# Whats the best comedy movie ever made? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 30, 2001, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-comedy-movie-ever-made/78843 "2001-08-30T00:49:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![xanakis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/7bcc69/32.png) [@xanakis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xanakis)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2001, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-comedy-movie-ever-made/78843/1 "2001-08-30T00:49:49Z")
This question is inspired by the Spinal Tap thread (best song? “Break Like The Wind”). In my view, its “Life of Brian” and nothing anybody says is going to change my mind. ---
**Author:** ![NutWrench](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nutwrench/32/20193_2.png) [@NutWrench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NutWrench)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2001, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-comedy-movie-ever-made/78843/2 "2001-08-30T00:52:16Z")
Blazing Saddles ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Maximino](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e95f7d/32.png) [@Mighty\_Maximino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Maximino)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2001, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-comedy-movie-ever-made/78843/3 "2001-08-30T00:56:59Z")
I have to go for “A Fish Called Wanda”. There are some scenes in that one that always give me great fits of laugh-out-loudness. Close second for “Army of Darkness”. Different rationale though. ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2001, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-comedy-movie-ever-made/78843/4 "2001-08-30T00:57:41Z")
Can it be? A real thread by xanakis? Crimeny! I think Fletch was a great movie. So many great lines. If the book is even better, which I’ve heard, I’m definitely going to have to check it out. Even just in the Mel Brooks genre, I think Spaceballs easily beats Blazing Saddles. BS may have been cutting edge comedy when it came out, but it does nothing for me today. ---
**Author:** ![Gomez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d78d45/32.png) [@Gomez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gomez)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2001, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-comedy-movie-ever-made/78843/5 "2001-08-30T01:01:07Z")
Well, the purpose of a comedy is to make you laugh and whilst it may not be sophisticated or witty or clever or any of the other things that make for ‘good’ comedies, the funniest thing I have ever seen on screen is the scene from Dumb and Dumber with the blind kid stroking the decapitited parakeet, trying to get it to sing. Man, I nearly threw up right there in the cinema I was laughing so damn hard 😃 ---
**Author:** ![nooc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b487fb/32.png) [@nooc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nooc)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2001, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-comedy-movie-ever-made/78843/6 "2001-08-30T01:08:50Z")
I would say “real genius” is one of the greatest comedy movies ever. ---
**Author:** ![Interrobang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/interrobang/32/17463_2.png) [@Interrobang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Interrobang)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2001, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-comedy-movie-ever-made/78843/7 "2001-08-30T01:09:25Z")
Three candidates: _The In-Laws_ “Serpentine, Shel! Serpentine!” _Raising Arizona_ “Do they blow up into funny shapes at all?” “Well, no. Not unless round is funny.” _Miracle of Morgan’s Creek_ “I think his name was something like Ratzkywatzky.” ---
**Author:** ![HalberMensch242](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ecb155/32.png) [@HalberMensch242](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HalberMensch242)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2001, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-comedy-movie-ever-made/78843/8 "2001-08-30T01:24:39Z")
Ok…best comedies…for my money have to be: Rushmore “They gave each other hand jobs in the pool, while you were taking a nap” “How you feeling?..A little bit Lonely” Road to Wellville(although not strictly a comedy) “If this is the healthiest place on earth…why is everybody dying?!” “Chew Chew Chew…it is the thing to do…Chew Chew CHew it’s really good for you” ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2001, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-comedy-movie-ever-made/78843/9 "2001-08-30T01:29:57Z")
It’s a toss up – between _Airplane_ and _Animal House_, and I’ll even throw in _Caddychack_ for godd measure. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2001, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-comedy-movie-ever-made/78843/10 "2001-08-30T01:31:06Z")
_Caddychack_, of course being the version of _Caddyshack_ shown in East L.A. ---
**Author:** ![ChoosyChipsAndCeilingWhacks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c77e96/32.png) [@ChoosyChipsAndCeilingWhacks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChoosyChipsAndCeilingWhacks)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2001, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-comedy-movie-ever-made/78843/11 "2001-08-30T01:32:19Z")
For Raising Arizona. “Son…you’ve got a panty on yer head.” No matter where I am, or what I’m doing, all I have to think of is that “diaper chase scene” and I get the giggles. A close second for “Some Like it Hot.” Marilyn Monroe and crossdressing. What else IS there in life? -L ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2001, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-comedy-movie-ever-made/78843/12 "2001-08-30T01:33:56Z")
