Top 10 Comedies of All-Time!

One year ago the BBC held a poll of the best films of the 21st century. This was to highlight recent films that normally get a blind eye when it comes to all-time lists. So this time around the BBC turned their focus to comedies. A genre that never gets the spotlight it truly deserves. You can find the list, some stats, who voted and who voted for what HERE.

But like last time, I will do my top 10 as if I was a critic lucky enough to be invited to vote. So in no particular order, here is my crème de la crème.

​To Be or Not to Be (1942, Dir. Ernst Lubitsch)

Before there was Billy Wilder, there was Ernst Lubitsch, a man that had a certain touch to his films. Wilder, a big admirer and writer for one of his films, has talked about his films having the 'Lubitsch touch'. He found ways to exploit the 'tragedy' in a comedic situation that no one could match. The movie's comedy (and plot) start off simple, it's mainly about jealousy and while this does become something bigger it's helped by the bits of the information the audience knows but characters don't.

Despite being set in WW2, Lubitsch manages to treat it just right to make the comedy stand out and raise the stakes of the film. This would be seen in films that come out after To Be or Not to Be, including some others in this list. While there are obviously other anti-nazi films from the time, this one brings a slapstick dimension that benefits the movie greatly.

Funniest moment/quote: “So, they call me ’Concentration Camp’ Ehrhardt?“

On the BBC poll: #13

Raising Arizona (1987, Dir. Coen Brothers)

If 'Blood Simple.' introduced the world to the Coen's dark side, then Raising Arizona introduced us to their comedic side. The brothers have made several more comedies since (such as The Hudsucker Proxy, The Big Lebowski and Burn After Reading among others) but none of them are as over the top, as fast paced and ridiculous as Raising Arizona.

Like their more well known Fargo, the Coens give their characters over the top accents that are often funny with in itself. Unlike 'Blood Simple.' this film has sympathetic characters which help sell the idea of criminal and a cop being married. Nicholas Cage and Holly Hunter have the right dynamic to sell both ends of their relationship throughout the film.

Often the film gets a laugh out of the technical departments, especially the production/costume design. One character could come straight from a Mad Max film and during his introduction is one of the funniest insert shots I've ever seen.

Funniest moment/quote: There is a big chase scene about halfway through the movie that is just brilliant.

On the BBC poll: #32

City Lights (1931, Dir. Charlie Chaplin)

At the time this film had the longest shoot of any film. Chaplin was a perfectionist and it shows in the final product. He got the most out of every moment. The clarity in what is shown on screen, I have no doubt, still, shows to this day in the works of every genre of film.

City Lights marked a crossroads for Chaplin's career. He was starting to make films that were more than for simple laughter and as his career progress the comedic side of his films changed drastically. Here he nails both sides. Some of Chaplin's best gags are here, refined over the last three films he did and countless shorts. The emotional impact is nothing like Chaplin had done before and after. Modern Times had its undertones of the socialism (or as Hollywood wanted to think at the time, communism) and The Great Dictator was anti-fascist.

Chaplin's perfectionism bleed into the score (as he wrote it) and like The Gold Rush it acts the film's dialogue. It helps the audience understand The Tramp's journey to find security and love in his life.

Funniest moment/quote: The boxing match. Hands down.

On the BBC poll: #21

The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014, Dir. Wes Anderson)

I could have gone with just about any other Wes Anderson film but none are as re-watchable or as fun as this one. Some jokes I didn't pick up until the third time but the real reason I constantly revisit this film is because of Ralph Finnes. Any time he opens his mouth in this movie it's pure bliss. However there a lot of other great actors that more than contribute to the film.

The comedy in this film is born out of Wes Anderson's style. It wouldn't work in another film, even some of Wes's own films. So to are the character's in this film, you would never have seen a M. Gustave (Ralph Finnes) type character in Bottle Rocket or Rushmore. The editing of some conversations has a rhythm that not many films achieve in a shot-reverse shot conversation.

Some of the visual comedy in this film is also great. A man being chased goes into a museum to hide, a sign says 15 minutes to closing time. The chaser follows close behind but the sign now says 14 minutes. At another point a group of men escape from prison by using tools the size of the ones you get a toddler (possibly smaller) and they also sneak through the guards quarters to get out.

Funniest moment/quote: "I thought I was meant to be a fucking faggot?" "You are but you're bisexual"

On the BBC poll: Didn't poll but it did receive four votes.

Airplane! (aka Flying High)

Most comedy films have a suavely sophisticated humor but no other film gives into the knock knock/dad joke type humor the way Airplane does. It also validated a generations' "cheesy humor" that either got groans or laughter. The quotes from this movie are probably more recognisable than the movie itself. Surely you must be asking yourself "am I serious". I am serious and don't call me Shirley.

If your Dad was to say a joke resembling the humor in this film, he would deliver it tongue-in-cheek. The actors in this film but give is straight faced as if they were a doctor giving you bad news (that might be because one of the characters is a doctor).

Quite a few of the jokes in this film are based on the misunderstanding of regular terms we use in society. "We need to get these people to a hospital", "A hospital? What is it?" (This is where you would expect the diagnosis but you don't get it) "It's a big building with patients, but that's not important right now". This kind of humor lays the foundation for how shows like Arrested Development use puns.

Funniest moment/quote: The landing sequence. The pacing of the film picks up and so does the jokes.

