Odds are my list of the top 10 funniest movies of all time are going to be significant different than anyone else’s. That is why making comedy is so hugely challenging for movie makers. What is hilarious to one person won’t even get a chuckle out of someone else. When I made my list of the top 10 funniest movies of all time I decided that rather than listing all the common movies that nearly everyone find funny I would make it more personal, and only list the top 10 movies i found funniest. I figured this would make for a more interesting top 10 list, and might spark a bit more debate as well. You might scratch your head over some of my selections, but these are the films that made me laugh. Here are my picks for the top 10 funniest movies of all time:
10 – Van Wilder
As I stated above, my list of the top 10 funniest movies of all time might be significantly different than yours, and many reading might be cringing at this inclusion on the list, but I found it hilarious. The comic timing of Ryan Reynolds is spot on, and some of the disgusting jokes, while admittedly over the top, had me nearly rolling in the aisle. The Erik Estrada cameo alone makes this film a forgotten gem.
9 – Nothing to Lose
Martin Lawrence has been involved in a lot of stinkers over his career, but this movie was not one of them. He and Tim Robbins play off one another perfectly in this comedy about two average guys whose circumstances (whether real or imagined) lead them to a life of crime. Hilarity ensues. Definitely one of the funniest movies I’ve ever seen, and the only comedy I’ve ever gone twice to see in the theater.
8 – Spaceballs
Anything Mel Brooks attaches his name to is bound to be funny, and his Star Wars spoof makes the number 8 spot on my list of the top 10 funniest movies of all time. Comic heavyweights of the 80s like Rick Moranis and John Candy, and of course, Brooks himself star in the film. Moranis is hilarious as villain Dark Helmet, and Bill Pullman and John Candy work well together in their Solo and Chewbacca parody roles. Classic stuff.
7 – Dumb & Dumber
Okay, this is probably the first movie on my list with broad appeal as one of the funniest movies of all time. For a span of 3 or 4 years in the 90s, Jim Carrey was considered by many to be the funniest man in Hollywood, and in my opinion his turn as Lloyd Christmas in Dumb and Dumber was his crowning comedic achievement. Jeff Daniels also showed a surprising knack for comedy in this film. Cam Neely’s cameo as redneck, Sea Bass will entertain all the hockey fans out there. There are so many good lines and hilarious scenes in this comedy, but my favorite moment is when Jeff Daniels plows Lauren Holly in the face point blank with a snowball. One of the funniest movie moments ever.
6 – Planes, Trains and Automobiles
John Candy makes another appearance on my list of the top 10 funniest movies of all time, playing the well-meaning, but bumbling shower ring salesman, Del Griffith. Despite his friendly nature, Griffith manages to consistently aggravate Neal Page, played by comedy legend, Steve Martin. The two make a fantastic comedy team, and the movie contains some of the funniest quotes ever. Those aren’t pillows!
5 – Airplane!
Okay, here is another film that should be on everyone’s list of the top 10 funniest movies of all time. This spoof on the sub-genre of airline disaster movies stars parody regulars like Leslie Nielsen and Lloyd Bridges. If you are a fan of spoofs like Scary Movie do yourself a favor and rent this comedy classic. One of the funniest movies ever made, and the spoof movie that really kick-started the genre of parody movies.
4 – American Pie
You may be groaning right now, finding this teen gross-out comedy, with its seemingly endless terrible sequels, near the top of my list. But if you actually saw this movie in the theater, before all the inevitable knock-offs and sequels polluted the genre, you have to admit it was refreshingly funny at the time. So many scenes in this film had me laughing so hard I was crying. Stifler, played by the one-dimensional Seann William Scott, became my idol for a few short months following the release of this film. Like most comedies it hasn’t held up well over time, eliciting only a few chuckles from me now, but that first viewing was one of the funniest two hours I’ve ever spent in a movie theater.
3 – The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!
If Airplane! launched the parody movie genre, then The Naked Gun perfected it. Leslie Nielsen is brilliantly funny as Lieutenant Frank Drebin, taking every sentence literally as he bumbles his way along while trying to foil a plot to assassinate the Queen. Jokes abound, and even O.J. Simpson gets in on the act, playing Detective Nordberg. The movie spawned a pair of sequels, but while they had plenty of laughs of their own, they couldn’t live up to the high standards set by the first film, nor the TV series that spawned them.
2 – Monty Python and the Holy Grail
Every comedy fan over the age of 30 should have this hilarious British comedy on their list of the top 10 funniest movies of all time. If not, then at least The Meaning of Life, or Life of Brian should be present. In my opinion, this film is the crowning achievement of the legendary British comedy troupe that provided the world with so many laughs over the years. The duel with the Black Knight, Sir Robin’s song, the rude Frenchman are but a few of the hilarious moments in this film. If you haven’t seen the film recently or at all then head down to your local store and buy the film. One of the few comedies worth owning.
1 – The Big Lebowski
If you’ve seen the movie, The Big Lebowski multiple times, then you know exactly where I’m coming from when I put it at the top of my list of the top 10 funniest movies of all time. If you’ve only seen it once, or have never even heard of it then you are no doubt completely befuddled why this movie would be on the list at all. You see, The Big Lebowski must be viewed multiple times before all the little subtle nuances and the character interaction can truly be appreciated. The acting is superlative and the dialog is incredibly tight and witty. Sure, there are some strange dream sequences, and a few weird waking ones as well, but no other movie on this list keeps me consistently laughing throughout like this one does. Just the scenes with Da Jesus alone qualifies this as one of the funniest movies of all time. If you’ve only seen it once, or not at all then go get it now and watch it again, and again. After a few viewings it will find a spot on your list of the top 10 funniest movies of all time.
