Raunchy comedy movies come in all shapes and sizes, and all levels of raunchiness. There are those that tiptoe towards a PG-13 rating, giving tweens and young teens something to get excited about, and then there are the raunchy comedies that push the limits for R-rated movies. Movies in the raunchy comedy genre tend to begin with familiar setups and take off from there: things like a road trip, best friend drama, pursuing a potential partner, problems with a relationship and college shenanigans have provided the framework for many a movie.
And then there's the upcoming superhero flick Deadpool & Wolverine, perhaps the most anticipated raunchy comedy ever. Thanks to Disney's acquisition of Fox, the MCU and X-Men branches of the Marvel universe have come together, allowing the Time Variance Authority to take Deadpool from his quiet life and pair him up with Wolverine for a big mission -- and giving the MCU its first ever R-rated film. Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman reprise their roles from earlier movies, starring alongside Emma Corrin and Matthew Macfadyen.
When it comes to picking the best raunchy comedies of all time, there are plenty of movies to choose from. So we put it in the hands of Fandango movie fans to help decide what belongs on our list. After polling thousands of people, 20 titles made the cut.
Too Long, Didn't Read Summary:
• The best raunchy comedies come in all shapes and sizes, pushing the limits in both PG-13 and R-rated movies.
• Topics often include sex or other fun between friends, and the movies are usually filled with foul-mouthed jokes to bring the laughs.
• The top five has everything from family vacations to weddings to Vegas trips, and we let Fandango movie fans decide it all.
20. This is the End (2013)
82% on Rotten Tomatoes
212 votes
Best friends Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg made their directorial debuts with this feature-length adaptation of their short film Jay and Seth Versus the Apocalypse. This Is the End features stars Rogen, James Franco, Jonah Hill, Jay Baruchel, Danny McBride, Craig Robinson, Michael Cera and Emma Watson playing fictionalized versions of themselves right after a global biblical apocalypse takes place in Los Angeles and hell breaks loose... literally. And along with an all star cast, This Is the End includes a special cameo appearance by the Backstreet Boys.
19. Scary Movie (2000)
51% on Rotten Tomatoes
260 votes
This slasher parody was directed by Keenen Ivory Wayans, with his brothers Marlon and Shawn Wayans among the writers and main cast. Scary Movie takes aim at a plethora of teen movie clichés, using borrowed elements from popular titles of the time like Scream (1996), The Sixth Sense (1999) and I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997). The cast also includes Jon Abrahams, Carmen Electra, Shannon Elizabeth, Anna Faris, Regina Hall and Cheri Oteri, all bringing the laughs for a raunchy comedy that would go on to score big at the box office and kick off a franchise that's still going strong. A sixth film in the series is expected in 2025.
18. Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle (2004)
75% on Rotten Tomatoes
272 votes
This buddy stoner comedy stars John Cho and Kal Penn as two friends who smoke marijuana and try to make their way to a White Castle restaurant. Their adventure takes many twists and turns: Linking up with Neil Patrick Harris, who plays a fictionalized version of himself, is considered a highlight. And not only did White Castle give permission to use their name and likeness in the movie, but the chain also got in on the marketing side of things with some tie-in products. Smart move, considering the movie was a hit and led to sequels in 2008 and 2011.
17. Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008)
83% on Rotten Tomatoes
274 votes
A memorable entry on this list – in spite of its title – is this 2008 comedy written by and starring Jason Segal, who said the film is based on his own experiences with multiple breakups. Segal plays Peter, a recently dumped guy who heads to Hawaii to get over his girlfriend, a big shot TV star named Sarah Marshall, played by Kristen Bell. But it turns out she is staying at the same resort along with her new boyfriend, played by Russell Brand. While Peter's getting over his girlfriend takes center stage, Segal is supported by an ultra-funny supporting cast that does not get lost in the fray. According to director Nicholas Stoller, the cast -- which also includes Mila Kunis, Paul Rudd and Bill Hader, among others -- were able to play around and improvise nearly half of the dialogue.
16. 21 Jump Street (2012)
85% on Rotten Tomatoes
277 votes
As an adaptation of the television drama series of the same name that aired from 1987 to 1991, this film follows the same continuity but features a much more comedic and raunchy tone. The movie version stars Jonah Hill – who also co-wrote the screenplay – and Channing Tatum as two cops who go undercover as high school students. It marked the live-action directorial debuts for Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, and performed well at the box office and with critics, earning an equally successful sequel in 2014 that's definitely worth a watch.
