# What is the funniest movie ever? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 30, 2005, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-funniest-movie-ever/333320 "2005-11-30T02:43:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2005, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-funniest-movie-ever/333320/21 "2005-11-30T05:13:00Z")
> [@Mirror Image egamI rorriM](#): > > Kung Fu Hustle. I laughed so hard I missed some of the subtitles. Oh, that’s true. “No more soccer!” ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2005, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-funniest-movie-ever/333320/22 "2005-11-30T05:13:59Z")
I’ve been meaning to start this exact thread. I ask people this question all the time. The correct answer is _A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum_. But _The Producers_, _Spinal Tap_, _Young Frankenstein_, _Holy Grail_ and _Life of Brian_ (not yet mentioned!) are way up there. ---
**Author:** ![mojave66](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f9b8f/32.png) [@mojave66](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mojave66)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2005, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-funniest-movie-ever/333320/23 "2005-11-30T05:15:11Z")
I third “Kung Fu Hustle”. It is on Santa’s list for Xmas. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2005, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-funniest-movie-ever/333320/24 "2005-11-30T05:23:38Z")
Oh yes, “Better Off Dead.” Infinitely better than the much more well-known “Say Anything.” Jim says “Raising Arizona.” I don’t completely agree; it’s certainly in my top 10, but funniest ever? I might have to go with “Office Space,” mostly because I’ve been a secretary for 9 years and can relate to just about everything. Our pleasant surprise funny movie was “The Party” with Peter Sellers. “Birdy num-nums.” Strong movie, weak finish, however. I’ve always been partial to “Sibling Rivalry” with Kirstie Alley, too. I think that’s the movie where we discovered how funny she can be. We finally rented “The Producers” a little while ago, and we hated it. I think we cracked a smile once in the whole thing. Mostly it was just painfully full of screaming and overacting. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2005, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-funniest-movie-ever/333320/25 "2005-11-30T05:25:21Z")
_Duck Soup_. I really do have to check out this _Harold and Kumar_ thing. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2005, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-funniest-movie-ever/333320/26 "2005-11-30T05:30:24Z")
My tastes in humor lie between _The Gods Must Be Crazy_ on the silly slapstick end and _Miracle Mile_ on the twisted macabre end, with Star Trek TOS’s “The Trouble With Tribbles” somewhere in the middle. Some Funny movies: • Support Your Local Sheriff • I \ Huckabees • Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory • My Man Godfrey • The Penguin Pool Mystery • Arsenic and Old Lace • Cannibal Women in the Avocado Jungle of Death ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2005, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-funniest-movie-ever/333320/27 "2005-11-30T05:51:24Z")
I used to think _The Jerk_ and _Stir Crazy_ were the epitome of comedy when I was growing up. Still think they are pretty damn funny, I just don’t react as well to their humor anymore… I’m old and jaded, wish I was as simple as I once was. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2005, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-funniest-movie-ever/333320/28 "2005-11-30T05:58:47Z")
“A Fish Called Wanda” or “Airplane!” would be my pick. It’s hard to deny the genius of “Blazing Saddles,” too. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2005, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-funniest-movie-ever/333320/29 "2005-11-30T06:50:10Z")
I’ve really got to see this Harold and Kumar thing. For my money, it’s still Duck Soup. I think most of my other picks are already in here: A Fish Called Wanda, Young Frankenstein, The Big Lebowski… although nobody’s mentioned A Night at the Opera. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2005, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-funniest-movie-ever/333320/30 "2005-11-30T06:55:18Z")
It’s been years since I saw it, but I remember laughing my then less substantive butt off at _Arthur_, especially at John Gielgud. Very dependant on taste, but to me _Sordid Lives_ has lots of laugh-out-loud moments. The first _Vacation_ made me blow Dr. Pepper out of my nose (every scene with Randy Quaid and the scene in which Imogene Coca- how not to spoil in case somebody hasn’t seen it- finally arrives at her son’s house). ---
**Author:** ![E.Thorp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@E.Thorp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E.Thorp)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2005, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-funniest-movie-ever/333320/31 "2005-11-30T06:58:43Z")
> [@RobuSensei](#): > > Y’know, I have to give mention to _Better Off Dead._ First time I saw it was in college, with about a hundred other people, and we laughed loud enough to be heard across the quad. Oh, man, you are now in my posse. I saw it in college too, when it was first in theaters, and my friends and I laughed like crazy. Then, on a break, I dragged my old high school friends to see it, and they hated it and wondered what was wrong with me. “Lane Meyer…a once-great champion…now an example of moppishness.” “She dates the basketball team. Not certain members of the team, Layne. THE WHOLE TEAM.” “Go that way, really fast. If something gets in your way, turn.” “It’s got raisins in it. You like raisins.” “Do they have Christmas in France? Chrrisssmasss…” ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2005, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-funniest-movie-ever/333320/32 "2005-11-30T07:01:34Z")
