Writing a definitive list of the best comedy movies ever made is difficult. Not only has the genre been around since the late 19th century, but there are many types of comedy films : romantic comedies , screwballs, and slapsticks. But sometimes you just need to laugh. So what makes something the “best comedy movie”? The easy answer is that it has to be fun. However, it is more than that. Great comedy movies stand the test of time. Comedy, as a genre, has a reputation for aging poorly to the point that many critics ask: can comedy age well? Many comedies achieve this feat and become classics. These classics come with endlessly quotable lines, iconic scenes, and jokes we want to see over and over again.
Funniest movies (25-11)
Comedy is subjective, but some movies are just funny… period. A great comedy can be rewatched, quoted and revisited. While you won’t find the highest-grossing comedy film on this list (it’s 2023 Barbie , if you’re wondering), you will find box office titans and even a couple of commercial flops that achieved cult status after the fact.
This comprehensive list includes films from the 1930s to 2010s and directors such as Mel Brooks, Adam McKay, John Huges, and Stanely Kubrick . When compiling a list of the best comedies, it is essential to look at the subgenres. The comedies on this list include satires, mockumentaries, dark humor, romantic comedies, teen comedies, and even a musical comedy. There are so many types of comedy. Everything can be done well in the right hands.
25. My Cousin Vinny (1992)
This movie taught an entire generation about the features of the Chevy Bel Air. The entire film is exceptionally quotable and has a devoted fan base, thanks in part to the powerful performances of Joe Pesci and Marisa Tomei. Tomei’s performance even earned her an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress.
While the film only earned 2.5 stars from Roger Eber t in 1992, the film now has an 87% on Rotten Tomatoes from fans and critics alike. The story follows an inexperienced lawyer, the titular Vinny, as he attempts to free two Brooklyn college students falsely accused of murder in Alabama. The film became a classic thanks to DVD and VHS rentals , almost adding to the perfect ’90s nature of this now-classic comedy. Currently, My Cousin Vinny is available to rent on Amazon Prime, YouTube, Apple TV, and Google Play… if you can’t find a Blockbuster.
24. Step Brothers (2008)
The bro comedy dominated the 2000s. While the films of Judd Apatow and Adam Sandler founded this subgenre in the mid-2000s, buddy comedies are nothing new and have been popular with audiences since names like Laurel and Hardy were on the marquees. Step Brothers feels like a classic buddy comedy.
In the film, directed by Adam McKay , Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly play adult stepbrothers forced to live together when their aging parents remarry. The insanity of the premise is part of what makes Step Brothers a laugh-out-loud comedy. The film received mixed reviews upon its initial run , but has earned cult classic status in the years since. Much of that status has to do with the powerful performances this film features, not only from the leads but also from Richard Jenkins, who plays Reilly’s father. It is currently streaming for free on the Roku Channel.
23. The great love sickness (2017)
The Big Sick is a romantic comedy, a comedy and a deeply human film. The BFI credited the film with refreshing the romantic comedy genre. The film stars Kumail Nanjiani and Zoe Kazan and was directed by Michael Showalter .
The semi-autobiographical film follows the early romance between Nanjiani and his wife, Emily V. Gordon, as she battles late-life Still’s disease. Gordon and Nanjiani wrote the script together. While the film received good reviews , it also drew criticism for its portrayal of Desi women. Something Nanjiani has since apologized for. The film is currently available to stream on Amazon Prime.
22. The Addams Family (1991)
Many family comedies are created from existing intellectual property, and many fail to capture the feel of the source material while still being a movie on its own. The Addams Family does both impressively. Based on the comics and television show of the same name, The Addams Family has cartoony good looks.
This film is remembered for the powerful performances of the late Raúl Julia, Anjelica Huston, Christina Ricci and Christopher Lloyd . The story follows the Addams family as a con man infiltrates their home, posing as Fester, the long-lost brother of patriarch Gomez Addams. The film walks the line between dark, sexy, ridiculous and silly. The New York Times said of the film in 1991: «Making his directorial debut, excellent cinematographer Barry Sonnenfeld…gives the film a visual wit that matches the script’s macabre jokes . » The film is currently streaming on Netflix, AMC+, and Paramount+.
21. Very Important Dogs ( 2000 )
There aren’t many true auteur comedy filmmakers, but Christopher Guest is one of them. His films have a distinct style with their often mockumentary approach, purposeful clumsiness, familiar casts, and notably improvisational style. Improvisation is hard to pull off, but Best In Show (original English title) does it well.
