9 Underrated & Hilarious Comedies That No One Ever Talks About

It’s sometimes hard to predict which comedy movies will be remembered as timeless classics and which hilarious films will fester in obscurity with nobody talking about them. While it’s always exciting to discover a hidden gem, underappreciated cult favorite, or comedy oddity that you’ve never heard of before, it sometimes boggles the mind how such laugh-out-loud hilarious movies end up as forgotten financial flops. While popularity is not always the best measure of success, it feels like none of these movies ever really got their due.

Although there are some underrated comedies that have been reappraised and gained retrospective acclaim for their underappreciated quality, none of these films reached their full potential and deserve far more attention from modern viewers. Even with major comedy stars like Will Ferrell, Amy Poehler, or Andy Samberg in starring roles, this was not enough to ensure box office success and enduring popularity. For anyone looking for a great comedy movie they may not have seen, all these underrated releases offer something uniquely interesting.

9

Tucker & Dale Vs. Evil (2010)

Directed by Eli Craig

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Tucker & Dale vs. Evil

R

Horror

Comedy

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8/10

8.0/10

Release Date

September 30, 2011

Runtime

89 minutes

Cast

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  • Headshot Of Tyler Labine

    Tyler Labine

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    Katrina Bowden

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Tucker & Dale vs. Evil poked fun at the hillbilly killer trope seen in movies like Deliverance and The Hills Have Eyes to deliver a comedy horror about clueless college students who mistake some well-meaning hillbillies for killers. As a hilarious comedy that subverted the normal trajectory of a horror, much of the humor of this film came from the teens getting the wrong end of the stick and accidentally causing several deaths due to accidents and misunderstandings.

With a strong script, some great performances, and a uniquely clever premise that turns classic movie tropes on their head, Tucker & Dale vs. Evil was an incredible debut from director Eli Craig that never really got its due. While the film has gained plenty of retrospective praise and Craig has even spoken about the possibility of a sequel, none of these plans ever came to fruition, and Tucker & Dale vs. Evil remains criminally underseen.

8

Semi-Pro (2008)

Directed by Kent Alterman

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Semi-Pro

R

Comedy

Release Date

February 28, 2008

Runtime

91 minutes

Cast

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  • Headshot Of Will Ferrell In The premiere of Illumination's 'Despicable Me 4'

    Will Ferrell

    Jackie Moon

  • Headshot Of Woody Harrelson

    Woody Harrelson

    Monix

  • Headshot Of Maura Tierney

    Maura Tierney

    Clarence

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Maura Tierney

    Lynn

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Back in the 2000s it felt like Will Ferrell could do no wrong, and every movie he appeared in was comedy gold. With releases like Talladega Nights and Step Brothers standing as undeniable classics, sandwiched in between these movies was the forgotten sports comedy Semi-Pro. Featuring Ferrell, Woody Harrelson, and André 3000, Semi-Pro told the story of a fictional American basketball team desperately trying to survive their league’s merger with the NBA.

With plenty of laughs and Ferrell’s unique comedy stylings, Semi-Pro had all the markings of a classic 2000s comedy, but it just didn’t gain the same kind of ever-present audience as other Ferrell movies from that time. Looking back, it’s clear Semi-Pro was underrated, although it was overshadowed by the success of Step Brothers the same year, and it seemed there was only room for one iconic Will Ferrell comedy in 2008.

7

They Came Together (2014)

Directed by David Wain

They Came Together - POster

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They Came Together

R

Comedy

Release Date

June 27, 2014

Runtime

84 minutes

Cast

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  • Headshot Of Paul Rudd In The  'Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire' Premiere

    Paul Rudd

    Joel

  • Headshot Of Amy Poehler In The 2024 CinemaCon Big Screen Achievement Awards

    Amy Poehler

    Molly

  • Headshot Of Bill Hader In The 71st Primetime Emmy Awards

    Bill Hader

    Kyle

  • Headshot Of Ellie Kemper

    Ellie Kemper

    Karen

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They Came Together was a hilarious parody of all things rom-com that was maybe just a bit too absurd to become a mainstream hit. With Paul Rudd and Amy Poehler as a couple named Joel and Molly, this satirical romance saw the pair recounting the entire history of their relationship in a story that poked fun at iconic comedies like You’ve Got Mail, When Harry Met Sally, and Sleepless in Seattle. Through a total overexaggeration of the character archetypes, formulaic narratives, and implausible meet-cutes that make up the average rom-com, They Came Together took spoofing to the absolute extreme.

