One of the most interesting genres in all of Hollywood is comedy. A lot of audience members will simply look for any funny movie to throw on as a way to have a lighthearted good time and turn their brains off. However, there are plenty of comedic films that hold much more meaning than you'd expect.
These are still hilarious and will make the viewer laugh but they also deliver compelling narratives for the entire runtime. The 2010s were filled with comedies of all shapes and sizes, from all over the world, with a few that stood out as the best of the bunch on Letterboxd.
Pride (2014) - 4.05
Stream On Amazon Prime
While it's certainly not nearly as famous or well-known as some other iconic comedy films among the top ten, Pride is a pretty important flick. Based on a true story, the film focuses on a group of gay and lesbian activists who work together to raise money for the families of striking miners.
After winning the Queer Palm Award at its debut at the Cannes Film Festival, Pride was met with widespread acclaim. It earned nominations at the Golden Globes, BAFTAs, and more while featuring a fantastic cast of both up-and-coming and veteran actors from the United Kingdom.
Jojo Rabbit (2019) - 4.05
Stream On Max Go
Between his work in front of the camera in What We Do in the Shadows and his efforts behind it in Hunt for the Wilderpeople and Thor: Ragnarok, the world has come to appreciate how talented Taika Waititi is. Despite all of his previous success, it's possible that his best project is Jojo Rabbit.
Based on the 2008 book Caging Skies, the film tells the story of a Youth Hitler member who learns that his mother is harboring a young Jewish girl in their home. Along the way, he also interacts with his imaginary friend version of Hitler (played by Waititi). The film was up for Best Picture at the Oscars and won Best Adapted Screenplay.
The Farewell (2019) - 4.05
Stream On Amazon Prime & Kanopy
On the subject of movies that racked up the accolades, there's The Farewell. This tale centers around a Chinese-American family who finds out that the grandmother only has a short time left to live and decide not to tell her about it, instead choosing to celebrate a family gathering.
Throughout this, the granddaughter Billi struggles with wanting to reveal the truth. Not only was this up for Best Foreign Language Film at the Golden Globes but Awkwafina took home the statue for Best Actress. Many reviews praised the bilingual nature of the film, as well as the complex family drama, and the performances.
Blindspotting (2018) - 4.06
Stream On The Roku Channel
Not all comedy movies are meant to be flat-out hilarious. Blindspotting is in that category as it won't leave you in stitches and actually has some truly horrific and realistic aspects that will have you thinking about it for days after it concludes. Still, there are plenty of funny bits that carry over to the TV show spin-off.
Blindspotting follows Collin (Daveed Diggs), a parolee with three days on his sentence who witnesses a cop shooting an unarmed Black man. The event changes his life going forward, including his relationship with his best friend. Likely the least funny movie among the top comedies, it's still a fantastically made film.
Night Is Short, Walk On Girl (2017) - 4.06
Stream On HBO Max & Hoopla
The only animated film to be one of the ten highest-ranked, Night is Short, Walk on Girl is pretty unique. This Japanese picture is based on a 2006 novel and took home many major awards for the animation style.
The story focuses on two characters and their actions throughout one night out. One is an unnamed man who is in love with the other character, a female he attends Kyoto University with. Reviews appreciated how imaginative, creative, and ultimately ambitious the movie is.
Güeros (2015) - 4.07
Stream On Netflix & Kanopy
On the surface, it doesn't seem like Güeros is a movie with a premise that lends itself to many comedic situations. It follows two brothers heading through Mexico City during student strikes in 1999 on a quest to find an iconic musician.
However, the bond between the two brothers is heartwarming and engaging, offering up a handful of funny moments throughout. The most well-received aspect of Güeros is that it's shot in gorgeous black and white, earning it the Best Cinematography award at the Tribeca Film Festival.
Wild Tales (2014) - 4.07
Rent On Apple TV
The final foreign language film to rank among the ten best comedies of the 2010s is Wild Tales. The Argentine movie is actually an anthology picture featuring six different stories that don't interact with each other but all have a theme of revenge and violence.
While that doesn't sound like a hilarious premise, each of these short stories does have a somewhat funny element that allows it to be considered in the realm of comedy. Wild Tales won the coveted Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival and was nominated for an Academy Award.
What We Do In The Shadows (2014) - 4.09
Stream On Kanopy & Hoopla
The mockumentary format has quickly become one of the most popular around thanks to shows like The Office. However, it could be argued that What We Do in the Shadows does it better than anyone as this film focuses on a documentary crew that follows the lives of a group of vampires living together.
The hilarious cast is led by Taika Waititi and Jermaine Clement, who also wrote and directed the movie. Just seeing their everyday adventures including the rivalry with werewolves is among the funniest things of the decade. The film was such a hit that an equally funny TV show is already three seasons deep.
Paddington 2 (2017) - 4.17
Stream On HBO Max
Sometimes, comedy doesn't have to be raunchy or aimed purely at adults. In many cases, people just want to see something that is truly wholesome, which is what Paddington 2 delivers. The original film was also a critical darling but the sequel takes things up just a bit.
This installment sees the continuing antics of the titular bear as he lives with the Brown family. He gets unjustly accused of a crime he didn't commit and the family comes together to try and prove his innocence. For a long time, Paddington 2 held a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes despite having over 200 reviews at the time.
The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014) - 4.20
Stream On IMDb TV
One of the most acclaimed and unique filmmakers in Hollywood is Wes Anderson. From Bottle Rocket to The Royal Tenenbaums to Isle of Dogs, he puts out consistently high-quality films. The Grand Budapest Hotel could very likely be the pinnacle of his storied career.
Bringing together an incredible cast including Ralph Fiennes, Tony Revolori, Saoirse Ronan, Tilda Swinton, and many other Anderson regulars, the film tells the story of the wild experiences that a lobby boy has while working at a luxurious hotel. The movie won four Oscars and was nominated for another five.