A Tale of Two Lists: A Comparison in Funny
Recently Bravo listed their 100 Funniest Movies. I’ve decided to compare them to the AFI 100 Funniest Movies. The Bravo list is seriously flawed in that it doesn’t seem to realize that films existed before the 1980's. There are certainly some really funny movies on the list, but some of the all time classics aren’t even listed. Obviously the Bravo list is skewed to a younger generation. The AFI list is all-encompassing in regard to the history of film and I’d have to agree with it more as a whole. It is missing some of the newer instant comedy classics, but that’s forgivable as it recognizes and respects black and white.
Listed below are the AFI 100 Funniest Movies on the left (all-caps) and the corresponding 100 Funniest Movies from Bravo are on the right. Movies that I’ve made bold are movies that I believe belong in my top 100 funniest movies.
1. SOME LIKE IT HOT (1959) / Animal House
Both are wonderfully funny classics, but my funniest fave is History of the World: Part 1
2. TOOTSIE (1982) / Caddyshack Tootsie is a very funny movie, but Bravo is actually dead on with this one! Caddyshack rules!
3. DR. STRANGELOVE OR: HOW I LEARNED TO STOP WORRYING AND LOVE THE BOMB (1964) / Shrek
Who the Funk and Wagnall let Shrek on this list? Dr. Strangelove is a masterpiece!
4. ANNIE HALL (1977) / There’s Something About Mary Woody Allen trumps here. Although there’s always room for gross-out humor.
5. DUCK SOUP (1933) / South Park: Bigger, Longer, Uncut
Duck Soup is a deserving classic. South Park is a breath of vulgar air. Love it!
6. BLAZING SADDLES (1974) / Airplane
Two of the funniest movies ever!
7. M*A*S*H (1970) / The Wedding Singer
M*A*S*H is an Altman comedy classic. The Bravo folks are smoking crack on here.
8. IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT (1934) / Blazing Saddles
Both are awesome!
9. THE GRADUATE (1967) / Ace Ventura: Pet Detective
The Graduate is a no-brainer. Ace Ventura is a brain fart. WTF?!?
10. AIRPLANE! (1980) / Arthur Both are a laugh-a-minute.
11. THE PRODUCERS (1968) / Pee-Wee's Big Adventure
The Producers is also a no-brainer, but shoot me for thinking that Pee Wee belongs here. It’s damn funny.
12. A NIGHT AT THE OPERA (1935) / The Producers
Haven’t seen A Night at the Opera. The Producers is funnier than Abe Vigoda in Vasectomy.
13. YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN (1974) / Naked Gun Series
Mel Brooks has the magic touch! The Naked Gun movies were funny, but the series was funnier.
14. BRINGING UP BABY (1938) / Napolean Dynamite
Napolean Dynamite is funny, but not Top 100 funny. Sorry.
15. THE PHILADELPHIA STORY (1940) / Fast Times at Ridgemont High
Fast Times would be in my top 10.
16. SINGIN' IN THE RAIN (1952) / Old School
Both are great, but not quite...
17. THE ODD COUPLE (1968) / M*A*S*H The Odd Couple is laugh-out-loud hilarious. M*A*S*H is terrific!
18. THE GENERAL (1927) / Stripes
Haven’t seen The General. Sorry Stripes, but you don’t make my cut.
19. HIS GIRL FRIDAY (1940) / Wedding Crashers
Both are good, but not Top 100...
20. THE APARTMENT (1960) / The Jerk
I love Jack Lemon! Remember when Steve Martin was hilarious?
21. A FISH CALLED WANDA (1988) / Shampoo
Kkkkkkkkkkk’en. Would you like some ccchhhhips? Great movie!
22. ADAM'S RIB (1949) / Beverly Hills Cop
23. WHEN HARRY MET SALLY… (1989) / Big
24. BORN YESTERDAY (1950) / Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure
25. THE GOLD RUSH (1925) / Meet the Fockers
26. BEING THERE (1979) / Wayne’s World
27. THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT MARY (1998) / A Fish Called Wanda
28. GHOSTBUSTERS (1984) / Annie Hall
29. THIS IS SPINAL TAP (1984) / Legally Blonde
Spinal Tap should be higher. Maybe number “11".
