Best Modern Comedy Films

Humor is a subjective thing, which makes it difficult at times to find a truly funny comedy. Still, there are films that are warmly received by most critics and viewers — which means there's a good chance you'll like them too. In this list, we've gathered successful comedy and comedy-adjacent films released over the past ten years.

A black comedy with thriller elements about Max and Annie — a married couple obsessed with board and party games. They regularly host game nights with friends, but one day Max’s brother suggests something different: an interactive kidnapping mystery. The players believe they’re taking part in a safe, thrilling experience — until real armed men storm the house.

Set in 1977 Los Angeles, the film follows unlucky private detective Holland March as he investigates a young woman’s disappearance. Meanwhile, enforcer-for-hire Jackson Healy is trying to stop him — until the two men, despite their differences, decide to team up and pursue the case together.

A modern whodunit in the style of Agatha Christie, laced with social satire. The story centers on the mysterious death of famous author Harlan Thrombey. Private investigator Benoit Blanc suspects one of Thrombey’s relatives is responsible. Everyone had a motive, and no one has a solid alibi — now it’s up to Blanc to unravel the family’s web of secrets.

A crime comedy directed by Guy Ritchie in his signature style: witty dialogue, nonlinear storytelling, quirky characters, and dark humor. The plot follows drug lord Mickey Pearson, who plans to sell his empire — but ends up targeted by swindlers, rivals, and blackmailers.

One of Quentin Tarantino’s best works, offering a satirical take on the old Hollywood industry. The film follows fading Western actor Rick Dalton and his stunt double and best friend Cliff Booth. While Rick tries to revive his career, Cliff roams around 1969 Los Angeles, meeting all sorts of shady characters — including, eventually, members of the infamous Manson family.

A hilarious mockumentary-style comedy about the ridiculous yet oddly touching downfall of a pop icon. It tells the story of a former boy band member turned solo superstar who begins to lose his relevance. To stay famous, he resorts to bizarre PR stunts and questionable behavior.

A parody biopic about the life and career of legendary satirist Al Yankovic. The plot focuses on how Al rises to fame thanks to his musical parodies — but the film intentionally tells a wildly inaccurate and absurd version of events, mocking traditional music biopics.

A meta action-comedy where Nicolas Cage plays a fictionalized version of himself. Facing a creative slump and financial troubles, he agrees to attend a rich fan’s birthday party for $1 million. But things spiral quickly when he’s pulled into a kidnapping investigation — and the suspect may be his fan. To uncover the truth, Cage must rely on his acting skills.

Nyles and Sarah meet at Sarah’s sister’s wedding in the resort town of Palm Springs. Soon, Sarah realizes the wedding day keeps repeating — she’s trapped in a time loop. And she’s not the first: Nyles has been living the “Groundhog Day” life for a while now, and becomes Sarah’s guide in this strange new reality.

After losing her ability to work as an Uber driver, 32-year-old Maddie Barker accepts an unusual offer from a wealthy couple: they’ll give her a car if she helps their shy 19-year-old son Percy build confidence before college. It’s no easy task, given Percy’s painfully introverted nature.

A romantic comedy about a clumsy journalist who falls in love with a powerful woman — a potential U.S. presidential candidate. She hires him as a speechwriter, and despite their contrasting personalities, a romance begins to blossom between them.

An adventure comedy-drama from Taika Waititi about Ricky, a troubled teen sent to live with a foster family in a remote rural area. After his foster mother dies unexpectedly, Ricky flees into the wilderness to avoid going back to the system. Her reclusive husband Hec follows him — but soon they both become targets of a massive manhunt after social workers mistakenly believe Hec has kidnapped Ricky.

A heartwarming and wholesome film for all ages, full of good-natured humor. Paddington is the epitome of kindness and optimism, spreading joy without being preachy. Many critics consider Paddington 2 one of the best films of the decade — it boasts a 99% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

A fantastic animated film for both kids and adults, full of multilayered humor. Children will enjoy the action and silly characters, while adults will appreciate the satire aimed at the DC universe, pop culture, and superhero movie tropes — including clever parodies of past Batman films.

A parody of classic spy films. Susan Cooper is a modest CIA analyst who supports field agents from behind a desk. But when the identities of all active agents are compromised, she volunteers to go undercover herself — despite having zero experience in fieldwork.

A surprisingly solid adaptation of Dungeons & Dragons that captures the fun spirit of the tabletop game. Bard Edgin Darvis and barbarian Holga Kilgore escape from prison to retrieve a lost relic — the Tablet of Reawakening. They assemble a team and set out on an adventure, eventually facing off against a former ally and his evil sorceress companion.

The sequel to the cult zombie comedy of 2009. Just like in real life, ten years have passed in the story since the first film. The characters have spent much of that time surviving in the zombie-infested world — even living in the White House. But the undead have evolved, and tensions begin to rise within the group. Eventually, they split up and embark on a new journey across the former United States.

A black comedy about a former assassin nicknamed Ladybug, who wants to retire from his violent lifestyle and takes on a supposedly simple job: retrieve a briefcase aboard a high-speed train. But the train is full of other assassins on conflicting missions — leading to a chaotic and deadly clash between professional killers.

Three teenage girls make a pact to lose their virginity on prom night. Their parents accidentally discover the plan and go to great lengths to stop it, leading to a string of awkward and hilarious misadventures.

Three sixth-grade friends are determined to attend a kissing party. Lacking experience, they try to learn how to kiss by spying on teenage girls with one boy’s dad’s drone. When the drone breaks, they embark on a frantic and hilarious mission to replace it before the adults return.

That’s it for now. If we missed any great, humor-filled films from the past ten years, feel free to share them in the comments! And browse The 120 Best Movies of Recent Years: The Ultimate Ranked List for more outstanding film selections.