# 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:** 2
**Author:** ![GENE\_STONER](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/2bfe46/32.png) [@GENE\_STONER](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GENE_STONER)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2001, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-comedy-movie-ever-made/78843/21 "2001-08-30T02:56:12Z")
This may sound kind of pedestrian, but I’ve always been partial to “The Jerk”, “Dumb and Dumber”, and “National Lampoons Vacation”. Young Frankenstein was an excellent movie, as was Blazing Saddles. I took my family to see A Fish called Wanda when it first came out. I thought it was a great, very funny movie, but my wife did’nt get half the jokes. ---
**Author:** ![Race\_Bannon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Race\_Bannon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Race_Bannon)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2001, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-comedy-movie-ever-made/78843/22 "2001-08-30T02:59:07Z")
_thinking of nothing that hasn’t been mentioned_ I throw my votes behind [ul][_]It’s a Mad Mad Mad Mad World [_]A Fish Called Wanda [_]Hi Opal![_]Dr. Strangelove[/ul] ---
**Author:** ![Anamorphic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/anamorphic/32/3057_2.png) [@Anamorphic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anamorphic)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2001, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-comedy-movie-ever-made/78843/23 "2001-08-30T03:57:16Z")
**The General** Buster Keaton is a comedy god! ---
**Author:** ![23skidoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/2/f04885/32.png) [@23skidoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/23skidoo)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2001, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-comedy-movie-ever-made/78843/24 "2001-08-30T04:02:26Z")
I nominate “Princess Bride” for sheer madness and repeat watchability. “That word… I do not think it means what you think it means.” ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2001, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-comedy-movie-ever-made/78843/25 "2001-08-30T04:53:44Z")
For making me laugh out loud [sub](an extremely hard thing to do, extremely, which I’m not happy about. I love to laugh but I’ve been a tough audience since I was a baby and “coochie coo” left me unmoved)[/sub] \*\* Monty Python’s Meaning of Life \*\* “Oh God, you are so very large…” I’d also have to give \*\* Airplane \*\* props for being so jam-packed with utter lunacy that you have to love it. stoid ---
**Author:** ![Zaphod\_Beeblebrox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/0ea827/32.png) [@Zaphod\_Beeblebrox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zaphod_Beeblebrox)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2001, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-comedy-movie-ever-made/78843/26 "2001-08-30T04:58:41Z")
At the risk of being seriously unoriginal, my vote has to go for _Monty Python: The Holy Grail._ ---
**Author:** ![Astroboy14](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/df705f/32.png) [@Astroboy14](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Astroboy14)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2001, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-comedy-movie-ever-made/78843/27 "2001-08-30T06:56:54Z")
While I thoroughly enjoyed most of the movies mentioned so far, I gotta cast my vote for funniest movie ever to Woody Allen. What’s Up, Tiger Lilly? has some of the funniest lines I’ve ever heard! _You killed my snake! Where am I going to find a long, thin coffin?!?_ Well, OK, it’s not that funny outside the context of the film… but if you haven’t seen it yet, by all means get thee to a video store and rent it! ---
**Author:** ![Fern\_Forest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/71c47a/32.png) [@Fern\_Forest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fern_Forest)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2001, 7:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-comedy-movie-ever-made/78843/28 "2001-08-30T07:36:27Z")
Gold Medal **Blazing Saddles** - “Scuse me while I whip this out.” **Duck Soup** - sheet maddess **It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World** - how can you not love Spencer Tracy and just pity the poor guy for his wife and kids. That seen on the phone, well I’m laughing now. **The Gold Rush** - I’m not the greatest for slap stick and the melodrama of this time period really turns me off but this is sucha funny movie. **The Producers** - has the funniest concept here. **Arsenic and Old Lace** - You will never like mass murderers as much as these 2 sweet little old ladies. And Cary Grant is just a genius here. **Life of Brian** - WTF!!! An alien??? I’ve never been caught so totally unsuspecting in my life. Silver Medal **Beware of Greeks Bearing Guns** - this movie so made the 2000 HIFF for me. **The Wrong Guy** - Dave Foley of The Kids in the Hall fame wrote this. It just tickled me pink. Plus Dave was in the audience when we watched it and I got to ask him a question, 😃 **The Prince Bride** - sweet and funny, hey you and your gf can watch it together. **We’re No Angels** - I just love this film. And Bogey. Only this film and **Arsenic and Old Lace** can make me laugh at death. **Young Frankenstein** - Oh when he slams his hands into his dinner, I split a gut. ---
