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BBC's The 100 Greatest Comedies of All Time

101 films Ranked Updated 3 days ago
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Some Like It Hot
Billy Wilder 1959 2h 3m 8.8

PLEASE DELETE, EXISTS ALREADY!

Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb
Stanley Kubrick 1964 1h 35m 8.8

An insane general starts a process to nuclear holocaust that a war room of politicians and generals frantically try to stop. A classic black and white war satire from director Stanley Kubrick starring Peter Sellers.

Annie Hall
Woody Allen 1977 1h 33m 8.1

The neurotic New Yorker Woody Allen tells one of the greatest romantic comedies to be set in the city of New York.

Groundhog Day
Harold Ramis 1993 1h 41m 8.3

A comedy about an egocentric and sinister television weather reporter with a bad case of Deja-Vu. The weather reporter, Bill Murray, is sent to the famous Groundhog Day tradition in the small town of Punxsutawney were he unwillingly has to report on a little more than he expected. Let's just say he had to do a few retakes of the report.

Duck Soup
Leo McCarey 1933 1h 8m 8.1

Rufus T. Firefly is named the dictator of bankrupt Freedonia and declares war on neighboring Sylvania over the love of his wealthy backer Mrs. Teasdale, contending with two inept spies who can't seem to keep straight which side they're on.

Life of Brian
Terry Jones 1979 1h 34m 8.5

A brilliant parody from the British comedy group Monty Python about the history of Jesus. A Terry Jones directed film from 1979 that has since gained cult status.

Airplane!
Jerry Zucker, David Zucker 1980 1h 28m 7.9

Airplane is an American comedy that parodies the airplane catastrophe films from the 70’s. The film was a huge commercial success and is one of the most important films in American cinema history.

Playtime
Jacques Tati 1967 1h 55m 8.4

Jacques Tati’s gloriously choreographed, nearly wordless comedies about confusion in the age of technology reached their creative apex with Playtime, a lasting testament to a modern age tiptoeing on the edge of oblivion.

This Is Spinal Tap
Rob Reiner 1984 1h 22m 7.6

This Is Sp?nal Tap is a 1984 mock rockumentary directed by Rob Reiner and starring members of the fictional heavy-metal/hard rock band Spinal Tap. The film satirizes the wild personal behavior and musical pretensions of hard-rock and heavy-metal bands, as well as the hagiographic tendencies of rockumentaries of the time.

The General
Clyde Bruckman, Buster Keaton 1926 1h 19m 8.3

The General is an American silent film comedy from Buster Keaton from 1927. The film was in its time a flop yet now days is regarded as the height of silent film comedy. The film is based on events from America’s civil war.

The Big Lebowski
Joel Coen, Ethan Coen 1998 1h 57m 8.7

The Coen Brothers bring to life a ficticious day in the life of "The Dude” through Bowling, Joints, and an endless supply of “White Russian” cocktails. An off the wall adventure of mix-ups, dirty carpets, pornography producers, Nihilists, and psychopaths make this one of the most celebrated films of the ninties.

Modern Times
Charlie Chaplin 1936 1h 27m 9.0

The Tramp struggles to live in modern industrial society with the help of a young homeless woman.

To Be or Not to Be
Ernst Lubitsch 1942 1h 39m 8.7

To Be or Not to Be is a statement against the Nazi regime. A propaganda film about the Polish resilience with a slight comedic aspect.

His Girl Friday
Howard Hawks 1940 1h 32m 7.9

Walter Burns is an irresistibly conniving newspaper publisher desperate to woo back his paper’s star reporter, who also happens to be his estranged wife. She’s threatening to quit and settle down with a new beau, but, as Walter knows, she has a weakness: she can’t resist a juicy scoop.

Monty Python and the Holy Grail
Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones 1975 1h 31m 8.9

The King Arthur and The Round Table saga about the search for the Holy Grail is portrayed a bit differently in his comedy from Monty Python. With a killer monster rabbit and many outrageous encounters this smart comedy has become a cult classic.

The Great Dictator
Charlie Chaplin 1940 2h 5m 8.4

The Great Dictator is a cult film from Charlie Chaplin that satires German Nationalism and Adolf Hitler. The movie was filmed during the Nazi power and if Chaplin would have known what they were doing in German at the time he says he probably wouldn’t have made the film.

Bringing Up Baby
Howard Hawks 1938 1h 42m 8.1

Bringing Up Baby is an American screwball comedy starring Cary Grant and Katherine Hepburn.