30. ARSENIC AND OLD LACE (1944) / The 40 Year Old Virgin
"Chaaaarrrrrge!"
31. RAISING ARIZONA (1987) / The Big Lebowski
Love the Cohen brothers...half of the time.
32. THE THIN MAN (1934) / Groundhog Day
33. MODERN TIMES (1936) / Clerks
34. GROUNDHOG DAY (1993) / Rushmore
35. HARVEY (1950) / Beetlejuice
36. NATIONAL LAMPOON'S ANIMAL HOUSE (1978) / Good Morning Vietnam
Animal House is criminally low on the AFI list.
37. THE GREAT DICTATOR (1940) / Dodgeball
38. CITY LIGHTS (1931) / Best in Show
Best in Show makes you laugh so hard you’ll hiccup.
39. SULLIVAN'S TRAVELS (1941) / Mrs. Doubtfire
40. IT'S A MAD MAD MAD MAD WORLD (1963) / Monty Python and the Holy Grail
These are two of the funniest movies ever made. Both should be in the top 5. Insanely low!
41. MOONSTRUCK (1987) / Austin Powers
42. BIG (1988) / Harold and Maude
Harold and Maude is very special.
43. AMERICAN GRAFFITI (1973) / What About Bob?
44. MY MAN GODFREY (1936) / Sixteen Candles
45. HAROLD AND MAUDE (1972) / Raising Arizona
46. MANHATTAN (1979) / The Incredibles
47. SHAMPOO (1975) / 9 to 5
48. A SHOT IN THE DARK (1964) / American Grafitti
49. TO BE OR NOT TO BE (1942) / American Pie
50. CAT BALLOU (1965) / The Princess Bride
Both are awesome!
51. THE SEVEN YEAR ITCH (1955) / National Lampoon’s Vacation
Vacation is criminally low!
52. NINOTCHKA (1939) / Meet the Parents
53. ARTHUR (1981) / Dr. Strangelove
54. THE MIRACLE OF MORGAN'S CREEK (1944) / Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
55. THE LADY EVE (1941) / Bull Durham
56. ABBOTT AND COSTELLO MEET FRANKENSTEIN (1948) / Young Frankenstein
57. DINER (1982) / Swingers
58. IT'S A GIFT (1934) / Private Benjamin
59. A DAY AT THE RACES (1937) / Police Acadamy Series
60. TOPPER (1937) / When Harry Met Sally
61. WHAT'S UP, DOC? (1972) / Election
62. SHERLOCK, JR. (1924) / The Pink Panther
63. BEVERLY HILLS COP (1984) / Manhattan64. BROADCAST NEWS (1987) / This Is Spinal Tap
65. HORSE FEATHERS (1932) / Office Space
66. TAKE THE MONEY AND RUN (1969) / Dazed and Confused
67. MRS. DOUBTFIRE (1993) / Kingpin
68. THE AWFUL TRUTH (1937) / Broadcast News
69. BANANAS (1971) / Blues Brothers
70. MR. DEEDS GOES TO TOWN (1936) / Nutty Professor (Eddie Murphy)
71. CADDYSHACK (1980) / Roxanne
Only number 71? AFI is insane!
72. MR. BLANDINGS BUILDS HIS DREAM HOUSE (1948) / Moonstruck
73. MONKEY BUSINESS (1931) / City Slickers
74. 9 TO 5 (1980) / Trading Places
When Eddie Murphy was funny. I miss those days.
75. SHE DONE HIM WRONG (1933) / Dumb and Dumber
76. VICTOR/VICTORIA (1982) / Ghostbusters
77. THE PALM BEACH STORY (1942) / Flirting With Disaster
78. ROAD TO MOROCCO (1942) / Bananas
79. THE FRESHMAN (1925) / Three Amigos
80. SLEEPER (1973) / Lost In America
Woody Allen and Albert Brooks are geniuses!
