Action comedies are some of the best genre mashups in movies around, and the last few years of cinema have been particularly kind to this specific blend of styles. Action and comedy have always gone together hand-in-hand, with many of the greatest action comedies fusing both genres perfectly. But the classics aren’t the only crop of films to pay attention to in this arena, with more modern movies boasting some solid contenders that can give the most iconic action comedies a run for their money.

It’s not hard to see why creating action comedies has become more and more popular. With movie budgets being higher than ever, meaning risk is at an all-time high for most big-budget productions, a safe film that can hit all quadrants is usually the best bet of many studios. The humble action comedy fits this criteria perfectly, offering laughs and excitement any moviegoer can appreciate. It makes sense that Hollywood has gotten increasingly good at making these kinds of films.

9

Paper Tigers

Released In 2020

Martial arts movies have always been a wonderful place to explore both action and comedy, as was made clear by the rise of Jackie Chan’s supremacy as a slapstick icon. One of the 2020s’ best martial arts films has been Paper Tiger, an action comedy with a focus on unarmed combat to help juggle both the jokes and the literal jabs. All the better that it can do so without relying on an over-inflated budget or weighty star power.

The plot sees a group of former martial arts pracтιтioners who trained under the same dojo re-unite after years apart when their master is killed, seeking revenge. The Paper Tigers marries the sensible comedy of a typical American indie film to the bombastic choreography and stunts of a Hong Kong beat-em-up, excelling in both lanes. Loaded with both jokes and spectacle that make the most of the core trio’s chemistry, the film might not be the most high-profile action comedy of recent years, but its certainly one of the best.

8

The Lost City

Released In 2022

An adventure setting is also a phenomenal place to explore some potent mixes of punchlines and punches, an idea The Lost City takes full advantage of. Sandra Bullock stars as a reclusive writer whose books about adventures in exotic places meteor to popularity, thanks in no small part to her handsome cover model, played by Channing Tatum. When an eccentric billionaire kidnaps her, convinced she knows the secret to finding the treasure of the Lost City in her latest book, the model acts on his secret romantic feelings for her and sets out to save her.

The Lost City offers some clever laughs that make full use of its talented cast, also including Daniel Radcliffe as the mad villain behind the search for the Lost City. It’s nice to see a romance between a traditionally handsome star like Tatum and an older female lead, and their chemistry leads to some hilarious beats as they narrowly escape danger time and time again by the skin of their teeth. Pulpy, zany, and just a bit dramatic, The Lost City is a rip-roaring good time.

7

ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine

Released In 2024

The movies of the Marvel Cinematic Universe can be cited as a huge contributor to the rise in action comedies, with their CGI battles and quippy scripts dominating the box office for some time now. One of their latest offerings, ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine, just might nail both elements of the genre more comprehensively than any of the mulтιтude of films in the franchise that came before it. The entry oversees ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool and the Fox X-Men’s full transition into the MCU with the help of Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine, as the two team up to take on Charles Xavier’s evil twin.

The film certainly makes the most of it with some audacious fourth-wall-breaking humor and viciously gory action setpieces, both an unforgettable spectacle. With great needle drops like NSYNC’s Bye Bye Bye and an epic choir version of Madonna’s Like A Prayer, ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine is infectiously fun.

6

Bullet Train

Released In 2022

A brisk pace is a must when it comes to fashioning a truly great action comedy, and no film better lives up to its name in striving to achieve it than Bullet Train. From the mind of legendary action director David Leitch, Bullet Train takes place on one of Japan’s famous Shinkansen trains, a volatile setting for some claustrophobic action to unfold in. When a group of five different ᴀssᴀssins realize their jobs are seemingly interconnected, all sorts of chaos breaks loose in the vehicle’s cramped quarters.

Boasting a talented team of performers like Brian Tyree Henry, Brad Pitt, Hiroyuki Sanada, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Brad Pitt, Bullet Train is worth watching for its collective charisma alone. The creative fight sequences make full use of the unique setting, and the stylish cinematography ensures that, even in the quieter moments, Bullet Train is something to look at. Pepper in a script with a decisive dry sense of humor, and this action comedy is one of the strongest in recent years by a wide margin.

