When done right, comedy is perhaps the most enjoyable movie genre, offering audiences a much-needed escape from reality. However, it’s much trickier than it looks to pull off. Even when filmmakers make most of their jokes land, comedies tend to be very topical and context-specific, meaning that a lot of these movies are no longer funny even a few years later. However, a small number of comedic gems defy this trend, remaining hilarious years or even decades after release. Their humor transcends a specific time or place.
With this in mind, this list looks at some of the funniest movies ever made. The following comedies might not necessarily be the best as overall films, but their jokes are plentiful and hit hard. Whether lampooning social norms, embracing absurdity, or crafting relatable situations with a humorous twist, these movies stand as testaments to the enduring power of laughter in cinema.
15
‘Shaun of the Dead’ (2004)
Directed by Edgar Wright
A directionless Londoner by day, Shaun (Simon Pegg) has no dreams, aspirations, or anything. In Shaun of the Dead, the reluctant adult works a dead-end job, has a crumbling love life, and a best friend who’s an even bigger slacker than he is. Just when things hit rock bottom, London is suddenly overrun by undead zombies. Naturally, Shaun decides the best course of action is to round up his mum, win back his ex, and take refuge in his favorite pub—the Winchester.
Instead of falling into the typical “human hero vs. zombies” trope, Shaun of the Dead goes the opposite direction. Shaun isn’t someone the audience would expect to beat the living crap out of these flesh-eating monsters. And yet, he and his equally unlikely crew bumble their way through the apocalypse. Ironically enough, through all the hilarious, morbid chaos that ensues, Shaun finally finds the meaning of life—by beating up the undead. —Dyah Ayu Larasati
14
‘The Big Lebowski’
Directed by Joel Coen and Ethan Coen
It’s a story of unfortunately funny misunderstandings in The Big Lebowski. Jeff “The Dude” Lebowski (Jeff Bridges) is a laid-back, White Russian-sipping slacker who just wants his rug back—it really tied the room together. But when he’s mistaken for a millionaire with the same name, he gets caught up in a mess involving a kidnapped trophy wife, a nihilist gang, an avant-garde artist, and one epic bowling league. With the help of his volatile friend Walter (John Goodman) and the ever-anxious Donny (Steve Buscemi), The Dude stumbles through this mishap in fast-paced Los Angeles.
The Big Lebowski is one of the movies that’s not meant to make sense, and that’s the charm of it. Its total dedication to eccentricity seeps through its ensemble of bizarre characters, strange yet quotable dialogue, all while not being too edgy thanks to its deadpan delivery. From toe-obsessed kidnappers to psychedelic dream sequences set in bowling alleys, it’s a surrealist treat that requires more than one viewing just to catch the jokes one might miss at first watch. —Dyah Ayu Larasati
13
‘Zoolander’ (2001)
Directed by Ben Stiller
Fashion week better watch out—supermodel Derek Zoolander (Ben Stiller) is strutting his stuff on the catwalk. In Zoolander, the world’s reigning (and dimmest) male model is enjoying the spotlight. But when the cooler, more free-spirited Hansel is making waves among designers, Derek is officially dethroned. While coming to terms with his fading fame, Zoolander gets caught up in a sinister fashion industry plot. Within moments, the model is brainwashed into doing the ultimate faux pas: assassinating the Prime Minister of Malaysia.
Zoolander is a movie that takes pride in its sheer, gleeful stupidity. Despite that, the narcissistic Derek comes across as a lovable dork that audiences can’t help but root for. The film isn’t exactly the most accurate satire, but it does spoof every stereotype there is in the fashion industry—think brain-dead models, divalicious attitudes, and over-the-top costumes. From Will Ferrell’s Mugatu rants to the tragic gas fight, Zoolander will never go out of style. —Dyah Ayu Larasati
Zoolander
- Release Date
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September 28, 2001
- Runtime
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90 minutes
12
‘The Hangover’ (2009)
Directed by Todd Phillips
What happens in Vegas doesn’t stay in Vegas, especially when your bachelor party goes balls up. The Hangover starts off as a simple boys-only trip to Strip City. But when the three groomsmen—slick-talking Phil (Bradley Cooper), nervous wreck Stu (Ed Helms), and wildcard Alan (Zach Galifianakis)—discover that the groom has gone missing the morning after, they all go into panic mode. The worst part is that they don’t remember the night before. As they scramble to piece together what happened in their blackout-fueled evening, the trio finds themselves in uncanny danger.
The Hangover’s brilliance lies in its simplicity. Everyone’s familiar with the “night out” trope, but mix that with a drug-induced mishap and a detective story, and audiences have themselves an outrageous adventure that just gets worse at every corner. As Phil, Stu, and Alan try to find the groom without killing each other first, they venture into Las Vegas’ finest establishments, ranging from strip clubs, wedding chapels, and also the burning dessert. Its vulgarity might come across as shocking, but really, The Hangover is about the beautiful disaster of friendship and poor decisions. —Dyah Ayu Larasati
11
‘Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery’ (1997)
Directed by Jay Roach
Swinging straight out of the ‘60s in a cloud of cologne and velvet, Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery strips the seriousness of the spy genre into a psychedelic playground. Mike Myers double-casts as both Austin Powers, a randy, dandy fashion disaster of a secret agent, and Dr. Evil, his short arch-nemesis with a penchant for world domination and pinky gestures. After being cryogenically frozen, Austin wakes up in the prudish ‘90s, where his free-love mojo is more confusing than cool.
