Let’s be real—21st-century comedy has been far from predictable. In the last two decades, we’ve experienced it all: agonizingly cringe coming-of-age stories, dreamlike offbeat adventures, acerbic satire, and comedies that sneak large emotional insights in between the jokes. Combined, they’ve remapped our perception of hilarious films. Comedy can be sentimental, absurd, or even transformative. So sit back with your snacks and settle in as we count down (in reverse order) the 10 funniest comedies that made us laugh the loudest and had the greatest impact on contemporary cinema.
10. Gloria Bell (2018)
Julianne Moore glows in this gentle, quirky portrait of a woman coming into herself in middle age. The movie balances humor and compassion, depicting how dates, families, and dance floors can be just as sloppy and life-giving. Rather than huge gags, it relies on small, offbeat moments that come across as blissfully authentic.
9. Slice (2018)
Half horror sendup, half campy small-town satire, Slice is unapologetically silly. Fast food, spooks, and local politics all get into a fight in this low-budget gem that proudly wears its eccentricity on its sleeve. It’s sloppy, it’s ridiculous, and that’s precisely the appeal—it feels like a late-night oddity film of yesteryear.
8. Eighth Grade (2018)
Bo Burnham’s directorial debut is painfully hilarious in the best possible way. It captures the cringe, awkward, and thoroughly relatable pains of being a teenager in the age of social media. Elsie Fisher’s performance is natural to the point of hurt—and the humor arises from how close everything hits home.
7. The Lovers (2017)
This offbeat rom-com turns marital drama on its head. Seeing Mary and Michael bumble their way through rekindled love amidst handling their affairs is a comedy that’s as cringeworthy as it is endearing. It’s humorless,n ot due to slapstick and punchlines, but because relationships are themselves so ridiculous.
6. The Disaster Artist (2017)
James Franco explores the universe of The Room, otherwise known as the “best worst film ever made,” and uncovers comedic treasure in its tale. Half cringe, half celebration, it’s a sidesplitting reminder that sometimes it’s not about talent, but about passion, and even film crashes can lead to cult obsession.
5. Lady Bird (2017)
Greta Gerwig’s Lady Bird walks the line between wit and earnestness in a coming-of-age tale that is both intimate and relatable. Saoirse Ronan aced the mess of adolescence—bad boys, grand aspirations, and blows with mum—all against the early 2000s setting. It’s witty, incisive, and quietly sentimental.
4. Free Fire (2016)
What do you get when a gun transaction goes wrong and everybody’s too obstinate (or stupid) to cease firing? You have Free Fire. With bullets whizzing and insults exchanged at the same rate, this wickedly funny shootout is half farce, half action flick, and 100% adrenaline-fueled mayhem.
3. Morris from America (2016)
This touching comedy-drama is about a 13-year-old Black boy who is settling into life in Germany while pursuing his rap ambitions. It’s warm, witty, and deep in themes of belonging, culture, and family. Markees Christmas and Craig Robinson supply warmth and humor that feel at once fresh and true.
2. Swiss Army Man (2016)
Yes, it’s the one where Daniel Radcliffe farting corpse. But Swiss Army Man is far more than its weird premise—it’s odd, powerful, and rather profound. With Paul Dano as the castaway who gets stranded, it’s a comedy of loneliness, hope, and human connection in the unlikeliest of places.
1. Laggies (2014)
Keira Knightley stars as a woman stuck in a quarter-life crisis who hides out with a teenager to dodge her adult responsibilities. Funny, tender, and a little off-kilter, Laggies captures that messy in-between stage of growing up when you’re not a kid anymore—but don’t feel like a real adult either.
And there it is—the 10 comedies that have shaped the 21st century to date. Whether they’re excruciatingly awkward, wickedly satirical, or euphorically absurd, these movies show that comedy is not just about the laughs—it’s a reflection of how strange, messy, and wonderful life is.