65 Best Comedy Movies of All Time, Ranked

Stanley Kubrick was one of the greatest craftsmen cinema has seen, so it should come as no surprise that his endeavor into comedy made for the best and most daring film the genre has ever seen. A no-holds-barred skewering of the Cold War released barely a year after the Cuban missile crisis, Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb depicts an unlikely escalation in tensions between America and the Soviet Union. When a U.S. general goes rogue and sends B-52 bombers to attack Russia, politicians, and military men scramble to resolve the situation.

Notably, Peter Sellers played three different parts, including the titular former Nazi scientist with an overly enthusiastic attitude towards nuclear war, resulting in numerous laugh-out-loud moments with such great quotes as "gentlemen, you can't fight in here. This is the war room!". Darkly comedic, cynically ingenious, and glaringly critical of the politicians in power, Dr. Strangelove is not only the greatest comedy of all time but a ceaselessly relevant masterpiece of mankind's self-destructive belligerence.

1974 proved to be a career-defining year for Mel Brooks, and while the filmmaker himself may have viewed Young Frankenstein to be his greatest movie, Blazing Saddles is hard to surpass in terms of sheer comedic prowess. Both a parody and a satirization of Westerns, it takes place in a small town as a corrupt politician appoints a black man as sheriff in a bid to drive the townsfolk away. However, when Sheriff Bart (Cleavon Little) becomes a popular figure, he teams up with a drunken gunslinger to stand against the politician.

A gleeful and daring subversion of Western tropes, Blazing Saddles offered sharp commentary on racism (both past and present) while influencing many of the comedy-Western hybrids that would follow in its path. While its knack for causing offense has probably only become more abrasive over time, Blazing Saddles still has plenty to offer in terms of dumb fun and more contemplative gags, making it a universally admired comedy that has stood the test of time.

"I am serious... and don't call me Shirley." Airplane! is quite possibly the most famous of all the spoof movies of the 70s and 80s, taking aim at the disaster movies that were popular around the same time. Set aboard a flight from L.A. to Chicago, it tracks the few passengers who remain fit as a debilitating case of food poisoning wipes out many of the fliers, including the pilots. Dr. Rumack (Leslie Nielson) sees to the incapacitated, traumatized, and heartbroken ex-fighter pilot Ted Striker (Robert Hays) trying to land the plane.

Absurdist and deadpan while being an undervalued masterclass in visual comedy, Airplane! excels at everything it does, with the three directors utilizing the medium to its fullest potential in their relentless pursuit of gags. Truly a laugh-a-minute film, Airplane! runs for just a mere 87 minutes, but overloads its runtime with an insatiable appetite for new jokes which made it one of the most prolifically funny movies ever made.

One of the most beautiful narratives in cinematic history, City Lights follows Chaplin's little tramp as he falls in love with a blind flower girl and strives to raise enough money for her to get treatment on her eyes. This sees him work a number of odd jobs all while maintaining a turbulent friendship with a depressed millionaire who can only remember him when intoxicated.

Widely regarded as Chaplin's greatest picture, and one of the best silent comedies ever made, City Lights sees Chaplin at his storytelling best, using the film's many great gags to propel its sweet romantic story along. Released in 1931, it served as Chaplin's defiant response to the rise of the talkies, proving that silent movies still had a unique power to move an audience. The film's final scene remains one of the most touching moments in cinematic history.

A medley of Hollywood royalty, Some Like It Hot saw Billy Wilder gather the talents of Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis, and Jack Lemmon for one of the most celebrated comedy films ever made. Curtis and Lemmon feature as two Chicago-based jazz musicians who, after witnessing a gang hit, need to skip town fast before the mob silences them permanently. Their solution sees them dress up as women and join an all-girl band headed to Miami, befriending the sweet starlet Sugar Kane (Monroe) in the process.

All three of the major stars turn in astute performances, bringing Wilder and I. A. L. Diamond's exceptionally witty screenplay to the screen with their electric chemistry and quick-talking dynamism. Its acclaim is universal, with many viewing it among the best comedies of all time and the greatest pictures of the 1950s.

While Charlie Chaplin has come to be viewed as the defining icon of silent cinema, there are many of the opinion that Buster Keaton was the era's truest and greatest star. A stone-faced comic, Keaton was famous for his death-defying stunts, his physical comedy, and his incredible talent for visual storytelling, with all those facets rising to the fore in his iconic masterpiece, The General.

It follows a train engineer who, when rejected by the Confederate army during the Civil War on account of his required skill set, is branded a coward and loses the love of his life. However, when Union spies attempt to steal a train, Johnny (Keaton) gets a chance to prove his valor and win back the woman of his dreams. Mixing masterful visual comedy with some genuine thrills, The General has overcome commercial failure to be heralded as one of the greatest and most important achievements of early cinema. Orson Welles even described it as "perhaps the greatest film ever made."

The first feature film from the comedy troupe Monty Python, Monty Python and the Holy Grail exhibits the group at their creative best, spontaneously flipping from fantastically witty to energetically zany with a comedically genius volatility. The end result is the group's most entertaining work, a riff on the Arthurian legend that follows the knights of the Round Table on their quest to retrieve the holy grail, facing off against a killer rabbit, an animated beast, and a frightfully rude Frenchman in the process.

It delivers everything a Monty Python fan could crave, from the irreverent humor and completely over-the-top characters to the moments of surrealism and, of course, the wonderfully understated dialogue. The film has spawned far too many iconic scenes to list, but some of its most memorable highlights include the dismembered Black Knight, the Bridge of Death (and its bridge-keeper), and the disastrous scheme including the Trojan rabbit.

Quite possibly the greatest parody film ever made, Young Frankenstein is a consistently gut-busting rip on Mary Shelley's novel (and its famous Universal Monsters film adaptations of the 30s and 40s). Having overcome his family's reputation, young Frederick Frankenstein (Gene Wilder) inherits his grandfather's old castle in Transylvania. When he ventures to look at the property, he discovers many old experiments and sets to recreating them, with help from some colorful assistants.

The thing that makes Young Frankenstein truly excel as a parody is the obvious adoration it has for the films and story it lampoons. Wilder is arguably at his comedic best as the hysterical Dr. Frederick Frankenstein, while its endless stream of hilarious one-liners, its wittiness, and its embracing of silly humor make of a riotously funny comedy that has become as renowned as the films it spoofed. Brooks himself considered it to be his best work as a writer and director.

