In compiling this selection of the best comedy movies our Life Daily team were very aware that appreciation of humor is very subjective
So we have tried to make this small list as representative as possible of the many different styles of comedy. We even included a silent movie and two of the earliest talkies to make sure we didn’t miss out on giants of comedy like Buster Keaton, Charlie Chaplin, and the Marx Brothers.
On the other hand, we knew that it would impossible to include everyone’s favorite so we regretfully passed over other great funny teams like Laurel and Hardy, Abbot and Costello, and Martin and Lewis.
But what we have chosen covers most versions of what people find funny, from the gentle subtle humor of romantic comedy (Adam’s Rib) to the slapstick of Chaplin and all stops in-between.
The movies cover a period of eight decades. They are not arranged in chronological order, or any other order, so the number is no indication of how we rate them.
But, and only by co-incidence, our first movie, “Airplane,” was rated by one focus group as the funniest movie of all time based on how many laughs it produced. It achieved a rate of 3 laughs per minute. By way of comparison, “Borat” got 1.7 laughs per minute.
But, we repeat, humor is so personal that we don’t want to even attempt to grade our list of the best comedy movies
Just browse through and check off how many you have seen, would like to see, or would like to see again!
1. Airplane! (1980)
Memorable quote: “Can you fly this plane, and land it?” “Surely you can’t be serious.” “I am serious… and don’t call me Shirley.”
This screwball comedy is full of slapstick and packed with one-liners.
Starring: Leslie Nielsen, Lloyd Bridges, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
2. The General (1926)
Memorable quote:”If you lose this war don’t blame me.”
It is difficult to compare modern films with early silent comedies, but today, many critics consider it the best silent comedy ever produced.
Starring: Buster Keaton
3. The 40-Year-Old Virgin (2005
Memorable quote:”I respect women! I love women! I respect them so much I completely stay away from them!”
Large sections of this movie are unscripted, off-the-cuff joke-slinging which succeeds most of the time.
Starring: Steve Carell
4. What’s Up, Doc? (1972)
Memorable quote: “Eunice? There’s a person named Eunice?”
Confusion leads to laughs as this film tries to sort out four matching bags that get mixed up.
Starring: Ryan O’Neal and Barbra Streisand
5. Billy Madison (1995)
Memorable quote: “Of course I peed my pants, everyone my age pees their pants. It’s the coolest.”
This stupidly silly movie struck a chord with young men in particular who are the core audience for Sandler’s immature humor.
Starring: Adam Sandler
6. Adam’s Rib (1949)
Memorable quote: “Lawyers should never marry other lawyers. This is called in-breeding. From this comes idiot children… and other lawyers.”
This classic romantic comedy is a true battle of the sexes which is awkward, sweet, and funny.
Starring: Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn
7. M*A*S*H (1970)
Memorable quote: “This isn’t a hospital. It’s an insane asylum. And it’s your fault.”
This movie brought humor to the activities inside a Korean War field hospital.
Starring: Elliott Gould, Sally Kellerman, and Donald Sutherland
8. Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987)
Memorable quote: “The last thing I want to be remembered as is an annoying blabbermouth.”
This potent comic team play two men traveling from New York to Chicago before Thanksgiving.
Starring: John Candy and Steve Martin
9. South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut (1999)
Memorable quote: “That movie has warped my fragile little mind.”
The gang of boys sees a controversial movie and picks up swear words, which somehow leads to war between Canada and the US.
Created by: Matt Stone and Trey Parker
10. Beverly Hills Cop (1984)
Memorable quote: “This is the cleanest and nicest police car I’ve ever been in in my life. This thing’s nicer than my apartment.”
This story about a Detroit cop in Beverly Hills rocketed Murphy into the big time.
Starring: Eddie Murphy
11. The Producers (1968)
Memorable quote: “Not many people know it, but the Führer was a terrific dancer.”
Mel Brooks has been a strong influence on movie comedy since this debut film. The dynamics between the lead actors are comedy in its purist form.
Starring: Gene Wilder and Zero Mostel
12. City Lights (1931)
Memorable quote: “Be careful how you’re driving.” “Am I driving?”
Charlie Chaplin had complete control of this film as writer, director, producer, and star, and it’s filled with his trademark slapstick humor.
Starring: Charlie Chaplin
13. The Blues Brothers (1980)
Memorable quote:”They’re not gonna catch us. We’re on a mission from God.”
With singing, dancing, and joking, this movie shows off the multiple talents of its stars.
Starring: Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi
14. Tootsie (1982)
Memorable quote: “I don’t believe in hell. I believe in unemployment, but not hell.”
An epic comedy performance by Hoffman in drag lifts the film to another level
Starring: Dustin Hoffman
15. Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan (2006
Memorable quote: “High five!”
Baron Cohen uses his lightning wit to torpedo everything in his path as he lampoons American Red-neck culture.
Starring: Sacha Baron Cohen
16. Duck Soup (1933)
Memorable quote: “I got a good mind to join a club and beat you over the head with it.”
This musical comedy from the Marx brothers is now considered their best work.
Starring: The Marx brothers (Groucho, Harpo, Chico, and Zeppo)
17. Blazing Saddles (1974)
Memorable quote: “Men, you are about to embark on a great crusade to stamp out runaway decency in the west. Now you men will only be risking your lives, whilst I will be risking an almost certain Academy Award nomination for best supporting actor.”
Mel Brooks creates a spoof Western about a black sheriff coming to town and appears in numerous roles, including an Indian chief who speaks Yiddish.
Starring: Mel Brooks
18. Some Like It Hot (1959)
Memorable quote: “Story of my life. I always get the fuzzy end of the lollipop.”
A cross-dressing comedy from director Billy Wilder which attempts to deal with the question: How does a guy win Marilyn Monroe while dressed in drag?
Starring: Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon, and Marilyn Monroe
19. The Big Lebowski (1998)
Memorable quote: “That rug really tied the room together.”
Joel and Ethan Coen wrote and directed this half-sports-comedy/half-whodunit which has slowly gained cult status through a steady stream of one-liners told in bars and dorm rooms.
Starring: Jeff Bridges, John Goodman, Julianne Moore, and Steve Buscemi.
20. Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975)
Memorable quote:”We are the Knights who say… NI.”
Some “Monty Python” fans consider that “Life of Brian” is actually a better film. However, others say this may be the most quotable film ever produced. Its closing line: ” Now go and boil your bottoms, you sons of silly persons.”
Starring: Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, and, Michael Palin
21. Animal House (1978)
Memorable quote: “Fat, drunk, and stupid is no way to go through life, son.”
Countless movies have attempted to capture its boys gone wild spirit, but nobody nailed it quite like John Belushi and company. It is the top movie about male hijinks and continues to be both parodied and imitated.
Starring: John Belushi, Karen Allen, Tom Hulce, and Stephen Furst
For sure, you read this list and said to yourself: “How comes they didn’t include (title) in their best comedy movies?”
So, you can tell us what you think we overlooked, and maybe suggest some favorites of your own. Just use the comment feed below.
