Coming up with the 50 funniest scenes in the history of cinema turned out to be much easier than I expected, thanks to the stellar efforts of our readership, who essentially nominated hundreds of clips to choose from. Narrowing it down to 50 was another matter, and then attempting to rank them in order of hilariousness was an almost impossible task. But we rank, therefore we are. There’s not a lot of fun to be had in a perfect list; it forecloses the possibility of discussion. And if I haven’t left off a few of your favorite scenes, then you haven’t seen enough comedies, and if you’re completely happy with the way these scenes are ranked, you are either an idiot, separated at me from birth, or both. There’s no scientific method to ranking funny — it’s largely a matter of weighing a film’s classic status along with the amount of pain each scene caused my ribs. It was essentially an all day exercise, and by the end of it, I had to have my spleen removed.
That said, if you’re a fan of Peter Sellers, Bill Murray, John Cleese, or Steve Martin, you’re probably going to like this list more than not. But if you’re knowledge of comedies extends only back to 1990 or so, you’ll probably be a little lost. Like no Guide we’ve ever put together, this one goes back even to the silent era, though obviously modern sensibilities were weighed in the decision-making factor. I will also note that many of the movies that scenes were taken from had dozens of scenes to choose from, but out of fairness, there’s only one scene per movie included among the top 50, which offers yet another opportunity for you folks to take umbrage.
At any rate, here are your 50 Funniest Movie Scenes of All Time. There’s a lot here NSFW, and there’s a couple of hours, at least, of humor to be had on this page. Bookmark it. Come back to it on days that life pummels you. If laughter is indeed the best medicine, there’s enough here for a few overdoses.
50. The Pink Panther Strikes Again featuring Peter Sellers
49. Duck Soup, featuring Harpo & Groucho Marx
48. Ghostbusters featuring Bill Murray
47. Wet Hot American Summer, featuring Michael Showalter and Christopher Meloni
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46. Best in Show, featuring Parker Posey and Michael Hitchcock
45. The Birdcage, featuring Robin Williams and Nathan Lane
44. Little Miss Sunshine featuring Abigal Breslin
43. Dirty Rotten Scoundrels featuring Steven Martin and Michael Caine
42. Austin Powers featuring Carrie Fisher, Seth Green, and Mike Meyers
41. Love and Death featuring Woody Allen and Diane Keaton
THANK YOU for including the bathtub scene from The Money Pit. That scene is all I need to convince/remind people why Tom Hanks is a BRILLIANT comedic actor.
Posted by: Renee at August 19, 2009 3:05 PM
Can you give Harpo Marx some credit where credit is due? His performance in the mirror scene is arguably even harder than Groucho's.
Posted by: Sheri at August 19, 2009 3:07 PM
Ahahaha, the Naughty Nineties was the shit. I forgot about that. I also love the bit where Costello tries to sing My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean.
Posted by: sunset&camden at August 19, 2009 3:07 PM
Nicely done. The PTA clip really requires the whole scene for the best viewing. It is likely to get you fired though. I think I linked to it in my comment.
Posted by: Melody at August 19, 2009 3:08 PM
YES! Monty Python deserves the number 1 spot!
Snoochies.
Posted by: ana at August 19, 2009 3:17 PM
I have to admit that Scatman part in Nothing to Lose is hysterical.
Any scene from Tommy Boy (particularly the waitress "God, you're sick" scene) works.
Good choices overall.
Posted by: Brie at August 19, 2009 3:25 PM
I LOVE that scene from Tommy Boy. "OH my GOD we're BURNING ALIVE!!"
Posted by: Julie at August 19, 2009 3:26 PM
Damned fine job. I guess I was: separated at me from birth.
Posted by: Cindy at August 19, 2009 3:26 PM
A few notes:
- WHAS, Yes!
- Blazing Saddles should include the whole scene. "He says the Sheriff is a Near!"
- Who's on first is always great.