Perhaps the greatest, most perfect blending of romance and comedy that cinema has ever seen, The Apartment sees Jack Lemmon and Shirley MacLaine at their enchanting best. C.C. Baxter (Lemmon) is a lonely and ambitious insurance worker who lets his superiors use his apartment for their extramarital affairs, an arrangement that helps further his career. However, complications arise when the head of personnel, Mr. Sheldrake (Fred MacMurray), begins using the apartment, engaging in an affair with the elevator operator that Baxter is in love with.

A brilliant mix of conflicting tones, The Apartment is rife with Billy Wilder's humorous cynicism which targets romance, workplace ethics, and social customs. However, that pessimism is beautifully juxtaposed against the tender and endearing performances of Lemmon and MacLaine, who imbue the film with an infectiously lovable central romance imbued with genuine pathos. Witty, poignant, effortlessly charming, and timelessly magnificent, The Apartment still feels modern and fresh despite being over 60 years old.

A deft balance of comedy, adventure, romance, and Wes Anderson’s stylistic flourishes, The Grand Budapest Hotel won four Oscars from nine nominations to be one of the most distinguished comedy movies ever made. The story transpires around the titular Grand Budapest Hotel, as a writer learns how it came into the possession of its current owner, a former lobby boy who worked alongside the dedicated concierge, M. Gustav (Ralph Fiennes).

Widely regarded to be Anderson’s masterpiece, it excels off the back of its ability to mesh the director’s picturesque, quaint style with a comedic, heartfelt, and often powerful story of friendship and love. With a staggering ensemble cast rife with many of Anderson’s frequent collaborators, The Grand Budapest Hotel is one of the most charming movies of the century, one of the greatest comedies of all time, and the greatest box office success of Wes Anderson's career.

There is a peculiar irony in the fact that Charles Chaplin, the iconic master of silent cinema, delivered one of the most powerful, poignant, and timeless speeches in cinematic history. The film it appeared in was, of course, The Great Dictator, a legendary movie from the 1940s that skewered the actions of Nazi Germany in a manner which was both outrageously funny and defiantly inspirational.

Chaplin stars as both the ruthless anti-Semitic dictator Adenoid Hynkel and an oblivious Jewish barber who bears an uncanny likeness to the tyrant. The film has many hilarious moments that exemplify Chaplin’s penchant for physical comedy and his underrated wit at their very best. However, it will forever be famous for its climactic speech in which the barber impersonates Hynkel and speaks from his heart. It's one of cinema’s most glorious moments and placed a bold exclamation mark on what was arguably the most important movie of its time.

Directed and produced by Howard Hawks with unbelievably perfect performances from Cary Grant and Rosalind Russell, His Girl Friday is the ultimate example of screwball comedy. Running at a frenetic pace, it follows a newspaper editor left frustrated when he learns his ex-wife and best reporter, Hildy Johnson (Russell), is remarrying and moving out of town. Unable to see her as a domestic housewife, he tries to lure her back with a story about the looming execution of a prisoner who might be innocent of his crime.

With its rapid-fire dialogue engrossing viewers, it lets the wisecracks fly thick and fast, with every single joke landing as intended before immediately moving on to the next zinger. Despite being of its time, His Girl Friday has endured splendidly over the decades, still standing as one of the most frenzied and intoxicating comedy movies ever.

While it was brandished as a female-led version of The Hangover, 2011's Bridesmaids excelled far beyond that somewhat dismissive tag, thriving as a raucous R-rated comedy with no small amount of charm. When her best friend announces that she is getting married, Annie (Kristen Wiig) struggles to fulfill her maid of honor duties as she clashes with a snobby bridesmaid in Helen (Rose Byrne). All the while, Annie is confronted by her own unsatisfying romantic life.

Boasting an all-star cast that included Maya Rudolph, Ellie Kemper, Melissa McCarthy, Rebel Wilson in addition to plenty of major cameos, Bridesmaids was a relentless comedy of hilariously shocking misadventures as well as a somber meditation of life and love. It's a deft mix of raunchy comedy, heartfelt friendship, and bittersweet romance. It still stands as a landmark achievement for its portrayal of complex and flawed female characters in a comedy setting.

Even as a century has elapsed since its release, Sherlock Jr. remains not only one of the best comedy movies of all time, but one of the most technically astounding pictures of all time as well. The plot is rather simple, following a lovestruck yet unfortunate projectionist who longs to be a detective as he dreams himself into the mystery movie playing at the theater he works in.

With his slapstick brilliance and daring stunt work, Buster Keaton imbues Sherlock Jr. with a breathtaking and artful hilarity, but it is the sequence in which his projectionist climbs into the cinema screen which has made the film so immortally spellbinding. The film is adoringly heralded as one of the greatest achievements of the silent era as well as a defining highlight of Keaton’s career.

Still standing as one of the most polarizing comedy movies of the century some 16 years after its initial release, Tropic Thunder brilliantly skewers Hollywood personas with an excellent gleam of controversial provocation. It follows the production of an epic Vietnam War movie, primarily focusing on the clashing egos of the five lead actors involved as they are unknowingly put in a real warzone to generate more authentic performances. When Tugg Speedman (Ben Stiller) is kidnapped by a local drug ring, it falls to the rest of the production to save the star and the movie.

Complementing its ridiculous premise with copious amounts of action-packed hilarity and some of the most memorable quotes of any film this century, Tropic Thunder is a bombastic, barnstorming satire of the egos within film. Every single member of the cast delivers exceptional comedy performances, with Robert Downey Jr. and Tom Cruise particularly brilliant in their wonderfully over-the-top portrayals of two of the more extreme personalities the film contains.

Nearly 50 years after its release, Annie Hall still stands as the definitive masterpiece of writer, director, and star Woody Allen. It follows neurotic New York comedian Alvy (Allen) as he falls in love with a quirky aspiring singer, Annie Hall (Diane Keaton). Exploring the couple's relationship over several years, the film delves into themes of love, commitment, and the struggles that come in every relationship.

