Laughter is the best medicine, and comedy films provide the perfect prescription. From screwball antics to satirical wit, the best comedy movies not only entertain us, but provide much-needed catharsis and insightful social commentary. Let’s countdown the 20 funniest films ever made that continue sparking joy and laughter for generations.
Top 20 Best Comedy Movies
Before going into details of each movie separately, we have compiled a list of all the top 20 Best Comedy Movies in the following table. You can jump to any song details by clicking its name from the following table.
| Sr. No. | Movie Name (Year) | IMDb Rating |
| 1 | 7.3 | |
| 2 | 8.2 | |
| 3 | 7.6 | |
| 4 | 7.8 | |
| 5 | 7.1 | |
| 6 | 7.7 | |
| 7 | 7.1 | |
| 8 | 7.8 | |
| 9 | 7.2 | |
| 10 | 7.4 | |
| 11 | 7.7 | |
| 12 | 8.1 | |
| 13 | 7.1 | |
| 14 | 7.8 | |
| 15 | 7.6 | |
| 16 | 6.9 | |
| 17 | 7.9 | |
| 18 | 7.7 | |
| 19 | 7.1 | |
| 20 | 6.9 |
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1 - Dumb and Dumber (1994)
- Lead actors: Jim Carrey (Lloyd), Jeff Daniels (Harry)
- Director: Peter Farrelly, Bobby Farrelly
- Release date: December 16, 1994
- Runtime: 107 minutes
- IMDb Rating: 7.3
- Revenue: $247.3 million
- Language: English
After a woman leaves a briefcase at the airport terminal, two dimwitted friends set out on a hilarious cross-country road trip to return it. Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels have perfect comedic chemistry as the idiot duo Lloyd and Harry, bringing physical slapstick and absurd laughs galore. Gags like petting a snarling dog and messy bathroom mishaps push boundaries of good taste, but remain hilarious.
Dumb and Dumber embodies lowbrow comedy at its most ridiculous. But underneath the poop jokes and silliness lies an endearing friendship. With its wacky hijinks and sheer stupidity, Dumb and Dumber set a new benchmark for modern slob comedies.
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2 - Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975)
- Lead actors: Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Eric Idle, Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones, Michael Palin
- Directors: Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones
- Release date: May 23, 1975
- Runtime: 91 minutes
- IMDb Rating: 8.2
- Revenue: $5.8 million
- Language: English
This cult favorite from the Monty Python troupe skewers Arthurian legend through a string of bizarre, absurd sketches. As King Arthur quests to find the Holy Grail, he encounters increasingly preposterous people and situations, from castle-launching knights to foul-mouthed peasants. The loose plot strings together classic Python scenes like the Black Knight duel, Constitutional Peasant, and Knights Who Say "Ni!".
There are no rules as the jokes veer from slapstick to highbrow with irreverent flair. Made on a shoestring budget, Holy Grail demonstrated that heavyweight comedy doesn't require lavish production. The anarchic parody of historical epics remains Python's funniest work, influencing comedy for generations.
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3 - Office Space (1999)
- Lead actor: Ron Livingston (Peter Gibbons)
- Director: Mike Judge
- Release date: February 19, 1999
- Runtime: 89 minutes
- IMDb Rating: 7.6
- Revenue: $10.8 million
- Language: English
This workplace satire follows disgruntled software engineer Peter Gibbons, who undergoes hypnosis and enters a blissful state where he becomes free of any work obligations. Director Mike Judge skewers corporate culture with wicked accuracy, tapping into the cubicle drone's deepest fantasies of rebelling against dreaded TPS reports.
Ron Livingston is perfect as the slacker hero who gets promoted despite doing nothing while more hardworking employees get laid off. Besides skewering office politics, the film nails the desperation of clinging to a hated job you can't quit. Its cult following reveals how Office Space slyly speaks to the oppressed desk jockey in all of us.
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4 - Ghostbusters (1984)
- Lead actors: Bill Murray (Peter Venkman), Dan Aykroyd (Ray Stantz), Harold Ramis (Egon Spengler)
- Director: Ivan Reitman
- Release date: June 8, 1984
- Runtime: 105 minutes
- IMDb Rating: 7.8
- Revenue: $295.2 million
- Language: English
Three parapsychologists start a ghost-catching business in New York City in this horror comedy classic. Bill Murray's deadpan sarcasm sets the tone as cynical Peter Venkman, paired with the earnest nerdiness of Harold Ramis and Dan Aykroyd. The stellar cast improv chemistry hooks viewers from the hilarious opening library scene onwards.
