In order to understand the best comedies of the 2010s, it’s important to travel back further through history. The 2010s were a weird decade for the comedy genre. The mid-2000s were marked by the introduction of “theJudd Apatowinfluence”—a type of comedy that was heavily improvised, incredibly dirty, but also surprisingly sweet and heartfelt. Audiences ate it up, turning films likeThe 40-Year-Old VirginandSuperbadinto huge hits. This influence carried over to the beginning of the 2010s, which is when a shift in the kinds of films studios were making started to occur. The arrival of the Marvel Cinematic Universe gave every major studio in town an excuse to look for their next huge franchise, and as a result of those films beingincredibly expensive, the number of studio-backed comedies began to decline. At the same time, the box office prospects of the few studio comedies thatwerebeing produced also became far more hit-and-miss.
No longer was the next Judd Apatow-produced, star-driven comedy a lock. Even fan-demanded sequels likeAnchorman: The Legend ContinuesandZoolander 2were met with cool receptions, which gave studios an even bigger excuse to put their money towards movies where things blow up instead of films in which two dudes talk about genitalia for five minutes. That’s not to say the 2010s were a bad decade for comedy, and the lack of consistently great traditional comedies gave way to more artful, interesting comedies from “serious” filmmakers. People likeWes Anderson,Noah Baumbach, andGreta Gerwignot only made some of the funniest movies of the 2010s, they were also some of thebest. And then you had filmmakers likeTaika WaititiandPhil LordandChris Millerwho were able to work within the confines of massive studio blockbusters and still deliver hilarious, whip smart comedies.With so many hits and some hidden gems to offer, here are the best comedies of the 2010s.
25’Kingsman: The Secret Service' (2014)
Directed by Matthew Vaughn
Kingsman: The Secret Serviceintroduces a suave new secret organization that recruits a naive but promising kid, Eggsy (Taron Egerton), into their ultramodern training program. With the highly skilled and extremely dapper agent Harry Hart (Colin Firth) training him, Eggsy goes through a series of dangerous challenges to prove he’s got what it takes. Meanwhile, the tech-savvy supervillain Richmond Valentine (Samuel L. Jackson) hatches a nefarious plan that threatens global security.
DirectorMatthew Vaughn’s humorousspy comedy combines the classic tropes of the genre while giving audiences over-the-top satirical takeson these same formulas. Its hilarious visual gags and smooth comedic timing gave fans an exhilarating viewing experience that felt refreshing, which is also why the 2014 film would go on to spawnan unevenKingsmanfranchisemade up of two sequels, which weren’t as well received as the original.
Kingsman: The Secret Service
24’Ready or Not' (2019)
Directed by Tyler Gillett and Matt Bettinelli-Olpin
Samara Weavingstars as Grace, a young bride turned badass survivor inReady or Not. The horror comedy sees Grace marry into the strange and wealthy Le Domas family, known for their board game empire. On her wedding night, she is talked into participating in a family tradition: a seemingly innocent game of hide-and-seek. However, the stakes are soon revealed to be deadly as Grace discovers that her new in-laws are hunting her down with the intent to kill.
Ready or Notis an eat-the-rich movie that mocks what the elite are willing to do to keep their wealth. The 2019 film soars thanks to Weaving’s incredible performance as Grace, who uses her wits and need to survive to make it out of the deadly cat-and-mouse chase through the ultrarich family’s mansion. There are some genuine laugh-out-loud moments throughout the movie as the plot borders on the absurd, especially as it reaches its shocking conclusion.
Ready or Not
23’Deadpool' (2016)
Directed by Tim Miller
Combine the R-rated comedy raunch that was so popular in the 2000s with the most successful genre in the 2010s – the superhero movie – and you getDeadpool, one of thehighest-grossing R-rated films of all time. The film’s self-referential screenplay and visual style cop to the fact that it’s a superhero movie made on amuchsmaller budget, butRyan Reynolds’ pitch-perfect casting as the Merc with a Mouth goes a long way here.
Deadpoolis able to take the “superhero movie” in directions others can’tsimply because its lead characterknowshe’s in a superhero movie, giving the filmmakers the opportunity to play with the genre in interesting ways. But none of this works if theDeadpoolcasting isn’t right, so it’s a testament to Reynolds’ charm and quick-witted deliver that this movie is as consistently funny as it is.
22’Easy A' (2010)
Directed by Will Gluck
FilmmakerWill Gluckhas made a career out of crafting surprisingly good-to-great movies that look kind of terrible, which is certainly the case withEasy A. The film arrived in the wake of the raunchy Apatow-influenced, male-focused films of the mid-to-late 2000s and presented a teen-centric take onThe Scarlet Letter(again, sounds terrible right?). But the movie consistently charms when in the wrong hands it may have induced eyerolls, and no doubt ahugepart of why it works so well isEmma Stone. While the now-Oscar-winning actress had breakout roles inSuperbadandZombieland, this is the film where she got the chance to shine in the lead, and shine she does.
Stone is at once supremely confident and cripplingly self-conscious, echoing the experience of many, many teenagers.Easy Apresents a story about femininity and sexuality that avoids being preachy or mean-spirited, instead traveling down more complex roads. It’s consistently funny and quick-witted, andStanley TucciandPatricia Clarksonplay possibly the best onscreen parents of the decade.