It has come to be known for its innovative approach to storytelling which includes the use of flashbacks, fourth wall breaks, and surreal imagery. However, it also features plenty of gags to be a genuinely funny movie in addition to a thoughtful commentary on love. Annie Hall won a total of four Oscars, including Best Picture, and its impact on popular culture continues to be prevalent today. For modern viewers who can separate the art from the artist, Annie Hall's status as one of the defining comedies of the 1970s makes it a true gem of the genre's history in cinema.

One of the best screwball comedies of the 1930s - or any decade for that matter - It Happened One Night tells the story of a spoiled socialite who finds true love in the most unlikely circumstances. Running away from her father to marry a man he disapproves of, Ellie Andrews (Claudette Colbert) encounters Peter Warne (Clark Gable), a newspaperman who sees her story as his chance to get a solid scoop. As they travel together, they find themselves falling in love despite their different social positions.

Despite Colombia Pictures having doubts about how it would perform, the film became an instant hit with audiences while earning critical acclaim, even becoming the first film to sweep the Academy Awards. Thriving off the back of the lead duo's sublime chemistry, the film is now revered as one of the crown jewels in director Frank Capra's filmography, as well as one of the greatest comedies (and romance films) ever made.

The Marx Brothers were true pioneers of modern comedy, influencing the genre in film at the start of the talkie era, with 1933's Duck Soup their finest work. A brilliant satire of politics and war, it follows the absurd exploits of Rufus T. Firefly (Groucho Marx), the man who becomes the dictator of the small, financially struggling nation of Freedonia, a move which sees the neighboring country of Sylvania enact plans to invade.

Fast-paced humor, zany physical comedy, and the Marx Brothers' anarchic spirit are on full display as the film fires off wisecracking one-liners and slapstick antics en masse. A testament to the troupe's comedic genius, but also their political insight and thematic impact, Duck Soup has endured for its timelessness as much as its brilliance and remains bitterly poignant today.

It cannot be overstated how magnificent Rob Reiner's body of work was through the 80s and 90s, with the aforementioned This is Spinal Tap among films like The Princess Bride, Stand By Me, A Few Good Men, and Misery. However, arguably the director's best achievement was the 1989 film When Harry Met Sally... a masterful romantic comedy that managed to be both hysterically funny and truly heartwarming.

After first meeting on a chance encounter which ends up sour, Harry (Billy Crystal) and Sally (Meg Ryan) meet by chance again five years later, and then again five years after that, over which time their friendship develops and they are forced to confront their romantic feelings. Reiner's direction is understated and deft, primarily allowing the actors and the relationship to take center stage. With the lead duo's fantastic chemistry, When Harry Met Sally... has left an indelible imprint on the rom-com genre.

A brilliant display of Charlie Chaplin as a writer, director, and movie star, The Gold Rush is a timeless comedy classic and one of the finest presentations of Chaplin’s iconic little tramp. The silent film follows a lonely prospector as he heads for the Klondike during the 1890s gold rush. While he has some trouble along the way, he finally gets to the mining town where he falls in love with a dance hall girl.

As was so often the case with Chaplin, his slapstick humor combined with his deft yet emotionally powerful visual storytelling and charming characters to create a completely immersive romantic comedy that was as heartfelt as it was hilarious. Both endearing and enduring, The Gold Rush is Chaplin at his most wonderful, and it has stood as an outstanding comedy film for almost 100 years.

A comedy movie with profound heart and humanity, The Intouchables is a delightful tale of a real-life friendship that feels like a warm hug from start to finish. It follows the bond between Phillipe (François Cluzet), a wealthy widower who has been left paralyzed from the neck down following a paragliding accident, and Driss (Omar Sy), a recently released ex-con who is hired as his caregiver.

Critics were harsh on the film and the Academy Awards snubbed it, citing its lack of a narrative drive as a major weakness, but audiences the world over have embraced its focus on human decency. A charming tale brought to life by the spellbinding chemistry between Cluzet and Sy, The Intouchables is the ultimate ode to friendship, but it also uses its premise to present many moments of laugh-out-loud hysteria, making it one of the most rewarding and touching comedies ever made.

Sacha Baron Cohen is chameleonic, shape-shifting between dozens of hilarious characters over his career. However, his most iconic creation is Borat Sagdiyev, a Kazakhstani journalist who travels to America to make a documentary about the "U, S and A." Interacting with real-life Americans, often exposing underlying national prejudices through his outrageous behavior, Borat engages with everyone from frat boys to etiquette coaches, garnering unpredictable reactions in the process.

Despite being the target of a lot of controversy, Borat: Cultural Learnings of America For Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan works thanks to Cohen's incredible improvisation abilities, his fearless approach, and his razor-sharp sensitivities concerning the darker elements of American culture. The gobsmacking movie broke new ground for mockumentary pictures and the comedy genre, with its influence still impacting film and television today.

Comedy legends Eddie Murphy and John Landis reunited for this flick about Prince Akeem (Murphy), the heir to the throne of the fictional African country of Zamunda, who travels to America with his best friend and servant Semmi (Arsenio Hall), in search of true love and adventure. They settle in Queens, New York, and attempt to blend in with the locals while searching for a suitable bride for the prince. Along the way, they encounter a wide array of colorful characters, from a fast-talking barber to a soulful singer.

Murphy is consistently hilarious, imbuing his character with just the right mix of charm, humor, and innocence. The result is a wacky blend of satire, romance, and fish-out-of-water comedy that ranks among Landis' most entertaining work and Murphy's best movies.

Just the second film the Coen Brothers ever made, following the attention-grabbing neo-noir thriller Blood Simple, Raising Arizona established the duo's penchant for mixing genres with quirky yet utterly arresting results. A mixture of crime, zany screwball comedy, and sheer absurdity, it follows the romance between an ex-con and a policewoman. When the two discover that they are incapable of having children, they kidnap one of a millionaire's quintuplets and find themselves struggling to escape the chaotic aftermath.

Nicolas Cage is at his brilliant and over-the-top best as the ex-con H.I. McDunnough, while Holly Hunter complements his exuberant eccentricity quite perfectly. Defined by its wild creativity, its frenetic story, and the Coen Brothers' now trademark sense of surreal, offbeat style, Raising Arizona flaunts its larger-than-life characters and its bold creative decisions to be one of the most ferociously funny films of the 1980s.

