Comedy has and will continue to be one of the most widely accessible and versatile genres of filmmaking; there is simply nothing quite like the joy of laughing along with a film tailor-made to conjure up barrels of laughter. There have been countless memorable comedy movies released over the years that have left their mark on audiences and become premier sources of laughter time and time again. Despite only being a quarter of the way through the 21st century, the brilliant comedic outings of the modern era have quickly become some of the funniest movies ever.
Considering just how many hilarious movies have been released during the 21st century, it is painfully difficult to narrow it down to a singular list of ten. Rarely is a list able to satisfy everyone’s taste in what they find funny, yet this list is made in an attempt to give credit to some of the most widely acclaimed and agreed-upon choices for the funniest films of the 21st century. Each of the included films has earned an effective legacy as a pillar of comedy in the modern era that simply never loses its comedic edge, no matter how many times they’re watched and rewatched.
10
‘Napoleon Dynamite’ (2004)
Directed by Jared Hess
One of the most inescapable cult classic comedy phenomena of the 2000s, Napoleon Dynamite‘s distinct flavor of slow-paced and dialogue-focused humor made it a comedic juggernaut of the 21st century. The film went from a small-scale independent comedy film to a box-office smash hit and cultural cornerstone thanks to its ingenious sense of comedy and style. While many other coming-of-age comedy movies have found great success both before and after, there is a level of honesty and absurdity to Napoleon Dynamite that makes it a one-of-a-kind comedy experience.
Normally, this type of comedic cultural touchstone of a previous era comes with some sort of dated baggage, yet Napoleon Dynamite is still just as hilarious over 20 years after its release. Nearly every aspect of the film is oozing with charm and wit, between the memorable characters, instantly quotable lines, and the overall feeling of goofy aimlessness that the film embraces. There is simply no other comedy experience before or after that has come close to paralleling the distinct yet alluring comedic energy of Napoleon Dynamite.
Napoleon Dynamite
- Release Date
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August 27, 2004
- Runtime
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96 minutes
- Director
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Jared Hess
9
‘The Hangover’ (2009)
Directed by Todd Phillips
While there have been many great comedy movies released over the years that show the wild antics and chaos of an over-the-top bender, The Hangover gets infinitely more comedic mileage from showing the often forgotten aftermath. It isn’t just the ingenious premise that makes The Hangover such a standout comedy, however, but the distinct chemistry and energy between its trio of main characters that make each occurrence and reveal more shockingly hilarious than the last.
The Hangover‘s great strengths come from this balance of raw unpredictability that comes from the mystery of what happened last night, as well as the humorous reactions as the characters painfully uncover shocking truths. The film simply wouldn’t be anywhere near as hilarious without the trio of Bradley Cooper, Zach Galifianakis, and Ed Helms, who bring out the best in each other comedically. While The Hangover would receive a full trilogy following its massive success, neither of the sequels comes close to the comedic highs of the original.
8
‘Tropic Thunder’ (2008)
Directed by Ben Stiller
A wildly entertaining satire of action movies and Hollywood culture, Tropic Thunder is easily one of the funniest movies about making movies. The film sees its chaotic cast of flawed actors facing real-life danger and warfare as the action movie that they’re filming in Southeast Asia quickly takes a turn for the dangerously real. The film is filled with comedic talent at every corner, ranging from Robert Downey Jr. in an Oscar-nominated role and Jack Black to Tom Cruise in a shockingly amazing comedic performance as unhinged producer Les Grossman.
While this level of direct Hollywood satire is much more commonplace nowadays, the execution of Tropic Thunder was highly refreshing when it was released and ushered in a new wave of Hollywood satire greatness. Even years after the film’s release, the film’s commentary on the state of Hollywood and the chaotic nature of action filmmaking is still very relevant and hilarious in a modern context.
7
‘Shrek 2’ (2004)
Directed by Andrew Adamson, Kelly Asbury, and Conrad Vernon
While the medium has always been home to an array of top-notch cinematic experiences, it’s rare to see an animated film create a comedic experience on the same level as the best comedies of all time. However, the Shrek franchise quickly made a name for itself as a pinnacle of animated comedic satire on the same level as the all-time great comedies, with Shrek 2 easily acting as the peak of the series. The film finds a brilliant balance of comedy that works not just for younger audiences, but for adults who are accustomed to pop culture trends and fairy tale conventions.
Shrek 2 specifically stands out as a highlight of the series comedically, thanks to an array of fun new characters, a much more comedically charged premise and setting, and building upon the characteristics and dynamics of its predecessor. While the original film acted as a great proof of concept for the series, Shrek 2 is the apex for what the series is capable of comedically, pulling on all fronts in terms of emotion, charm, and top-notch laughs.
Shrek 2
- Release Date
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May 19, 2004
- Runtime
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93 minutes
6
‘Borat’ (2006)
Directed by Larry Charles
A wildly absurd mockumentary that doubled as a hilarious exposé on the culture and painful racism brewing across America during the 2000s, Borat completely revolutionized its style of prank-based comedy. While the vast majority of other comedy movies find their jokes in a fine-tuned script and playing out a scene, Borat relies entirely on Sacha Baron Cohen‘s ability to play a character so well that he blends into the real world. Borat’s nonsensical, over-the-top antics bring out the comedic best in everyday people as they react to his frequently shocking actions.
