While the science-fiction genre is not often known for its big laughs, these hilarious sci-fi comedies mix bold ideas and humor expertly. The best sci-fi movies explore the endless possibilities of the genre, offering audiences something they have never seen before. However, audiences have also seen so many sci-fi stories over the years that sometimes it is just fun to have some laughs within these mind-bending and high-concept stories.

There are a number of comedies that have taken popular sci-fi concepts, like time travel, and found funny ways to put their own spin on them. Other films present the classic space adventure story, like the Star Wars movies, but populate it with wacky and wisecracking characters that give it an entirely new feel. While the sci-fi elements are always important to these movies, they also serve as the background for some laugh-out-loud comedy moments.

10

Palm Springs (2020)

Directed By Max Barbakow

Time loop movies have proven to be incredibly versatile in the kind of stories that can be told, but there always seems to be a sci-fi element at the center of it all. Palm Springs delves into that sci-fi a bit in trying to determine the nature of the loops and how to escape them, but it does so within a hugely entertaining sci-fi story. Cristin Miloti stars as a young woman at her sister’s wedding who strikes up a bond with a mysterious guest (Andy Samberg) only to be lured into the time loop he has been living in.

It is impressive that the movie found new ways to be clever with the time loop story. However, a lot of the fun just comes from the comedic pairing of Samberg and Milioti, exploring this unending day together. There is also a great supporting cast with Meredith Hagner getting big laughs as Samberg’s self-centered girlfriend, and JK Simmons as a third victim of the time loop.

9

Idiocracy (2006)

Directed By Mike Judge

Dystopian movies are a big part of the sci-fi genre, and as expected, they are often quite bleak films, like Children of Men and The Hunger Games franchise. However, Idiocracy found a way to bring big laughs into such a story while also hitting on the themes of a future reflecting society’s current problems. Luke Wilson stars as an average guy who is cryogenically frozen and wakes up a century later to find America has become much dumber, making him the smartest man alive.

The movie is outlandish and silly in the best way possible, but its legacy also comes down to how Idiocracy predicted several elements of modern society, from political leaders to reality television. The fact that so much of this movie came true might ruin the comedy for a lot of people, but it is still a laugh-out-loud ride.

8

The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy (2005)

Directed By Garth Jennings

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy faced the daunting task of adapting possibly the most famous sci-fi comedy novel of all time. While it is true that the movie cannot quite capture all the hilarious brilliance of Douglas Adams’ writing, the film does manage to make for a clever take on the sci-fi adventure genre with a funny dissection of some of the tropes.

Right from the bureaucratic way in which the Earth is destroyed, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy establishes a unique tone in approaching such a story, and for those who can get onboard with the tone, it is hilarious from beginning to end. It is also packed with funny performances, from the likes of Martin Freeman, Sam Rockwell, and Alan Rickman as a depressed robot.

7

Men In Black (1997)

Directed By Barry Sonnenfeld

Despite it being a big hit and spawning the Men in Black movie series, the first installment doesn’t quite get enough credit for how influential it was on modern blockbusters. The blend of sci-fi action and crowd-pleasing humor is something big summer blockbusters have been trying to perfect ever since, and few have been as effective as Men in Black. Will Smith continued to cement himself as a true movie star, playing a cop who is recruited by Tommy Lee Jones to join a secret agency that polices alien activity on Earth.

Smith and Jones make for a surprisingly perfect comedic couple with Smith’s high energy playing wonderfully off of Jones’ dry wit. There are a lot of funny moments with Smith being introduced to this new reality and playing around with his brash atтιтude. The laughs are only elevated as the movie delivers real sci-fi stakes.

6

The World’s End (2013)

Directed By Edgar Wright

After Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg took on the zombie genre and the buddy cop genre, the final movie in the Cornetto trilogy saw them paying loving homage and hilarious parody to the sci-fi genre. Pegg stars as a party animal unable to escape his youth, who ᴀssembles his estranged childhood friends for an epic pub crawl in their hometown. However, they soon find that the town has been overtaken by body-snatching aliens.