A bizarre yet iconic concoction of romantic drama, youthful angst, and teenage comedy, The Graduate has been a significant and ever-relevant film since it was released back in 1967. It focuses on disillusioned college graduate Benjamin Braddock (Dustin Hoffman) who, upon returning home, begins sleeping with Mrs. Robinson (Anne Bancroft), the wife of his father's business partner. The arrangement grows even more complicated when Ben falls in love with Mrs. Robinson's daughter, Elaine (Katharine Ross).

Hoffman's starring performance, rich with an aimless yearning for independence, embodied how many young viewers in the 60s felt. However, it was Bancroft's enchanting, complex, and understatedly tragic performance that truly stood out. The cinematography, soundtrack, themes of generational conflict, and the search for identity have made The Graduate a New Hollywood classic. What's perhaps most impressive about the movie, though, is how it strikes different people in different ways, ensuring it remains a fascinating discussion topic well over 50 years after its release.

Another comedy classic from director John Hughes, Ferris Bueller's Day Off is a fun-loving and light-hearted embodiment of the irreverent, innocent, and irrepressible joys of youth. It follows charismatic high schooler Ferris Bueller (Matthew Broderick) as he decides to skip school to spend the day in Chicago with his girlfriend and best friend. As they embark on a wild adventure, a vindictive school official works vehemently to catch Bueller.

One of the most popular comedies of the 1980s, the film coasts off the back of Broderick's breezy performance and a gleeful tale inspired by John Hughes' own high school experiences. Capturing the exuberant zeitgeist of adolescent wonder, it offers fantasy escapism to younger viewers while serving as a hearty dose of nostalgia to those who look back on their teenage years with a smile.

Marking two of the most iconic performances in comedy movies, Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels are nothing short of completely committed in their portrayals of Lloyd Christmas and Harry Dunne, two well-meaning but dim-witted friends who embark on an unlikely adventure. When the duo discover a case full of money in Lloyd's (Carrey) limousine, they try to return it to the woman who left it behind, oblivious to the fact that it was left as part of a mob deal.

With gangsters and police officers in pursuit of the pair, the film finds plenty of opportunity for nonsensical hilarity which is so utterly stupid that it is purely genius. Granted, it is overly crude in some places and the jokes don't always land as gracefully as they could, but when it works, Dumb and Dumber leaves audiences in pained, stomach-aching hysterics as a farcical masterwork of infectious energy.

One of the most defining movies of the 1990s, Clueless excelled as a smart coming-of-age teen comedy that used Jane Austen's Emma as a basis while transporting the famous story to the glitz and the glamor of Beverly Hills. Alicia Silverstone stars as Cher Horowitz, a shallow and super-rich socialite who fancies herself a matchmaker at her high school. When her efforts to help a new student become popular prove to be too successful, Cher realizes how misguided her outlook on life had been, and falls in love along the way.

A time capsule of the 90s, relishing in the fashion, social values, and teenage interests of the decade, Clueless is nothing short of a pop-culture icon with Silverstone's note-perfect performance and director Amy Heckerling's precise focus on its defining factors. Exuberant, tender, slightly satirical, and frequently hilarious, Clueless is one of the greatest teen comedies of all time.

A quintessential American classic, Groundhog Day sees Bill Murray star as Phil Connors, a cynical weatherman who finds himself stuck in a time loop when he travels to Punxsutawney to cover the annual Groundhog Day. Doomed to keep living the same day over and over again until he finally gets it right, Phil experiences everything from despair to acceptance and elation before he finally prevails.

With a clever screenplay and a powerhouse performance from Murray, who showcases his comedic prowess and some impressive dramatic chops as well, Groundhog Day not only thrived as a work of comedic genius but as a powerful story of self-discovery as well. It has endured for over three decades as a rousing and triumphant comedy that has transcended generations and won over tens of millions of fans through its earnest, unpretentious presentation.

Turning things up to eleven, This is Spinal Tap is one of the greatest and most influential mockumentaries ever made, tracking the British glam rock/heavy metal band. With Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, and Harry Shearer starring as the band members, the film follows Spinal Tap's American comeback tour and the many mishaps that come with it. Filmmaker Marty Di Bergi (Rob Reiner) documents the tour, conducting interviews with the band members.

Flying by at a breezy 82 minutes, This is Spinal Tap crams an unbelievable amount of jokes, music moments, and character work into its runtime. Satirizing the music industry and celebrity culture, it contains many unforgettably hilarious moments, such as the band members stuffing vegetables down their trousers and the disastrous mini-Stonehenge fiasco, to be, pound-for-pound, one of the funniest movies of all time.

"Great Odin's raven!" Will Ferrell has played a number of iconic characters throughout his career, but none can top Ron Burgundy, a pompous and chauvinistic '70s news anchor. The film follows Ron's ego-driven journey as he competes with his colleagues, navigates his complicated relationship with his female co-anchor, and ultimately finds himself in a battle for his career.

He's joined by an ensemble cast made up of comedy heavy-hitters like Christina Applegate, Paul Rudd, David Koechner, and Steve Carell. However, it is undoubtedly Ferrell who served as the captivating star, with his masterful performance giving a pointed focal point to the infantile film, while also presenting one of the most iconic characters in American film (comedy or otherwise). Additionally, Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy also served as Adam McKay's feature film debut.

Guy Ritchie’s cult classic crime-comedy stands as one of the most unique and captivating films the genre has seen in recent decades. It follows a variety of crooks embedded in London’s criminal underbelly as a stolen diamond worth a fortune becomes a key focus. It also focuses on Turkish (Jason Statham) and his efforts as a promotor of illegal fights who finds himself indebted to a ruthless mobster who runs rigged bouts.

Snatch is an achievement in engrossing style, alluring grit, and Guy Ritchie’s trademark characters and dialogue that have defined the director’s brilliance for years. The meticulously interwoven plots are imbued with a dark comedy and a razor-sharp wit that have seen Snatch ascend to be a masterpiece of controlled chaos that holds up incredibly well upon multiple rewatches.

One of the greatest road comedies, Planes, Trains and Automobiles sees stars Steve Martin and John Candy at the peak of their powers, with their chemistry sublime as the friendly yet perpetually squabbling travel companions. With Thanksgiving fast approaching, advertising executive Neal Page (Martin) is desperate to get back to his family in Chicago, but when inclement weather grounds his flight home, he finds himself hitting the road with the overall joyous Del Griffith (Candy) in a bid to get home in time for the holiday.

