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Kevin Pantoja
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Kevin Pantoja is a writer and editor at Screen Rant based in New York City, where he brings deep expertise in blockbuster franchises ranging from Harry Potter and Spider‑Man to Succession and the MCU. A passionate storyteller with a creative writing degree (Valedictorian, Full Sail University), Kevin blends entertainment news, feature essays, and pop‑culture commentary into engaging, audience-first content
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It doesn't get talked about much, but the 2010s were actually a fantastic time for great comedy movies. Some of the best and most creative original comedies arrived during this decade, including both box office successes and critically acclaimed darlings.
In fact, each year of the 2010s featured a few standout comedy movies, making it difficult to pinpoint which was the best. Some years, it's an Academy Award contender, yet in other years, it's a quotable comedy with memorable lines and hilarious scenes. Regardless, they're all fantastic comedies that moviegoers love.
2010: Easy A
Emma Stone in a high school hallway in Easy A
The decade for comedy got off to a good start. Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, Megamind, and The Other Guys are all strong, well-remembered films in the genre. There's also Adam Sandler's ensemble Grown Ups, the Oscar-winning Beginners, and the action comedy Date Night, yet it's a teen rom-com that is the best.
Easy A was a starring vehicle for Emma Stone after she had breakout supporting parts in Superbad and Zombieland. The film, inspired by The Scarlet Letter, tells the story about Olive, a high school student who turns negative gossip about herself to actually improve her social standing.
Emma Stone is legitimately hilarious in the lead role from the famous "Pocketful of Sunshine" scene to every sharp comeback she delivers. The supporting cast is stellar too, led by funny turns from Stanley Tucci, Amanda Bynes, and Patricia Clarkson.
2011: Bridesmaids
2011 is actually filled with fantastic comedy movies. The Muppets revival was outstanding, 50/50 is funny and heartwarming, and The Artist literally won Best Picture. There was also Crazy, Stupid, Love, which has a stunning plot twist and a hilarious ensemble.
However, it's hard to find many movies funnier than Bridesmaids. This was a film that helped prove that female-led comedies could be as raunchy as they come while also being very well-written, and being a beautiful story about friendship.
The film focuses on the misfortunes a group of bridesmaids suffers before a big wedding. These events are all individually so funny, from the bathroom incident at the wedding dress store to the ridiculousness on the airplane, Bridesmaids is comedy gold. Melissa McCarthy even scored an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress.
2012: 21 Jump Street
Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum with guns and wearing tuxedos in 21 Jump Street
Like 2011, 2012 featured some memorable comedy movies. Pitch Perfect was a blast, Moonrise Kingdom is Wes Anderson at his best, and Ted is classic Seth MacFarlane fun. The likes of Silver Linings Playbook and Seven Psychopaths are great films that lean more into other genres.
In terms of pure laughs, 21 Jump Street is just a great time. The adaptation of the TV show from decades past was funnier than the series because Jonah Hill, Channing Tatum, Ice Cube, and the rest of the supporting cast worked so well together.
The movie knows how absurd the premise, where two cops go undercover as high school students, is and it uses that to its advantage. Whether it's the two main characters tripping on drugs or Jonah Hill's slam poetry scene, the film has non-stop laughs.
2013: The Wolf Of Wall Street
Jordan Belfort (Leonardo DiCaprio) with his hands in the air on the office floor in The Wolf of Wall Street.
In 2013, we were treated to the long-awaited Anchorman sequel as well as the final leg of the Three Cornettos Trilogy and while both were good, they didn't quite live up to the originals. We're the Millers and This is the End are the top contenders besides the film we picked as the best one.
The Wolf of Wall Street is a pretty genius comedy. It has elements of other genres and is another masterpiece from Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio, yet the best thing about it is that it's a riot at its core.
DiCaprio has never been funnier and Jonah Hill delivers what's probably the best performance of his career. The film leans into the wacky side of the wild story of Jordan Belfort's life to give us some stellar comedy. The infamous Quaaludes scene is some of the best physical comedy you'll ever see.
2014: What We Do In The Shadows
2014 was another really good year for comedy, including the fact that Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) won Best Picture. Neighbors, The LEGO Movie, 22 Jump Street, and The Grand Budapest Hotel are also strong contenders.
