Top 10 Comedy Movies of All Time

Top 10 Comedy Movies of All Time

These movies have come back from the past to make you laugh. This is the big one people. Welcome to WatchMojo.com, and today we’re counting down our picks for the top 10 comedies of all time.

For our series on the Top Comedies of All Time, we’ve chosen comedy films per decade based on their iconic status, critical acclaim, box-office success, watchability and, of course, how funny they are. For this clip - the final installment in the series – we’ve taken the top 4 movies from our previous lists and pitted them against each other.

#10: “Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb” (1964)

Stanley Kubrick was the master of genre-bending films and this Cold War pre-apocalyptic political black comedy is widely regarded as one of his greatest efforts. While the movie isn't outright hilarious, the intense performances by all the supporting actors in contrast to Peter Sellers’ own master of disguise style of comedy are genuinely funny and cement “Dr. Strangelove” as a cinematic piece of art.

#9: “Superbad” (2007)

Jonah Hill got his first lead role in this coming-of-age comedy about two high-schoolers who are just trying to graduate in style. The result is a series of awkwardly hilarious and sometimes-vulgar adventures as Seth, played by Hill, and Evan, portrayed by Michael Cera, try to score some alcohol and get with the cool kids. Interestingly, the film was written by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg and is based on their own experiences in high school. “Superbad” was a box office hit and well received by critics, along with being one of the most successful high school comedies ever.

#8: “Animal House” (1978)

Widely regarded as the epitome of teen sex comedies, “National Lampoon’s Animal House” undoubtedly set a precedent for the gross-out movies that followed and imitated it. With characters like the crusty old Dean Wormer and the fun-loving frat boy Otter, later teen comedies took their cues from this John Landis flick. While the laughs come from both lowbrow and more sophisticated comedy, the highlight has gotta be John Belushi’s performance as the simple-yet dedicated Bluto.

#7: “Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery” (1997)

Straight from the mind of SNL alum Mike Myers, this spy-movie spoof hit theaters in a big way. Spawning several sequels and Halloween costume ideas for years to come, “Austin Powers” pokes fun at all the classic Bond movie tropes while pulling off an engaging story with memorably insane characters. Even today, the jokes are still sidesplittingly funny and Myers’ performance has us howling with laughter.

#6: “Blazing Saddles” (1974)

This Mel Brooks classic was one of the first in a long line of spoof comedies that kicked off the legendary director’s career. A lampoon of old cowboy westerns, “Blazing Saddles” takes all the tropes and clichés and lovingly pokes fun at them while delivering a satisfying comedy chalk full of visual gags, wordy puns and hilarious dialogue. Fart jokes find their place alongside biting political satire and the combination makes for a constantly re-watchable classic.

#5: “Dumb and Dumber” (1994)

Jim Carrey was a hot property in the ‘90s, but no matter how many movies he starred in, he still managed to keep things fresh. In “Dumb and Dumber,” he stars as Lloyd Christmas opposite Jeff Daniel’s Harry Dunne as two best friends without a brain cell between them. In an attempt to return some lost property and get the girl, the pair set out on a road trip and make friends on their adventure. While the flick is inarguably dumb, everything from its dream sequences to the toilet scene will still make you bust a gut, as there are simply no boundaries left uncrossed. That's thanks to the Farrelly Brothers' comedic writing, who’re the same force behind the equally brilliant-but-dumb bowling comedy, “King Pin.”

#4: “Caddyshack” (1980)

With comedy legends like Chevy Chase, Bill Murray, Rodney Dangerfield and many others, this film packs one hell of a punch to the funny bone. From start to finish, “Caddyshack” supplies classic quotes, sidesplitting performances and overall hilarity. Anything can happen in this no-holds barred laugh riot and almost anything does. When it comes to sports comedies, this flick is truly a hole in one!

#3: “Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy” (2004)

What do you get when you throw 4 incredibly inept newsmen from the ‘70s together? Will Ferrell and his cohorts deliver one of the first and funniest flicks in a long line of hilarious comedies starring the same ensemble of actors with “Anchorman.” The comedy has spawned many quotable one-liners and even produced a highly anticipated and sidesplitting sequel. Thanks to an excellent cast, especially Ferrell’s almost-perfect performance as Ron Burgundy, its immature-but-still-funny humor, and tons of gags, the comedy’s scenes are just as re-watchable and fresh as they were when it first hit theaters.

#2: “Airplane!” (1980)

If this movie proves anything, it’s that comedies don’t have to make sense to be hilarious. On the surface, “Airplane!” is a spoof of earlier disaster films, but as soon as the opening credits roll, the audience is also taken on a non-stop roller coaster ride of sight gags and hilarious dialogue. Lloyd Bridges is especially funny in his role as Steve McCroskey, an air traffic worker who slowly works his way through all the drugs he can find. But thanks to its cheesiness, silliness and use of slapstick, the satiricalcomedy is often considered one of the decade’s finest flicks and is also our top pick.

#1: “Monty Python and the Holy Grail” (1975)

Monty Python loves to lampoon history, and they did it again with “Life of Brian.” However, it’s “The Holy Grail” that’s our pick for their greatest comedy achievement. Starting from the memorable opening shot, the movie does offer some of the Python gang’s trademark stream of consciousness comedy but under a more unified theme, and it’s replete with simple sight gags and intellectual humor. The film has deservedly become a classic and the lines have been endlessly re-quoted by comedy aficionados everywhere. King Arthur and his knights are mercilessly ridiculed with the Middle Ages becoming a backdrop for one of the best comedies of all time.

Do you agree with our list? What’s your favorite comedy movie of all time? For more hilarious Top 10s published daily, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.