors Guild, a cadre of Hollywood liberals at odds with Team America's 'policing the world' tactics.

Adventure
Action
1h 38m
Trey Parker
Trey Parker, Matt Stone, Kristen Miller, Chelsea Marguerite
70
Comedy in South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut (1999)
South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut
1999

In this feature film based on the hit animated series, the third graders of South Park sneak into an R-rated film by ultra-vulgar Canadian television personalities Terrance and Phillip, and emerge with expanded vocabularies that leave their parents and teachers scandalized. When outraged Americans try to censor the film, the controversy spirals into a call to wage war on Canada and Terrance and Phillip end up on death row, with the kids their only hope of rescue.

Animation
Comedy
1h 21m
Trey Parker
Trey Parker, Matt Stone, Mary Kay Bergman, Isaac Hayes
69

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
68
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
67
Comedy in Bridesmaids (2011)
Bridesmaids
2011

Annie's life is a mess. But when she finds out her lifetime best friend is engaged, she simply must serve as Lillian's maid of honor. Though lovelorn and broke, Annie bluffs her way through the expensive and bizarre rituals. With one chance to get it perfect, she’ll show Lillian and her bridesmaids just how far you’ll go for someone you love.

Comedy
Romance
2h 5m
Paul Feig
66

A stoner and his dealer are forced to go on the run from the police after the pothead witnesses a cop commit a murder.

Action
Comedy
1h 51m
David Gordon Green
65

A slacker and a career-driven woman accidentally conceive a child after a one-night stand. As they try to make the relationship work, they must navigate the challenges of parenthood and their differences in lifestyle and maturity.

Comedy
Romance
2h 9m
Judd Apatow
64
Comedy in Hot Fuzz (2007)
Hot Fuzz
2007

Former London constable Nicholas Angel finds it difficult to adapt to his new assignment in the sleepy British village of Sandford. Not only does he miss the excitement of the big city, but he also has a well-meaning oaf for a partner. However, when a series of grisly accidents rocks Sandford, Angel smells something rotten in the idyllic village.

Crime
Action
2h 1m
Edgar Wright
Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Jim Broadbent, Paddy Considine
63

Summoned from an ashram in Tibet, Ace finds himself on a perilous journey into the jungles of Africa to find Shikaka, the missing sacred animal of the friendly Wachati tribe. He must accomplish this before the wedding of the Wachati's Princess to the prince of the warrior Wachootoos. If Ace fails, the result will be a vicious tribal war.

Crime
Comedy
1h 30m
Steve Oedekerk
Jim Carrey, Ian McNeice, Simon Callow, Maynard Eziashi
62
Comedy in Shaun of the Dead (2004)
Shaun of the Dead
2004

Shaun lives a supremely uneventful life, which revolves around his girlfriend, his mother, and, above all, his local pub. This gentle routine is threatened when the dead return to life and make strenuous attempts to snack on ordinary Londoners.

Horror
Comedy
1h 39m
Edgar Wright
Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Kate Ashfield, Lucy Davis
61

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.

60

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
59
Comedy in Bottle Rocket (1996)
Bottle Rocket
1996

Upon his release from a mental hospital following a nervous breakdown, the directionless Anthony joins his friend Dignan, who seems far less sane than the former. Dignan has hatched a harebrained scheme for an as-yet-unspecified crime spree that somehow involves his former boss, the (supposedly) legendary Mr. Henry.

Comedy
Crime
Luke Wilson, Owen Wilson, Robert Musgrave, Lumi Cavazos
58

Fashionable sorority queen Elle Woods has it all, but, she wants nothing more than to be Mrs. Warner Huntington III. But he dumps her before heading to Harvard Law School. Elle rallies all of her resources and gets into Harvard, determined to win him back. While there, she figures out that there is more to herself than just good looks.

