The 25 Best Comedies of the 21st Century,

Ranked
If it's true that laughter is the best medicine, consider
this list a panacea.
By Michael Nordine and Anne Thompson
Jun 9, 2017 11:00 am

The 25 Best Comedies of the 21st Century,

Ranked
If it's true that laughter is the best medicine, consider
this list a panacea.
By Michael Nordine and Anne Thompson
Jun 9, 2017 11:00 am
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Now more than ever, the world could use a laugh. This bizarre, in-
progress century has already produced any number of great comedies, which is to
say that many of your (and our) favorites were left out: sorry, “Toy Story 3”;
sorry, “Knocked Up.” As we tend to lean toward the indie side — and away from
certain men-behaving-badly movies — there are also some titles on here that you
might not have seen.

There are even some you may not consider to be straightforward comedies. You
may not think of “Lost in Translation” or “Mistress America” as laugh riots, but
we felt it best to be broad in our approach — any movie that balances its darker
shades with cathartic humor was eligible. You’ll notice that we like women and
Working Title (the British production company responsible for several titles on
this list), which is to say: This is less a definitive statement and more a jumping-
off point, so feel free to chime in.

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25. “Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle” (2004)

How far would you go for some sliders? In “Harold and Kumar,” a couple of stoners
getting the munchies is treated as an odyssey of epic (and hilarious) proportions.
The unlikely franchise-starter has endeared itself to cannabis enthusiasts as well as
those who don’t partake, inspiring moviegoers to Just Say Yes for more than a
decade; given the strides that marijuana (both medicinal and otherwise) has made
in recent years, you could even say that the cult classic was ahead of the curve. –MN
24. “Juno” (2007)

The chemical equation of writer Diablo Cody plus director Jason Reitman
explodes onscreen with this non-traditional family comedy showcasing Cody’s
edgy contemporary dialogue. The story of a whip-smart teenager (Ellen Page)
who gets pregnant by her new boyfriend (Michael Cera) and decides to give the
baby up for adoption to a yuppie couple (Jennifer Garner and Jason Bateman)
plays like a comedy but packs an unexpected emotional wallop. Everyone came
out ahead on this movie (Cody won the Best Original Screenplay Oscar), which
grossed $231 million worldwide. The down side: this inventive indie spawned far
too many imitators. —AT
23. “Shaun of the Dead” (2004)

This acerbic action comedy introduced a winning combo: sparring buddies Simon
Pegg and Nick Frost and master of style Edgar Wright, who dreamed up the
script with Pegg. He plays a sad sack who turns out to be more brave and adept at
slaying the walking dead than he ever would have thought. And he gets the girl.
More Working Title collaborations followed, but the first time out was the charm:
mash up a witty British romance and a zombie gorefest, and hilarity ensues. —AT
22. “Old School” (2003)

You’re my boy, Blue! Say what you will about the Frat Pack films that followed it, but
“Old School” still gets a passing grade. Part of the one-two punch (the other being
“Elf”) that made Will Ferrell a bona fide movie star, this reminder that you’re never
too old to start a fraternity also brought us Luke Wilson and Vince Vaughn at their
best. Its hilarity is all the more impressive when considering other movies of its kind
haven’t aged as well — we’re looking at you, “Wedding Crashers.” —MN