There are tons of great comedy films, but some contain a chaotic energy that makes them wildly entertaining from beginning to end. While some comedies center more on romance or action, others are made purely for constant laughter, with high energy, absurd characters and ideas, and shocking physical comedy. Humor is subjective, and comedy films will always be hit-or-miss depending on the viewer, but chaotic humor is almost always a hit in the right setting.
From Will Ferrell and Ben Stiller in the 2000s, to the films of Leslie Nielsen in the ’80s, to modern comedic classics, there’s plenty for everyone to enjoy. Comedy films allow for certain strengths that many stand-up performances and sitcoms can’t provide, allowing for prolonged humor around a singular story, constantly building toward a massive, climactic punch line. For a night of uncontrollable laughter with friends, or for a solo movie viewing that’s bound to bring out a smile, some goofy comedy films are all about entertainment.
10 Anchorman: The Legend Of Ron Burgundy
Filled with iconic quotes and characters, Anchorman is a must-watch for comedy fans. From Will Ferrell, to Paul Rudd, to Steve Carell, not to mention cameo roles from Ben Stiller, Fred Armisen, and the writing and directing of Adam McKay, Anchorman is filled with comedy legends performing at their best. Of course, beneath the absurd, over-the-top humor, Anchorman is a satire on workplace misogyny, kicking off the political satire that McKay would be known for in future films like Vice, Don’t Look Up and The Big Short.
9 Airplane!
Airplane! is one of the most absurd comedy films ever made, and is a spoof on the disaster film genre that was so popular in the ’70s. The film follows the passengers and crew of a flight, who begin to fall ill due to food poisoning from the fish served on board. While many on board, including the pilots, become incapacitated due to food poisoning, a war veteran pilot with a “drinking problem” must take over to land the plane safely. At the same time, he navigates a romance with his ex-girlfriend, the flight attendant. Airplane! is ridiculously silly, never once pausing its gags for a serious moment.
8 Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story
Ben Stiller had a series of hints in the 2000s, from Tropic Thunder to Dodgeball, a sports comedy that sees two neighboring gyms compete in a dodgeball tournament. Vince Vaughn’s lovable Peter La Fleur and the Average Joe’s Gym team go head-to-head with Stiller’s comically despicable White Goodman, owner of the far more successful Globo-Gym. The film is filled with inappropriate jokes combined with tons of physical comedy, as the film parodies the classic American sports movie.
7 Cocaine Bear
Cocaine Bear follows a group of interweaving characters, including professional criminals, who find themselves at the mercy of cocaine cocaine-infused bear on a rampage. The Elizabeth Banks-directed horror/comedy is gruesomely violent, filled with shocking, dark humor. Filled with hilarious performances from its ensemble cast, including Alden Ehrenreich, O’Shea Jackson Jr. and Keri Russell, the comedy’s strength is in its array of distinct and eccentric personalities who manage to come across each other amidst the chaos.
6 Bodies Bodies Bodies
Like Cocaine Bear, Bodies Bodies Bodies is a comedy filled with hilarious personalities. The A24 film follows a group of 20-something-year-olds who find themselves stranded in a remote mansion. After playing a murder-related party game, one of the characters is found dead, putting everyone on edge as they seem to suspect a killer is among them. The film’s subversion of typical horror tropes is what makes it so funny, as ridiculous events continue to escalate until the film’s final, hilarious punch line.
5 Burn After Reading
Directed by the Coen Brothers, Burn After Reading is actually a comedy about how information and disinformation lead to absolute chaos, as an assortment of various characters find themselves connected through insane circumstances. Starring George Clooney, Francis McDormand, Brad Pitt, John Malkovich, and Tilda Swinton, the film features a number of great dramatic actors breaking their A-game to comedy. Brad Pitt, in particular, gives one of the most memorable performances of his career as the daft Chad Feldheimer. As much as Burn After Reading is hilarious, it also has serious themes and can serve as a thriller.
4 Zoolander
Zoolander is a 2001 comedy directed by and starring Ben Stiller, with Owen Wilson and Will Ferrell also in supporting roles. In one of the many 2000s comedies that follows a main character who’s hilariously not intelligent, Ben Stiller brings the dimwitted model Derek Zoolander to life, spawning a number of iconic lines and sayings like “Blue Steel” that would enter the vernacular of modern culture. Zoolander is a laugh riot that continues to find new appeal with modern audiences.
3 The Hangover
The Hangover is one of the highest-grossing comedy films ever, launching stars Bradley Cooper and Zach Galifianakis into fame. The film is centered around chaos, as a wild bachelor party goes wrong when the groom turns up missing the next morning, two days before his wedding. As the friends search Las Vegas for him, trying to re-trace their crazy night and recall their memories, they encounter a wide array of threats from a tiger, to Mike Tyson, to a gang of criminals. The film continuously gets funnier as it escalates in stakes.
2 Mouse Hunt
Mouse Hunt has a simple premise that somehow manages to be ridiculously funny, as two brothers inherit a mansion from their passing father, they’re constantly tormented by a small mouse. In the slapstick comedy, starring Nathan Lane and Lee Evans, the two stars attempt to trap and kill the mouse for the majority of the film. While it wasn’t received well critically, the film was a commercial success due to its cartoony nature.
1 Meet The Parents
Another Ben Stiller 2000s comedy classic, Meet the Parents is a romantic comedy about a man who visits his girlfriend’s parents’ house for the first time. With a story idea many young romantics could relate to, Meet the Parents is the worst-case scenario everyone fears when meeting their significant other’s parents, to an absurd degree. Ben Stiller is always fun, but it’s the surprisingly great comedic performance from Robert De Niro that makes Meet the Parents so special.