Comedy
1h 36m
Robert Luketic
Reese Witherspoon, Luke Wilson, Selma Blair, Matthew Davis
57

When Rachel Phelps inherits the Cleveland Indians from her deceased husband, she's determined to move the team to a warmer climate—but only a losing season will make that possible, which should be easy given the misfits she's hired. Rachel is sure her dream will come true, but she underestimates their will to succeed.

Comedy
1h 47m
David S. Ward
Tom Berenger, Charlie Sheen, Corbin Bernsen, Margaret Whitton
56
Comedy in Elf (2003)
2003

When young Buddy falls into Santa's gift sack on Christmas Eve, he's transported back to the North Pole and raised as a toy-making elf by Santa's helpers. But as he grows into adulthood, he can't shake the nagging feeling that he doesn't belong. Buddy vows to visit Manhattan and find his real dad, a workaholic.

Comedy
Family
55

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
54

Greg Focker is ready to marry his girlfriend, Pam, but before he pops the question, he must win over her formidable father, humorless former CIA agent Jack Byrnes, at the wedding of Pam's sister. As Greg bends over backward to make a good impression, his visit to the Byrnes home turns into a hilarious series of disasters, and everything that can go wrong does, all under Jack's critical, hawklike gaze.

Comedy
Romance
1h 48m
Jay Roach
53
Comedy in Shrek (2001)
2001

It ain't easy bein' green -- especially if you're a likable (albeit smelly) ogre named Shrek. On a mission to retrieve a gorgeous princess from the clutches of a fire-breathing dragon, Shrek teams up with an unlikely compatriot -- a wisecracking donkey.

Animation
Comedy
1h 30m
Andrew Adamson
52

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
51
Comedy in Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975)
Monty Python and the Holy Grail
1975

King Arthur, accompanied by his squire, recruits his Knights of the Round Table, including Sir Bedevere the Wise, Sir Lancelot the Brave, Sir Robin the Not-Quite-So-Brave-As-Sir-Lancelot and Sir Galahad the Pure. On the way, Arthur battles the Black Knight who, despite having had all his limbs chopped off, insists he can still fight. They reach Camelot, but Arthur decides not to enter, as "it is a silly place".

Adventure
Comedy
1h 31m
Terry Jones
Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Eric Idle, Terry Gilliam
50

Royal Tenenbaum and his wife Etheline had three children and then they separated. All three children are extraordinary --- all geniuses. Virtually all memory of the brilliance of the young Tenenbaums was subsequently erased by two decades of betrayal, failure, and disaster. Most of this was generally considered to be their father's fault. "The Royal Tenenbaums" is the story of the family's sudden, unexpected reunion one recent winter.

49

In the deep south during the 1930s, three escaped convicts search for hidden treasure while a relentless lawman pursues them.

Adventure
Comedy
1h 47m
Joel Coen
48

A newly dead New England couple seeks help from a deranged demon exorcist to scare an affluent New York family out of their home.

Fantasy
Comedy
47

When the bumbling Lieutenant Frank Drebin investigates events following the shooting of his partner, he stumbles upon an attempt to assassinate Queen Elizabeth II.

Comedy
Crime
1h 26m
David Zucker
Leslie Nielsen, Priscilla Presley, Ricardo Montalban, George Kennedy
46

The setting is Camp Firewood, the year 1981. It's the last day before everyone goes back to the real world, but there's still a summer's worth of unfinished business to resolve. At the center of the action is camp director Beth, who struggles to keep order while she falls in love with the local astrophysics professor. He is busy trying to save the camp from a deadly piece of NASA's Skylab which is hurtling toward earth. All that, plus: a dangerous waterfall rescue, love triangles, misfits, cool kids, and talking vegetable cans. The questions will all be resolved, of course, at the big talent show at the end of the day.

Comedy
1h 37m
David Wain
Janeane Garofalo, David Hyde Pierce, Michael Showalter, Marguerite Moreau
45
Comedy in Fletch (1985)
1985

When investigative reporter Irwin "Fletch" Fletcher goes undercover to write a piece on the drug trade at a local beach, he's approached by wealthy businessman Alan Stanwyk, who offers him $50,000 to murder him. With sarcastic wit and a knack for disguises, Fletch sets out to uncover Stanwyk's story.

