Anmol Ahuja
Comedy movies are the opium of the masses. They indubitably cater to the largest number of moviegoers, irrespective of their tastes. These movies are for everyone; no one really can repudiate a good laugh and fun-filled entertainment. With the rise of comedy stalwarts like Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Jonah Hill, Sacha Baron-Cohen, Zach Galifianakis, Will Ferrell, and Amy Schumer, among others, there has been an introduction of comedy with an adult-centric focus group in the genre.
The Rating agencies have been sentient to the uprising of these films and have promptly R-rated them, while the audiences increasingly displayed trends of lapping them up every time a good one hit theaters. Most of these films satirize and, at times, juxtapose everyday life situations that adults all over the world face, while some may simply be poking a good dose of fun at a particular aspect or facet of life, the system, the government, relationships and marriages, and on and on. The syncretism of the comedy genre with almost all other genres, including romance, drama, action, and even horror, has produced some of the most enjoyable movies ever made. Likewise, the following list consists of some of the best adult comedies to watch and have a raunchy, hearty laugh.
26. Due Date (2010)
What works here more than anything, the script, the jokes, the situations, and even the sharp dialogue, is the pairing of Robert Downey Jr. opposite Zach Galifianakis, one of the most eccentric ones in years. It’s an instant recipe for explosion when you pit one of the most charismatic stars in recent times with an actor who rose to garner international acclaim playing Alan from The Hangover trilogy. The result is sheer frustration on Downey’s part and more buffoonery on Galifianaki’s part, and the movie mines some well-earned laughs, even though they are fewer and somewhat apart. If you want to have a good laugh over an unusual pairing, this is not a bad way to spend two hours. You can watch ‘Due Date’ here.
25. Ted (2012)
‘Ted’ probably has the simplest, most linear story among all the films in this lot, even uninspired at points, and that is saying a lot in a list comprising only comedy movies. However, all of that matters seldom during its entire runtime as you see a talking Teddy Bear swear, smoke pot, have sex, and be irreverent and cacophonous to everybody on a daily basis. The plot is simple: a child’s wish to have his teddy bear come to life is fulfilled, and problems arise when they are all grown up. Now, he must choose between being a regular adult with responsibilities and hanging out with his childhood buddy. The ending is contrived too, but Seth MacFarlane’s incredible voice acting talents lent to Ted and Mark Wahlberg end up working greatly in favour of the film, which rises a tad above mediocre owing to the presence of these two, a few funny but sharp one-liners, and a ton of 80s references. You can watch ‘Ted’ here.
24. This is the End (2013)
James Franco, Jonah Hill, Seth Rogen, Jay Baruchel, Craig Robinson, and Danny McBride, among a host of other actors, all playing themselves, are stuck inside Franco’s house, and the apocalypse is upon them. It is, at a lot of times, singularly unfunny and unnecessarily crude. Among all of that, it is the outrageous idea and the almost infallible assembly that keeps the film going. You can watch ‘This is the End’ here.
23. Spy (2015)
‘Spy’ marked the third consecutive collaboration between Melissa McCarthy and Paul Feig following ‘Bridesmaids’ and ‘The Heat.’ There has been a wave of films spoofing the spy genre and the Bond films of yore. ‘Spy’ is not as great, but it is ridiculously funny in the bits where it tries hard enough to be. Besides, McCarthy as the desk agent thrown into a field job is a ripe enough premise as it is, and only because of McCarthy. The occasional fat shaming and misogyny notwithstanding, this is a fun fare with some hilarious, over-the-top slapstick humor. You can watch the film here.
22. We’re the Millers (2013)
‘We’re the Millers’ is that raunchy R-rated comedy you catch on a boring weekend, and it just livens up things a tad bit. We all know the premise behind the film: a pot dealer putting together a ‘fake’ family to move a shipment of drugs from Mexico to the USA. Naturally, the funniest bits in the film are when the Millers are faced with your average American family problems and how the mismatched quartet of a strip dancer, a pot dealer, a homeless girl, and a harmless guy come together to find their way out. That being said, you won’t remember it either after a week or so of viewing it. It is that kind of instantly forgettable but entertaining in-the-moment cinema that seems to be the tagline of every other half-decent modern blockbuster. You can watch the film here.