15. Easy A (2010)
85% on Rotten Tomatoes
309 votes
This teen rom-com was inspired by Nathaniel Hawthorne's 1850 novel The Scarlet Letter and definitely pushes the limits of a PG-13 movie. Easy A features Emma Stone as the buttoned-up young lady Olive, whose life gets turned upside down thanks to one little lie that's amplified by a bunch of teenage girls. With the help of veteran actors like Stanley Tucci, Patricia Clarkson and Lisa Kudrow, Stone was a hit with critics, which is even more impressive when you consider that she ad-libbed some of her more memorable lines during filming, according to director Will Gluck. And sure enough, Stone received a Golden Globe nomination for her performance.
14. Clerks (1994)
90% on Rotten Tomatoes
318 votes
Written and directed by Kevin Smith in his feature directorial debut, this black-and-white comedy follows a day in the lives of two store clerks, played by Brian O'Halloran and Jeff Anderson. Clerks was filmed at the convenience and video stores where Smith worked in real life, and it's been recognized as a cornerstone in independent filmmaking, even being selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry. Clerks has also reached cult status, as it kicked off Smith’s View Askewniverse and introduced what would become several recurring characters, most notably Jay and Silent Bob, played by Jason Mewes and Smith, respectively.
13. Superbad (2007)
88% on Rotten Tomatoes
320 votes
Directed by Greg Mottola, then best known for the indie hit The Daytrippers (1996), this 2007 flick was written by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg and is loosely based on their own high school experiences. Superbad follows two high schoolers, played by Michael Cera and Jonah Hill, who set out to have a very memorable night that involves trying to impress Hill’s love interest, played by Emma Stone in her film debut. Superbad was a box office success and is considered one of the best comedies of the 2000’s. Fun fact: Superbad uses the f-word 176 times across 113 minutes, with an average of 1.6 f-words per minute.
12. Step Brothers (2008)
55% on Rotten Tomatoes
334 votes
This uproariously funny comedy stars Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly as two very immature grown men who become step brothers. It was written by Ferrell and director Adam McKay, and has a solid supporting cast: ??Richard Jenkins and Mary Steenburgen are hilarious parents, and Adam Scott and Kathryn Hahn shine in supporting roles. Throw in a boatload full of quotable lines, and Step Brothers has become a pop culture mainstay -- so much so that the Catalina Wine Mixer, a fictional event featured in this film, has since been created and is hosted annually on Descanso Beach.
11. Ted (2012)
69% on Rotten Tomatoes
349 votes
Directed and co-written by Seth MacFarlane in his directorial debut, this one stars Mark Wahlberg as a Boston native whose childhood wish to bring his teddy bear friend Ted to life begins to backfire in adulthood as he tries to carry on a relationship. Mila Kunis, Joel McHale and Giovanni Ribisi have supporting roles, while the one animated character, Ted, was voiced by MacFarlane. Ted would become the highest-grossing comedy of 2012, and has been followed by a sequel film in 2015 and a prequel series in 2024.
10. Wedding Crashers (2005)
75% on Rotten Tomatoes
437 votes
Starring the perfect wedding dates in Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson, this is the movie that hilariously introduced the masses to the art of crashing weddings – and funerals, thanks to Will Ferrell’s amazing appearance – not to mention showing just how charming of a woman Isla Fisher is. But the Wedding Crashers legacy doesn’t stop there: The movie inspired the funny music video for Maroon 5’s 2014 song “Sugar,” which showed the band crashing real-life weddings and was also directed by this film’s director, David Dobkin. Gotta love a full-circle moment.
9. Meet the Parents (2000)
85% on Rotten Tomatoes
466 votes
This Jay Roach-directed comedy stars Ben Stiller as a male nurse who immediately butts heads with his girlfriend’s ex-CIA father, played by Robert De Niro. Meet the Parents went on to become one of the highest-grossing films of the 2000s and was followed by two sequels. It also inspired a reality television show called Meet My Folks and a sitcom titled In-Laws, both of which appeared on NBC in 2002.
