A good dumb comedy movie can be just the tonic you need after a long and tiring day. They allow us to switch off our brains and simply enjoy whatever silly amusements they have in store for us. While there have been plenty of stupid movies that we get a few giggles from and then forget all about, there have also been some that have become iconic classics of the genre with their underlying brilliance and have kept movie lovers coming back for repeat rewatches.

While all of these movies run with a silly brand of comedy, beneath their exteriors of crude humor and low-brow appeal there lies a creative comedy mastery that is easy to overlook in itself, but gives these films a quality that many others lack. From satirical masterworks to the gold standard of stoner comedies, the characters in these films may be dumb, but don’t go thinking the movies themselves are too.

40. 'Galaxy Quest' (1999)

Directed by Dean Parisot

Spoofing Star Trek as a gimmicky sci-fi comedy, Galaxy Quest is, on face value, an easy film to dismiss, but there is a hilarious might and even a touching homage to it that has seen it age among the finest parody films ever made. It follows the cast of 'Galaxy Quest', a B-grade sci-fi series from the 80’s that has amassed a cult fanbase. When the program is misinterpreted as being historical documents by an alien race, however, the TV stars find themselves being pulled into an intergalactic feud against a ruthless tyrant and his alien army.

It pokes and prods at the eccentricities of shows like Star Trek, but it does so in a way that is playful and praising more so than pointed. It also makes the absolute most of its star-studded cast and is wise enough to still present its own unique story that is both ceaselessly hilarious and genuinely exciting. 25 years on from its release, Galaxy Quest remains a wholesome love letter to fan culture that strikes a beautiful and brilliant balance between teasing mockery and starry-eyed reverence.

39. 'Monty Python and The Holy Grail' (1975)

Directed by Terry Jones & Terry Gilliam

Monty Python and the Holy Grail represents the iconic comedy troupe’s first foray into feature film-making, and it is quite possibly their defining masterpiece. Ridiculous, whimsical, and gloriously silly, the wacky re-telling of the Arthurian legend features the English comics at their outlandish best, be it in regard to their political allegory, their slapstick spontaneity, spoofing splendor, and, of course, their litany of memorably hysterical characters.

Whereas so many comedy hits of the 1970s have aged quite poorly over time, Monty Python and the Holy Grail has arguably grown stronger over the decades. Such sequences as the Black Knight and his flesh wounds, the Legendary Black Beast of Argh, and even the simple visual gag of the endless running scene are iconic moments in the history of comedy cinema, and a testament to how truly ingenious a seemingly simple gag can be.

38. 'Office Space' (1999)

Directed by Mike Judge

On surface-level inspection of its premise, Office Space presents a cathartic comedy romp of desk job frustrations and the monotony of the 9-to-5 work week. Truth be told, that is kind of exactly what it is, but it executes its story with such rousing precision, with such unfettered, awkward truth and honesty, that it has reverberated around America and across generations as one of the quintessential workplace comedies.

It follows Peter Gibbons (Ron Livingstone), a disgruntled programmer at a tech company whose growing resentment of his job and his personal life takes an inspired turn courtesy of a fateful appointment with a hypnotherapist. Office Space’s handling of the malaise that many people experience in the workplace is defined by Mike Judge’s razor-sharp anti-conformist sensitivities that permeate through every barbed familiarity of the American office space, resulting in a work of scathing satirical genius that has remained ever-relevant since its release.

37. 'Clerks' (1994)

Directed by Kevin Smith

Another brilliant display of workday monotony, Clerks places its slice-of-life focus on the typical experiences during a shift for store clerks. Called in on his day off to cover for a co-worker’s morning shift, Dante (Brian O’Halloran) embarks on yet another day of work as an employee confined to his small convenience store. He defeats the mundane existence that is shift work by discussing movies with his friend from the neighboring video rental store, annoying troublesome customers, lazing around, and even playing hockey on the roof of the complex.

