Top 20 Comedy Movies of All Time

Any list of the best comedy movies of all time will miss out on a few favourites. Comedy is so visceral, so personal, that no list of the funniest comedy movies can include every film ever made. It's hard enough to make a list of the top comedy movies of the year, let alone all time!

However, at VOX Cinemas, we know you love a good laugh, so we’ve scoured the lists to try and pin down the top 20 comedy movies and their IMDb scores. Ranging from the golden days of silent comedy in the 1920s up to the start of the 21st century, here are at least some of the best comedy movies of all time. Grab some popcorn, and settle in for a great evening's entertainment as we look at our list.

1. The Kid (1921) - 8.3/10

One of the most heart-warming films of all time, The Kid shows the true talent of the legendary Charlie Chaplin as the timeless 'little tramp'. Finding an abandoned baby in the back of a car, he's forced to adopt the boy and mentor him through the trials of life. A wonderfully loving and family-friendly film that will also make you shed a tear or two. Starring Charlie Chaplin, Jack Coogan, Carl Miller, and Edna Purviance.

2. Some Like It Hot (1959) - 8.2/10

After two musicians are witnesses to the Chicago St Valentine’s Day Massacre, they go on the run with a band. The trouble is, the band is an all-girl outfit, and our two witnesses are men. Transforming into ‘Josephine and Daphne’, they just about manage to keep out of trouble until Joe starts to fall for singer Sugar. Starring Marylin Monroe as Sugar, Tony Curtis as Joe, Jack Lemmon as Jerry, and George Raft as the sinister mobster Spats Colombo.

3. Dr. Strangelove or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964) - 8.4/10

The threat of nuclear war may seem like an odd subject for a comedy movie, but Dr. Strangelove is a classic of its era, featuring one of the greatest comedy performances of all time from Peter Sellers. Directed by Stanley Kubrick, it’s a complex and reflective movie that makes a mockery of the power-crazed ‘men at the top’. Also staring George C. Scott, Slim Pickens and Keenan Wynn.

4. The Blues Brothers (1980) 7.9/10

The Blues brothers, Jake and Elwood, go on a madcap dash across the USA to save the home they were brought up in. In this musical comedy, they have to get the band back together and play that one last gig, while busy outrunning the Chicago PD. Starring Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi, and Cab Calloway.

5. Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975) - 8.2/10

This ridiculously and riotously funny spoof on the legend of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table was made on a shoestring budget yet still ranks as one of the funniest comedy movies of all time. Staring the entire Monty Python crew, including John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, and Michael Palin, it's a romp through merry old England in search of the Holy Grail.

6. Airplane! (1980) - 7.7/10

The film that spawned a thousand catchphrases, i is simply one of the greatest comedy movies of all time. The gags (both verbal and visual) come so thick and fast that you’ll need several watches to catch them all. Airplane! spawned an entire generation of spoof movies, but this is the original and still the best. It stars Robert Hays, Julie Hagerty, and the legendary Leslie Nielsen.

7. Caddyshack (1980) - 7.3/10

When man goes up against gopher, there can only be one winner… Caddyshack is a full-on belly laugh of a film set in the posh Bushwood Country Club, where young golf caddy Danny tries to make the jump from caddy to golfing pro. But the club president, and that pesky gopher, have other ideas. Starring Chevy Chase, Bill Murray, Rodney Dangerfield, and Michael O’Keefe as Danny.

8. Ghostbusters (1984) - 7.8/10

One of the best family comedy movies of all time, Ghostbusters is an absolute gem of a comedy movie, with plenty of laughs from the start. Three paranormal scientists get much more than they bargained for when they start a ghostbusting business in New York, especially when a downtown apartment block suddenly becomes a hotspot for paranormal activity. Starring Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis, Sigourney Weaver and Rick Moranis.

9. This Is Spinal Tap (1984) - 7.9/10

If you love rock music, this is a genuine must-see on any list of the best comedy movies of all time. This iconic film is a true ‘mockumentary’ that follows rock band Spinal Tap on their fateful tour. The humour is sometimes very subtle, with lots of music industry in-jokes, but the quality of the performances elevates this film to another level. Turn it up to 11 and watch Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, Harry Shearer and Rob Reiner take this comedy on the road.