As a total box office flop, They Came Together only took $82,780 against its $3 million budget and rarely gets mentioned by rom-com lovers. Perhaps They Came Together made the mistake of being too smart for its own good and was punished for bravely embracing the absurdity of cinema’s typical depictions of romance.

6

The Weather Man (2005)

Directed by Gore Verbinski

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The Weather Man

R

Comedy

Drama

Release Date

October 20, 2005

Runtime

101 minutes

Cast

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  • Headshot Of Nicolas Cage In The 77th Cannes Film Festival 'The Surfer' Premiere

    Nicolas Cage

    David Spritz

  • Shot Of Michael Caine In The World premiere of 'The Great Escaper' at BFI Southbank

    Michael Caine

    Robert Spritzel

  • Headshot Of Hope Davis

    Hope Davis

    Noreen

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Gemmenne de la Peña

    Shelly Spritzel

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Oscar winner Nicolas Cage has been involved with plenty of hugely acclaimed comedies over the years, with movies like Raising Arizona, Vampire’s Kiss, and The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent all gaining huge critical acclaim. However, one fantastic Cage film that seems to be swept under the carpet constantly was The Weather Man, an insightful comedy-drama from the Pirates of the Caribbean director, Gore Verbinski. As a black comedy about a middle-aged man in a state of crisis, Cage captured the funny side of sadness as the weatherman Dave Spritz’s life crumbles around him.

With an enjoyable supporting performance from Michael Caine, who delivers a questionable American accent as Dave’s father, The Weather Man was a divisive movie that will resonate with those who prefer their comedy with a heavy dose of pessimism. As the story of a man whose success at work does not extend to his personal life, Cage was both funny and tragic as he attempted to reconnect with his estranged wife while also not damaging his chances for a big promotion in the process.

5

Due Date (2010)

Directed by Todd Phillips

due date

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Due Date

pg-13

Comedy

Documentary

Drama

ScreenRant logo

7/10

6.0/10

Release Date

November 4, 2010

Runtime

95minutes

Cast

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  • Headshot Of Robert Downey Jr. In The 10th Annual Breakthrough Prize Ceremony

    Robert Downey Jr.

  • Headshot Of Zach Galifianakis

    Zach Galifianakis

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The Hangover director Todd Phillips reunited with Zach Galifianakis for Due Date, a hilarious road comedy co-starring Robert Downey Jr. As the story of a man (Downey) who must travel cross-country to make it to Los Angeles in time for the birth of his child, much to his dismay, he’s joined by an aspiring actor (Galifianakis) who consistently gets on his nerves in a hilarious mismatched comedy. While Due Date clearly borrowed heavily from the similarly themed Steve Martin and John Candy movie Planes, Trains and Automobiles, the chemistry between these two stars helped it stand out.

As a film that’s packed with energy from start to finish, although Due Date was derivative of other works, it still stood as an enjoyable comedy that doesn’t deserve to fester in obscurity the way it has. With a kind of mean-spirited sensibility, it was thrilling to watch Downey become increasingly frustrated by the man he’s reluctantly been partnered with. As an attempt to try something new from Phillips, I’d much rather watch Due Date than the disappointing Hangover sequels he made in the following years.

4

50/50 (2011)

Directed by Jonathan Levine

50:50 Movie Poster Showing Joseph Gordon Levitt Shaving His Head standing next to Seth Rogen

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50/50

R

Comedy

Documentary

Drama

ScreenRant logo

8/10

7.0/10

Release Date

September 30, 2011

Runtime

100 minutes

Cast

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  • Headshot Of Joseph Gordon-Levitt In The Hollywood Critics Association's 2023 HCA Film Awards

    Joseph Gordon-Levitt

  • Headshot Of Seth Rogen

    Seth Rogen

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While Seth Rogen made his name starring in raunchy, Judd Apatow-produced comedies, the thoughtful comedy-drama 50/50 was an early glimpse into his more sentimental endeavors. As a touching story of friendship during the hardest of times, 50/50 was written by Rogen’s close friend Will Reiser, who urged him to write a screenplay about his experiences undergoing cancer treatment. The result was 50/50, starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Adam Lerner, a young man undergoing chemotherapy who leans on the support of his friends while struggling to beat the disease.