**Author:** ![Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2001, 9:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-comedy-movie-ever-made/78843/29 "2001-08-30T09:22:45Z")
Nothing has made me laugh like _Love on Delivery_. And I had to read the subtitles to understand what was going on, because it’s in Chinese! The scene where the karate master tries to pound on the guy in the Garfield costume is priceless. ---
**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2001, 10:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-comedy-movie-ever-made/78843/30 "2001-08-30T10:19:49Z")
No question about it… _UHF_. Weird Al is as much a comic genius on the screen as he is behind the accordian. And if you thought Michael Richards was funny as Kramer, he excels amazingly as Stanley Spadowski. “Look what I’ve got here, Bob… a Twinkie-wiener sandwich! Your favorite!” “These floors are dirty as hell, and I’m not gonna take it any more!” “Do I still get to be the janitor?” “Hey you guys… you guys! The blindfold fell off! You better come fix it… whoa, my shirt glows in the dark!” “Supplies!” “You found a marble in the oatmeal… you get to drink from the fire hose!” “I had a dream that I was a bird… with a candy bar head!” “Uh-oh… Bobbo’s been eating… Yappy’s dog treats!” Bob: “Hey, you guys, I’m trying to work here… do you mind?” Stanley: “Uh… no… I don’t mind. Go right ahead. Do you mind, George?” _Spaceballs_ takes a close second… “I knew it, I’m surrounded by Assholes.” ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2001, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-comedy-movie-ever-made/78843/31 "2001-08-30T11:31:11Z")
Oh Lordy…so many movies I’d forgotten about and now want to see again. _UHF_ was probably the funniest film I’ve seen that didn’t do very well at the box office, which is a pity. It’s a must-rent. “What most people don’t know is that the turtle is Nature’s suction cup!” _Modern Times_ and _The General_ – just 'cause they’re b&w doesn’t mean they’re not worth watching. _Singin’ In The Rain_ remains one of my favorite movies of all time (“I caaaaahn’t stannum”). All-singing, all-dancing, all goofy. _Blazing Saddles_ stands out for me as Mel Brooks’ best film, with _Young Frankenstein_ a close second (“It’s twoo! It’s twoo!” “That’s my arm.”). _Spaceballs_, OTOH, bored me. Ah well. _Airplane!_ might possibly be the most quoted comic movie ever. So I won’t bother. And finally, _South Park BLU_ made me laugh until I choked by being so overly offensive about everything that it was impossible to take offense. ([Glinda voice]“I am the clitoris!”[/Glinda voice]). A pity my TV’s just gone pfut, or I’d be off to the video rental place now… ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2001, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-comedy-movie-ever-made/78843/32 "2001-08-30T12:26:01Z")
Fenris has my sensibilities.For my money **A Night at the Opera** with the Marx Brothers takes the prize. I also LOVED **What’s up, Doc?** (Madeline Kahn and Kenneth Mars together, years before Young Frankenstein. Boss Hawg as a crook! Buck Henry wrote it and Peter Bogdanovich directed!And it’s NOT a remake or ripoff of “Bringing up Baby”.) I loved **What’s up, Tiger Lily?** and **Kentucky Fried Movie** when I first saw them, but they don’t seem quite as funny now. Either I’ve aged, or the films have. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2001, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-comedy-movie-ever-made/78843/33 "2001-08-30T12:29:06Z")
I can’t believe this thread has gone this far and no one has mentioned THE funniest movie of all time, BRINGING UP BABY with Cary Grant and Katherine Hepburn… and a leopard. Well, two leopards, but only one of them is named “Baby.” ---
**Author:** ![Zaphod\_Beeblebrox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/0ea827/32.png) [@Zaphod\_Beeblebrox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zaphod_Beeblebrox)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2001, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-comedy-movie-ever-made/78843/34 "2001-08-30T12:29:10Z")
I just realized that I should give an honourable mention to **Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels**. Although it’s not a “pure comedy” per-se, it had me laughing out loud quite a few times. I also had a few good laughs the first time I saw **Clerks** , although it’s also not a “pure comedy.” And something else needs to be mentioned. Although it’s not a movie, the BBC series of **The Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy** is really quite funny. And hell, when you watch it from beginning to end, it almost feels like a long movie. ---