On the BBC poll: #7

Being John Malkovich/Adaptation. (1999/2002, Dir. Spike Jonze)

Ok. Ok. Some people might not think of these films as comedies but I'm just going to lump them together (two half comedies make one right?). Both films find their humor in only ways that writer of both films, Charlie Kaufman, could. Craig Schwartz (John Cusack) in Being John Malkovich works on the 7 1/2 floor of an office building. His boss thinks that no one can understand him but it's just his secretary's bad hearing.

In Adaptation. Charlie Kaufman (the writer wrote the film about himself adapting a book) has trouble with his screenplay but his twin brother played by the same actor (Nicholas Cage) has a much easier time writing a screenplay that has a twist that any 16 years old could come up with.

I don't think any description I could write could suffice these films so I would recommend just watching them.

On the BBC poll: Did not rank but Being John Malkovich got two votes and Adaptation. got none.

Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975, Dir. Terry Gilliam and Terry Jones)

This was the first film on this list that I saw. The ridiculousness of this film had me drawn in as a kid but now it's witty and quotable humor keeps my attention now. When a group of friends decides to pick up a camera and film their antics to show the world, most the time it's terrible. But that's what this film is. A group of friends who had a bit too much money and too many resources.

This movie is so strong that it doesn't even finish (but it just rather stops). There is, however, a point in the film when it starts to get slow so the rest of the movie tells it to get on with it. Plenty of people have learned how to taunt other people with a french accent. What you don't believe me you, "you empty-headed animal food trough wiper!"

One thing common in pop culture is to quote a movie but one the strengths and proof that it's a staple in the world of people who have seen it is that people will quote entire sequences. It follows the rule about joke writing in which the last word has to be the funniest.

Funniest moment/quote: 'Tis but a scratch!

On the BBC poll: #15

Some Like it Hot (1959, Dir. Billy Wilder)

There's a reason this film was voted #1 on the list. First of all, it goes in unexpected directions, even for 2017 (can you imagine seeing this film in 1959?). Two men go undercover in an all girls band to escape the mob after witnessing a mob hit. No, they don't convince the band manager to join the band as men. They dress up as women instead.

The film was the final blow to the Hays Code, which stood over Hollywood for about 25 years and denied any references to homosexuality (or even sexuality at all really). The situations the two lead men get themselves into, if happened in real life could lead them into mental asylums for them dressing in women's clothes. The stakes are high in this film but it makes the comedy even funnier.

If a rule of comedy is to have the funniest word last then Some Like it Hot breaks it. It's constantly funny. Every scene has layers to its jokes and while Lemmon and Curtis bring a great 'drama' to the film, Marilyn Monroe, on the other hand, brings a great innocence to the film that benefits the film substantially.

Funniest moment/quote: "Well nobody's perfect"

On the BBC poll: #1

Toni Erdmann (2016, Dir. Maren Ade)

While this film is a dramedy it still has some the funniest moments I have seen. The film is about the under-represented dynamic of an adult father-daughter relationship. Thankfully it feels believable as this is a relationship that cinema hasn't been represented to its fullest.

What this film has over several others is that it has a woman at the helm. Maren Ade manages to make both a feminist film and masculinity film. The Father is aloud to admit his mistakes with not connecting with his daughter earlier in life. The Daughter tries to make her way in the business world with the odds stacked against her as men are a plenty.

Obviously German films are renowned for their comedies but this one certainly does defy that expectation and is worth watching (like the other films on this list)

Funniest moment/quote: When a certain someone shows up at a certain event

On the BBC poll: #59

Punch Drunk Love (2002, Dir. Paul Thomas Anderson)

With this choice both director, Paul Thomas Anderson and star Adam Sandler showed to the world their respective range. For Anderson, he showed us that he was capable of more than ensemble dramas. For Sandler, it was that he could act in a role that required him.

The idea of Anderson and Sandler working together was laughed off when Anderson said he wanted to work with Sandler after working on Magnolia. Thankfully he wasn't deterred and got him for the film. If I was a friend of PTA I imagine the jokes we make would have a similar tone to this film. However, the film still has a small Sandler undertone which makes it all the more watchable.

Emily Watson and Philip Seymour Hoffman round off the lead actors in this film and they too manage to have an influence of their own. Watson in her more innocent character who just wants to find a man and Hoffman in his egotistical, grandiose salesman who also cons people out of money with an adult call service.

Funniest moment/quote: "SHUT UP! SHUT THE FUCK UP! Shut up; will you SHUTUP SHUTUP! SHUT SHUT SHUT SHUT SHUTUP... SHUTUP! NOW"

On the BBC poll: Only received two votes

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Some movies I considered for the list but didn't make include for one reason or another... The Truman Show, House, Broken Flowers, every Edgar Wright film, every other Wes Anderson film, Toy Story/2, Inside Out, Dazed and Confused/Everybody Wants Some!, The Blues Brothers, The Graduate, Little Miss Sunshine, Juno, Sherlock Jr, The General, Bananas, Sleeper, Annie Hall, The Castle, The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie, Burn After Reading, the Naked Gun films, Swiss Army Man, Captain Fantastic, What we do in the Shadows, Hunt for the Wilderpeople, In Bruges, School of Rock, Young Frankenstein, Blazing Saddles, Love and Friendship, The Lobster and some European new wave stuff like Weekend and Daisies.

Do you disagree with me? (tough luck) Let me know what your favorite comedies are.