- No real problem with the Top Ten, but I always prefer the Cockpit scenes better in Airplane! "Have you ever seen a grown man naked?"
- Tropic Thunder, best comedy scene of the past few years.
- Don't like Old School. Never have.
- The Anchorman scene isn't from the movie. My choice for the movie clip should be the fight sequence.
- Tommy Boy should be higher.
- The endings of Clue were all great.
Never have I been more disappointed that I can't watch videos at work.
Excellent list though. I'm glad to see 'Some Like It Hot' on here, although I was always partial to the scene where Jack Lemmon tells Tony Curtis that he and Osgood are going to get married. Just the fact that he seems to have thought of all the issues that arise from that, including the mother's approval, yet forgot that he was, in fact, a man cracks me up.
Nobody fucks with the Jesus is a modern classic. I'm numb to most of the top five since I've seen or thought about them ad nauseum for years. Love #9 and 10. I would've put a scene from Oh Brother, Where Art Thou? ("We're in a tight spot!" comes to mind) and Raising Arizona in there, but I'm a big fag for the Cohen brothers. Also, the Anchorman clip is a cop-out as it isn't in the movie. The "whore island" argument or "Go fuck yourself, San Diego" are more appropriate.
Posted by: Kballs at August 19, 2009 3:31 PM
Robby, the cockpit scenes in Airplane! are my favorite as well. "Do you like gladiator movies?"
Posted by: Julie at August 19, 2009 3:34 PM
HAH! Young Frankenstein beats Blazing Saddles :D I'm off to gloat to the husband... Great list btw... I love all of these movies sooo much...
Posted by: Tammers at August 19, 2009 3:34 PM
Thank you for recognizing the brilliance in the comedic pairing of Martin Lawrence and Tim Robbins in Nothing To Lose. That scene still makes me crack up.
Posted by: J Stride at August 19, 2009 3:37 PM
The Babymaker scene(nor any other scenes, for that matter (except for the fight scene)) from Anchorman weren't available, and I saw no way to exclude it. So, I improvised.
The other comment thread was too long and very hyperlinky so
I didn't post then:
The scene in Waiting for Guffman when Corky is choreographing a
dance in his apartment makes Mr. Henry and I weep with laughter
every time. I'm not sure I've ever seen all of it.
There is a Charlie Chaplin movie called At the Circus (or some such
thing)in which he does a tight rope act while being climbed on by
monkeys. It's funny until one of the monkeys bites his nose and then
it is freakin' hilarious.
I think our biggest one liner laugh ever was from Zoolander when Jerry
Stiller says "I've got a prostrate the size of a honeydew and a head full of
bad memories." We laughed on and off for hours. We went to sleep
laughing.
I'm surprised nothing from the movie Ten made it in, such as Dudley
Moore flinging towels in front of himself on the beach because the sand
is so hot; the mariachi band waking him out of a drug induced sleep; or
trying to climb up the hill to answer the phone.
Posted by: Henry at August 19, 2009 3:45 PM
You chose a Clue clip and it wasn't Madeline Kahn's "Flames" scene? Are you trying to start a comment war?
Posted by: s. pisaster at August 19, 2009 3:47 PM
Prostrate? Prostate? No idea.
Posted by: Henry at August 19, 2009 3:48 PM
I second (third?) the Airplane cockpit scenes. Little Joey and Kareem Abdul Jabar "I think you're the greatest, but my dad says you don't work hard enough on defense". Heehee.
Posted by: sunset&camden at August 19, 2009 3:50 PM
Never have I been more disappointed that I can't watch videos at work.
Same Here, Jeni! Stupid web-block!
Can't wait to get home watch, seeing as all of these movies seem to fall into two categories:
a) Movies I Love, and
b) Movies I Have Never Seen;
except for Blazing Saddles. I think it is sooo over-rated. Thanks for making Young Frankenstein higher!