Director Ivan Reitman smartly balances creepy mood with cartoonish humor and blockbuster spectacle as the team battles an invading spirit army. Clever effects still hold up decades later. While thoroughly satirizing the supernatural, Ghostbusters never loses sight of relatable characters. Its winning mix of laughs, thrills and genre satire make it a reliable crowd-pleaser.
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5 - Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
- Lead actor: Will Ferrell (Ron Burgundy)
- Director: Adam McKay
- Release date: July 9, 2004
- Runtime: 94 minutes
- IMDb Rating: 7.1
- Revenue: $90.6 million
- Language: English
Will Ferrell dons the pompadour wig as arrogant newscaster Ron Burgundy in 1970s San Diego. When ambitious reporter Veronica Corningstone (Christina Applegate) joins the news team, chauvinistic Ron is thrown off his game. McKay's absurdist style places flawed man-child Ron in over-the-top scenarios, gleefully skewering sexism along with the sensationalist nature of local TV news.
The random humor culminates in an epic street brawl between rival news crews. Ferrell's committed performance sells the outrageous gags. But Ron's famed jazz flute solo reveals Ferrell's secret musical genius. Made on a modest budget, Anchorman proved that belly laughs need strong characters over spectacle.
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6 - The Hangover (2009)
- Lead actors: Bradley Cooper (Phil), Ed Helms (Stu), Zach Galifianakis (Alan)
- Director: Todd Phillips
- Release date: June 5, 2009
- Runtime: 100 minutes
- IMDb Rating: 7.7
- Revenue: $467.5 million
- Language: English
Three groomsmen awake in Las Vegas with no memory of the wild bachelor party night before. With the groom missing, they frantically try retracing their steps. Director Todd Phillips elevates the crude premise with smart plotting Rewarding mystery unfolds as the friends' debaucherous night is slowly revealed via clues.
Zach Galifianakis' socially oblivious Alan delivers big laughs, playing brilliantly off Ed Helms' uptight Stu. The Hangover hit comedy paydirt thanks to razor-sharp writing and performances. By grounding absurdity in affable characters, Phillips and the cast made this R-rated comedy accessible for broad audiences seeking laugh-out-loud humor with a tinge of heart.
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7 - The Jerk (1979)
- Lead actor: Steve Martin (Navin Johnson)
- Director: Carl Reiner
- Release date: December 14, 1979
- Runtime: 94 minutes
- IMDb Rating: 7.1
- Revenue: $73.7 million
- Language: English
Steve Martin's comedic brilliance broke through playing the idiot man-child adopted by a poor black family in this rags-to-riches farce. As naive Navin Johnson strikes it rich after inventing the "Opti-Grab" eyewear handle, we revel in laughing at his foolish innocence. Martin epitomizes the lovable fool oblivious to his own absurdity.
Director Carl Reiner gives free reign to Martin's hilarious physical comedy and one-liners that mix highbrow and lowbrow humor. Underneath lies a satirical skewering of hollow materialism that resonates. But the true impact came from unleashing Martin's anarchic genius to a wide audience in his first starring role. The Jerk remains hysterical affirmation that a little idiocy goes a long way for great comedy.
8 - Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986)
- Lead actor: Matthew Broderick (Ferris Bueller)
- Director: John Hughes
- Release date: June 11, 1986
- Runtime: 103 minutes
- IMDb Rating: 7.8
- Revenue: $70.1 million
- Language: English
Matthew Broderick stars as the eponymous high schooler who skips school for a wild day of Chicago fun with his girlfriend and best friend. John Hughes' generation-defining teen comedy endures thanks to Bueller's ingenious ploys thumbing his nose at scolding authority figures. Broderick's infectious charm sells the performance. Underneath the hijinks lies a smart satire about seizing youth, bending rules and living freely before adulthood crushes your spirit.
Both rebellious and bittersweet, Ferris Bueller captured the teen experience like no film before. Hughes knew how to balance juvenile fun with insightful perspectives on growing up. Ferris' witty monologues directly channeling the audience makes us happily complicit in his liberation schemes.
9 - Caddyshack (1980)
- Lead actors: Chevy Chase (Ty Webb), Rodney Dangerfield (Al Czervik), Bill Murray (Carl Spackler)
- Director: Harold Ramis
- Release date: July 25, 1980
- Runtime: 98 minutes
- IMDb Rating: 7.2
- Revenue: $40.7 million
- Language: English
This golf comedy assembles comedy titans Chevy Chase, Rodney Dangerfield and Bill Murray as eccentrics ruining swanky Bushwood Country Club. Snobs vs. slobs tropes abound as Dangerfield's crass nouveau riche member clashes with Ted Knight's arch-conservative judge. Murray's deranged groundskeeper hunts a destructive gopher in twisted side plots.
