May 10, 2018 - But I digress... What is your favorite funny movie of all time?
I’ve got a few that are pretty high up on the list, including This is Spinal Tap and In The Loop, but if I had to pick one classic, it would be the original The In-Laws, from 1979. Here is a scene that gets me every time.
Kim France
I was born in Houston, Texas in 1964 and have lived in New York City since 1988. I had a long career in magazines, working at Sassy, Elle, New York, and Spin, and in 2000, I founded Lucky magazine, which I edited for ten years.
My list in constantly in flux, but I’ll always watch any of the original “Pink Panther” movies.
The globe bit gets me every time.
Thanks for the link! So classic.
I don’t know if I can pick a favorite. Gotta think about it.
There are so many, but I LOVE Meatballs, with Bill Fucking Murray.
Have you seen The Other Guys? It’s wonderful. Very silly! Here is a compilation of best scenes: https://youtu.be/V6Y8dQDb4iU
Airplane is up there for me…
It was Top Secret (fave for over 30 years!!) until a few months ago when I saw Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead. Now I’m declaring them a tie.
I have loved “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead” since forever! It’s when my love for Gary Oldman was solidified…
Ferris Buellers Day Off. Edie McClurg – one of the funniest women alive
Young Frankenstein…
THIS. I have a couple actually, but this is probably my most-quoted movie ever, with the possible exception of the original Muppet Movie.
No wonder we hit it off! I do a mean Frau Bleucher imitation! (“Neighhhhh!!!”)
Oh man. So many. Airplane, Planes, Trains, and Automobiles, Dazed and Confused, anything National Lampoon.
But my take-the-cake, will never not be funny –
Monty Python and the Holy Grail.
I am a Python nerd.
Count me a fellow nerd!
Fletch
also, Overboard (Goldie and Kurt forever)
I could not agree more! The original “In-Laws” has been my favorite since I first saw it with my dad and brother almost 40 years ago. It’s hilariously absurd, and the two leads are glorious together. Yes, a lot has changed since then–rendering some of the hair/outfits in the film deliciously dated–but I think the silliness/humor stands the test of time. My favorite scene is the one with Señor Pepe, but the serpentine scene is the one we quote most. (To this day.) Although nothing compares to The In-Laws, Airplane is high on my list, too.
There are flames on my car!
First saw it with my parents and brother and I’ve probably watched the In-Laws once a year for the last 20 years. I think its time for my 11 year-old daughter to see it!
SERPENTINE!
omg–we just introduced our 9-yr-old daughter to the In-Laws last night! It was a hit, but it will never pass What’s Up, Doc? around here as the number 1 favorite. Other classics: Local Hero, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House.
Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House is a long time favorite of mine! Myrna Loy and Cary Grant FTW.
Mine are: Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Napoleon Dynamite, Better Off Dead, and Raising Arizona.
I don’t think I can choose just one…many listed here are also favs. And I’d have to go back to some silent film classics like Charlie Chaplin up to some great 1930’s films like It Happened One Night or The Thin Man movies and later Some Like It Hot––gadzooks, the list goes on and on…
The first Thin Man!! Oh man, I LOVE that movie. C and I watch it every NYE.
“How did you like Grant’s tomb?”
“Oh it was lovely! I’m having an exact copy made for you!”
Also love Chaplin. My favorite of his is City Lights.
A Fish Called Wanda, Ghostbusters, The Big Lebowski, Raising Arizona, Clueless, When Harry Met Sally all come to mind. Also Better Off Dead.
There’s Something About Mary…
I love Ben Stiller so much in that movie, and Matt Dillon…so many good scenes!
Caddyshack & Airplane
Tied for number 1: Young Frankenstein and Spinal Tap
Young Frankenstein I have loved with the same degree of fervor since I saw it as a kid in the 70s. Spinal Tap (or is spelled Tapp these days?) I didn’t know, somehow, and despite working in a record and video store in the 80s, until a student introduced me to it when I was in my late 30s. How, how did I live so long without it?!?
Tied for number 2: Life of Brian and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead.
On a scale of 1-10, I’d give it an 11.
Yes!! Love these!
Young Frankenstein. Superbad. The Producers. Bringing Up Baby.
Tootsie is still hilarious.
The Thin Man (my children are named Nick and Nora) Palm Beach Story, His Girl Friday, The Russians are Coming, The Russians are Coming, Broadcast News, and Groundhog Day.
I love the Thin Man movies and I love that you named your children Nick and Nora. Please tell me you have a dog named Asta!
We nearly did – but our giant Bernese mountain dog is named Benchley (after another heavy drinkring comedy icon from the 1930’s Robert). We thought when we named our kids that everyone would make fun of us for it but we learned instead that it felt like an inside joke to very cool people.
I don’t know if I can pick a favorite, but a short list would have to include Young Frankenstein, The Muppet Movie, Harold and Maude, Say Anything (which, I guess it’s not technically a comedy but come on), The Thin Man, This is Spinal Tap, and Almost Famous.