81. THE NAVIGATOR (1924) / Half Baked
82. PRIVATE BENJAMIN (1980) / Tootsie
83. FATHER OF THE BRIDE (1950) / Sister Act
84. LOST IN AMERICA (1985) / Silver Streak
85. DINNER AT EIGHT (1933) / Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
86. CITY SLICKERS (1991) / Zoolander
87. FAST TIMES AT RIDGEMONT HIGH (1982) / The Kentucky Fried Movie
88. BEETLEJUICE (1988) / Team America
89. THE JERK (1979) / Slapshot90. WOMAN OF THE YEAR (1942) / Clueless
91. THE HEARTBREAK KID (1972) / Revenge of the Nerds
92. BALL OF FIRE (1941) / Father of the Bride
93. FARGO (1996) / The Aristocrats
94. AUNTIE MAME (1958) / Waiting For Guffman
Waiting For Guffman should be way higher.
95. SILVER STREAK (1976) / Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle
96. SONS OF THE DESERT (1933) / Four Weddings and a Funeral
97. BULL DURHAM (1988) / Happy Gilmore
98. THE COURT JESTER (1956) / School of Rock
99. THE NUTTY PROFESSOR (1963) / The Birdcage
100. GOOD MORNING, VIETNAM (1987) / Anchorman
Although both lists share many of the same movies both lists are completely different. The Bravo list is obviously aimed at my generation, but it forgets about Hollywood’s past. There are travesties on both lists as History of the World: Part 1, Erik the Viking, The Life of Brian, and Bad Santa are on neither. And guilty pleasures like Top Secret. Where’s The Muppet Movie?
Anything involving Monty Python, Mel Brooks, or Christopher Guest should automatically qualify for the top 100...
Anyway...there you have it. What do you think?
ITMFA!
Cheers,
Jason
Listed below are the AFI 100 Funniest Movies on the left (all-caps) and the corresponding 100 Funniest Movies from Bravo are on the right. Movies that I’ve made bold are movies that I believe belong in my top 100 funniest movies.
1. SOME LIKE IT HOT (1959) / Animal House
Both are wonderfully funny classics, but my funniest fave is History of the World: Part 1
2. TOOTSIE (1982) / Caddyshack Tootsie is a very funny movie, but Bravo is actually dead on with this one! Caddyshack rules!
3. DR. STRANGELOVE OR: HOW I LEARNED TO STOP WORRYING AND LOVE THE BOMB (1964) / Shrek
Who the Funk and Wagnall let Shrek on this list? Dr. Strangelove is a masterpiece!
4. ANNIE HALL (1977) / There’s Something About Mary Woody Allen trumps here. Although there’s always room for gross-out humor.
5. DUCK SOUP (1933) / South Park: Bigger, Longer, Uncut
Duck Soup is a deserving classic. South Park is a breath of vulgar air. Love it!
6. BLAZING SADDLES (1974) / Airplane
Two of the funniest movies ever!
7. M*A*S*H (1970) / The Wedding Singer
M*A*S*H is an Altman comedy classic. The Bravo folks are smoking crack on here.
8. IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT (1934) / Blazing Saddles
Both are awesome!
9. THE GRADUATE (1967) / Ace Ventura: Pet Detective
The Graduate is a no-brainer. Ace Ventura is a brain fart. WTF?!?
10. AIRPLANE! (1980) / Arthur Both are a laugh-a-minute.
11. THE PRODUCERS (1968) / Pee-Wee's Big Adventure
The Producers is also a no-brainer, but shoot me for thinking that Pee Wee belongs here. It’s damn funny.
12. A NIGHT AT THE OPERA (1935) / The Producers
Haven’t seen A Night at the Opera. The Producers is funnier than Abe Vigoda in Vasectomy.
13. YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN (1974) / Naked Gun Series
Mel Brooks has the magic touch! The Naked Gun movies were funny, but the series was funnier.
