A doctor stand in the cockpit of an airplane having a discussion with the pilot while an inflatable co-pilot sits next to him.Image via Paramount Pictures
By
Robert Lee III
Published 2 hours ago
Writing from the Chicagoland area in Illinois, Robert is an avid movie watcher and will take just about any excuse to find time to go to his local movie theaters. Robert graduated from Bradley University with degrees in Journalism and Game Design with a minor in Film Studies. Robert tries his best to keep up with all the latest movie releases, from those released in theaters to those released on streaming. While he doesn't always keep up with the latest TV shows, he makes it a goal to watch nearly every major new release possible. He has been honing his craft and following any and all movie news all his life, leading up to now, where he has a vast knowledge of film and film history. He also logs every movie that he watches on his Letterboxd page, and has hosted a weekly online movie night with his closest friends for over 6 years.
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The art of comedy filmmaking has evolved a multitude of times ever since the beginning of film, adapting to the styles of the era and finding success in experimental styles of comedy. Much like forms of comedy in many other mediums, the most popular and wildly effective laughs prove to be so effective that they have a lasting influence across the industry as a whole. Humorous filmmaking is no different, with several comedy films aging so well that they have become the blueprint for success in film.
Each of these films could be considered an all-encompassing classic of their respective era, having a massive impact on the comedy genre as a whole, on top of being laugh riots that still hold up to this day. As varied and brilliant as they are, modern comedies have these classics to thank for becoming a blueprint and starting point for exceptional filmmaking. The roadmap that these comedies have set is still largely used today, becoming untouchable pillars of greatness.
10 'Clerks' (1996)
Brian O'Halloran as Dante in ClerksImage via Miramax
Even with a non-existent budget and a relatively aimless plot, Clerks shows just how far top-notch dialogue and chemistry can go towards making an effective comedy experience. It quickly became the go-to example of how to make a great indie comedy, feeling unfiltered in its simple yet personality-fueled style of filmmaking and humor that latched onto audiences and quickly became a cult classic. Its simplicity proves to be a part of its timeless charm and wit, giving the infectious energy of a group of friends relaxing and going about their daily lives.
While Clerks is much more than the nothingness of its initial plot, it's this consistent allure of everyday meandering that characterizes its comedic edge, a distinction that helped forever transform independent comedy filmmaking. Even outside the comedy genre, the film has become an icon of '90s indie filmmaking, ushering in a new era of low-budget efforts and showing the true possibilities of such in a contemporary setting.
9 'The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!' (1988)
Leslie Nielsen standing outside having a conversation in 'The Naked Gun'Image via Paramount Pictures
The works of David Zucker, Jim Abrahams, and Jerry Zucker were already massively appreciated and lauded within the world of comedy throughout the '80s (including another legendary film that will appear later on in this list). Yet The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! built upon everything they'd created up until this point to create a definitive spoof masterpiece. The police procedural parody quickly became iconic for its usage of goofy sight gags, absurd wordplay, and a generational comedic performance by Leslie Nielsen as Frank Drebin.
It's about as classic as a spoof movie can get, ushering in a new era of wildly absurd, raunchy, and over-the-top spoof films that would continue to dominate throughout the '90s and the 2000s. However, none of these subsequent films would live up to the brilliance set in stone by the original Naked Gun. It's the type of comedy that can be rewatched until the end of time, never losing its edge of comedic abilities.
8 'Superbad' (2007)
Coming-of-age high school movies have forever been a subgenre of comedy that has worked wonders in the past, yet the raunchy, chaotic execution of Superbad proved to be one of its biggest moments of growth and evolution. The wild, unrestrained style of humor that defined the 2000s certainly helped it achieve mass popularity as a definitive coming-of-age film for a generation, yet it's the genuine heart, connection, and relatability of its character that have helped it stand the test of time.
So many coming-of-age films have attempted to recreate the endless rewatchability and genuine heart that Superbad accomplishes, as it quickly set forth the new standard for how to create a contemporary coming-of-age film. While this definition continues to evolve and change as each new generation of youth is different from the last, Superbad helped put in motion a more dedicated focus on relatability alongside its wild comedy.
7 'The Big Lebowski' (1998)
Image via Gramercy Pictures
The absolute apex of the stoner comedy, the otherworldly energy and dynamic of The Big Lebowski has made it one of the most unexpected cult classic phenomenons in film history. It sees the Coen Brothers at the absolute heights of their abilities in terms of comedy filmmaking, with a wide array of wild and absurd supporting characters and plot threats coming together to create a goofy, unpredictable ride.
However, even with all the wild intricacies and madness inherent to the actual plot of the film, the mellow vibes and easygoing attitude of Jeff Bridges as The Dude make it a melancholy experience perfectly fit for watching while stoned. Combined with some classic Coen Brothers dialogue, The Big Lebowski quickly became the go-to blueprint for great stoner cinema. Many films tried and failed to recreate this seminal movie's approachable, laid-back attitude.
6 'Monty Python and the Holy Grail' (1975)
Image via EMI Films
Monty Python was a wildly celebrated comedy troupe long before their jump to feature-length filmmaking, yet Monty Python and the Holy Grail is what truly cemented them as icons of comedy during the '70s and beyond. The film's infectious mix of dry humor and sketch comedy stylings into an absurd and endlessly hilarious riff on classic medieval fables and storytelling. From its endless array of hilarious quotes to its goofy, nonsensical characters who have become legends in their own right, over 50 years of classic status have made the film an icon of sketch comedy in cinematic form.