It relishes the aimlessness of young adult life, soaking in the mind-numbing drudgery that is shift work with a powerful resonance that—while it may not have aged quite as timelessly as the aforementioned Office Space—still wields quite the impact today. Made on a measly budget of around $27,000, Clerks went on to be a monumental success, one that still stands as one of the landmark comedies of the 1990s.

36. 'Stir Crazy' (1980)

Directed by Sidney Poitier

The unlikely yet perfectly matched partnership between Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor led to four feature films released from 1976 to 1991. Arguably none of them had the impact of their 1980 crime-comedy romp Stir Crazy, which sees the two leads starring as aspiring artists who find themselves wrongfully sentenced to prison for a bank robbery they did not commit. After pretending to be wildly insane to scare of other inmates, the two pals devise a cunning plan to escape as the annual prisoners’ rodeo draws near.

The premise sometimes overplays its hand and some of the set-ups grow a touch tired, but the film always has the benefit of allowing Wilder and Pryor to do their thing. While it has its lulls, Stir Crazy has ultimately come to be adored as a stunning, sidesplitting presentation of one of the screen’s greatest comedic duos at the peak of their powers.

35. 'What We Do in the Shadows' (2014)

Directed by Taika Waititi and Jermaine Clement

A spoofing mockumentary saw Takia Waititi begin to transcend from a quaint Kiwi sensation to an international comedy star, What We Do in the Shadows is a wry parody of vampires that is as silly as it is sublime. It follows four vampire flatmates in suburban New Zealand as they go about their daily lives while struggling to initiate a recently-turned hipster vampire to their lifestyle.

With Jermaine Clement writing, directing, and starring alongside Waititi, the film exhibits the duo’s brilliant knack for quaint fun, character-focused hilarity, and sublime horror parody. It humanizes the mythic monsters in a way that no other vampire film has ever tried to, making them lovable and eccentric goofs as well as blood-sucking beasts. The film’s popularity, and Waititi’s rising star, saw a successful television adaptation created by Jemaine Clement bought by FX.

34. 'Four Lions' (2010)

Directed by Chris Morris

On paper, the premise of Four Lions is crude and has the potential to be wildly offensive. However, the execution of the film was nothing short of total genius, thriving as a satirical take-down of religious fanaticism and violent extremism. It revolves around four Islamic friends determined to become Jihadists, only to be dismissed from their terrorist movement after a mishap with an RPG. Going out on their own, they set their sights on the London Marathon to carry out a devastating attack, but not everything goes to plan.

While it pulls its punches a little by making the central characters so ridiculously stupid, Four Lions still excels as a razor-sharp, pitch-black comedy that hits hard on uncomfortable truths. The four stars are all exceptional in their roles, offering non-stop hilarity even as their heinous scheme begins to come to fruition.

33. 'Young Frankenstein' (1974)

Directed by Mel Brooks

A rare comedy game from the 1970s that has aged superbly, Young Frankenstein reveals the full might of comedic prowess of Gene Wilder and Mel Brooks’ working relationship. The horror movie spoof follows the grandson of Dr. Frankenstein, a lecturer at an American medical school striving to make good his family name, when he inherits his grandfather’s castle and starts re-working the mad scientist’s experiments.

As a spoof movie, it strikes a perfect balance between poking fun at old-fashioned cinematic horror and paying affectionate homage to the history of the genre in film. Its brow never rises particularly high, with a steady streamline of double-entendres, smutty puns, and skewering parody defining its humor, but Young Frankenstein stirs it all together to make one of the funniest movies of all time.

Watch on TCM

32. 'Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy' (2004)

Directed by Adam McKay

A hilarious example of Will Ferrell at his eccentric and outlandish best that has also become one of the most quotable movies of all time, Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy can only be viewed as one of the best comedy films of the 21st century thus far. It follows a famous newsreader in 1970s San Diego as his celebrity appeal is threatened when the network hires the ambitious Veronica Corningstone (Christina Applegate) to be his co-anchor.

With a stellar supporting cast including Paul Rudd, Steve Carell, and David Koechner, the film thrives off the back of its gag-a-minute silliness and its absurd buffoonery that primarily takes aim at the issues of sexism in a male-dominated industry. Remaining relevant after 20 years – and one not so good sequel – Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy is stupid comedy at its brilliant, unbridled best.

