39 Best Comedy Movies That Actually Make You Laugh

Comedy is subjective, but some films make everyone laugh. These thirty-nine represent the genre’s range, from Wes Anderson’s deadpan to Superbad’s teen chaos. They’re rewatchable, quotable, and genuinely funny.

Dark Comedy Masters

1. In Bruges (2008)

Martin McDonagh’s debut sends two hitmen to Belgium after a job goes wrong. Colin Farrell hates the medieval architecture. Brendan Gleeson appreciates it. Their bickering fills time before their boss arrives.

2. The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)

Wes Anderson’s dollhouse aesthetic reaches its peak. Ralph Fiennes’ concierge navigates murder and intrigue with unflappable style. The pastry boxes, the prison escape, the ski chase. Every frame is perfect.

3. Jojo Rabbit (2019)

Taika Waititi’s WWII satire has a boy whose imaginary friend is Hitler. The tonal tightrope shouldn’t work, but Waititi’s warmth and Scarlett Johansson’s mother make it land.

Teen Comedy Excellence

4. Superbad (2007)

Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg’s script captures teen desperation perfectly. Jonah Hill and Michael Cera’s last night before graduation escalates through booze, cops, and McLovin. It’s raunchy and surprisingly sweet.

5. Lady Bird (2017)

Greta Gerwig’s Sacramento coming-of-age is funny because it’s true. Saoirse Ronan’s Christine becomes herself through senior year conflicts with her mother. The humor is observational and warm.

More Comedy Essentials

1. “Airplane!” (1980) - ZAZ’s parody template
2. “Ghostbusters” (1984) - Reitman’s supernatural comedy
3. “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” (1986) - Hughes’ hooky
4. “The Princess Bride” (1987) - Reiner’s fairy tale
5. “When Harry Met Sally” (1989) - Reiner’s rom-com
6. “Groundhog Day” (1993) - Ramis’ time loop
7. “Dumb and Dumber” (1994) - Farrelly’s idiocy
8. “Clueless” (1995) - Heckerling’s Austen
9. “The Big Lebowski” (1998) - Coen’s slacker
10. “There’s Something About Mary” (1998) - Farrelly’s gross-out
11. “Office Space” (1999) - Judge’s cubicle satire
12. “Best in Show” (2000) - Guest’s mockumentary
13. “Legally Blonde” (2001) - Luketic’s underestimation
14. “Anchorman” (2004) - McKay’s news parody
15. “Mean Girls” (2004) - Waters’ high school
16. “Napoleon Dynamite” (2004) - Hess’ Idaho
17. “The 40-Year-Old Virgin” (2005) - Apatow’s debut
18. “Borat” (2006) - Baron Cohen’s America
19. “Knocked Up” (2007) - Apatow’s accident
20. “Tropic Thunder” (2008) - Stiller’s Hollywood
21. “The Hangover” (2009) - Phillips’ Vegas
22. “Bridesmaids” (2011) - Feig’s wedding
23. “21 Jump Street” (2012) - Miller/Lord’s reboot
24. “This Is the End” (2013) - Rogen’s apocalypse
25. “What We Do in the Shadows” (2014) - Waititi’s vampires
26. “Booksmart” (2019) - Wilde’s graduation
27. “Knives Out” (2019) - Johnson’s whodunit
28. “Palm Springs” (2020) - Barbakow’s loop
29. “Barbie” (2023) - Gerwig’s meta
30. “The Favourite” (2018) - Lanthimos’ court
31. “The Death of Stalin” (2017) - Iannucci’s Soviet
32. “Hunt for the Wilderpeople” (2016) - Waititi’s New Zealand
33. “The Nice Guys” (2016) - Black’s buddy
34. “Game Night” (2018) - Daley/Goldstein’s mystery

Comedy That Lasts

The best comedies improve with rewatching. You notice new details, appreciate timing, quote lines forever. These thirty-nine films have that staying power.

Browse our full comedy collection for more recommendations.