While it initially became a worldwide phenomenon on the back of its incredibly raunchy and shocking humor, the real magic of Borat is its ingenious and outright stupid comedy that makes real-life people the target of jokes. The film was massively controversial when it was first released and continues to divide well into the modern day. Yet, that infamy has only further fueled its notability and recognition as a defining comedy of the 21st century.
5
‘Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy’ (2004)
Directed by Adam McKay
The actor-director duo of Will Ferrell and Adam McKay have been a part of some of the most widely celebrated and monumentous comedy films of the 21st century, with the most successful easily being Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy. The film takes a wildly comedic look at the world of local TV news in the ’70s, seeing Ferrell as the pompous San Diego anchorman who is on top of the world. However, his life of leisure as the top dog is soon challenged when an ambitious female reporter arrives as a new employee at his station.
Ferrell is behind a lot of the magic that makes both Ron Burgundy such a deeply memorable character and the film as a whole a wildly fun time. Even when the character is the furthest thing from likable, Ferrell makes each scene funnier than the last, perfectly complementing the also hilarious supporting cast of the film. On top of its effective character moments, Anchorman has a lot of memorable scenes and absurdist jokes that focus on the comedic strength of the cast over everything else.
4
‘Best in Show’ (2000)
Directed by Christopher Guest
Christopher Guest has proven himself to be a master of the comedic mockumentary film throughout both the 20th and 21st centuries, taking part in many exceptional films like This is Spinal Tap and Waiting for Guffman. As far as his 21st-century outings are concerned, none are as endlessly hilarious as the absurd dog show mockumentary, Best in Show. The film follows various quirky dog owners as they travel to compete for what they consider to be one of the most important events of their lives, the Mayflower Dog Show.
Best in Show is one of the best comedy films when it comes to utilizing a vastly hilarious ensemble cast, with each character having their own distinct stories and comedic edge throughout the film. Even if one specific gag or setup doesn’t hit one person, the film also provides a multitude of other jokes that are sure to land. Between them all is an alluring sense of earnestness and care coming from each character that helps make it one of the best mockumentaries of all time.
Best in Show
- Release Date
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September 29, 2000
- Runtime
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90 minutes
- Director
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Christopher Guest
3
‘Bridesmaids’ (2011)
Directed by Paul Feig
Easily one of the most prominent and high-profile comedy blockbusters with a primarily female cast of characters, Bridesmaids amplifies the inherent chaos and pain that comes from planning and holding a wedding ceremony. It’s one of the very few full-on comedy films to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay, finding a brilliant balance between fun, raunchy humor, and genuinely compelling characters with emotional arcs.
However, its emotional moments never get in the way of the massive comedic highs of the film, as Bridesmaids is a laugh riot from beginning to end and one of the biggest crowd-pleasing comedies of the 21st century. The film is endlessly quotable and rewatchable, feeling just as hilarious nowadays as it did when it was first released, and overall being a prominent influence in blockbuster comedy films throughout the rest of the 2010s and beyond. While several audiences are quick to write off female-oriented comedy films, Bridesmaids proves that the right comedic vision can land for a wide variety of audiences.
2
‘Superbad’ (2007)
Directed by Greg Mottola
The coming-of-age film continues to be one of the most effective and timely methods of comedy in terms of not only appealing to the experiences of younger audiences but also exploring each generation’s style of comedy. As far as the coming-of-age comedies of the 21st century are concerned, none have had the undeniable impact and lasting legacy of Superbad, with its distinct style of self-deprecating humor defining the whole generation.
However, the film wouldn’t reach such iconic status without some highly memorable and hilarious moments, whether it be all the shenanigans surrounding McLovin and the Cops or the increasingly chaotic antics that Seth and Evan get up to. Superbad is the type of absurd yet strangely comforting comedy experience that will continue to define the 21st century in comedy as a whole, only growing more and more beloved as the years go by. Even almost 20 years after its release, Superbad still stands as one of the most relatable teen movie experiences out there, as well as being hilarious from beginning to end.
1
‘Shaun of the Dead’ (2004)
Directed by Edgar Wright
Few trends have been so inescapably dominant throughout the 21st century as the massive rise of zombies, whether it be TV shows like The Walking Dead or blockbusters like World War Z. However, as far as the world of comedy is concerned, Shaun of the Dead is so seamlessly brilliant with its comedy-horror take on the living dead that it becomes one of the funniest movies of all time. The film is relatively simple in its concept, following a duo of best friends attempting to make their way to a local pub amidst a massive zombie outbreak, yet it’s all in the execution that makes it truly special.
Shaun of the Dead finds an impeccable balance between shocking, violent horror content, absurdly entertaining and memorable characters, and unmatched comedic dialogue to make for a brilliantly effective horror comedy experience. Even when it delves into aspects of other genres, the film never loses its cheeky comedic edge, having an alluring aura of absurdity, chaos, and overall unpredictability at each turn. Shaun of the Dead is among the most critically acclaimed horror comedy films of all time and has had a massive influence on both horror films and comedy films alike.