14. BRINGING UP BABY (1938) / Napolean Dynamite
Napolean Dynamite is funny, but not Top 100 funny. Sorry.
15. THE PHILADELPHIA STORY (1940) / Fast Times at Ridgemont High
Fast Times would be in my top 10.
16. SINGIN' IN THE RAIN (1952) / Old School
Both are great, but not quite...
17. THE ODD COUPLE (1968) / M*A*S*H The Odd Couple is laugh-out-loud hilarious. M*A*S*H is terrific!
18. THE GENERAL (1927) / Stripes
Haven’t seen The General. Sorry Stripes, but you don’t make my cut.
19. HIS GIRL FRIDAY (1940) / Wedding Crashers
Both are good, but not Top 100...
20. THE APARTMENT (1960) / The Jerk
I love Jack Lemon! Remember when Steve Martin was hilarious?
21. A FISH CALLED WANDA (1988) / Shampoo
Kkkkkkkkkkk’en. Would you like some ccchhhhips? Great movie!
22. ADAM'S RIB (1949) / Beverly Hills Cop
23. WHEN HARRY MET SALLY… (1989) / Big
24. BORN YESTERDAY (1950) / Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure
25. THE GOLD RUSH (1925) / Meet the Fockers
26. BEING THERE (1979) / Wayne’s World
27. THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT MARY (1998) / A Fish Called Wanda
28. GHOSTBUSTERS (1984) / Annie Hall
29. THIS IS SPINAL TAP (1984) / Legally Blonde
Spinal Tap should be higher. Maybe number “11".
30. ARSENIC AND OLD LACE (1944) / The 40 Year Old Virgin
"Chaaaarrrrrge!"
31. RAISING ARIZONA (1987) / The Big Lebowski
Love the Cohen brothers...half of the time.
32. THE THIN MAN (1934) / Groundhog Day
33. MODERN TIMES (1936) / Clerks
34. GROUNDHOG DAY (1993) / Rushmore
35. HARVEY (1950) / Beetlejuice
36. NATIONAL LAMPOON'S ANIMAL HOUSE (1978) / Good Morning Vietnam
Animal House is criminally low on the AFI list.
37. THE GREAT DICTATOR (1940) / Dodgeball
38. CITY LIGHTS (1931) / Best in Show
Best in Show makes you laugh so hard you’ll hiccup.
39. SULLIVAN'S TRAVELS (1941) / Mrs. Doubtfire
40. IT'S A MAD MAD MAD MAD WORLD (1963) / Monty Python and the Holy Grail
These are two of the funniest movies ever made. Both should be in the top 5. Insanely low!
41. MOONSTRUCK (1987) / Austin Powers
42. BIG (1988) / Harold and Maude
Harold and Maude is very special.
43. AMERICAN GRAFFITI (1973) / What About Bob?
44. MY MAN GODFREY (1936) / Sixteen Candles
45. HAROLD AND MAUDE (1972) / Raising Arizona
46. MANHATTAN (1979) / The Incredibles
47. SHAMPOO (1975) / 9 to 5
48. A SHOT IN THE DARK (1964) / American Grafitti
49. TO BE OR NOT TO BE (1942) / American Pie
50. CAT BALLOU (1965) / The Princess Bride
Both are awesome!
51. THE SEVEN YEAR ITCH (1955) / National Lampoon’s Vacation
Vacation is criminally low!
52. NINOTCHKA (1939) / Meet the Parents
53. ARTHUR (1981) / Dr. Strangelove
54. THE MIRACLE OF MORGAN'S CREEK (1944) / Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
55. THE LADY EVE (1941) / Bull Durham
56. ABBOTT AND COSTELLO MEET FRANKENSTEIN (1948) / Young Frankenstein
57. DINER (1982) / Swingers
58. IT'S A GIFT (1934) / Private Benjamin
59. A DAY AT THE RACES (1937) / Police Acadamy Series
60. TOPPER (1937) / When Harry Met Sally
61. WHAT'S UP, DOC? (1972) / Election
62. SHERLOCK, JR. (1924) / The Pink Panther
63. BEVERLY HILLS COP (1984) / Manhattan64. BROADCAST NEWS (1987) / This Is Spinal Tap
65. HORSE FEATHERS (1932) / Office Space
66. TAKE THE MONEY AND RUN (1969) / Dazed and Confused
67. MRS. DOUBTFIRE (1993) / Kingpin
68. THE AWFUL TRUTH (1937) / Broadcast News
69. BANANAS (1971) / Blues Brothers
70. MR. DEEDS GOES TO TOWN (1936) / Nutty Professor (Eddie Murphy)
71. CADDYSHACK (1980) / Roxanne
Only number 71? AFI is insane!
