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.
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502187Forrest Gump
Tom Hanks, Sally FieldReleased: 1994
Directed by: Robert Zemeckis
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245140The Big Lebowski
Julianne Moore, Jeff BridgesReleased: 1998
Directed by: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen
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18897Fargo
Steve Buscemi, William H. MacyReleased: 1996
Directed by: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen
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254153Monty Python and the Holy Grail
John Cleese, Terry GilliamReleased: 1975
Directed by: Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones
5
204121Life of Brian
George Harrison, John CleeseReleased: 1979
Directed by: Terry Jones
6
16591Office Space
Jennifer Aniston, John C. McGinleyReleased: 1999
Directed by: Mike Judge
7
218135Groundhog Day
Bill Murray, Andie MacDowellReleased: 1993
Directed by: Harold Ramis
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16191My Cousin Vinny
Marisa Tomei, Joe PesciReleased: 1992
Directed by: Jonathan Lynn
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15185Shaun of the Dead
Martin Freeman, Simon PeggReleased: 2004
Directed by: Edgar Wright
10
14885Pulp Fiction
John Travolta, Bruce WillisReleased: 1994
Directed by: Quentin Tarantino
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15997O Brother, Where Art Thou?
George Clooney, John GoodmanReleased: 2000
Directed by: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen
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15696Airplane!
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Leslie NielsenReleased: 1980
Directed by: Jerry Zucker, Jim Abrahams, David Zucker
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14186A Fish Called Wanda
Jamie Lee Curtis, Kevin KlineReleased: 1988
Directed by: John Cleese, Charles Crichton
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13484What We Do in the Shadows
Jemaine Clement, Taika WaititiReleased: 2014
Directed by: Taika Waititi, Jemaine Clement
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10666Little Miss Sunshine
Steve Carell, Bryan CranstonReleased: 2006
Directed by: Valerie Faris, Jonathan Dayton
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150108The Truman Show
Jim Carrey, Paul GiamattiReleased: 1998
Directed by: Peter Weir
17
10668Amélie
Audrey Tautou, Spencer TracyReleased: 2001
Directed by: Jean-Pierre Jeunet
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9761Dogma
Ben Affleck, Matt DamonReleased: 1999
Directed by: Kevin Smith
19
10267As Good as It Gets
Jack Nicholson, Helen HuntReleased: 1997
Directed by: James L. Brooks
20
5421Jojo Rabbit
Roman Griffin, Scarlett JohanssonReleased: 2019
Directed by: Taika Waititi
21
6028The Grand Budapest Hotel
Bill Murray, Jude LawReleased: 2014
Directed by: Wes Anderson
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8050The Full Monty
Robert Carlyle, Tom WilkinsonReleased: 1997
Directed by: Peter Cattaneo
23
8859Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
Steve Martin, Michael CaineReleased: 1988
Directed by: Frank Oz
24
8965In Bruges
Colin Farrell, Ralph FiennesReleased: 2008
Directed by: Martin McDonagh
25
8765The Royal Tenenbaums
Gwyneth Paltrow, Alec BaldwinReleased: 2001
Directed by: Wes Anderson
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