10 best dark comedy movies of all time, ranked

Universal Pictures

Dark drama is wherever joke meets absurdity, pinch nan champion films successful nan genre delivering laughs from unexpected and moreover unsettling places. The genre thrives connected contrast, often juxtaposing nan bleakest realities of life pinch laugh-out-loud comedy, expertly stepping nan tightrope betwixt funny and horrifying. These films often expose humanity and society’s flaws, making audiences laughter while leaving them plentifulness to deliberation about.

The champion acheronian drama movies are nan cleanable blend of disturbingly grim and outrageously hilarious, from nan satirical modern classical Parasite to nan ’90s crime favorite Fargo. These flicks will person fans guffawing 1 infinitesimal and questioning their ain consciousness of joke nan next, providing wholly entertaining and unsocial viewing experiences that cinephiles will enjoy.

We besides person guides to nan best movies connected Netflix, nan best movies connected Hulu, nan best movies connected Amazon Prime Video, nan best movies connected Max, and the best movies connected Disney+.

10. Get Out (2017)

Universal Pictures

In Jordan Peele’s stellar directorial debut, a young Black man finds himself successful a nightmarish business erstwhile his first clip gathering his achromatic girlfriend’s parents goes horrifically wrong. Get Out follows Chris Washington’s (Daniel Kaluuya) terrifying experiences erstwhile he learns that Rose Armitage’s (Allison Williams) family is hiding a cult-like conspiracy that involves hypnotism and a disturbing shape of body-swapping. The Armitages are decidedly not nan open-minded and welcoming family they presented themselves as, pinch their sinister concealed soon revealed during nan surreal weekend.

Get Out is a societal scary movie that embraces acheronian joke to present biting satire connected racism. Full of uncomfortable scenes for illustration awkward interactions betwixt Chris and Rose’s family, location are respective layers to unpack moreover earlier nan twisted premise is afloat revealed. With nan 2017 award-winning film, Peele has established himself arsenic a talented auteur successful a genre that has often been utilized to research deeper societal issues.

9. Harold and Maude (1971)

Paramount Pictures

Harold and Maude is simply a deliciously acheronian cult classical that follows 20-year-old Harold Chasen (Bud Cort), a able young man obsessed pinch death, who spends his days attending strangers’ funerals and staging elaborate clone suicides. Harold’s life takes an unexpected move erstwhile he meets Maude (Ruth Gordon), a 79-year-old female who embraces life pinch uninhibited joy. She tries to show Harold nan worth of life and shares her emotion for nan weird and unconventional. Their relationship soon blossoms into an different romance, and Harold learns to spot nan beauty successful life done Maude’s carefree spirit.

Director Hal Ashby’s 1971 movie was initially critically panned, pinch galore appalled by its oddball narration and macabre subjects for illustration decease and suicide. It has since been re-evaluated arsenic 1 of nan top movies of nan ’70s, however, acknowledgment to its charming usage of achromatic drama to present amazingly crisp insights connected existentialism and what makes life worthy living. Harold and Maude‘s offbeat joke and romance that challenges societal norms were measurement up of their time, making it a timeless movie to revisit today.

8. In Bruges (2008)

Universal Pictures

Before Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson starred successful nan Oscar-award-winning The Banshees of Inisherin, they worked together connected different acheronian drama directed by Martin McDonagh, 2008’s In Bruges. The movie is centered connected deed men Ray (Farrell) and Ken (Gleeson), who are sent to nan picturesque Belgian municipality of Bruges aft a botched occupation successful London. Ray, haunted by guilt complete accidentally sidesplitting a kid during his first assignment, despises Bruges and struggles during nan full clip he’s there. Ken, nan older and much seasoned deed man, really enjoys nan aged medieval town, astatine slightest until he receives further instructions from their boss, Harry (Ralph Fiennes).

In Bruges soars acknowledgment to nan unthinkable chemistry betwixt nan 2 leads, pinch Farrell and Gleeson perfectly capturing their opposing characters and nan unsocial enslaved they person contempt their differences. McDonagh’s book is witty, pinch bleak drama often rooted successful Ray’s inability to judge his ain caller mistake. With a clever twist bordering connected nan absurd, the 2008 British drama movie promises a one-of-a-kind viewing acquisition for fans of nan genre.

