How (and Where) to Watch the 50 Best Comedy Movies Of All Time

How (and Where) to Watch the 50 Best Comedy Movies Of All Time

Ghezal Amiri
Ghezal Amiri

Published on June 15, 2023

Updated on April 17, 2025

Comedy films have been a staple of entertainment since the earliest days of film. From slapstick comedies to witty satires, these films are adored by audiences all over the world. Some of the best comedies of all time have become cultural touchstones, quoted and referenced for decades after their release. The reason for this enduring popularity is simple: comedies make people laugh. They offer a much-needed release from the stresses of everyday life and allow us to forget our troubles for a little while. Whether it's a raunchy R-rated comedy or a family-friendly title with wholesome humor, these films have the power to bring people together and create shared experiences that can last a lifetime.

There are a number of classic comedy films that have been recognized as being the best of all time including Airplane!, Ghostbusters, The Blues Brothers, Caddyshack, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, The Princess Bride, This is Spinal Tap, The Big Lebowski, Groundhog Day and The Nice Guys. These films have gained widespread admiration due to their ability to bring joy and laughter to audiences and their continued popularity over time highlights their timeless appeal and universal relevance.

The most memorable comedies also have the ability of combining laughter with poignant moments of truth and insight. They are able to address important societal issues with a light touch, using humor to diffuse tension and offer new perspectives. The best comedy films are able to tap into our collective sense of humor and make us laugh in a way that feels authentic and cathartic. They remind us not to take ourselves too seriously and to find joy in the simple pleasures of life.

Here are 50 of the best comedy movies to watch and where to stream them online.

01

Airplane!
Airplane!

Airplane!

1980

An ex-fighter pilot forced to take over the controls of an airliner when the flight crew succumbs to food poisoning.

02

Ghostbusters
After losing their university jobs, three parapsychologists start a ghost-catching business in New York City and uncover a supernatural threat that could destroy the world.
Jake Blues, just released from prison, puts his old band back together to save the Catholic home where he and his brother Elwood were raised.

04

Caddyshack
Caddyshack

Caddyshack

1980

At an exclusive country club, an ambitious young caddy, Danny Noonan, eagerly pursues a caddy scholarship in hopes of attending college and, in turn, avoiding a job at the lumber yard. In order to succeed, he must first win the favour of the elitist Judge Smails, and then the caddy golf tournament which Smails sponsors.
King Arthur, accompanied by his squire, recruits his Knights of the Round Table, including Sir Bedevere the Wise, Sir Lancelot the Brave, Sir Robin the Not-Quite-So-Brave-As-Sir-Lancelot and Sir Galahad the Pure. On the way, Arthur battles the Black Knight who, despite having had all his limbs chopped off, insists he can still fight. They reach Camelot, but Arthur decides not to enter, as "it is a silly place".
In this enchantingly cracked fairy tale, the beautiful Princess Buttercup and the dashing Westley must overcome staggering odds to find happiness amid six-fingered swordsmen, murderous princes, Sicilians and rodents of unusual size. But even death can't stop these true lovebirds from triumphing.
"This Is Spinal Tap" shines a light on the self-contained universe of a metal band struggling to get back on the charts, including everything from its complicated history of ups and downs, gold albums, name changes and undersold concert dates, along with the full host of requisite groupies, promoters, hangers-on and historians, sessions, release events and those special behind-the-scenes moments that keep it all real.

08

The Big Lebowski
Jeffrey 'The Dude' Lebowski, a Los Angeles slacker who only wants to bowl and drink White Russians, is mistaken for another Jeffrey Lebowski, a wheelchair-bound millionaire, and finds himself dragged into a strange series of events involving nihilists, adult film producers, ferrets, errant toes, and large sums of money.

09

Groundhog Day
A cynical TV weatherman, along with his idealistic producer and his sardonic cameraman, is sent to report on Groundhog Day in the small town of Punxsutawney, where he finds himself repeating the same day over and over.

About this list

Titles

50

Total Watch Cost

$87.83

Total Watch Time

83h 40min

Genres

Comedy, Romance, Crime

Where can I watch this list online?

Find out which streaming services have the most titles from this list below.

There are 50 titles in this list and you can watch 14 of them on Kanopy. 57 other streaming services also have titles available to stream today.

  1. 14 titles Kanopy
  2. 14 titles Tubi TV
  3. 13 titles Philo
  4. 12 titles fuboTV
  5. 11 titles Hoopla