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The Best R-Rated Comedies of All Time

The Best R-Rated Comedies of All Time

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It’s hard to argue that the best comedy films of all time are rated R. These hilarious films can push buttons and use different elements of comedy that you wouldn’t see in any PG or PG-13 film. For instance, “Deadpool” is considered one of the funniest films of this generation and is rated R. Many of the raunchy and ridiculous scenes make the movie what it is. Without them, the movie isn’t as funny.

Watching a comedy film is a great way to relax and take your mind off of things. What better way to do this than with a R-rated comedy? Although the movies on this list are spread out through the decades, many of the movies came out in the 2000s and on. When people think of R-rated comedies, films like “Deadpool,” “Kung Fu Hustle” and “The Grand Budapest Hotel” pop up in their heads. Not all laugh-out-loud-rated R comedies were released recently though. One of the funniest rated-R films is “National Lampoon’s Animal House,” which was released on July 28, 1978, in the United States.

Not all comedy movies are rated R. If you’re interested in more modern comedies, regardless of the rating check out our article on the funniest movies and shows now streaming on Prime.

To determine the best R-rated comedies, 24/7 Tempo developed an index using average ratings on IMDb, an online movie database owned by Amazon, and a combination of audience scores and Tomatometer scores on Rotten Tomatoes, an online movie and TV review aggregator, as of April 2024, weighting all ratings equally. Only R-rated comedies with at least 5,000 IMDb ratings were considered. Cast information is from IMDb.

Here is the list of the best R-rated comedies and their ratings.

50. Office Space (1999)

Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
  • IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (251,954 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 93% (325,914 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 80% (102 reviews)
  • Starring: Ron Livingston, Jennifer Aniston, David Herman

49. The Last Detail (1973)

Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures

Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
  • IMDb user rating: 7.5/10 (23,636 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 87% (7,382 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 89% (36 reviews)
  • Starring: Jack Nicholson, Randy Quaid, Otis Young

48. Sideways (2004)

Source: Courtesy of Fox Searchlight Pictures

Source: Courtesy of Fox Searchlight Pictures
  • IMDb user rating: 7.5/10 (185,184 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 79% (197,759 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 97% (233 reviews)
  • Starring: Paul Giamatti, Thomas Haden Church, Virginia Madsen

47. In Bruges (2008)

Source: Courtesy of Focus Features

Source: Courtesy of Focus Features
  • IMDb user rating: 7.9/10 (402,967 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 87% (112,943 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 84% (200 reviews)
  • Starring: Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson, Ciarán Hinds

46. Superbad (2007)

Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures

Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
  • IMDb user rating: 7.6/10 (543,101 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 87% (634,860 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 88% (209 reviews)
  • Starring: Michael Cera, Jonah Hill, Christopher Mintz-Plasse

45. Zombieland (2009)

Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures

Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
  • IMDb user rating: 7.6/10 (541,908 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 86% (643,581 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 89% (257 reviews)
  • Starring: Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone, Woody Harrelson

44. National Lampoon’s Vacation (1983)

Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.

Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
  • IMDb user rating: 7.4/10 (102,053 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 85% (113,557 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 93% (44 reviews)
  • Starring: Chevy Chase, Beverly D’Angelo, Imogene Coca

43. Lady Bird (2017)

Source: Courtesy of A24

Source: Courtesy of A24
  • IMDb user rating: 7.4/10 (260,681 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 79% (22,988 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 99% (398 reviews)
  • Starring: Saoirse Ronan, Laurie Metcalf, Tracy Letts

42. Adaptation. (2002)

Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures

Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
  • IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (194,759 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 85% (188,786 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 91% (211 reviews)
  • Starring: Nicolas Cage, Meryl Streep, Chris Cooper

41. After Hours (1985)

Source: courtesy of Warner Bros.

Source: courtesy of Warner Bros.
  • IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (64,467 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 87% (22,235 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 89% (56 reviews)
  • Starring: Griffin Dunne, Rosanna Arquette, Verna Bloom

40. American Splendor (2003)

Source: Courtesy of HBO Films

Source: Courtesy of HBO Films
  • IMDb user rating: 7.4/10 (48,914 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 86% (44,582 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 94% (187 reviews)
  • Starring: Paul Giamatti, Shari Springer Berman, Harvey Pekar

39. Bullets Over Broadway (1994)

Source: Courtesy of Miramax

Source: Courtesy of Miramax
  • IMDb user rating: 7.4/10 (37,974 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 83% (17,034 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 97% (58 reviews)
  • Starring: John Cusack, Dianne Wiest, Jennifer Tilly

38. A Fish Called Wanda (1988)

Source: Courtesy of MGM/UA Distribution Company

Source: Courtesy of MGM/UA Distribution Company
  • IMDb user rating: 7.5/10 (136,693 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 84% (181,269 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 95% (66 reviews)
  • Starring: John Cleese, Jamie Lee Curtis, Kevin Kline

37. National Lampoon’s Animal House (1978)

Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures

Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
  • IMDb user rating: 7.5/10 (116,311 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89% (185,688 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 90% (52 reviews)
  • Starring: John Belushi, Karen Allen, Tom Hulce