72. MR. BLANDINGS BUILDS HIS DREAM HOUSE (1948) / Moonstruck
73. MONKEY BUSINESS (1931) / City Slickers
74. 9 TO 5 (1980) / Trading Places
When Eddie Murphy was funny. I miss those days.
75. SHE DONE HIM WRONG (1933) / Dumb and Dumber
76. VICTOR/VICTORIA (1982) / Ghostbusters
77. THE PALM BEACH STORY (1942) / Flirting With Disaster
78. ROAD TO MOROCCO (1942) / Bananas
79. THE FRESHMAN (1925) / Three Amigos
80. SLEEPER (1973) / Lost In America
Woody Allen and Albert Brooks are geniuses!
81. THE NAVIGATOR (1924) / Half Baked
82. PRIVATE BENJAMIN (1980) / Tootsie
83. FATHER OF THE BRIDE (1950) / Sister Act
84. LOST IN AMERICA (1985) / Silver Streak
85. DINNER AT EIGHT (1933) / Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
86. CITY SLICKERS (1991) / Zoolander
87. FAST TIMES AT RIDGEMONT HIGH (1982) / The Kentucky Fried Movie
88. BEETLEJUICE (1988) / Team America
89. THE JERK (1979) / Slapshot90. WOMAN OF THE YEAR (1942) / Clueless
91. THE HEARTBREAK KID (1972) / Revenge of the Nerds
92. BALL OF FIRE (1941) / Father of the Bride
93. FARGO (1996) / The Aristocrats
94. AUNTIE MAME (1958) / Waiting For Guffman
Waiting For Guffman should be way higher.
95. SILVER STREAK (1976) / Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle
96. SONS OF THE DESERT (1933) / Four Weddings and a Funeral
97. BULL DURHAM (1988) / Happy Gilmore
98. THE COURT JESTER (1956) / School of Rock
99. THE NUTTY PROFESSOR (1963) / The Birdcage
100. GOOD MORNING, VIETNAM (1987) / Anchorman
Although both lists share many of the same movies both lists are completely different. The Bravo list is obviously aimed at my generation, but it forgets about Hollywood’s past. There are travesties on both lists as History of the World: Part 1, Erik the Viking, The Life of Brian, and Bad Santa are on neither. And guilty pleasures like Top Secret. Where’s The Muppet Movie?
Anything involving Monty Python, Mel Brooks, or Christopher Guest should automatically qualify for the top 100...
Anyway...there you have it. What do you think?
ITMFA!
Cheers,
Jason
posted by Jason at 1:31 AM
2 Comments:
Some interesting movies on those lists - interesting in that I do not consider them to be comedies, first & foremost.
#1 - Fargo - IMHO, NOT FUNNY! I remember watching it with Julius and Andy and they were just laughing so hard they were crying and I simply stared at them because I did not see what was so funny.
#2 - Good Morning, Vietnam????? Sure, it has Robin Williams, but again, not a COMEDY.
#3 - Kingpin - Yes, technically, it's a comedy, but it was so disgusting and grossed me out so badly that I wonder about the category and what the hell Bravo was thinking.
I tend to agree w/ kathleen. Too many films on the list are not comedies and/or not sufficiently funny. Isn't that sad? I think producers should make a concerted effort to produce more laugh-out-loud funny films. These lists make it obvious that there aren't enough of them.
-di
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