Thriving with the odd-couple dynamic, the film excels at creating conflict between the two vastly different personalities. By the end of the film, though, most audiences have come to be charmed by the two men's complicated and hilarious, yet undeniably heartfelt friendship. The stellar performances by Martin and Candy have earned it a place among the most beloved road trip movies.

The master of the silent era, Charles Chaplin made many of cinema's earliest masterpieces, with Modern Times viewed to be among the best silent films ever made. Serving as Chaplin's last performance as his iconic tramp character, the film follows a fired factory worker as he struggles to adjust to the industrial advancements of a rapidly evolving America. Befriending an orphaned and homeless young woman, he strives to find his place in the new-age world.

It shouldn't be lost on modern audiences that Chaplin's decision to make Modern Times a mostly silent picture when the film industry had embraced the talkies was met with some strong criticism. In hindsight, it's a perfect metaphor for what the film is about; a humble worker lost in a mechanical world where new is best and advancement is everything. A masterful blend of physical comedy and thoughtful themes, its social criticism has only grown more poignant over time.

One of the most beloved achievements of the Coen Brothers, The Big Lebowski blended elements of quirky comedy with film noir to be an intriguing yet absurd mystery as well as a uniquely hilarious modern classic. It centers on Jeffrey "The Dude" Lebowski (Jeff Bridges), an easygoing slacker and avid bowler who becomes embroiled in a criminal conspiracy when he is mistaken for a millionaire also named Jeffrey Lebowski. As the Dude seeks compensation for his soiled rug, he is sucked into the L.A. criminal underbelly and a bizarre kidnapping case.

Utterly surreal, joyously silly, and endlessly quotable, The Big Lebowski became an instant cult classic. Also featuring unforgettable supporting performances from the likes of John Goodman, Steve Buscemi, John Turturro, and Philip Seymour Hoffman, it is nothing short of a sublime comedy masterpiece, with many who abide regarding it among the best films ever made.

Throughout cinematic history, there is no comedic troupe that has become as notorious, nor as polarizing, as Monty Python. More so than any other film that they made, Life of Brian exhibits the comedy group's appetite to dismantle sacrosanct ideas and serious topics in attention-grabbing ways. It revolves around Brian of Nazareth (Graham Chapman), a man born on the same night as Jesus and who is often mistaken to be the Messiah, even as he inadvertently becomes the face of a revolutionary group's stance against the Romans.

The Monty Python movie is a fantastic satire of religious dogmatism, packed with hard-hitting references to Christianity, politics, history, and even classic literature. From gags like Biggus Dickus to "what did the Romans ever do for us?", and, of course, to the finale which sees Brian and his comrades in crucifixion looking on the bright side of life, Life of Brian is loaded with moments which are as gut-bustlingly hilarious as they are iconic.

The first and best entry of Edgar Wright, Simon Pegg, and Nick Frost's acclaimed 'Cornetto' Trilogy, Hot Fuzz saw the idiosyncratic filmmaker firing on all cylinders. When elite London police officer Nicholas Angel (Pegg) is transferred due to making everyone else in his station look bad, he lands in the sleepy country town of Sandford. When a series of violent murders hit the town, Angel and his partner Danny Butterman (Frost) begin investigating the malicious mystery.

Wright and Pegg's script is consistently hilarious, as is every single one of the performances, but what truly made Hot Fuzz distinct as a comedy masterstroke was its visual gags. Wright is peerless among his generation when it comes to visual humor, be it his smash cuts and dynamic camera moves or simple set pieces like Nick Frost running through a fence. He was at his very best with Hot Fuzz which is a masterpiece of modern comedy. All those who agree say "Yarp."

A Mel Brooks masterpiece that danced on society's sensitivities, The Producers followed washed-up Broadway producer Max Bialystock (Zero Mostel) and his timid accountant Leo Bloom (played by Gene Wilder) as they hatch a devious scheme to get rich quick. Realizing that if they can get people to invest in a play which flops that they'll be able to keep the leftover money, Max and Leo gather financiers for their surefire musical flop, "Springtime for Hitler."

The Producers received only mixed reviews upon release, with many critics finding its narrative detailing two Jews trying to profit off Hitler to be in poor taste (it is worth noting the film was released at a time when WWII was in living memory for most). However, it has come to be celebrated as a daring and divine success, with its searing mockery of the entertainment industry and its willingness to explore controversial topics making it a timeless classic.

As pure and potent as comedy cinema gets, The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! hinges on Leslie Nielsen’s spoof movie starring brilliance as it lampoons police movies while serving as a continuation of the short-lived 1982 series Police Squad!. It focuses on a bumbling and inept NYPD policeman whose rivalry with a notorious criminal grows urgent when he learns the crook is planning on assassinating the Queen of England.

Given that Nielsen and much of the creative team behind the film worked on Police Squad! as well, The Naked Gun presented a rare opportunity for the masters of mockery to not only poke fun but deepen their comedic understanding of a character. The end result is as precise as it is plentiful, offering a laugh-a-minute frenzy of crude humor and slapstick hilarity that perfects the comedic art of unbridled silliness and stands as one of the most outrageously funny movies ever made.

Office Space is Mike Judge's send-up of corporate culture and the drudgery of the modern workplace. Starring Ron Livingstone, it follows software engineer Peter Gibbons who despises his mundane job at a soulless, life-sapping tech company. Further frustrated by his micromanaging boss, Bill Lumbergh (Gary Cole), and the mind-numbing routine of cubicle life, Peter finds clarity when a hypnosis session goes askew, inspiring him and his co-workers to take revenge on their boss.

Judge's story taps into the understated, maniacal rage that the monotonous boredom of such jobs can instill in many employees, an achievement complemented by hilarious performances from all involved. Its commentary on the modern workplace and its resonant ideas have made Office Space a cult classic comedy that has influenced pop culture through the memes that have spawned from it.

The first film in Edgar Wright’s famous ‘Cornetto Trilogy,’ Shaun of the Dead is a true modern classic of comedy cinema, as well as a brilliant nod to the history of zombie horror cinema. It follows an aimless sales assistant, Shaun (Simon Pegg), whose uneventful life is imbued with new meaning when the dead rise. Desperate to save his mother and his failing relationship, Shaun sets out with his lazy flatmate to face the zombie apocalypse.

