The 21st century hasn’t exactly been short on chaos, but at least comedy movies have been there to keep us sane. Over the past two decades, the genre has transformed, giving us everything from awkward teen antics to razor-sharp social commentary, while still delivering the kind of laughs that never get old. Whether you’re looking for cringeworthy coming-of-age stories, absurdist satire, or group chaos so over-the-top you drink it out of your nose, modern comedies have been comfort food at movie theaters. Below is a reverse countdown of the 10 most defining, funniest comedies of the decade to date.
10. Palm Springs (2020)
Time-loop plots are usually generic, but Palm Springs infuses the idea with fresh, weird, and wonderfully funny energy. It’s got Andy Samberg and Cristin Milioti playing two strangers stuck in the same repeated day at a wedding, and they both share undeniable chemistry. Blending nihilism, romance, and dark humor, the film walks a tightrope between insane shenanigans and some somewhat deeper observations about life. That perfectly kept goofy-to-deep ratio is just why it’s so memorable.
9. Bridesmaids (2011)
Paul Feig’s Bridesmaids, written by Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo, flipped the raunchy comedy playbook on its head by showing that women could do it as hilarious—and as gross-out—as men. With Wiig’s snappy humor, Melissa McCarthy’s unforgettable (and Oscar-nominated) performance, and an overall rad cast to boot, it’s the ultimate best of both gross-out and heartwarming buddy drama. A comedy game-changer.
8. Hot Fuzz (2007)
From the same team that gave us Shaun of the Dead, Edgar Wright, Simon Pegg, and Nick Frost gave us a buddy-cop spoof that’s as exciting as it is humorous. Hot Fuzz is both a send-up and a straight-up excellent action movie, with jokes fired off one after another, references that are tantalizingly quick, and absurd set pieces. It’s both a send-up and a love letter—and it gets them both right.
7. Mean Girls (2004)
Tina Fey’s satire of high school has only improved with age. With dialogue (“On Wednesdays we wear pink”) that’s endlessly quotable, acerbic observations, and a cast hitting on all cylinders, Mean Girls is both goofily hilarious and cringeworthy in its familiarity. Lindsay Lohan, Rachel McAdams, and Amanda Seyfried shine, making this one of the most rewindable comedies of the decade. It’s not only a teen movie—it’s a cultural touchstone.
6. School of Rock (2003)
Jack Black was destined to play Dewey Finn, the would-be rock star turned unwitting substitute teacher. School of Rock is a heartwarming blockbuster, marrying killer tunes, wicked comedy, and unadulterated heart. Richard Linklater made a movie that inspires us as much as it makes us laugh, reminding us that rock and roll can transform lives—yes, even in a prep school classroom.
5. Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
Will Ferrell solidified his comedy-legend status with Ron Burgundy, the clueless ’70s news anchor whose life crumbles in ever more absurd fashion. Anchored by Paul Rudd, Steve Carell, and David Koechner, the improv-rich script throws off joke after joke, from the legendary news-team fight to “I love lamp.” Ridiculously absurd but endlessly quotable, Anchorman has influenced contemporary comedy more than nearly any film since.
4. Borat (2006)
Few comedies have ever generated as much debate as Borat, Sacha Baron Cohen’s creation. Part social experiment, part prank, and part downright mayhem, it outraged prejudices while having people laugh in hysterics. Its blend of tension, satire, and over-the-top humor created a new benchmark for transgression comedy. Love it or wince through it, Borat changed what was possible in comedy.
3. Best in Show (2000)
Christopher Guest’s ensemble mockumentary concerning a dog show is odd, understated, and infinitely watchable. Every oddball character—from anxious owners to exaggerated commentators—illuminates perfectly, and the comedy pays off without ever punching down. Fred Willard’s completely deadpan delivery in and of itself makes it cult. It’s a humor that is funnier the more you see it.
2. Shaun of the Dead (2004)
The ideal combination of zombie horror and British humor, Shaun of the Dead made Simon Pegg and Nick Frost household names and solidified Edgar Wright as one of the brainiest comedy directors of his generation. It’s sincere, it’s bloody, it’s side-splitting, and it effectively made the “rom-zom-com” genre. Plain and simple: it’s a modern classic.
1. Superbad (2007)
Superbad is not just a laugh-out-loud comedy but a whole new world for a teen who grew up with the culture of that era, from the mid-2000s, in fact. Inspired by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg’s writing and Jonah Hill, Michael Cera, and Christopher Mintz-Plasse (aka McLovin) acting, the movie is a mash of desperation, hilariously awkward moments, and pure ridiculousness of being a teenager. In many ways, it is still the teen comedy of the century despite being warmly comedic.
They are not just laughing movies – they are frames of the evolution and change of comedy over time. Undeniably, if you are looking for awkward teen nostalgia, biting satire, or just some pure silliness, these films will bring you a good laugh, which is really the only way to get through the madness of modern life.