Like anything in life, what one finds funny is subjective and when it comes to movies, there are plenty of comedy genres that we can choose from. Slapstick, satire, dark humor, romantic comedy, and many more subgenres can all have a different impact on everyone. One of the more famous examples of a specific genre is slapstick comedy, made famous by the Three Stooges, an act that began in 1925 and is still relevant in today’s world.
Comedy is meant to bring us joy, laughter, and entertainment. Many of the silly and foolish antics that occur are meant to take our minds off things and allow us to get lost in a world of nonsense that has no particular meaning but is just intended to delight viewers of all ages and backgrounds. But with so many funny flicks out there, it can be difficult to choose one that is worth our time. (Should you prefer a suspenseful whodunit, check out the 20 best mystery films of all time.)
To help make your decisions a bit easier, we compiled a list of the greatest comedy films in history. We are drawn to comedy films because we all love to laugh, and should laugh often although, at times, many of us don’t laugh enough. The Mayo Clinic notes that, “Laughter can help lessen your stress, depression and anxiety and may make you feel happier. It can also improve your self-esteem.” Along with boosting your mental well-being, laughter has a positive impact on your physical health by releasing endorphins in the brain and increasing blood flow to major organs. Laughter may also boost the immune system and even relieve pain.
To determine the greatest comedy movies in history, 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 October 2023, weighting all ratings equally. We considered only movies with at least 5,000 audience votes on either IMDb or Rotten Tomatoes. Directorial credits are from IMDb.
While many of the greatest comedy films in history were created during Hollywood’s golden age (1910s-1960s), they are still relevant today. Like all great art, these comedies still hold up after 60, 70, 80 years or more. Performances by iconic actors like Clark Cable, Charlie Chaplin, Cary Grant, Marilyn Monroe, and Danny Kaye are timeless. (Some of these actors are part of Hollywood’s most famous acting dynasties. Click here for the full list.)
19. His Girl Friday (1940)
- IMDb user rating: 7.9/10 (56,106 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 90% (24,333 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 99% (67 reviews)
Adapted from “The Front Page,” a 1928 play by Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur. This screwball comedy starring Cary Grant and Rosalind Russell is the story of Walter Burns, editor of a major Chicago newspaper, who is about to lose his star reporter, Hildy Johnson. Diabolical and absurd schemes ensue. The Library of Congress selected “His Girl Friday” for preservation in the U.S. National Film Registry (NFR) in 1993. The comedy film is available for streaming on multiple platforms including Pluto TV, Crackle, Tubi, Sling TV, Prime Video, Redbox, Vudu, and many more.
18. Sullivan’s Travels (1941)
- IMDb user rating: 7.9/10 (25,347 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89% (8,614 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 100% (35 reviews)
“Sullivan’s Travels” is an adventure comedy centered on wealthy filmmaker John Sullivan, who was a successful director, but developed a disdain for his work, believing that all his movies were overly simplistic and shallow. Sullivan desperately wanted to produce a film with “social significance,” so he decided on a project that focused on the trials and struggles of those living in poverty.
Posing as a homeless person, Sullivan set out on his journey with only a dime in his pocket. He soon realized that he relied on the protection of his wealth and privilege more than he realized. When a struggling actress joined him in his quest to live an impoverished life, the foibles and shenanigans rose to a whole new level. The film was added to the NFR in 1990 and is available for streaming on Apple TV, Google Play, Prime Video, Vudu, and other platforms.
17. Annie Hall (1977)
- IMDb user rating: 8.0/10 (258,110 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 92% (153,824 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 96% (84 reviews)
“Annie Hall” is a self-described “nervous romance” starring Woody Allen, who plays a neurotic stand-up comedian who reflects on the downfall of his relationship with Annie Hall, played by Keaton. The movie features a series of flashbacks as the comic tries to figure out why his relationship with Annie failed.
The comedy dominated the 1978 Academy Awards, taking home Oscars for Best Picture, Best Actress in a Leading Role (Keaton), Best Director (Allen), and Best Screenplay. Allen was also nominated for Best Actor in a Leading Role. The film was selected for inclusion in the NFR in 1992 and is available for streaming on Hulu, Prime Video, Redbox, YouTube, Apple TV, and other streaming platforms.