21. Wedding Crashers (2005)
‘Wedding Crashers’ isn’t exactly Oscar material; neither does it need to be, and it knows that. In fact, the only moments the film actually faces an occasional hiccup is when it starts focusing on the story. Other than that, when the leads are being their usual selves, and the jokes come at you at lightning speed, the movie is a breeze-by, mostly, even if roughly half the jokes make you chuckle in your seat. The story focuses on two lawyers with a cynical attitude towards marriage and commitment in general who continue to crash weddings to take advantage of the fervor in the air and get to sleep with women for a one-night stand. This changes when they eventually crash a high-profile wedding and fall in love. It’s a good thing, then, that their love interests are played by Rachel McAdams and Isla Fisher, who prevent their characters from being perceived as entirely one-dimensional. The film, however, belongs to the chemistry between its charming leads, Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson, whose duo is a rare find and works aces in the film’s favor. You can watch ‘Wedding Crashers’ here.
20. Bridesmaids (2011)
Next on the list is Paul Feig’s ‘Bridesmaids’. The plot centers on Annie (Wiig), who suffers a series of misfortunes after being asked to serve as maid of honor for her best friend, Lillian, played by Maya Rudolph. The blistering supporting cast includes names like Rose Byrne, Melissa McCarthy, Ellie Kemper, Chris O’Dowd, and Rebel Wilson. The film was nominated for two Academy Awards, proving its transcendence from a mere comedy film to a complete and well-planned feature. McCarthy received considerable praise for her performance and was also nominated for an Academy Award. It brought her into the limelight, and her chemistry with Kristen Wiig was much praised. You can watch the film here.
19. The Dictator (2012)
If you are easily offended or aren’t more ‘liberal’ on the jokes front, because ‘The Dictator’ will make every effort in its power to offend you. There is virtually no political outlook, religion, community, race, sexuality, or even whole country that haven’t been mocked, spoofed, or satirized by Sacha Baron-Cohen, and ‘The Dictator,’ following in the footsteps of Borat and Bruno does just the same. Sacha Baron-Cohen has mastered playing the naïve non-American who finds himself far from home in the most ‘American’ situations possible. Here, he does most of what he does out of sheer audacity rather than naivety despite governments hating him. You can watch ‘The Dictator’ here.
18. American Pie (1999)
This movie is a favorite among teenagers and men of all ages. It is one of the most readily recognized films ever and has seen four successful sequels. The film follows a bunch of college students and their attempts to get the perfect hook-up. The film has achieved cult status and is regularly cited in modern culture. The one character incessantly referenced in films and television today is Stifler and his mom. The actors have achieved global stardom owing to the series and have credited the film for the boost in their careers. The unsuccessful sex scenes (sigh) and use of adult terms make for its R-rating. You can watch the movie here.
17. Harold and Kumar go to White Castle (2004)
Like most comedies of error, this one also starts with our protagonists desiring something innately simple, something that shouldn’t be too hard to acquire under normal circumstances. Since the film is what it is, it throws every curve ball in the way of two stoner friends from getting a burger at the White Castle burger joint in a serious case of the munchies. John Cho and Kal Penn are as eccentric a pairing as can be, and the chemistry between the leads, plus the hugely varying reactions these two have whenever something goes wrong (and a lot of it does), is absolute comedic gold. Naturally, none of the two sequels that turned Harold and Kumar into a legit franchise were as funny, albeit marginally funny and entertaining. It is here where it all started. You can watch the movie here.
16. 21 Jump Street (2012)
One of the very few actors you can bank upon to steal the limelight from a hunky Hollywood heartthrob, despite themselves being quite the contrary, is Jonah Hill, and all that is on account of sheer hilarity and misplaced self-confidence in their character. Channing Tatum is not too far behind either as the unintelligent jock, and together the duo have a naturally rewarding chemistry that is what makes buddy cop films all the rage they are. The plot is simple: two underachieving cops on park ranger duty are sent undercover to a high school to bring down a possible drug ring and its operations. Their efforts to blend in with the opposite category of kids, the camaraderie of the leads, and how they spectacularly fail often despite that are the parts that mine the most laughs. Especially funny is the scene where the duo unwillingly ingest the synthetic drug and start tripping. You can watch the movie here.
15. Horrible Bosses (2011)
The film is one of the funniest R-rated comedies of recent times. ‘Horrible Bosses’ also works because of its terrific ensemble. Jason Bateman, Charlie Day, and Jason Sudeikis as the disgruntled employees have terrific repartee together, and Jennifer Aniston, Kevin Spacey, and an unrecognizable Colin Farrell are outrageously funny as bosses who are straight-up a-holes. It would, of course, be criminal to forget Jamie Foxx as motherf*cker Jones. A name like that should alone make the movie warrant a watch for you. It’s crude, irreverent, and, above all, funny. You can watch it here.