31. 'The Mask' (1994)

Directed by Russell Chuck

There are few comedians who have used physical comedy to explore silly humor with the pizzazz and pop-culture punch of Jim Carrey. One of the best examples of his excellent eccentricity comes in the form of the 1994 movie, The Mask. Carrey stars as a meek banker whose life is transformed when he adorns the magical mask of the Norse god Loki. Becoming a confident and charismatic playboy, he pursues a relationship with a nightclub singer and even robs a bank, landing him in trouble with a local crime lord.

Both bombastic and breezy, The Mask whisks by at a rapid pace that, while it doesn’t always hit its mark, is wise enough to hinge its comedic might on Carrey’s starring role and Cameron Diaz’s equally strong supporting performance. An icon of 90s comedy, its zany appeal has endured for three decades as an inspired dose of pure, unadulterated ridiculousness.

30. 'Coming to America' (1988)

Directed by John Landis

One of Eddie Murphy’s greatest movies which is somewhat overlooked by modern audiences, Coming to America is an underappreciated gem of 80s comedy. It follows the young prince of a wealthy African nation who ventures to America to find true love in a bid to escape a traditional arranged marriage. Disguising himself as a poor foreign exchange student, he falls for a girl but finds himself struggling to tell her his true identity.

The story itself is stripped straight from a fairy tale, and while some may consider it formulaic, it does provide a charming and cozy familiarity of fish-out-of-water gags and endearment. However, it will always be remembered for its comedic might, with Murphy and co-star Arsenio Hall gelling brilliantly as the leading duo. While some may discard it as being a cheap and silly knock-off, Coming to America is a masterful rom-com that thrived to be the third highest-grossing movie of 1988.

29. 'Wet Hot American Summer' (2001)

Directed by David Wain

Despite releasing as a critically derided box office flop, Wet Hot American Summer has gradually amassed a cult following, largely as its spectacular comedy cast has found fame in the ensuing years. A parody of 80s sex comedies, it takes place on the last day of a summer camp as the young counselors scramble to fulfill all their romances and desires as the camp builds up to an evening talent show before finishing.

While it can still be divisive, many have come to appreciate it as a wonderfully silly send-up that has enough love for 80s comedy to be sincere in its parody while still taking aim at the obvious pitfalls within it. It also served as a launchpad for the likes of Paul Rudd, Amy Poehler, Elizabeth Banks, Joe Lo Truglio, and Bradley Cooper.

28. 'The 40-Year-Old Virgin' (2005)

Directed by Judd Apatow

The film that consolidated Steve Carell as a comedy star capable of leading a film, The 40-Year-Old Virgin excels as a crude yet sincere rom-com that features a profound love story and plenty of laugh-out-loud hilarity. It focuses on an ordinary store clerk who, it is discovered, has never had sex. As his colleagues try to help him pop his cherry, he begins to develop a romance with local entrepreneur, Trish Piedmont (Catherine Keener).

Managing to be both sweet and smutty, the film continues to be celebrated for its deft balancing act of raunchiness and romance and the manner in which it blends the two to form a realistic love story. That being said, it is still difficult to go past moments like the famous chest-waxing sequence as the most ridiculously funny moment the film offers.

27. 'The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!' (1988)

Directed by Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, and Jerry Zucker

With spoof movies standing as some of the greatest hits of 80s comedy, it should come as no surprise that genre star Leslie Nielson stands as one of the cinematic icons of the decade. Among his very best outings with the directing trio known as Zucker, Abrahams and Zucker is 1988’s police parody The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!. The film follows Nielson’s bumbling NYPD officer as he hunts down a notorious criminal with a plan to assassinate the queen of England.

Flying by at a rapid rate with visual gags, obscene puns, and plenty of unapologetically crass humor, the film is a relentless assault of ingeniously stupid hilarity. Interestingly, it is based on an earlier television collaboration between Nielson and the directors known as Police Squad!, a 1982 comedy series that ran for just one season.

