Of all the different movie genres, perhaps none is more subjective than comedy. Accordingly, this list of the top movie comedies represents the author’s taste in comedy.

Top Movie Comedies

• The Great Dictator (1940) – This satirical masterpiece skewered Hitler and Nazism when few dared to do so and has remained an influential classic since. Additionally, The Great Dictator was Chaplan’s first “talkie,” a cinematic milestone.
• Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964) – The film, directed by Stanley Kubrick, is a dark satire about nuclear war and the dangers of military hubris. Additionally, the film’s visual style and use of multiple characters played by the same actor (Peter Sellers) influenced subsequent filmmakers.
• The Producers (1967) – This satire of show business established Mel Brooks as a comedic force and remains a beloved classic. The film is a zany satire about a conniving producer and his hapless accountant. They hatch a scheme to produce the worst Broadway musical ever made, in order to scam investors out of their money.
• Bananas (1971) – “Bananas” was notable for its absurdist humor and anarchic spirit. Comedy fans can see its influence in subsequent comedies that have tackled similar subject matter or utilized similar comedic techniques.
• Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975) – The British comedy troupe, Monty Python, wrote and directed this film. It is a hilarious parody of the legend of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. Also, this irreverent British comedy set the standard for absurd humor and satire, influencing countless comedians and comedy writers.

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• Animal House (1978) – John Landis directed this movie, which stars John Belushi in his breakout role. Animal House is a raunchy, irreverent comedy about a group of college students who form a wild and rowdy fraternity. In fact, this movie was so irreverent that it’s doubtful it could be made today.
• Airplane! (1980) – This spoof of disaster movies and other genres helped popularize the “zany parody” subgenre and influenced countless comedies. The plot revolves around a former military pilot named Ted Striker, who tries to win back his ex-girlfriend by helping to land a plane that has become unstable because of food poisoning affecting the pilots and crew. We know the film for its fast-paced slapstick humor, visual gags, puns, and many pop culture references.
• The Blues Brothers (1980) – The movie, a tribute to blues and R&B music, follows the story of two brothers, Jake and Elwood Blues. The duo sets out on a mission from God to save their orphanage from foreclosure. “The Blues Brothers” was well-received upon its release and has become a cult classic with a devoted fan base.
• This is Spinal Tap (1984) – A comedy film directed by Rob Reiner. The movie is a spoof of the rock music industry, following the fictional heavy metal band Spinal Tap on their concert tour of the United States. This film helped popularize the “mockumentary” genre, although “The Rutles” may have been the first to do so in 1978.
• Office Space (1999) – The movie is a satirical take on office life and corporate culture in the late 1990s. The film stars Ron Livingston, Jennifer Aniston, Gary Cole, Stephen Root, and David Herman in supporting roles. It is notable for its deadpan humor, witty dialogue, and memorable characters.

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