Comedy
Crime
1h 38m
Michael Ritchie
Chevy Chase, Tim Matheson, Dana Wheeler-Nicholson, Joe Don Baker
44

Andy Stitzer has a pleasant life with a nice apartment and a job stamping invoices at an electronics store. But at age 40, there's one thing Andy hasn't done, and it's really bothering his sex-obsessed male co-workers: Andy is still a virgin. Determined to help Andy get laid, the guys make it their mission to de-virginize him. But it all seems hopeless until Andy meets small business owner Trish, a single mom.

Comedy
Romance
1h 56m
Judd Apatow
Steve Carell, Catherine Keener, Paul Rudd, Romany Malco
43

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
42
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
41
Comedy in The Other Guys (2010)
The Other Guys
2010

Unlike their heroic counterparts on the force, desk-bound NYPD detectives Gamble and Hoitz garner no headlines as they work day to day. When a seemingly minor case turns out to be a big deal, the two cops get the opportunity to finally prove to their comrades that they have the right stuff.

Comedy
Action
1h 47m
Adam McKay
40

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
39
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
38
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
37

A listless and alienated teenager decides to help his new friend win the class presidency in their small western high school, while he must deal with his bizarre family life back home.

Comedy
1h 35m
Jared Hess
Jon Heder, Efren Ramirez, Tina Majorino, Aaron Ruell
36
Comedy in Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987)
Planes, Trains and Automobiles
1987

An irritable marketing executive, Neal Page, is heading home to Chicago for Thanksgiving when a number of delays force him to travel with a well meaning but overbearing shower curtain ring salesman, Del Griffith.

Comedy
1h 32m
John Hughes
Steve Martin, John Candy, Laila Robins, Michael McKean
35

Clear the runway for Derek Zoolander, VH1's three-time male model of the year. His face falls when hippie-chic Hansel scooters in to steal this year's award. The evil fashion guru Mugatu seizes the opportunity to turn Derek into a killing machine. It's a well-designed conspiracy and only with the help of Hansel and a few well-chosen accessories like Matilda can Derek make the world safe for male models everywhere.

Comedy
34
Comedy in Old School (2003)
Old School
2003

Three friends attempt to recapture their glory days by opening up a fraternity near their alma mater.

33

When three friends finally come to after a raucous night of bachelor-party revelry, they find a baby in the closet and a tiger in the bathroom. But they can't seem to locate their best friend, Doug – who's supposed to be tying the knot. Launching a frantic search for Doug, the trio perseveres through a nasty hangover to try to make it to the church on time.

32

A group of self-absorbed actors set out to make the most expensive war film ever. After ballooning costs force the studio to cancel the movie, the frustrated director refuses to stop shooting, leading his cast into the jungles of Southeast Asia, where they encounter real bad guys.

Action
Comedy
31
Comedy in The Producers (1968)
The Producers
1968

A conniving Broadway producer and his meek accountant plan to profit from charming wealthy old biddies to invest in an overbudget production, and then put on a sure-fire disaster, so nobody will ask for their money back — and what's more disastrous than a tasteless musical celebrating Adolf Hitler.

Comedy
Zero Mostel, Gene Wilder, Dick Shawn, Kenneth Mars
30
Comedy in Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan (2006)
Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan
2006

Kazakh journalist Borat Sagdiyev travels to America to make a documentary. As he zigzags across the nation, Borat meets real people in real situations with hysterical consequences. His backwards behavior generates strong reactions around him exposing prejudices and hypocrisies in American culture.

