The 12 Most Hilarious Comedies We've Ever Watched

      The most hilarious comedies we have ever witnessed feature elements of satire, trickery, kung-fu, “hair gel,” and fools.

      Additionally, these films aren't necessarily the sweetest, most romantic, or most significant comedies — but they are, in our opinion, the funniest comedies. These are the ones that truly made us laugh without any intention of saving the world.

      Let’s dive in.

      The Jerk (1979)

      Universal Pictures

      In The Jerk, Steve Martin's character isn't truly a jerk; rather, the kind-hearted and naive Navin Johnson is one of the most endearing protagonists we've encountered, even as he rises to fame.

      One could suggest that the entirety of The Jerk serves as a precursor to the kung-fu showdown triggered when devious real estate developers involve Navin in their racist scheme. His explosive reaction is both politically incorrect and fervently anti-racist — utterly cathartic, naive, and beautiful. We adore this film.

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

      Airplane (1980)

      Paramount

      “Oh stewardess? I speak jive,” declares Barbara Billingsley in one of the countless absurdist jokes in this parody of disaster films, which straightforwardly treats every scenario, no matter how ludicrous, with complete seriousness.

      No other film boasts a higher jokes-per-minute ratio, and most are quite good, with some being downright brilliant.

      This film deserves to be near the top of any list of the funniest comedies.

      Top Secret! (1984)

      Paramount

      Following their tremendous success with Airplane!, David Zucker, Jim Abrahams, and Jerry Zucker created this peculiar comedy that parodies a mix of Elvis films and war movies. Even Zucker-Abrahams-Zucker consider it somewhat of a misstep — the beginning lacks many jokes, and it’s understandable why audiences might not grasp the exact satire.

      However, the setup serves merely as a springboard for a series of magnificent sight gags, such as the backward library scene, the moving train station segment, and the tunnel joke. The more you enjoy esoteric and obscure humor (apologies, Ford Pinto) the more you will appreciate Top Secret! This is a film where you need to always keep an eye on the background, as something absurd is likely happening.

      We also love the musical numbers and Val Kilmer’s exceptional portrayal of the American singer Nick Rivers — though he has mentioned that he felt a bit embarrassed about making something so silly while filming.

      One reason we consider this one of the funniest comedies is that so many will never truly understand it.

      Coming to America (1988)

      Paramount

      A remarkable showcase of Eddie Murphy’s abilities, Coming to America appeals to everyone, and heaven help you if you lack a sense of humor. Murphy’s Prince Akeem primarily plays a straight man to a host of eccentric characters.

      The film depicts a New York where nearly everyone is some sort of scam artist — allowing Murphy and Arsenio Hall to portray a myriad of questionable personas.

      Nonetheless, the movie has a good-hearted core: Akeem embodies fundamental decency, whether as a wealthy man or a poor man, and his quest for a genuine partner keeps us engaged amid all the craziness. It stands as one of the funniest comedies and one of the most thoughtful too.

      Best in Show (2000)

      Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures

      Rob Reiner’s This Is Spinal Tap, featuring Christopher Guest as one of the stars, introduced the powerful comedic potential of the documentary style, but Guest’s 1996 Waiting for Guffman is the film that made it a staple for the subsequent decade.

      While many Christopher Guest films could have made this list, we chose Best in Show due to Jennifer Coolidge’s monologue about discussing or avoiding conversation for hours.

      Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975)

      EMI Films

      We had to include Monty Python here. This spoof of Arthurian legend films is filled with absurdity disguised as serious intentions, a hallmark of Python's work.

      It also marks the joint directorial debut of Terry Gilliam and Terry Jones—a collaborative practice that tends to lead to great comedic films, as evidenced by the number of 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 (above) exclaiming “Message for you, sir!”

      There’s Something About Mary (1998)

      20th Century Fox

      Our favorite among the numerous amusing Farrelly Brothers films centers around Cameron Diaz as the enchanting Mary, whose kindness, cool demeanor, and beauty draw the adoration of nearly every man she encounters.

      Yet, the one we support wholeheartedly is Ben Stiller’s Ted,