16. Paper Moon (1973)
- IMDb user rating: 8.1/10 (44,587 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 94% (11,421 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 93% (41 reviews)
Adapted from the 1971 novel “Addie Pray,” by Joe David Brown, “Paper Moon” is set in Kansas and Missouri during the Great Depression and was shot entirely in black-and-white. The plot centers on unscrupulous huckster Moses Pray, played by Ryan O’Neal, who poses as a Bible salesman. Moses was tasked with delivering a young girl named Addie Loggins to her aunt in Missouri when they realized they may be biologically connected as father and daughter. Addie was played by Ryan’s real-life daughter, Tatum O’Neal.
“Paper Moon” was nominated for four Academy Awards. At 10 years old, Tatum O’Neal won the Oscar for Best Actress in a Supporting Role becoming the youngest actor to ever win an Oscar, a record that still stands today. (Here are other actors who won Oscars before the age of 30.) The comedy is available on Max, Prime Video, Hulu, YouTube, and other streaming services.
15. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
- IMDb user rating: 8.3/10 (948,653 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 94% (571,910 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 92% (250 reviews)
This film tells the story of Clementine Kruczynski (played by Kate Winslet) and Joel Barish (played by Jim Carrey), a couple that couldn’t navigate a romantic relationship with each other. Becoming so fed up with the relationship drama, Clementine undergoes an experimental procedure to permanently erase Joel from her memory.
“Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” won an Oscar for Best Writing and Original Screenplay, and Winslet was also nominated for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role. It also won Best Science Fiction Film at the Saturn Awards, which are presented yearly by the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror Films. Fans of science fiction often hold the Saturn Awards in even higher esteem than the Oscars. It can be streamed on Peacock, Google Play, Redbox, Prime Video, Apple TV, and Vudu.
14. Steamboat Bill, Jr. (1928)
- IMDb user rating: 7.9/10 (14,002 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 91% (5,423 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 100% (30 reviews)
In this classic comedy film, Keaton plays William Canfield, Jr. whose father, William “Steamboat Bill” Canfield, operated an old steamship and was in danger of being run out of business by a new state-of-the-art paddlewheel steamer owned by J.J. King. Keaton, famous for his physical comedy and sight gags, keeps the audience laughing and engaged with his fast-paced antics.
The film contains what is likely the most famous stunt Keaton ever performed. The entire front façade of a house crashed down around him, but Keaton remained untouched due to a fortuitously placed upstairs window. The Library of Congress selected “Steamboat Bill, Jr.” for preservation in the NFR in 2016. The film can be streamed on PLEX, Tubi, Pluto TV, MGM+, Prime Video, YouTube, Philo, and Sling TV.
13. The Court Jester (1955)
- IMDb user rating: 7.9/10 (12,327 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 94% (9,213 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 97% (30 reviews)
Set in medieval England, “The Court Jester” stars Danny Kaye as Hubert Hawkins who was charged with caring for the infant king until evil King Roderick, who usurped the throne, could be deposed. Hubert hatched a scheme to infiltrate Roderick’s palace to depose the false king. The plot would take unforeseen twists and turns with new characters, love interests, and plenty of slapstick antics. “The Court Jester” was added to the NFR in 2004 and is available for streaming on YouTube, Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, and Vudu.
12. The Apartment (1960)
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- IMDb user rating: 8.3/10 (172,183 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 94% (38,259 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 93% (72 reviews)
“The Apartment” focuses on C.C. Baxter, a clerk at the Consolidated Life Insurance Company in Manhattan. Baxter finds it difficult to make inroads with the company’s leadership so he can move up the corporate ladder. forcing him to hatch a new plan to loan out his bachelor pad apartment to some of the company’s senior leaders. These men would take turns using the apartment for their ongoing extramarital affairs, and in return, they would sing C.C.’s praises to the company’s big boss, Jeff Sheldrake.
The subject matter in this 1960 romantic comedy film was controversial and denounced in some circles, but it made a big splash at the Academy Awards. The movie won five Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director. It was nominated for 10 Academy Awards overall. “The Apartment” was selected for NFR preservation in 1994 and can be streamed on The Roku Channel, Sling TV, MGM+, Philo, YouTube, Google Play, Vudu, Apple TV, and Prime Video.
11. Safety Last! (1923)
- IMDb user rating: 8.1/10 (19,650 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 93% (3,761 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 97% (35 reviews)
This silent film starred Harold Lloyd who played a country boy named Harold Lloyd (yes, the same name as the actor) who moved to the big city in search of a job. Harold wanted to earn enough money so he could marry his sweetheart, Mildred. However, life in the city was nothing like he had planned.