Posted by: Patty O'Green at August 19, 2009 3:51 PM
A better bit from that Ghostbusters scene is slightly later on, just past the 'dogs and cats living together', Venkman says
If I'm wrong, nothing happens! We go to jail - peacefully, quietly. We'll enjoy it! But if I'm *right*, and we *can* stop this thing... Lenny... you will have saved the lives of millions of registered voters.
The cardinal nods at the mayor, giving his blessing on the plan. And then the mayor throws the dickless guy out.
Posted by: mswas at August 19, 2009 4:09 PM
No Bachelor Party "wives mistaken for hookers scene? Seriously?
Nothing from Top Secret (it could be ANY scene)? ah?
Are you kidding me?
Unbelievable.
Posted by: BarbadoSlim at August 19, 2009 4:10 PM
Ahh, man. I shot Marvin in the face.
Posted by: Brittany at August 19, 2009 4:19 PM
What's interesting is that supposedly that scene from Raiders was to be an elaborate swordfight. After many takes, Harrison Ford was frustrated with not getting it right and so shoots the stunt guy as a joke for that take. Everyone thought that worked better; and that was that!
Posted by: Gnaius at August 19, 2009 4:27 PM
The pool scene in caddyshack? Really?
Not the golf scene with Chevy Chase and Bill Murray with the weed and beer? Really?
Bah.
Posted by: superasente at August 19, 2009 4:29 PM
WAAAIIITTT a damn minute. Where the fuck is Jerry Lewis!
Posted by: Brittany at August 19, 2009 4:33 PM
actually Gnaius that scene in Raiders was supposed to be an elaborate swordfight but Ford suggested that he just shoot the bad guy instead since he was suffering from a nasty bout of explosive diarrea... and wasn't well enough to film multiple takes...
everyone knows this...
Posted by: Tammers at August 19, 2009 4:50 PM
Yeah, I'm with s. pisaster. No way is Singing Telegram Girl a better scene than Madeleine Khan in Clue. Otherwise, keep up the good work. I will definitely re-visit this list, so I appreciate putting this all in one place.
Posted by: The Wandering Parakeet at August 19, 2009 4:54 PM
Robby, that's my favorite scene from Blazing Saddles. I love the reactions from the townspeople, especially when Bart says "'Scuse me while I whip this out."
Honorable mentions: the sailing scene from What About Bob? "Did you see me, Dr. Marvin? With the wind and the sky and everything? AHOY!!"
The glue sniffing scene from Ferris Buehler. Rooney's irate screaming of "GRACE!" (the secretary) makes me pass out laughing.
Posted by: Brie at August 19, 2009 4:59 PM
hey my Pulp Fiction scene made in it into the top 10! Huzzah!
Posted by: aidan at August 19, 2009 5:00 PM
Can't see these at work, but I'm assuming the Tropic Thunder scene is the "full retard" speech. Personally, I think you have to be able to understand what an actor's saying for it to be funny.
(For the record, the "preview" for the Downey, Jr./Maguire movie at the beginning of Tropic Thunder had me laughing so hard I almost passed out. So that would've been my choice.)
Posted by: Todd at August 19, 2009 5:01 PM
Brittany: You want Jerry Lewis? Move to France.
Posted by: BWeaves at August 19, 2009 5:05 PM
I've seen at least 45/50 on this list.
I'd say that at least one of the Blues Brothers scenes should have been included. ("I HATE Illinois Nazis" or Belushi's interaction with Carrie Fisher in the tunnel)
Also honorable mention should be made of Chris Farley in Tommy Boy. Hardly a week goes by when I don't hear "Housekeeping!" or "You want fresh towels?"
Posted by: alphawhiskey at August 19, 2009 5:08 PM
Also, What the hell? You left Hot Shots off the list? That movie was awesome!
Posted by: alphawhiskey at August 19, 2009 5:10 PM
Excellent choices overall. I've got to differ on the Airplane clip - anything from the various drinking problems, to "over macho grande" or even "looks like I picked the wrong week to quit.." or "don't call me Shirley" - would have outdone the Jive scene. Not to dump on the movie or its place in the list, just the representative scene.
