Since comedy is so subjective, many great comedy movies don’t get the momentum to reach the audience that they deserve. There are plenty of films with cult classic status that deserve a closer look. Even if they may lack the broad appeal that’s generally needed for comedy movies to make a splash, they’re still hilarious to certain people.

Comedy is an extremely varied genre. Essentially, anything focused on making the audience laugh falls under the same category, but this includes dark comedy-dramas and lighthearted family fare. It can be difficult for comedies to find the right audience under these circumstances, and they only become popular later via word of mouth.

10

H๏τ Rod (2007)

Andy Samberg’s Breezy Comedy Is Surprisingly Underappreciated

Although Andy Samberg and The Lonely Island have been popular since their days on Saturday Night Live, H๏τ Rod never reached the audience that it deserved. It’s a low-budget cult classic, following a wannabe daredevil trying to raise money for his stepfather’s heart transplant. Samberg is at his hilarious best in H๏τ Rod, bringing his affable charms to the role of a lovable loser.

H๏τ Rod has a lot of humor and a lot of heart, both stemming from the main character’s dreams of Evel Knievel-level stardom while struggling to pull off relatively low-key stunts. This is also where H๏τ Rod delivers some brilliant moments of physical comedy. Running at a little under 90 minutes, H๏τ Rod is a brilliant bite-sized comedy, and not just for fans of The Lonely Island.

9

Mindhorn (2016)

The Crime Comedy Satirizes Old Cop Shows

Mindhorn follows a washed-up actor, best known for his starring role in a nonsensical detective drama, in which his character has a bionic eye. While the movie satirizes the ludicrous excesses of 1980s cop shows, it’s also about the nature of celebrity. The Mighty Boosh star Julian Barratt plays the protagonist as a pompous buffoon whose self-esteem far outstrips his relevance and talent.

Mindhorn is one of the funniest British movies of recent years, but it isn’t one that’s managed to develop a huge international audience. Perhaps this is because some of its allusions to British culture are too esoteric, but the main story of an actor who gets thrown head-first into a real-life criminal case is so hilariously entertaining that Mindhorn still deserves more attention. Fans of British comedy will probably know Julian Barratt from his TV work, but it would be a pleasure to see him in more movies after Mindhorn.

8

Heavyweights (1995)

The Family Comedy Has Largely Been Forgotten About

Although Heavyweights was co-written by Judd Apatow, and it stars Ben Stiller in a dual role, the family comedy has been resigned to the scrap heap of the 1990s, only adored by a select group who have reclaimed it as a cult classic. The story follows a group of children at a weight-loss camp who have to suffer under the thumb of a tyrannical fitness guru.

There are shades of Dodgeball‘s White Goodman in Ben Stiller’s character, especially his hypermasculine ego and his unpredictability. Stiller always makes for a fun villain when given the chance, and his character counters the lovable kids in the camp perfectly. Heavyweights is endlessly quotable, and it has some riotous slapstick to match its memorable dialogue.

7

Sєxy Beast (2000)

Ben Kingsley Shows His Comedic Side

Ben Kingsley has repeatedly proven himself as one of the most talented dramatic actors in the industry, especially in movies like Gandhi and Schindler’s List. Sєxy Beast serves as proof that he can also be as funny as anyone else when he wants to be. He plays Don Logan, a petulant criminal fueled by rage who travels to Spain to try and lure a retired safecracker back to London for one last job.

Don Logan is one of the funniest comedy movie villains of all time, as Kingsley delivers his angry tirades with remarkable ᴅᴇᴀᴅpan style. Ray Winstone is the perfect foil for Kingsley, towering over him physically but trying his best to shrink up. Sєxy Beast is something of an oddity, and this might explain why it isn’t as popular as other comedies from the same era. It also works as a tense crime drama, and the bursts of uproarious humor seem to jut out from the rest of the script.

6

Seven Psychopaths (2012)

A Madcap Crime Comedy With Great Performances

Seven Psychopaths doesn’t get as much love as Martin McDonagh’s other comedy movies, but the writer-director showcases his flair for humorous dialogue as usual. McDonagh fans will also be pleased to see long-time collaborator Colin Farrell in a leading role once again. He’s surrounded by a great ensemble cast, with Christopher Walken’s ᴅᴇᴀᴅpan wit getting a lot of laughs.