21’Inherent Vice' (2014)
Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson
Coming off ofThe Master, many expectedPaul Thomas Anderson’s 2014Thomas Pynchonadaptation to be similarly self-serious, long, and dramatic. And that’s what some saw – a semi-serious, meandering detective story from the POV of a pothead. But those who got onInherent Vice’s wavelength understood thatthis was PTA’s version of a broad comedy; a silly, definitely not self-serious detective storywhere the mystery ultimately doesn’t matter, and the series of misadventures that befall Larry “Doc” Sportello are really what it’s all about.
It’sThe Big Lebowskiby way of PTA, withJoaquin Phoenixdelivering a hilariously committed performancethat showcases some terrific physical comedy and a willingness to really get weird. It’s a film that works so much better when you stop trying to figure it all out, sit back, and enjoy the show.
Inherent Vice
20’Game Night' (2018)
Directed by John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein
It felt likeGame Night– aDavid Fincher-inspired, cinematic, mystery-laden comedy about a group of friends whose game night goes horribly wrong – might be the film to finally bring the studio comedy back en vogue, as it was packed with thrilling, visually gorgeous set pieces. But alas, the box office was somewhat disappointing.
For those who didn’t catch this one, it’s your loss.Jason BatemanandRachel McAdamsare delightful as a game-loving couple working through relationship issues as they search for Bateman’s brother, butthe entire ensemble cast gets a chance to shine in this slick, keeps-you-guessing comedy.Jesse Plemonsalso gives a supporting performance for the ages, adding yet another reason to revisit or discover this film.
Game Night
19’Thor: Ragnarok' (2017)
Directed by Taika Waititi
Thefunniest Marvel Cinematic Universe movieby a long shot,Thor: Ragnarokis a film that constantly goes for the joke and scores. The movie essentially rebooted the title character, as directorTaika WaititibringsChris Hemsworth’s inherent charm to the forefront at last.This is a high concept comedy the refuses to take itself too seriously whilealsolanding genuine emotional stakes– a tightrope walk that many have attempted and failed in the past.
Waititi’s quick-witted sense of humor permeates every frame, made all the better by his scene-stealing performance as Korg. And while the movie certainly owes a debt toJames Gunn’s also funny but more dramaticGuardians of the Galaxyfor paving the way, that Waititi is able to tread somewhat similar territory (space-set epic featuring a band of outsiders) while still carving his own unique path is a testament to his talent as a brilliant filmmaker.
Thor: Ragnarok
18’Frances Ha' (2012)
Directed by Noah Baumbach
Frances Hamarked a turning point for filmmakerNoah Baumbach. His earlier films likeThe Squid and the WhaleandGreenbergwere marked by a cynicism and anger that made them a bit prickly, but starting withFrances Ha, Baumbach lightens upa lot– and his films are all the better for it. This 2012 delight was co-written by and starsGreta Gerwig, who fans now know as the towering filmmaking talent behindBarbieandLady Bird.
This intimate story of a twentysomething trying to find her place in the world in New York is relatable to an upsetting degree, and Baumbach and Gerwig inherently know exactly when to go for the laugh, and when to go for the heartache.At once hilarious and tremendously sad, every bone ofFrances Hais crafted with a verve for life, which seeps through onscreen. From the choice to showcase it in black-and-white to the long shot of Frances dancing down a NYC street to “Modern Love,” this is one of the most irresistibly charming comedies of the decade.
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17’Hail, Caesar!' (2016)
Directed by Joel and Ethan Coen
TheCoen Brothersare known for their brilliant, idiosyncratic comedies, and their willingness to go in the complete opposite direction audiences are expecting is part of what makes them so fascinating. After winning the Oscars for Best Picture and Best Director, they next made the espionage farceBurn After Reading, and after crafting their dramatic, extremely sadInside Llewyn Davis, they next skewered Hollywood in the supremely sillyHail, Caesar!
This is a movie in which nothing and everything matters all at the same time. It’s a film that stops dead to present a closeted-movie-stars song and dance number featuringChanning Tatum, and a film that sidelineshuge movie starGeorge Clooneyin a room with a bunch of communists for almost the entire runtime.The Coen Brothers have a wicked sense of humor, andHail, Caesar!puts that on full displayto hilarious, surprising effect.
Hail, Caesar!
16’Jojo Rabbit' (2019)
Director Taika Waititi delivers another humorous hit with the darkly comedic satire,Jojo Rabbit. Set during World War II, the film follows Jojo (Roman Griffin Davis), a lonely German boy whose world view is upended when he discovers his mother, Rosie (Scarlett Johansson), is hiding a young Jewish girl, Elsa (Thomasin McKenzie), in their home. Jojo, a dedicated member of the Hitler Youth, struggles to reconcile his mom’s actions with his indoctrinated beliefs, which are fueled by his imaginary friend, a buffoonish version of Adolf Hitler (played by Waititi). As Jojo forms an unlikely bond with Elsa, he begins to question the propaganda he’s been taught.
Jojo Rabbitoffers scathing commentary and gut-busting gags within its two-hour runtime. With humor and heart, it skewers the hatred that remains all too real and present in the modern world, exposing it through absurdity. The fact that this all happens around a tale of a young boy makes its message even more powerful, with the comedic film unafraid to go to some bleak places, too.