Now I have a very long to-watch list. Thanks!
Posted by: lordhelmet at August 19, 2009 5:18 PM
"Charlie DON'T surf!!"
Posted by: Recondite at August 19, 2009 5:22 PM
Should have included something from Team America.
Posted by: Recondite at August 19, 2009 5:23 PM
I see no one likes the dark comedies that much...fuck you all.
Posted by: Deistbrawler at August 19, 2009 5:24 PM
mostly good picks movie wise although not scene wise. I agree "flames" from clue is by far funnier. and what's up doc should have had a mention too
Posted by: eliza at August 19, 2009 5:33 PM
I'm like the film selection, but I would have put a lot of different scenes in there, though in fairness, this list brought back a lot of happy memories, and that makes up for any oversight.
Posted by: George at August 19, 2009 5:46 PM
Good list. Except you forgot The BUrbs. And 3 words.
"This is Walter!"
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!
Posted by: bubblegumshoe at August 19, 2009 6:08 PM
Recondite, good call on Team America.
I know this list could go on for miles and miles, but I just have to add one of my favorite moments from Trading Places, which is at the very end of this scene:
(Too lazy to hyperlink-ify above link.)
(Sweet Jeebus, I can't believe it's on You Tube.)
Posted by: Ray Ray at August 19, 2009 6:19 PM
Well, the Black Knight always triumphs. But have at you, sir... more Marx Brothers!!!
Posted by: Nadha at August 19, 2009 6:22 PM
Well. Fucking. Done.
I was ready to scoff at this list six ways from Sunday.
Who's on First?, the Office Space Printer, Duck Soup Harpo's mirror and The Money Pit bathtub/laughing scene...
...get out of my head!!!!
And as much as the "full retard" scene in Tropic Thunder is the best scene and an all-timer, I've got to give a shout-out to the best line in the movie, obviously delivered by RDJ: "Ah'm a lead fahmah, muthafuckah!!!!!!
Posted by: icecreammang at August 19, 2009 6:23 PM
You chose a Clue clip and it wasn't Madeline Kahn's "Flames" scene? Are you trying to start a comment war?
THIS.
But glad to see Clue so high up on the list, as well as Blazing Saddles and Young Frankenstein. High Anxiety (maybe the dramatic airport opening) and What's Up Doc deserve nods too.
Posted by: Gabs at August 19, 2009 6:35 PM
There is no way that the Andy's from HOT FUZZ should not be on here. Hell, the whole Hot Fuzz movie should be. Take your picks from there, but Paddy Considine has me jumping up and down, I am fighting for fucking air laughing in a couple of the scenes.
"You have a mustache."
"I know."
Posted by: John Denver's Wingman at August 19, 2009 6:36 PM
Crap! If I knew it would make it onto a list, I would've spent more time digging and found a better quality clip for The General. It is a good movie, all. Only thing I got out of my sophomore film class with that pompous as hell prof. :)
Posted by: Kate at August 19, 2009 6:39 PM
Hmm, a lot of these I don't want to watch because I haven't seen the original and would rather just watch that. I'm also surprised there's not much dark comedy on here either.
Posted by: Mick J at August 19, 2009 6:45 PM
Huzzah! One of my suggestions made the list! (Number 50).
The other one didn't, but I will grant you that the Road pictures are an acquired taste.
Oooh, how could we miss Maverick. I love the shit out of that movie. The scene where Joseph pretends to have lost Maverick's money and Mel Gibson just looks like he's run out of air and then Joseph takes out the money and Maverick punches him in the face? HILARIOUS. Damn I love that movie.
I'm a little embarrassed by how little of this list I have seen. Not a ridiculously low number or anything, just not nearly enough. It's supposed to rain all weekend, perfect excuse to increase that number!
