25
Films Ranked
$4B+
Combined Box Office
10+
Oscars Won
1959-2011
Years Spanning
Airplane!(1980)
Directed by Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, Jerry Zucker — Robert Hays, Julie Hagerty, Leslie Nielsen
$171M worldwide
Airplane! has the highest joke-per-minute ratio of any film in history. It invented the modern spoof genre, launched Leslie Nielsen's comedy career, and killed the disaster movie genre with a single blow. Forty-five years later, 'Don't call me Shirley' still gets a laugh. It is comedy's Everest.
Caddyshack(1980)
Directed by Harold Ramis — Chevy Chase, Bill Murray, Rodney Dangerfield
$39.8M worldwide
Caddyshack put Murray, Chase, and Dangerfield together and let them improvise. The result is the most quotable comedy of the 1980s. Carl Spackler's gopher hunt is the funniest subplot in film history. It defined the comedy of a generation and remains the gold standard for ensemble improvisation.
The Big Lebowski(1998)
Directed by Joel Coen, Ethan Coen — Jeff Bridges, John Goodman, Steve Buscemi
$46.2M worldwide
The Big Lebowski created a cultural movement. Jeff Bridges' Dude is one of the most iconic characters in comedy history. The Coen Brothers proved that a film could fail commercially and still become the most beloved comedy of its era. It spawned a religion. That's, like, the ultimate achievement, man.
Monty Python and the Holy Grail(1975)
Directed by Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones — Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Eric Idle
$5M worldwide
Holy Grail proved that comedy does not need money — it needs wit. Every scene is quotable. The coconut horses, born from a budget constraint, became the film's most iconic joke. It spawned Spamalot, endless memes, and a comedy lexicon that is still in daily use fifty years later.
Groundhog Day(1993)
Directed by Harold Ramis — Bill Murray, Andie MacDowell, Chris Elliott
$105M worldwide
Groundhog Day is the rare comedy that philosophers, monks, and theologians study alongside comedy fans. Bill Murray's performance spans the entire human emotional spectrum. The time-loop concept became a genre unto itself. It proves that the funniest comedies can also be the most profound.
Superbad(2007)
Directed by Greg Mottola — Jonah Hill, Michael Cera, Christopher Mintz-Plasse
$170M worldwide
Superbad is the defining high school comedy of its generation. McLovin became an instant cultural icon. Beneath the R-rated humor is a genuine, moving story about friendship and the fear of growing apart. Rogen and Goldberg wrote it at 13 and perfected it at 25 — that combination of teenage honesty and adult craft is unbeatable.
Bridesmaids(2011)
Directed by Paul Feig — Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Melissa McCarthy
$288M worldwide
Bridesmaids shattered the myth that female-led comedies could not compete commercially. Melissa McCarthy became a star overnight. The film combined raunchy humor with genuine emotional depth in ways that male-led comedies rarely attempt. It grossed $288M and changed Hollywood's approach to comedy permanently.
Step Brothers(2008)
Directed by Adam McKay — Will Ferrell, John C. Reilly, Mary Steenburgen
$128M worldwide
Step Brothers is the most quotable comedy of the 2000s. Ferrell and Reilly's chemistry is unmatched. 'So much room for activities!' and 'Did we just become best friends?' are permanent entries in the comedy dictionary. The film's commitment to absurdity is so total that it becomes a kind of purity.
Office Space(1999)
Directed by Mike Judge — Ron Livingston, Jennifer Aniston, Gary Cole
$12.8M worldwide
Office Space is the defining comedy about corporate work culture. Bill Lumbergh is the most recognizable boss in comedy. The printer scene is the most cathartic moment in workplace cinema. It bombed theatrically and became a cult phenomenon on home video — proving that the audience it was made for eventually found it.
Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy(2004)
Directed by Adam McKay — Will Ferrell, Christina Applegate, Steve Carell
$90.6M worldwide
Anchorman gave the world Ron Burgundy, one of the most iconic comedy characters of the century. 'I'm kind of a big deal.' 'Sixty percent of the time, it works every time.' The news team fight. The jazz flute. It produced so many quotes that it fundamentally altered how a generation communicates.
Blazing Saddles(1974)
Directed by Mel Brooks — Cleavon Little, Gene Wilder, Madeline Kahn
$119.5M worldwide
Blazing Saddles is the most fearless comedy ever made. Brooks used humor as a weapon against racism with a precision that remains unmatched. The fourth-wall-breaking finale invented a comedy technique that films still imitate. It proved that the best satire punches up and never apologizes.
This Is Spinal Tap(1984)
Directed by Rob Reiner — Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, Harry Shearer
$4.7M worldwide
This Is Spinal Tap invented the mockumentary and created the template for The Office, Best in Show, and every pseudo-documentary comedy that followed. 'These go to eleven' is the single most famous joke about rock and roll. Real musicians cannot tell where the parody ends and reality begins.
Dr. Strangelove(1964)
Directed by Stanley Kubrick — Peter Sellers, George C. Scott, Sterling Hayden
$9.4M worldwide
Dr. Strangelove is the greatest political satire in cinema history. Peter Sellers' triple performance is legendary. The bomb-riding finale is the most iconic image of Cold War cinema. Kubrick proved that comedy can be a more powerful weapon against insanity than drama. The film's thesis — that the people in charge of nuclear weapons are as flawed and foolish as the rest of us — has never stopped being relevant.
Some Like It Hot(1959)
Directed by Billy Wilder — Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon
$40M worldwide
Some Like It Hot features the greatest closing line in comedy history: 'Nobody's perfect.' Wilder crafted the most structurally perfect farce ever filmed. Monroe, Curtis, and Lemmon are the greatest comedy trio of the studio era. Sixty-five years later, the film's take on gender fluidity feels more modern than most contemporary comedies.
The Hangover(2009)
Directed by Todd Phillips — Bradley Cooper, Zach Galifianakis, Ed Helms
$467M worldwide
The Hangover is the highest-grossing R-rated comedy ever. Galifianakis became an overnight star. The mystery-comedy structure revitalized the genre. The end-credits photos became the most talked-about sequence of 2009. It proved that R-rated comedy could compete with blockbusters at the global box office.
Coming to America(1988)
Directed by John Landis — Eddie Murphy, Arsenio Hall, James Earl Jones
$288M worldwide
Coming to America is Eddie Murphy's masterpiece — the film that showcased his full range as both a leading man and a character actor. The barbershop scenes are the funniest recurring bit of the 1980s. Rick Baker's makeup work was revolutionary. The film grossed $288M and proved that Black-led romantic comedies could dominate the global box office.
Ferris Bueller's Day Off(1986)
Directed by John Hughes — Matthew Broderick, Alan Ruck, Mia Sara
$70.1M worldwide
Ferris Bueller is John Hughes' masterpiece and the defining film about teenage freedom. 'Life moves pretty fast' is the most quoted line in teen cinema. The parade scene is pure joy. Cameron's arc is genuinely moving. It taught a generation that the best days are the ones you seize.
Young Frankenstein(1974)
Directed by Mel Brooks — Gene Wilder, Peter Boyle, Marty Feldman
$86.3M worldwide
Young Frankenstein is the greatest parody film ever made. Gene Wilder's performance is the peak of his career. The 'Puttin' on the Ritz' sequence is the funniest musical number in cinema. Brooks and Wilder proved that parody born from love and knowledge is infinitely funnier than parody born from contempt.
Dumb and Dumber(1994)
Directed by Peter Farrelly, Bobby Farrelly — Jim Carrey, Jeff Daniels, Lauren Holly
$247M worldwide
Dumb and Dumber is the greatest buddy comedy of the 1990s. Jim Carrey's physical comedy is unmatched. Jeff Daniels proved that great dramatic actors can be great comic actors. The film grossed $247M on a $17M budget and proved that pure silliness, performed with total conviction, is a legitimate art form.
Borat(2006)
Directed by Larry Charles — Sacha Baron Cohen, Ken Davitian, Luenell
$262M worldwide
Borat redefined what comedy could be — part character study, part social experiment, part guerrilla journalism. Cohen's commitment to the bit is unmatched in comedy history. The film exposed uncomfortable truths about American prejudice while being relentlessly, painfully funny. It grossed $262M and made the entire world learn the name Kazakhstan.
Beverly Hills Cop(1984)
Directed by Martin Brest — Eddie Murphy, Judge Reinhold, John Ashton
$316M worldwide
Beverly Hills Cop made Eddie Murphy the biggest star in the world and invented the action-comedy as a mainstream genre. The 'Axel F' theme is iconic. Murphy's improvisational genius turned every scene into a masterclass. It was the highest-grossing film of 1984 and launched one of the decade's most profitable franchises.
Mean Girls(2004)
Directed by Mark Waters — Lindsay Lohan, Rachel McAdams, Tina Fey
$129M worldwide
Mean Girls is the most quotable teen comedy of the 21st century. Tina Fey's script turned high school anthropology into art. Rachel McAdams' Regina George is the greatest teen villain since Heathers. October 3rd is now an unofficial holiday. The film proved that smart, female-driven comedy could define a generation.
Trading Places(1983)
Directed by John Landis — Eddie Murphy, Dan Aykroyd, Jamie Lee Curtis
$90.4M worldwide
Trading Places is the smartest social satire disguised as a buddy comedy. Murphy and Aykroyd are a perfect odd couple. The commodities-trading climax turns finance into cinema. The film's thesis — that privilege is arbitrary — was ahead of its time and has only become more relevant.
The 40-Year-Old Virgin(2005)
Directed by Judd Apatow — Steve Carell, Catherine Keener, Paul Rudd
$177M worldwide
The 40-Year-Old Virgin launched Judd Apatow's career and redefined R-rated comedy for a generation. Steve Carell became a leading man. The chest-waxing scene is the most talked-about comedy scene of the 2000s. The film proved that raunchy comedy and genuine heart are not mutually exclusive.
Shaun of the Dead(2004)
Directed by Edgar Wright — Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Kate Ashfield
$30M worldwide
Shaun of the Dead perfected the genre comedy by being equally excellent as a horror film, a rom-com, and a buddy movie. Edgar Wright's visual comedy is unmatched. The Queen fight scene is the funniest genre sequence of the century. It launched the Cornetto Trilogy and proved that British comedy could conquer the global market.
The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!(1988)
Directed by David Zucker — Leslie Nielsen, Priscilla Presley, Ricardo Montalban
$78.8M worldwide
The Naked Gun perfected what Airplane! invented. Leslie Nielsen's Frank Drebin is the funniest character in spoof history. The baseball sequence is a masterclass in sustained comedy. The film proved that the ZAZ formula could carry a franchise and remain funny across multiple viewings.
