Ranker FilmList RulesVote up the movies that have an intelligent way of making you laugh.
Intelligent comedies really aren't too easy to come by—or they're at least far less common. Simply put, most people want constant laughter, regardless of content. In other words, what most consider the be the best comedies of all time don't typically fall under the intelligent category. Be that as it may, it's not to say smart and clever comedies don't exist, or that they aren't funny. It's just the fact we all love dumb humor, and there's nothing wrong with that. That doesn't mean we can't enjoy a witty, intellectual, or sarcastic comedy movie every now and then.
Because, a great movie can certainly intertwine comedy and intelligence - or even take on social concerns - and it happens all the time. Even quintessential comedies can incorporate such elements sometimes. Whether it be a solid storyline, a strong setting, or even high-brow jokes, some of the big screen's top comedies do more than just make us laugh. The Truman Show is a prime example. While funny, the film also makes us feel emotion and think. The same goes for other funny flicks like Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Groundhog Day and Burn After Reading, among many others. So, of all the clever and intelligent comedies out there, which are the best?
Check out the list of comedies below and vote up those you feel incorporate a little more into the story and ultimately warrant themselves a smart comedy. Feel free to add more to the list as well.
1
533193Forrest Gump
Tom Hanks, Sally FieldReleased: 1994
Directed by: Robert Zemeckis
2
257155The Big Lebowski
Julianne Moore, Jeff BridgesReleased: 1998
Directed by: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen
- 3261160
Monty Python and the Holy Grail
John Cleese, Terry GilliamReleased: 1975
Directed by: Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones
- 416185
Shaun of the Dead
Martin Freeman, Simon PeggReleased: 2004
Directed by: Edgar Wright
- 517395
Office Space
Jennifer Aniston, John C. McGinleyReleased: 1999
Directed by: Mike Judge
- 6193111
Fargo
Steve Buscemi, William H. MacyReleased: 1996
Directed by: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen
- 7226138
Groundhog Day
Bill Murray, Andie MacDowellReleased: 1993
Directed by: Harold Ramis
- 8208124
Life of Brian
George Harrison, John CleeseReleased: 1979
Directed by: Terry Jones
- 916393
My Cousin Vinny
Marisa Tomei, Joe PesciReleased: 1992
Directed by: Jonathan Lynn
- 1015587
Pulp Fiction
John Travolta, Bruce WillisReleased: 1994
Directed by: Quentin Tarantino
- 1116598
O Brother, Where Art Thou?
George Clooney, John GoodmanReleased: 2000
Directed by: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen
- 1215898
Airplane!
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Leslie NielsenReleased: 1980
Directed by: Jerry Zucker, Jim Abrahams, David Zucker
- 1314589
A Fish Called Wanda
Jamie Lee Curtis, Kevin KlineReleased: 1988
Directed by: John Cleese, Charles Crichton
- 1413887
What We Do in the Shadows
Jemaine Clement, Taika WaititiReleased: 2014
Directed by: Taika Waititi, Jemaine Clement
- 1511467
Little Miss Sunshine
Steve Carell, Bryan CranstonReleased: 2006
Directed by: Valerie Faris, Jonathan Dayton
- 166022
Jojo Rabbit
Roman Griffin, Scarlett JohanssonReleased: 2019
Directed by: Taika Waititi
- 1710969
Amélie
Audrey Tautou, Spencer TracyReleased: 2001
Directed by: Jean-Pierre Jeunet
- 18153110
The Truman Show
Jim Carrey, Paul GiamattiReleased: 1998
Directed by: Peter Weir
- 199862
Dogma
Ben Affleck, Matt DamonReleased: 1999
Directed by: Kevin Smith
- 206732
The Grand Budapest Hotel
Bill Murray, Jude LawReleased: 2014
Directed by: Wes Anderson
- 2110369
As Good as It Gets
Jack Nicholson, Helen HuntReleased: 1997
Directed by: James L. Brooks
- 229360
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
Steve Martin, Michael CaineReleased: 1988
Directed by: Frank Oz
- 238152
The Full Monty
Robert Carlyle, Tom WilkinsonReleased: 1997
Directed by: Peter Cattaneo
- 249164
Best in Show
Jane Lynch, Jennifer CoolidgeReleased: 2000
Directed by: Christopher Guest
- 259569
The Royal Tenenbaums
Gwyneth Paltrow, Alec BaldwinReleased: 2001
Directed by: Wes Anderson
