Crime comedies are unique in that they take two beloved genres and mash them together to create movies that so many viewers love and enjoy. Some crime comedies are heist movies, while others take a slightly different approach and introduce romantic storylines or a darker sense of humor.
But no matter what their elements may be – romance, thrills or action – crime comedies never cease to hook viewers of all backgrounds and interests. Hence, it’s worth looking at some of the best crime comedies of recent decades.
Now You See Me (2013)
Despite the mixed reviews, Now You See Me was a massive box office success and even got a sequel, with the third movie planned to be released next year. Indeed, its modern setting and a unique focus on modern-day magicians created the perfect entertainment for viewers all over the world.
The movie depicts four magicians known as “The Four Horsemen” who are being hunted down by an FBI agent and an Interpol detective for performing tricks that seemingly involve illegal acts.
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005)
Starring Robert Downey Jr. and directed by Shane Black, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is a black comedy that uses crime and comedic elements to tell its story. It’s a truly unconventional and somewhat forgotten 2000s movie that was actually acclaimed by critics at the time of its release.
Partially based on the novel Bodies Are Where You Find Them, it follows three different people – an aspiring actress, a thief pretending to be an actor, and a private detective – who end up involved in a murder and must now solve it.
Baby Driver (2017)
Directed by Edgar Wright, Baby Driver was a box office and critical success and became especially beloved among the fans of Wright’s work. The movie is packed with dynamic action, stylish cinematography and design, and numerous songs that perfectly fit any feel-good playlist.
The story follows a young driver called Baby working for a criminal mastermind as a way to pay his debts. Baby’s parents were killed in a car crash, which also left Baby with tinnitus and led him to find happiness in music.
Ocean’s Eleven (2001)
With an ensemble cast that includes the likes of Brad Pitt and George Clooney, Ocean’s Eleven is the perfect heist movie for any lover of the subgenre. It has both the dynamic storytelling and the likable characters that are so crucial for crime comedies.
The story follows the so-called Danny Ocean, who has just been released from prison and proposes a heist to his partner-in-crime, Rusty Ryan, who starts gathering a team to execute the operation.
The Gentlemen (2019)
Guy Ritchie’s most recent work, The Gentlemen, also has a stellar ensemble cast, but rather than being a heist movie, it mostly relies on its action and comedic elements to create a story that is actually told by one of the characters to another character.
At the center of the story is an American marijuana crime lord living in England who decides to sell his business. But as he sets out to find someone who will buy it from him, a chain reaction of various schemes begins to jeopardize the whole thing and blackmail him.
The Big Lebowski (1998)
Directed by the notorious Coen brothers, The Big Lebowski is a 1990s classic from the world of crime comedies. Its unique characters that are still incredibly relatable engage in an absurd story that leads them on adventures they couldn’t have imagined while living their normal lives.
Set in Los Angeles, the movie depicts a slacker known as “The Dude” as he gets assaulted by mistake. He soon learns that he shares his name – Jeffrey Lebowski – with a millionaire who was supposed to be the victim of the assault.
The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)
Among crime comedies, Wes Anderson’s The Grand Budapest Hotel is arguably the most stylish. With its ensemble cast, Anderson’s trademark cinematography, dialogue, and slight absurdity, it became a modern classic almost instantly.
Set in the fictional country of Zubrowka in the 20th century, it follows the concierge of the famous Grand Budapest Hotel. The concierge is framed for murder, and with the help of his protege, he tries to clear his name while also setting out to get a priceless Renaissance painting.
Lock, Stock And Two Smoking Barrels (1998)
Another one of Ritchie’s works, Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels was the director’s debut which brought him international acclaim and kickstarted his career. This was the kind of gangster movie that Ritchie would become well-known for in the coming years.
The heist story follows a young card player who loses a huge sum of money to a crime lord. Trying to pay back his debts, he enlists the help of his friends to rob a local gang.
Reservoir Dogs (1992)
Quentin Tarantino’s feature directorial debut, Reservoir Dogs, is still one of the greatest crime movies ever made. And with its distinct Tarantino-esque brand of humor that is so dark yet so realistic, it is also one of the best crime comedies out there.
The movie also takes an unconventional approach to its heist story: the non-linear storyline only shows the audience bits and pieces of the heist planning and then the aftermath, after it has gone wrong.
Snatch (2000)
Perhaps Guy Ritchie’s best movie, Snatch was only his second and was an even greater success than Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels. It also has the trademark Ritchie dialogue and sense of humor, as well as his rapid visual style, that audiences love so much in his work.
The plot of the movie revolves around an expensive diamond that is stolen at the beginning of the story and is now being hunted by a variety of different characters.