With Wright utilizing his trademark style, Pegg and Nick Frost performing at their hilarious best, and plenty of comical yet shocking bloody effects, it has become one of the all-time great horror comedies. It also served as a significant big-screen success for Wright following his hit series Spaced, while Shaun of the Dead’s toying with an established American film genre in zombie horror enabled it to reach an international audience.

Following three high school boys in their pursuit to gain access to a party and hook up with the girls they like, Superbad has become a modern teen comedy classic with its mix of awkward adolescent angst and vulgar hilarity. It focuses on Seth (Jonah Hill), Evan (Michael Cera), and Fogell (Christopher Mintz-Plasse), a trio of unpopular youths who try everything to illegally obtain alcohol in order to attend a student house party.

A wild adventure of chaotic, teenage exuberance that ranges from the absurd and audacious to the surprisingly heartfelt, Superbad excels as both a vibrant and vile comedy, and an earnest meditation on friendship. Writers Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg loosely based the film on their own experiences as teens in Vancouver in the late 1990s. It is further enhanced by an incredible supporting cast including Rogen, Emma Stone, Joe Lo Truglio, and Bill Hader.

A criminally underrated satire that takes great delight in skewering politics and power plays in the historical setting of the Soviet Union immediately after Stalin’s death, The Death of Stalin is a modern masterpiece of comedy. Its focus resides on the tyrannical dictator’s underlings as each of them scrambles and schemes to succeed Stalin as the next Soviet leader all while having to put on a united front as the nation ceremoniously mourns Stalin.

Using its acidic wit and comedic prowess like a scalpel, The Death of Stalin excels as a dissection of political power and the people who most crave it. Featuring the likes of Steve Buscemi, Paddy Considine, Simon Russell Beale, Rupert Friend, and Jeffrey Tambor, the film capitalizes on its sharp script with its incredible cast, which also includes a now-famous supporting turn from Jason Isaacs as the medallion-speckled Georgy Zhukov.

While he was one of the biggest stars of the silent era, Harold Lloyd’s standing as an icon has probably abated somewhat over the decades whereas the legacy of his contemporaries like Buster Keaton and Charles Chaplin has only grown. However, Lloyd does still have at least one enduring hit, with his romantic-comedy Safety Last! widely remembered for its heart-stopping sequence in which Lloyd’s protagonist, also named Harold Lloyd, climbs a skyscraper as a means to secure a promotion.

The film at large follows Lloyd as he moves to the big city hoping to make enough money to support his adoring girlfriend only to find that making a quid is no easy feat. He gets a terrific opportunity to finally make some cash though when his manager declares that anyone who can drum up more customers in his store will get $1000. A faultless marriage of slapstick hilarity and magnificent visual effects, Safety Last! is a defining icon of early Hollywood comedy and the marvelous magic of filmmaking.

A critical counter-punch to the sunny optimism of many '80s teen comedies, Heathers offers a masterclass in cynical and subversive dark comedy. Tired of the elitist and cruel clique led by three girls, all of whom are named Heather, Veronica Sawyner (Winona Ryder) teams up with her rebellious new boyfriend, J.D. (Christian Slater), to devise a twisted plot that will rid the school of the rigid and oppressive social order. However, things spiral out of control when J.D.'s plan escalates to full-blown murder.

An astute deconstruction of high school tropes, Heathers takes plenty of potshots at teenage alienation and schoolyard hierarchies. Despite being a box office flop on release, it has become a cult film of significant acclaim. More than 35 years on from its release, it still feels pointed and modern, thanks in no small part to its inventive dialogue written by Daniel Waters.

A successful vaudeville and Broadway comedy troupe through the early part of the 20th century before they made the transition to film with the advent of the talkies, the Marx Brothers were arguably Hollywood's greatest comedic talents through the 30s and 40s. The first film of the group's post-Zeppo era, A Night at the Opera sees the three brothers infiltrating the highbrow opera scene to help a young aspiring singer, Rosa (Kitty Carlisle), achieve her dreams while thwarting her enemies.

Featuring witty wordplay, physical comedy, and musical numbers, as well as elaborate set pieces like the famous stateroom scene, the film has become an all-time comedy classic. The feverishly upbeat movie is jam-packed with gags while allowing the brothers a rare chance to show off a more sympathetic side to their anarchic personas.

Lovingly referred to as one of the best, albeit unofficial, Star Trek movies ever made, Galaxy Quest is one of the more underrated spoof movies, winning admirers aplenty through the love and affection it shows its source material. Jason Nesmith (Tim Allen) is a washed-up star of the once-popular sci-fi series ‘Galaxy Quest,’ which has attracted a dedicated cult following. As he and his former co-stars get by appearing at conventions, they are approached by an alien race who has mistaken the series to be historical records and enlists the cast to help them fight an intergalactic tyrant.

Capitalizing on its sensational premise, Galaxy Quest dazzles as a fun-fueled sci-comedy that doesn’t skimp on elements of action and adventure either. Buoyed by an exceptional supporting cast that includes Sigourney Weaver, Alan Rickman, Sam Rockwell, and Tony Shalhoub among others, it transcends its comedy framework to simply be a stunning, pure-hearted spectacle of sci-fi adventure.

Charles Chaplin is arguably the defining icon of cinema for his pioneering work in the medium during the silent era. However, while he has several silent masterpieces, he is also responsible for some acclaimed and sharply satirical “talkies” through the 30s, 40s, and 50s. One of the most underrated of which is 1947’s Monsieur Verdoux, following a dapper Parisian bank teller who, after being laid off, takes to romancing wealthy widows and murdering them for the inheritance as a means to provide for his family.

Chaplin’s mastery of physical comedy remains a centerpiece of the film, but so too is his dry wit, satirical insights into social values, and the arresting air of menace he underlines his cheery performance with. Monsieur Verdoux is undeniably taboo, even by modern standards, but its commentary on civilized morality in times of war is both pointed and intriguing, making it one of the most underappreciated comedy movies ever made.

The movie which saw Steve Martin truly make the leap from a stand-up comic to a leading man in Hollywood comedies, The Jerk was the actor's first starring role in film. Serving primarily as a vehicle for Martin's effervescent and highly energetic brand of goofy comedy to take center stage, The Jerk follows Navin Johnson (Martin), the adopted son of a black family whose sheltered naivety explodes into a journey of self-discovery which takes him to St. Louis.

