Top Ten Comedies

[Lemur]

I figure it's time for us to figure out what the top ten film comedies of all time are. And this is just the place to sort it out.

I've posted a long list of some potential winners up top.

My list (in no meaningful order):

The Big Lebowski
Monty Python and the Holy Grail
Young Frankenstein
Duck Soup
Animal House
Raising Arizona
Airplane!
This Is Spinal Tap
Napoleon Dynamite
Election

[Hooahguy]

you forgot "Take the money and run"

[LittleGrizzly]

You put Borat in there ?

That film was crap!

Im pretty sure most people I know thought so too...

Anyway that isn't my main complaint... you found space for Borat but didn't find space for the hilarious Idiocracy or the side splitting Tropic Thunder!!

WTF!

[Lemur]

Hey, I was only allowed thirty options. I would have much rather done a top fifty. But isn't that what the thread is for? Here you can yell at me for leaving out good films.

[Sasaki Kojiro]

It's always hard to remember comedies...

undercover blues
dave
I love you to death
love and death
The man who knew too little
the ref
harold and kumar

[Evil_Maniac From Mars]

Blazing Saddles but no History of the World: Part One? Heresy.

[Guildenstern]

My personal list (in no order):

Gran Torino
Some Like It Hot
The Sting
Groundhog Day
The Big Lebowski
What About Bob?
The Graduate
Father of the Bride
Bull Durham
Meet the Parents

[Hooahguy]

Gran torino? a comedy?

[Lemur]

You put Borat in there ?

That film was crap!

Hey, three people have already voted for it. It's not a question of what's crap, 'cause comedy is notoriously subjective. It's a question of what Orgahs dig.

I feel kinda bad for His Girl Friday and Safety Last!, both of which are classics that nobody (including me) cared to vote for.

[GeneralHankerchief]

You put Election up there. You are officially the man.

-edit- Anyway, I kind of think Holy Grail has lost its charm with me. It's been over-promoted, over-quoted, and just has been getting far too much exposure. I watched it about a year and maybe got one laugh out of the entire thing. I think this xkcd strip says it best.

[InsaneApache]

Life is beautiful a comedy?

A great movie with some very dark humour, a comedy, no.

Something about Mary had me in stiches when I saw it at the flicks. The dog scene in particular.

[Lemur]

Holy Grail has lost its charm with me. It's been over-promoted, over-quoted, and just has been getting far too much exposure.

It's the same problem with Silence of the Lambs; as groundbreaking as it was a the time, 1,500 serial killer films later, it's hard to see the original without being aware of how its themes have been pounded into dust by the Hollywood grist mill.

You're right, of course, that Holy Grail has been over-quoted and over-referenced for thirty-odd years. But that doesn't negate the fact that the film was a landmark in surreal humor.

[pevergreen]

No Anchorman?

The comedies I like are few and far between. Naked Gun trilogy anyone?

[GeneralHankerchief]

But that doesn't negate the fact that the film was a landmark in surreal humor.

Oh no, I completely agree. The first time I saw it, when I was still young and innocent, I didn't stop laughing throughout the entire thing. But now, when I want my dose of that kind of humor, I stick to Flying Circus instead of the movies.

-edit- I second Naked Gun, especially the first movie. The scene where he sang the National Anthem had me in stitches.

[Reverend Joe]

I figure it's time for us to figure out what the top ten film comedies of all time are. And this is just the place to sort it out.

I've posted a long list of some potential winners up top.

My list (in no meaningful order):

The Big Lebowski
Monty Python and the Holy Grail
Young Frankenstein
Duck Soup
Animal House
Raising Arizona
Airplane!
This Is Spinal Tap
Napoleon Dynamite
Election

I think you nailed it, up until the last 3; I've never seen Spinal Tap, though, so I'll give you the benefit of the doubt. The 3 different ones I chose were Blazing Saddles, Dr. Strangelove and The Blues Brothers (kinda stupid, I know, but I love it -- plus it's the best musical ever.)

Also, I meant to vote for Life of Brian but chose Spinal Tap instead. Yeah, I know, it's Monty Python's sellout supposedly, but it's still a marvelously-made film, and frankly it works better than the anarchism of Holy Grail. I just don't feel like the anarcho-comedy really translated to the big screen very well.

[Lemur]

Also, I meant to vote for Life of Brian but chose Spinal Tap instead. Yeah, I know, it's Monty Python's sellout supposedly, but it's still a marvelously-made film, and frankly it works better than the anarchism of Holy Grail.

I forget how young I was, must have been around twelve or so, but I bullied and whined until I convinced my mom to drive me across the state line to see Life of Brian in the theaters. It was banned in Kentucky due to blasphemy.

I was really bummed out that it ended without Brian getting rescued. But then again, I was twelve.