Comedy
1h 24m
Larry Charles
Sacha Baron Cohen, Ken Davitian, Luenell, Pamela Anderson
29

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
28

"This Is Spinal Tap" shines a light on the self-contained universe of a metal band struggling to get back on the charts, including everything from its complicated history of ups and downs, gold albums, name changes and undersold concert dates, along with the full host of requisite groupies, promoters, hangers-on and historians, sessions, release events and those special behind-the-scenes moments that keep it all real.

Comedy
Music
Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, Harry Shearer, Rob Reiner
27

Clark Griswold is on a quest to take his family to the Walley World theme park for a vacation, but things don't go exactly as planned.

Comedy
Adventure
Chevy Chase, Beverly D'Angelo, Anthony Michael Hall, Imogene Coca
26
Comedy in The Jerk (1979)
The Jerk
1979

After discovering he's not really black like the rest of his family, likable dimwit Navin Johnson sets off on a hilarious misadventure that takes him from rags to riches and back again. The slaphappy jerk strikes it rich, but life in the fast lane isn't all it's cracked up to be and, in the end, all that really matters to Johnson is his true love.

Comedy
1h 34m
Carl Reiner
Steve Martin, Bernadette Peters, Catlin Adams, Mabel King
25

Fast-talking, quick-thinking Detroit street cop Axel Foley has bent more than a few rules and regs in his time, but when his best friend is murdered, he heads to sunny Beverly Hills to work the case like only he can.

Comedy
Crime
1h 45m
Martin Brest
Eddie Murphy, Judge Reinhold, John Ashton, Lisa Eilbacher
24

In this enchantingly cracked fairy tale, the beautiful Princess Buttercup and the dashing Westley must overcome staggering odds to find happiness amid six-fingered swordsmen, murderous princes, Sicilians and rodents of unusual size. But even death can't stop these true lovebirds from triumphing.

Adventure
Family
Cary Elwes, Robin Wright, Mandy Patinkin, Chris Sarandon
23
Comedy in Some Like It Hot (1959)
Some Like It Hot
1959

In Prohibition-era Chicago, musicians Joe and Jerry witness a mob hit, and flee the state in an all-female band disguised as Josephine and Daphne, but further complications set in.

Comedy
Romance
Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon, Marilyn Monroe, George Raft
22
Comedy in Blazing Saddles (1974)
Blazing Saddles
1974

A town—where everyone seems to be named Johnson—stands in the way of the railroad. In order to grab their land, robber baron Hedley Lamarr sends his henchmen to make life in the town unbearable. After the sheriff is killed, the town demands a new sheriff from the Governor, so Hedley convinces him to send the town the first black sheriff in the west.

Western
Comedy
Cleavon Little, Gene Wilder, Slim Pickens, Harvey Korman
21

An ex-fighter pilot forced to take over the controls of an airliner when the flight crew succumbs to food poisoning.

Comedy
1h 28m
Jim Abrahams
Robert Hays, Julie Hagerty, Leslie Nielsen, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
20

A snobbish investor and a wily street con-artist find their positions reversed as part of a bet by two callous millionaires.

Comedy
Dan Aykroyd, Eddie Murphy, Ralph Bellamy, Don Ameche
19

New York comedian Alvy Singer falls in love with the ditsy Annie Hall.

Comedy
Drama
Woody Allen, Diane Keaton, Tony Roberts, Carol Kane
18

A young neurosurgeon inherits the castle of his grandfather, the famous Dr. Victor von Frankenstein. In the castle he finds a funny hunchback, a pretty lab assistant and the elderly housekeeper. Young Frankenstein believes that the work of his grandfather was delusional, but when he discovers the book where the mad doctor described his reanimation experiment, he suddenly changes his mind.

Comedy
Gene Wilder, Peter Boyle, Marty Feldman, Madeline Kahn
17

Based on the real-life adventures chronicled by Cameron Crowe, Fast Times follows a group of high school students growing up in Southern California. Stacy Hamilton and Mark Ratner are looking for love, and are helped along by their older classmates, Linda Barrett and Mike Damone. Jeff Spicoli, a perpetually stoned surfer faces-off with the resolute teacher, Mr. Hand. Hilarity and heartbreak ensue.

