The old adage goes "Comedy is tragedy plus time", but what about comedy plus tragedy with a dash of taboo subject matter, plus a pinch of memorable characters? Well, that's a dark comedy, my friend.
As an amalgam of genres, dark comedy requires a deft touch: too much comedy and you lose the impact; too dark and you won't laugh. Perhaps that's why when going through this list of best dark comedy movies, you'll see a who's who of great directors, including Stanley Kubrick, the Coen Brothers and Bong Joon-ho, and plenty of iconic films.
In honor of Bong Joon-ho's latest dark comedy, Mickey 17, which premieres March 7, 2025 (get your tickets here!), Fandango polled nearly 2000 moviegoers to find out which films they think are the best dark comedies of all time. So whether you're curious where your favorite ranks or want to find a new black comedy to add to your watchlist, read on to see the list of the best dark comedy movies.
15. Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017)
90% on the Tomatometer
87% on the Popcornmeter
158 Votes
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri is a gripping dark comedy driven by Frances McDormand's award-winning performance as a grieving mother who antagonizes the local police with billboards advertising her daughter's unsolved murder. With its sharp dialogue, morally complex characters and a perfect balance of tragedy and dark wit, Three Billboards was nominated for seven Academy Awards and cemented writer-director Martin McDonagh's reputation as one of the strongest voices in film today.
14. Parasite (2019)
99% on the Tomatometer
95% on the Popcornmeter
185 Votes
Written and directed by Bong Joon-ho (who also helmed Mickey 17), this dark comedy movie about the wealthy Park family and the destitute Kim clan deftly uses black humor to cast a light on status and wealth gaps in South Korea. Featuring a couple killer twists, this modern classic of a dark comedy would go on to be universally acclaimed. Parasite soared to $250 million in worldwide box office and won four Academy Awards, becoming one of the few dark comedies to capture Oscar Night's biggest prize.
13. The Producers (1967)
91% on the Tomatometer
85% on the Popcornmeter
192 Votes
Accounting, raising funds for a Broadway production and Nazi-occupied France may not seem like they'll add up to a barrel of laughs, but in the hands of genius Mel Brooks these elements coalesced into one of the best dark comedy movies ever. Ranked at lucky number 13, The Producers won Brooks an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay, spawned a Broadway musical adaptation (no, not of "Springtime for Hitler") that won a record-breaking 12 Tony awards and was added to the United States National Film Registry for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant". Not bad for a dark comedy about putting on the worst play ever made.
12. The Menu (2022)
88% on the Tomatometer
76% on the Popcornmeter
210 Votes
Following a group of wealthy guests attending a exclusive restaurant on a remote island, this biting dark comedy movie skewers elitism, food and society. Featuring an ensemble cast led by Ralph Fiennes and Anya Taylor-Joy, The Menu's twisted dark humor and suspense blend to create a perfect pairing of horror and comedy. With a fiery final course, the wickedly entertaining feast left a good taste in critics' and audiences' mouths alike and earned this spot on the best dark comedies list.
11. American Psycho (2000)
68% on the Tomatometer
85% on the Popcornmeter
222 Votes
Based on Bret Easton Ellis’s controversial novel, American Psycho skewers the excesses and narcissism of the 1980s with psychological horror and dark humor. Starring Christian Bale as investment banker/serial killer Patrick Bateman, its cutting dialogue and Bateman’s disturbing behavior make it a standout in the dark comedy movie genre. Initially polarizing among critics and audiences at its release, American Psycho's reputation has grown in the years since and is now a beloved cult classic with an abundance of memes to show for it.
10. Heathers (1989)
95% on the Tomatometer
83% on the Popcornmeter
238 Votes
Satirizing teenage cliques, social status and the horrors of adolescence, Heathers proves there's nothing scarier than high school. Starring Winona Ryder as a young woman on the fringe of high school popularity and Christian Slater as the unhinged new student, the dark comedy follows their twisted plot to take down the popular girls (all named "Heather") — only for things to spiral into murder and mayhem. Featuring killer performances, a fresh take on teenage angst and a full slate of murders, Heathers has earned a spot on the honor list of dark humor movies.
9. The War of the Roses (1989)
83% on the Tomatometer
71% on the Popcornmeter
239 Votes
This dark comedy brings new meaning to "’til death do us part." Starring Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner as a once-happy couple whose relationship devolves into divorce, the Danny DeVito-directed film turned domestic disputes into hilariously savage battles in an all-out war. Adored by critics and audiences alike upon its release in 1989, its spot on this list of best dark comedy films more than 35 years later proves that sometimes true love does last.
8. Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)
98% on the Tomatometer
94% on the Popcornmeter
248 Votes
Stanley Kubrick's 1964 sendup of Cold War and post-World War II politics should not only be on the shortlist of best dark comedy movies, but on the shortlist for best movies, period. Set amid a nuclear standoff between the United States and Soviet Union, this dark comedy operates in the highest of stakes. Kubrick's masterful satire takes aim at the absurdity of political brinkmanship and military machismo that is best exemplified by the iconic line, "Gentlemen, you can't fight in here, this is the War Room."
