The 13 Most Hilarious Comedy Films We've Ever Watched

      The most entertaining comedy films we’ve encountered include elements of satire, tricks, kung-fu, “hair gel,” and foolish characters.

      Additionally, these films aren’t necessarily the most sentimental, romantic, or significant comedies — rather, they represent what we consider the funniest comedies. These are the ones that genuinely made us laugh without the intention of making a moral statement.

      Let’s dive in.

      The Jerk (1979)

      Universal Pictures

      Steve Martin’s role in The Jerk is far from that of a jerk — the charming and naive Navin Johnson stands out as one of the most endearing protagonists we've witnessed, even as he rises to fame.

      One could argue that the entire plot of The Jerk is merely a setup for the kung-fu showdown that arises when unscrupulous real estate developers involve Navin in their racist scheme. His outrage is both politically incorrect and fervently anti-racist — a cathartic blend of innocence and beauty. This film has our hearts.

      We appreciate The Jerk for including an extended, seemingly pointless segment that features the line, “I’ve heard about this — cat juggling!”

      Airplane (1980)

      Paramount

      “Oh stewardess? I speak jive,” says Barbara Billingsley in just one of the countless absurd, anarchic jokes in this satire of disaster films that takes every scenario, no matter how absurd, at face value.

      No other film has a higher joke-to-minute ratio, and quite a few of them land successfully. Some are utterly brilliant. This should rank among the top in any list of the funniest comedies.

      Also Read: SNL Gone Wild: 12 Behind the Scenes Stories of Saturday Night Live

      Top Secret! (1984)

      Paramount

      David Zucker, Jim Abrahams, and Jerry Zucker followed their immense success with Airplane! by creating this bizarre comedy that parodies a mix of an Elvis film and a war movie. Even the creators view it as somewhat flawed — the initial jokes are sparse, and you can’t fault viewers for being unsure about the satire.

      Yet the setup serves as a pretext for a series of incredibly clever sight gags, like the backwards library scene, the moving train station scene, and the tunnel gag. The more you appreciate obscure jokes (apologies, Ford Pinto), the more you'll enjoy Top Secret! This film demands you pay attention to the background, as there's almost always something ludicrous happening.

      We also enjoy the songs and Val Kilmer’s remarkable performance as American singer Nick Rivers — though he has admitted feeling a bit embarrassed about making something so silly at the time.

      One reason we consider this among the funniest comedies is that many people will never fully grasp it.

      Coming to America (1988)

      Paramount

      A stunning showcase of Eddie Murphy’s abilities, Coming to America appeals to all demographics, and goodness help you if you can’t handle a joke. Murphy’s Prince Akeem largely plays the straight man to a parade of self-deprecating oddballs.

      The film portrays a New York where nearly everyone is a scam artist to some extent — allowing Murphy and Arsenio Hall to portray a barrage of questionable characters.

      However, the film has a good heart: Akeem embodies fundamental decency whether living as a wealthy man or a poor man, and his quest for a genuine partner keeps us engaged amidst all the chaos. It stands out as one of the funniest comedies while also being quite thoughtful.

      Best in Show (2000)

      Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures

      Rob Reiner’s This Is Spinal Tap, featuring Christopher Guest, showcased the comedic potential of the documentary format, but Guest’s 1996 Waiting for Guffman made it a staple for the following decade.

      We could have included many of Christopher Guest’s films here, but Best in Show edges out due to Jennifer Coolidge’s monologue about talking or not talking for hours.

      Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975)

      EMI Films

      We had to include Monty Python somewhere in this list. This parody of Arthurian legend films is filled with absurdity masquerading as serious undertones, a signature of Python.

      It also marks the directorial debut of Terry Gilliam and Terry Jones, who shared directing responsibilities — a technique that seems to yield great comedy films, as illustrated by the numerous co-directed entries on this list.

      We adore the Trojan Rabbit, the Knights Who Say “Ni!,” the coconuts, the French Taunter, and especially Eric Idle’s line, “Message for you, sir!”

      There’s Something About Mary (1998)

      20th Century Fox

      Our preferred film from the many hilarious works of the Farrelly Brothers revolves around Cameron Diaz as the captivating Mary, whose kindness and beauty capture the affection of nearly every man she encounters.

      However, the one we’re rooting for is Ben St