Director Harold Ramis ultimately strings together a shambolic sports comedy skewering classism via insane characters running amok on the links. One-liners, slapstick and raunchy humor flow freely. While ordered around golf, the story matters less than letting comedy greats improvise. Caddyshack's masterful mess of idiocy and irreverence makes it endlessly quotable for comedy fans.
10 - National Lampoon's Animal House (1978)
- Lead actor: John Belushi (John "Bluto" Blutarsky)
- Director: John Landis
- Release date: July 28, 1978
- Runtime: 109 minutes
- IMDb Rating: 7.4
- Revenue: $141.6 million
- Language: English
The hard-partying frat house Delta Tau Chi rebels against authority at 1962 Faber College in this raunchy smash hit. Rotund troublemaker Bluto (John Belushi) excels at outrageous stunts like starting food fights and spying on undressing coeds. Director John Landis indulges every crude, juvenile gag imaginable.
Plots involving the frat's rivalry with preppy Omega house or Bluto's crush on a professor's wife are mere background for non-stop reckless behavior. Belushi's iconic reckless persona made him a star. But the film's critique of elitism resonates beyond sheer anarchy. Animal House's rule-breaking spirit redefined hilarity and the studio comedy playbook for decades.
11 - Blazing Saddles (1974)
- Lead actors: Cleavon Little (Sheriff Bart), Gene Wilder (Jim)
- Director: Mel Brooks
- Release date: February 7, 1974
- Runtime: 93 minutes
- IMDb Rating: 7.7
- Revenue: $119.5 million
- Language: English
Mel Brooks' Western satire leaves no stone unturned in spoofing every trope imaginable. Black sheriff Bart (Cleavon Little) is appointed to govern the racist town of Rock Ridge, assisted by drunk gunman Jim (Gene Wilder). Unafraid of irreverence, Brooks' script tackles prejudice, flatulence, sex jokes and more with anarchic glee. The chaotic meta-humor frequently breaks the fourth wall.
While un-PC by today's standards, Blazing Saddles brazenly confronted touchy subjects through comedy. Cleavon's charisma anchors the insanity, complemented by Wilder's hijinks. Provocative yet feel-good, it remains one of the funniest comedies ever for its sheer fearlessness. Only Mel Brooks could get away with such wild liberties at the time.
12 - The Big Lebowski (1998)
- Lead actor: Jeff Bridges (The Dude)
- Directors: Joel Coen, Ethan Coen
- Release date: March 6, 1998
- Runtime: 117 minutes
- IMDb Rating: 8.1
- Revenue: $46.2 million
- Language: English
The Coen Brothers deliver a stoner comedy classic with Jeff Bridges as laidback slacker Jeffrey "The Dude" Lebowski. After thugs pee on his rug, The Dude seeks restitution - beginning an absurd neo-noir odyssey through league bowling and nihilists. Bridges nails the Dude's amusing apathy superbly opposite John Goodman's manic Vietnam vet Walter. Surreal dream sequences underscore the slacker surrealism, as does the witty dialogue.
Though not appreciated upon release, The Big Lebowski grew a cult following thanks to its peculiar characters and hip sensibilities. The Dude's quest over something as trivial as a rug imbues an ordinary man with modern mythology. Laughing at his ridiculous travails provides the Coens' heady escapism.
13 - Spaceballs (1987)
- Lead actors: Bill Pullman (Lone Starr), John Candy (Barf), Mel Brooks (President Skroob)
- Director: Mel Brooks
- Release date: June 24, 1987
- Runtime: 96 minutes
- IMDb Rating: 7.1
- Revenue: $38.1 million
- Language: English
Mel Brooks spoofed Star Wars in this sci-fi parody adventure about roguish Lone Starr battling the evil Spaceballs. From "Ludicrous Speed" to Dark Helmet, Brooks skewers every sci-fi trope imaginable with loving absurdity. Sight gags and meta humor abound as characters watch their own movie's rerelease. As Lone Starr, Bill Pullman gently parodies the Han Solo type alongside Rick Moranis' twisted take on Darth Vader. While the story drags at times, the steady stream of one-liners and witty references keep the laughs rapid-fire. Three decades later, Spaceballs' zany lampooning of all things sci-fi remains hilarious for film buffs in the know.