26. 'Bubba Ho-Tep' (2002)

Directed by Don Coscarelli

Few films have mixed such absurd stupidity with striking comedic genius to such a degree as Bubba Ho-Tep. The underrated cult classic follows an aged and in-hiding Elvis Presley (Bruce Campbell) and a Black John F. Kennedy (Ossie Davis) who reside in a nursing home and must join forces when an ancient Egyptian mummy starts sucking people’s souls out through their anuses.

Within the confines of its utterly ridiculous premise, the film excels with its razor-sharp comedic punch and two exceptional starring performances from Campbell and Davis. With its schlocky B-movie charm, Bubba Ho-Tep has an uncanny ability to put broad grins on the faces of viewers and even earned critical acclaim upon release, however, it sadly flopped at the box office and has struggled to find the popularity it thoroughly deserves retrospectively, even with its cult status.

25. 'No Hard Feelings' (2023)

Directed by Gene Stupnitsky

One of the more recent entries in the wheelhouse of raunchy comedy hits, No Hard Feelings coasted on Jennifer Lawrence's star power and comedic prowess as it delved headfirst into the awkwardness of love and sex. Lawrence portrays Maddie, a struggling single mother who responds to a peculiar Craigslist ad from two over-protective parents seeking someone to date their 19-year-old son before he goes to college.

No Hard Feelings is rife with cringe comedy and social awkwardness, but also boasts an offbeat charm stemming from the underlying good nature of its two lead characters. While it is able to shock and even embarrass audiences at times, it never strives to be offensive or harmful and ends up being a bizarrely endearing romantic comedy.

24. 'Ace Ventura: Pet Detective' (1994)

Directed by Tom Shadyac

Jim Carrey is the unequaled master of ‘90s comedy, with 1994 a ridiculous year for the comic actor. Ace Ventura: Pet Detective was just one of his massive hits for the year, standing as one of his most celebrated comedy pictures as Carrey stars as the titular private investigator who specializes in cases concerning animals, with the Miami Dolphins contacting him to help them find their missing mascot, Snowflake.

The story seldom rises to astonishing heights, but it does serve as a more than adequate platform for Carrey to indulge in his physical comedic style with unreserved commitment. It is a tour de force outing from the famed leading man, and a quintessential watch for all Carrey fans as it sees the gross-out humor and the twitchy gags come thick and fast.

23. 'Cocaine Bear' (2023)

Directed by Elizabeth Banks

With a very loose basis on a true story of a 500-pound bear ingesting a copious amount of cocaine, the aptly named Cocaine Bear was invigorated with a chaotic and ultra-violent vibrancy which made it a modern pop-culture sensation. Following misfit groups of kids, cops, and criminals, it centers on the Georgia forest, a botched drug smuggling operation, and an apex predator on a drug-fueled rampage.

Mixing its action-comedy ridiculousness with overtones of animalistic horror and crime-thriller, Cocaine Bear was never afraid to lean into its story's inherent absurdity with glorious vigor. The end result is an obscenely captivating spectacle that takes audiences on a pulsating ride of far-fetched stupidity which was much more brilliant than it had any right to be.

22. 'Scary Movie' (2000)

Directed by Keenen Ivory Wayons

From Leslie Nielson’s comedies of the '80s to more recent and much more obvious parodies, the spoof movie genre has been a mainstay of low-budget, easily accessible comedy for decades. At its absolute best, the subgenre excels at lampooning trends in the film industry while also poking fun at the messages contained within the movies they spoof.

The first of the Scary Movie franchise did this incredibly well, targeting the horror genre, namely the Scream films which rose to prominence through the late '90s with their own sense of self-awareness. Such was Scary Movie’s brilliance, the film had many of its own moments that became iconic comedy scenes, and it even spawned a saga, though none of its sequels were able to match the original’s sense of pointed fun.

21. 'Zoolander' (2001)

Directed by Ben Stiller

Ben Stiller is certainly no stranger to exaggerated, skewering spoofs of eccentric industries. His 2001 hit Zoolander still stands as one of Stiller's best films, excelling as both irreverently silly escapism and as a scathing jab at the fashion industry. It focuses on two rival male supermodels who are reluctantly united when they uncover a fashion designer's elaborate plot to use one of them to assassinate the Malaysian Prime Minister.