[Justiciar]

No Anchorman?

The comedies I like are few and far between. Naked Gun trilogy anyone?

Both good choices. I still use the phrase, "like a midget in a urinal" when concentration is required.

The fight scene in Anchorman is fantastic;
"Rick, where'd you get a hand grenade?"
"I don't know."

[AggonyDuck]

Gran torino? a comedy?

It's actually a very funny film due to the fact that Clint's one-liners are so hilariously absurd coming from an 78-year old. I found myself laughing more during it than most film's classified as comedies.

[miotas]

Anyway, I kind of think Holy Grail has lost its charm with me. It's been over-promoted, over-quoted, and just has been getting far too much exposure. I watched it about a year and maybe got one laugh out of the entire thing. I think this xkcd strip says it best.

Hmmm, perhaps I'm not as nerdy as I had previously thought, I have only seen the movie twice and found it bloody hilarious both times, and whilst I was in the "nerdy" group(or at least the closest thing our school had to one(aussie schools are less "group" oriented than US schools seem to be)) it was hardly ever mentioned.

The top comedies I can think of right now are:
Death at a Funeral
Holy grail
The Castle (stick in the pool room)
Anchorman (I LIKE LOUD NOISES!)
I love all the movies where steve carrel plays a secondary role, He seems to make any movie that he is secondary in about 10 times better, but his starring roles don't seem as good to me.
Johnny English
Bean Disaster Movie
(anything Rowan Atkinson is in really)
The Pink Panther
Man of the Year
Good Morning Vietnam
(any thing robin williams is in)
I meant to vote for Groundhog day, but i forgot.

There are more but thats all I've got off the top of my head

[rasoforos]

The Acharnians
The Knights
The Clouds
The Wasps
Peace
The Birds
Lysistrata
Thesmophoriazusae
The Frogs
Ecclesiazusae
Wealth
Life of Brian

I am weird

[Raz]

Haha, the Holy Grail was absolutely hilarious. It wins hands down.

[Monk]

Blazing Saddles but no History of the World: Part One? Heresy.

It definitely deserves a mention, afterall it's the movie that taught us it's good to be the king. Though when it comes to Mel brooks comedies, HotW: Part One is tied with Spaceballs: The Movie for my all time favorite. The entire scene when they break the fourth wall by getting out a copy of the movie to see what will happen next gets me every time without fail.

[Fragony]

I am totally immature. Saw 'There's something about Mary' yesterday and I am still laughing.

[Banquo's Ghost]

I would add a couple more to the list for consideration.

The only film I can watch time after time and still cry with laughter is "Les Visiteurs". Those of a pythonesque persuasion should really look it up.

For pure farce I am very fond of "The Money Pit". It has some great scenes of perfect timing, which rather appeals to me.

The Star Trek geek in me adores the gentle character based comedy of "The Voyage Home" but it's not really a top ten, just a personal favourite.

Perhaps more in the romantic-comedy genre (and thus outside the scope of this poll, but you have included "When Harry Met Sally" and "Groundhog Day") I like "Joe versus the Volcano" and "LA Story" too.

[Hosakawa Tito]

Tough to pick just 10. Some honorable mentions that aren't listed.

National Lampoon's Vacation
The Jerk
Up in Smoke
My Cousin Vinny
Home Alone
City Slickers

One of my favorite comedians of all time, and probably more for his stand up routines than his movie work, has to be the late Rodney "I can't get no respect" Dangerfield. His self-deprecating humor, delivery, & timing always had me in stitches.

When I was a kid my parents moved a lot, but I always found them

[Beefy187]

Would hitch hikers guide to the galaxy be counted as a comedy?

Top 5

Monty Python the holy grail
Hitch Hikers guide to the galaxy
Ground Hogs day
Johnny English
Borat (just because I forgot what I was going to put it here..)

[Gregoshi]

Tough to pick just 10. Some honorable mentions that aren't listed.

National Lampoon's Vacation
The Jerk
Home Alone

I'd forgotten about these. I'd add Christmas Vacation to the list too. Another movie that cracks me up is Galaxy Quest. It captured the whole Star Trek phenomena so well.

[InsaneApache]

The wifes just reminded me. Throw Momma from the train. Hilarious.

[Reverend Joe]

Man, lots of good ones I forgot about here...

I would also add "Repo Man." Some may be turned off by the presence of Emilio Estevez, but he seems to be a natural as a loser Punk, and plus Harry Dean Stanton's presence more than makes up for Estevez's shortcomings as an actor. The movie itself is hysterical -- a wonderful combination of surrealism and slapstick. For those who haven't seen it, Miller's bizzare hippie-rappin' explanation of the world pretty much sums up the whole movie.

I love watching this movie after about 6 beers.

[Sasaki Kojiro]

Night at the museum 2 was great.