The Best Comedy Movies Of All Time
From Akshay Kumar's comedic chaos to Sacha Baron Cohen's absurdity, these films are the ultimate doze of laughter
While I could dive straight to the list of best comedies of all time, the dive is the problem this time. One of my braincells is jogging toward Akshay Kumar, another clinging to Kamal Hassan's four-way madness in Michael Madana Kama Rajan, another to Sacha Baron Cohen's Ali G, making the dive feels like a cerebral mosh pit.
Anyway, comedy is deeply personal and can kick the bad in 'bad-day' with a snort-laugh. So proceed with caution: This list may cause excessive laughter, spontaneous quoting, and a lifelong addiction to puns.
So, think of this as a laughter challenge that is lovingly biased, and curated by Esquire's unofficial minister of laughter.
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English Comedy Films
Here are 6 films that'll definitely make you laugh out loud:
Airplane (1980)
One of the funniest films ever made by the American Film Institute, Airplane directed by Jim Abrahams is a full of laughs disaster parody film that seriously requires you to fasten your funny bone.
Where to Watch: Amazon Prime Video (Rent)
Borat : Subsequent Moviefilm (2020)
Take up any film created by the British Comedian and actor Sacha Baron Cohen, its hilarious. From Ali G, to Borat, to The Dictator, his films combines politics and unfiltered comedy to present the absurdity of life. Borat : Subsequent Moviefilm, as the name suggests is a follow-up to Borat: Cultural Learnings of America For Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan (2006) and depicts the story of a clueless Kazakh journalist who travels to America and cluelessly unearths racism, xenophobia, misogyny, and general American absurdity. Real footage from real people captured on camera.
Where to Watch: Amazon Prime
Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay (2008)
Its a story of a neurotic investment banker, and a med-school slacker who is a stoner. What begins as a quest for snacks, White House Burgers, turns into a glorious unhinged comedy trilogy. In Harold and Kumar Escape Guantanamo Bay , the boys are accused of being terrorists for trying to sneak a bong onto a plane and so end up in Guantanamo Bay. Also, Neil Patrick Harris appears...on ecstasy.
Where to Watch: Disney+Hotstar
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Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999)
A secret agent spoof, British superspy Austin Powers travels back to the 1960s to reclaim his stolen mojo (libido) from Dr. Evil. In other parts Austin Powers in Goldmember (2002) and Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997), too we get a dose of spy spoofy hilarity.
Where to Watch: Amazon Prime Video (rent)
Superbad (2007)
A coming of age comedy starring Jonah Hill, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, and Michael Cera who are determined to navigate challenges of adolescence. As final days of high school, they plan to attend a party and lose their virginity. To buy booze they create fake ids, one of which is under name "McLovin".
The film is full of sharp humour, memorable one-liners and funny.
Where to Watch: Netflix India
Rush Hour (1998)
An action-comedy film starring Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker, Rush Hour, follows the story of a Hong Kong Inspector Lee (Chan) and LAPD detective James Carter (Tucker) who team up to rescue a chinese diplomat's daughter.
Where to Watch: Amazon Prime India and Apple TV
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Hindi Comedy Movies
Here are 6 hilarious films to make you laugh till you cheeks hurt
Andaz Apna Apna (1994)
Set for a re-release this month, Andaz Apna Apna is a cult classic Indian comedy starring Aamir Khan, Raveena Tandon, Salman Khan, and Karishma Kapoor. A slapstick comedy, revolves around two men Amar and Prem, Aaamir and Salmaan respectively, who dream of marrying a wealthy heiress to escape their working-class lives. The characters like Teja and Crime Master Gogo today are iconic villains in the pop culture.
Where to Watch: Amazon Prime Video
Stree (2018)
A horror-comedy featuring Pankaj Tripathi, Rajkumar Rao, Shraddha Kapoor, Abhishek Banerjee, and Aparshakti Khurana is based on the urban legend of "Nale Ba" from Karnataka (Come tomorrow). A mysterious spirit haunts a small town, Chanderi, during an annual festival abducting men. The only trace of the men's disappearance? Clothes left behind.
Where To Watch: Amazon Prime Video, Disney+Hotstar
3 Idiots (2009)
The film needs no introduction. The beloved comedy-drama starring Aamir Khan, R. Madhavan, and Sharman Joshi, Boman, and Kareena Kapoor. A film on self-discovery, friendship, and pressures of academic life blends humour, heart, and social commentary that has forever engraved it into the classics of Indian cinema.
Where to Watch: Amazon Prime Video, YouTube Movies, and Apple TV
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Hungama (2003)
Directed by Priyadarshan, the comedy film featuring Akshaye Khanna, Paresh Rawal, Rimi Sen is a remake of the Malayalam film Poochakkoru Mookkuthi and revolves around mistaken identities that lead to a chaotic yet hilarious scenarios.
Where To Watch: Disney+Hotstar
Hera Pheri (2000)
No list of comedies is complete without Priyadarshan's Hera Pheri starring king of comedy Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty, and Paresh Rawal. A cult classic comedy is peppered with lines that have become part of everyday vernacular among fans. Even the sequel to film Phir Hera Pheri (2006) depicts the trio tangled up in scam that leaves them penniless, prompting another hilarious misadventure.
Where to Watch: Amazon Prime Video
Delhi Belly (2011)
An action-thriller that's hilariously chaotic and seriously not your mom's kind of comedy starring Imran Khan, Vir Dasm and Kunaal Roy. The a raunchy, dark comedy depicts the life of three roommates who end up delivering the wrong package (stool sample) to a drug smuggler. its grim with a lot of attitude and full of razor sharp comedy and absurd twists.
Where to Watch: Amazon Prime Video India