The 100 Best Comedy Movies of All Time, According to Variety

 

Variety came out with their list of the 100 best comedy movies of all time, and I'm going to state up front that while I agree with a lot of it, there are some glaring omissions. I'll even admit I haven't seen everything—maybe not even most of what's on the list—but I still think they missed the mark. Before I get to what I think is missing, or comment on what I think is a terrible pick, let me show you what they chose. I'll highlight the ones I've seen in red. 

1. The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! (1988)

2. Some Like it Hot (1959)

3. Annie Hall (1977)

4. The Great Dictator (1940)

5. Waiting for Guffman (1996)

6. Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975)

7. Duck Soup (1933)

8. Fargo (1996)

9. Young Frankenstein (1974)

10. Groundhog Day (1993)

11. Sherlock Jr. (1924)

12. Tootsie (1982)

13. Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)

14. Sideways (2004)

15. Playtime (1967)

16. His Girl Friday (1940)

17. The Heartbreak Kid (1974)

18. This is Spinal Tap (1984)

19. It Happened One Night (1934)

20. Superbad (2007)

21. The Bank Dick (1940)

22. Caddyshack (1980)

23. Trouble in Paradise (1932)

24. Bridesmaids (2011)

25. M*A*S*H (1970)

26. Borat! Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan (2006)

27. The Philadelphia Story (1940)

28. Richard Pryor: Live in Concert (1979)

29. When Harry Met Sally (1989)

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

31. Pink Flamingos (1972)

32. Sullivan's Travels (1941)

33. Lost in America (1985)

34. Withnail and I (1987)

35. School of Rock (2003)

36. Ed Wood (1994)

37. The Princess Bride (1987)

38. The Nutty Proffesor (1963)

39. Clueless (1995)

40. Zoolander (2001)

41. A Hard Day's Night (1964)

42. Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994)

43. Team America: World Police (2004)

44. Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)

45. Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949)

46. Coming to America (1988)

47. The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)

48. Bringing up Baby (1938)

49. Shampoo (1975)

50. The Waterboy (1998)

51. Being John Malkovich (1999)

52. The Tall Blond Man With One Black Shoe (1972)

53. Broadcast News (1987)

54. Elf (2003)

55. Safety Last! (1923)

56. The Odd Couple (1968)

57. My Best Friend's Wedding (1997)

58. House Party (1990)

59. Pillow Talk (1959)

60. Big (1988)

61. The Birdcage (1996)

62. Airplane! (1980)

63. Going Places (1974)

64. A Fish Called Wanda (1988)

65. Poor Things (2023)

66. Eddie Murphy Raw (1987)

67. Hellzapoppin' (1941)

68. In the Loop (2009)

69. Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994)

70. Legally Blonde (2001)

71. Miracle at Morgan's Creek (1944)

72. The Big Lebowski (1998)

73. Napoleon Dynamite (2004)

74. Private Benjamin (1980)

75. Shaun of the Dead (2004)

76. Me and You and Everyone We Know (2005)

77. Blazing Saddles (1974)

78. A Night at the Opera (1935)

79. The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)

80. Bamboozled (2000)

81. The Devil Wears Prada (2006)

82. The Awful Truth (1937)

83. Wet Hot American Summer (2001)

84. Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (1988)

85. To Be or Not to Be (1942)

86. Idiocracy (2006)

87. Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022)

88. Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgandy (2004)

89. Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982)

90. Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice (1969)

91. She Done Him Wrong (1933)

92. The Jerk (1979)

93. Hairspray (1988)

94. Clerks (1994)

95. Brazil (1985)

96. I'm Gonna Git You Sucka (1988)

97. Born Yesterday (1950)

98. Pretty Woman (1990)

99. Wayne's World (1992)

100. Bridget Jones's Diary (2001)

I’ve been trying to decide where I want to start my commentary on this list, and I think I’ll start with what I love about it.