7. Heathers (1988)

New World Pictures

Director Michael Lehmann’s Heathers is simply a genre classical that takes purpose astatine precocious schoolhouse life done a darkly comedic communicative that follows Veronica Sawyer (Winona Ryder). Initially portion of a ruthless clique known arsenic nan Heathers successful Westerburg High, Veronica grows tired of her domiciled successful nan toxic group made up of 3 girls each named Heather. She finds an state erstwhile a rebellious caller student, J.D. (Christian Slater), has ideas to extremity nan reign of nan celebrated crowd. Veronica questions her determination erstwhile their scheme to “eliminate” nan celebrated kids, disguising their deaths arsenic suicides, spirals retired of control.

Heathers is hailed arsenic 1 of nan champion acheronian comedies ever acknowledgment to its scathing and unapologetic depiction of nan casual cruelty truthful galore acquisition successful precocious school, particularly astatine nan clip nan movie was released. The 1988 movie uses joke to deftly touch connected much superior topics for illustration bullying and suicide, pinch Ryder and Slater’s off-the-charts chemistry and wickedly nosy performances cementing Heathers arsenic a teen movie for nan ages.

6. A Clockwork Orange (1971)

Warner Bros.

Set successful a near-future society, A Clockwork Orange is simply a darkly comedic dystopian movie that follows Alex DeLarge (Malcolm McDowell), a psychopathic delinquent who leads a pack of “droogs” successful committing heinous acts of “ultraviolence.” Alex’s nights of nosy and unit abruptly extremity erstwhile he is arrested and subjected to a arguable authorities research aimed astatine “curing” his convulsive tendencies done aversion therapy. Stripped of his expertise to take betwixt bully and evil, Alex finds himself incapable to return to his past aforesaid and is alternatively reduced to a pawn wrong a larger conflict complete free will.

Among director Stanley Kubrick’s champion movies, A Clockwork Orange is simply a superb adjustment of Anthony Burgess’ eponymous 1962 novel, pinch nan filmmaker utilizing an unsettling and bold attack to nutrient a satirical masterpiece. The 1971 movie uses its bizarre joke to seizure nan absurdity of a nine obsessed pinch power and nan suppression of individuality. Through Alex’s arc, it asks what existent evil looks for illustration successful a world wherever unchecked authorities powerfulness tin return distant humanity, becoming a landmark cinematic masterpiece successful nan process.

5. Pulp Fiction (1994)

Miramax Films

The masterpiece that turned head Quentin Tarantino into a family name, Pulp Fiction is simply a one-of-a-kind movie that stood retired for its unconventional narrative. Its non-linear storyline revolves astir a colorful formed of characters, including deed men Vincent Vega (John Travolta) and Jules Winnfield (Samuel L. Jackson) and their mobster boss’ wife, Mia Wallace (Uma Thurman). In different portion of town, a brace of small-time robbers, Pumpkin (Tim Roth) and Honey Bunny (Amanda Plummer) contemplate their adjacent move. Bruce Willis besides makes an quality arsenic nan boxer Butch Coolidge.

Divided into seemingly unrelated segments that yet converge, Pulp Fiction tells its crime-thriller communicative pinch a patient dose of acheronian comedy. Its crisp speech and unexpected reveals are each delivered pinch drama that embraces absurdity, often mixing casual conversations pinch abrupt bursts of violence. The 1994 movie’s twisted consciousness of joke would beryllium to beryllium incredibly influential, ensuring Tarantino’s spot among nan astir outstanding talents of his generation.

4. American Psycho (2000)

Lionsgate Films

American Psycho is simply a acheronian comedy, satirical horror, and psychological thriller film each successful one. Directed by Mary Harron and group successful 1980s Manhattan, it follows nan able finance banker Patrick Bateman (Christian Bale), who is nan epitome of nan yuppie manner by day, pinch nan characteristic focused connected appearances, designer brands, and a meticulously crafted persona. This each transforms by night, erstwhile his psychopathic tendencies aboveground and he commits gruesome acts of unit against colleagues, women, and anyone who crosses his path. However, arsenic nan movie progresses, it becomes unclear whether Bateman’s sadistic actions are delusions aliases not.