With fake teeth, two-toned suits, and dance breaks galore, Austin Powers is far from the dapper and sharply suited James Bond. The humor is proudly immature—think penis-shaped rockets, unnecessary slow-motion, and villains with names that would never pass HR. As Myers continuously delivers endless double entendres and charms every woman in sight, the film is campy, crass, and comical at its best. —Dyah Ayu Larasati
10
‘A Fish Called Wanda’ (1988)
Directed by Charles Crichton
“To call you stupid would be an insult to stupid people!” This brilliantly crafted heist comedy revolves around a group of eccentric criminals double-crossing one another in pursuit of stolen diamonds. Wanda (Jamie Lee Curtis) and her lover Otto (Kevin Kline) manipulate an uptight barrister, Archie (John Cleese), to retrieve the loot, while the hapless Ken (Michael Palin) provides additional comic relief as an animal-loving accomplice with a stutter.
This is British humor at its best. In particular, the film thrives on its ensemble cast’s impeccable comedic timing, with Kline’s Oscar-winning turn as the pompous, dim-witted Otto standing out. There are plenty of uproarious scenes, like the iconic one where one of the baddies tries three times to assassinate a witness, but instead accidentally shoots one of her dogs every time. A Fish Called Wanda was a sleeper hit, grossing a whopping $188m against a budget of just $7m, and has since been ranked among the best British movies of all time.
9
‘Step Brothers’ (2008)
Directed by Adam McKay
“Did we just become best friends?” Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly unleash their combined powers in this wacky comedic tour de force. They play two childish adults forced to live together when their parents marry. Brennan and Dale begin as bitter rivals but soon bond over their shared eccentricities, leading to a series of outlandish escapades that test the patience of their parents. The result is a madcap rollercoaster of absurdity, top-notch star chemistry, and improvisational brilliance.
Director Adam McKay has since moved on to brainier projects like The Big Short and Vice, but with Step Brothers he was still single-mindedly focused on serving up as many belly laughs as possible. The movie may not be all that clever or deep, and not everyone will appreciate its deliberate immaturity, but for the initiated, it’s a ton of fun. McKay chalks the movie’s success to the stars’ youthful energy. “Both of them have a big kid-like playful side. They both have an inane sense of humor of what it means to be an adult in this world and are able to laugh at that,” McKay has said.
8
‘The 40-Year-Old Virgin’ (2005)
Directed by Judd Apatow
“I love your sweater. Does that come in a V-neck?” Steve Carell hit the ground with his first lead movie role, turning in an iconic performance as Andy, a shy electronics store employee whose friends discover he’s never had sex. Determined to help him lose his virginity, his coworkers—played by Paul Rudd, Seth Rogen, and Romany Malco—embark on a series of misguided attempts to bring Andy out of his shell. It’s a simple premise that Carell and co. (with Judd Apatow directing) expand into a raunchy yet sweet romp.
Carell is a talented and versatile performer, able to nail wacky comedy as well as real emotion. He manages that here, making Andy come across as fundamentally decent, genuine, and earnest. This is a key part of the movie’s success. He also co-wrote the script with Apatow, coming up with an impressive amount of killer lines and memorable scenarios, not least the infamous waxing scene.
7
‘Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy’ (2004)
Directed by Adam McKay
“I’m kind of a big deal. People know me.” The legendary Anchorman is a satirical look at the male-dominated world of 1970s broadcast news. Will Ferrell leads the cast as Ron Burgundy, a self-absorbed news anchor whose life is upended when an ambitious female reporter, Veronica Corningstone (Christina Applegate), joins his team. As the rivalry between Ron and Veronica escalates, the film spirals into absurdity, featuring jazz flute solos, street gang-style news team brawls, and one-liners that have become comedy gold.
The stars are assisted by wonderful supporting players like Paul Rudd, Steve Carell, Chris Parnell, and Kathryn Hahn, who all clearly have a great time delivering the zany dialogue. All the performers are committed and energetic, substantially elevating the already brilliant script. The memorable lines include “Boy, that escalated quickly”, “60% of the time, it works every time”, “milk was a bad choice”, and “I love lamp”. Although not widely embraced on release, Anchorman’s reputation continues to grow with time and it’s undoubtedly a modern classic.
6
‘Borat’ (2006)
Directed by Larry Charles
“Very nice! How much?” Sacha Baron Cohen‘s masterpiece is a provocative blend of scripted scenarios and reality, with the titular Kazakh journalist interacting with real people on his travels across the United States. Through outrageous humor, explicit content, and boundless political incorrectness, the film satirizes ignorance, bigotry, and cultural misunderstandings in ways that are both hilarious and thought-provoking.
In this regard, Borat is one of the most iconic comedic artifacts from the 2000s, taking on all the issues of the day with the subtlety of a sledgehammer. There’s real commentary beneath the gags and gross-out shenanigans. Borat’s outrageous antics—whether attempting to kidnap Pamela Anderson or wreaking havoc at a formal dinner—make for comedy that is as bold as it is cringe-worthy. At the center of it all is Cohen’s fearless performance. He’s able to stay in character and think of jokes on the fly in even the most uncomfortable of situations. Very nice.
Borat
- Release Date
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November 3, 2006
- Runtime
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84 minutes