When writing this list I realized that we’re all going to have differing definitions of what a “dark comedy” is. I guess you can look it up on Wikipedia if you want, but what a dark comedy is to me is a movie that takes serious topics like murder, suicide, rape, zombie attacks, nuclear holocausts etc and turns them into something more lighthearted. These movies are usually pretty twisted just from the mere fact that it’s not normal to laugh at things like decapitation or being a racist. Anyway, I’ve selected what I think are some of the best dark comedies of all time. And of course I left your favorite out so let me know what it is in the comment section
10. Edward Scissorhands (1990)
The movie is mostly sort of sad and touching, but it has some pretty hilarious parts as well. The Pleasantville-type world Burton has created here is inherently a quirky place, and Edward’s bush and hair trimming skills along with his propensity to deflate waterbeds make this movie a memorable dark comedy.
9. Death to Smoochy (2002)
A lot of people write this movie off at the video store because of it’s weird title, but rent it, I promise you that you won’t regret it. Robin Williams and Ed Norton are fantastic as rival kids show hosts, and watch for Jon Stewart in one of his few film appearances.
Here’s Ed Norton being awesome:
8. Shaun of the Dead (2004)
I know I’ll get some criticism for putting one or two horror comedies in here, but Shaun of the Dead is a great black comedy and is one of the few good parody films out there. It’s gruesome and violent but hilarious above all else.
Here’s the amazing record throwing scene
7, Election (1999)
This movie is often overlooked, but it’s a real gem of the genre. Initially about a school election between Tracy Flick (Reese Witherspoon) and Paul Meltzer (Chris Klein), it turns in a different direction when a teacher is expelled for having sex with the underage Tracy and Matthew Broderick starts believing she is evil and must be stopped.
6. Evil Dead 2 (1987)
Another horror/comedy entry here, but shut up, it’s a black comedy for sure. I wasn’t sure which of the Evil Dead movies to pick. I skipped past the first one as it’s too much horror, and chose this over Army of Darkness just for one scene alone:
5. Heathers (1988)
I just finished watching Heathers for the first time about five minutes ago so I can say that I’ve actually seen all the movies on this list. It’s a great concept and seemed like Mean Girls meets Suicide Club (though it came before both), though I didn’t think it was particularly funny. Just because a movie doesn’t take something seriously (in this case suicide) I’m not sure if that makes it a comedy. But whatever, it counts.
4. Natural Born Killers (1994)
Even I’m hesitant to classify this as a dark comedy over other similarly themed movies like Resevoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction, but the scene I think clinches it for me is the “sitcom scene” titled “I Love Mallory.”
3. American Psycho (2000)
If you have any doubt that American Psycho is a dark comedy, just look at Christian Bale’s face in that picture. It can be viewed as a psychological mind**** thriller instead I suppose, but I personally see more of the humor side of it. The business card scene? One of my favorite exchanges in ANY movie.
2. Fargo (1996)
I don’t want to hear about The Big Lebowski and Raising Arizona, Fargo is the only Coen Brothers comedy worthy of making this list, and it’s a really good one. The “true story” of a North Dakota crime spree that starts with a bumbling car salesman is far and away nearly the best example of a black comedy out there.
What, you were expecting the woodchipper scene? That’s not funny:
1. Dr. Strangelove (1964)
I won’t proclaim Dr. Strangelove as the first dark comedy, but I think it’s certainly the best. In a time when nuclear war with Russia seemed like a very real possibility, Peter Sellers and Stanley Kubrick decided to turn all that on its head and show how truly absurd the situation was. In the process, they created one of the greatest comedies ever made.
“Gentlemen, you can’t fight in here, this is the WAR ROOM!”
Others that could have made it: Very Bad Things and Happiness but even these were just too messed up for me. Snatch definitely qualifies.
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