Embarking on one chaotic misadventure after another, Navin goes from rags to riches and back to rags again all while pursuing the love of cosmetologist, Marie Kimble (Bernadette Peters). Even finding an unlikely diehard fan in Stanley Kubrick, The Jerk displays Martin at his high-octane best and proves that, when it comes to being stupid, there is no greater genius than Steve Martin.

One of the most polarizing yet celebrated comedies of the 2000s that saw Steve Carell become a noteworthy leading man while also ushering in a new generation of Hollywood comedy stars, The 40-Year-Old Virgin is an outrageous gem that has only grown more hilarious (and more excruciatingly painful) with age. It focuses on an awkward though amiable store clerk whose co-workers learn has never had sex. While his colleagues try to help him lose his virginity, he begins to form a romance with a local shop owner.

While it isn’t shy when it comes to shock humor and contains hilariously juvenile moments like the famous waxing scene, the film finds its true quality in the tenderness with which Carell’s Andy is explored. Beneath the vulgarity and smut, The 40-Year-Old Virgin is one of the most surprisingly earnest rom-coms of the 2000s and a true highlight of 21st-century comedy cinema.

Martin McDonagh has risen to great heights with his ability to mesh black comedy with dramatic punch, notably doing so with the Oscar-nominated The Banshees of Inisherin, which also made exceptional use of stars Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson. However, the writer-director's funniest movie is still his debut feature, In Bruges, with the anxiety-inducing crime-dramedy following two Irish hitmen as they are sent to the picturesque Belgian city of Bruges after a job goes horribly wrong.

Embedded within the film's dark comedic allure, there is an unpredictable tale of morality and regret that largely defines the picture's brilliance. Also running with fabulous, profanity-laden dialogue, occasional strong violence, and an unforgettably erratic yet hilarious villainous performance from Ralph Fiennes, In Bruges is a laugh-a-minute comedy that thrives as a contemplative tale of crime and remorse as well.

The final film released under Buster Keaton Productions, Steamboat Bill, Jr. marks something of an end of an era for the acclaimed filmmaker, comedy actor, and pioneering stuntman. The silent comedy follows citified college boy William Canfield Jr. (Buster Keaton) as he reunites with his boat captain father and sets his mind to becoming a steamboat sailor. In the process, he falls in love with the daughter of his father’s rival, though his romantic pursuit is interrupted by a devastating storm and his father’s arrest.

Keaton was always renowned for his unbelievable dare with his physical stunts, but Steamboat Bill, Jr. takes this prowess to new levels, especially in the many outstanding set pieces set during the destructive storm. It may not be Keaton’s funniest cinematic offering, but it is one of his most dashing, and it remains an iconic display of his acrobatic brilliance that audiences today can appreciate.

It should come as a surprise to absolutely no one that silent era star Charlie Chaplin has several pictures that appear on this list. Not only an icon of cinema, but a pioneer of storytelling in the medium as well, the beloved comic is renowned for his cheerful sense of humor and his compelling heart, even a century on from the prime of his career. Released in 1921 and marking Chaplin’s first effort as the director of a feature-length film, The Kid is an uplifting embodiment of everything the star did so well.

It follows the Tramp as he finds himself responsible for the upbringing of an abandoned baby boy. As the years elapse, he forms a touching bond with the child as he does his best to raise him amid financial hardship. All the while, the boy’s mother—an esteemed singer—searches frantically for her son having come to regret her rash decision to forsake him. Rife with street-smart physical gags, an evocative beating heart, and even several sequences of sublime tension, The Kid is a masterpiece of comedy cinema that has lost none of its brilliance in the 100+ years since its release.

It is hard to observe modern cinematic comedy without addressing the seismic impact the physically outrageous genius Jim Carrey had on the genre through the 1990s, with his 1994 picture, The Mask, among the most iconic movies of all time. Presenting Carrey with ample opportunity to flaunt his zany hilarity, The Mask sees him star as a meek bank employee whose life is uprooted when he discovers a mask that contains the spirit of the Norse god Loki.

A wild adventure ensues when he succumbs to the mask’s allure, transforming into a confident playboy with a dangerous criminal urge to boot. Wild and exhilarating, the film displays Carrey at his bombastic, cartoonish best while also coasting on an excellent supporting performance from Cameron Diaz to be a true comedy classic and one of the defining movies of the 90s.

A delightful pivot to the macabre from Frank Capra, Arsenic and Old Lace is a black comedy gem that has maintained its hilarious punch over the decades. It focuses on Mortimer Brewster (Cary Grant), a notorious marriage detractor who is amazed to find himself in love and eager to marry. When he travels home to tell his family the news, he is disturbed by a corpse hidden in the window seat, a discovery that forces Mortimer to take more notice of his aunts’ misdeeds.

Grant excels at the film’s particular blend of fast-paced, frenzied storytelling and the dark comic allure that bubbles to the surface as he learns his aunts are serial killers. While its shock factor has dissipated over the years, Arsenic and Old Lace still thrives as a brilliant comedy that does justice to the Joseph Kesselring play it was based on.

Quite possibly the best buddy comedy of the century so far, The Nice Guys has overcome its initial commercial failure to be widely revered as one of the most enjoyable and hilarious movies in recent decades. The crime-comedy follows a shifty private investigator and a thug for hire in 1970s L.A. as they join forces to work the case of a missing girl and the death of a porn star. Their investigation soon unearths political corruption as well.

The core of the film hearkens back to the buddy cop movies of old, but its implementation of some racier themes and jokes gives it a distinctly modern sensitivity as well. Further complemented by a brilliantly constructed screenplay and the fantastic chemistry between Ryan Gosling, Russell Crowe, and even Angourie Rice, The Nice Guys is a genre-meshing masterpiece that deserves every bit of its growing cult classic status.

Delightfully cheeky, The Full Monty may run with a rather obscure and absurd premise, but its ability to blend grounded and lovable characters with genuine pathos that doesn’t stoop to soggy sentiment makes it a finely tuned comedy that fires on all cylinders. Set in Sheffield, it follows a small group of steelers workers who, after their mill shuts down and they find themselves in need of money, decide to put on a strip show to make some quick coin.

