As has become an annual tradition, the Chlotrudis Society for Independent Film has compiled its list of the top 100 funniest films of all time. Members weighed in with their individual picks of the 20 funniest films of all time, then the lists were merged to create this list of laughs. The list is overwhelmingly American, with only fourteen of the 100 films originating without U.S. involvement. Not surprisingly, the UK had the second most representation on the list, including the list’s #1 film, MONTY PYTHON & THE HOLY GRAIL!
The films skewed fairly modern, with the 1980’s representing the funniest decade with a total of 28 films. The 1990’s followed with 16. The new millennium fared well too, considering there have only been eight years of it so far, with 15 films on the list the same number as films from the 1970’s. From there we jump to the 1930’s with 8 films, 1940’s with 6, the ’50s and ’60s each with 5, and the 20’s with two Charlie Chaplin films. Interestingly enough, the Top 10 spreads things out pretty well with six decades represented, and the first film from this millennium doesn’t show up until #15 with Christopher Guest’s BEST IN SHOW.
Several filmmakers appear more than once on this list. A host of expected (and some not-so expected) names showed up twice: Tim Burton, Christopher Guest, Albert Brooks, John Waters, Charles Chaplin, Buster Keaton (both times uncredited and working with other men), George Cukor, Peter Bogdanovich, Nick Park (as half of an animation team), Carl Reiner, Kevin Smith, and Preston Sturges. Mel Brooks, Howard Hawks, Woody Allen, and Rob Reiner were all represented on the Top 100 three times, with the latter being the only filmmaker to score two in the Top 10! But there was one filmmaking team who managed a surprising four films in the list of Top 100 films, although considering the group making the list, it shouldn’t be too shocking. Joel & Ethan Coen are the funny guys whose films show up more than anyone else’s on the list. Starting with the quirky, cult-fave THE BIG LEBOWSKI at #13, they squeeze two more into the Top 25 with FARGO at #22 and O BROTHER WHERE ART THOU at #25. Finally, RAISING ARIZONA comes in at #57 giving them their total.
Sadly, but not surprisingly, there are only two women’s names among the directors of these funny films. Valerie Faris, who co-directed LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE pops up at #20, and Nicole Holofcener squeezes on at #99 with her debut feature, WALKING & TALKING.
We hope you enjoy our list of the 100 Funniest Films.
| 01 | Monty Python & the Holy Grail | Terry Gilliam | 1975 |
| 02 | Young Frankenstein | Mel Brooks | 1974 |
| 03 | This is Spinal Tap | Rob Reiner | 1984 |
| 04 | Some Like it Hot | Billy Wilder | 1958 |
| 05 | Bringing Up Baby | Howard Hawks | 1938 |
| 06 | Airplane! | Jim Abrahams, David & Jerry Zucker | 1980 |
| 07 | Annie Hall | Woody Allen | 1977 |
| 08 | Dr. Strangelove | Stanley Kubrick | 1964 |
| 09 | Groundhog Day | Ivan Reitman | 1993 |
| 10 | The Princess Bride | Rob Reiner | 1987 |
| 11 | A Fish Called Wanda | Charles Crichton & John Cleese | 1988 |
| 12 | Pee Wee’s Big Adventure | Tim Burton | 1985 |
| 13 | The Big Lebowski | Joel & Ethan Coen | 1998 |
| 14 | South Park: Bigger, Longer, Uncut | Trey Parker | 1999 |
| 15 | Best in Show | Christopher Guest | 2000 |
| 16 | Blazing Saddles | Mel Brooks | 1974 |
| 17 | Animal Crackers | Victor Heerman | 1930 |
| 18 | The 40-Year-Old Virgin | Judd Apatow | 2005 |
| 19 | Duck Soup | Leo McCarey | 1933 |
| 20 | Little Miss Sunshine | Jonathan Dayton & Valerie Faris | 2006 |
| 21 | Lost in America | Albert Brooks | 1985 |
| 22 | Fargo | Joel & Ethan Coen | 1996 |
| 23 | Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown | Pedro Almodóvar | 1988 |
| 24 | The Producers | Mel Brooks | 1968 |