Ghostbusters(1984)
Directed by Ivan Reitman — Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis
$295.2M worldwide
Ghostbusters merged comedy and blockbuster spectacle before anyone thought that was possible. Bill Murray's Venkman is the template for every wisecracking hero since. The Stay Puft Marshmallow Man is the most iconic comedy villain of the decade. The theme song alone could carry a lesser film.
Life of Brian(1979)
Directed by Terry Jones — Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Michael Palin
$20.7M worldwide
Life of Brian is the most intellectually courageous comedy ever filmed. It took on religion, politics, and groupthink with surgical precision. The controversy only increased its legend. 'Always Look on the Bright Side of Life' is the ultimate comedic statement on human absurdity. Python at their absolute peak.
The Princess Bride(1987)
Directed by Rob Reiner — Cary Elwes, Robin Wright, Mandy Patinkin
$30.9M worldwide
The Princess Bride is the most quotable film in the English language. 'As you wish.' 'Inconceivable!' 'Hello, my name is Inigo Montoya.' It flopped theatrically and became immortal on home video. Every line is a gift. Every character is perfect. It is the film that proved comedy and sincerity are the same thing.
Animal House(1978)
Directed by John Landis — John Belushi, Tim Matheson, Tom Hulce
$141.6M worldwide
Animal House invented the modern comedy. Belushi's Bluto is the patron saint of cinematic anarchy. The toga party became a real cultural event. The film made $141 million on a $2.8 million budget — the most profitable comedy ratio of its era. Every college comedy since is a footnote to this film.
Hot Fuzz(2007)
Directed by Edgar Wright — Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Jim Broadbent
$80.7M worldwide
Hot Fuzz is the most rewatchable comedy of the 2000s. Edgar Wright's foreshadowing is so dense that every viewing reveals new jokes. The third-act action payoff is the best in any comedy. Pegg and Frost's chemistry peaks here. It proves the Cornetto Trilogy was no fluke — Wright is a comedy genius.
Tropic Thunder(2008)
Directed by Ben Stiller — Ben Stiller, Robert Downey Jr., Jack Black
$195.7M worldwide
Tropic Thunder is the most fearless Hollywood satire of the century. Robert Downey Jr.'s performance walks a tightrope no other actor could manage. Tom Cruise's Les Grossman is the greatest uncredited cameo ever. The film predicted Hollywood's self-obsession epidemic and laughed at it before anyone else dared.
The Grand Budapest Hotel(2014)
Directed by Wes Anderson — Ralph Fiennes, Tony Revolori, F. Murray Abraham
$174.8M worldwide
The Grand Budapest Hotel is Wes Anderson at full power. Ralph Fiennes gives the funniest performance of the decade. The production design is the most visually stunning in any comedy. The film proved that meticulous style and genuine emotion are not opposites. Four Oscars for a comedy — that almost never happens.
Fargo(1996)
Directed by Joel Coen, Ethan Coen — Frances McDormand, William H. Macy, Steve Buscemi
$60.6M worldwide
Fargo is the Coen Brothers' masterpiece. Frances McDormand's Marge Gunderson is the most lovable cop in cinema. The collision between Midwestern politeness and extreme violence created an entirely new genre. The wood chipper. 'Oh ya.' Two Oscars. The TV show it spawned ran for five seasons. Fargo is eternal.
In Bruges(2008)
Directed by Martin McDonagh — Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson, Ralph Fiennes
$33.4M worldwide
In Bruges proved that comedy, tragedy, and thriller can coexist in a single film. Colin Farrell's comedic talent was a revelation. McDonagh's dialogue is the sharpest since Tarantino. The film turned Bruges into a tourist destination. Dark comedy does not get darker or funnier than this.
Raising Arizona(1987)
Directed by Joel Coen, Ethan Coen — Nicolas Cage, Holly Hunter, John Goodman
$29.2M worldwide
Raising Arizona is the Coen Brothers' purest comedy — a desert cartoon powered by Nicolas Cage at his most unhinged. The diaper chase is one of cinema's great physical comedy sequences. Holly Hunter is a force of nature. The film proved the Coens could do anything, and they have been proving it ever since.
Best in Show(2000)
Directed by Christopher Guest — Eugene Levy, Catherine O'Hara, Christopher Guest
$18.5M worldwide
Best in Show perfected the ensemble mockumentary. Fred Willard's commentary is the funniest improvised monologue in cinema. Eugene Levy and Catherine O'Hara's chemistry is legendary. The film treated its absurd characters with genuine affection. Christopher Guest proved that improvisation could produce a masterpiece.
O Brother, Where Art Thou?(2000)
Directed by Joel Coen, Ethan Coen — George Clooney, John Turturro, Tim Blake Nelson
$71.9M worldwide
O Brother reimagined Homer's Odyssey in Depression-era Mississippi and somehow made it work. The soundtrack won a Grammy and sold eight million copies. Clooney proved he could be funny. The Coens proved that literary adaptation could be both faithful and completely insane. 'I'm a Dude of Constant Sorrow.'
Knocked Up(2007)
Directed by Judd Apatow — Seth Rogen, Katherine Heigl, Paul Rudd
$219M worldwide
Knocked Up proved Seth Rogen could carry a film and that Apatow's formula — raunchy comedy with real emotion — could gross $219 million. The Paul Rudd subplot is funnier than most entire comedies. The film made accidental pregnancy funny without making it trivial. Apatow's empire peaked here.