I remember that scene from The Jerk. I must have broken every sing rib. But it's even better when you take into account the Phonebook scene before it, and the scene afterwords.
"Random bastard!"
Posted by: George at August 19, 2009 9:42 PM
Glad to see my recommendation (the tallywhacker scene from Porky's) made it in to such an illustrious list.
I'll 47th the Airplane cockpit scenes since I love that whole damn movie.
If I could have added any more I'd have thrown in the love scene from Hot Shots!
Posted by: Fredo at August 19, 2009 11:10 PM
great list, but comeon! CLUE, seriously! Have you got one. that movie was lame! Otherwise great list!
Posted by: daniel at August 19, 2009 11:18 PM
I enjoyed a lot of these on this list, and feel proud that 2 recommmendations made it
Love and Death is an underrated movie and I'm glad it's on here. It has one of the funniest lines ever:
Boris is walking through the remains of a battlefield with other surviving soldiers. One looks down at a dead body:
"He was the village idiot in my town"
"Oh yeah? What did you do, place?"
Woody Allen may be a pervert and his movies have semisucked for a while, but he made some hilarious films.
I forgot to add this scene from Bananas, especially for the beginning, at 1:08 and 4:00
Nearly fifteen years ago, a young woman with curly black hair turned to me in a bar while putting on Carmex. After she finished, she held out her pot of gunk and said, "Lipbalm?" We've been dearest friends ever since.
How is Three Amigos(!) not on this list? G'night Ned.
Posted by: Kitty X at August 20, 2009 12:19 AM
When you're blue and you don't know where to go to, why don't you go where fashion sits?
As it's fresh in my mind having watched it last night, you should have included Vern running from the train in Stand By Me. I have severe difficulty breathing due to the look on his face.
Posted by: Bumwee McGee at August 20, 2009 3:05 AM
How is the waxing scene from 40 Year Old Virgin not on this list?
I am about to read the list and I'm very much looking forward to it. But there better be some Abbot and Costello and at least one clip of Martin and Lewis
Posted by: EricD at August 20, 2009 4:46 AM
Big ups for the Spinal Tap love.
In college I dated a guy for a while who was perfect on paper, but I just couldn't figure out why there was no sexual attraction. Then I found out that he thought Spinal Tap wasn't funny. I ditched his sorry ass quick, fast and in a hurry.
BTW ... where the hell is Smokey and The Bandit on this list? Jackie Gleason was funny as hell in that. When he says to the son "There's no way, NO WAY, that you came from my loins. Soon as I get home, first thing I'm gonna do is punch yo mamma in da mouth!" -- that's what you call funny.
Posted by: Carolina Girl at August 20, 2009 9:25 AM
DAMNED WORK COMPUTER BLOCKS!!!
Can't watch them here, and Godtopus knows WORK is the one place you NEED to watch these!!
The Money Pit! Tom Hanks has the greatest laugh of all time. Renee is right. He's a BRILLIANT comedic actor. The look on his face when the stair rung breaks off in his hand is one of my favorite moments in cinematic history.
Thank you, Dustin.
Posted by: Melissa at August 20, 2009 10:11 AM
Nothing from the original Producers? Shame on you!
Posted by: legaleagle at August 20, 2009 12:13 PM
Yeah, I disagree with a lot of these. The movie selections were OK, but I quarrel with the definition of "funniest" scene.
And I know there are only 50 spots, but if you want to see a technically amazing and hilarious chase scene (the whole movie is pretty damn funny), rent/Netflix/whatever "What's Up, Doc?" - Peter Bogdanovich, Barbra Streisand, Ryan O'Neal, Madeline Kahn - it should be on this list.
Posted by: Slash at August 20, 2009 12:41 PM
Glad to see The Marx Bros. on here. I was just watching "A Night at the Opera" so I immediately thought of the scene where they all crowd into that small room on the cruise ship, but the Duck Soup clip barely edges that one out.
