Top 10 Comedy Movies That Were Way Better Than We Expected
Top 10 Comedy Movies That Were Way Better Than We Expected
We didn’t see that coming. Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’ll be counting down our picks for the Top 10 Comedy Movies That Were Way Better Than We Expected. For this list, we’ll be looking at comedy films that exceeded expectations in terms of quality, box office success, or cultural impact.
#10: “Game Night” (2018)
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The premise seems simple: a competitive couple participate in a game night with their friends, and unusual hijinks ensue. But despite sounding like a cookie-cutter comedy, this 2018 film is far from it. Instead, the team behind “Horrible Bosses” delivers enough twists and turns to keep the audience constantly guessing. The charismatic ensemble cast manages the difficult trick of keeping viewers on the edge of their seats, while also making them laugh. With popular party games incorporated into the characters’ attempts to foil a kidnapping, this is genuinely a game night to remember!
#9: “The 40-Year-Old Virgin” (2005)
Top 20 Comedy Movies That Were Way Better Than We Expected
This one could have been so bad. Based on the title, viewers could have been forgiven for expecting vulgar low-brow humor and stereotypes. The late Roger Ebert sure thought that’s what he was in for and was delighted to instead find it “surprisingly insightful”, with “a good heart and a lovable hero.” Most moviegoers concurred and the film became a substantial hit. Steve Carell was previously best known for his contributions to “The Daily Show” and this film put both him and director co-writer Judd Apatow firmly on the Hollywood map - for good reason.
#8: “Beetlejuice” (1988)
Tim Burton’s eccentric, colorful and somewhat morbid approach to comedy has resulted in a number of critical and box office successes. But back in 1988, the prospect of getting big laughs with a story about a deceased couple haunting their house was far from a done deal. Given that Michael Keaton’s most recent films hadn’t set the box office on fire, and Winona Ryder wasn’t yet a recognizable name, expectations for Burton’s follow-up to “Pee-wee’s Big Adventure” weren’t high. But the sensibilities of this cast and director were perfectly in tune, resulting in a quirky film that gets laughs from unexpected places.
#7: “Zombieland” (2009)
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At the time of “Zombieland’s” release, many felt the zombie craze was dying down. Could a zombie comedy with an odd Twinkie fascination could really resurrect the genre? Add to that the fact it was director Ruben Fleischer’s first feature film, and expectations weren’t exactly sky high. Yet this offbeat flick became one of the genre’s biggest hits - and was hilarious to boot. Credit sharp writing, a solid cast, and some funny action sequences for its success. And, of course, that Bill Murray cameo was a major plus. Mix it all together and you get a comedy that defies expectations.
#6: “Girls Trip” (2017)
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Deft direction and a strong cast can turn a standard comedic premise into a really good movie. And as premises go, a group of friends going on a road trip is about as standard as you can get. But Regina Hall, Queen Latifah, Tiffany Haddish and Jada Pinkett Smith made their characters believable and fresh - with Haddish stealing the show as the hilarious Dina. Their friendship felt so real that audiences were only too happy to laugh along with them, and “Girl’s Trip” was a huge critical and commercial success. The result: a trip that’s surprisingly fun to take.
#5: “Mean Girls” (2004)
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It was written by Tina Fey, produced by Lorne Michaels, and had Tim Meadows in the cast - so it’s easy to assume this would be a run-of-the-mill SNL movie. Turns out this teen comedy bucked the trend and was an original, thoughtful, and funny flick. The real surprise, though, is this 2004 film’s cultural impact. While “Mean Girls” is an apt title, “Meme Girls “would have worked as well; more than a decade later, the film’s characters and one-liners live on in numerous memes. Endlessly quotable, relatable, and hilarious all at once, “Mean Girls” is timeless.
#4: “21 Jump Street” (2012)
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Turning an old TV show into a big screen action comedy has been done so many times that it’s about as commonplace as ... well, as the undercover cop trope. Phil Lord and Christopher Miller’s adaptation of “21 Jump Street” involves both those things, yet it turned out to be incredibly entertaining - in no small part thanks to the on-screen chemistry between Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum. It also had solid character development, just the right amount of self-referential humor, and one hell of a comedy- and action-packed limo chase. In fact, the movie was such a hit that it spawned a solid sequel and ALMOST a “Men in Black” crossover.
#3: “Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle” (2004)
On the surface, this might look like your standard stoner comedy and road trip movie. But “Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle” is so much more than a one- or two-note jokefest. Instead, it’s a comedic odyssey through various communities that deals with some serious social issues, such as bigotry and racial profiling. It also offers an abundance of twists and turns along the way. As two friends who just want to reach White Castle, John Cho and Kal Penn are well-defined and sympathetic enough to keep the audience rooting for them, even if their goal IS a fast food restaurant. The movie launched their careers and led to a sequel.
#2: “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle” (2017)
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The original “Jumanji” starring Robin Williams is a classic, so audiences could have been forgiven for viewing this belated sequel with trepidation. But with a fresh modern twist on the premise, it was a surprisingly fun and side-splitting movie. While in 1995’s “Jumanji,” a brother and sister get sucked into a board game, “Welcome to the Jungle” puts an entirely new cast inside a video game instead. Dwayne Johnson, Jack Black, Karen Gillan and Kevin Hart all give great performances and the fast-paced comedic action really works. It’s since spawned a sequel of its own and is poised to become a franchise. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. “Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story” (2007) For Being So Much More Than Just a Parody of Rock Biopics “Blockers” (2018) For Intelligence & Empathy Over Formula “Bridesmaids” (2011) A Breakthrough Comedy That’s Raunchy, Honest & Above All Hilarious “Galaxy Quest” (1999) For Being a Parody of Sci-Fi & Fandom That’s Both Affectionate & Funny “Spy” (2015) Feig & McCarthy Succeed a Third Time!
#1: “Napoleon Dynamite” (2004)
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Talk about coming out of nowhere. This quirky small-town comedy made for $400 000 by a team just out of college went on to make $46 million and become a cult hit - complete with merchandising and a bronze statue at 20th Century Fox studios. With an unknown director and no known stars, no one expected much - and so were surprised by the film’s heart and originality. It was director Jared Hess and star Jon Heder’s first feature film - and boy did they knock it out of the park. This simple, personal story about ordinary high school students, told with irreverent humor, struck a chord with audiences and is still quoted today.