5

The Unbearable Weight Of Mᴀssive Talent

Released In 2022

Only the strange filmography of Nicolas Cage would allow a premise like The Unbearable Weight of Mᴀssive Talent to work, and it’s great to see the legacy actor being purposefully funny in a role for once. Cage stars in the film as a fictionalized version of himself, who is accosted by an eccentric mega-fan (played by the ever-popular Pedro Pascal) to make an appearance at his birthday party. Cage soon learns that his admirer is even more unstable than he seems, as he’s pulled into a dizzying adventure.

The Unbearable Weight of Mᴀssive Talent lives off of the chemistry of its leads, with Pascal keeping up with a legacy actor like Cage as if it were second nature. Their straight-man-funny-man dynamic is relentlessly entertaining, and the film also serves as a genuine celebration of Nic Cage’s best and most famous work. A bizarre meta-contextual calamity that somehow works, The Unbearable Weight of Mᴀssive Talent is the surreal journey of a lifetime.

4

They Cloned Tyrone

Released In 2023

The late 2010s and early 2020s have been shaping up to be a true renaissance for Black cinema, from horror movies like Sinners to absurdist comedies like Sorry to Bother You. In the action comedy space, They Cloned Tyrone is a wonderful, if underrated, addition to the pantheon of great modern movies examining the African American experience. The ramshackle plot sees a trio of clueless interlopers thrust deep into the midst of a shadowy government conspiracy.

Clearly a love letter to the great Blaxploitation films of old, They Cloned Tyrone nails the 70s aesthetics of the genre while providing a modern update. The incredulous laughs and fast-paced action are supplemented by some poignant science fiction that examines questions of bodily autonomy, particularly in regard to Black Americans. Thoughtful, yet fun and easy to enjoy at the same time, They Cloned Tyrone desperately needs more recognition.

3

The Suicide Squad

Released In 2021

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is far from the only superhero property in town, and the DCU actually beat them to the punch with making a genuinely great R-rated action comedy thanks to The Suicide Squad. After the disastrous 2016 film Suicide Squad, James Gunn’s revamp of the franchise begins with a hilariously over-the-top slaughter as the latest incarnation of Task Force X is given their latest target. This time around, Amanda Waller’s cadre of forced-compliance supervillains are tasked with retrieving sensitive data about the U.S. government’s involvement in a terrifying operation.

Time and time again, James Gunn has proven he knows how to maneuver a wacky ensemble cast, and this talent is flexed nowhere better than in The Suicide Squad. Turning wacky characters like Peacemaker and The Polka Dot man into fan-favorites, the film’s shocking violence and endearingly stylish editing help make for an unforgettable thrill ride that strikes a fine balance. It’s no wonder the film was able to inspire an entire spin-off show with Peacemaker.

2

The Fall Guy

Released In 2024

Yet another brilliant modern action comedy by David Leitch, The Fall Guy takes full advantage of the recent comedic reputation of Ryan Gosling thanks to Barbie by making him the star of a new popcorn flick. Gosling stars as a simple Hollywood stunt performer who takes on the mission of searching for the missing star of his filmmaker ex-girlfriend’s (played by fellow Barbenheimer love interest Emily Blunt) latest movie. Along the way, he gets dragged into a world of action and intrigue far above his pay grade.

Gosling is as charming as ever in this lead action role, offering some great banter with both Emily Blunt and Aaron Taylor-Johnson’s dude-in-distress. Clearly made as tip of the cap to the stunt industry, the film shines some interesting light on Hollywood’s most overlooked performers while giving a character in that position the chance to be a hero for real. Satisfying, alluring, and action-packed, The Fall Guy can contend with history’s best action comedies.

1

Everything Everywhere All At Once

Released In 2022

It says a lot that Everything Everywhere All at Once is one of the few action comedies to take home not only multiple Academy Awards, but the coveted Best Picture Award. Michelle Yeoh stars in the multiverse-spanning movie as Evelyn, an average middle-aged woman whose life is dangerously close to falling apart. Suddenly, she’s whisked away into an interdimensional war waged by an evil version of her daughter, bent on destroying all of creation in a streak of omniscient nihilism.

In terms of action, Everything Everywhere All at Once has some of the best martial arts choreography around, peppering in unique modes of attack too silly to be included in any other movie. The absurdist sense of humor that rockets viewers across universes is refreshingly original as well, but it’s the true beating heart of sentiment beneath it all that carries the film across the finish line. Everything Everywhere All at Once proves that an action comedy can be a genuinely phenomenal movie rather than just entertaining.