We are all guilty of laughing out loud when someone says or does something that is inappropriate or giggling in a very serious moment. Dark humor may be found practically anywhere; when it is, it is frequently utilized to either elicit a response from the audience or to highlight the absurdity of a set of conventions.
The ultimate goal for directors with a predilection for creating the best dark comedies is getting people to laugh at their movies and tales, whether it be through complex and layered humor or in-your-face physical comedy. Despite not being for everyone, these dark comedies have devoted fans and a lot going for them.
‘A Simple Favor’ (2018)
Streamable on TNT, TBS, and tru TV.
A Simple Favor, a drama-filled girl film with mystery, became a great hit largely due to the outstanding performances by Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick. By portraying Emily as a supremely accomplished lady who is assertive and consistently gets what she wants, Blake Lively successfully captured her character.
The plot of this movie, which is based on the best-selling 2017 novel, centers on a twisted bond between two women who unintentionally become friends and a mysterious disappearance. A Simple Favor, directed by Paul Feig, is getting a follow-up because audiences can’t wait to find out what happens next. Prepare your Emily-style perfect martini now because a brand-new rollercoaster ride is coming up shortly.
‘American Psycho’ (2000)
available on HBO for streaming Max.
In Mary Harron’s renowned psychological horror thriller American Psycho, Christian Bale portrays Patrick Bateman, a wealthy, materialistic Wall Street investment banker who descends into madness and violence. The best-selling 1991 novel of the same name by Bret Easton Ellis served as the basis for the movie.
Despite being controversial at first, it has now gained cult status because of its dark humor, excellent acting, and faithful adaptation of the original work. Fans of dark comedies will like its blend of gruesome violence and Bale’s funny over-the-top performance.
‘Fargo’ (1996)
Starz offers it for streaming.
It would be challenging for Fargo’s creators, the Coen brothers, to surpass it in terms of perfection. It is a genuine masterpiece that keeps getting better with each watching and unlocks new levels.
It’s a masterfully filmed, wickedly humorous thriller that subtly breaks every genre rule. The two brothers’ aesthetic is best represented by this polite Midwestern crime thriller that expertly walks the line between sad and dryly hilarious.
‘Game Night’ (2018)
available for streaming on TBS, tru TV, TNT, and DirecTV.
Game Night, a comedy-murder mystery hybrid, is hailed for its sardonic humor and its oddball cast. The film received positive reviews and has an 85% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. It manages to sustain tension and humor without being nasty. A lot of praise has been given to the film’s ensemble cast, which is headlined by Jason Bateman and Rachel McAdams. The two actors are Max and Annie, a married couple who got together because they both enjoyed playing games. They regularly hold game nights.
“Game Night” is almost the ideal kind of entertainment for adults. With commentary on age, disappointment, doomed romance, and sibling rivalry, a crazy car chase, an unpleasant occurrence that requires emergency surgery, and a house party with echoes of Eyes Wide Shut’s mask-draped spectacle are all intermingled.
‘Horrible Bosses 1 & 2’ (2011 & 2014)
HBO Max offers streaming access.
These two comedic masterworks star the hysterically funny triumvirate of Jason Bateman, Charlie Day, and Jason Sudeikis. Horrible Employers is a must-watch for anyone who despises their job or, more aptly, despises their bosses due to their hilariously wicked bosses, tense circumstances, and hilarious reactions. The plot, however, falls apart when the three buddies go from complaining about their bosses to devising a scheme to get rid of them.
The situational comedy, which Seth Gordon directed with delight and ferocious vigor, is largely set outside the targets’ homes as the plotters spy on them. Even the cast of the ‘terrible bosses’ shocked the viewers with Jennifer Aniston’s powerful performance and Kevin Spacey as the evil employer no one wants to work for!
‘I Care A Lot’ (2020)
Netflix is able to stream it.
It is fantastic and well worth watching how caregiving is portrayed as a dishonest and dangerous vocation. The Netflix Original Movie, which stars Rosamund Pike and Peter Dinklage, centers on a legal guardian of the elderly who defrauds wealthy elderly people of their money but finds her match and engages in a battle of wits until death.
You’ll be happy to learn that I Care a Lot isn’t based on a specific true story. The film, however, is based on several real guardianship fraud instances that rob old, helpless Americans of their wealth and liberty.
‘Inglourious Basterds’ (2009)
accessible via Sling TV for streaming.
The film Inglourious Basterds is frequently hailed as Tarantino’s finest work. With the exception of Inglourious Basterds, most of Tarantino’s films may be classed as having at least some dark comic elements.
The film is simultaneously beautiful, dramatic, thrilling, and hilarious. It’s worth seeing because it fulfills all of your movie desires and was produced in the signature Tarantino style. You have to see it to believe the outrageousness of it all; it would be hard to mention all the hilarious elements of this film, from the Basterds beating the crap out of Nazis to the SS Colonel Hans Landa’s (Christoph Waltz) Bond villain flair.
‘Jojo Rabbit’ (2019)
accessible via fuboTV for streaming.
It’s challenging to find humor in World War II and the Holocaust, two of the darkest eras in human history, but this coming-of-age movie managed to do so without trivializing the tragedy of it all. As World War II draws to a close, Jojo (Roman Griffin Davis), a young kid in the Hitler Youth, creates an imaginary companion named Adolf Hitler. He regularly has chats with Hitler that “direct” him. Jojo comes to the realization that all he was taught was false as the conflict draws to a close.
