Laughter is one of the best things in the world. No matter what, if a person is laughing, it is likely they will, however briefly, forget their troubles. This effect is what can make comedy such a comforting and reliable genre. Since the dawn of cinema, comedy has been a perfect source of entertainment, evolving with the years and adapting to audiences' changing tastes and humor.
Interestingly, not all comedies have a comforting effect.Some are overly darkor cynical, whileothers are simply unfunnyor think they’re funnier than they are. Some use mature themes, foul language, and extreme situations to provoke a reaction, earning an R-rating but keeping the comedy intact.These R-rated comedies are the funniest of all timeand are guaranteed to make anyone laugh. They will be ranked based on their overall quality and how much laughter they can provoke from their target audience.
10’Jackass Forever' (2022)
Directed by Jeff Tremaine
In 2000, MTV debutedJackass, a reality TV show focused on now well-known names likeJohnny Knoxville,Steve-O,Chris PontiusandBam Margera, as they performedridiculously stupid and dangerous stunts, reacting to them in comedic and very human ways. The series quickly ended but saw periodic continuations in the form of movies in the 23 years since its conclusion.
While each of theJackassfilms could easily go on this list,there’s something special aboutJackass Forever, which reunited most of the original cast after 12 years and integrated newer, younger cast members. Everyone seems to have a genuinely fun time while on set despite the physical pain involved, which adds a lot to the comedic charm. Some ofthe movie’s wildest stunts, including the infamous “cup test” and “the quiet game,” stand as some oftheJackassfranchise’s funniest moments, proving that, despite the cast’s age, theformula still has plenty of laughs left to offer. Simply said,for those who enjoy juvenile physical comedy, it’s hard to make a better recommendation thanJackass Forever.
Jackass Forever
9’Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle' (2004)
Directed by Danny Leiner
Harold & Kumar Go to White Castlefollows Harold (John Cho) and Kumar (Kal Penn), two young stoners who end up on a wild adventure, initially only intending to grab a bite to eat at their local White Castle. Along the way, Kumar performs a life-saving medical operation, Harold gets arrested, and the duo encounters both a cheetah andNeil Patrick Harris, who playsa comically twisted version of himself.
While there areplenty of great stoner comediesout there, the firstHarold & Kumarsticks out for justhow simple and relatable its core concept is: two friends who get distracted on their way to grab a burger. The writing is sharp,Cho and Penn share great comedic chemistrythat easily justifies the film spawning a successful franchise, and the situations the pair find themselves in are hilarious and memorable. Harris, in particular, is a major highlight, with his appearances being far more subdued in this film than they would be in its sequels.
Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle
8’Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping' (2016)
Directed by Akiva Schaffer and Jorma Taccone
Popstar: Never Stop Never StoppingwasThe Lonely Island’s second attempt at creating a film that stars, and was directed and written by, their members, following 2007’sHot Rod.The film is a mockumentarycovering the release of fictional musician Conner4Real’s (Andy Samberg) second album and subsequent tour. It parodies famous musicians of the era likeJustin BieberandMacklemore, featuring memorable songs like “I’m So Humble” and “Equal Rights,” adding a unique spin to its comedy.
A nonstop stream of laughs,Popstar: Never Stop Never Stoppingis a unique depiction of how fame can affect people. The movie is completely absurd and a perfect evolution of the humor on display in bothHot Rodand the band’sSNLshorts. It’s also notable for featuring a huge number of cameos from music icons likeRingo StarrandSeal, and a ton of hilarious scenes utilizing the comedic skills of talent likeMaya RudolphandSarah Silverman. The film’s laugh-out-loud songs, combined with its stellar cast, make it a must-watch for comedy fans.
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7’Clerks II' (2006)
Directed by Kevin Smith
Kevin Smith’sClerksis an icon of independent filmmaking, but its sequel,Clerks II, works better as a full-on comedy, taking advantage of its bigger budget and more experienced cast to generate more laughs. The film follows Randal (Jeff Anderson) and Dante (Brian O’Halloran) as they work through Dante’s final day at Mooby’s, a major fast food chain withinSmith’s View Askewniverse.
The main comedic appeal ofClerks IIis its dialogue. Throughout the film, Dante and Randal, along with their new coworkers Elias (Trevor Fehrman) and Becky (Rosario Dawson), engage inSmith’s signature banter, exchanging quips about sex,Star Warsand shoe polish ata rapid-fire pace that no other cast could make work. Actors likeJason Lee,Ethan Suplee,Wanda SykesandBen Affleckfeature in small but memorable roles, while Jay (Jason Mewes) and Silent Bob (Smith) receive the funniest material out of any of their appearances. While it may not be as iconic as its 1994 predecessor,Clerks IIis still a hilarious comedy that deserves more attentionthan it gets.
6’Forgetting Sarah Marshall' (2008)
Directed by Nicholas Stoller
In the early 2000s,Jason Segelbecame a fan-favorite in the beloved sitcomsFreaks and GeeksandHow I Met Your Mother, but his first lead role in a major motion picture was as Peter Bretter in 2008’sForgetting Sarah Marshall.Sarah Marshallfocuses on Peter as he attempts to recover from a breakup by vacationing in Hawaii. Unfortunately, when he arrives, he almost immediately encounters both his eponymous ex (Kristen Bell) and her new boyfriend, famous musician Aldous Snow (Russell Brand).