The World’s End does not get the same amount of love as Shaun of the ᴅᴇᴀᴅ and H๏τ Fuzz, partially because it deals with some darker themes with Pegg’s troubled character. While those moments are part of what makes the movie so great, The World’s End is also hilarious, especially as these characters attempt to navigate an alien invasion while getting increasingly drunk.

5

Spaceballs (1987)

Directed By Mel Brooks

Given how popular the Star Wars franchise had grown by the 1980s, it was not all that surprising that parody master Mel Brooks targeted it for his satire. Spaceballs takes various elements of Star Wars – a roguish hero, a princess in distress, a villain in a black helmet – and jokes around with the whole idea. However, Spaceballs also managed to become so iconic that many of its own characters have become famous in their own right.

While fans of Star Wars will get the most out of Spaceballs, with all the references and homages, Brooks is also a great comedic mind who delivers an endless supply of jokes that will have anyone laughing. It also features one of the great comedic performances from Rick Moranis, bringing a hilarious frustration to his role as the villainous Dark Helmet.

4

Everything Everywhere All At Once (2022)

Directed By Daniel Kwan & Daniel Scheinert

Everything Everywhere All At Once is a movie that mixes together so many different elements that it is hard to define it. However, there is no denying that there is an intricate sci-fi story at the center as well as some big laughs. Everything Everywhere All At Once was another movie to get into the multiverse trend, but ended up outdoing all of the superhero films that went down the same route.

Everything Everywhere All At Once‘s concept of the “Everything Bagel” is a fantastic sci-fi idea that’s perfectly absurd enough for this movie. There are also ridiculous moments of the universe with H๏τdog fingers as well as the “raccacoonie” jokes. Amazingly, even with mind-bending sci-fi ideas and laugh-out-loud moments, Everything Everywhere All At Once also delivers incredible emotional moments and wild action that led to its Best Picture win.

3

Guardians Of The Galaxy (2014)

Directed By James Gunn

Guardians of the Galaxy was a huge surprise when it was released, as this rather obscure comic book ended up inspiring one of the funniest MCU movies to date. A lot of that comes down to James Gunn bringing his irreverent sense of humor to the story of these intergalactic outcasts who come together to form an unlikely family. However, they are still a dysfunctional group, making their space adventures hilarious.

Along with Gunn’s funny script, the cast is also excellent. Chris Pratt got into action hero shape, but he maintained his sitcom star humor. Dave Bautista shocked many with his terrific comedic abilities. Vin Diesel even manages to get big laughs with only a few words. While the rest of the Guardians of the Galaxy movies are funny as well, nothing matches the freshness of the wild first movie.

2

Galaxy Quest (1999)

Directed By Dean Parisot

Long before Tropic Thunder had fun with throwing pampered and oblivious actors into a truly dangerous scenario, there was Galaxy Quest. The movie follows the cast of a once-popular sci-fi series similar to Star Trek. When their show is mistaken as a real historical document, they are beamed into space by aliens to help in a real intergalactic battle.

The movie is a terrific show business satire while also poking fun at a lot of the tropes of sci-fi stories. It is also elevated by its amazing cast, led by Tim Allen as the show’s leading man, whom the rest of the actors resent. Sam Rockwell has a hilarious early role as the one-time guest star who is afraid he’ll be killed off like his character. But Alan Rickman steals the show as the serious thespian who is annoyed at being defined by his Spock-like character.

1

Back To The Future (1985)

Directed By Robert Zemeckis

Time travel is another popular subgenre of sci-fi movies. Back to the Future manages to not only be the best time travel movie of all time, but also the funniest. The characters of Marty McFly and Doc Brown have become some of the most iconic in movie history, and the comedic chemistry between Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd is a big reason why. They are an unlikely pair that works so well and ground the story with their relationship.

The time travel story is also hilarious in its own right, with the hijinks involving Marty’s parents making for one funny dilemma after another. The pacing of the movie works exceptionally well for both aspects of its tone, making the sci-fi stakes exciting while each scene provides great laughs and fun. Even more impressive, the sequels also managed to be as clever and funny.