Top 15 Best Comedy Movies of the 21st Century

Comedy films can make us laugh, bring joy, and provide much-needed relief from the stresses of everyday life. As we entered the 21st century, comedy films have continued to evolve and push boundaries on what is considered humorous. From clever satires to outrageous slapstick, comedy filmmakers have showcased their creativity and wit over the past two decades. 

This article will count down the top 15 comedy films from 2000-2023 that represent the funniest and most iconic of the genre. The criteria for inclusion contain critical reception, popularity, entertainment value, rewatchability, and influence. From outrageous blockbusters to indie sleeper hits, these 15 films cover a wide range of styles and forms of comedy.

15 Best Comedy Movies of the 21st Century

1. The Hangover (2009)

Source: Facts.net

This raunchy buddy comedy about a Las Vegas bachelor party gone wrong was a sleeper hit in the summer of 2009. With a simple but effective premise revolving around 3 groomsmen (Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, and Zach Galifianakis) trying to piece together a wild night of blackout drunkenness, The Hangover kept audiences consistently laughing with its cringe humor and over-the-top scenarios. Thanks to the comedic chemistry of its leads and trademark humor from director Todd Phillips, the film spawned two successful sequels and had a huge cultural impact.

2. Mean Girls (2004) 

Source: Redwood Gigantea 

Tina Fey’s biting high school satire seamlessly blended multi-generational humor, teen angst, and astute social commentary on cliques and bullying. Anchored by Lindsay Lohan as home-schooled student Cady adjusting to high school life and Rachel McAdams as tyrannical bee Regina George, Mean Girls delivered hilarious life lessons couched in hysterical observations of societal rules and hormones run amok. Supported by the comedic talents of Amy Poehler and Tim Meadows, the film is infinitely quotable with a plot full of petty schemes, backstabbing boyfriend-stealers, underage partying, and Burn Book call-outs.

3. Superbad (2007)

Source: Vocal Media 

Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg’s raunchy coming-of-age movie Superbad centered on two nerdy best friends (Jonah Hill and Michael Cera) on a wild quest to secure alcohol for a party and lose their virginity before college. Balancing gross-out humor and bromantic heart, the film spoke to the angst of adolescence and the bonds of teenage friendship. With riotously funny side characters played by Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Bill Hader, and others, Superbad tapped into the essence of teen debauchery and insecurity. Its influence on high school and buddy comedies is immense.

4. The 40-Year-Old Virgin (2005)  

Source: Prime Video

Steve Carell’s blockbuster breakout hit comedy told the story of the charmingly awkward Andy (Carell), as he struggles with leaving behind his 40-year-old virgin status. With an embarrassment of comedic riches including hilarious supporting turns from Paul Rudd, Seth Rogen, Romany Malco, and others, the raunchy yet sentimental film became an instant classic. Iconic scenes like Andy’s chest waxing mishap still bring tears from uncontrollable laughter. Carell’s endearing performance made Andy extremely loveable and established his sought-after comedic skills.

5. Bridesmaids (2011)

Source: Philly In Love 

Anchored by Kristen Wiig’s brilliant comedic talents, Bridesmaids broke ground as a female-led ensemble to achieve huge box office success. Centered around Wiig’s Annie as she attempts to perform her maid of honor duties while amid various personal crises, the film proved women could lead crude and gut-busting comedies just as well as men. From food poisoning in fancy dresses to a cringe-worthy engagement party toast, Wiig led an incredible cast including Maya Rudolph, Melissa McCarthy, Ellie Kemper, and Rose Byrne through a bridal party journey packed with raunchy hijinks and hilarity. Its impact opened doors for more R-rated female comedies to thrive.

6. Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997)  

Source: Youtube 

Mike Myers’ genius CIA comedy parody Austin Powers kickstarted a blockbuster spy comedy trilogy that relentlessly spoofed James Bond tropes with silly improv and exaggerated cartoonish humor. Myers gave a tour-de-force performance as both shagadelic British spy Austin Powers and his nemesis Dr. Evil, a criminal mastermind obsessed with sharks. Supported by sidekick characters played perfectly by Seth Green and Mindy Sterling, the initial 1997 film set the stage for two smash hit sequels, with all three films marvels of outrageously clever writing and non-stop laughs. Groovy, baby!

7. Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan (2006)

Source: TV Insider 

British comedian Sacha Baron Cohen brought his alter ego Borat Sagdiyev to cinemas in one of the most controversial and gut-busting hilarious mockumentaries ever made. Presented as a foreign journalist profiling American culture, Borat engaged unwitting real participants in offensive, politically incorrect, and jaw-droopingly awkward situations to satirize prejudice, misogyny, racism, and xenophobia. Testing the limits of prank comedy while keeping audiences in stitches, Cohen’s fearless skills combined with Borat’s enthusiastic naivety created unbearably funny comedy. Highlights like the infamous nude wrestling match will forever live in comedic infamy. 

8. Shaun of the Dead (2004)  

Source: Prime Video

The brilliant horror comedy mashup Shaun of the Dead seamlessly blended scares, laughs, and a ton of heart into an endlessly rewatchable zombie spoof. Co-writers and stars Simon Pegg and Nick Frost shone as slackers attempting to wait out a London zombie apocalypse down at the pub, backed by a hilarious supporting cast. With clever gags satirizing societal absorption with screens and technology amidst the blood-soaked chaos, the film kicked off Pegg, Frost, and Edgar Wright’s iconic Cornetto comedy trilogy. Shaun of the Dead set a high bar for genre-blending comedies with brains, heart, and relentless wit.