Also, Money Pit, Blazing Saddles, Lebowski - all good things.
Nice job!
Posted by: Perl at August 20, 2009 1:38 PM
"Cover me, you limpdick fuck-ups!!"
Posted by: Recondite at August 20, 2009 2:06 PM
Does anyone remember Yellowbeard? I saw it in CA. in the theater because all of the Return of the Jedi screens were sold out.
Classic Graham Chapman, Madeleine Kahn, and co.
Posted by: Recondite at August 20, 2009 2:08 PM
Most of these I'd tend to agree with. But I have a thing for british humour, so I'm wondering why this isn't just a list of '50 Monty Python Sketches'? Yes, yes, I understand that these are film scenes, but I still fart in your general direction.
So glad the Porky's "Tallywhacker" scene made it in. The actors laughing throughout the scene had the easy part; what I can't believe is how the OTHER actors kept a straight face the entire time.
Posted by: Kimberly at August 20, 2009 7:01 PM
First off; great list. Second; Tropic Thunder? If anything, TT belongs on the top 50 most overrated comedies of the decade. Give me any scene in Waynes World any day. Amusing? Definitely. Hilarious? Fuck no. Only laughs I got out of that movie were from Tom Cruise when he flipped out on the drug smugglers. Great idea for a replacement: the revenge scene from "Rushmore". Shit cracks ne up everytime. Seriously, Tropic Thunder isn't the funniest anything.
Posted by: Smatt584 at August 20, 2009 8:31 PM
No pie fight? No pie fight of ANY kind? The Great Race begs to differ: "Hey Perfesser!"
I wasn't around for the post that kicked this all off, but I am definitely a slapstick kinda gal -- the door/shower moment and the hallway collision in Clue make me laugh harder than any other part in the film, and the hardest I've laughed at a movie in the past year was Russell being dragged along the zeppelin window in Up (1:57 in the trailer, although it goes on for much longer in the movie). And I laughed so hard at the physical comedy bits in Kung Fu Hustle that I slid off my seat in the theater. All someone has to do is fall from a height and hit 2 or 3 things on the way down and I'm done.
Slow-motion can do it too, like the fax machine in Office Space or Rushmore's bee scene.
And since I don't see it mentioned in either thread, I'll put in a plug for Noises Off with Carol Burnett, Michael Caine, Christopher Reeve, John Ritter, and Denhold Elliot as maybe one of the funniest movies ever. The first time my family and I saw it, we had to hit 'pause' repeatedly because we were laughing so loud and long, we were missing bits of dialogue. It's effing brilliant.
Posted by: Lizzie (greeneyed fem) at August 20, 2009 8:49 PM
Posted by: Lizzie (greeneyed fem) at August 20, 2009 8:58 PM
Ha, Smatt! Great minds. :)
Posted by: Lizzie (greeneyed fem) at August 20, 2009 8:59 PM
I'm very late to this party and I've not read this full thread so perhaps it's already been mentioned, but how could Waiting for Guffman be left out? There is so much laugh-outloud-funny I find it crazy it's not listed here.
The scene when Corky is choreographing one of the dances in his apartment. . ."You're bastard people!". . ."I'm gonna go home and I'm gonna bite my pillow". . .the audition scenes. . .
Come ON. Perhaps that would be Christopher Guest and Co. overkill since Spinal Tap and Best in Show made the list but it is by far one of my favorites.
Posted by: prairiegirl at August 21, 2009 10:27 PM
Is it just me,or is #11 missing?
Great list by the way - I found this online and spent a good bit of my Sunday watching them!!!
Posted by: imiachra at August 23, 2009 4:06 PM
No scene from ferris (Charlie's scene comes to mind) the breakfast club? Automatic fail but other than that its a pretty good list Holy grail and young frankenstein earned they're spots
THANK YOU for including the bathtub scene from The Money Pit. That scene is all I need to convince/remind people why Tom Hanks is a BRILLIANT comedic actor.