The film finds hysterical situational comedy in every step of the characters’ journey, from their ideation to their practicing and rehearsals, inevitable hesitation, and to the show itself. Also thriving with strong comedy performances from every member of the main cast, The Full Monty is an uproarious English comedy that balances wit, social commentary, crass humor, and character drama together to be both hilarious and moving.

As revered for its comedic excellence as it is for the legend of its production, Clerks is an indie icon of 90s cinema that soars with its quirky characters and quotable quips to be a glorious embodiment of the aimlessness of early adulthood. Dante (Brian O’Halloran) is called in to work on his day off. He makes his way through the difficult day with the company of the clerk of the neighboring video rental shop and the anticipation of a hockey game he and his friends are playing later on.

Made on a production budget of less than $30,000, and shot during closing hours in the convenience store where Kevin Smith worked, Clerks became a towering triumph of independent filmmaking not only with its commercial success, but with its vast cultural impact as well. Even today, Clerks is a striking picture with its natural sense of real-life comedy and its authentic depiction of middle-class malaise.

From the witty wordplay to the physical absurdity, the social commentary, and even the wild musical mayhem, every defining aspect of the Marx Brothers’ eccentric style is on full display in the 1930 comedy gem, Animal Crackers. Based on the troupe’s Broadway play of the same name, it focuses on a dinner party held in the honor of famed African explorer Captain Jeffrey T. Spaulding (Groucho Marx). Chaos ensues when a valuable painting goes missing at the party, leading Spaulding to investigate the mystery.

Amid the madness and the mania of the story, an unbridled comic genius presents itself through the sheer abundance of punchlines and the relentless high-octane energy of the 97-minute spectacle. Even with its unrestrained silliness and some sequences that don’t quite work, Animal Crackers conjures more laughs than most comedy movies can dream of to stand as a quintessential highlight of the Marx Brothers’ filmography.

Offering emphatic proof that spoof movies didn’t completely die in the 80s, Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery was the perfect parody of what was, at the time, a dwindling Bond franchise. It follows the titular spy, an agent from the 1960s awoken from cryogenic sleep to face off against his arch nemesis, Dr. Evil (also played by Mike Myers), when he returns to Earth and holds the planet to ransom.

The spy spoof is relentless in its pursuit of gags, taking direct aim at 007’s more anachronistic and chauvinistic tendencies with reckless abandon. The end result is so ridiculous that it works, hinging on its parody prowess and its central goofiness to stand among the most brilliantly ingenious dumb comedies ever made. The catchphrases alone are enough to leave fans in hysterics.

A timeless gem of old Hollywood comedy, Bringing Up Baby coasts on its sublime screenplay, Howard Hawks’ calculated direction, and on the powerhouse performances of Cary Grant and Katharine Hepburn at their bright and bubbly best. The chaotic farce sees zoologist Dr. David Huxley (Grant) desperate to secure a $1 million contribution for his work. On the eve of his wedding day, the befuddled paleontologist finds himself attracting the attention of the free-spirited and precocious daughter of a possible donor, leading to a manic series of events involving a missing dinosaur bone and a pet leopard.

An enchanting triumph of whimsical and whacky fun, the film soars with its rapid-fire story and its stunning, note-perfect performances. While it does have a knack for overwhelming viewers in its most erratic sequences, Bringing Up Baby has aged magnificently with its alluring star power and its feverish appetite for gags that remains tireless right up until the end.

One of the most ceaselessly hysterical releases of the 1990s, The Birdcage marries a brilliant premise with a cast of comedic geniuses to deliver a truly hilarious viewing experience. Armand (Robin Williams) and Albert (Nathan Lane) are lovers who manage and perform in a gay nightclub in Miami. When Armand’s son from a previous marriage announces he is set to marry the daughter of a prominent conservative politician, Armand and Albert try to pose as a heterosexual couple to appease their important guests.

With Williams and Lane—and even with Hank Azaria’s performance as their flamboyant housekeeper, Agador Spartacus—The Birdcage offers laughs aplenty through its farcical story that pivots from one impending calamity to the next. Offering an abundance of vibrant and silly fun while also touching on an important underlying message about self-acceptance and humanity, The Birdcage is as delightful a comedy to have come out of the 90s.

Poignant, contemplative, and skewering American wealth, Being There is a brilliant adaptation of Jerzy Kosiński’s novel that coasts on a fantastic lead performance from the ever-exceptional Peter Sellers. He stars as Chance, a gardener for a wealthy old man who has spent his entire life living under his employer. When his boss dies, however, Chance finds himself out on the street knowing only what he learned from television. When he integrates into high society accidentally, many of the elites he encounters mistake his humility and naivety for profound wisdom.

While the premise has plenty of potential for loud and bombastic comedy, Being There thrives more through its subtlety and gentleness. Sellers imbues Chance with plenty of pathos, one complemented by the sensitivity injected into every element of the picture by Hal Ashby. The end result is a deft and classy satire that is often as heartfelt as it is hilarious.

The greatest triumph of the famed comedy duo’s exploits in feature film, Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein mixes classic horror cinema with Bud Abbott and Lou Costello’s delirious comedy senses to produce a wonderfully whimsical crossover that swept the nation. It focuses on the duo as railway baggage handlers whose mishandling of a pair of crates belonging to a house of horrors museum embroils them in a nightmare of undead beings and fiendish monsters.

The bold foray into comedy horror kick-started a new wave of crossover movies between Universal’s pantheon of cinematic monsters and the eponymous comedy pairing, one that proved to be a box office goldmine for the studio. However, none of the ensuing releases were equal to Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein, with its irreverence and spoofing antics making it a true classic of the genre.

A razor-sharp and wickedly divine combination of piercing black comedy and anti-war sentiment, M*A*S*H is a true triumph of comedy cinema from Robert Altman that cleverly marries the absurdly hilarious with the considered and contemplative. It follows the American staff in a field hospital during the Korean War as they try to stomach the horrors of what they see by indulging in darkly humorous antics.

Imbued with the scathing, realistic bite that defined 1970s cinema, yet excelling as a timeless commentary on war and how the human condition responds to trauma, M*A*S*H manages to be both hysterically funny and poignant. It received five Academy Award nominations and won for its screenplay. It also effectively launched the hit comedy series of the same that ran for 11 seasons from 1972 to 1983.