8. The 40-Year-Old Virgin (2005)
85% on Rotten Tomatoes
472 votes
Not long after premiering as the face of the new NBC sitcom The Office in March of 2005, Steve Carell stepped into the titular role of The 40-Year-Old Virgin that summer. The romantic sex comedy, directed by Judd Apatow, follows a guy who wants to have sex but dreads the thought of a one-night stand The movie turned out to be a success across the board. It was one of several films around that time which brought Seth Rogen into the public consciousness, and it was part of what one could call the Paul Rudd-aissance.
7. 50 First Dates (2004)
45% on Rotten Tomatoes
474 votes
This romantic comedy was directed by Peter Segal and stars Adam Sandler as a marine veterinarian in Hawaii who falls for an art teacher, played by Drew Barrymore, even though she's lost any short term memory and forgets about him one night to the next. With Rob Schneider, Sean Astin and Dan Aykroyd rounding out the cast, 50 First Dates showcased the undeniable chemistry between its stars Sandler and Barrymore, who previously appeared together in 1999’s The Wedding Singer. They would team up again in 2014’s Blended.
5. Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982)
78% on Rotten Tomatoes
487 votes
This coming-of-age dramedy about the loves and lives of high school friends in California stars Sean Penn, Judge Reinhold, Phoebe Cates and Jennifer Jason Leigh, and includes very early appearances from future stars like Nicolas Cage, Eric Stoltz, Forest Whitaker and Anthony Edwards. It marked the feature film debut for director Amy Heckerling, with a screenplay by Cameron Crowe that was based on his 1981 book about the time he went undercover at a San Diego high school. Fast Times at Ridgemont High went on to gain iconic status through TV airings and home video releases – thanks to an unforgettable joke or two – with Sean Penn once describing the film as “taking on a life of its own.”
4. Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997)
73% on Rotten Tomatoes
497 votes
Co-produced, written by and starring Mike Myers, this fun spy comedy film is a parody of James Bond films and other popular culture from the 1960s. The movie was directed by Jay Roach and features Elizabeth Hurley, Robert Wagner, Seth Green, Rob Lowe and Michael York in supporting roles. While it’s not always thought of as raunchy, Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery does feature a character named Fat Bastard, and a phallic rocket scene that performed so well during test screenings that the team went back and filmed more for it.
3. The Hangover (2009)
79% on Rotten Tomatoes
550 votes
The first installment in the Hangover trilogy was directed by Todd Philips and stars Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms and Zach Galifianakis. The plot was inspired by a real event in the life one of the film’s producers, who went missing from his own Las Vegas bachelor party. The Hangover became the tenth-highest-grossing film of 2009, surpassing Beverly Hills Cop (1984) as the highest-grossing R-rated comedy ever in the United States at the time. It was followed by The Hangover Part II (2011) and The Hangover Part III (2013), which both performed well at the box office but couldn’t match the critical acclaim of the first one.
2. Bridesmaids (2011)
90% on Rotten Tomatoes
569 votes
Kristen Wiig stars in this fun comedy about a thirty-something woman going through a rough patch, who takes on the role of maid of honor in her friend’s wedding. She ends up leading a group of misfit bridesmaids on a wild journey that's less about wedding dates, and more about female friendship. Bridesmaids was directed by Paul Feig from a screenplay by Annie Mumolo and Wiig, with a cast that also includes Maya Rudolph, Rose Byrne, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Ellie Kemper, Melissa McCarthy and Chris O'Dowd. Along with being a box office hit, Bridesmaids was nominated two Academy Awards: Best Supporting Actress for McCarthy and Best Original Screenplay for Wiig and Mumolo, making this the first Judd Apatow-produced film to be nominated for an Oscar.
1. National Lampoon's Vacation (1983)
94% on Rotten Tomatoes
|633 votes
This raunchy comedy classic was directed by Harold Ramis, with a screenplay written by John Hughes based on his short story “Vacation '58,” which appeared in National Lampoon magazine. Starring Chevy Chase and Beverly D'Angelo, it centers around the Griswold family as they embark on a cross-country trip to a fictitious amusement park called Wally World, and the various detours and adventures they get wrapped up in along the way. The film was a box-office hit, leading to four sequels: European Vacation (1985), the iconic Christmas Vacation (1989), Vegas Vacation (1997) and Vacation (2015), with Ed Helms starring in the latter as a grown-up Rusty Griswold.