In the end, the choice for the best film in the genre from 2014 is What We Do in the Shadows. The movie is a mockumentary that follows a group of vampires who live together in Wellington, New Zealand. The film spawned a popular series of the same name.
What We Do in the Shadows comes from the minds of Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement, who also star as two of the vampires. The mockumentary style is utilized well, they do a good job of playing into vampire lore, and the werewolf scene is great.
2015: Pitch Perfect 2
The Barden Bellas singing Flashlight on stage together in Pitch Perfect 2
The Big Short takes a serious subject and gives us laughs, The Lobster is an absurdist comedy, The Intern is heartfelt, and Tangerine is one of the better indie films in recent memory. There's also Spy, The Night Before, Trainwreck, and Sleeping with Other People in this loaded year.
The top spot for the year comes from a fantastic sequel in Pitch Perfect 2. The original film from 2012 is a wonderful tale about an all-girls a capella group in college, while the sequel follows their next misadventures with the stakes, cameos, and laughs raised.
Elizabeth Banks does good work in the director's chair, Hailee Steinfeld is a great addition to the cast, and surprise appearances from Snoop Dogg, the Green Bay Packers, and Pentatonix are hilarious. Pitch Perfect 2 is about as good as the original and a highlight of 2015.
2016: The Nice Guys
Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe peer around a corner in The Nice Guys
Deadpool was the big box office live-action comedy hit in 2016, while Finding Nemo led the way for animated comedy. The year was also home to underrated gems like Hunt for the Wilderpeople, The Edge of Seventeen, and Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping.
That said, The Nice Guys is one of the best comedy movies in recent memory, regardless of the year. The film follows a private investigator and an enforcer who work together to investigate the disappearance of a teen girl.
The mystery element is the core of the film but the comedy makes it special. Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe have excellent chemistry as partners, while Angourie Rice delivers a hilarious early performance. Shane Black's screenplay is also as sharp as it gets.
2017: Lady Bird
Christine (Saoirse Ronan) and Julie (Beanie Feldstein) walking in Lady Bird
2017 featured a few standout comedy movies including the blockbuster Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, the beloved Paddington 2, and the Oscar-nominated biopic, I, Tonya. The Diaster Artist is also very good, while The LEGO Batman Movie is one of the best films about the Caped Crusader.
That said, Lady Bird did something special and would be the best comedy movie in most years. Written and directed by Greta Gerwig, the coming-of-age film follows the titular Lady Bird and her turbulent relationship with her mother before she leaves home for college.
Lady Bird was a critical darling that sits at a 99% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, was nominated for five Oscars, and won two Golden Globes, including for Best Picture - Musical or Comedy. Saoirse Ronan leads a fantastic cast that also includes Timothée Chalamet and Beanie Feldstein.
2018: Crazy Rich Asians
2018 was another year for unusual comedy movies like The Favourite and Sorry to Bother You, which are two movies where you never know what's coming next. Eighth Grade was loved by critics, Tag and Blockers are super fun, and Set It Up is a very good throwback rom-com.
Sticking with the romantic comedy genre, Crazy Rich Asians takes the top spot. Based on the novel of the same name, the movie follows economics professor Rachel as she visits Singapore with her boyfriend and learns that he's incredibly wealthy.
There are so many scenes that lead to big laughs but what really makes this work so well is the cast. Constance Wu, Henry Golding, Gemma Chan, Michelle Yeoh, Ken Jeong, and a scene-stealing Awkwafina all deliver stellar performances that help make Crazy Rich Asians an all-time rom-com.
2019: Booksmart
Beanie Feldstein and Kaitlyn Dever in Booksmart
In 2019, we got some great comedies. Once Upon a Time in Hollywood... is hilarious, Jojo Rabbit has an Oscar winning screenplay, Zombieland: Double Tap is a great sequel, and Always Be My Maybe is a great romantic comedy. There's also My Name is Dolemite and Someone Great, to name a few.
It's Booksmart that is the best comedy of 2019 and it's one of the best of the decade. Kaitlyn Dever and Beanie Feldstein are fantastic as the leads, while Lisa Kudrow, Jessica Williams, and Billie Lourd are part of a tremendous supporting cast.
The story centers on two girls who never had fun in high school agreeing to have one night of fun before college, only for nothing to go right during the experience. The situations are relatable yet outlandish at times and the filmmaking is stellar, including a memorable scene where the main characters are portrayed as dolls.
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