Napoleon Dynamite(2004)
Directed by Jared Hess — Jon Heder, Efren Ramirez, Jon Gries
$46.1M worldwide
Napoleon Dynamite made $46 million on a $400K budget — one of the most profitable films in history. It created a cultural phenomenon from pure weirdness. The dance scene is iconic. 'Vote for Pedro' became a real T-shirt empire. The film proved that outsider comedy could conquer the mainstream without compromising.
Elf(2003)
Directed by Jon Favreau — Will Ferrell, James Caan, Zooey Deschanel
$220.4M worldwide
Elf is the greatest Christmas comedy since A Christmas Story. Will Ferrell's Buddy is one of the most beloved characters of the century. The film grossed $220 million and became an annual tradition for millions. It proved that unironic joy is the most powerful force in comedy. 'Santa! I know him!'
The Nice Guys(2016)
Directed by Shane Black — Ryan Gosling, Russell Crowe, Angourie Rice
$62.8M worldwide
The Nice Guys proved Ryan Gosling is one of the great physical comedians of his generation. Shane Black's screenplay is the sharpest of the decade. The 70s noir atmosphere is impeccable. It flopped theatrically because the world does not deserve nice things, but its cult grows annually.
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang(2005)
Directed by Shane Black — Robert Downey Jr., Val Kilmer, Michelle Monaghan
$15.8M worldwide
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang resurrected Robert Downey Jr. and led directly to Iron Man. Val Kilmer's Gay Perry is the coolest character in 2000s comedy. Shane Black's meta-noir dialogue is unmatched. The film flopped and then changed Hollywood forever. Comedy's butterfly effect at its finest.
Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story(2004)
Directed by Rawson Marshall Thurber — Vince Vaughn, Ben Stiller, Christine Taylor
$168.4M worldwide
Dodgeball made $168 million by being proudly, aggressively stupid in the smartest possible way. Ben Stiller's White Goodman is the best comedy villain of the decade. 'The Ocho' became a real ESPN event. Patches O'Houlihan entered the lexicon. The film proved that sports parody could be a blockbuster.
Old School(2003)
Directed by Todd Phillips — Luke Wilson, Vince Vaughn, Will Ferrell
$87.1M worldwide
Old School launched Will Ferrell's film career and defined the Frat Pack era. Frank the Tank is the spirit animal of every man who peaked in college. The streaking scene is immortal. Todd Phillips found the formula he would perfect with The Hangover. 'You're my boy, Blue!' Still hits.
Wedding Crashers(2005)
Directed by David Dobkin — Owen Wilson, Vince Vaughn, Rachel McAdams
$285.2M worldwide
Wedding Crashers grossed $285 million and defined the mid-2000s comedy boom. Wilson and Vaughn's chemistry is peak Frat Pack. Isla Fisher's breakout performance is fearless. Will Ferrell's funeral crasher cameo is legendary. The film proved that charisma plus R-rated humor equals box-office gold.
Pineapple Express(2008)
Directed by David Gordon Green — Seth Rogen, James Franco, Danny McBride
$101.6M worldwide
Pineapple Express merged stoner comedy with genuine action filmmaking and created a new genre. James Franco's Saul Silver is the most lovable drug dealer in cinema. The apartment fight is a masterpiece of comic violence. Danny McBride's unkillable Red became an instant icon. Peak Rogen-era comedy.
The Royal Tenenbaums(2001)
Directed by Wes Anderson — Gene Hackman, Anjelica Huston, Ben Stiller
$71.4M worldwide
The Royal Tenenbaums defined Wes Anderson's visual language and proved it could carry an Oscar-nominated screenplay. Gene Hackman's Royal is the most charming terrible father in cinema. The film made dysfunction funny and depression beautiful. Anderson's most emotionally devastating film is also his funniest.
Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby(2006)
Directed by Adam McKay — Will Ferrell, John C. Reilly, Sacha Baron Cohen
$163M worldwide
Talladega Nights perfected the Ferrell-McKay formula. The Baby Jesus prayer scene is the most quoted comedy scene of 2006. Sacha Baron Cohen's Girard is a scene-stealing masterclass. John C. Reilly became a comedy star. The film grossed $163 million and made NASCAR funny to people who had never watched a race.
Rushmore(1998)
Directed by Wes Anderson — Jason Schwartzman, Bill Murray, Olivia Williams
$17.1M worldwide
Rushmore invented the Wes Anderson cinematic universe. Bill Murray's career reinvention started here. Jason Schwartzman's Max Fischer is the most ambitious loser in cinema. The film proved that indie comedy could be both stylistically radical and emotionally genuine. Everything Anderson built stands on this foundation.
Idiocracy(2006)
Directed by Mike Judge — Luke Wilson, Maya Rudolph, Dax Shepard
$0.5M worldwide
Idiocracy was sabotaged by its own studio and became the most referenced comedy of the political era. Mike Judge predicted everything. The film's cult status grows every election cycle. 'Brawndo — it's got electrolytes' is the most prescient joke in comedy history.
Fight Club(1999)
Directed by David Fincher — Brad Pitt, Edward Norton, Helena Bonham Carter
$101.2M worldwide
Fight Club is the darkest comedy on this list and the most culturally influential film of 1999 after The Matrix. The twist redefined cinematic unreliable narration. Pitt and Norton are perfectly matched. The soap monologue is the funniest anti-capitalist speech ever delivered. First rule: it belongs on every comedy list.
