A Reel Opinion: The Top 10 Best Comedy Films

It is a dark time for cinema. With the global pandemic Coronavirus causing health concerns, theatres are closing, and major studios have halted release plans for potential blockbusters A QUIET PLACE PART II, BLACK WIDOW, MULAN, the next installment in the FAST AND THE FURIOUS franchise, and the James Bond film NO TIME TO DIE. Off the screen, productions on many films have halted, including the next BATMAN. The recovery time for cinema may take a very long time. 

Fans of cinema are left nowhere to go with nothing new to watch. But sitting at home and watching old favorites certainly isn’t the worst thing ever…and we can be reminded of cinema’s ability to provide the best escapism. With the news coming out of the world all grim and bad, a good laugh is what we all need. And that brings us to Reel Speak’s very first Top 10 Best Comedy Films. 

More than any other genre, comedy is probably the most subjective; what is funny to one person may not be to another. The criteria to judge a good comedy film is (obviously), if it’s funny to one degree or another, cultural impact, and if it’s a good movie. It’s also important to note that many films may have comedy elements but are not completely driven by the laughs (BACK TO THE FUTURE and ANT-MAN, for example), so to qualify, the movie has to live and die off the comedy. 

So let’s get ready to LOL…and hopefully this will inspire a need to go back and revisit these classics…and have a little fun. 

10. YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN (1974)

Mel Brooks was the undisputed king of comedy for decades, but as time has passed many of his films and their simple gags now seem very dated, with the off-color humor in his classic BLAZING SADDLES (1974) rendering that film nearly obsolete. YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN, which also came in 1974, has aged well with its jokes and one-liners still delivering effective laughs. The cast of Gene Wilder, Gene Hackman (!), Peter Boyle, Madeline Kahn, and Teri Garr seem like they’re having a blast. One of the few comedy films that is considered to be essential viewing in the horror genre as well. 

9. NATIONAL LAMPOON’S CHRISTMAS VACATION (1989)

Chevy Chase and National Lampoon may have earned their place in comedy history with the first two VACATION films, but it is the holiday version that has the better staying power. It’s a bit of a cheat, as all Christmas movies have a timeless quality to them, but the situations and predicaments that Clark finds himself in are grounded in a reality; nearly everyone can watch the film and say, yes…I remember when my dad did that. From malfunctioning house-lights, trees that are too big, and dealing with intolerable family members and bosses. Everything about Christmas-at-home is present here, and the laughs still work. There aren’t many people who don’t have this film on their watch-list every December. 

8. MRS. DOUBTFIRE (1993)

The two biggest comedy stars in the 1990’s were by far Jim Carrey and Robin Williams. While Carrey’s ACE VENTURA films had everyone screaming in laughter, it was Williams and his MRS. DOUBTFIRE that provided emotional bursts in laughter and in tears; a rarity for a comedy film. The notion of the entire movie itself is ridiculous; a man fooling everyone, including his own family, that he was an elderly woman. But what could have been a silly film was turned into something that tugged on the all heartstrings, as its grounded reality of broken families spoke to audiences. 

7. ANIMAL HOUSE (1978)

This John Landis romp about a misfit group of fraternity members made such an impression, that frat-houses to this day, for better or for worse, are still connected to it. The late great John Belushi became an overnight movie star, and the film was the starting point for future stars Karen Allen and Kevin Bacon. The film is outrageously funny, and launched the “gross out” film genre, which since then has become a Hollywood regular. 

6. NAPOLEON DYNAMITE (2004)

Perhaps the best sleeper-hit of all time. This Jared Hess-directed indie film about an awkward teen came out of nowhere and became an overnight sensation; earning box office dollars and becoming an instant pop-culture entry. The humor is realistic and subtle, and the actors perfectly cast in their roles. One of the few films that owns simple phrases such as “vote for Pedro” or “gosh!”. Everyone knows what movie those lines come from. 

5. MONTY PYTHON AND THE HOLY GRAIL (1975)

The off-brand humor of the Monty Python comedy group didn’t work for everyone 40 years ago, and for modern audiences even less so. But their 1975 lampooning of the Arthurian legend, which Hollywood has done to death over the decades, embraced a level of zaniness that gave it a unique personality. The writing is sharp and witty, and the script is loaded with classic zingers that people still quote today, even if they don’t know the source. 

4. THE BIG LEBOWSKI (1998)

Joel and Ethan Coen have dabbled in many genres in their most-excellent careers, but the dark comedy seems to be the one they excel at. Their twisting and turning mystery tale of mistaken identity made Jeff Bridges’ character of The Dude an instant icon, and the laughs are delivered in physical comedy and relentless dialogue. Many people may not consider this to be a straight-up comedy film, but anyone who has rolled over laughing at The Dude getting a face-full of ashes would disagree. 

3. SPACEBALLS (1987)

Mel Brooks spent half his career spoofing other people’s work, and he landed on a gold mine when he decided to go after STAR WARS. His galactic comedy treated the original material with the respect it deserved, which allowed long-time fans of the Force to get on board with it. SPACEBALLS is endlessly quotable, and the laughs are well-timed and have aged very well. 

2. CLUE (1985)

Based on the popular board game, CLUE took the whodunit genre and turned it upside down with a few shakes for good measure. Another twisting and turning mystery that goes in a million different directions, it keeps the viewer guessing in a roller-coaster ride. The humor goes from machine-gun dialogue to physical in a nice balance, and the lines are quotable to this day. As a topper, just when the film is seemingly heading for the exit door, it offers a few more surprises. And let’s not forget the ensemble cast; Tim Curry, Leslie Ann Warren, Martin Mull, Madeline Khan, Christopher Lloyd, Eileen Brennan, Michael McKean, Colleen Camp, and Howard Hesseman.  

1. GHOSTBUSTERS (1984)

Ivan Reitman’s comedy about a trio of misfit scientists who go into business for themselves to bust spiritual heads has lost none of its impact over the course of nearly 40 years. The dry humor and witty one-liners have made it one of the most often-quoted films in history, and despite its sci-fi elements, has a grounding that makes its silly concept feel real. Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, and the late great Harold Ramis starred as the trio in roles that they would be tied to for the rest of their careers, and the supporting cast of Ernie Hudson, Sigourney Weaver, Annie Potts, and Rick Moranis add to the fun. It is endlessly rewatchable and a joy each time, and it simply works as a good movie. From the instantly recognizable logo, to Slimer the ghost, to the Ecto-1 vehicle, it is one of the biggest entries in pop culture since STAR WARS. They are the one, there are the only…GHOSTBUSTERS. 

REEL SPEAK'S TOP 10 COMEDY FILMS

1. GHOSTBUSTERS
2. CLUE
3. SPACEBALLS
4. THE BIG LEBOWSKI
5. MONTY PYTHON AND THE HOLY GRAIL
6. NAPOLEON DYNAMITE
7. ANIMAL HOUSE
8. MRS. DOUBTFIRE
9. CHRISTMAS VACATION
10. YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN