What are the Greatest Comedies Ever?

[Eddie G.]

What are in your opinion the top five greatest comedic movies ever made? It's a rather simple question that could probably be open to interpitation. But seriously, what do you consider the five greatest comedies?

Here is my lil' list

5)There's Something About Mary, sure it is a sick gross out comedy... but it like Howard Stern proves that sick gross comedy can be done really really well.

4)Clerks, while many people (especially comic book fans) don't like Kevin Smith, his first four films were masterpieces of comedy. This film was funny becauase almost any male could look at it and say hey I'm Dante. It was a comedy that the public could understand.

3)Monty Phython and the Holy Grail, the opening credits are funnier than some whole movies.

2)Dr. Strangelove, what is so incedible about this movie is that it wasn't made in 2000 as a parody of how people acted in the Cold War. This movie which is funny alone is even greater put into the context of when it was released. It almost blows your mind to think that someone could make this film that made fun of the goverment and the Cold War itself during the Cold War. And just a funny movie to boot, "The big board!"

1)Young Frankenstein, combinding smart comedy and cartoonish comedy into one great and funny funny funny funny movie.

[Xfox]

1. Election
2. Monty Python and the Holy Grail
3. Office Space
4. The Emperor's New Groove
5. Clerks

And I had to leave off Bowfinger, And Now For Something Completely Different, Wayne's World and Coming To America.

[Parallax]

1. Dr. Strangelove
2. Monty Python & the Holy Grail
3. Airplane!
4. The Mask
5. Who Framed Roger Rabbit

[Lord Dalek]

1. Airplane!
2. Monty Python and the Holy Grail
3. The Christoper Guest Mockumentary Series (Spinal Tap, Waiting for Guffman, Best in Show, A Mighty Wind)
4. Spaceballs
5. Dr. Strangelove

[Lonestarr]

My list:

Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back
Young Frankenstein
Singin' in the Rain
Spaceballs
(The) Emperor's New Groove

Maybe not the greatest comedies ever, but (for my money) the absolute funniest.

[ToOn~g@l]

Here are the top five that are really funny

1. Monty Python and the Holy Grail (Ni!!!)
2. Shanghai Knights
3. The Emperors New Groove
4. The Austin Powers movies
5. Mrs. Doubtfire

[Nick K.]

Big & Mrs. Doubtfire or my only favorite comedies. I mostly like dramas... :rolleyes:

[True Noir]

3. Meet the Parents
2. Monty Python
1. Rush Hour 1 + 2

There you go.:)

[Delthayre]

Oh, I have so many in mind that are fighting for slots.

Let's have at it then...

5. Young Frankenstein/ Blazing Saddles: Oh mercy, please don't make me choose between these two. The're Brooks' finest films and a riddled with memorable moments.

4. The Ruling Class: A marvelously dry and witty British satire of the aristocracy of England that goes on a bit long but is funny and incisive enough to be worth the time. The cast is stellar as well. With Peter O'Toole, Alistair Sim, William Mervyn and Arthur Lowe in leading roles, it cannot help but be a marvel of craft. "How do you know you're god? When I pray, I find I'm talking to myself."

3. The Blues Brothers: It had great music and was just a joy to watch. Also, I have friends who will kill me if I don't rank it highly, but I really do love it.

2. Monty Python and the Holy Grail: I've been a Monty Python fan since I was at least eight years old and this is their finest work.

1. Doctor Strangelove or how I learned to stop worrying and love the bomb: There are just so many great moments and incredible performances in this film and even the trailers (available on the DVD) are hilarious and fresh.

[Captain Harlock]

1. Groundhog Day - Murray's finest comedy movie. Very underrated.
2. Clerks - Kevin Smith's master work. He never made a better movie, but Dogma came close.
3. Office Space - The comedy of everyman. Work may suck, but there is an alternative.
4. Swingers - Favreau and Vaughn at their best.
5. Caddyshack - Highly quotable comedy.

[Phantasm]

one fine day!!!!!
GEORGE CLOONEY WAS SIMPLY G0RGEOUS!!!!!!!!!!:D

[Conekiller]

Trading Places

Old School

Ace Ventura 1

Mallrats

UHF

EDIT: Monty Python's Holy Grail gets honorable mention, cuz it's so good it goes beyond the realm of the 5 I mentioned already.

[Joker85]

5. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
4. National Lampoon's Vacation
3. Monty Python and the Holy Grail
2. California Suite
1. The Christopher Guest Mockumentaries(Spinal Tap, Waiting for Guffman, Best in Show, A Mighty Wind)

[Classic Speedy]

Surprised nobody's mentioned The Naked Gun Trilogy yet. Those films are some of my all time favorites, along with Hot Shots (the original, NOT Part Deux), Kung Pow: Enter the Fist (stupid and basic but hilarious), Mrs. Doubtfire, Austin Powers in Goldmember, National Lampoon's Vacation, National Lampoon's Loaded Weapon 1 (I have a soft spot for this one- it was the first spoof I ever saw), and many more.

[Wascally Wabbit]

Ok, in no particular order...

Life of Brian: Just to be contrary, really, seeing as how everyone's gone for Holy Grail. :D But seriously, one of the funniest films ever made and the greatest satire ever. Fact. And, somewhat unfairly, we Brits only get a bare-bones DVD of this classic, while America wallows in the glory of a luxurious special edition. You guys are so lucky. :sad:
Shot in the Dark: Aka the second Pink Panther movie, when Blake Edwards began to realise that Peter Sellers was the real star of the first movie. Inspector Clouseau began to form here, to hilarious effect. Superb comic timing, classic slapstick.
Ghostbusters: Sigh. Remember when blockbusters were not just all spectacle, but had stuff like, ya know, great characters, plot and cracking lines? This is one such film. "Are you, Alice, menstruating right now?" "What's that got to do with it?" "Back off man, I'm a scientist."
The Naked Gun: Loved Police Squad so was overjoyed to find they made a movie. Maybe I just really like incompotent detectives, but Leslie Nielsen's Drebin is great, played perfectly dead-pan. And a plethora of other sight gags to take in as well! Great.
Freddy Got Fingered: I know, I must be a mental. One of the most hated movies ever. Yet I just love the sheer nerve of the movie, the fact it doesn't care what people think. Take all your American Pies, Van Wilders, Road Trips and stick 'em. This is how you do gross-out.

[Temple Fugate]

The best comedies are ones that make you laugh no matter how many times you watch them. As such...
Any Mel Brooks Film (except Dracula: Dead and Loving It)
Monty Python and the Holy Grail
Clue
Dr. Strangelove (or How I Learnned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb)
Austin Powers
Airplane!

I know there is one more that completely escapes me right now...maybe when I don't have end-of-semester projects on my mind I'll remember it.

[Sigma]

Trey Parker's first film Cannibal!: The Musical is by far the funniest movie ever made!

[Patrick Bateman]

1.) Ghostbusters - I can't get enough of this movie. Every last line makes me laugh.
2.) Clerks - Kevin Smith's finest piece. Dante and Randall were just like me, and weren't afraid to say the crap that I could only wish to.
3.) National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation - I adore this film. This one had the absolute best interaction between Chevy Chase and Randy Quaid.
4.) Spaceballs - Oh lord, how I love a good send-up. This one was done masterfully.
5.) Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back - Probably nowhere near the actual top 5, but I have a real soft spot for it. It makes me crack up no matter how many times I see it. "Affleck was the bomb in Phantoms, yo.":D

[stwasm]

Definitely Dr. Strangelove, but I must include my all-time favorite movie It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World. I could recite that movie because I've seen it so many times, yet I'm near tears because I'm laughing so much through each viewing.

[Ordinary Guy]

-Airplane
-Caddyshack
-Animal House
-Monty Python and the Holy Grail
-Trading Places
-Ghostbusters
-Blazing Saddles
-The Naked Gun
-Old School
-National Lampoons Christmas Vacation

[guinaevere]

Ack! Five greatest? Lemme see...