How 'bout top 5? I don’t think I can narrow it down to just one. In no particular order: It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad World: There has _never_ been an assemblege of comics like this movie features. It was the “who’s who of Comics” for it’s day. The scene with Jonathon Winters and Phil Silvers in the Garage still cracks me up. Blazing Saddles: Young Frankenstein was probably a better movie, but Blazing Saddles was far funnier. Harvey Korman _made_ that movie. When Taggart reaches into the tub and grabs for “Ducky”, Korman’s expression is priceless. Plus Madyline Kahn is in it. What’s Up, Doc?: Again, Madyline Kahn steals the show. The chase scene with the Chinese dragon is one of the funniest chases ever filmed. The Court Jester: Danny Kaye. Angela Landsbury. The “Pellet With the Poison” scene. The “Pass the Basket” scene. 'nuff said? Aargh…whichever Marx Brothers movie features the Ocean Liner cabin. Fenris ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2001, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-comedy-movie-ever-made/78843/13 "2001-08-30T01:35:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SexyWriter \* > \*\* > A close second for “Some Like it Hot.” Marilyn Monroe and crossdressing. What else IS there in life? \*\* Plus Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon. Plus Billy Wilder directing. Dammit! You’re right. Add this to my list and assume I wrote “Top Six” Fenris ---
**Author:** ![Kwyjibo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/59ef9b/32.png) [@Kwyjibo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kwyjibo)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2001, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-comedy-movie-ever-made/78843/14 "2001-08-30T01:37:29Z")
My vote is on **SpaceBalls**. (Spinal Tap is a close runner up.) ---
**Author:** ![Crunchy\_Frog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ebca7d/32.png) [@Crunchy\_Frog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crunchy_Frog)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2001, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-comedy-movie-ever-made/78843/15 "2001-08-30T01:39:02Z")
This is a tough call. The films that spring to mind are: _Young Frankenstein_ - I can’t even begin how to describe what I love about this movie. _Monty Python and the Holy Grail_ - I think _Life of Brian_ may be the better overall film, with the message and that it has a real ending, but _Holy Grail_ makes me howl every stinking time. _A Fish Called Wanda_ - Not as funny on repeated veiwings (for me anyway, as I know what jokes are coming) but I can never turn this off if I happen to catch it on TV. _Various Marx Brothers films_ - I can’t pick one single film from these guys. ---
**Author:** ![Topologist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/topologist/32/3208_2.png) [@Topologist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Topologist)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2001, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-comedy-movie-ever-made/78843/16 "2001-08-30T01:55:37Z")
Come on people, reach back. Have we lost our cultural memory? [ul] [li] _It Happened One Night_[/li][li] _The Philadelphia Story_[/li][li] _His Girl Friday_[/li][li] _A Night at the Opera_ (with the stateroom scene) or _Duck Soup_[/li][/ul] And for something more recent, _Ruthless People_. ---
**Author:** ![ChoosyChipsAndCeilingWhacks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c77e96/32.png) [@ChoosyChipsAndCeilingWhacks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChoosyChipsAndCeilingWhacks)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2001, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-comedy-movie-ever-made/78843/17 "2001-08-30T02:11:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Fenris \* > \*\*]The Court Jester: Danny Kaye. Angela Landsbury. The “Pellet With the Poison” scene. The “Pass the Basket” scene. 'nuff said? > \*\* “Yea, verily, yea!” I almost forgot about that one. What a great flick! ---
**Author:** ![Soul\_Brother\_Number\_Two](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/soul_brother_number_two/32/3515_2.png) [@Soul\_Brother\_Number\_Two](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soul_Brother_Number_Two)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2001, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-comedy-movie-ever-made/78843/18 "2001-08-30T02:29:58Z")
the producers. ---
**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:** [August 30, 2001, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-comedy-movie-ever-made/78843/19 "2001-08-30T02:38:25Z")
Yes, both **The Producers** and **Some Like it Hot** for sure. But don’t forget **Dr. Strangelove**. Possibly my favourite movie, period. ---
**Author:** ![rushtopher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e47774/32.png) [@rushtopher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rushtopher)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2001, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-comedy-movie-ever-made/78843/20 "2001-08-30T02:54:37Z")
Hmmmm… I don’t know what’s the funniest but I second the motion that we need to think back farther than 1997. And I’m only 24. Anyway my list of contenders: Producers - Until the broadway musical came out, this was Mel Brooks’ most underappreciated movie. And to all the people who said Spaceballs BAH! What no Dracula, dead and loving it? Airplane - Changed comedy as we know it. Ghostbuster - Bill Murray wll be known as an underapreciated legend when he is 75. This is probably his best movie. Holy Grail - nuff said. Planes Trains and Automobiles - The best line is not the line most people think of with this movie, although the “fuck” scene is great. The best scene in the movie is after John Candy’s character has burnt the car completely to smithereens. The next day they are pulled over by a cop played by Michael McKean who asks them if the car is driveable. Candy’s attempt to claim it is is priceless. While Steve Martin hides. It’s just great. Then John Hughes completely lost it and inflicted Home Alone on us. Other contenders, cause they made me laugh but I don’t think these are of the same quality as the others above: The In-laws (might be worthy of being listed above, but its been a long time) Animal House Little Shop of Horrors MST3K the movie (but then again, some episodes were funnier) South Park: The Movie Mel Brooks up until History of the World Naked Gun - but not the sequels dang, I’ll think of a ton more right after I type this. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-comedy-movie-ever-made/78843.md?page=2)