Dang! I forgot about Harold and Maude! Love that.
And Annie Hall – The scene where they’re headed to the airport after dinner.
Mama you clearly have exquisite taste. I love these as well..
Also the Anglophile in me is all about monty python and the holy grail.
And Local Hero. Adore that movie.
Raising Arizona
Bridesmaids
Some Like It Hot
Sophie’s choice (just kidding! is this thing on? ; )
Withnail and I; Broadcast News (Albert Brooks’ flop sweat scene is enough); The Tall Guy, with Jeff Goldblum and Emma Thompson (try to ignore Jeff’s bob…), but top of the list is What’s Up Doc? with Ryan O’Neil and Barbra Streisand. Killed me when I was 8, still does!
Pineapple Express
Tommy Boy
(apparently I’m a frat boy)
something more obscure
The Lunatic
Young Frankenstein
That’s my favorite, too, with The Producers (Zero Mostel, Gene Wilder) as a close second!
Rushmore
O R they?
His Girl Friday
Best in Show.
What about Throw Momma from the Train?
Or The Jerk with Steve Martin? Absolutely hilarious!
Was waiting for someone to say The Jerk! Thank you, it’s an all-timer for me too. I used to love Bananas and Sleeper, but I am torn about watching Woody Allen any longer — even the old ones. More recent, Pop Star: Never Stop Never Stopping is an underrated gem.
Waiting for Guffman, Monty Python & the Holy Grail, The Party, Airplane and . . . My husband loves Tommy Boy so much that I crack up just watching him watch it. He will literally be on the floor doubled over laughing.
Lol! My daughter told me that my 2 and a half year old grandson LOVES Tommy Boy!
Came here to say “Waiting for Guffman!”
I love Dr Perlemans audition montage for the musical
I’m afraid I still love the early Woody Allen despite his creepitude. Annie Hall, Love and Death, Sleeper, Bananas.
Tootsie always puts a smile on my face, espeically as I watched the daytime soaps as a high school student and the movie makes the most of the silliness of soap. More recently, Our Idiot Brother where a somewhat dim witted brother has to seek help from his sisters.
Spy! Also a big fan of Raising Arizona.
Best in Show! Bratwurst and shillelaghs? Paging Dr. Freud!
YES the Inlaws…OMG I haven’t thought of it in forever “Señor Pepe would like to give you a keeeesss…” Thank you for reminding me of it. Now I have to find it on Netflix or Amazon and watch it again!
Midnight Run is another classic favorite. And a newer-but-maybe-almost-classic is Office Space. “I don’t like to talk about my flair”
I’ve got 3:
Monty Python and the Holy Grail (At our house, we randomly ask each other “What’s your favorite color? Blue, no, yellow…Ahhh!!!”)
When Harry Met Sally (My hubby and I watch it every NYE.)
Young Frankenstein (So many great moments)
Ok, 4, but it’s a Christmas movie so it doesn’t count.
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
Animal House. So many laugh out loud moments.
Animal House and Office Space
Office space. YES.
Beetlejuice!
What About Bob
Is this a fake hangup?
For sure The In Laws, plus A Mighty Wind, The Big Lebowski, Dick (with Michelle Williams and Kirsten Dunst) is pretty great too. Fletch, Caddyshack, Albert Brooks in Lost in America.
Princess Bride!
No matter how times I’ve watched it, it still makes me laugh, especially the Billy Crystal bit as Miracle Max: “There’s a big difference between mostly dead and all dead.”
So many good ones here! I will second What About Bob and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Spinal Tap, Airplane, and There’s Something About Mary, and add Murder by Death! .
This is hard, because my sense of humor changes so much as I age. My gut tells me it’s probably got to be The Jerk: “I know we’ve only known each other four weeks and three days, but to me it seems like nine weeks and five days. The first day seemed like a week and the second day seemed like five days…”
The funniest movie I’ve seen in the last five years was probably The Disaster Artist.
I adore both The Jerk and The Disaster Artist.
“I did not hit her, I did not. Oh, hi Mark.” – I am legit still saying it to my husband, to be annoying.
Blackadder, the Elizabethan years. Followed by Beetlejuice
My mom passed recently…her favorites were Father Goose and Touch of Mink. But we watched Monty Python and the Holy Grail together. Many of my favorites have already been mentioned except…The Odd Couple and The Sure Thing.
Happy to see so many classic films in the responses! Young Frankenstein is IT. But allow me to add a few recommendations: Libeled Lady, Ball of Fire (a great one if you’re into etymology), and The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer(Cary Grant was never quite so messy — at the picnic — and sexy.)
Best in Show!! My kids loved Winkie the Norwich Terrier which inspired us to get one of our own. Hilarious movie.
Sixteen Candles and The 40 Year Old Virgin.