School of Rock(2003)
Directed by Richard Linklater — Jack Black, Joan Cusack, Mike White
$131.3M worldwide
School of Rock is Jack Black's magnum opus. The kids genuinely play their instruments. Linklater brought legitimacy to what could have been a disposable comedy. 'One great rock show can change the world' is the film's thesis and it is correct. $131 million worldwide on pure joy.
Ace Ventura: Pet Detective(1994)
Directed by Tom Shadyac — Jim Carrey, Courteney Cox, Sean Young
$107.2M worldwide
Ace Ventura launched Jim Carrey's film career and redefined physical comedy for the 1990s. The rhino scene alone justifies the film's existence. Carrey proved that a comedian's body could generate more laughs than any script. 'Alllrighty then' entered permanent cultural circulation.
The Mask(1994)
Directed by Chuck Russell — Jim Carrey, Cameron Diaz, Peter Riegert
$351.6M worldwide
The Mask made $351 million and proved Jim Carrey was the biggest comedy star on Earth. The CGI-enhanced physical comedy was unlike anything audiences had seen. Cameron Diaz became a star overnight. 'Somebody stop me!' is the most accurate catchphrase in comedy history.
Liar Liar(1997)
Directed by Tom Shadyac — Jim Carrey, Maura Tierney, Justin Cooper
$302.7M worldwide
Liar Liar is the highest-grossing Jim Carrey comedy that is not a franchise sequel. The concept perfectly exploits Carrey's physical gifts. The courtroom scenes are improvisation masterclasses. It proved that high-concept comedy could dominate the global box office.
Mrs. Doubtfire(1993)
Directed by Chris Columbus — Robin Williams, Sally Field, Pierce Brosnan
$441.3M worldwide
Mrs. Doubtfire grossed $441 million and became Robin Williams' biggest hit. The makeup transformation is legendary. Williams' improvisation produced enough material for three films. The pool party reveal is one of the great comedy set pieces. The film made every 90s kid believe their dad might be their nanny.
Happy Gilmore(1996)
Directed by Dennis Dugan — Adam Sandler, Christopher McDonald, Julie Bowen
$41.2M worldwide
Happy Gilmore is peak Sandler — the film where his comedy persona crystallized into something that grossed $41 million and spawned a 30-year career. Shooter McGavin is the GOAT comedy villain. The Bob Barker fight is immortal. 'The price is wrong, bitch' is the greatest improvised line in sports comedy.
Waiting for Guffman(1996)
Directed by Christopher Guest — Christopher Guest, Eugene Levy, Catherine O'Hara
$2.9M worldwide
Waiting for Guffman invented the Guest mockumentary formula and remains the definitive satire of community theater. Corky St. Clair is one of cinema's great comic creations. The improvised performances feel so real they are almost uncomfortable. It launched a dynasty: Best in Show, A Mighty Wind, For Your Consideration.
A Mighty Wind(2003)
Directed by Christopher Guest — Eugene Levy, Catherine O'Hara, Christopher Guest
$18.2M worldwide
A Mighty Wind proved that mockumentary could produce real emotion. The songs are genuinely beautiful. Eugene Levy and Catherine O'Hara's chemistry is one of cinema's great love stories. 'A Kiss at the End of the Rainbow' was nominated for an Oscar and deserved to win. Guest's most mature film.
Zoolander(2001)
Directed by Ben Stiller — Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson, Will Ferrell
$60.8M worldwide
Zoolander proved that stupidity, executed with total commitment, is a valid art form. Blue Steel transcended the film. 'But why male models?' is the best accidental joke in comedy. The fashion industry satire has aged beautifully. Mugatu is Will Ferrell's most underrated villain.
Team America: World Police(2004)
Directed by Trey Parker — Trey Parker, Matt Stone, Kristen Miller
$50.8M worldwide
Team America attacked every sacred cow simultaneously and made $50 million doing it. The puppet medium allowed jokes no live-action film could attempt. 'America, F*** Yeah' is the most subversive anthem ever written. Parker and Stone proved that South Park's fearlessness could translate to cinema.
South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut(1999)
Directed by Trey Parker — Trey Parker, Matt Stone, Mary Kay Bergman
$83.1M worldwide
South Park the movie is a legitimate great musical with an Oscar-nominated song. 399 profanities, each one purposeful. The censorship satire is more relevant now than in 1999. Parker's songwriting rivals Sondheim for structural cleverness. It made $83 million and proved animation could be R-rated and profitable.
Burn After Reading(2008)
Directed by Joel Coen, Ethan Coen — George Clooney, Frances McDormand, Brad Pitt
$163.7M worldwide
Burn After Reading is the Coens doing spy comedy with an all-star cast of idiots. Brad Pitt's death scene is the biggest shock-laugh of the 2000s. The CIA framing device is the funniest commentary on intelligence agencies ever filmed. Proof that star power plus Coen nihilism equals $163 million.
Game Night(2018)
Directed by John Francis Daley, Jonathan Goldstein — Jason Bateman, Rachel McAdams, Kyle Chandler
$117.5M worldwide
Game Night proved that original studio comedy was not dead. The tilt-shift cinematography is genius. Jesse Plemons' Gary is the funniest supporting character of the decade. Rachel McAdams confirmed she can do anything. The film made $117 million on pure quality, no franchise required.