Best In Show follows five dogs and their people competing at a dog show in Philadelphia. The cast includes Eugene Levy, Catherine O’Hara, Parker Posey, Fred Willard, Jane Lynch, Jennifer Coolidge and many others. Best In Show is currently available to purchase and stream on Amazon Prime, Google Play, Apple TV, and YouTube.
20. Singin’ in the Rain (1952)
Musical comedies are sometimes not considered “real comedies” as they have to walk the line between two genres. However, Singing In The Rain by Gene Kelly and Stanely Donen excels at both. The film stars Kelly, Donald O’Connor and Debbie Reynolds and follows the actors as Hollywood transitioned from silent films to talkies.
The AFI ranked the film high on its list of best films. O’Connor received a Golden Globe for his work in the film and the film also received a WGA Award. The film delivers on the promise of «making you laugh,» but also features stunning dance sequences from Kelley and Cyd Charisse. It is currently streaming on Max.
19. A Cage of Crickets (1996)
The Birdcage feels dated and extremely current. Based on the French film and play La Cage Aux Folles, The Birdcage stars Robin Williams and Nathan Lane as gay parents who own a South Beach drag club. They are forced to act clearly when William’s son brings home the daughter of a far-right senator.
The film broke boundaries when it came to gay representation but unfortunately featured a prominent character in brownface. Hank Azaria plays a gay Guatemalan maid. While Azaria has apologized for other instances of brownface, including voicing Apu on The Simpsons after the release of the documentary The Problem with Apu, he hasn’t reflected on her role in The Birdcage . While the film is not perfect, The Birdcage shows not only queer parenting, but also the importance of confronting right-wing politics in the queer community, making it important in the history of queer cinema. It is currently streaming on Amazon Prime.
17. All in one day (1986)
Everything in a day is more than just quotable; It has been part of the adolescent experiences of several generations. And that makes sense because “life moves pretty quickly. If you don’t stop and look around from time to time, you could miss it. Director John Hughes captures something magical about the idealized day off.
The film follows the titular Ferris ( Matthew Brodrick ), his best friend Cameron ( Alan Ruck ), and his girlfriend, Sloane ( Mia Sara ), as they skip school to explore Chicago. The film has a 92% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes and is currently available to stream through a Paramount+ subscription or on Pluto TV.
17. Polyester (1981)
There are dirty comedies and then there are John Waters movies. While some of his best-known films have weight, Polyester is lighter and more comedic. Divine, a longtime collaborator, shines as a housewife with a keen sense of smell and a cheating husband. She is then courted by Todd Tomorrow of Tab Hunter.
Polyester oscillates between the ridiculous, the melodramatic and the disgusting. The film premiered on “ Odorama ,” a scratch-and-sniff card that encouraged viewers to smell ten smells from the film. It was intentionally ridiculous and fed into the pulp nature of the film. While reminiscent of Smell-O-Vision and Aroma Rama from the 1960s, Odorama encouraged viewers to smell things like dirty shoes and skunks. The film is currently on Amazon Prime, although you’ll have to find a special screening to get an Odorama card.
16. Napoleon Dynamite (2004)
Napoleon Dynamite is difficult to describe, but it took the United States by storm upon its release. While it earned mixed or even bad reviews, such as 1.5 stars from Ebert, it persisted as a cultural phenomenon . It has even been chosen to screen again at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival.
The film, directed by Jared Hess and starring John Heder , tells the coming-of-age story of an awkward teenager in a small Idaho town. The film was made on a shoestring budget and without many established actors, but that’s part of the charm of Napoleon Dynamite . The film has almost a cinema verité quality as it captures the reality of teenage life. Napoleon Dynamite is currently streaming on Max.
13. How to Marry a Millionaire (1953)
This screwball comedy stars Betty Grable, Marilyn Monroe and Lauren Bacall as OG gold diggers. The performances in How to Marry a Millionaire are what really cement it as a classic. Monroe shows off her comedic acuity and personality, while Bacall balances raw sex appeal and comedic timing.
While How to Marry a Millionaire is late to be a screwball comedy as a genre, it’s still not afraid to indulge in some of its more outlandish moments, like when Monroe stumbles blindly while refusing to wear her glasses because «men aren’t paying attention to girls who wear glasses.” It is available to rent through YouTube, Apple TV, Amazon Prime and Google Play.
14. Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
While many films attempt the difficult “tragicomedy” genre, Little Miss Sunshine excels at it. The film follows an impoverished and dysfunctional family as they road trip to a child beauty pageant with their young daughter.
Little Miss Sunshine features iconic performances from its entire main cast: Greg Kinnear, Steve Carell, Toni Collette, Paul Dano, Abigail Breslin and Alan Arkin . The film premiered at Sundance and started a small distribution bidding war. She was nominated for 4 Academy Awards (and won 2). The film has a 91% rating and review rating on Rotten Tomatoes and is currently streaming on Hulu.