14. Tropic Thunder (2008)
‘Tropic Thunder’ should be hailed as an achievement in itself for bringing Ben Stiller, Jack Black, Robert Downey Jr., Matthew McConaughey, Tom Cruise, Jason Bateman, Nick Nolte, and Bill Hader under the same credits window, even if they may not share the same frame within the movie. The film satirizes everything, including Hollywood, every war movie made as an Academy contender, every method actor, and the functioning of the industry in general. The performances of Tom Cruise (who is uproariously funny in an extended cameo) and especially that of Downey as a Hollywood method actor who tries to put on an African American role, taking his job too seriously in hopes of winning the Golden Lady, are highlights of the film. The rest of the cast, including Jay Baruchel, Danny McBride, Brandon Jackson, and Steve Coogan, get a piece of the cake and their own lines to shine in a heavy ensemble of A-listers. You can watch the movie here.
13. Shaun of the Dead (2004)
The infallible trio of Edgar Wright, Simon Pegg, and Nick Frost responsible for the funniest British trilogy in years, The Cornetto Trilogy, started it off in 2004 with ‘Shaun of the Dead,’ an obvious take on the zombie flick ‘Dawn of the Dead.’ However, funny is funny in any dialect or region, and Edgar Wright’s writing genius is no mystery, which is at fine display in this film. Most of the sharp humor comes from Pegg, also the co-writer, while the more slapstick bits, if they can be called that, are handled by Nick Frost, both excellent as usual. It’s more subtle, but give it a try, and you won’t regret it. You can watch it here.
12. Hot Fuzz (2007)
The second film in the Cornetto trilogy, released in 2007, is virtually everything that ‘Shaun of the Dead’ was, but only slightly better. ‘Hot Fuzz’ is not only a worthy sequel to horror comedy, but it is also funnier. The trio strikes again, this time in the roles of police officers, and are joined by Martin Freeman and Bill Nighy to add to the crazy proceedings. The film works best when it shows the duo in action and hilarity or while mocking the standard American action film and the people obsessed with them, brilliantly embodied by a hilarious Nick Frost. You can watch ‘Hot Fuzz’ here.
11. There’s Something About Mary (1998)
The film centers on Cameron Diaz’s character, Mary, who becomes the focus of attraction and the object of affection for three desperate men. Their gut-wrenching attempts to woo their lady love and always falling short make the film one of the best comedies ever. The film, today, has a cult status and is viewed as one of the best films of the 2000s. The movie was a sleeper hit, making $368 million worldwide against a low budget of $23 million. It was a recipient of inundating love and accolades from the industry. It still remains one of the best R-rated comedies ever made. You can watch the movie here.
10. Superbad (2007)
The triumvirate of Judd Apatow, Seth Rogen, and Jonah Hill has produced some of the best comic cinema. This was one of their earliest collaborations. The film stars Jonah Hill and Michael Cera as two students about to graduate high school who intend to have a once-in-a-lifetime party and lose their virginities before graduating. But as fate has it, the plans go haywire, and the leads stick into the quagmire of hilarious and embarrassing situations. The film opened to positive reviews, and the two leads’ chemistry got considerable praise. It almost grossed over eight times its budget, making it one of the most commercially successful and profitable R-rated films ever. You can watch ‘Superbad’ here.
9. Zombieland (2009)
This film is an amalgamation of the comedy and the zombie genre. This unique confluence made it a distinctive achievement in modern film-making. The plot revolves around its four leads, survivors of a zombie apocalypse. The film follows a geeky college kid making his way through the zombie apocalypse, meeting three strangers along the way, and together taking an extended road trip across the US in an attempt to find a sanctuary free from zombies. The impressive lead cast, featuring names like Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone, and Abigail Breslin, elevates the film into a must-watch haven. The film was a critical and commercial success and was R-rated due to the gory violence and cannibalism. You can watch it here.
8. The 40-Year-Old Virgin (2005)
’The 40-Year-Old-Virgin’ sees Steve Carell play Andy, an innocent aging man who is a virgin. It traces his journey to finally breaking the seal (sigh), which is hilarious and lands him in socially awkward situations. The film was again a huge commercial success, grounding flags with the critics. The R-rated comedy won many hearts and today has a cult status. Carell’s co-stars include Paul Rudd, Seth Rogen, Romany Malco, Catherine Keener, and Elizabeth Banks. You can watch the movie here.
7. Deadpool (2016)
Directed by Tim Miller, this Marvel Studios film shows the origin story of the “merc with a mouth,” aka Deadpool, the most up-front R-rated Marvel superhero. Known not just for his skills with guns and swords but also for his foul mouth, Deadpool’s role, especially the latter part, is played to the tee by Ryan Reynolds. The film shows how former special forces Wade Wilson is coerced into a treatment/experiment that is supposed to cure his terminal cancer but instead turns him into an ugly guy with quick healing powers. After his girlfriend Vanessa (Morena Baccarin) is kidnapped by the same guy, Ajax (Ed Skrein), aka Francis, who injected him with the serum that made him so, Wade sets off to find him, exact revenge, and rescue his girl. A shift from the rest of the films on this list, ‘Deadpool’ is a breath of fresh air, combining comedy and blood. You can watch it here.