If DVDs of TV shows count, SNL’s **The Best of Eddie Murphy** is great. Mr. Robinson, Velvet Jones, Tyrone Green, and my personal favorite- James Brown’s Celebrity Hot Tub Party- are all on it. And if stand-up videos count, Ellen Degeneres’s **Here & Now** is hysterical (I think that’s the one… “by Minnen”). ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2005, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-funniest-movie-ever/333320/33 "2005-11-30T07:40:24Z")
Maybe it’s dated now, but [The Ruling Class](http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0069198/) had me gasping for breath. Peter O’Toole thinks he’s Jesus … And don’t let the fact that you think Marisa Tomei was undeserving of her Oscar take away from the funniest movie of the 1990’s - [My Cousin Vinny](http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0104952/). It’s about “utes”. Yeah, utes. Two utes from New York. ---
**Author:** ![Tracy\_Lord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@Tracy\_Lord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tracy_Lord)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2005, 7:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-funniest-movie-ever/333320/34 "2005-11-30T07:57:25Z")
_Animal House_ is the movie that gets the most consistent, biggest laughs from me. One week Spike TV played a three-night marathon, and by the third time around I was laughing so hard I could barely breathe. _Harold and Kumar_ is still in the new falling-on-the-floor-in-hysterics stage for me. I’ll reserve judgement until a few years have gone by. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2005, 8:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-funniest-movie-ever/333320/35 "2005-11-30T08:22:35Z")
> [@Tracy Lord](#): > > _Harold and Kumar_ is still in the new falling-on-the-floor-in-hysterics stage for me. I’ll reserve judgement until a few years have gone by. 🙂 The last movie I saw that was that funny was _The 40-Year-Old Virgin_. Anybody else have that one on their list? ---
**Author:** ![Cerowyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/82dd89/32.png) [@Cerowyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cerowyn)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2005, 8:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-funniest-movie-ever/333320/36 "2005-11-30T08:34:43Z")
> [@Tracy Lord](#): > > _Animal House_ is the movie that gets the most consistent, biggest laughs from me. One week Spike TV played a three-night marathon, and by the third time around I was laughing so hard I could barely breathe. Um, wouldn’t _Animal House_ be about 10 minutes long on Spike TV?? ---
**Author:** ![Tracy\_Lord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@Tracy\_Lord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tracy_Lord)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2005, 8:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-funniest-movie-ever/333320/37 "2005-11-30T08:41:24Z")
> [@Cerowyn](#): > > Um, wouldn’t _Animal House_ be about 10 minutes long on Spike TV?? I’m not sure what you mean. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2005, 8:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-funniest-movie-ever/333320/38 "2005-11-30T08:42:44Z")
For my money, I have to go with ‘Old School.’ This movie makes me laugh like no other movie. ‘Dumb & Dumber’ is a close second. ---
**Author:** ![Promethea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Promethea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Promethea)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2005, 9:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-funniest-movie-ever/333320/39 "2005-11-30T09:06:39Z")
_Some Like It Hot_ still makes me laugh every time I see it. _Dirty Rotten Scoundrels_ had our whole family crying with laughter - I don’t understand why this movie wasn’t a huge hit. _I’m All Right Jack_ is hilarious. To me, it’s Peter Sellers’ finest hour as belligerant shop steward Fred Kite (“Ah, Russia! All them corn fields and ballet in the evenin’!”). Also features Terry Thomas on top form (“Ah, there you are - thought you might have been out on a little spree”). ---
**Author:** ![Sophistry\_and\_Illusion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Sophistry\_and\_Illusion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sophistry_and_Illusion)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2005, 9:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-funniest-movie-ever/333320/40 "2005-11-30T09:11:37Z")
I need a ruling from the OPer–does MST3K count? The movie isn’t supposed to be funny, but the MST3K version is supposed to be. If this is legit, then I have to recommend _Monster A-Go-Go_, with the preceding short clip _Circus On Ice_. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-funniest-movie-ever/333320.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-funniest-movie-ever/333320.md?page=3)