Top 5: Funniest Comedies Of All Time
A good comedy is like comfort food; it’s filling (with its laughter) and has the ability to turn our frowns upside down. Through their frequent silliness and/or absurdly heightened versions of reality, comedies remind us not to take ourselves — or our lives — too seriously. Even though we’ve heard their jokes a million times, the best comedies continually keep us laughing and wanting to return to their silliness and shenanigans time and time again.
Given that it’s April Fools’ Day, we thought we’d take a look at some of the comedies that keep us coming back for more. Below are our picks for the top five greatest comedies of all time!
5: Modern Times (1936)
After all these years, Charlie Chaplin remains a timeless comedic powerhouse. His films have held up remarkable well, and impressively, continue to attract and charm new audiences while other silent-era and early talkie pictures are caking in dust. Many of his films are darling laugh riots, but it’s Modern Times that we consider to be his greatest comedic achievement — and one of the best comedies of all time, too (obviously). Nearing 90 years old, it still feels fresh and hilarious; its machine heavy physical gags have lost some of their power, but its focus on automation and enslavement to machines (or technology) makes it feel at home in our, well, modern time. Chaplin’s physical display is off the charts. He uses everything in the scene to milk laughs, and the set ups are clever and unique. One of the most memorable bits includes a feeding machine, which Chaplin rings every ounce of comedy out of. Modern Times is the perfect example of Chaplin’s bravery (with regard to subject matter and message) and his uniquely uncanny ability as a perform, which is why it’s one of our favorites.
4: Groundhog Day (1993)
When it comes to Bill Murray, there are many comedic masterpieces to consider with regard to all-time great comedies (Stripes, Ghostbusters, Caddy Shack, and What About Bob? all being close contenders), but to us, no Bill Murray film is more special or hilarious than Groundhog Day. We love that it takes a boring, uneventful spectacle and turns it into something absurdly fantastical and incredibly engaging. Its unique time-loop premise (which has inspired many like-minded concepts, such as Palm Springs and Edge Of Tomorrow) gives the film an incredibly universal appeal, as it essentially finds the crossroads between many different theological and spiritual teachings, allowing anyone to connect to Phil’s plight. The film’s repetition creates space for many many memorable gags, while also giving the film a lot of layers that enrich repeat viewings. Bill Murray gives one of his best performances that showcases his strengths as both a comedic and dramatic performer. He conveys a wide array of emotions and gives Phil a lot of pathos. There’s a lot of joy, laughter, and catharsis in watching his character evolve, so much so that you feel as though you’ve grown with Phil throughout his journey toward enlightenment.
3: Blazing Saddles & Young Frankenstein (1974)
Okay, okay, so we’re pulling some funny business here and bending the rules to squeeze two films into one slot — but we’re doing it with damn good reason! Believe it or not, Blazing Saddles and Young Frankenstein, two of Mel Brooks’ most beloved comedies (and two of our favorites of all time), were both released in 1974, a mere 8 months apart, making it one helluva year for the filmmaker. Both also feature Gene Wilder in delightfully delirious performances that ooze hilarity and charm. Honestly, it’s hard for us to choose between the two; we love them both so much. Young Frankenstein is a more visually stimulating and disciplined film; whereas, Blazing Saddles is a grab bag full of absurd gags. Both films do, however, achieve the same effect: they keep you in a constant state of laughter. Filled to the brim with colorful performances, hilarious dialogue, and searingly memorable moments, Blazing Saddles and Young Frankenstein are a Mel Brooks one-two punch that deliver the kind of goods that last forever.
2: Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)
Y’all didn’t really think we’d get through a list without tossing out at least one Stanley Kubrick film, right?! After all, the cinematic icon has pretty much veered into every genre and left a singular mark within them. Dark comedy permeated much of Kubrick’s filmography, but it’s never been as overt or pungent as Dr. Strangelove. The film is an undeniably sharp masterpiece of black comedy that features not one, not two, but three side-splitting performances from comedy genius Peter Sellers. The film really set the high bar for political satire, a pedestal it still perches on to this day, uncontested. Even after 50 years, its comedic prowess remains largely undiminished, and it has undoubtably influenced every single political satire that’s followed since. What makes it even more pointed is that underneath all the absurdity lies a premise that, exaggerated as it may be, is all too real. While Sellers dominates conversations about performances, he’s also aided tremendously George C. Scott, Sterling Hayden, and Slim Pickens, who all dial in pitch-perfect performances. Smart, funny, and scary plausible, Dr. Strangelove examines some of humanity’s biggest failings, including our likely demise at the hands of our own fears and stupidity, in such an incisive and razor-sharp way that it’s hard for many comedies to outshine it’s glow.
1: The Jerk (1979)
Steve Martin’s first starring role in a feature is gloriously silly, delightfully dumb, and downright hilarious. A joint effort between Carl Reiner, Martin, and co-screenwriters Carl Gottlieb and Michael Elias, The Jerk is overflowing with great gags, funny lines, and signature Steve Martin silliness. It’s a madcap masterpiece that’s constantly playful in its madness, continually unfolding itself in unexpected and increasingly hilarious ways. From its hysterical opening line (“I was born a poor black child”) to its country hoedown conclusion, The Jerk takes you on a charmingly uproarious odyssey that cannot be forgotten. On the surface, it’s the classic rags-to-riches tale we’ve all seen before, but it’s so lovingly stuffed with so much material that the journey becomes its own unique experience. Martin showcases a real genius for playing dumb and naive, and he shares an amazingly sweet chemistry with Bernadette Peters (their nighttime duet of “You Belong To Me” on the beach perfectly encapsulates their charm). As goofy as it is — and it is incredibly zany — Martin and Peters inject such an endearing sweetness that it’s hard not to fall head over heels for it. It’s one of those comedies that we never tire of, even though we know all the beats and every line (and yell them at our TV), which is why it’s our favorite comedy of all time.
Did we tickle your funny bone, or were we way off target?! We want to know. Share your thoughts and feelings in the comments section below, and as always, remember to viddy well!