Brought to you by Warner Bros. Pictures.
How many have you watched?
There’s nothing quite like laughing at something you know you shouldn’t laugh at. It’s like getting the giggles in school or trying not to to smile at a funeral.
There’s something about that release of nervous tension that makes people love black comedies. These films can also shine a light on the darker seams of human nature and let you cover interesting or unusual stories.
The latest black comedy to hit our cinema screens is Game Night, which stars Arrested Development alumni Jason Bateman, Rachel McAdams and our very own Sharon Horgan. The film follows a group of couples who attend a murder mystery party but things don’t exactly work out as planned.
That got us thinking about our favourite black comedies so we compiled this handy list of must-see films for any fans of the genre.
1. In Bruges
Clip via The Best Film One Liners
Martin McDonagh’s sharply-scripted comedy pulls no punches. You’re still recovering from one inappropriate joke when he hits you with another two or three in quick succession.
It’s a machine gun barrage of dark, dark humour. Stars Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson are obviously having a blast as criminals who swap barbed lines and social commentaries between gunfights.
2. Withnail & I
Clip via uiprodra
An unravelling friendship between two borderline alcoholics shouldn’t be this funny but this film hurtles from one hilarious scenario to the next. The chemistry between the two leads gives it real heart while also grounding some of its more surreal flights of fancy.
Withnail & I is a cult comedy that boasts more memorable quotes than a Collected Works of Shakespeare.
3. Fargo
Clip via gulagulasusu
Fargo constantly skirts the line between tragedy and comedy. The Coen Brothers’ classic mines its characters’ quirks or weaknesses for every laugh it can and it wallows in their most uncomfortable moments.
It’s a deadpan balancing act between the serious and the ridiculous, between violent death and the boring reality of normal life. Frances McDormand leads a talented cast as a pregnant Midwest cop who gets dragged into a world of murder, kidnapping and fraud.
4. Trainspotting
Clip via dassalmighty
A black comedy about heroin addicts may be a tough sell but Trainspotting pulls it off with its cynical observations and well-judged use of physical comedy.
It relies on gallows humour and sardonic gags to acclimatise you to the characters’ warped camaraderie and make you care about the cast of deadbeats, liars and thieves. Apart from Begby, obviously.
5. In the Loop
Clip via StudiocanalUK
Political satire has never been funnier or better-scripted but this film is all about Peter Capaldi’s Malcolm Tucker. Few on-screen characters have ever been more compelling or hilarious than the foul-mouthed Tucker, a character who elevates profanity and offence into an artform. Best. Insults. Ever.
6. Pulp Fiction
Clip via Movieclips
Pulp Fiction’s use of razor sharp dialogue, unapologetic violence and a non-linear plot tore up the blueprint for black comedies and created a new one in the process.
Tarantino’s unique comic sensibilities are perhaps best summed up by the story of Butch’s watch. It’s emotional, hilarious, tinged in brutality and slightly repulsive – all at the same time.
7. Falling Down
Clip via zq9x
This peculiar film is a portrayal of one man’s mental collapse that’s at turns disturbing and laugh-out-loud funny. It’s a blunt object of a film, hitting you over the head and challenging you to laugh or cry.
Regardless of whether you sympathise with Michael Douglas’ character or not, it’s hard not to crack up at scenes like the one in Whammyburger.
8. Dr Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb
Clip via Movieclips
Yeah, the title gives you a hint of what you’re in for. This Stanley Kubrick masterpiece is a clever deconstruction of the Cold War mentality that follows the logic of the nuclear arms race to its natural conclusion. Peter Sellers plays multiple roles in a classic satire that remains strangely relevant after all these years.
9. Thank You For Smoking
Clip via Movieclips
This satirical film is a stylish deconstruction of the world of spin, focusing on a lobbyist for Big Tobacco. Aaron Eckhart is perfect as the square-jawed, amoral suit who is driven by his desire to win an argument at any costs.
This slick film proves that the devil has all the best, and funniest, lines. Expect plenty of unashamedly dark humour that’s as smooth as it is savage.
10. Bad Santa
Clip via Movieclips
Christmas movies never used to be like this. Billy Bob Thornton is brilliant as a criminal who dresses up as Santa to commit crimes. His hard-drinking, foul-mouthed turn as a twisted Santa makes for a seasonal film that’s firmly on the side of the bad kids.
It’s funny, irreverent and not afraid to double down on a crude joke when most films would pull back from the edge.
11. Fight Club
Clip via Movieclips
This exploration of toxic masculinity drags you in, plays with your mind and then spits you out when it’s done with you.
Brad Pitt and Ed Norton’s characters establish an underground club for men to punch each other in the head, setting them on a path of violence, secrets and sucker punches. Fight Club keeps you guessing with its biting take on modern society but it understands that laughter and discomfort go hand in hand.
Game Night is the outrageous new comedy starring and amazing cast that includes Jason Bateman, Academy Award nominee Rachel McAdams and Sharon Horgan. Game Night is in cinemas now.
Brought to you by Warner Bros. Pictures.
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