6. Borat! Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan (2006)
Sacha Baron-Cohen is an unheralded comic genius. His vast array of experience in theatre, films, and television makes him the quintessential actor to work with. Cohen plays the lead character of Borat Sagdiyev, a fictitious Kazakh journalist traveling through the United States recording real-life interactions with Americans. The film sees a confluence of the documentary and the comic genres, which further positively affects its influence. One of the most critically acclaimed comedy films of all time, the film brought Cohen an Academy nomination for his screenplay. He also won a Golden Globe for his performance as Borat. The film is a must-watch! You can watch it here.
5. The Hangover (2009)
Apart from ‘American Pie,’ ‘The Hangover’ is one of the most internationally recognized and successful film franchises in the genre. The plot follows four friends who embark upon a trip to Las Vegas to celebrate the receding bachelorhood of one of them. Subsequently, they land up in a wreck after a night of booze and crazy and lose the whereabouts of their friend. The film is notable for its talented star lead cast, including Ed Helms, Bradley Cooper, and Zach Galifianakis. The film was the highest-grossing R-rated film of all time when it was released. You can watch it here.
4. Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982)
If ‘Dazed and Confused’ was the quintessential 90s film for the kids of the 70s, ‘Ridgemont High’ is the teenage flagbearer for the 80s. While most people might still remember the film for the pool scene that made waves even back then, there is undoubtedly much more to it. At its prime would be Sean Penn’s performance as the perpetually stoned surfer, who is equally rebellious and endearing. It is no secret that Cameron Crowe, the film’s writer, went undercover at a high school, and the film’s script recounts her actual experiences there. The film is, in that sense deemed to be virtually ‘plotless’, since there is no real ‘story’ being told, except for a year in the lives of a couple of high schoolers. Despite that, ‘Fast Times at Ridgemont High’ is immensely watchable for its entire duration because it scrutinizes and details high school life in a way that feels personal. It is regarded as a teenage classic today with oodles of nostalgia value, especially for the 80s kids. You can watch the movie here.
3. Planes, Trains & Automobiles (1987)
‘Planes, Trains and Automobiles’ could be strongly advocated for a case of near-perfect casting, with Steve Martin and John Candy playing comical versions of themselves in a pairing that is nothing short of explosive, but the plot of the film, and more importantly its treatment is just as strong. This film is the ballpark as far as stories about misadventures with mismatched people go. It may not have started it, a sub-genre of its own that still finds a lot of resonance among moviegoers, but it sure may be credited for popularising it. Filmography-wise, while it’s a marked departure for John Hughes, whose repertoire until then mainly consisted of films centered on teenagers and young adults, this film still turns out to be a highlight in an already illustrative career, frequently being cited as his best work often. It is heartwarming, endearing, and outrageously funny in parts, with unnatural gravitas for an all-comedy film, like the scene in the inn that makes the film transcend the definitions of a single genre. Easily one of the best comedy movies of the 80s and an essential for the holiday season. You can watch it here.
2. Dazed and Confused (1993)
It is the quintessential teenage film of the 90s, showcasing a time in the life of high schoolers in the 70s. Apart from being a nostalgia vehicle and chalk on with the details, the film pans out almost like a docu-drama that has terrific one-liners and unites an ensemble of actors before they were big stars. It is an unlikely addition to Richard Linklater’s filmography as a director, but it is also one of the better films for a younger director who is still experimenting with his craft. There is little else that hasn’t been said about the film, including the fact that McConaughey is terrific as the older dude hanging around his high school, which he just can’t seem to let go of. This is the film you can credit for his “alright, alright, alright” and “be a lot cooler if you did” moments, and it doesn’t get any more legendary than this. You can watch it here.
1. The Big Lebowski (1998)
To the film’s and the writer’s credit, it is the ridiculousness that mines in most of the laughs, as do The Dude’s shenanigans and Donny’s outbursts of anger in completely inappropriate situations. The humor here is more situational and relies less on punches and gags. For instance, the film’s funniest bits were where the actors simply had sighs or straight faces on them. A cult classic now, ‘The Big Lebowski’ is one of the absolute best comedies of error, and The Dude abides by that. Starring Jeff Bridges as The Dude and Steve Buscemi as Donny along with John Goodman, Steve Buscemi, and Julianne Moore, ‘The Big Lebowski’ can be streamed here.
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