36. Eighth Grade (2018)

Source: Courtesy of A24

Source: Courtesy of A24
  • IMDb user rating: 7.4/10 (69,978 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 82% (5,340 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 99% (318 reviews)
  • Starring: Elsie Fisher, Josh Hamilton, Emily Robinson

35. Husbands and Wives (1992)

Source: Courtesy of TriStar Pictures

Source: Courtesy of TriStar Pictures
  • IMDb user rating: 7.5/10 (28,553 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 87% (14,177 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 93% (42 reviews)
  • Starring: Woody Allen, Mia Farrow, Sydney Pollack

34. Planes, Trains & Automobiles (1987)

Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
  • IMDb user rating: 7.6/10 (130,619 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 87% (183,214 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 92% (60 reviews)
  • Starring: Steve Martin, John Candy, Laila Robins

33. Clerks (1994)

Source: Courtesy of Miramax

Source: Courtesy of Miramax
  • IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (216,399 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89% (285,512 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 89% (57 reviews)
  • Starring: Brian O’Halloran, Jeff Anderson, Marilyn Ghigliotti

32. Midnight Run (1988)

Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures

Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
  • IMDb user rating: 7.5/10 (81,968 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 87% (25,096 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 94% (54 reviews)
  • Starring: Robert De Niro, Charles Grodin, Yaphet Kotto

31. High Fidelity (2000)

Source: Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures

Source: Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures
  • IMDb user rating: 7.5/10 (173,740 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 90% (211,818 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 91% (165 reviews)
  • Starring: John Cusack, Iben Hjejle, Todd Louiso

30. When Harry Met Sally… (1989)

Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures

Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
  • IMDb user rating: 7.6/10 (205,660 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89% (396,152 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 91% (74 reviews)
  • Starring: Billy Crystal, Meg Ryan, Carrie Fisher

29. Volver (2006)

Volver (2006) | Penélope Cruz, Yohana Cobo, and Lola Dueñas in Volver (2006)
Source: Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics 

N/A

Source: Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics
  • IMDb user rating: 7.6/10 (105,214 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89% (72,113 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 91% (173 reviews)
  • Starring: Penélope Cruz, Carmen Maura, Lola Dueñas

28. Barton Fink (1991)

Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
  • IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (117,023 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89% (45,410 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 90% (61 reviews)
  • Starring: John Turturro, John Goodman, Judy Davis

27. Blazing Saddles (1974)

Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.

Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
  • IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (131,541 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 91% (218,474 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 88% (59 reviews)
  • Starring: Cleavon Little, Gene Wilder, Slim Pickens

26. Palm Springs (2020)

Source: Courtesy of Neon

Source: Courtesy of Neon
  • IMDb user rating: 7.4/10 (130,989 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 88% (2,596 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 95% (241 reviews)
  • Starring: Andy Samberg, Cristin Milioti, J.K. Simmons

25. The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994)

Source: Courtesy of Gramercy Pictures

Source: Courtesy of Gramercy Pictures
  • IMDb user rating: 7.5/10 (52,856 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 88% (44,530 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 94% (49 reviews)
  • Starring: Hugo Weaving, Guy Pearce, Terence Stamp

24. Waiting for Guffman (1996)

Source: Courtesy of Castle Rock Entertainment

Source: Courtesy of Castle Rock Entertainment
  • IMDb user rating: 7.5/10 (28,141 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 91% (41,610 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 91% (55 reviews)
  • Starring: Christopher Guest, Fred Willard, Catherine O’Hara

23. 50/50 (2011)

Source: Courtesy of Summit Entertainment

Source: Courtesy of Summit Entertainment
  • IMDb user rating: 7.6/10 (332,708 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 88% (86,894 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 93% (200 reviews)
  • Starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Seth Rogen, Anna Kendrick

22. Kung Fu Hustle (2004)

Kung Fu Hustle (2004) | Wah Yuen and Qiu Yuen in Kung Fu Hustle (2004)
Source: Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics

N/A

Source: Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics
  • IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (132,732 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89% (228,109 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 91% (190 reviews)
  • Starring: Stephen Chow, Wah Yuen, Qiu Yuen

21. Dazed and Confused (1993)

Source: Courtesy of Gramercy Pictures

Source: Courtesy of Gramercy Pictures
  • IMDb user rating: 7.6/10 (174,013 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 90% (236,467 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 92% (62 reviews)
  • Starring: Jason London, Wiley Wiggins, Matthew McConaughey

20. The Big Lebowski (1998)

Source: Courtesy of Gramercy Pictures

Source: Courtesy of Gramercy Pictures
  • IMDb user rating: 8.1/10 (766,228 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 93% (356,600 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 83% (109 reviews)
  • Starring: Jeff Bridges, John Goodman, Julianne Moore

19. Being John Malkovich (1999)

Source: Courtesy of USA Films

Source: Courtesy of USA Films
  • IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (323,305 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 87% (262,755 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 94% (135 reviews)
  • Starring: John Cusack, Cameron Diaz, Catherine Keener