Seven Psychopaths is a meandering crime caper, but it’s also a strangely personal story about a writer struggling to corral the different ideas flying around his head and shut out the noise of everyday life while he does it. Ultimately, McDonagh seems to give himself over to the noise, just as his protagonist finally pieces his script together when he becomes a more active participant in the drama. It’s a thoughtful and nuanced story, but it’s hilarious nonetheless.

5

Breaking Away (1979)

The Coming-Of-Age Classic Shouldn’t Be Forgotten

Although Breaking Away was nominated for Best Picture, it has since been largely forgotten, only championed by a small following. This is a shame, because it’s a poignant and charming movie about finding purpose in life, and its messages are just as relevant as ever. Breaking Away is a coming-of-age movie and a sports movie rolled into one, as a young man living in a college town lives to pursue his pᴀssion of cycling.

Breaking Away is tender and intelligent, and it delves into some heavy topics. However, it’s also an uplifting comedy with enough power to warm anyone’s heart. A lot of its appeal comes down to the charismatic performance of Dennis Christopher, whose slacker is the kind of fun-loving, creative character who audiences can easily root for. Breaking Away is a great comfort movie that can be watched and watched again.

4

Swiss Army Man (2016)

Daniel Radcliffe Stars In The Darkest Of Dark Comedies

After shooting to fame as the star of the Harry Potter franchise, Daniel Radcliffe has developed a reputation for weird movies, but Swiss Army Man takes the cake. Radcliffe stars as a ᴅᴇᴀᴅ body, with Paul Dano playing a man who speaks to him and uses him in inventive ways in the wilderness, much like a Swiss army knife. It’s the darkest kind of dark comedy, and a dazzling journey into the absurd.

Since directing Swiss Army Man, Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert have reached a new level of prestige thanks to Everything Everywhere All at Once. Fans of the Best Picture winner should check out Swiss Army Man for another dose of the surreal and cerebral. It isn’t as polished, but it’s peculiar, entertaining and frequently hilarious. At the very least, there’s nothing else quite like it.

3

Booksmart (2019)

A High School Comedy That Shakes Up The Genre

Booksmart stars Kaitlyn Dever and Beanie Feldstein as two high school seniors who realize that they’ve wasted their lives by being good students, so they try to cram all the hedonism and bad decisions that they can into one wild night before they head off to college. This set-up evokes older comedies like Superbad, but Booksmart has enough originality to avoid too many direct comparisons.

Booksmart mines a lot of comedy from the awkward mismatch of its two main characters, and their bumbling attempts to cut loose and fit in with the cool kids. It also has some great moments from its supporting cast, with Billie Lourd’s flamboyant livewire a particular highlight. Booksmart was reasonably successful when it came out, but it still deserves more attention as a high school comedy that makes its own bold strides in the genre.

2

Submarine (2011)

Richard Ayoade’s Debut Showcases His Biting Wit

Richard Ayoade is known as an actor, writer and presenter, but he has also directed two movies. His directorial debut is Submarine, a wonderfully creative coming-of-age comedy-drama about a peculiar teenager living in Wales who falls for a similarly strange classmate. It’s a ᴅᴇᴀᴅpan masterclass that seems to take place in a universe quite unlike our own. As a bonus, the soundtrack is provided by Alex Turner of Arctic Monkeys.

Submarine goes to some dark places, but Ayoade maintains a biting satirical atтιтude throughout. Although there’s a lot of cringe comedy to come from the awkward main character, Submarine has plenty more ways of making its audience laugh. It has some acute observations of British culture and life as a teenager, and the dialogue offers many surprising jokes. Submarine is an emotionally intelligent comedy, and it’s proof that Ayoade needs to direct more movies.

1

Radio Days (1987)

A Nostalgic Comedy That Has Flown Under The Radar

Radio Days has the same conversational tone of Annie Hall or Manhattan, structured like a stand-up set with visual accompaniments at times, but Woody Allen’s nostalgic comedy rarely gets as much attention. The tangled story follows a New York family growing up during the golden age of the radio, framing their experiences in relation to their favorite performers and shows.

Radio Days can easily apply to any art form, not just radio. It’s about how culture shapes people, and how the art that we love can color our memories of certain people and times. These stories are universal, but there are a lot of specific, deeply human details that lend some emotional weight to the fast-paced movie. Naturally, Radio Days also has a glorious soundtrack, swinging between different musical genres as if someone is twisting the dial on an old radio.