Movies, although considered art, are more than just a medium for entertainment. The livelihood of millions of people are dependent on them and the success or failure relies on only one aspect, The Audience. While there are multiple ways to get the audience to like your work, a safe way to gather audience is a comedy. However, as an old saying goes, ‘Comedy is a serious business’ and making people laugh is easier said than done. In their quest to get the audience to laugh, some movies might end up as a terrible watch, there are a few movies that have a direct line to our funny bones. While there are many movies that are of the former category, movies in the latter are the ones that we always remember. Whatever be the case, any movie that makes you laugh should be applauded and here is my list of movies that are so funny that they would make you laugh till you cry!!!
13. Paul
Language: English, 2011
Directed By: Greg Mottola
Starring: Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Jason Bateman, Kristen Wiig, Bill Hader, Blythe Danner, John Carroll Lynch, Sigourney Weaver, Seth Rogen.
If there is one movie that would definitely be included in movies people should watch before they die, Paul would definitely be a sure shot contender. A brilliant and intelligent screenplay, that comically references every hit movie in that science fiction horror genre. Although the credit to the movie lies in the story and screenplay of the movie, without the services of Simon Pegg and Nick Frost it wouldn’t have ended up as a brilliant classic it has now become. The stereotyping of all Sci-Fi movies and parodying it seems a little cliche, but when done tastefully even the staunchest of critics has a tummy hurting dose of laughter all throughout the movie!
12. Austin Powers trilogy.
Language: English, 1997 – 2002.
Directed By: Jay Roach
Starring: Mike Myers, Michael York, Seth Green, Mindy Sterling, Robert Wagner, Verne Troyer
If there is one movie that takes every stereotype and breaks your funny bone in completely bizarre fashion, then we have three movies for the cause. As soon as one hears the name Austin Power, the first thing that rings a bell is the weird and outlandish mannerism of handling the commonly perceived stereotypes. Although intended as a spoof, it turned out to be way beyond the movies in that category and spawned the sequels that we so dearly wished were made and not made. However, if you ever wish to watch the movie, do so alone as not only can you laugh your heart out, but you can avoid all the embarrassment to explain the freakish stereotypes to your family.
11. Tharle Nan Maga – Kannada,
Language: Kannada, 1992
Directed By: Upendra
Starring: Jaggesh, Anjali Sudhakar
The movie that introduced the world to two future superstars of Kannada Cinema, Jaggesh and Upendra. Although both of them had established themselves as men worthy of their skills, it is with this movie that they struck gold, both critically and commercially, proving to be the perfect launchpad that they so dearly deserved. The success of the movie would predominantly be attributed to the double entendre that defined the career paths of both men they have grown out of these stereotypes to have scripts written only for their witty mannerism and out of the box thinking. Although the meanings have been diluted over the years, it still cracks you up on the narrative played second fiddle to the acting and directional brilliance of the stars.
10. Andaz Apna Apna
Language: Hindi, 1994.
Directed By: Rajkumar Santoshi
Starring: Aamir Khan, Salman Khan, Raveena Tandon, Karisma Kapoor, Paresh Rawal, Shakti Kapoor.
If there is one movie in this genre that was not a commercial success but ended up being a classic over the years then it has to be Andaz Apna Apna. The situational comedies of Salman and Aamir with Juhi Chawla and Karishma Kapoor were too good to be missed. Everyone had acknowledged this, but it still ended up being a flop, which is a mystery to crack. If there is one movie that defines family humor then this is the one. Play this movie in all family gatherings and none would complain.
07. Pineapple Express
Language: English, 2008
Directed By: David Gordon Green
Starring: Seth Rogen, James Franco, Gary Cole, Rosie Perez, Danny McBride.
One of the few movies and the very first movie to take stoner comedy to the masses. It’s so stoned and so comic, it feels like you are gradually getting stoned as the story progresses. With a bullseye on the casting credits, the movie is now the favorite amongst the critics and audiences alike. They carry the movie throughout with equal support from all the supporting cast members. This is one movie you would never feel bored irrespective of the number of times you have watched it already.
09. Delhi Belly
Language: Hindi, 2011
Directed By: Abhinay Deo
Starring: Imran Khan, Vir Das, Kunaal Roy Kapur, Poorna Jagannathan, Shenaz Treasurywala.
This is in some ways is India’s answer to Pineapple Express, however, it does have all the elements to make it a completely unique and refreshing take on how a cinema can be portrayed. Although everything about the movie was controversial be it the songs or the story or the way it was made, it didn’t fit into the existing contemporary outlook of our society, yet it is a hilarious movie that tickles your funny bone and a movie that should not be missed if you want to watch a movie that brings you out of your sorrows and miseries in an unlikely manner.
08. Tamizh Padam
Language: Tamil, 2010.
Directed By: C. S. Amudhan
Starring: Shiva, Disha Pandey, Paravai Muniyamma.
As unusual as the title, Tamizh Padam(Tamil Movie) is a movie to have many firsts to its credit with the masthead being, the very first spoof movie in Tamil cinema. Agreed, there have been a lot of movies that spoofed other movies, but the credit for not just spoofing one movie but the entire cinema industry as a whole would solely rest on this one with a refreshing take on the stereotypes in our film industry. Be it the science-defying stunts or the logic-defying story and even the confusing music, all of them has been spoofed hilariously and in turn, went on to be a success. If there is one movie you wish to watch with your family and ensure that there are no awkward scenes or as a moral science class to you, it’s got to be Tamil Padam.