Jojo Rabbit(2019)
Directed by Taika Waititi — Roman Griffin Davis, Thomasin McKenzie, Taika Waititi
$90.3M worldwide
Jojo Rabbit turned the Third Reich into a comedy and won the Adapted Screenplay Oscar. Waititi playing Hitler is the boldest casting choice of the decade. The tonal shifts from slapstick to devastating are masterful. The shoe scene will destroy you. Anti-hate satire at its most effective.
The Death of Stalin(2017)
Directed by Armando Iannucci — Steve Buscemi, Simon Russell Beale, Jason Isaacs
$24.2M worldwide
The Death of Stalin is the sharpest political satire of the 2010s. Iannucci proved that totalitarian power struggles are just office politics with execution lists. Jason Isaacs' Zhukov entrance is the most charismatic 30 seconds in any comedy this decade. Banned in Russia, which is the best review possible.
Four Lions(2010)
Directed by Chris Morris — Riz Ahmed, Kayvan Novak, Nigel Lindsay
$8.6M worldwide
Four Lions made terrorism funny without trivializing it — the most difficult tonal achievement in modern comedy. Chris Morris proved that nothing is too dark for satire if the humanity is genuine. Riz Ahmed's star-making turn. The film was so controversial that multiple distributors refused to touch it.
The Dictator(2012)
Directed by Larry Charles — Sacha Baron Cohen, Anna Faris, Ben Kingsley
$179.4M worldwide
The Dictator made $179 million and proved Baron Cohen could do scripted comedy at scale. The democracy speech alone earns its place. The character of Aladeen is Baron Cohen's most quotable creation after Borat. The Oscars red carpet stunt — dumping 'ashes' on Ryan Seacrest — was performance art.
Bruno(2009)
Directed by Larry Charles — Sacha Baron Cohen, Gustaf Hammarsten, Clifford Bañagale
$138.8M worldwide
Bruno pushed hidden-camera comedy to its physical limits. Baron Cohen risked his life for laughs — that is either insanity or art, and in his case it is both. The film made $138 million despite being genuinely dangerous to make. The Ron Paul interview is the most uncomfortable five minutes in cinema.
The World's End(2013)
Directed by Edgar Wright — Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Paddy Considine
$46M worldwide
The World's End is the most emotionally mature entry in the Cornetto Trilogy. Pegg's Gary King is a genuine character study wrapped in alien invasion comedy. Wright's action choreography peaks here. The ending is the boldest in any comedy of the decade. A perfect trilogy capper.
This Is the End(2013)
Directed by Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg — Seth Rogen, James Franco, Jonah Hill
$126.1M worldwide
This Is the End weaponized celebrity against itself. Every actor playing a terrible version of themselves is comedy gold. Danny McBride's antagonism is the best villain turn of the year. The Backstreet Boys ending is the most joyful apocalypse ever. $126 million from pure audacity.
The Interview(2014)
Directed by Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg — Seth Rogen, James Franco, Randall Park
$12.3M worldwide
The Interview became a geopolitical crisis. North Korea hacked Sony. Theaters pulled the film. Obama weighed in. It became the first major digital-first release by a major studio. The comedy is good; the saga around it is legendary. The most consequential comedy since Chaplin's The Great Dictator.
Lost in Translation(2003)
Directed by Sofia Coppola — Bill Murray, Scarlett Johansson, Giovanni Ribisi
$44.6M worldwide
Lost in Translation is Bill Murray's finest dramatic-comedy performance. Coppola's Oscar-winning screenplay captures the humor of displacement perfectly. The whispered ending is the most debated final moment in modern cinema. The film proved that comedy does not need to be loud to be unforgettable.
Stripes(1981)
Directed by Ivan Reitman — Bill Murray, Harold Ramis, Warren Oates
$85.3M worldwide
Stripes launched Bill Murray's film career and defined the military comedy genre. The 'That's the fact, Jack' speech is Murray's first great movie moment. Harold Ramis as his straight-man partner-in-crime set the template for their Ghostbusters chemistry. $85 million in 1981 was enormous.
What About Bob?(1991)
Directed by Frank Oz — Bill Murray, Richard Dreyfuss, Julie Hagerty
$63.7M worldwide
What About Bob? is the definitive Murray-as-annoying-genius performance. The Murray-Dreyfuss feud produced real on-screen tension. 'Baby steps' entered the therapeutic lexicon. The film is a masterclass in escalation comedy — every scene pushes Dreyfuss one step closer to madness.
Billy Madison(1995)
Directed by Tamra Davis — Adam Sandler, Darren McGavin, Bridgette Wilson
$26.4M worldwide
Billy Madison created the Sandler formula that grossed billions over three decades. It is not a good film — it is something better: a film that an entire generation has memorized. 'Stop looking at me, swan' is in the DNA of 90s comedy kids. The first stone in the Sandler empire.
The Waterboy(1998)
Directed by Frank Coraci — Adam Sandler, Kathy Bates, Henry Winkler
$185.9M worldwide
The Waterboy grossed $185 million and proved that Sandler was the most bankable comedy star on Earth. Kathy Bates elevated the entire film. The football scenes have more energy than most actual sports films. 'Mama says' entered permanent cultural rotation. Peak 90s Sandler dominance.
Big Daddy(1999)
Directed by Dennis Dugan — Adam Sandler, Cole Sprouse, Dylan Sprouse
$234.8M worldwide
Big Daddy grossed $234 million and proved Sandler could blend his man-child persona with genuine sentiment. The Sprouse twins became child stars. The film's central thesis — that growing up is not about age but responsibility — lands harder than it has any right to. Sandler's most complete early performance.