The first time I saw “Wayne’s World,” I laughed so hard I couldn’t breathe. I haven’t seen it in years, so I’m not sure how I would feel now. I also always loved “The Sure Thing.”
The Awful Truth with Cary Grant and Irene Dunne.https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/27419/The-Awful-Truth/
A Fish Called Wanda. My face hurt from laughing so hard at that movie. Every once in a while the phrase “Cathcart Towers Hotel” crosses my mind and I’ll start to giggle.
The first movie that popped into my mind was “Clueless.” I have a weakneses for high school comedies.
Amber: My plastic surgeon doesn’t want me doing any activity where there are balls flying at my nose.
Dionne: Well there goes your social life.
At the time, that line totally went over my young, naïve head!
Best in Show. If you love dogs, that is.
Even if you don’t love dogs, that is a hilarious movie!
So many great ones …
For me Monty Python and the Holy Grail; I work in a hospital so the line about it being a mere flesh wound always sends me into a fit of giggles. And the killer rabbit scene.
I’ve been trying to think of comedies that I’d see over and over (not just have in the background, but really watch!) and very few come to mind.
I do love “That Thing You Do” because it seems like there are new discoveries each time. (There’s also an extended version where Tom Hanks’ character is gay and has a boyfriend.)
I also happily rewatch “Overboard” (the original) and it holds up so well! No clue why they remade it.
But comedies I rewatch over and over and STILL laugh…
I watch “Friends” all the time. And honestly, it just gets better. I mean go re-watch Ross and the leather pants or Joey/Phoebe introducing themselves as Ken Adams and Regina Phelange.
I watch Friends all the time, too 🙂 I think it’s funnier now than when it was on and I was a college kid. It’s obviously problematic, but still cracks me up, especially Joey.
YES! Totally agree. Matt LaBlanc was hands-down the funniest (yet overlooked!).
I still think Joey and Rachel should have been the ones together at the end…
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels is a good one.
Monty Python and the Holy Grail, The Big Lebowski, Raising Arizona, The Hudsucker Proxy (I’m a sucker for the Coen Brothers), Airplane, Flirting with Disaster (Ben Stiller, Mary Tyler Moore, Lily Tomlin, so many others and so good)
Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story
I had one in my head, then read this thread and remembered, “oh yeah, that one…”. So I’ll make a short list:
Big Lebowski
Raising Arizona
Best in Show
Bridesmaids
Office SpaceElection
Trading Places–also my favorite Christmas movie.
Loved The In Laws
Spies like Us
Trading Places
Beverly Hills Cop
Sixteen Candles
The Breakfast Club
The Heat
Old School
40 Year Old Virgin
so many good movies!
Caddyshack. Tropic thunder. Talladega nights. Overboard. This is spinal tap.
These are movies I watch and rewatch, particularly with my 13 yo daughter
Home for the Holidays with Holly Hunter and Robert Downey jr.
Bridesmaids
This is 40
Monty Python and holy grail
Best in Show
Waiting for Guffman
(Yes to) Say everything
I’ll list more when I peruse this list, which will jog my memory.
I LOVE This is 40. When Leslie Mann goes off on the kid who’s been mean to her daughter online and calls him “Miniature Tom Petty,” I DIE.
AmyM, I own this and watch it all the time. I just laugh and laugh and laugh. I also love the Tom Petty line! My daughter has watched most of the movie with me (some edits since she’s 13,) and when she finally saw the bulk of the movie, she said “I thought it was going to be funnier, since you laugh so much at it.” hahaha
Foul Play
MASH
Airplane! Perfect on New Years Day with friends.
OMG< "Serpentine" — I share your eternal love for this. I also like a lot of other family comedies like Little Miss Sunshine, The Family Stone and probably my top recent favorite, Crazy Stupid Love.
Blazing Saddles!!! Followed closely by Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery
Long-time lurker, first-time post. You all have such great taste! My list:
The Graduate
The Tenth Victim
The Out -of-Towners
Meet the Parents
Madagascar
The Producers, It’s a Mad, mad World, Fargo and Office Space.
When Harry Met Sally
Midnight Run with Charles Grodin and Robert De Niro
Blazing Saddles (I live in a neighborhood called Rockridge)
Several favorites are already mentioned here – Waiting for Guffman is one of my very very top picks. I need to add Wet Hot American Summer. And even though I was already too old for it when it came out, Can’t Hardly Wait is a great teen movie that I think more people should appreciate. Oh, and Idiocracy. And Saved!
I just watched Dirty Rotten Scoundrels again (Michael Caine, Steve Martin, and Glenn Headly) it’s really funny.
If you can find it, a very young Jeff Bridges and Blythe Danner starred in Hearts of the West and it is wonderful.
Flirting with Disaster is hilarious. Every performance is great, Mary Tyler Moore Steals the show.. I think I’ve watched it 20 times.
So many greats already mentioned but I’ll add Coming to America.