Comedy
Romance
1h 30m
Amy Heckerling
Sean Penn, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Judge Reinhold, Phoebe Cates
16
Comedy in Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)
Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb
1964

After the insane General Jack D. Ripper initiates a nuclear strike on the Soviet Union, a war room full of politicians, generals and a Russian diplomat all frantically try to stop it.

Comedy
War
Peter Sellers, George C. Scott, Sterling Hayden, Keenan Wynn
15

After losing their university jobs, three parapsychologists start a ghost-catching business in New York City and uncover a supernatural threat that could destroy the world.

Comedy
Fantasy
14

John and his buddy Jeremy are emotional criminals who know how to use a woman's hopes and dreams for their own carnal gain. Their modus operandi: crashing weddings. Normally, they meet guests who want to toast the romantic day with a random hook-up. But when John meets Claire, he discovers what true love – and heartache – feels like.

Comedy
Romance
1h 59m
David Dobkin
13

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
12
Comedy in Mean Girls (2004)
Mean Girls
2004

Cady Heron is a hit with The Plastics, the A-list girl clique at her new school, until she makes the mistake of falling for Aaron Samuels, the ex-boyfriend of alpha Plastic Regina George.

Drama
Comedy
1h 37m
Mark Waters
Lindsay Lohan, Rachel McAdams, Lizzy Caplan, Lacey Chabert
11

An African prince decides it’s time for him to find a princess... and his mission leads him and his most loyal friend to Queens, New York. In disguise as an impoverished immigrant, the pampered prince quickly finds himself a new job, new friends, new digs, new enemies and lots of trouble.

Comedy
Romance
Eddie Murphy, Arsenio Hall, Shari Headley, John Amos
10

At an exclusive country club, an ambitious young caddy, Danny Noonan, eagerly pursues a caddy scholarship in hopes of attending college and, in turn, avoiding a job at the lumber yard. In order to succeed, he must first win the favour of the elitist Judge Smails, and then the caddy golf tournament which Smails sponsors.

Why it ranks

This anarchic ensemble piece transformed the stuffy golf course into a battlefield of class warfare and improvisational genius. By pitting slobs against snobs, it relies on a loose, unpredictable energy that feels as though the inmates have finally taken over the asylum.

9

Eighties teenager Marty McFly is accidentally sent back in time to 1955, inadvertently disrupting his parents' first meeting and attracting his mother's romantic interest. Marty must repair the damage to history by rekindling his parents' romance and - with the help of his eccentric inventor friend Doc Brown - return to 1985.

Why it ranks

While often categorized as sci-fi, the film’s clockwork script is a triumph of comedic setup and payoff. It finds brilliance in the friction of generational culture shocks, guided by a manic energy that keeps its complex temporal mechanics feel light and effortlessly funny.

8

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 crafts a symphony of slapstick violence that remains a masterclass in comic timing and structural setup. Beyond the sadistic glee of its traps, the film endures because it treats a child’s ingenuity with the gravity of an action epic.

7

Two co-dependent high school seniors are forced to deal with separation anxiety after their plan to stage a booze-soaked party goes awry.

Comedy
1h 53m
Greg Mottola
Jonah Hill, Michael Cera, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Bill Hader
Why it ranks

Rarely has the teenage experience been captured with such a vulgar yet vulnerable authenticity. It evolves the coming-of-age trope by grounding its high-stakes debauchery in the frantic, awkward desperation of a friendship facing its expiration date.

6

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

The Coen brothers reinvented the film noir through a haze of stoner apathy, creating a subculture icon defined by its refusal to care about its own convoluted plot. Its genius is found in the rhythmic, profane dialogue and a protagonist who remains an immovable object in a world of frantic eccentrics.