Lloyd performed many of his own stunts in the film, including one of the most famous scenes from the silent era. In an attempt to earn big money by drawing people to the department store through a daring stunt, Harold finds himself hanging from the hands of a clock high above the city. “Safety Last!” was added to the NFR in 1994 and It is available on Max, Prime Video, and Apple TV.
10. Some Like It Hot (1959)
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- IMDb user rating: 8.2/10 (254,537 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 94% (82,393 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 95% (65 reviews)
The film is set in Chicago during the Prohibition era and centers on two musicians, played by Curtis and Lemmon, who are employed at a speakeasy. When police raid the establishment on a tip from an informant, the two men narrowly escape. They two later unwittingly witnessed the owner of the speakeasy and his henchmen murder the informant. Knowing the gang members saw them, the two men ran for their lives.
“Some Like It Hot” was controversial at the time since it featured cross-dressing, a violation of the Hays Code, which was a self-imposed set of guidelines that moviemakers used to censure content. The success of the movie contributed to the code’s eventual retirement. The film was nominated for six Oscars, winning one (Best Costume Design in a Black-and-White Film). The Library of Congress chose to add the film to the NFR in 1989 and it is available on Hulu, Max, Google Play, Prime Video, YouTube, Redbox, Vudu, and Apple TV.
9. To Be or Not to Be (1942)
- IMDb user rating: 8.2/10 (33,747 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 93% (6,029 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 96% (47 reviews)
This World War II-era comedy film is set in Poland and centers on married couple Joseph and Maria Tura who operate a theater in Warsaw. When the Nazis invade Poland, the theater was forced to cancel its production of “Gestapo,” a satirical play about Adolf Hitler.
“To Be or Not to Be” was released in the middle of World War II and some critics lambasted it for satirizing Nazis, potentially stoking the flames of the conflict even further. The film only received one Oscar nomination. However, the film’s legacy grew over time. It is now a beloved classic and was selected for inclusion in the NFR in 1996 and is available on Max and The Criterion Channel. (A remake of “To Be or Not to Be” was produced in 1983 but was tepidly received by both critics and audiences.)
8. The Great Dictator (1940)
- IMDb user rating: 8.4/10 (213,266 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 95% (43,757 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 93% (45 reviews)
Charlie Chaplin wrote, directed, and starred in the film that satirized Adolf Hitler and was told that the movie may be banned in the United States and the United Kingdom due to the sensitive nature of the subject matter. A satirical comedy film that directly poked fun at Hitler during World War II was sure to be a sensitive issue. While the movie was produced during World War II, the setting of the film was the fictional nation of Tomania during the final days of the First World War.
Chaplin stars as a Jewish private serving in Tomania’s army who rescued Commander Schultz when their plane crashed, but injuries from the crash left the private with amnesia. When the private returned to his shop 20 years later, he was unaware of how the world had changed. A dictator named Adenoid Hynkel, who is a doppelgänger of the barber, had taken control of Tomania and was ruling with an iron fist. Schultz was now a high-ranking officer in the regime.
Mistaken for the dictator, Chaplin’s character had the opportunity to deliver a radio speech heard by millions, which is considered by many to be among the greatest speeches ever captured on film. Although there was uncertainty about the film upon its release, it was a box office smash in both the U.S. and England. It became Chaplin’s biggest commercial success. The film was nominated for five Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Actor in a Leading Role, and Best Original Screenplay. It was added to the NFR in 1997 and is available on Prime Video, Max, and Apple TV.
7. It Happened One Night (1934)
- IMDb user rating: 8.1/10 (98,815 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 93% (33,748 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 99% (97 reviews)
Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert star as Peter Warne and Ellie Andrews in the romantic comedy, “It Happened One Night,” the tale of a spoiled socialite who married against her father’s wishes. Her father, Alexander Andrews, was a wealthy, powerful, and controlling man who took control of his daughter and placed her on his yacht off the coast of Miami. However, she jumped overboard and swam to shore, planning to rendezvous with her new husband in New York.
En route to New York, Andrews meets an unemployed newspaper reporter named Peter Warne, who recognizes the socialite and offers to help her on her quest with one caveat – he wants exclusive rights to her story. “It Happened One Night” dominated the Academy Awards, taking home five Oscars including Best Picture, Best Actor in a Leading Role (Gable), Best Actress in a Leading Role (Colbert), and Best Director (Frank Capra).