7. Monty Python’s Life of Brian (1979)
96% on the Tomatometer
93% on the Popcornmeter
284 Votes
Perhaps the most controversial film on this list, the dark comedy/parody from Monty Python crucifies religious dogmatism and the early days of Christianity. The film follows Brian Cohen, an ordinary man born on the same day as Jesus and mistaken for the Messiah. It was called "blasphemous" and "heretical" upon release and was outright banned in some countries. Nevertheless, Monty Python's Life of Brian was a box office success and has since become regarded as one of the best dark comedy movies of all time. And, with John Cleese recently stating he is working on a stage adaptation, Brian might even enjoy a second life.
6. Raising Arizona (1987)
91% on the Tomatometer
85% on the Popcornmeter
286 Votes
The Coen Brothers' first appearance on this list (spoiler alert!), this black comedy about the kidnapping of a baby is one of their more overtly comedic films. Despite a seemingly less-than-humorous kidnapping plot, the colorful cast of characters, incredible performances and yodel-forward score lighten this story of ex-cons, ex-cops and felonies into something else entirely. Part screwball comedy, part crime spree and part meditation on family, this dark comedy is one of the Coen's most hilarious and original works.
5. Death Becomes Her (1992)
58% on the Tomatometer
62% on the Popcornmeter
294 Votes
A campy romp about fame, vanity and the lengths people will go to for the appearances of youth, this dark comedy starring Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn delivered big laughs and killer special effects. At release, critics had some issue with the successfulness of the satire, which limited its Tomatometer score, but the film has aged well. In the years since, the film has developed a cult following, especially in the LGBTQ community, and recently spawned a hit Broadway musical. And, with the success of The Substance (89% on Rotten Tomatoes), Death Becomes Her has made it back into the spotlight, as the two pictures share some similar thematic elements and plot points. But if you want to see the original story of an actress reviving her fading career by appearing as a young woman with an age-defying potion, cast your eyes upon the fifth-ranked best dark comedy.
4. Shaun of the Dead (2004)
92% on the Tomatometer
93% on the Popcornmeter
376 Votes
Shaun of the Dead folds a zombie invasion into a dark comedy, creating one of the best horror comedies of all time. The first movie in the Three Flavours Cornetto trilogy features losers Shaun and Ed on a mission to save their friends and Shaun's dysfunctional British family from a zombie apocalypse. Featuring humor, action and a climactic stand against the oncoming hoard, the outbreak comedy became a breakout hit that launched the stateside fames of Simon Pegg, Nick Frost and Edgar Wright. The three would go on to create two more iconic dark comedies: Hot Fuzz (91% on the Tomatometer) and The World's End (Certified Fresh at 89%).
3. Fargo (1996)
95% on the Tomatometer
92% on the Popcornmeter
473 Votes
This is the second Coen Brothers entry on this list (and No. 3 overall), but in terms of dark comedy bona fides it's not hard to argue that the team is second to none. Featuring a kidnapping plot, memorable characters – including two mob hitmen and a pregnant police chief played by Oscar-winner Frances McDormand – and morbid plot points like the famous woodchipper scene, all set in the seemingly uninteresting Upper Midwest, Fargo is a prototypical black comedy. Considered by some to be the Coen Brothers' best movie, Fargo manages to blend sardonic and gallows humor with a plot that is seemingly more appropriate for a crime thriller, resulting in one of the best dark comedy movies of all time.
2. The Addams Family (1991)
67% on the Tomatometer
67% on the Popcornmeter
499 Votes
The Addams Family may not have the highest Tomatometer score on this list, but this classic black comedy is beloved by nineties kids who wore out the VHS tapes, and by their parents who grew up with the original TV show. With inspired casting, spooky production design and a slew of hilarious dark humor one-liners, the 1991 feature has become a multi-generational favorite because of how it manages to be the rare family-friendly dark comedy.
1. Trading Places (1983)
89% on the Tomatometer
85% on the Popcornmeter
535 Votes
Starring comedy legends Eddie Murphy and Dan Aykroyd at the tops of their games, it's no surprise that Trading Places would become a memorable dark comedy. Part screwball comedy, part odd couple pairing and part social satire, Trading Places follows a streetwise hustler and a wealthy investor who have their social standings flipped as part of an experiment orchestrated by two ruthless billionaires. As the two navigate their new day to day lives, their comedy chops shine. With strong critic reviews, the dark comedy became one of the top grossing movies of the year. And, while there has been some critical reassessment of the film's subject matter and depictions of racial stereotypes, the film remains beloved by fans and is justifiably ranked as the best dark comedy movie of all time in our survey.