5

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

The ultimate exercise in 'gross-out' cinema, this film balances visceral shock with a surprising amount of genuine heart. It weaponizes awkwardness, proving that comedy can be found in the most humiliating intersections of romance and misfortune.

4
Comedy in Step Brothers (2008)
Step Brothers
2008

Brennan Huff and Dale Doback might be grown men. But that doesn't stop them from living at home and turning into jealous, competitive stepbrothers when their single parents marry. Brennan's constant competition with Dale strains his mom's marriage to Dale's dad, leaving everyone to wonder whether they'll ever see eye to eye.

Comedy
1h 38m
Adam McKay
Why it ranks

A masterpiece of arrested development, this film pushes the boundaries of cringe-inducing absurdity through the explosive chemistry of its leads. It finds a strange, frantic beauty in the regression of adulthood, turning domestic friction into a loud, operatic farce.

3

It's the 1970s and San Diego anchorman Ron Burgundy is the top dog in local TV, but that's all about to change when ambitious reporter Veronica Corningstone arrives as a new employee at his station.

Why it ranks

Adam McKay’s satire of 1970s broadcast news thrives on an improvisational chaos that redefined the modern studio comedy. Its legacy lies in a bizarre, quotable surrealism that parodies fragile masculinity with joyful, nonsensical aggression.

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

This Farrelly brothers masterpiece elevated the 'idiot' archetype to an art form, relying on an unrelenting barrage of physical commitment and rhythmic stupidity. It succeeds by treating its nonsensical logic with a sincerity that borders on the surreal.

1

After high school slacker Ferris Bueller successfully fakes an illness in order to skip school for the day, he goes on a series of adventures throughout Chicago with his girlfriend Sloane and best friend Cameron, all the while trying to outwit his wily school principal and fed-up sister.

Comedy
1h 43m
John Hughes
Matthew Broderick, Alan Ruck, Mia Sara, Jeffrey Jones
Why it ranks

John Hughes captures the infectious, rebellious spirit of youth through a protagonist whose charm makes anarchy feel like a civic duty. It is the definitive high-water mark for the fourth-wall-breaking subgenre, blending philosophical wit with the pure joy of the ultimate hooky fantasy.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about this list and SnakeDrafts

Several films in the list creatively blend genres, such as "Back to the Future," which combines adventure, comedy, and science fiction, and "The Big Lebowski," which merges comedy with crime elements. This genre fusion enhances their appeal by offering diverse storytelling with comedic undertones.

Directors like John Hughes and Adam McKay play pivotal roles in defining the comedic tone of their films, with Hughes known for his relatable teen comedies like "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" and McKay for his absurd and satirical humor in movies like "Anchorman" and "Step Brothers." Their distinct directing styles shape the humor and pacing.

Yes, recurring themes include absurdity in everyday life, friendship dynamics, and satirical takes on societal norms. For example, "Superbad" focuses on teenage friendship and awkwardness, while "Anchorman" satirizes news media culture with outrageous characters.

Physical comedy remains crucial, with films like "Dumb and Dumber" and "Home Alone" using slapstick humor to generate laughs. Their use of exaggerated physical mishaps connects with the comedic tradition dating back to silent film legends, making these moments timelessly funny.

Movies like "There's Something About Mary," "Wedding Crashers," and "Coming to America" skillfully intertwine romance with comedy, creating humorous situations that arise from romantic pursuits and misunderstandings. This blend appeals to a broad audience by mixing heartfelt moments with laughter.

Films such as "Mean Girls" and "Ghostbusters" have left a lasting impact on popular culture, with quotes, characters, and scenes becoming iconic references. Their influence extends beyond cinema into fashion, language, and even social conversations, solidifying their status as cultural touchstones.

Absolutely, movies like "Caddyshack" encapsulate classic slapstick and situational humor reminiscent of older comedic traditions, while some like "The Big Lebowski" incorporate quirky character-driven humor. These films link contemporary comedy to its historical roots, showcasing evolving comedic techniques.
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