5: Radio Days
4: Oscar
3: The Man who Knew Too Little
2: Manhattan Murder Mystery
1: Dr Stangelove

To be honest, aside from number 1, I'm not sure which I'd put into which ranking. But you get the general idea. Some others are:
Without a Clue (if you're not familiar with the Sherlock Holmes universe, much of what goes on in this film will be over your head, but even so, Michael Caine and Ben Kingsley were absolutely brilliant, as was the writing!!)
Once Upon a Crime
Clue (as you can probably tell, I'm a fan of comedic mysteries)
Clueless

Some of Blake Edwards' films (Pink Panther/ Inspecter Clouseau) had absolutely brilliant comedic bits/scenes in them, but I have trouble with the pacing of some of them, so I couldn't say any one of them is one of the greatest.

I was going to add RadioLand Murders but actually, this isn't one of the greatest comedies ever. It is, however, a funny movie, and an exceptionally great film, if for nothing other than music, sets/costumes and editing.

[Xfox]

After giving some more thought to this thread, I can't believe I forgot two of them, so I'm revising my top 5.

1. Election
2. Monty Python and the Holy Grail
3. Wet Hot American Summer (If only more movies were this witty and goofy at the same time.)
4. Office Space
5. A Night At the Opera (It's a Marx Brothers movie, and the one that was the all-around funniest.)

[Kurtman]

I always Loved Monty Python. *Sees how many People Mentioned Monty Python* Wow! So I see lots of Fellow Fans! Anyway,I also think Mr.Bean is Pretty Funny.
Also,Waydowntown,Repo Man and Haiku Tunnel are Funny.

[Mattashell]

I see many fine choices up there, and a few I'm sorry to have to leave off my own list. Many props to Monty Python and the Holy Grail and Dr. Strangelove, which are easily among the funniest of all time. And I'm delighted to see Radio Days up there, a beloved, should-be-classic to me and my favorite Woody Allen film, rarely mentioned by most Woody fans. Other honerable mentions include UHF, Up in Smoke and probably a few others that are evading me right now. But my personal top five comes out looking like this.


#5) The Producers - Did you see it? It's funny, really.

#4) Little Shop of Horrors (1986) - Steve Martin's bit part alone wins its place on my list. I throw it on when I need a good laugh.

#3) Blazing Saddles - 'scuse me while I whip this out. Not for the politically correct viewer.

#2) A Christmas Story - You'll shoot your eye out, kid. Who doesn't love the holiday classic brainchild of Gene Sheopard's radio Americana. Catch the marathon every year on TNT. It turns out the reason no one saw this in the theatres was because the director who had the hit, Porky's would only agree to do the sequal if the studio would back A Christmas Story. So they let him do it, but gave it a limited release with no publicity. If theyed only known it would become so popular (and so quoted) and considered a holiday classic.

#1) Airplane! - There's a sale at Penny's! The zenith of the Zucker/Abrahms school of comedy, which has become all too stale with the weak offerings we've seen from these men and their immitators lately. Nothing against the first two Naked Guns, but that material was mostly recycled from the short lived Police Squad. And with The Kentucky Fried Movie they hadn't quite hit their stride (the "Fist Full of Yen" segment was horribly paced and went on forever.) But Airplane! was just too good. For my money it's the funniest comedy movie of all time, hitting the audience with a gag every ten seconds, if one doesn't work the next one will, that is if you're not still laughing from the one before that. Ironically, the Airport movies that this sends up are virtually forgotten, while Airplane! remains a classic. Also, before this one, Leslie Nielson was known for dramatic roles.



Edit: My sister just reminded me of Better off Dead - Ricky, I'm really sorry you're mom blew up. - which may actually crack my top five, it's a tough choice I'll have to mull over. This hilarius teen comedy went where John Hughs *should* have but didn't dare. Behind it was Savage Steve Holland who the Toon Zone community probably knows best for creating Eeek! The Cat, The Terrible Thunder Lizzards and Eeek!stravaganza. Better Off Dead was the first and best of Holland's teen comedy trilogy which are now cult classics, also including One Crazy Summer and How I Got Into College.