Making the absurd story work around the constant jokes within its 89-minute runtime is an impressive feat on its own, but it’s in the dialogue where Zoolander’s true genius resides. Not only is Zoolander an endlessly quotable movie, but it’s so unbelievably, perfectly stupid that it’s easy to underestimate how brilliant it actually is.

20. 'MacGruber' (2010)

Directed by Jorma Taccone

While movies adapted from Saturday Night Live sketches haven't always struck gold, 2010's action parody MacGruber can be regarded as something of a brilliant outlier. A raw and unbridled spoof of the popular 80s television series MacGyver, it prods at the tropes of action blockbusters and espionage thriller, often in the most glaring and grotesque way possible, as it focuses on the titular hero as he comes out of retirement to avenge his murdered wife and save the world in the process.

Beneath its shocking humor though, there is a lot going on in terms of deconstructing genre tropes and critiquing the machismo of the typical action hero. It’s not the most skewering satire by any stretch, but there’s no small amount of pointed parody that makes MacGruber’s (Will Forte) battle with Dieter von Cunth (Val Kilmer) all the more enjoyable.

19. 'Spaceballs' (1987)

Directed by Mel Brooks

A mastermind of stupid yet ingenious comedy cinema, Mel Brooks directed many iconic films throughout the 20th century, with one of the all-time great spoofs coming in the form of Spaceballs which lampooned many of the blockbuster sci-fi titles of the 70s and 80s with a relentless appetite for silliness and smut. Primarily mocking the Star Wars films, it follows a mercenary as he sets out to save Princess Vespa (Daphne Zuniga) from an intergalactic warlord and his chief enforcer, Dark Helmet (Rick Moranis).

The spoof movie received only mixed reviews from critics, but it was more warmly embraced by fans who adored how it played with the sci-fi genre and its many hit sensations. It has become a revered cult classic, a highlight in Brooks’ career, and a defining entry in the spoof comedy subgenre.

18. 'American Pie' (1999)

Directed by Paul Weitz

As a slightly less abrasive evolution of the teen sex comedies of the 1980s, the American Pie movies developed something of a legacy thanks to their irreverent charm as well as their notoriously smutty and vulgar comedic tastes. The first film in particularly thrived in this regard, following four high school boys who make a pact to lose their virginity by the end of the upcoming prom night, only for some of them to fall in love in the process.

From Jim’s (Jason Biggs) exploits with a certain apple pie to the cringe-worthily depictions of the characters’ first times, American Pie is riotously funny and embarrassingly earnest. While it’s had many sequels and spin-offs, none have matched the sheer uncomfortable genius of American Pie, nor the underlying heart with which it addressed friendship and young love.

17. 'Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping' (2016)

Directed by Jorma Taccone and Akiva Schaffer

An underappreciated comedy gem that deals directly with celebrity stardom in the modern era, Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping was a sharp and shocking mockumentary, music satire that displayed the genius of The Lonely Island at its very best. The film follows eccentric musician Connor Friel, or Connor4Real (one of Andy Samberg's most hilarious roles), the lead member of a pop rap group whose debut solo album becomes a commercial disaster, leaving the egocentric artist desperately clinging to his celebrity status.

With its gross-out body humor, obscene language, and dozens of celebrity cameos, the parody excels in its most ridiculous moments of shallowness and vanity. It’s hilarious, recklessly inappropriate, way over-the-top, and a perfect parody of some of the social media-infested, popularity-stunting music stars of the modern day.

16. 'Step Brothers' (2008)

Directed by Adam McKay

Hot off the success of the ridiculous sporting comedy Talladega Knights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, comedy collaborators Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly were working together again on what would become one of the biggest comedy hits of the 21st century. Step Brothers follows the pair as two middle-aged men still living at home whose rivalry turns to friendship with hilarious results as their parents start seeing each other.