My sense of humor is definitely on the darker side—so much so that I laughed out loud when the guy slid down the deck and pinged off the propeller blade in Titanic (1997). So it was great to see Fargo in the top ten. It’s one of my favorite movies of all time and a terrific example of dark comedy at its best. I do think there was room for some others, though: Nurse Betty (2000), Very Bad Things (1998), Serial Mom (1994), Dogma (1999), Go (1999), Heathers (1988), American Psycho (2000), Welcome to the Dollhouse (1995), Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead (1991), Knives Out (2019), and Game Night (2018) are all strong contenders that I love. There are actually two others, but they’ll come up later.

I loved seeing horror-comedy make the list with Shaun of the Dead, since it’s my second-favorite subgenre after dark comedy. And while I’ve never seen that particular movie, I’m not sure it’s the best example of the genre at its best. I’d put forth Jennifer’s Body (2009), Ready or Not (2019), Trick ’r Treat (2007), Happy Death Day (2017), Krampus (2015), House (1985), Gremlins (1985), Little Shop of Horrors (1986), The Wolf of Snow Hollow (2020), Ghostbusters (1984), Fright Night (1985), and The ’Burbs (1989) as either substitutions or additions.

I loved seeing Cary Grant all over the list, especially with His Girl Friday, which is my absolute favorite romantic comedy of all time. The chemistry between him and Rosalind Russell is off the charts. But I was really surprised that Arsenic and Old Lace (1944) wasn’t one of his selected movies. Three of my favorites were also skipped over: Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House (1948), Houseboat (1958), and My Favorite Wife (1940).

I have to admit, given I haven’t seen a lot of these movies, that this isn’t a bad list overall—I’m just 1000% sure it’s not a list I would ever put together. So here are my proposals to fix it.

The inclusion of a Christmas movie would normally be something I’d celebrate, but I really don’t like Will Ferrell, so seeing Elf—when there are far better choices—felt like a stab in the back. These are the movies I’d propose instead: Christmas in Connecticut (1945), The Ref (1994), Christmas with the Kranks (2004), or The Holiday (2006). And while I may not necessarily like the next three movies, I’m still surprised they were passed over for Elf: National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989), A Christmas Story (1983), and Home Alone (1990).

This may be wildly unpopular, but I’m not a fan of Jim Carrey, Vince Vaughn (as a comedic actor), Ben Stiller, Adam Sandler, Mike Myers, or the aforementioned Will Ferrell, so I’d like to see all of their movies off this list. I’d replace them with any combination of the following: Lucille Ball in The Long, Long Trailer (1953); Lily Tomlin in Big Business (1988) and 9 to 5 (1980); Michael J. Fox in The Secret of My Success (1987); Diane Keaton in Baby Boom (1987); Melanie Griffith in Working Girl (1988); Mary Gross in Feds (1988); Jeremy Renner in Tag (2018); Goldie Hawn in Overboard (1987); and Elisabeth Shue in Adventures in Babysitting (1987).

Speaking of movies I’d like to get rid of, I’m annoyed that there are so many films on this list where cisgender male characters dress as women for laughs, deception, or both. Instead, I’d like to replace two of them with The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994) and To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar (1995). And speaking of bad stereotypes played for laughs, I’d replace The Birdcage with any of the following: Edge of Seventeen (1998), In & Out (1997), But I’m a Cheerleader (1999), Jeffrey (1995), Trick (1999), or Red, White & Royal Blue (2023).

While I may not like every movie I’m about to list, I’m still flabbergasted that not a single John Hughes movie—directed or written by him—is included. The Breakfast Club (1985), Pretty in Pink (1986), Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986), Uncle Buck (1989), Sixteen Candles (1984), Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987), The Great Outdoors (1988), She’s Having a Baby (1988), Mr. Mom (1983), and Weird Science (1985) are all missing in action. It’s shocking and needs to be corrected. 

Before I list the movies whose absence feels like pieces of my soul are missing, I wanted to mention a few others I was surprised not to see, even if they aren’t favorites of mine: Beetlejuice (1988), 10 Things I Hate About You (1999), Friday (1995), Beverly Hills Cop (1984), Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961), and Grumpy Old Men (1993).

Now we’re down to the four movies left off this list that not only shocked me but left me judging every single person who put it together.

