With the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, people are always looking for reasons to laugh, so it's no surprise that a number of comedies have performed well at the box office. From animated features about classic cartoon characters to dark action comedies, audiences have had a bevy of options to choose from through the first six months of 2021.
Based on numbers from Box Office Mojo, most movies released in 2021 haven't performed as well as those in years past. However, the year is far from over, and so far these are the comedies that have connected with audiences.
Luca - $21,000,000
Pixar's newest creation, Luca, was made entirely at home during the pandemic, which is a testament to both the will of the studio and its team of animators and creators. Although it was not released in theaters in the US, which undoubtedly hurt its earnings, the film still managed to gross $21,000,000 worldwide.
The story follows a young sea monster named Luca as he experiences a magical summer in a seaside Italian town with his new friend, Alberto. Luca is a charming coming-of-age story full of humor as Luca learns what it means to be a friend and discovers his passion for space, scooters, and spaghetti.
Wish Dragon - $21,120,000
In his directorial debut, writer Chris Appelhans's Wish Dragon is a product of collaboration between Columbia and Sony pictures and Chinese film studios including Tencent, Base FX, and Flagship Entertainment. Wish Dragon skipped US theaters and was released on Netflix, but still managed to gross $21,120,000 internationally.
The story follows Din (voice by Jimmy Wong), a working-class college student who dreams of reuniting with his wealthy childhood friend Li Na (voice by Natasha Liu Bordizzo). His luck changes when he is given a teapot by an elderly man, which summons the wish-granting dragon, Long (voiced by John Cho). Reminiscent of Disney's Aladdin, Wish Dragon is family-friendly and filled with goofy humor.
In The Heights - $39,783,518
Based on the Broadway musical by Lin-Manuel Miranda, In the Heights brings the songs and characters of the stage show to the big screen for audiences to enjoy. Originally set to be released in 2020, the film was postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. It was released on June 10 in theaters and was available on HBO Max for 30 days, ultimately grossing $39,783,518 at the box office.
The plot of In the Heights tells the story of the people living in the predominantly Dominican neighborhood of Washington Heights in New York City. While more musical than comedy, In the Heights still manages to deliver enough laughs as it spins a heartwarming tale of a community where every person is trying to pursue their dreams.
The Boss Baby: Family Business - $48,341,675
The second title in the Boss Baby franchise, The Boss Baby: Family Business reunites voice talent Alec Baldwin and James Marsden with new stars, including Amy Sedaris and Jeff Goldblum. Released in select theaters and for premium members of Peacock, the film has grossed $48,341,675 since July 2 and has the potential to earn even more from the box office and streaming.
The Boss Baby: Family Bussiness picks up the story with the now-grown Tim Templeton (Marsden) and Ted Templeton Jr. (Baldwin) who are asked by the new Boss Baby (Sedaris) to help stop Dr. Erwin Armstrong (Goldblum) from erasing childhoods worldwide. Baldwin is hilarious once again as Ted, and Goldblum nails it as the evil professor, and while The Boss Baby: Family Business's plot is thin, there is plenty of slapstick comedy to amuse younger viewers and parents alike.
Nobody - $55,405,035
In Nobody, actor Bob Odenkirk steps out of his usual role as the lovable wise guy to become an underdog action hero with deeply repressed anger issues. While the film has not cemented Odenkirk's status as Hollywood's newest action star, it still performed fairly well at the box office, earning $55,405,035 to go along with its mostly favorable reviews.
Nobody is about Hutch Mansell, a downtrodden man who lacks any noticeable character traits. One day, thieves break into Hutch's house, and when he doesn't stand up to them, he loses the respect of his son and wife. This pushes his long-dormant feelings of rage to the surface and prompts him to wage war against some of the most dangerous criminals in the city. The dark comedy delivers some wicked punches to go along with Odenkirk's muted punchlines, making it one of the more understated comedies of the year.
The Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard - $63,366,793
Reuniting actors Ryan Reynolds and Samuel L. Jackson and featuring Salma Hayek in a bigger role, The Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard is the sequel to Patrick Hughes's 2017 action-comedy hit The Hitman's Bodyguard. While The Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard failed to duplicate the success of its predecessor, it still managed to earn $63,366,793 at the box office despite mixed reviews.
It opens with Michael Bryce (Reynolds) still unlicensed and under investigation for the actions he took to save Darius Kincaid (Jackson) in the first movie. After Kincaid's wife Sonia (Hayek) is released from prison, the three stumble into the diabolical plot of a terrorist (Antonio Banderas) and must work together to save the day. If anything, the sequel is even more ridiculous than the first film, employing some of the most amazingly creative profanity audiences are likely to ever experience.
Raya And The Last Dragon - $121,587,873
Although it's billed more as an action-adventure story than a comedy, Raya and the Last Dragon delivers its fair share of laughs. With the comedic talent of Awkwafina as the dragon Sisu to go along with a stellar supporting cast, the film managed to rake in $121,587,873 at the box office despite being released on Disney+ and in theaters simultaneously.
The story takes place in Kumandra, a magical land where humans and dragons once lived in harmony until the evil Druun drove the dragons to extinction. To save the land, the young warrior Raya sets out to find the last dragon and reunite all the people of Kumandra against their common enemy. While Awkwafina's characterization provides the most consistent source of humor, many of the other cast members are able to hold their own.
Tom and Jerry - $125,241,123
Everyone's favorite cat and mouse duo returned to the big screen in 2021 in Warner Bros.'s Tom and Jerry: The Movie. The animated duo features alongside real-life actors such as Chloë Grace Moretz, Michael Peña, and Ken Jeong. Their antics netted $125,241,123 at the box office despite mixed reviews from critics and audiences.
In this newest adventure, Jerry Mouse holes up in a fancy New York hotel, so Tom Cat is hired to chase him out before the wedding of the century takes place. The film includes plenty of slapstick humor for kids while also getting the most out of Jeong's and Peña's performances for adults to enjoy the experience as well.
Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway - $145,297,319
Another animated comedy sequel to be released in 2021 is Sony Pictures Animation's Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway. James Corden returns to voice the titular rabbit and is joined by real-life performances from Rose Byrne and Domhnall Gleeson and voice acting from Margot Robbie. Despite facing numerous delays, the film was finally released in February 2020 and has earned over $145,297,319 worldwide.
Based on the books of Beatrix Potter, Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway follows Peter as he leaves the country for the big city in search of new adventures. While adult audiences may get tired of the unrelenting and silly 3D slapstick, younger audiences are sure to get a kick out of Peter's hijinks.
Cruella - $219,529,517
The highest-grossing comedic film of the year to date may come as a surprise to some, as most people don't associate skinning puppies with comedy. Yet, Disney's Cruella did just that, leveraging dark humor and solid performances from Emma Stone and Emma Thompson to gross almost $219,529,517 at the box office.
In this prequel to the animated classic, audiences follow a young Cruella de Vil (Stone) as she rises through the fashion industry and ultimately engages in an all-out war with her former mentor the Baroness (Thompson). Thompson is witheringly funny and Cruella manages to subvert audiences' expectations on a number of occasions to elicit a surprising number of laughs.