Regardless of whether they’re feuding over Dale’s (Reilly) drum kit or bonding while making bunk beds, the duo’s non-stop antics made for a relentless comedic sensation. With its many quotable lines and hilarious situations the pair find themselves in, Step Brothers continues to thrive in mainstream pop culture as one of the greatest stupid funny movies in recent decades.

15. 'Kick-Ass' (2010)

Directed by Matthew Vaughn

Something of a marriage between the formulaic superhero formula of genre tales like Spider-Man and ultra-violent, profanity-riddled, stylish excess, Kick-Ass was an energetic, engaging triumph that has grown more adept as a parody as the superhero genre has reached its zenith. Adapted from the irreverent Marvel Comics series, it follows a New York high schooler as he caves into his daydreaming and becomes an unlikely superhero, teaming up with other vigilantes and battling the city's criminals in the process.

Imbued with fantastic characters like the vengeful ex-cop and ruthless vigilante Big Daddy (Nicolas Cage) and his foul-mouthed heroine daughter Hit-Girl (Chlo? Grace Moretz), as well as Christopher Mintz-Plasse's scheming villainous underling Red Mist. While it boasts an abundant absurdity that is easy to dismiss as high-octane ridiculousness, Kick-Ass should truly be viewed as a masterful blending of action and comedy that lands plenty of mocking yet adoring jabs at superhero tropes.

14. 'Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle' (2004)

Directed by Danny Leiner

A subversive yet defining hit of 2000s stoner comedy, Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle transcends the tropes of its subgenre with an intelligence that it has never been given enough credit for. The simple premise follows the titular stoners as they embark on a journey to quell the munchies with a burger from White Castle, however, they must overcome many unexpected obstacles on the way and encounter several bizarre characters on their voyage.

In addition to running as a surprisingly smart comedy, Harold & Kumar was also ahead of its time in breaking down racial stereotypes with its leading duo, whereas many other comedies of the era would have exploited their ethnicities for gags to the point of exhaustion. At the same time, it never shied away from the wickedly offensive gags that made the stoner comedy so popular in the first place.

13. 'Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery' (1997)

Directed by Jay Roach

With major spy franchises like the James Bond saga struggling to reach their past heights, there was a brief time in the late 90s and very early 2000s when Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery wasn’t only a fantastic parody, but the pinnacle of the spy genre as well. Lampooning the campiness of the Bond movies, Austin Powers was rife with purposefully anachronistic gags and sci-fi hilarity while thriving as an entertaining and light-hearted comedy flick.

In addition to writing the screenplay, Mike Myers also starred as multiple characters, namely Austin Powers, a British spy from the 1960s who is awoken from cryogenic sleep when his evil nemesis returns. A major source of its comedy genius was Myers and how, while he parodied Bond and 1960s cinema relentlessly, he always had an earnest appreciation for what it was he was mocking.

12. 'Team America: World Police' (2004)

Directed by Trey Parker

Through their work on the animated comedy series South Park, Trey Parker and Matt Stone have established themselves as maestros of mixing crass humor with masterful social satire to hilarious effect. That reputation was only further enhanced with their comedy film Team America: World Police, which satirized America’s war on terrorism and Hollywood elites while parodying action cinema.

It follows a global counter-terrorism unit who recruit a Broadway actor to help infiltrate a terrorist plot as the group’s destructive methods invite criticism. From its graphic puppet sex to its mocking of numerous Hollywood actors, Team America: World Police was as offensive as could be, counting itself among the many movies that couldn't have been made today. That said, it excelled as an astute skewering of post-9/11 America which pulled no punches as it attacked both sides of politics.

11. 'Idiocracy' (2006)

Directed by Mike Judge

As an over-the-top, absurdist satire, Idiocracy would have been easy to dismiss as a dumb comedy that used its ridiculous plot to access silly jokes. Today though, Idiocracy's surprisingly prophetic plot doesn’t seem quite so stupid, following two average Americans who are left in cryosleep for 500 years and awaken to find a world in which human devolution renders them the most intelligent people in the world by some margin.