Auntie Mame (1958) is just about my favorite movie of all time. Rosalind Russell is so damn funny here, as is the entire cast. I first watched this in high school on A&E, when those two letters actually stood for something, and it’s been my favorite movie ever since. I would do anything to have an Auntie Mame in my life.

Speaking of Rosalind Russell, she’s comedy gold in The Women (1939), which has an all-female cast including Joan Crawford and Norma Shearer. I watch it at least once a year and will probably be doing so for decades to come.

How Death Becomes Her (1992) was passed over is beyond me. Goldie Hawn, Meryl Streep, and Bruce Willis act the hell out of these roles, delivering some delightful one-liners.

That leaves the biggest snub, in my opinion: Clue (1985). This movie shouldn’t just be on the list—it should be number one. I wouldn’t be surprised if flames appeared on many faces after not seeing this movie listed. The cast is full of comedy legends who know how to deliver a line. Rejecting them like this should be illegal.

What do y’all think of the list? What do you think shouldn’t be on it, and what do you think got brutally snubbed? No matter what, whether the movies are on the list or among the ones I mentioned, I hope you decide to give a few you’ve never seen a watch—and maybe even revisit an old favorite you haven’t thought of in a while. Happy watching!

Why Pride Can Never Lose It's Protest History

Gabriel Fernandez, 8 years old

Ronnie Parris, 3 years old

Anthony Avalos, 10 years old

Giovanni Melton, 14 years old

Itaberli Lozano, 17 years old

Alireza “Ali” Fazeli Monfared, 20 years old

Amir Issa, 38 years old

And every single other LGBTQ+ child who has been brutally murdered by their own family, either for their sexuality or perceived sexuality. 

Leelah Alcorn, 17 years old

Jamel Myles, 9 years old

Justin Aaberg, 15 years old

Andrew Leach, 12 years old

Jadin Bell, 15 years old

Nigel Shelby, 15 years old

Channing Smith, 16 years old

Tyler Clementi, 18 years old

Avinshu Patel, 19 years old

And every single other LGBTQ+ child who has taken their own life due to bullying and self hatred instilled by our cishet culture. 

Matthew Sheppard, 21 years old

Charles Howard, 23 years old

Reecey Walker, 32 years old

David P., 42 years old

Sophie Váquez, 36 years old

Harvey Milk, 48 years old

Brandon Teena, 21 years old

Scott Johnson, 27 years old

Billy Jack Gaither, 39 years old

Bree Black, 27 years old 

And every other LGBTQ+ person who has been brutally killed for living their life.

For every LGBTQ+ child who has died on the streets, scared and alone. For every one of our youth who had to turn to selling their bodies to eat, who got hooked on drugs to numb the pain, who was beaten by a John, or died from hunger or disease, while laying in an alley.

The countless LGBTQ+ lives we have lost, both famous and not, during the early years of the HIV/AIDS crisis, as our government sat back and watched us die. For the countless LGBTQ+ lives we have lost since then to this virus, who are continously let down, time and time again.

As long as we are dying, Pride can never be allowed to be just a party. It has to remain a protest movement, or we will have let them defeat us.

We Need to Stop Blaming the Victims

I've started this post off with about 17 different opening lines so far, but none of them have been able to get across my deep seated frustration at what I see happening to victims of sexual harassment and assault. Frankly, frustration is probably too mild of a term. Seething anger may be a more apt description of how I feel. All too often, even when the victims are believed, they are still blamed for what happened to them. They are told they shouldn't have put themselves in that situation, they should have dressed differently, they should have had less to drink, they simply misunderstood, or a myriad of other bullshit excuses, designed to shift the blame onto the victim, instead of the perpetrator. How about we start holding those who can't keep their hands to themselves, responsible for their own behavior?  Let's stop making excuses. Stop saying boys will be boys, as if rape and harassment are inherent to being a man. Stop saying it's locker room talk. Quit gaslighting victims. Why do we place so much of the responsibility and the guilt onto those who were exploited and hurt, all the while doing everything we can to protect the one responsible for the damage?