18. Rushmore (1998)

Source: Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures

Source: Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures
  • IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (176,013 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 91% (186,244 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 90% (105 reviews)
  • Starring: Jason Schwartzman, Bill Murray, Olivia Williams

17. Down by Law (1986)

Source: Courtesy of Island Pictures

Source: Courtesy of Island Pictures
  • IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (49,905 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 94% (22,383 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 87% (31 reviews)
  • Starring: Tom Waits, John Lurie, Roberto Benigni

16. Ed Wood (1994)

Source: Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures

Source: Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures
  • IMDb user rating: 7.8/10 (177,962 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 88% (107,299 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 92% (65 reviews)
  • Starring: Johnny Depp, Martin Landau, Sarah Jessica Parker

15. Stranger Than Paradise (1984)

Source: Courtesy of The Samuel Goldwyn Company

Source: Courtesy of The Samuel Goldwyn Company
  • IMDb user rating: 7.5/10 (36,300 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 88% (15,648 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 96% (26 reviews)
  • Starring: John Lurie, Eszter Balint, Richard Edson

14. Dolemite Is My Name (2019)

Source: Courtesy of Netflix

Source: Courtesy of Netflix
  • IMDb user rating: 7.2/10 (61,771 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 91% (113 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 97% (232 reviews)
  • Starring: Eddie Murphy, Keegan-Michael Key, Mike Epps

13. Good Bye, Lenin! (2004)

Source: Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics

Source: Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics
  • IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (149,962 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 92% (55,946 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 90% (111 reviews)
  • Starring: Daniel Bruhl, Katrin Sass, Chulpan Khamatova

12. The Breakfast Club (1985)

Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures

Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
  • IMDb user rating: 7.8/10 (372,267 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 92% (556,906 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 89% (65 reviews)
  • Starring: Emilio Estevez, Judd Nelson, Molly Ringwald

11. The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)

Source: Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures

Source: Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures
  • IMDb user rating: 8.1/10 (745,547 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 86% (97,896 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 92% (310 reviews)
  • Starring: Ralph Fiennes, F. Murray Abraham, Mathieu Amalric

10. Little Miss Sunshine (2006)

Source: Courtesy of Fox Searchlight Pictures

Source: Courtesy of Fox Searchlight Pictures
  • IMDb user rating: 7.8/10 (454,829 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 91% (427,295 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 91% (218 reviews)
  • Starring: Steve Carell, Toni Collette, Greg Kinnear

9. The Big Sick (2017)

Source: Courtesy of Amazon Studios

Source: Courtesy of Amazon Studios
  • IMDb user rating: 7.5/10 (137,232 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 88% (32,924 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 98% (303 reviews)
  • Starring: Kumail Nanjiani, Zoe Kazan, Holly Hunter

8. Almost Famous (2000)

Source: Courtesy of DreamWorks Distribution

Source: Courtesy of DreamWorks Distribution
  • IMDb user rating: 7.9/10 (279,276 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 92% (325,177 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 89% (174 reviews)
  • Starring: Billy Crudup, Patrick Fugit, Kate Hudson

7. Shaun of the Dead (2004)

Source: Courtesy of Focus Features

Source: Courtesy of Focus Features
  • IMDb user rating: 7.9/10 (530,779 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 93% (498,702 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 92% (213 reviews)
  • Starring: Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Kate Ashfield

6. Manhattan (1979)

Source: Courtesy of United Artists

Source: Courtesy of United Artists
  • IMDb user rating: 7.9/10 (136,504 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 92% (51,871 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 94% (69 reviews)
  • Starring: Woody Allen, Diane Keaton, Mariel Hemingway

5. This Is Spinal Tap (1984)

Source: Courtesy of Embassy Pictures

Source: Courtesy of Embassy Pictures
  • IMDb user rating: 7.9/10 (134,739 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 92% (127,206 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 95% (66 reviews)
  • Starring: Rob Reiner, Michael McKean, Christopher Guest

4. Brazil (1985)

Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures

Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
  • IMDb user rating: 7.9/10 (194,716 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 90% (103,103 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 98% (49 reviews)
  • Starring: Jonathan Pryce, Kim Greist, Robert De Niro

3. Wild Tales (2014)

Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.

Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
  • IMDb user rating: 8.1/10 (196,455 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 92% (10,000 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 94% (157 reviews)
  • Starring: Darío Grandinetti, María Marull, Mónica Villa

2. Life of Brian (1979)

Source: Courtesy of Orion Pictures

Source: Courtesy of Orion Pictures
  • IMDb user rating: 8.0/10 (412,500 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 93% (259,144 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 96% (70 reviews)
  • Starring: Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Michael Palin

1. Parasite (2019)

Source: Courtesy of Neon

Source: Courtesy of Neon
  • IMDb user rating: 8.5/10 (810,722 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 90% (5,000 votes)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 99% (475 reviews)
  • Starring: Song Kang-ho, Lee Sun-kyun, Cho Yeo-jeong
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