9. The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)  

Source: Onderhond

Wes Anderson’s signature visual style, deadpan humor, and fanciful whimsy shined in this quirky caper comedy set in a lavish 1930s European hotel. Starring Ralph Fiennes as inspirational but foul-mouthed hotel concierge Monsieur Gustave, his misadventures with trusted lobby boy Zero (Tony Revolori) to prove his innocence in a murder includes laugh-out-loud sequences like outrageous prison escapes, snowy mountain sled chases and an absinthe hallucination puppet show. With an amazing ensemble including Adrien Brody, Willem Dafoe, Jeff Goldblum, and countless cameos, Anderson crafted an utterly unique, beautiful, and side-splitting madcap tale that only he could pull off. 

10. 21 Jump Street (2012) 

Source: Prime Video 

Based on the 1980s TV series, the raunchy buddy cop reboot 21 Jump Street starring Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum was a surprise critical and commercial hit. Going undercover as high schoolers to bust a drug ring, their hilarious polar opposite partnership created constant comedic tension and memorable improv moments. Coupled with self-referential jokes addressing revamps and remakes, the film both honored and hilariously parodied the original show. Thanks to the natural chemistry between Hill and Tatum and hilarious supporting turns from Ice Cube and Brie Larson, 21 Jump Street launched an equally funny sequel and stands above other films adapted from older properties.

11. Napoleon Dynamite (2004)

Source: Supanova

The ultra-quotable, awkward indie teen comedy Napoleon Dynamite came out of nowhere in the summer of 2004 to become a pop culture sensation. Napoleon (Jon Heder) and his weird squad of misfit friends and family in small-town Preston, Idaho instantly felt iconic thanks to their eccentric personalities, quirky interests like llama drawings and glamour photography, and extremely dry, subtle sense of humor. With its simple plot following Napoleon helping his friend run for class president, the film’s characters steal the show with their random non-sequiturs and socially bizarre banter. That climactic dance scene set to Jamiroquai’s “Canned Heat” is the stuff of legend.

12. Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)  

Source: Lost In Movies

The gloriously stupid humor of Will Ferrell peaked in the mid-2000s comedy classic Anchorman, featuring Ferrell as thick-skulled news anchor Ron Burgundy leading San Diego’s top-rated news team in the 1970s. Supported by comedy all-stars Paul Rudd, Steve Carell, and David Koechner as his reporter sidekicks, Ron’s boys’ club world is turned upside down with the arrival of Veronica Corningstone (Christina Applegate). The disjointed absurdist plot allows Ferrell and co to simply barrage audiences with outrageous improvised jokes, one-liners, and set pieces so ridiculous all you can do is laugh. Anchorman set the template for Ferrell’s successful string of stupid comedies because its mix of absurdity and shock value hit every time. Stay classy!

13. Knocked Up (2007)

Source: Prime Video 

Judd Apatow’s hilarious and heartfelt comedy starred Seth Rogen and Katherine Heigl as two mismatched strangers brought together by an unintended pregnancy after a drunk one-night stand. Capturing the chaos and improvised humor of adulthood, relationships, and parenting with a phenomenal cast including Paul Rudd and Leslie Mann, Knocked Up blended crass jokes with surprisingly emotional resonance for an instant contemporary comedy classic.

14. The Other Guys (2010) 

Source: Prime Video 

Led by the dynamic comedic duo of Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg as desk cop partners in the NYPD, this buddy cop action satire skewers the genre with self-aware and clever writing. Uptight forensic accountant Allen (Ferrell) finally gets partnered with rough-around-the-edges detective Terry (Wahlberg) for unlikely and hilariously disastrous heroics. With side-splitting set pieces like aiming for bushes after jumping off buildings to Escape and hilarious banter, The Other Guys delivered big laughs while cleverly satirizing action movie clichés.  

15. Game Night (2018) 

Source: Facts.net

Jason Bateman and Rachel McAdams star as a couple with a competitive game night tradition in a lively ensemble suburban murder mystery farce. After Bateman’s douchey brother (Kyle Chandler) arranges an extreme kidnapping game with actual criminals, the outrageous misunderstandings and stunts pile up for escalating hilarity. With strong chemistry between the leads and scene-stealing support from Jesse Plemons as the weird policeman neighbor, Game Night combined clever plotting and over-the-top physical humor for a winning comedy gem.

Conclusion

These 15 films represent the funniest, most clever, and most influential comedy films of the 21st century so far. Ranging from raunchy R-rated laughers to more family-friendly affairs, they have brought joy and escapism to millions of viewers. As we move further into the 2020s, the comedy genre will continue to evolve with new comedic voices and styles of humor entering the scene. But these 15 comedies have already cemented their legacy through iconic characters, instantly quotable dialogue, pop culture impact, and most importantly, their ability to make people laugh uncontrollably. Though tastes may change, these films will remain beloved comedy classics for generations to come. Their ability to uplift our spirits is truly timeless.