14 - Hot Fuzz (2007)
- Lead actors: Simon Pegg (Nicholas Angel), Nick Frost (PC Danny Butterman)
- Director: Edgar Wright
- Release date: February 14, 2007
- Runtime: 121 minutes
- IMDb Rating: 7.8
- Revenue: $80.7 million
- Language: English
In this cop action parody, overachieving London sergeant Nicholas Angel is relocated to sleepy village Sandford, where grisly accidents start occurring. Simon Pegg's uptight Officer Angel makes an ideal foil for Nick Frost as his bumbling partner Danny, obsessed with Bad Boys II. Edgar Wright packs Hot Fuzz with insane plot twists and explosive set pieces satirizing Michael Bay's bombast.
But the British banter between Pegg and Frost provides heart. Hot Fuzz mocks blockbuster cliches while remaining an ingenious genre exercise itself. Clever writing offers surprises that build on early jokes. Ansel Elgort's cameo underscores the precise absurdity. By finding humanity amid spoof, Wright crafts a wildly entertaining comedy epic.
15 - Planes, Trains & Automobiles (1987)
- Lead actors: Steve Martin (Neal Page), John Candy (Del Griffith)
- Director: John Hughes
- Release date: November 25, 1987
- Runtime: 93 minutes
- IMDb Rating: 7.6
- Revenue: $49.5 million
- Language: English
In John Hughes' beloved holiday comedy, a mismatched duo endures calamity trying to get home for Thanksgiving. Uptight executive Neal Page (Martin) clashes with sloppy shower curtain ring salesman Del Griffith (Candy) in a deviation from Hughes' teen fare. The comic chemistry between Martin and Candy fuels slapstick mishaps. But their growing friendship offers surprising emotion.
Candy's warmth beautifully balances Martin's anal-retentive impatience. Outrageous set pieces like the car-bus make this Hughes' funniest and most heartfelt look at family and connection. Rewarding character growth occurs between mishaps. Planes, Trains & Automobiles became that rare uproarious comedy with a satisfying emotional payoff.
16 - Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994)
- Lead actor: Jim Carrey (Ace Ventura)
- Director: Tom Shadyac
- Release date: February 4, 1994
- Runtime: 86 minutes
- IMDb Rating: 6.9
- Revenue: $107.2 million
- Language: English
Jim Carrey's breakout role came as eccentric Miami pet detective Ace Ventura, tasked with finding the Miami Dolphins' kidnapped mascot. Carrey fully embraces physical comedy as the hyperactive, socially oblivious Ace talking out of his butt literally and figuratively. Juvenile yet uproarious gags pile up as Ace uncovers leads in his wacky way.
Director Tom Shadyac wisely steps aside and lets Carrey's rubber-faced antics and kooky voice command the screen. Critics panned it as sophomoric, but for '90s teens, the unfettered slapstick was a riot. Ace Ventura heralded the arrival of Carrey's inspired manic energy that redefined modern film comedy.
17 - Shaun of the Dead (2004)
- Lead actors: Simon Pegg (Shaun), Nick Frost (Ed)
- Director: Edgar Wright
- Release date: April 9, 2004
- Runtime: 99 minutes
- IMDb Rating: 7.9
- Revenue: $30.7 million
- Language: English
Simon Pegg and Nick Frost play aimless friends Shaun and Ed fighting off zombies in suburban London in this horror-comedy hybrid. Director Edgar Wright stylishly parodies zombie tropes while delivering an emotionally grounded bromance. Beyond the gory disemboweling, Shaun's lackadaisical existence receives development alongside wisecracks.
The unlikely heroism required from the slackers adds poignancy. But inspired usage of classic rock songs like Queen's "Don't Stop Me Now" during fight scenes proves most memorable. Equally funny and scary, Shaun of the Dead blew up the horror-comedy into a pop culture force thanks to Wright's whip-smart direction and Pegg and Frost's impeccable chemistry.
18 - Airplane! (1980)
- Lead actors: Robert Hays (Ted Striker), Leslie Nielsen (Dr. Rumack)
- Directors: Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, Jerry Zucker
- Release date: July 2, 1980
- Runtime: 88 minutes
- IMDb Rating: 7.7
- Revenue: $83.4 million
- Language: English
The disaster movie parody that started modern spoof comedy, Airplane! follows traumatized former pilot Ted Striker trying to land a crisis-stricken passenger jet. Directors Zucker, Abrahams and Zucker pack each scene with rapid-fire visual and verbal jokes skewering Hollywood cliches. Leslie Nielsen pioneered his oblivious deadpan as Dr. Rumack, delivering classic lines like "I am serious, and don't call me Shirley."