The film was selected for preservation in the NFR in 1993 and is available on Vudu, YouTube, Prime Video, Apple TV, and Google Play.
6. Monty Python & the Holy Grail (1975)
- IMDb user rating: 8.2/10 (536,985 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 95% (250,000 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 97% (79 reviews)
The film is set in 10th-century England and focuses on King Arthur, who mounts a horse and rides through the countryside in search of men worthy of joining the famed Knights of the Roundtable. Several men answer the call but change their minds and plan to leave until a divine encounter with God, who instructs them to find the Holy Grail, changes their course, leading them on a search for the grail.
This comedy classic may be the most often-quoted movie on this list. Fans of “Monty Python & the Holy Grail” love to recite lines such as, “I’m not dead!” and “She turned me into a newt!” The film can be streamed on Netflix, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube, and Prime Video.
5. The Cameraman (1928)
- IMDb user rating: 8.1/10 (11,259 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 94% (2,467 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 100% (18 reviews)
Widely believed to be among the very best of Buster Keaton’s iconic comedy films, “The Cameraman” is the last film where the actor maintained full creative control of the production. In this silent film, Keaton plays a photographer named Buster who falls in love with Sally, a secretary at MGM Newsreels. In an attempt to win her over, Buster abandoned photography and took a job as a news cameraman.
Cameraman Stagg also took a liking to Sally, which forced Buster to quickly master the art of the motion picture before he lost both his job and the love of his life. As in virtually all of Keaton’s silent films, the slapstick action is fast-paced with nary a dull moment. “The Cameraman” was added to the NFR in 2005 and can be streamed on Google Play, Apple TV, YouTube, Prime Video, and Vudu.
4. Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)
- IMDb user rating: 8.4/10 (467,737 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 94% (209,644 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 98% (92 reviews)
Widely regarded as Kubrick’s greatest cinematic achievement, this satirical comedy centers on the fears of nuclear war between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War. An insane U.S. Air Force General named Jack Ripper is convinced that the Soviets are contaminating the “precious bodily fluids” of Americans, so he unilaterally orders a B-52 bomber to attack the U.S.S.R.
“Dr. Strangelove” was nominated for four Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Actor in a Leading Role (Peter Sellers), and Best Director (Kubrick). The Library of Congress added the film to the NFR in 1989 and it is available on Vudu, Prime Video, and Apple TV.
3. The Kid (1921)
- IMDb user rating: 8.3/10 (120,168 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 95% (15,470 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 100% (48 reviews)
“The Kid” is the oldest entry on this list of the greatest comedy films in history. It stars Tramp (Chaplin) who finds a baby abandoned by his unwed mother who could not care for him, so she left him in the backseat of a car with a note asking the finder to love and care for him. The car was stolen, but the thieves left the child in an alley where he was found by The Tramp. “The Kid” was added to the NFR in 2011 and is available on Pluto TV, Max, The Roku Channel, MGM+, Prime Video, YouTube, Philo, and Sling TV.
2. Modern Times (1936)
- IMDb user rating: 8.5/10 (228,754 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 95% (40,314 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 98% (108 reviews)
The film centers on The Tramp, played by Charlie Chaplin, who is employed on a factory assembly line but has a nervous breakdown due to the stress and the never-ending frantic pace of the job. He is institutionalized after the episode and upon his release, he picks up a red flag on the street and is arrested as a supposed Communist sympathizer.
After his release from jail, he meets a homeless girl named Ellen. The two work together in one failed attempt after another, trying to navigate the perplexities of these “modern times.” The comedy film was added to the NFR in 1989 and can be streamed on The Criterion Channel, Prime Video, Apple TV, and Max.
1. City Lights (1931)
- IMDb user rating: 8.5/10 (176,008 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 96% (27,144 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 98% (54 reviews)
In this film, The Tramp befriends a millionaire with quite a drinking problem and proceeds to save him from a suicide attempt. The Tramp then falls in love with a young blind girl who sells flowers on the street. After offering the girl a ride in the millionaire’s car, she believes The Tramp to be a rich man. The girl falls in love with this kind and “wealthy” stranger.
We won’t spoil the ending of this iconic film but suffice it to say it is considered one of the greatest and most moving scenes ever filmed, comedy or otherwise. (Here are the 55 best movies ever made.) “City Lights” is widely seen as Charlie Chaplin’s crowning achievement. The film was selected for inclusion in the NFR in 1991 and is available on Prime Video, Max, Vudu, Apple TV, Google Play, and YouTube.