Sherlock Jr.
Buster Keaton 1924 45m 8.5

Sherlock Jr. is an American silent film comedy starring and directed by Buster Keaton from 1924. The film is about a film demonstrator who must fight for his life.

The Lady Eve
Preston Sturges 1941 1h 37m 7.9

Returning from a year up the Amazon studying snakes, the rich but unsophisticated Charles Pike meets con-artist Jean Harrington on a ship. They fall in love, but a misunderstanding causes them to split on bad terms. To get back at him, Jean disguises herself as an English lady, and comes back to tease and torment him.

Blazing Saddles
Mel Brooks 1974 1h 33m 6.8

A town—where everyone seems to be named Johnson—stands in the way of the railroad. In order to grab their land, robber baron Hedley Lamarr sends his henchmen to make life in the town unbearable. After the sheriff is killed, the town demands a new sheriff from the Governor, so Hedley convinces him to send the town the first black sheriff in the w...

City Lights
Charlie Chaplin 1931 1h 27m 8.5

City Lights is the first silent film that Charlie Chaplin directed after he established himself with sound accompanied films. The film is about a penniless man who falls in love with a flower girl. The film was a great success and today is deemed a cult classic.

Young Frankenstein
Mel Brooks 1974 1h 46m 8.2

Mel Brooks takes on the classic horror flick in this comedic retelling of the Frankenstein story.

The Party
23.

The Party

Blake Edwards 1968 1h 39m 7.9

A clerical mistake results in a bumbling film extra being invited to an exclusive Hollywood party instead of being fired.

Withnail & I
Bruce Robinson 1987 1h 48m 7.2

Two 'resting' actors living in a squalid Camden Flat - and living off a diet of booze and pills - take a trip to a country house (belonging to Withnail’s uncle) to 'rejuvenate'. Faced with bad weather, altercations with the locals, and the unexpected arrival (and advances) of Uncle Monty, the pairs wits and friendship are tested...

The Gold Rush
Charlie Chaplin 1925 1h 35m 8.4

A lone prospector ventures into Alaska looking for gold. He gets mixed up with some burly characters and falls in love with the beautiful Georgia. He tries to win her heart with his singular charm.

Mon oncle
26.

Mon oncle

Jacques Tati 1958 1h 58m 8.5

With many idea rich comic situations French director Jacques Tati uses his poetic ways and knowledge of the discrepancy between heart and technique to tell a gentle business satiric tale that won him the Oscar for best foreign film in 1959.

The Apartment
Billy Wilder 1960 2h 6m 8.6

The Apartment came out shortly after the success of ‘Some Like it Hot’ from director Billy Wilder and thus making it the most successful films of the year. Full of trivialities this comedy is a harsh critic of coporate world and the American way of life.

It Happened One Night
Frank Capra 1934 1h 45m 8.0

Comic romance between a down-to-earth newspaper reporter and a spoiled runaway heiress.

When Harry Met Sally...
Rob Reiner 1989 1h 36m 7.8

When Harry Met Sally is a relationship comedy from the early 90’s that became a cult classic. Most famous is the scene in which Sally performs a fake orgasm in a crowded restaurant to prove that girls fake it sometimes.

Les vacances de Monsieur Hulot
Jacques Tati 1953 1h 27m 7.6

Mr. Hulot’s Holiday is the classic film from French director Jacques Tati. His second film is a comedy and his most famous.

Tootsie
31.

Tootsie

Sydney Pollack 1982 1h 56m 7.6

Desperate, he took a female role and became a star. If only he could tell the woman he loves.

Raising Arizona
Joel Coen 1987 1h 34m 7.8

The Coen Brothers tell the story of a absurd yet likable family with an unproductive couple as the focal point. The couple has gotten themselves into some trouble while kidnapping a baby and give Hollywood one of the most memorable chase scenes to date.

Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy
Adam McKay 2004 1h 35m 7.0

It's the 1970's as San Diego anchorman Ron Burgundy is the top dog in network TV, which gives way to his freewheeling sexism with his fraternal-like crew. But all that's about to change (or be jeopardized) when ambitious reporter Veronica Corningstone has just arrived as a new employee at his TV station.

Clueless
34.

Clueless

Amy Heckerling 1995 1h 37m 6.7

Cher, a high school student in Beverly Hills, must survive the ups and downs of adolescent life. Her external demeanor at first seems superficial, but rather it hides her wit, charm, and intelligence which help her to deal with relationships, friends, family, school, and the all-important teenage social life.