Idiocracy's social commentary and political skewering can be viewed as being quite scathing in the modern day, targeting the negative ways the advancement of technology can impact humanity as well as the growing political divide between both sides of politics in America. It makes use of a spectacular cast of American comedic actors, notably Terry Crews who appears as the gun-toting U.S. President.

10. 'Wayne's World' (1992)

Directed by Penelope Spheeris

If it’s stupid but it works, is it really stupid? Wayne’s World was released 30 years ago now and has been a hallmark of stupid comedy movies ever since. Inarguably the best film to come from a Saturday Night Live skit, it follows two idiotic rockers as their public access television program is pursued by a producer to make the transition to cable TV.

What makes the film so brilliant today is its proven ability to endure for decades as a staple of pop-culture comedy, seamlessly being passed on from one generation to the next. From re-quoting the film's funniest lines to headbanging in the car to "Bohemian Rhapsody," the true genius of Wayne's World is that, somehow, amid all the apparent stupidity, it just works so unbelievably well.

9. 'Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure' (1989)

Directed by Stephen Herek

From one lovable rock 'n' roll-loving duo to another, Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure was similar to Wayne’s World in its ability to master comedic stupidity while becoming a cherished cinematic icon in the process. The excellent adventure focuses on high school friends and legendary cinematic duo Bill (Alex Winter) and Ted (Keanu Reeves), whose academic struggles prompt a time traveler to visit them and enable them to go on an epic voyage through time in order to pass their history class for the good of the world.

Accumulating an impressive range of historical figures on their travels, ranging from Napoleon Bonaparte (Terry Camilleri) to Socrates (Tony Steedman), Bill & Ted's juvenile basis in history is central to its everlasting charm. Reeves and Winters’ perfect chemistry works a treat as well, making the movie an ingenious masterpiece of the genre.

8. 'Dumb and Dumber' (1994)

Directed by Peter Farrelly and Bob Farrelly

A comedy classic, Dumb and Dumber has come to be viewed by many as the pinnacle of dumb comedy done right with its idiotic leading duo going from one ridiculous mishap to the next. Lloyd (Jim Carrey) and Harry (Jeff Daniels) unwitting come into the possession of a briefcase of ransom money and, with honorable intentions, try to return the case to the woman who purposefully left it in Lloyd’s limousine.

One of the 1990s' most iconic films, it has become a true comedy classic and its legacy has only grown greater over time. Carrey, as is so often the case, exudes comic brilliance every time he’s on the screen, while Jeff Daniels was truly his equal, with the chemistry between the two giving the film it comedic excellence as well as an underlying sense of heart.

7. 'South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut' (1999)

Directed by Trey Parker

Ever since South Park first hit television back in 1997 it has been an ever-polarizing dose of relentless satire laced with shockingly crude humor. The brand made its cinematic debut in 1999 with South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut which set its sights on the discussion around censorship as the residents of South Park react to a controversial Canadian movie.

Series creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone were at their probing best for the movie, which proved to be a characteristically provocative hit of crude comedy, but also a surprisingly good musical inspired by - and mocking - Les Misérables. Like the show, it was easily disregarded as senselessly smutty, but beneath its animated absurdity was South Park’s unrelenting ability to play with society’s most sensitive subjects with interesting and hilarious results.

6. 'Superbad' (2007)

Directed by Greg Mottola

A masterpiece of coming-of-age-irreverence which can also be reflected upon as one of the last comedies of its kind, Superbad was heinously offensive, inappropriately juvenile, and utterly brilliant as a depiction of adolescent angst. Capturing the exhilarating highs and humiliating lows of teenage life, it follows three unpopular high-schoolers as they try to get their hands on alcohol for a graduation party with hopes of hooking up with their classmates.

Offering a wild ride through adolescent morality and youthful naivety, its confronting profanity and offensive characters may initially strike some viewers as a childish attempt at humor, but it finds comedic gold in its unflinching, cringe-worthy earnestness. While it’s certainly not a comedy that everyone will enjoy, many would say it’s one of the best comedies of the 21st century so far.