Grown Ups(2010)
Directed by Dennis Dugan — Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Chris Rock
$271.4M worldwide
Grown Ups grossed $271 million by proving that audiences will pay to watch friends have fun. No plot required. The Sandler friend group has a chemistry that cannot be manufactured. Critics gave it 10% on Rotten Tomatoes and audiences gave it $271 million. Audiences won.
The Breakfast Club(1985)
Directed by John Hughes — Emilio Estevez, Molly Ringwald, Judd Nelson
$51.5M worldwide
The Breakfast Club defined the teen comedy genre and proved that a film set in one room with five teenagers talking could gross $51 million. Hughes understood adolescence better than any filmmaker before or since. 'Don't you forget about me' — the audience never did.
Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls(1995)
Directed by Steve Oedekerk — Jim Carrey, Ian McNeice, Simon Callow
$212.4M worldwide
When Nature Calls grossed $212 million worldwide and proved the Ace Ventura franchise was a global phenomenon. Carrey's physical comedy reaches its most extreme here. The 'Shikaka' gag is relentless genius. The rhino birth is somehow even better the second time. Peak mid-90s Carrey mania.
Monty Python's The Meaning of Life(1983)
Directed by Terry Jones, Terry Gilliam — Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam
$14.9M worldwide
The Meaning of Life contains Python's highest highs: 'Every Sperm Is Sacred' and Mr. Creosote are all-time comedy sequences. It won the Grand Prix at Cannes. The fish opening is Terry Gilliam's masterpiece within a masterpiece. Python's most ambitious film, even if not their most consistent.
Swingers(1996)
Directed by Doug Liman — Jon Favreau, Vince Vaughn, Heather Graham
$4.5M worldwide
Swingers launched Favreau and Vaughn's careers on a $250K budget. 'You're so money' entered permanent American slang. The film defined 90s indie cool. Doug Liman's guerrilla filmmaking proved that comedy does not need a budget — it needs dialogue and charisma.
Galaxy Quest(1999)
Directed by Dean Parisot — Tim Allen, Sigourney Weaver, Alan Rickman
$90.7M worldwide
Galaxy Quest is the perfect genre parody because it loves what it parodies. Alan Rickman is extraordinary. Sigourney Weaver's meta-commentary on the 'useless female role' is brilliant. Star Trek fans voted it the seventh-best Trek film. It is a comedy, a sci-fi film, and a love letter, all at once.
Clerks(1994)
Directed by Kevin Smith — Brian O'Halloran, Jeff Anderson, Marilyn Ghigliotti
$3.2M worldwide
Clerks proved that comedy could be made for $27,575 and change the industry. Kevin Smith's dialogue-driven style influenced a generation. The View Askewniverse franchise spans a decade. 'I'm not even supposed to be here today' is the universal service-worker anthem.
There's Something About Mary(1998)
Directed by Peter Farrelly, Bobby Farrelly — Cameron Diaz, Ben Stiller, Matt Dillon
$369.9M worldwide
There's Something About Mary redefined gross-out comedy and grossed $369 million. The hair gel scene is the most talked-about comedy moment of the 1990s. The Farrelly Brothers peaked here. Cameron Diaz became the biggest comedy actress on Earth. The film proved that audiences have no limit for embarrassment comedy.
Forgetting Sarah Marshall(2008)
Directed by Nicholas Stoller — Jason Segel, Kristen Bell, Mila Kunis
$105.2M worldwide
Forgetting Sarah Marshall is the best rom-com of the 2000s. Segel's nude crying scene is comedy courage personified. Russell Brand's Aldous Snow became a franchise character. The Dracula puppet musical is the weirdest subplot that works. Apatow's empire at its most emotionally mature.
Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery(1997)
Directed by Jay Roach — Mike Myers, Elizabeth Hurley, Michael York
$67.7M worldwide
Austin Powers revived the spy parody and created two iconic characters in one film. Dr. Evil became more famous than Austin himself. 'Yeah, baby!' and 'one million dollars' entered permanent rotation. The franchise grossed nearly a billion dollars total. Myers' most commercially successful creation.
Wayne's World(1992)
Directed by Penelope Spheeris — Mike Myers, Dana Carvey, Rob Lowe
$183.1M worldwide
Wayne's World grossed $183 million and proved SNL could produce blockbusters. The Bohemian Rhapsody scene re-charted Queen's song 16 years after release. The meta-humor predated Deadpool by two decades. Myers and Carvey's chemistry is effortless. 'Schwing!' became a national catchphrase.
Horrible Bosses(2011)
Directed by Seth Gordon — Jason Bateman, Charlie Day, Jason Sudeikis
$209.6M worldwide
Horrible Bosses made workplace revenge comedy a $209 million genre. The three leads have chemistry that cannot be manufactured. Jennifer Aniston's against-type villainess is a revelation. Colin Farrell's combover is Oscar-worthy. Jamie Foxx steals scenes with a character name you cannot print.
Planes, Trains and Automobiles(1987)
Directed by John Hughes — Steve Martin, John Candy, Laila Robins
$49.5M worldwide
Planes, Trains and Automobiles is Martin and Candy's masterpiece. The rental car f-bomb scene is the greatest comic rant ever filmed. The final twist redefines everything that came before. Hughes proved he could write adults as well as teenagers. The definitive Thanksgiving comedy — nothing else comes close.