Hays plays his straight man role memorably as trauma clouds his piloting judgment. Propelled by the joke-a-second script, Airplane! brought irreverent Mad magazine-style humor to the big screen and influenced comedy for decades after. Its relentless wackiness remains hysterical, especially for aviation buffs to catch all the details parodied.
19 - The 40-Year-Old Virgin (2005)
- Lead actor: Steve Carell (Andy Stitzer)
- Director: Judd Apatow
- Release date: August 19, 2005
- Runtime: 116 minutes
- IMDb Rating: 7.1
- Revenue: $177.4 million
- Language: English
Steve Carell stars as the titular virgin Andy, who faces pressure from his friends to lose his virginity. Director Judd Apatow crafts an unexpectedly heartfelt comedy by fleshing out Andy's backstory and hobbies like action figure collecting. Set pieces like the chest waxing scene propel outrageous humor. But the humanization of Andy makes him relatable, while conversations about sex and relationships raise thoughtful questions.
Catherine Keener shines as the woman Andy connects with beyond just losing his virginity. Carell's performance straddled hilarious discomfort and emotional vulnerability. The 40-Year-Old Virgin proved Apatow's skill balancing raunchy jokes with resonant characters, a winning formula he mined further in Knocked Up.
20 - Step Brothers (2008)
- Lead actors: Will Ferrell (Brennan), John C. Reilly (Dale)
- Director: Adam McKay
- Release date: July 25, 2008
- Runtime: 98 minutes
- IMDb Rating: 6.9
- Revenue: $128.1 million
- Language: English
Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly play middle-aged slackers forced to share a bedroom when their single parents marry. Their ensuing rivalry provides fertile ground for infantile regression by Ferrell and Reilly into firing spitballs and bunk bed warfare. Director McKay indulges their wacky improvisation as two men chronologically adult yet emotionally still boys. Plots are minimal as set pieces pile up exhibiting their failure to mature.
Supporting players like Adam Scott and Richard Jenkins ground the idiocy somewhat. Step Brothers proved a fitting cap to Ferrell and Reilly's trilogy of moronic male arrest after Talladega Nights and Anchorman. Their committed buffoonery embracing stupidity makes Step Brothers a go-to for fans seeking ridiculous comfort viewing.
DPM Top Picks
If we are to choose only three comedy classics, our top recommendations are:
- Airplane! - The quintessential disaster movie spoof that mastered rapid-fire jokes and kickstarted the comedy subgenre. Endlessly quotable.
- Blazing Saddles - Mel Brooks' raucous Western satire broke boundaries with its irreverent racial humor and remains one of the funniest films ever made.
- The Big Lebowski - The Coen Brothers delivered an absurdist, endlessly quotable stoner comedy classic with Jeff Bridges' iconic performance as The Dude.
Final Verdict
Laughter spans generations, as evidenced by the diversity of comedy showcased in these 20 landmark films. From satirical intelligence to slapstick buffoonery, each elevates humor into an artform via memorable characters, stories, and performances. Whether poking fun at society's customs or plumbing the depths of human eccentricities, the best comedies reveal deeper universal truths that resonate long after the laughs. Revisiting these masters of the genre allows us to appreciate their lasting impacts on pop culture. Most importantly, they provide a dose of undiluted mirth when we need it most.
FAQs
Q: What is the #1 funniest movie?
There is no definitive "number one" since humor is subjective, but many consider Airplane! or Blazing Saddles among the funniest films.
Q: What is the most liked comedy movie?
Based on audience ratings, some of the most popular comedy movies include Monty Python and the Holy Grail, The Big Lebowski, Shaun of the Dead, and Office Space.
Q: What is the oldest comedy movie?
The oldest comedy film is widely considered to be the short L'Arroseur Arrosé (The Sprinkler Sprinkled) from 1895 by the Lumière brothers. It featured a simple gag of a boy stepping on a gardener's hose.
Q: What movie made comedy popular?
The Marx Brothers comedies of the 1930s contributed greatly to the rise of film comedy. Other key movies that helped popularize comedy include Chaplin films like The Gold Rush, as well as It Happened One Night and Bringing Up Baby in the 1930s.
Q: What 1980s comedy started the modern spoof genre?
Airplane! in 1980 pioneered the modern spoof comedy genre featuring rapid-fire parody jokes and lampooning disaster movies. It started a whole movement of parody films in the 1980s.
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