With its razor-sharp satire of user civilization and superb usage of joke to critique nan excesses of wealthiness and vanity, American Psycho deserves its estimation arsenic a wide celebrated classic. Its wickedly funny societal commentary is delivered done some nan mundane — specified arsenic Bateman’s obsessively elaborate skincare regular — and nan disturbing — for illustration each bloody execution successful his apartment. The 2000 movie successfully exposes nan superficiality of nan yuppie manner and nan dehumanizing effects of capitalism while offering a wildly entertaining viewing experience.

3. Fargo (1996)

Working Title Films

“Oh, geez…” Director Joel and Ethan Coen‘s Fargo is simply a crime drama movie that takes spot successful Minnesota and North Dakota, wherever Jerry Lundegaard (William H. Macy), a struggling car salesman, plans to person his woman kidnapped truthful he tin extort ransom money from his rich | father-in-law. This scheme quickly spirals retired of control, however, pinch nan criminals he hires leaving dormant bodies behind. The investigation into these crimes is led by Marge Gunderson (Frances McDormand), a pregnant and unflappably cheerful constabulary chief, who slow pieces together nan bizarre puzzle.

Full of Midwestern charm and unexpected acheronian humor, Fargo relies connected nan bizarre juxtaposition betwixt nan brutality of nan crimes it depicts and nan Coen brothers’ signature wit. The movie is afloat of deadpan interactions and moments that seizure nan quirks of Midwestern life. It besides undoubtedly soars acknowledgment to an Oscar-award-winning capacity from McDormand, whose earnestness and warmth make it intolerable not to guidelines for her success.

2. Parasite (2019)

CJ Entertainment

A movie that needs nary preamble and surely nan champion among nan caller drawstring of eat-the-rich movies, Parasite became an world arena erstwhile it first premiered. Directed by Bong Joon-ho, it has a deceptively elemental premise that’s centered connected nan underprivileged Kim family, who infiltrate nan able Park family’s family by posing arsenic skilled workers. As they bask their caller jobs and clip spent successful nan Kims’ immense house, nan communicative takes an abrupt genre-bending move that leads to immoderate startling consequences successful nan last act.

Often hailed arsenic a modern masterpiece, Parasite is simply a grim portrayal of nan unit of people disparity and nan cosmopolitan reality that is inequality. It not only entertains pinch its incisive satire, but shocks pinch an iconic twist that forces audiences to face uncomfortable truths astir privilege. The 2019 movie would go a world deed and make history arsenic nan first non-English-language movie to triumph nan Academy Award for Best Picture, among different well-deserved prestigious accolades that bespeak its position arsenic a legendary activity from South Korea.

1. Dr. Strangelove (1964)

Columbia Pictures

Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love nan Bomb is simply a quintessential acheronian drama that satirizes nan Cold War-era paranoia and nan terrifying imaginable of atomic annihilation. Directed by Stanley Kubrick, nan movie portrays a catastrophic bid of events group successful mobility by a deranged U.S. Air Force general, Jack D. Ripper (Sterling Hayden), who orders a atomic onslaught connected nan Soviet Union wherever he believes a communist crippled is brewing. As nan U.S. authorities scrambles to callback nan bombers, President Merkin Muffley (Peter Sellers) and his advisers, including nan ex-Nazi intelligence Dr. Strangelove (also Sellers), stitchery successful nan War Room to forestall a world catastrophe.

An acerbic satire that’s still painfully applicable six decades later, Dr. Strangelove showcases nan very existent fears group had astir their information and society’s fragility successful nan look of devastating weapons. It forces viewers to laughter astatine Cold War logic, wherever nan destiny of nan world hinges connected nan irrational decisions of a fewer powerful men. Sellers expertly portrays this absurdity successful his career-defining capacity that sees him play 3 characters that person go synonymous pinch nan genre.