The Jerk(1979)
Directed by Carl Reiner — Steve Martin, Bernadette Peters, Catlin Adams
$100.3M worldwide
The Jerk made Steve Martin a movie star and grossed $100 million in 1979. The phone book scene is the funniest celebration of nothing in cinema. Martin proved that a comedy built entirely on one man's obliviousness could sustain a feature. Carl Reiner directed with perfect restraint. 'I was born a poor black child.'
Beetlejuice(1988)
Directed by Tim Burton — Michael Keaton, Geena Davis, Alec Baldwin
$74.2M worldwide
Beetlejuice made Tim Burton a household name and proved Michael Keaton could carry a film in 17 minutes. The Day-O scene is the most joyful haunting in cinema. Burton's gothic-comedy aesthetic crystallized here. The film launched a cartoon, a Broadway musical, and a legacy sequel. Say his name three times.
My Cousin Vinny(1992)
Directed by Jonathan Lynn — Joe Pesci, Marisa Tomei, Ralph Macchio
$64.7M worldwide
My Cousin Vinny is used in law schools to teach courtroom procedure — it is that accurate. Marisa Tomei's Oscar is one of the most deserved in comedy history. Joe Pesci's fish-out-of-water Brooklynite is the perfect comedy engine. The tire-mark testimony is the best courtroom scene in any comedy.
The Birdcage(1996)
Directed by Mike Nichols — Robin Williams, Nathan Lane, Gene Hackman
$185.3M worldwide
The Birdcage grossed $185 million by making America root for a gay couple in 1996 — a cultural achievement as significant as its comedy. Nathan Lane's performance is a masterclass. Robin Williams plays the straight man (literally) with discipline. Hank Azaria's Agador is the funniest housekeeper in cinema. Gene Hackman in a wig is the film's final, perfect punchline.
Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues(2013)
Directed by Adam McKay — Will Ferrell, Steve Carell, Paul Rudd
$173.6M worldwide
Anchorman 2 justified its existence by satirizing cable news instead of repeating local news jokes. The news battle is the most star-studded comedy scene ever filmed. Brick's love story with Kristen Wiig is unexpectedly touching. $173 million proved the Burgundy brand was bulletproof.
Booksmart(2019)
Directed by Olivia Wilde — Beanie Feldstein, Kaitlyn Dever, Billie Lourd
$25.5M worldwide
Booksmart is the most critically acclaimed teen comedy since Superbad. Wilde's direction is confident and stylish. Feldstein and Dever are a generational comedy duo. The film treats every character — including the 'cool kids' — as a full human. It flopped theatrically and became a streaming classic. Justice will come.
The Other Guys(2010)
Directed by Adam McKay — Will Ferrell, Mark Wahlberg, Eva Mendes
$170.4M worldwide
The Other Guys paired Ferrell and Wahlberg with perfect opposites-attract chemistry. The Rock and Samuel L. Jackson's early exit is the boldest comedy fake-out of the decade. McKay smuggled Wall Street criticism into a Will Ferrell comedy. $170 million for a cop comedy with no franchise behind it.
Galaxy Quest(1999)
Directed by Dean Parisot — Tim Allen, Sigourney Weaver, Alan Rickman
$90.7M worldwide
Galaxy Quest is the perfect genre parody because it loves what it parodies. Alan Rickman is extraordinary. Sigourney Weaver's meta-commentary on the 'useless female role' is brilliant. Star Trek fans voted it the seventh-best Trek film. It is a comedy, a sci-fi film, and a love letter, all at once.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the funniest movie of all time?
Airplane! (1980) is widely considered the funniest movie ever made. The Zucker brothers and Jim Abrahams achieved the highest joke-per-minute ratio in film history — roughly three gags per minute for 88 straight minutes. Leslie Nielsen's deadpan delivery ('I am serious, and don't call me Shirley') reinvented comedy and launched an entirely new genre of spoof films.
What makes a comedy 'great' versus just 'funny'?
The greatest comedies are not just funny — they are rewatchable, quotable, and culturally influential. Films like The Big Lebowski and Office Space were box office disappointments that became cultural institutions. Groundhog Day is studied by philosophers and theologians. The best comedies reveal something true about the human condition while making you laugh.
Why are so many comedies from the 1970s and 1980s ranked highly?
The 1970s and 1980s were a golden age for comedy filmmaking. Mel Brooks, the Monty Python troupe, the Zucker brothers, John Hughes, and early Eddie Murphy and Bill Murray were all working at their creative peaks. Comedy was less restricted by franchise obligations and more willing to take creative risks. Many of these films could not be made today, which paradoxically increases their cultural value.
Are there any recent comedies on the list?
Superbad (2007), Bridesmaids (2011), Step Brothers (2008), The Hangover (2009), Borat (2006), and Shaun of the Dead (2004) all represent 21st-century comedy at its best. The Judd Apatow era proved that R-rated comedy could combine raunchy humor with genuine emotional depth, while Edgar Wright and Sacha Baron Cohen pushed the boundaries of what comedy could structurally achieve.
What is the most quotable comedy of all time?
The Big Lebowski, Anchorman, and Monty Python and the Holy Grail are the three most quotable comedies ever made. The Dude's 'That's just, like, your opinion, man,' Ron Burgundy's 'I'm kind of a big deal,' and the Black Knight's 'Tis but a scratch' have all entered everyday language. Step Brothers and Mean Girls are close runners-up.
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