| 25 | O Brother Where Art Thou? | Joel & Ethan Coen | 2000 |
| 26 | His Girl Friday | Howard Hawks | 1940 |
| 27 | Hairspray | John Waters | 1988 |
| 28 | The In-Laws | Arthur Hiller | 1979 |
| 29 | Mystery Science Theater 2000 – The Movie | Jim Mallon | 1996 |
| 30 | The Christmas Story | Bob Clark | 1983 |
| 31 | Richard Pryor Live on Sunset Strip! | Joe Layton | 1982 |
| 32 | The General | Clyde Bruckman & Buster Keaton | 1927 |
| 33 | Ferris Bueller’s Day Off | John Hughes | 1986 |
| 34 | Who Framed Roger Rabbit? | Robert Zemeckis | 1988 |
| 35 | Happiness | Todd Solondz | 1998 |
| 36 | Election | Alexander Payne | 1999 |
| 37 | It’s a Mad Mad Mad Mad World | Stanley Kramer | 1963 |
| 38 | Pink Flamingos | John Waters | 1972 |
| 39 | Flirting with Disaster | David O. Russell | 1996 |
| 40 | Nine to Five | Colin Higgins | 1980 |
| 41 | The Muppet Movie | James Frawley | 1979 |
| 42 | Office Space | Mike Judge | 1999 |
| 43 | The Ladykillers | Alexander MacKendrick | 1955 |
| 44 | Victor/Victoria | Blake Edwards | 1982 |
| 45 | Juno | Ivan Reitman | 2007 |
| 46 | There’s Something About Mary | Bobby & Peter Farreley | 1998 |
| 47 | Modern Times | Charles Chaplin | 1936 |
| 48 | The Fabulous Destiny of Amélie Poulain | Jean-Pierre Jeunet | 2001 |
| 49 | Animal House | John Landis | 1978 |
| 50 | Steamboat Bill, Jr. | Charles Reisner & Buster Keaton | 1928 |
| 51 | The Philadelphia Story | George Cukor | 1940 |
| 52 | Dirty Rotten Scoundrels | Frank Oz | 1988 |
| 53 | The Royal Tenenbaums | Wes Anderson | 2001 |
| 54 | Noises Off | Peter Bogdanovich | 1992 |
| 55 | Wallace & Gromit in the Case of the Were-Rabbit | Steve Box & Nick Park | 2005 |
| 56 | Auntie Mame | Morton DaCosta | 1958 |
| 57 | La Cage Aux Folles | Edouard Molinaro | 1978 |
| 58 | The Tall Guy | Mel Smith | 1989 |
| 59 | Raising Arizona | Joel & Ethan Coen | 1987 |
| 60 | Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan | Larry Charles | 2006 |
| 61 | Old School | Todd Phillips | 2003 |
| 62 | City Lights | Charles Chaplin | 1931 |
| 63 | Monty Python’s The Life of Brian | Terry Jones | 1979 |
| 64 | What’s Up Doc? | Peter Bogdanovich | 1972 |
| 65 | Bedazzled | Stanley Donen | 1967 |
| 66 | When Harry Met Sally… | Rob Reiner | 1989 |
| 67 | Chicken Run | Peter Lord & Nick Park | 2000 |
| 68 | Defending Your Life | Albert Brooks | 1991 |
| 69 | To Die For | Gus Van Zant | 1995 |
| 70 | Ghostbusters | Ivan Reitman | 1984 |
| 71 | Waiting for Guffman | Christopher Guest | 1996 |
| 72 | Athur | Steve Gordon | 1981 |
| 73 | Sleeper | Woody Allen | 1973 |
| 74 | The Jerk | Carl Reiner | 1979 |
| 75 | School of Rock | Richard Linklater | 2003 |
| 76 | The Thin Man | W. S. Van Dyke | 1934 |
| 77 | Clerks II | Kevin Smith | 2006 |
| 78 | Help! | Richard Lester | 1965 |
| 79 | Chasing Amy | Kevin Smith | 1997 |
| 80 | Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure | Stephen Herek | 1989 |
| 81 | The Blues Brothers | John Landis | 1980 |
| 82 | Bad Santa | Terry Zwigoff | 2003 |
| 83 | Monkey Business | Howard Hawks | 1952 |
| 84 | All of Me | Carl Reiner | 1984 |
| 85 | Start the Revolution Without Me | Bud Yorkin | 1970 |
| 86 | Love and Death | Woody Allen | 1975 |
| 87 | The Palm Beach Story | Preston Sturges | 1942 |
| 88 | Midnight | Mitchell Leisen | 1939 |
| 89 | Beetlejuice | Tim Burton | 1988 |
| 90 | The Saddest Music in the World | Guy Maddin | 2003 |
| 91 | Miracle at Morgan Creek | Preston Sturges | 1944 |
| 92 | My Man Godfrey | Gregory La Cava | 1936 |
| 93 | Born Yesterday | George Cukor | 1950 |
| 94 | Clue | Jonathan Lynn | 1985 |
| 94 | Arsenic and Old Lace | Frank Capra | 1944 |
| 96 | Les Comperes | Francis Veber | 1983 |
| 97 | Risky Business | Paul Brickman | 1983 |
| 98 | The Bank Dick | Edward F. Cline | 1940 |
| 99 | Walking & Talking | Nicole Holofcener | 1996 |
| 100 | The Unbelievable Truth | Hal Hartley | 1989 |