According to Joker director Todd Phillips, the comedy genre is essentially dead. While that conversation is a bit more nuanced than he puts it, there is little evidence that comedy is dead. Looking over the past ten years or more, comedy is alive and well, putting out tons of films that find audiences everywhere.
But, there are still many comedies that have yet to be discovered by mainstream audiences. Both indie darlings and forgotten classics have come and gone unnoticed, just waiting to be appreciated by the right audience at the right time. Here are our picks for the ten best comedy masterpieces you’ve probably never seen.
A Simple Favor (2018)
After the disappointing public reception for his previous directorial outing Ghostbusters, Paul Feig returned with one of his best films. A Simple Favor, starring the charming Anna Kendrick and the outstanding Blake Lively in a star-making performance, was all but ignored upon release in 2018.
This noir-inspired caper blended its genre trappings with that of romantic comedy, resulting in a film that really shouldn’t work. Yet through the outstanding performances, tonal balance, and Jessica Sharzer’s sizzling script, A Simple Favor succeeds and offers a fresh take on two opposing narrative types.
Boy (2010)
Taika Waititi has become one of the most beloved eccentric auteurs in recent memory. Fans have embraced his wacky flavor of storytelling through films like What We Do In The Shadows, Hunt For The Wilderpeople, and Thor: Ragnarok.
But, one of Taika’s earliest films, Boy, has all but been forgotten in his newfound popularity. This coming of age tale is arguably his most grounded film, touching upon some of the darkest themes out of any of his films. It also contains Taika’s best performance as the fallible absentee father Alamein. It’s equally hilarious, heartbreaking, and honest.
Hearts Beat Loud (2018)
This is one of the sweetest comedies in recent memories. Featuring Parks and Rec’s Nick Offerman and Dope’s Kiersey Clemons, Hearts Beat Loud is a lovely look on the hardships and hurdles that come with change, both big and small.
Not only is it a charming indie comedy, but it also doubles as a musical. There are some solid little musical performances from Clemons in the film, offering some solid indie vibes. The whole film is fairly relaxed in tone, even when it handles some of its heavier themes. Hearts Bet Loud is also valuable in that it offers glimpses into relationships that don’t often get the film treatment. The relationship with Clemons and Offerman is fascinating to watch, but also the budding romance between Clemons and her girlfriend is treated as refreshingly normal as opposed to the standard coming out trope.
The Death Of Stalin (2017)
The Death of Stalin is, without a doubt, one of the best political satires in recent memory. Set during the height of the Soviet Union, the film follows the tumultuous days after the death of Joseph Stalin. After he dies unexpectedly, his ambitious and inept cabinet members struggle to keep things running smoothly while trying to obtain as much political sway as possible.
The cast is one of the best you could imagine, employing some of the best comedic actors both in the US and UK. While the film begins as an outright comedy though, it eventually concludes with a chilling contemplation on the corruption of the insidious nature of power and the hunger to obtain it.
Housebound (2014)
Some of the most groundbreaking comedies are the ones that cross with other genres. Housebound is one such example. This horror-comedy from New Zealand is a riot, both in terms of its laughs and scares.
The film follows Kylie, who is sentenced to house arrest with her dotting and neurotic parents. Soon, she discovers that her raving mother’s worries about the house being haunted might be a bit more true than she had first believed. The film is full of outreaches twists and turns and features another exemplary performance from Hunt of the Wilderpeople’s Rima Te Wiata.
The Sisters Brothers (2018)
It feels strange placing The Sisters Brothers in the category of a comedy, but it also doesn’t fit better anywhere else. This oddball western is strange all around, and with some seriously funny moments, but the whole thing feels even more like a tragedy.
The film works as a contemplation on the struggles, toxicity, and loyalties between siblings and family, and how often we have to choose that over our own happiness. The pairing of John C. Reilly, who gives one of his best performances ever, alongside always outstanding Joaquin Phoenix is unexpected but amazing. The two share so much chemistry and bring the old-timey western lingo to life in the perfect way.
Frank (2014)
Speaking of off the wall comedies, few get as strange as 2014’s Frank. Starring Michael Fassbender wearing a giant papier-mache head (yes, you read that right), the film delves into the journey of a wannabe musician, played by Domhnall Gleeson, who joins Fassbender’s eccentric band.
The film is so strange, funny, and a little heartbreaking. It explores the weirdos who make the art we love and the lengths they’ll go to achieve their craft. Its cast is unreal, featuring the aforementioned performers along with Maggie Gyllenhaal and Scoot McNairy.
Mary And Max (2009)
This sweet Australian stop-motion feature is one of the best-animated films ever made, yet few have taken the time to appreciate it. It tells the story of Max, a mentally disabled individual living in New York who becomes a pen pall with a little girl from Australia.
Almost completely told through voice-over by the impeccable Toni Collette and the legendary late-Phillip Seymour Hoffman, the film is a sweet, sometimes sad, and occasionally strange tale of an unexpected friendship.
Villains (2019)
This recent flick has flown completely under the radar, surprisingly so. Starring Bill Skarsgård and Maika Monroe, the film begins as a ridiculous Bonny and Clyde style caper that devolves into a black comedy version of a home invasion movie.
The performances in this film are so fun to watch and are the biggest draw. This cast is having the time of their lives on screen, and it comes across perfectly. It also has a lot of heart to it, leading you to cheer for these far from perfect protagonists.
The Nice Guys (2016)
Shane Black’s The Nice Guys was shockingly forgotten the year it came out. Somehow, this hilarious action-comedy was completely missed by most, leaving its box office disappointingly low, and dashing any hopes for a sequel.
Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling were a perfect pair, and fit right into the aesthetic of 70s Los Angeles. The whole film was so much fun, with a perfectly convoluted mystery at its center. Hopefully, Black will take a chance and attempt a sequel one day, because this was one of the best buddy cop style comedies in years.