13. Out of touch (1995)
Teen comedies sometimes get a bad rap. However, in the genre of youth comedies based on classic literature, some names stand out: 10 Things I Hate About You, She’s the Man and, of course, Out of Wave .
Loosely based on Jane Austen’s Emma , Clueless is infinitely quotable from “As if” to “You’re a virgin who can’t drive” to “My God. «I’m totally upset.» The film, directed by Amy Heckerling , stars Alicia Silverstone, Brittany Murphy and Paul Rudd . In 1995, The Washington Post praised the film for the “precision of its observations and the sharpness of its one-liners.” And more than 20 years later, it still has the same impact. It is currently available to stream on Paramount+ or Pluto TV.
12. It Happened One Night (1934)
Few comedies have won Best Picture and It Happened One Night did much more than that. The film was the first to win Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay. Directed by Frank Capra and starring Claudette Colbert and Clark Gable , It Happened One Night is a pure Hollywood classic.
The story follows a journalist who tries to help a young heiress connect with her scheming fiancé. Yes, the plot sometimes seems very 1930s, but this film’s influence on the modern romantic comedy is undeniable . You can almost see the tropes playing out in real time by watching it. While the enemies-to-lovers trope can be seen everywhere from Pride and Prejudice to a Hallmark Christmas movie, It Happened One Night does it well and pairs it with snappy writing that holds up 90 years later. The film is currently available for free on YouTube and is a must-watch for any rom-com lover. It is currently streaming for free on YouTube and Tubi.
11. This is Spinal Tap (1984)
Rob Reiner ‘s directorial debut , This is Spinal Tap , really turns it up to 11. This rock mockumentary has a huge cult following and for good reason. The Criterion Collection has included it in “the ranks of the greatest comedies ever made.” The film stars Christopher Guest and Michael McKean as aging rockers on their US comeback tour.
Part of what makes This is Spinal Tap great is the music. The parody songs in this movie are fun and fascinating. The New York Times said: “There is a jokey quality to the film, a quality that will make it even more hilarious to anyone who has any knowledge of the aesthetic or commercial aspects of pop music. However, you don’t have to have heard a band like Spinal Tap to find their story very funny.” It is available to rent on Amazon Prime, YouTube, Google Play and Apple TV.
10 best comedies of all time
The ten best films on this list are not just great comedies. They are films that have influenced the genre. Even people who have never seen these movies know a joke about them or have seen a movie that is directly inspired by them.
Classifying these films comes down to splitting hairs. They all provide laughs, contain iconic lines and scenes, and, perhaps most importantly, are endlessly rewatchable. These films not only seem clever but also inventive. While later films have copied these films, they still feel fresh, often many years later (the oldest in this section is from 1941).
10. My best friend’s wedding (2011)
It’s rare for self-proclaimed chick flicks to be nominated for Oscars. Bridesmaids earned two nominations for Best Supporting Actress for Melissa McCarthy and Best Original Screenplay for Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo . Directed by Paul Feig , Bridesmaids features several comedic performances from Wiig, McCarthy, Maya Rudolph, Rose Byrne, Jon Hamm and Wendi McLendon-Covey .
The film follows Wiig’s Annie as she becomes Rudolph’s Lillian’s maid of honor. Bridesmaids certainly wasn’t the first comedy starring exclusively women. Still, it has stood out as an important film in the genre of mainstream comedies starring women, which some have called «the Bridesmaids effect.» Outside of its influence, it’s just a hilarious movie from «Help Me, I’m Poor» to «I Got A Little Too Committed to the Whole Dog Thing.» The film is currently streaming on Peacock.
9. Junk Job (1999)
Before The Office became a millennial favorite, there was Office Space . Directed by Mike Judge and starring Ron Livingston and Jennifer Aniston , Office Space walks the line between cult comedy and cultural juggernaut.
The film captures the boring office life of the ’90s while remaining hilariously wacky as a group of underappreciated office workers try to take down their greedy boss. Ebert said of the film: «‘Office Space’ is a comedic cry of rage against the nightmare of modern office life. «It has many of the same complaints as ‘Dilbert’ and the movie ‘ Clockwatchers ‘ and, indeed, the works of Kafka and the book of Job.» Office Space is currently available to stream on Max.
8. Land as you can (1980)
Plane! It is one of those movies that surely everyone has heard a quote from… «and don’t call me Shirley.» Starring Leslie Nielson , this farce parodies the disaster film, specifically Zero Hour ( 1953).