[Kurtman]

I see many fine choices up there, and a few I'm sorry to have to leave off my own list. Many props to Monty Python and the Holy Grail and Dr. Strangelove, which are easily among the funniest of all time. And I'm delighted to see Radio Days up there, a beloved, should-be-classic to me and my favorite Woody Allen film, rarely mentioned by most Woody fans. Other honerable mentions include UHF, Up in Smoke and probably a few others that are evading me right now. But my personal top five comes out looking like this.


#5) The Producers - Did you see it? It's funny, really.

#4) Little Shop of Horrors (1986) - Steve Martin's bit part alone wins its place on my list. I throw it on when I need a good laugh.

#3) Blazing Saddles - 'scuse me while I whip this out. Not for the politically correct viewer.

#2) A Christmas Story - You'll shoot your eye out, kid. Who doesn't love the holiday classic brainchild of Gene Sheopard's radio Americana. Catch the marathon every year on TNT. It turns out the reason no one saw this in the theatres was because the director who had the hit, Porky's would only agree to do the sequal if the studio would back A Christmas Story. So they let him do it, but gave it a limited release with no publicity. If theyed only known it would become so popular (and so quoted) and considered a holiday classic.

#1) Airplane! - There's a sale at Penny's! The zenith of the Zucker/Abrahms school of comedy, which has become all too stale with the weak offerings we've seen from these men and their immitators lately. Nothing against the first two Naked Guns, but that material was mostly recycled from the short lived Police Squad. And with The Kentucky Fried Movie they hadn't quite hit their stride (the "Fist Full of Yen" segment was horribly paced and went on forever.) But Airplane! was just too good. For my money it's the funniest comedy movie of all time, hitting the audience with a gag every ten seconds, if one doesn't work the next one will, that is if you're not still laughing from the one before that. Ironically, the Airport movies that this sends up are virtually forgotten, while Airplane! remains a classic. Also, before this one, Leslie Nielson was known for dramatic roles.



Edit: My sister just reminded me of Better off Dead - Ricky, I'm really sorry you're mom blew up. - which may actually crack my top five, it's a tough choice I'll have to mull over. This hilarius teen comedy went where John Hughs *should* have but didn't dare. Behind it was Savage Steve Holland who the Toon Zone community probably knows best for creating Eeek! The Cat, The Terrible Thunder Lizzards and Eeek!stravaganza. Better Off Dead was the first and best of Holland's teen comedy trilogy which are now cult classics, also including One Crazy Summer and How I Got Into College.
Better Off Dead Rocks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Juu-kuchi]

I'll just put five of my favorites.

1. Monty Python and the Life of Brian
2. A Fish Called Wanda
3. Blazing Saddles
4. Airplane
5. Monty Python and the Holy Grail

[Jeff Harris]

In no particular order:

A Night At The Opera/A Day At The Races
Blazing Saddles
Airplane!
Caddyshack (It's a Cinderella story!)
The Jerk
Trading Places
A Christmas Story
Scrooged
Clue (so underrated, it's sad)
It's A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (a similar movie, Rat Race, comes close, but they still have a long, long way to go before they catch up)

[MCSarah]

In no order:

Some Like it Hot (there are so many short puns in this movie I catch something new each time I watch it)
Airplane!
Rushmore
When Harry Met Sally...
Bottle Rocket (Wes Anderson's first film, Owen and Luke Wilson are great in this one)

[guinaevere]

A Night At The Opera/A Day At The Races
Both great films, but I'd take Animal Crackers, Horse Feathers or Duck Soup over 'em.


ZVBXRPL... I had that same horse when I had my eyes examined. :D

[DarkAngel]

What are in your opinion the top five greatest comedic movies ever made? It's a rather simple question that could probably be open to interpitation. But seriously, what do you consider the five greatest comedies?
My favorites:

1.) My Cousin Vinny
2.) Monty Python and the Holy Grail
3.) Ghostbusters
4.) The Naked Gun
5.) A Christmas Story