Forgetting Sarah Marshallplays perfectly to Segel’s strengths, fully leaning into the awkward charm that he honed while performing in sitcoms. The film gains tons of laughs fromplacing Segel’s Peter in uncomfortable situations, like in its opening moments where Sarah breaks up with him while he is fully nude.Paul Ruddis also a highlightas Chuck, a stoner surf instructor who appears in several hilarious scenes. The film was successful enough with audiences that it earned a spin-off,Get Him to the Greek, which focused on Brand’s character, but it lacked both Segel’s distinct charisma and the relatable heart that ultimately madeSarah Marshalla funnier film.
Forgetting Sarah Marshall
5’Booksmart' (2019)
Directed by Olivia Wilde
Booksmart,Olivia Wilde’s directorial debut, is a fantastic high school comedy film that focuses on Molly (Beanie Feldstein) and Amy (Kaitlyn Dever), two high school seniors who seek to attend a huge farewell party after spending the majority of their high school careers preparing for college. It’sa breath offresh air for high school comedies, shedding many of the poorly dated aspects of classics likeSuperbadandAmerican Pie.
The comedy inBooksmartis heavily enhanced by its nearly perfect casting. Feldstein and Dever have amazing chemistry and play their parts with awkward, authentic energy, making both characters and their friendship feel very real and adding a ton of organic humor. Memorable additions to the supporting cast includeBillie Lourd, who plays the unhinged Gigi, a student who loves to share her drugs, andSkyler Gisondo, who plays Jared, Gigi’s best friend and the subject of many rumors around the school.Jason SudeikisandWill Fortealso appear in brief but extremely memorable scenes, adding even more laughs to one ofHollywood’s funniest high school comedies.
4’Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story' (2007)
Directed by Jake Kasdan
Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Storyisa perfect parodyof musical biopics that was initially intended to lampoon films likeRayandWalk the Linebut has stayed relevant with the recent success of films likeBohemian RhapsodyandRocketman. The film tells the life story of Dewey Cox (John C. Reilly), a fictional musician whose wildly successful career develops alongside stars likeElvis Presley(Jack White) andThe Beatles.
Walk Hardabsolutelynails the style of the films it’s parodyingwhile remaining absolutely hilarious.Reilly’s performance is exceedingly strong, but he’s supported by great comedians likeKristen WiigandJenna Fischeras his wives, Edith and Darlene.Tim Meadowsis another highlight, with his repeated “you don’t want no part of this” bit being one of the film’s funniest running gags.Walk Hardis an effective parody of musicians' biopics, but it’s also a very funny comedy that is sure to appeal to even those unfamiliar with the material it’s parodying.
Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story
3’National Lampoon’s Vacation' (1983)
Directed by Harold Ramis
WhenSaturday Night Livemade its debut in 1975,Chevy Chasequickly became its first star, gaining attention as the show’s first Weekend Update anchor and leaving shortly after the start of its second season to pursue a career in movies. While Chase starred in a number ofclassic ’80s comedieslikeCaddyshackandSpies Like Us, his funniest film wasNational Lampoon’s Vacation, in which family man Clark Griswoldtakes his family on a road tripto the fictional Walley World amusement park.
National Lampoon’s Vacationhas a premiseanyone can relate to.The comedy comes from the absurdityof the situations that the Griswolds find themselves in, like whenthey strap a dead family member to the roof of their car, and the interactions between Clark and his family, like in a hilarious scene where he goes on a rant after his wife, Ellen (Beverly D’Angelo), suggests they go home, rather than completing the trip. While moments like these could easily make Clark an unbearable protagonist, Chase’s charisma makes him come off as a loving, though occasionally hot-tempered, father who ultimately wants to give his family a good experience.Vacationwould receive three sequels and a reboot, butthe original is still the funniest of the bunch.
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2’The 40-Year-Old Virgin' (2005)
Directed by Judd Apatow
In the 2000s and 2010s, one of the most prominent names in comedy wasJudd Apatow,who produced many comedy classicsfrom the era, includingSuperbad,Forgetting Sarah MarshallandStep Brothers. His movies raised the profile of talent likeSeth RogenandJonah Hilland established a style of comedy that would remain popular for many years. But this particular style was perfected with Apatow’s directorial debut, 2005’sThe 40-Year-Old Virgin.
The film’s success was due in large part tothe comedic talents of Steve Carell, who gives a fully dedicated performance as Andy Stitzer, the titular quadragenarian. Carell earns near-constant laughs inVirgin, providing some of the highlights of his career, including the famous chest-waxing scene. The movie also benefits fromtreating Andy as a real person rather than as an over-the-top caricature, making its laughs feel organic and earned rather than forced or mean-spirited.
The 40-Year-Old Virgin
1’Bridesmaids' (2011)
Directed by Paul Feig
Directed byPaul Feig,Bridesmaidswas a breath of fresh air when it was first released in 2011. The women-led comedy allowed a group of extremely talented comedians, including Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph and >Melissa McCarthy, who wasnominated for an Oscar for her roleas Megan Price, to display their skills in more prominent roles than they had been featured in before. More importantly, the movie is absolutely hilarious.
Bridesmaidsexcels atputting its cast in absolutely absurd situations. An iconic scene in which the group falls victim to food poisoning while they’re trying on dresses is a perfect example of the kind of humor on display inBridesmaids, with the pure dedication of its cast elevating the comedy tenfold. Another highlight is a scene in which Wiig’s character, Annie Walker, begins to panic on an airplane due to being under the influence of a combination of both alcohol and prescription drugs. Upon release,Bridesmaidsquickly earned a reputation as one ofthe best comedies of its era, and today,it stands as the funniest R-rated comedy of all time.