The film earned the Writers Guild of America Award for Best Adapted Comedy and nominations for the Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture Musical or Comedy and the BAFTA Award for Best Screenplay. While not all parts of the film have aged well , especially when it comes to race, it is still remembered as a comedy classic for its goofy approach to parody. It is currently broadcast on Movistar+.
7. Sullivan’s Travels (1941)
This 1941 Joel McCrea and Veronica Lake comedy is often considered a » masterpiece .» It has been added to the Library of Congress with the review: «Preston Sturges’ Sullivan’s Travels remains one of Hollywood’s great American film satires . «
The titular Sullivan is a Hollywood director known for his light comedies. He decides it’s time to do something more important and ventures into the real world in search of inspiration for his film, «O Brother, Where Art Thou?» a film about suffering. While the film has a definite heart and message, the dialogue and jokes come quickly in this film. Sullivan’s Travels is a must-see for classic film and comedy fans alike. It is available to rent on Amazon Prime, YouTube, Google Play and Apple TV.
6. The Prince of Zamunda (1988)
“But where in New York can you find a woman with grace, elegance, taste and culture? A woman fit for a king… queens, come to the United States . Eddie Murphy, Arsenio Hall and James Earl Jones shine in this classic directed by John Landis.
Coming To America captures something real about the 1980s, Queens, and the immigrant experience, while still being a screwball comedy about an African prince who comes to New York to find a wife. While many reviews were less than glowing in 1988, Coming To America remains popular, and even sparked a sequel, The King of Zamunda , in 2021. It is available to rent on Amazon Prime, YouTube, and Google Play.
5. A Madman on the Loose (1979)
The Jerk is directed by Carl Reiner and is Steve Martin ‘s first starring role . While not all of the jokes have stood the test of time, The Jerk still delivers solid laughs more than 40 years later, often thanks to Martin’s impeccable comedic timing.
The Jerk follows Martin’s character, Navin, through his rise to wealth and subsequent fall. While the film is often crude and possibly even purposely silly, many jokes have a wit and elevation that balances the comedy. The film is often found on lists of best comedies and was even a favorite of director Stanley Kubrick . Unfortunately, it is not available on any platform in Spain.
4. Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975)
Monty Python and the Holy Grail is the second film by the iconic British comedy group Monty Python. This film is so quotable that it has almost transcended the original script to seep into the collective consciousness. Who doesn’t say to themselves from time to time: “It’s just a scratch”?
This film stars Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Michael Palin and is a parody of the Arthurian era. The film follows Chappan’s King Arthur as he and his squire search for the Holy Grail. While it received mixed reviews upon its initial release, its cult following and memory of it are impressive. A musical based on the film, Spamalot , was adapted to the stage in 2005 and revived for Broadway in 2023. The film is currently available to stream on Netflix .
3. Friday (1995)
Not much happens in the movie Friday , but it doesn’t matter. The movie is still full of laughs. F. Gary Gray directs with iconic performances from Ice Cube and Chris Tucker . This movie can be quoted endlessly from «Damn!» to «Goodbye Felicia» and has almost achieved meme status through reaction gifs.
Friday inspired two sequels: Next Friday and Friday After Next . All three films have earned cult status. However, Friday was a commercial and praised success in 1995. The film had a modest budget, a music video director, a lead who had never made a comedy and only 20 days to shoot, but against all that, the film is remembered as a comedy classic. It is currently available on Max and Tubi.
2. Red phone? We fly to Moscow (1964)
Red phone? We Flew to Moscow is perhaps the darkest comedy on this list, but when you make a satire about Nazi scientists and nuclear annihilation, that tends to happen. This film was directed by Stanely Kubrick and stars Peter Sellers in three roles: a British officer, the American president, and the titular doctor, a former Nazi and nuclear war expert.
The film follows a situation in which an American general plans to drop a nuclear bomb on the Soviet Union. We promise it’s more fun than it looks. The film is a frequent addition not only to best comedy lists but also to film lists in general, including AFI’s Best American Movies list . It can currently be viewed for free on YouTube.
1. Young Frankenstein (1974)
No list of the best comedies is complete without Mel Brooks. If this list had more space, it could have easily included several Brooks films , including Blazing Saddles, History of the World Part 1, and The Producers . There’s a reason why many of his films have become comedy classics.
Young Frankenstein perfectly mixes comedy, horror and parody. The film features iconic performances, especially from Gene Wilder, who co-wrote the script with Brooks. The film parodies the story of Frankenstein but does so with madness and wit. Young Frankenstein currently has a 94% on Rotten Tomatoes . It is currently available to stream through a DirecTV subscription.