It shows that instead of focusing on a large, all-encompassing narrative, a comedy film can achieve greatness simply by focusing on its humor, and Monty Python and the Holy Grail easily has some of the best in the '70s. Its distinct edge of absurdist humor has only grown more influential in the decades following its release, especially with many of its funniest moments becoming pivotal in forming the style of humor of the early internet.
5 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off' (1986)
Matthew Broderick as Ferris Bueller, laying back and smiling, in 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off'Image via Paramount Pictures
More than just a high school coming-of-age comedy, but a defining cultural icon of '80s culture as a whole, Ferris Bueller's Day Off is about as charming and approachable as a high school comedy film can get. Matthew Broderick's performance as the titular Ferris Bueller, complete with seamless charm and charisma as he just barely skirts the line of trouble and consequences, is iconic in its own right within the comedy genre.
There is simply an inherent charm and grace to the way that the film approaches comedy that has such a timeless nature to it, even despite so distinctly being emblematic of the '80s as a whole. It easily stands as the comedic highlight of John Hughes' career, seeing him at his absolute best in terms of teen comedy and comedic setpieces. Ferris Bueller's Day Off would directly influence a wide array of films since its release, being a blueprint not only for the teen genre but also '80s comedy in general.
4 'Some Like It Hot' (1959)
'Some Like It Hot' Movie starring Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis and Jack LemmonImage via United Artists
Some Like It Hot is the type of film that seems like it would have been completely aged out of any all-time classic conversation with time. Yet, it's so gracefully fine-tuned with its comedic approach to the concept that it continues to be celebrated in the modern day as one of the greatest comedies of all time. Its commentary on gender roles mixed with striking comedic wit and performances has made it an icon of comedic satire for decades, as well as one of the defining masterpieces of Billy Wilder's career.
The film weaves together its hilarious plot with a sense of grace and intelligence in its storytelling that it's impossible not to crack a smile at its distinct charm and energy. It seamlessly utilizes romance and crime as tools not just for its comedic setpieces, but for larger messages and themes that, in-hand, amplify the comedic strength of the film furthermore. It was heralded as a comedy masterpiece when it came out over 60 years ago and will continue to be considered as such for the next 60 years.
3 'Blazing Saddles' (1974)
Gene Wilder as Jim the Waco Kid sitting with his arms crossed in Blazing SaddlesImage via Warner Bros.
Few comedic visionaries are as directly responsible for the growth and evolving nature of the comedy genre quite like Mel Brooks, whose countless masterful comedies have defined not only the generation they were released in but every generation thereafter. Among Brooks' legendary filmography, however, Blazing Saddles distinctly stands out as not only his greatest comedic achievement, but also his most influential and recognizable comedy film.
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Explore comedy filmmaking further, subscribe to the newsletter for deeper analysis of classic comic techniques, full histories, filmmaker perspectives, and curated watchlists that illuminate how these films shaped modern comedy. Subscribe By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.The wild, unrestrained Western parody completely tore apart everything that made the genre a feel-good household staple of previous generations, replacing it with wild antics and a ruthless, unfiltered look at the prejudice of the era. Even outside the context of the era and thematic depth, Blazing Saddles has continued to be so well-revered that people consider it an icon of classic comedy and how modern comedy simply fails to live up to its standard.
2 'It Happened One Night' (1934)
Clark Gable as Peter eats a carrot sitting next to Claudette Colbert as Ellie in It Happened One Night.Image via Columbia Pictures
One of the only films to accomplish the legendary sweep of the five main categories at the Academy Awards, It Happened One Night is often celebrated as one of the most important and influential romantic comedies to have ever been released. Nearly every modern romantic comedy owes a debt of gratitude to It Happened One Night for cementing the blueprint of how to make a truly great blend of romance and comedy. Even over 90 years after its release, the tried and true rom-com conventions that it helped popularize still work seamlessly for a modern audience.
Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert's chemistry with each other is truly palpable and is about as electrifying as on-screen chemistry can get. Their dynamic brings out the best in each other comedically and dramatically, acting as the centerpiece of the story and exploding with passion, especially for a film that was directly limited by the restrictions of the era. It Happened One Night's influence over rom-coms and comedy as a whole will simply never go away, as the genre wouldn't be where it is today without its mastery.
1 'Airplane!' (1980)
Ted Striker (Robert Hays) seen heavily sweating in 'Airplane!'Image via Paramount Pictures
One of the greatest feats of comedy filmmaking over every other genre is their ability to retain strength and effectiveness in their core filmmaking, no matter how many times they are rewatched, with jokes continuing to land as if they are seen for the first time. In terms of sheer rewatchability, no film is as widely renowned and influential for its limitless jokes and timeless comedy as Airplane! It continues to be celebrated as the absolute peak of parody filmmaking, becoming the defining example of its style of goofy, absurdist and tongue-in-cheek humor.
While Zucker, Abrahams, and Zucker would continue to do great things in the world of comedy with the previously mentioned Naked Gun trilogy, Airplane! stands tall as the magnum opus of their careers and sees the trio at the absolute heights of their comedic abilities. Everything that makes their distinct style of manic comedy is perfected within this nonsensical disaster film, from glorious sight-gags to witty dialogue to jokes that the audience didn't even catch until their 5th or 6th time watching the film. People could be watching Airplane 100 years from now and still pick up on jokes that they never saw before that point.
Airplane!
PG
Comedy
Release Date
July 2, 1980
Cast
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Lloyd Bridges, Peter Graves, Julie Hagerty, Robert Hays, Leslie Nielsen
Runtime
88 minutes
Director
Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, Jerry Zucker
Writers
Arthur Hailey, Hall Bartlett, John C. Champion, Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, Jerry Zucker
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