I could split this post off into several different tangents, including how when the victim is man, we treat them even worse, but I won't, because it all comes down to the same thing. We need to stop acting like the victim is responsible for bringing down these powerful men, and women, and start blaming the perpetrators themselves for ending their own careers. 

We need to do better.

We have to do better.

Let's Talk About Sex, Or At Least About Sexuality - Mainly Mine

 

Let's have a frank talk about sexuality.  I'm going to get personal,  and you will probably learn things about me that you really didn't want to know,  so if this isn't a conversation you want to be involved in, just skip this post.  I actually first posted this on my Facebook page, so if you already read it there, I apologize for subjecting it to you twice. Actually I don't, but I thought I should say that.

I identify as a gay man.

Prepubescent Ryan, had more crushes on boys, than on girls. I do think those kind of crushes have more to do with personality, than gender at that stage in our lives. I would try to catch glimpses of men's dicks in public bathrooms. I did steal a pack of topless women playing cards once, though the glimpses of Playgirl magazines were more interesting to me.  

Once I hit puberty, men are all that I paid attention to. I wanted to lick, suck, fuck, touch, and play with every inch of a man's body. I had a lot of sex, with a lot of men. The number of men should be embarrassing, hence the reason I won't put it out there, but I'm not ashamed of it. It is what it was. Do I wish I had met THE ONE? Absolutely. But even if I had, which that is for me to know and you to never find out, it wouldn't have mattered. I was too damn immature, and frankly enjoying the attention too much, to not fuck it up.  That is another post though, I'm not ready to get into my body image and self-esteem issues right now. 

The sweaty sex that can last all night, is not the only reason I identify as a gay man. I am mentally, emotionally, and spiritually attracted to cismen, at least so far. At 44 years old, I've never been sexually attracted to a woman, nor had sex with one.  I've made out a few times, kissing and breast fondling, but that's it. The breast play never went underneath clothes, or involved nipples. Truthfully, the fact it even happened had more to do with alcohol and those specific situations, which also included other men, than any true attraction. It also never happened once my early clubbing days were over with.  To be even more truthful, I felt nothing. I may as well been brushing my teeth. 

As I've aged, while I still identify as a gay man, I've also come to identify as demisexual. And eventhough it may be hard to believe, given my dashing looks and ripped body (said with pure sarcasm), I've actually been celibate for almost 18 years now, by choice. I've gotten to the point where I have to be mentally and/or emotionally attracted to a guy first, before I truly find them physically attractive enough to want to get sweaty with them. Since I don't go out, or even make the attempt to meet guys in a situation where that can happen, I've been celibate. I can still look at a hot guy, and admire the scenery, but I have no desire to do any licking or sucking. Hence, why I also identify myself as demi. I still get off on porn, though it has more to do with the physical and endorphin release, than it does with actuall attraction.

The fact that I identify as a demi gay man, brings me to the point of this post. I tend to have random thoughts, like we all do, and while part of what I'm about to say is something I've always accepted about myself, the thought I had last night was completely new. It's also the aspect that I brought up in a conversation with Viki, that inspired this post. I accepted, years ago, the fact that just because I identify as a gay man, as a demi gay man, that doesn't mean it will always be that way. I'm comfortable with myself enough that if I ever do find myself mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and physically attracted to a woman, a transwoman, or a transman, I'm not going to hurt myself by not accepting that attraction. I'm not going to let how I currently identify, keep me from being happy. I don't think it's probable, but I know that it's possible. To reject that, makes absolutely no sense. 

My point is this, sexuality is not stagnant, at least not in the way I view it. It's already evolved for me, and I know it may evolve again. And while I think labels are important, for a myriad of reasons, I also think we can end up using them as barriers when we find ourselves reacting in ways that run counterintuitive to those labels. I personally choose to use labels, for both personal and political reasons, and I probably always will. I'm starting to wonder if I should, could, or even can start using a different label. I'm not sure I can call myself pan, just because I acknowledge the idea that I could find myself attracted to someone who is not a cisman, while never actually experiencing attraction to anyone else. Nor do I necessarily feel a need to right now, but it's something I've at least thought about. Even if it was just once.