There’s a real sense of heart and realism at the center of 50/50, although the script remained incredibly funny throughout. Anyone who’s gone through difficult experiences and serious illness will know that maintaining a sense of humor is one of the best things you can do, and 50/50 was a cancer story that used comedy in a way most films dealing with these types of topics never do. With honest performances and plenty of genuine laughs, 50/50 was both touching and incredibly funny.

3

Hot Rod (2007)

Directed by Akiva Schaffer

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Hot Rod

PG-13

Comedy

Action

6.5/10

Release Date

August 3, 2007

Runtime

88 minutes

Cast

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  • Headshot Of Andy Samberg In The 76th Golden Globe Awards

    Andy Samberg

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Jorma Taccone

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While those in the know are well aware of the hilarity of Hot Rod, it’s still incredible just how underseen this phenomenal comedy is. As one of the funniest movies of the 2000s, it’s strange how other films from the same era, like Superbad, are known and beloved by everybody, while it seems to only be comedy enthusiasts who have recognized the greatness of Hot Rod. Featuring Andy Samberg as an aspiring stuntman, Hot Rod maintains the same eccentric sense of humor that Samberg and the rest of his Lonely Island co-stars were known for.

With laugh-out-loud sequences such as when Samberg’s Rod Kimble falls down a mountain for so long it starts to become absurdly hilarious or Will Arnett’s arrogant boyfriend character endlessly shouting “babe,” it was impossible not to be won over by Hot Rod’s unique sense of humor. As a box office flop that took in just $14 million against its $25 million budget, Hot Rod is a prime example that financial figures aren’t the best metric of a movie’s merits.

2

Defending Your Life (1991)

Directed by Albert Brooks

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Defending Your Life

PG

Comedy

Fantasy

Romance

Drama

Release Date

March 22, 1991

Runtime

111 minutes

Cast

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  • Headshot Of Albert Brooks In The Annual MOCA Gala

    Albert Brooks

    Daniel Miller

  • 77th Cannes Film Festival - Opening Ceremony Official Gala DinnerHeadshot Of Meryl Streep In The

    Meryl Streep

    Julia

  • Headshot OF Rip Torn

    Rip Torn

    Bob Diamond

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Lee Grant

    Lena Foster

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The acclaimed writer, director, and actor Albert Brooks has made plenty of amazing movies, although many of the best have been completely underrated by general viewers. Among these was Defending Your Life, a hilarious comedy about a man who finds himself on trial in the afterlife and who must defend himself in the afterlife. Brooks played Daniel Miller, an advertising executive who must convince a group of condescending bureaucrats in Judgement City that he’d made enough of his life on Earth to be allowed to move onto the next phase of existence.

With Brooks as the advertising executive Daniel Miller and Meryl Streep as his love interest Julia, this uniquely clever film captured the appeal of works like The Good Place years before that sitcom was even made. Through insightful messaging about living life to the fullest and not letting fear stand in the way of achieving our hopes, dreams, and ambitions, Defending Your Life has gained acclaim from all those who’ve seen it, yet despite a 98% score on Rotten Tomatoes, it is still woefully unknown.

1

The Nice Guys (2016)

Directed by Shane Black

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The Nice Guys

R

Mystery

Thriller

Crime

ScreenRant logo

7/10

25

8.7/10

Release Date

May 20, 2016

Runtime

116minutes

Cast

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  • Headshot Of Ryan Gosling In The Paris premiere of 'The Fall Guy'

    Ryan Gosling

  • Headshot Of Ty Simpkins In The Celebrities attend The 51st Annual Saturn Awards

    Ty Simpkins

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Anytime you hear somebody complaining that Hollywood has become overrun by franchises and nobody is making great original movies anymore, just point to The Nice Guys as a prime example of directing delivering exactly what everyone says they want, yet nobody went to see it. With Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling in a hilarious neo-noir buddy crime story, this 1970s-set tale was absolutely bursting with style, yet it underperformed at the box office and has been largely ignored by general audiences.

While The Nice Guys never got its due from the mainstream, it’s built up its reputation as a cult classic comedy and stands as a high point in Black’s career as both a director and writer. Through a tight script and well-constructed noir-style story, The Nice Guys harkened back to an older style of Hollywood filmmaking that’s not really done anymore.

Source: The Numbers

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