These comedic moments, which use the ludicrous to combat fascism, are purposefully placed next to sequences that are more somber and frequently contain upsetting violence. The dark parody film features the bodies of Nazi execution victims as well as wounded soldiers, dead bodies, and children holding machine guns.
‘Knives Out’ (2019)
Streamable on TNT, TBS, and tru TV.
A strong ensemble cast, lead by Daniel Craig, is featured in Rian Johnson’s suspenseful yet humorous mystery movie Knives Out. The rich crime writer Harlan Thrombey, who is found dead at his home shortly after his 85th birthday celebration, is the main focus of the story.
The picture was an immediate classic thanks to Johnson’s direction, the performances of the actors, the writing, and the blending of different genres. Old murder-mystery clichés were used, together with humor, wit, and excellent acting, to create an entirely original dark comedy. Both movies are worth viewing at least once because Glass Onion, its 2022 prequel, offers a whole different plot and is nearly as good as the first one.
‘Parasite’ (2019)
accessible for streaming on Kanopy and Hulu.
There is no need to introduce the South Korean black comedy thriller movie Parasite. It was helmed by Bong Joon-ho, who also managed to make it the first non-English language movie to win the Academy Award for best picture.
The plot of the film centers on the life of the Kims, a poor family who plan to work for the Parks, a wealthy family, before tensions between the two families increase. It received high praise from critics for its unique genre mashup, insightful portrayal of the wealth and poverty divide in South Korea, and witty, unexpected, and potent social satire.
‘Sorry to Bother You’ (2018)
available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video and Netflix.
Boots Riley’s debut film, Sorry to Bother You, was released. Riley is perhaps most known for his Oakland-based hip-hop group The Coup and social activism. This novel contrasts the working class against capitalism, their greatest enemy. Riley displays that he is a natural when it comes to filmmaking through his direction and writing.
Cassius, a Black guy who rises through the ranks of his telemarketing firm after learning that his “white” voice can help him close more transactions, is portrayed by LaKeith Stanfield. In his role as the Jeff Bezos-like antagonist, Armie Hammer shines out. It’s not just one of the best dark comedies; the movie has a ton of unexpected turns, gorgeous graphics, and a jam-packed music. It’s one of the best movies of the 2010s overall.
‘Thanks for Sharing’ (2012)
Pluto TV offers streaming of this.
Thanks for Sharing, which was directed by Stuart Blumberg, is unmistakably a dark comedy since it dared to publicly address a very taboo subject that, at least in 2012, few people wanted to talk about. A movie focusing only on that topic was unheard of, despite the fact that more people have recently come forward and struggled with sex addiction than before. That is what distinguishes this film as a special must-see.
Thank you for Three primary factors make sharing important. First of all, it’s a humorous, well-written, and well-performed look at a significant problem. Second, it portrays the challenges and rewards of overcoming sex addiction truthfully. Thirdly, it is a film that has the potential to educate viewers about a problem that has so far received little attention, as well as present sex addicts and the general public.
‘The Banshees of Inisherin’ (2022)
HBO Max offers streaming access.
The Banshees of Inisherin, directed by Martin McDonagh, will get praise at the 2023 Golden Globe Awards for being unquestionably the best dark tragicomedy of 2022. The movie is about Pádraic Silleabháin (Colin Farrell) and Colm Doherty’s abrupt breakup and is set on a peaceful island off the coast of Ireland. Pádraic’s efforts to mend their relationship quickly have terrible effects.
It’s not improbable to think that this film, with its heartfelt laugh-out-loud moments, thought-provoking narrative, and stunning photography, will be remembered as one of the best of this decade. The strong performances by Farrell and Gleeson, the gritty narrative, and the desolate backdrop all have a way of drawing viewers in.
‘The Dictator’ (2012)
Available for streaming on Epix, Paramount+, and Amazon Prime Video.
This box office hit, The Dictator, is one of the best and most wonderful films that come to mind when you think of dark comedies. The film stars Anna Farris, Ben Kingsley, and Sacha Baron Cohen in leading roles. Aladeen (Cohen), a flamboyant, sophisticated, and wildly eccentric tyrant who only wants the best for his nation, was superbly portrayed by Cohen.
The dictator’s circumstances and deeds, which would be unpleasant and troublesome in reality, are presented in the movie in a funny light. You’ll almost feel bad for laughing at all of his antics. Cohen’s portrayal was reportedly inspired by Kim Jong-il, Idi Amin, Muammar Gaddafi, Mobutu Sese Seko, and Saparmurat Niyazov, according to creators Jeff Schaffer and David Mandel.
‘The Menu’ (2022)
HBO Max offers streaming access.
The Menu, which is set in a posh eatery on a remote island, follows a couple as they enjoy a meal that the chef (played expertly by Ralph Fiennes) has painstakingly prepared with sinister intentions. Anya Taylor-Joy plays the last-minute client in the Mark Mylod-directed film, which also stars Nicholas Hoult, Janet McTeer, Reed Birney, Judith Light, and John Leguizamo.
It’s a movie intended for aficionados of dark comedies, with an all-star cast giving their all, a grotesquely startling plot full of turns and turns, stinging satire paired with a straight spoof of food documentaries.