10. Groundhog Day (1993) - 8/10

Imagine waking up and living the same day over and over and over again… This is exactly what happens to TV weatherman Phil, played by Bill Murray. The only way to break the spell is to make significant changes in his life and become a better person. One of the best family comedy movies of all time, Groundhog Day also has a strong message about how we treat others and ourselves. Starring Andie McDowell, Chris Elliot, and Stephen Tobolowsky.

11. Dumb & Dumber (1994) - 7.3/10

When a woman leaves a case at the airport, two of the dumbest people you’ll ever meet, Lloyd and Harry, decide to go on a road trip to Aspen, Colorado to return the case to her. Sounds easy enough, but the journey is fraught with mishaps and giving back the case is just the start of their problems. Starring Jim Carrey, Jeff Daniels, Lauren Holly, and Mike Starr.

12. The Big Lebowski (1998) - 8.1/10

Regularly appearing in lists of the top 20 comedy movies and their IMDb scores, this is a comedy all about mistaken identities, debts, and ruined rugs. The comedy is sharp, observational, and character-driven, with Jeff Bridges turning in one of his most iconic performances as ‘The Dude’. Also starring John Goodman, Julianne Moore, Steve Buscemi, and David Huddleston.

13. Shaun of the Dead (2004) - 7.9/10

Shaun’s life is mundane to say the least. Well, right up to the point when he stops being a simple sales assistant and has to save himself, his best mate, and his ex-girlfriend from the zombie apocalypse. One of the funniest horror comedies in years, Shaun of the Dead is a wonderful parody of the zombie genre and is filled with genuine, laugh-out-loud moments. Starring Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Lucy Davis, and Dylan Moran.

14. Spaceballs (1987) 7.1/10

A great family comedy movie that merges science fiction and comedy. A star pilot and his sidekick have to fly outside their comfort zone when they’re called upon to rescue a princess and save a planet. Look out for a cameo appearance by the Millennium Falcon! It stars Mel Brooks, John Candy, Rick Moranis, Bill Pullman, and Daphne Zuniga.

15. Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987) 7.6/10

The ultimate road trip takes Steve Martin and John Candy on the trip of a lifetime as they both struggle to get home for Thanksgiving. This odd-fellows movie showcases the simply divine comic timing of Martin and Candy’s ability to share the limelight with a fellow comedy master. Also starring Laila Robbins and Michael McKean.

16. Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994) 6.9/10

One of the best family comedy movies on offer, Ace Ventura is a riotous comedy led by the unique talent that is Jim Carrey. Pet detective Ace is called in when the mascot of the Miami Dolphins football team goes missing. Ace goes about cracking the case in his own inimitable style that doesn’t sit well with the local Miami PD. Also starring Courtney Cox, Sean Young, and Tone Loc.

17. Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004) 7.1/10

Will Ferrell knocks it out of the park in this satirical take on the broadcast news industry set in the 1970s. Can Ferrell’s top-rated news anchorman cope when he’s challenged by an ambitious and glamorous woman for the network’s top spot? Also starring Christina Applegate, Steve Carell, and Paul Rudd.

18. Raising Arizona (1987) 7.3/10

When a childless couple steal another family’s baby (one of quintuplets), they get much more than they bargained for. The unlikely pair – one an ex-felon and the other an ex-cop – have to keep their crime secret from friends and family, while also dodging the attentions of a feral bounty hunter who has his own agenda. This fast-paced movie regularly features on lists of the funniest comedy movies. Starring Nicolas Cage, Holly Hunter, Trey Wilson, and John Goodman.

19. Mrs Doubtfire (1993) 7.1/10

One of Robin Williams’ greatest comedy performances sees him transforming into alter-ego Mrs Doubtfire, a Scottish housekeeper, so that he can spend time with his children after a bitter divorce. Much of Williams’ quips are ad-libbed, making this uniquely funny and warm family comedy movie one that everyone can enjoy. Also starring Sally Field, Pierce Brosnan, and Harvey Fierstein.

20. Home Alone (1990) 7.7/10

What happens when an eight-year-old boy mistakenly gets left at home on Christmas Eve and has to defend his family home against two inept burglars? A hilarious sequence of events sees young Kevin defeating the burglars at every turn with ever-more elaborate traps. Starring Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern and John Heard. One of the best family comedy movies and a festive favourite, Home Alone rounds off our list of the best comedy movies of all time.

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