**Author:** ![SmackFu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2001, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-comedy-movie-ever-made/78843/35 "2001-08-30T14:06:29Z")
Votes for: **Real Genius** - Can’t we get a DVD of this already? Made me want to go to engineering school… I was rather disappointed by reality. **His Girl Friday** - Can’t believe it’s from the forties, very un-old-movie-like. **Office Space** - great, terrific, memorable, and quotable lines all over the place. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2001, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-comedy-movie-ever-made/78843/36 "2001-08-30T14:52:55Z")
We’re running out of new material, here, but for sheer laughs let me put in a strong vote for the first 10 minutes (the opening cartoon) of Who Framed Roger Rabbit. And for an entire movie, I have to go with Airplane. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2001, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-comedy-movie-ever-made/78843/37 "2001-08-30T14:56:18Z")
- Holy Grail - Even the opening credits (llamas) are humorous. Then we get into the flesh wounds, she turned me into a newt… I got better, I fart in your general dirrection, maybe if we built a large wooden badger, we’re not to leave unless you come and get us, airspeed velocities of unladen swallows, ni!, it’s just a silly bunny, red… no, blue _swoosh_. I absolutely howl every time I watch it still. Blazing Saddles - I crapped my pants when Mongo knocked that horse out. Plus, the campfire scene, let’s have a good 'ol \*\*\*\*\*\* work song, excuse me while I whip this out, it’s twue! it’s twue! Har! Dr. Strangelove - One Colt 45 automatic, one pair of nylons, one prophylactic… OPE. Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Sex But We’re Afraid to Ask - Awesome scenes, great cast. Fandango - This is one of my favorite movies of all time. The Director relives adventures from college (Baylor) but sets it in UT and the Texas Big Bend during the VietNam conflict. Originating as a short about a parachute scene, Spielberg saw it and had Reynolds (Kevin) build a movie around it. I think it’s Costner’s first movie but I’m not sure. Judd Nelson is actually good in this. Five Easy Pieces - Not a full blown comedy but the sandwich scene is priceless. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2001, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-comedy-movie-ever-made/78843/38 "2001-08-30T14:58:57Z")
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. ---
**Author:** ![dalovindj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/65b543/32.png) [@dalovindj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalovindj)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2001, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-comedy-movie-ever-made/78843/39 "2001-08-30T15:21:16Z")
Hands down champion: Happy Gilmore Having Adam Sandler get into a full on brawl with Bob Barker that ends with Bob Barker triumphantly saying “The price is WRONG, Bitch” is pure comic genius. I know every joke coming in that movie, I laugh when I think about the fact that it’s coming, and then I laugh when they hit it. Close runners up: “Rustlers Rhapsody” (I think I’m the ony damn person to ever see this movie but damn it’s funny) “Eddie Murphy” - Delirious and Raw (Do these count as a movies?) “Princess Bride” (Anybody want a peanut?) “Out in 50” “The Money Pit” “War of the Roses” DaLovin’ Dj ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2001, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-comedy-movie-ever-made/78843/40 "2001-08-30T17:11:26Z")
It’s not knee-slapping funny, but one of my favorites has always been Albert Brooks’ “Defending Your Life” with Meryl Streep. Well, sometimes it is. (“Take a piss!”) The Past Lives Pavillian – hoo, boy! Actually, I like every Brooks movie I’ve ever seen. It’s got its problems as a movie, but I happen to think Beetlejuice is hysterical. “The Handbook for the Recently Deceased” and the whorehouse called Dante’s Inferno. I love touches like that. “Son, you’ve got a panty on your head” is the most-quoted line between my husband and I. I could watch Raising Arizona all day long. And … I’m sorry, but I will not apologize for this. :rolleyes: I sat down to this movie with my arms crossed, fully prepared to be a stuck-up snob, but There’s Something About Mary had me braying throughout. 'Course, The Princess Bride is one of my all-time favorites. Stop it now, and I mean it. Anybody want a peanut? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-comedy-movie-ever-made/78843.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-comedy-movie-ever-made/78843.md?page=3)