Singin' in the Rain
Stanley Donen, Gene Kelly 1952 1h 43m 8.6

Hollywood's attempts to move from the 'silent' era to the 'Talkies' are not going as planned.

A Fish Called Wanda
Charles Crichton 1988 1h 49m 7.9

A Fish Called Wanda is the successful criminal comedy from 1988 about a diamond advocate who is attempting to steal a collection of diamonds yet troubles arise when they realize that they are not the only ones after the diamonds.

Sullivan's Travels
Preston Sturges 1941 1h 31m 8.1

Sullivan is a successful, spoiled, and naive director of fluff films, with a heart-o-gold, who decides he wants to make a film about the troubles of the downtrodden poor. Much to the chagrin of his producers, he sets off in tramp's clothing with a single dime in his pocket to experience poverty first-hand, and gets a reality shock...

The Philadelphia Story
George Cukor 1940 1h 53m 7.8

The Philadelphia Story is a comedy starring Cary Grant, Katherine Hepburn. Tracy Lord is idolised by everybody and must keep her sinister ex-husband, an alcoholic reporter, and her future clean-record husband happy.

A Night at the Opera
Sam Wood 1935 1h 31m 8.2

A sly business manager and two wacky friends of two opera singers help them achieve success while humiliating their stuffy and snobbish enemies.

The Producers
Mel Brooks 1967 1h 29m 7.6

Producers Max Bialystock (Mostel) and Leo Bloom (Wilder) make money by producing a sure-fire flop.

Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan
Larry Charles 2006 1h 24m 7.0

A pretend Kazakhstan reporter Borat visits the United States to learn the cultural differences between his homeland and the US. The film is a clever mix of documentation and comedy. Sacha Baron Cohen won a Golden Globe for his acting.

The Awful Truth
Leo McCarey 1937 1h 31m 8.0

The Awful Truth is a 1937 screwball comedy film starring Irene Dunne and Cary Grant. The plot concerns the machinations of a soon to be divorced couple, played by Dunne and Grant, who go to great lengths to try to ruin each others romantic escapades.

MASH
43.

MASH

Robert Altman 1970 1h 56m 7.7

M.A.S.H. is the heavy war comedy from Robert Altman from 1970 that came out during the Korean war and criticized the American Way of Life.

Bridesmaids
Paul Feig 2011 2h 5m 6.7

Annie’s life is a mess. But when she finds out her lifetime best friend is engaged, she simply must serve as Lillian’s maid of honor. Though lovelorn and broke, Annie bluffs her way through the expensive and bizarre rituals. With one chance to get it perfect, she’ll show Lillian and her bridesmaids just how far you’ll go for someone you love.

I soliti ignoti
Mario Monicelli 1958 1h 46m 8.6

Peppe, formerly a boxer, organizes the break-in of a pawnshop. Tiberio, an unemployed photographer, Mario, a receiver, the Sicilian Michele and Capannelle, an ex-jockey, are the other members of the gang. Though they are advised by Dante, a retired burglar, the task is not so easy...

Pulp Fiction
Quentin Tarantino 1994 2h 34m 9.2

Pulp Fiction is a cult film by Director Quentin Tarantino with three interwoven plots with lots of violence, absurdity, and great music. The film is Tarantino’s most famous and the film that cemented his name and style in Hollywood.

Animal House
John Landis 1978 1h 49m 7.4

A veritable who's-who of classic comedy legends and future stars, National Lampoon's Animal House is a classic comedy about college fraternity life. The movie that coined the term "double secret probation" is an adventure in toga parties, party crashing, and drunken pranks!

Trouble in Paradise
Ernst Lubitsch 1932 1h 23m 8.0

Trouble in Paradise is one of the most important films of Actor, Producer, and Director Ernst Lubitisch, and his personal favorite of all the films he’s made. A story of two thieves who fall in love and begin doing jobs together under the employment of a beautiful woman who stirs up the relationship.

Le charme discret de la bourgeoisie
Luis Buñuel 1972 1h 41m 8.0

In Luis Buñuel’s deliciously satiric masterpiece, an upper-class sextet sits down to dinner but never eats, their attempts continually thwarted by a vaudevillian mixture of events both actual and imagined.

Mujeres al borde de un ataque de "nervios"
Pedro Almodóvar 1988 1h 28m 7.9

After being dumped by her lover, Pepa finds her life and the lives of those around her spiraling out of control in a deliciously chaotic series of events.

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