It’s incredibly challenging to make people laugh. There are dozens and dozens of comedy movies that try hard to make you laugh but fail. The writing, the acting, the comic timing, the characters, something goes wrong and everything falls flat. On the other hand, there are many comedy films made over decades that make you laugh, keep you glued to the screen for a couple of hours, and bring a smile on your face whenever you think of it. Here we take a look at the top 10 funniest comedy movies ever in the English language.
Ranked: The funniest comedy movies
There are more than a hundred excellent comedy films. It’s pretty challenging to pick the top 1o funniest of them. What feels like a laugh riot to me might not work for you. This ranking is subjective, so your list might be different from mine. You can let us know in the comments below what movies you would like to add to this list.
10- The 40-Year-Old Virgin (2005)
Judd Apatow is one of the best comedy filmmakers out there. His first movie The 40-Year-Old-Virgin was a sensational success. Starring Steve Carell and Catherine Keener, this romantic comedy is hilarious right from the beginning. Paul Rudd is equally hilarious.
9- Bruce Almighty (2003)
Bruce Almighty is a fantasy comedy starring Jim Carrey and Morgan Freeman. It depicts the story of a TV reporter who complains to God that He is not doing his job properly. The reporter ends up becoming God for a week. Bruce Almighty grossed $485 million at the box office, though it was panned by critics.
8- Borat! Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan (2006)
I have lost count of how many times I have watched Borat. It’s funny and it’s original. Starring Sacha Baron Cohen, it made millions of people laugh while also pissing off some. Cohen did several comedy movies including The Dictator and Bruno, but Borat remains by far his best. Made at a budget of just $18 million, it grossed $262 million at the box office.
7- Dumb and Dumber (1994)
Another Jim Carrey flick in the top ten funniest comedy movies ever – maybe because I like his comedy too much. It also stars Jeff Daniels. Directed by Peter Farrelly, Dumb and Dumber collected $247 million at the box office against a budget of just $17 million. It depicts the story of two dumb friends who go on a cross-country trip to return a bag full of money to its owner.
6- Superbad (2007)
Directed by Greg Mottola, Superbad is one of those rare comedy films that were not only commercially successful but also received critical acclaim. This coming-of-age teen comedy has a superb balance of sincerity and vulgarity. The movie stars Jonah Hill and Michael Cera. It grossed $169 million against a budget of $20 million.
5- Raising Arizona (1987)
Raising Arizona is a crime comedy directed by Joel Coen, and stars Nicholas Cage and Holly Hunter. It depicts the story of an ex-convict and a former police officer. The film features among the American Film Institute’s “100 Years…100 Laughs.” The movie was criticized for its lack of a coherent story, but it gives you tons of good laughs.
4- Some Like It Hot (1959)
Directed by Billy Wilder, Some Like It Hot stars Marilyn Monroe, Jack Lemmon, and Tony Curtis. The film is about two musicians Jerry and Joe who flee Chicago to escape gangsters after witnessing the Valentine’s Day Massacre. It was voted the best comedy of all time in a poll conducted by BBC in 2017. Made on a budget of $2.9 million, Some Like It Hot grossed $40 million at the box office.
3- Anchorman – The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
Directed by Adam McKay, Anchorman is an ensemble comedy. It’s loaded with funny and quotable lines, great characters, and of course Will Ferrell. The more you watch it, the funnier it gets. Ron Burgundy remains one of the greatest movie characters of the 21st century.
2- Airplane! (1980)
This satirical disaster film was directed by Jim Abrahams. After 40 years after its release, Airplane still makes you laugh every time you watch it. In 2010, the US Library of Congress preserved the film in the National Film Registry as it was “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.” Airplane grossed $130 million against a budget of $3.5 million.
1- Monty Python’s Life of Brian (1979)
By far the funniest comedy movie ever! Directed by Terry Jones, it was written by the comedy group Monty Python. It depicts the story of a Jewish man who was born on the same day as Jesus Christ, and in the same neighborhood. Several magazines and TV networks have named it the greatest comedy film of all time. It explores the life of Jesus while also making you laugh.