5. 'Life of Brian' (1979)

Directed by Terry Jones

A comedic powerhouse of the 70s and 80s, Monty Python produced many hilarious films, shows, and specials, but it is the satirical masterpiece Life of Brian which many would regard as the comedy group's greatest and most ambitious accomplishment. A skewering of Christianity, it follows Brian (Graham Chapman) as he is mistaken for the messiah, attracting plenty of followers while also becoming a figurehead of the Jewish resistance against Roman rule despite only wanting to pursue a romance with one of the group's members.

The Monty Python film was released amid controversy in 1979, with religious institutions labeling it as blasphemous and protesting its release, giving it a certain reputation and, ironically, helping it to become an icon as an offensive and degrading, though undeniably brilliant comedy picture. While the debate surrounding the film continues to rage, few would deny Life of Brian's societal impact, which has proven to be as enduring and brilliant as it was timely and polarizing.

4. 'Borat' (2006)

Directed by Larry Charles

The pinnacle of controversial cringe comedy, Borat follows Sacha Baron Cohen’s titular character, a journalist from Kazakhstan who journeys to the “US and A” to make a documentary about American society. While its situational comedy and critique of Bush-era America have made Borat age phenomenally, it was the actual production of the movie that made it so brilliant.

The majority of its scenes were unscripted and, rather than hiring actors, gave participants little to no warning of what they were in for. The end result is, at times, difficult to watch and often impossible to comprehend, but it also made for one of the most jarring and impactful comedies so far this century. Even today, with years having gone by, the cringe-worthy film still cuts into many open wounds of American society and uses crass and revolting humor to masterful effect.

3. 'Blazing Saddles' (1974)

Directed by Mel Brooks

Blazing Saddles uses an absurdist tale of the Old West to obliterate racial stereotypes and political corruption. With a mind to ruin a small town for self-gain, an immoral territorial attorney general convinces the Governor of Rock Ridge to hire a Black sheriff to defend the town. While the residents are initially outraged, the plan backfires when Bart (Cleavon Little) proves to be the perfect candidate for the job.

Mel Brooks makes the film a comedic tour de force, meshing social satire, slapstick gags, Western spoofing, and crass vulgarity together with reckless abandon to present a laugh-a-minute masterpiece of absurd, outrageous comedy. Rife with moments of inspired, eccentric genius and mature enough to give its thematic focus plenty of life, Blazing Saddles is one of the greatest comedies of all time and a masterpiece of irreverent humor done perfectly.

2. 'Tropic Thunder' (2008)

Directed by Ben Stiller

Taking aim at every element of Hollywood, from the egomaniacal and problematic personalities within it to its tendency to glorify Americans in war, Tropic Thunder is a comedic tour de force that pulls no punches as a glaring satire on the industry. It follows the production of a major Vietnam War film, following the five lead actors as they inadvertently become embroiled in an international drug rink, while also focusing on the dealings of the morally bankrupt producers.

The relentless skewering of Hollywood didn't sit well with everyone, with many viewing the movie as a crude comedy going from one offensive joke to the next and, to an extent, those people are correct. Tropic Thunder aims to be controversial and provocative, and doesn't hold back in its endeavor to lampoon the film industry and the harmful self-indulgence embedded within it. But therein lies Tropic Thunder's true, chaotic, comedic genius.

1. 'Airplane!' (1980)

Directed by Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, and Jerry Zucker

An 87-minute-long onslaught of gags that could make your dad groan, Airplane! is the enduring masterpiece of on-the-nose humor that has stood the test of time and is still regarded as one of the finest comedies ever made. Coming from the comedic talent of the Zucker Brothers, it was the first and best in a long line of parody films which came to be adored for their wonderful wordplay and their slapstick charm.

Not only did Airplane! become an iconic hit of the genre, but it also surpassed many of the disaster films it poked fun at, with the masses unable to get enough of Leslie Nielson’s fittingly ridiculous performance. Packed with quotable lines and unforgettable gags, Airplane! is a phenomenal work of juvenile humor that is yet to be bested.

NEXT: The Funniest Movies Which Aren't Considered Comedies, According to Letterboxd