06. Mata & Eddelu Manjunatha
Language : Kannada, 2008 & 2009.
Directed By: Guruprasad
Starring: Jaggesh, R. N. Sudarshan, Tabla Nani, Vaijanath Biradar, Mandya Ramesh & Yagna Shetty.
There are usually two kinds of movies. The commercial and art house. The commercial are the ones that defy logic and science taking dramatic liberty to great heights to appeal to a wider and mass audience. The art house that portrays the real reflection of our society while giving no thought about the mass appeal. We have had our fair share of art house movies that have become a critical success, we seldom find it the other way around. Mata and Eddelu Manjunatha fall into the latter. If there are two movies that inspire the audience to wear a thinking cap it has to be Mata And Eddelu Manjunatha. These two movies are constructed in a completely uncharted manner with a relatively unknown star cast except for the lead hero and provoke the audience to think about the grim realities of life and leaves us wondering. Although the theme might seem too philosophical all of this is portrayed in a hilarious manner that would definitely make you laugh till you cry.
05. Thillu Mullu.
Language: Tamil, 1981
Directed By: K. Balachandar(Tamil)
Starring: Tamil – Rajinikanth, Madhavi, Thengai Srinivasan.
Now, this is a movie that was directed by the legendary KB that reintroduced the superstar in a completely new avatar. Although it is a remake it had every detailing and trademark of the legend with the success of the film never in question. However what the real surprise was the superstar himself who, like always blindly believed in his mentor and etched out another memorable performance. With the comic timings of the actors, the wonderfully placed narrative would definitely leave you in splits and a definite recommendation for a family viewing experience.
04. Kung Fu Hustle
Language: Mandarin & Cantonese, 2004
Directed By: Stephen Chow
Starring: Stephen Chow, Danny Chan, Yuen Wah, Yuen Qiu, Eva Huang
Here is a movie that made a conscious decision to appear as a B grade movie to only up the ante on the comical aspect. But what they did not anticipate is the final end product and the result. A movie that tickles your funny bone with every scene, even the serious stunts were choreographed to evoke laughter in you. The credit to which lies in the multi-talented Stephen Chow, who wrote, directed and performed in it with such elan, that it epitomizes the metaphor ‘It is so bad that its good’!
03. Tropic Thunder
Language: English, 2008
Directed By: Ben Stiller
Starring: Ben Stiller, Jack Black, Robert Downey Jr., Steve Coogan, Jay Baruchel, Danny McBride, Brandon T. Jackson, Bill Hader, Nick Nolte, Tom Cruise, Matthew McConaughey
I’m very much startled by the fact that Ben Stiller could convince an entire list of Top Billing actors to not just act in a movie that was more of spoof on their lives, but to make a mockery of the entire film fraternity and the industry. The ultimate output not just funny but hilariously over the top funny. Be it Downey Jr.’s ‘You never go full retard’, or Tom Cruise as Les Grossman or even Jay Baruchel as the only sane man on the set, everything was hilarious to say the least and its definitely on any list of binge-watching with friends.
02. Airplane
Language: English, 1980
Directed By: Jim Abrahams
Starring: Robert Hays, Julie Hagerty, Leslie Nielsen, Lloyd Bridges, Robert Stack, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Peter Graves, Lorna Patterson.
A pioneer in the concept of spoof cinema and to a great extent introducing the concept to the general audience. It is because of this movie, we all love our specialist spoofer ‘Leslie Nielsen’. It’s in this movie that he got his signature deadpan comedy to work for him. The amusing one-liners, silly jokes, and mundane and taboo topics make it a laugh riot that you could watch with your entire family without a care in the world and one that would definitely make you laugh until you cry.
01. Panchathanthiram.
Language: Tamil, 2002.
Directed By: K. S. Ravikumar
Starring: Kamal Haasan, Simran, Jayaram, Ramya Krishnan, Ramesh Aravind, Sriman, Yugi Sethu.
When a perfectionist known for etching out brilliant movies that transcend boundaries and in many ways considered a classic decides to make a comedy, rest assured it’s going to be a hilarious movie that would not only make you laugh until you cry but it would make you laugh even with a mere mention of the name. Panchathanthiram is an epitome of comedy that can never go out of our minds whenever we think of comedy. These situational comedy where the cast tries to get the better of each other is nothing short of perfect. Add to this some witty dialogues and an even better body language, Panchathanthiram would get all your five senses to burst out laughing.
CHITRAPATAH 
Michael madana kamarajan,kalavani, the 20 minute scene in velainnu vanthuta vellaikaran where Robot Shankar recollects a day are other worthy mentions. Not to forget the omi speech in 3 idiots.
I would definitely agree with MMK, that is a classic, while the others were more of a part of the movie hence didn’t wanna include it in this list.
To be honest, there are many movies that I wanted to include but reserved it for later like Imsai Arasam rd Pulikesi, Golmal(Original of Thillu Mullu), MMK, Thenali, Kothigalu trilogy(Kannada), Scary Movie series…..the list goes on. The list that i have is one of the many to be made.