Over the years, many hilariouscomedy movieshave actually underperformed at the box office. Even beloved classics likeOffice SpaceandWet Hot American Summercompletely flopped upon their original release, barely managing to recuperate their budget (if they were even able to do so at all). For a variety of reasons,many comedy movies fail to receive the love they deserve until later on.
Unfortunately, the past decade has seemed to continue this trend. Some of the mostlaugh-out-loud funny comedieshave wound up being financial failures, despite consistently being able to get big laughs out of their viewers. Of course,the box office numbers are far from the most important indicator of a film’s quality, especially when that film’s primary goal is to make its viewers laugh. These recent comedy movies may have failed to attract huge audiences to the theater, but they don’t fail to bring big laughs when they’re needed most.
The Suicide Squad
Cast
The Suicide Squad: Released in 2021, The Suicide Squad features supervillains Harley Quinn, Bloodsport, and Peacemaker, among others, as they join Task Force X. The team embarks on a mission on the enemy-held island of Corto Maltese under the direction of Amanda Waller in this entry of the DC Extended Universe.
When it comes to getting laughs out of the audience, few films from the 2020s managed to do so in a manner as explosive asThe Suicide Squad. Written and directed by James Gunn, this DC Extended Universe film served as a sort-of follow-up to the 2016 feature,Suicide Squad, although it introduced a vast assortment of new characters andtook the story in a drastically different direction.
Backed by an all-star ensemble cast, this action-packed comedy follows a team of lesser-known villains as they are forced to work together on a dangerous, world-saving mission. Despite receivinggenerally positive reviews,The Suicide Squadunderperformed at the box office, failing to recuperate its 185 million dollar budget.
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There is no sole explanation as to why the film bombed, as numerous factors likely contributed to its lack of success. Perhaps the most prominent factor was the Covid-19 pandemic, which led to the film beingreleased via HBO Max at the same time as it was put in theaters. The confusion surrounding the film’s connection to the previous (and very poorly-rated)Suicide Squadcertainly did not help its case, either.
Thelma
Thelma is a 2024 comedy film written and directed by Josh Margolin. Thelma Post finds herself duped out of money and more when a scam caller pretends to be her grandson. Unwilling to sit back and let herself be a victim, she sets off into the city to find the perpetrator and take back what is hers.
Among the most recent comedy movies to bomb at the box office isThelma, written and directed by Josh Margolin. This hilarious film puts a silly twist on the idea of a revenge story, following93-year-old Thelma Post as she sets off on a mission to reclaim the $10,000 she lostbecause of a telephone scam. Oscar nominee June Squibb consistently steals the show as Thelma, delightfully proving that her talent has only continued to grow over time.
Thelmamanages to find the humor in getting older without ever feeling mean-spirited, making it a fun (and funny) watch for viewers young and old.
Despite itslighthearted tone and inspiring message,Thelmaonly managed to gross a little over 12 million dollars at the box office. This is not to say that reviews of the film have been negative, though.Thelmacurrently holdsan impressive 98% score on Rotten Tomatoes, making it one of the highest-rated comedies of 2024.Thelmamanages to find the humor in getting older without ever feeling mean-spirited, making it a fun (and funny) watch for viewers young and old.
Bros
Billy Eichner and Nicholas Stoller present Bros, a romantic comedy that sees Billy Eichner playing Bobby Lieber, a podcast host with a busy life who prides himself on being single. However, when Bobby meets another career-focused man named Aaron, the two begin to wonder what a relationship could be like - but their aversion to commitment keeps them from finding happiness.
In 2022, Universal Pictures released the groundbreaking film,Bros, making it one of the first romantic comedies from a major studio to feature a same-sex couple anda predominantly LGBTQ cast. The film stars Billy Eichner and Luke Macfarlane as Bobby and Aaron, a duo who begin to question their hesitance surrounding committed relationships when they find themselves falling in love with each other.
Brosis both hilarious and heartwarming, consistently offering both well-executed humor and much-needed representation.Broswas made on a budget of 22 million dollars, but wasn’t able to make quite as much at the box office. Some have attributed the underwhelming performance to certain audiences' hesitation surrounding watching a film about a gay couple.
The fact that the film was released at the same time asSmile,Hocus Pocus 2, andBlondesurely didn’t help either, with these other major movies stealing a large share of the spotlight. Despite its box office numbers,Brosremains a worthwhile watch for its laugh-out-loud humor and refreshing perspective.
The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent
The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent tells the story of a fictionalized version of actor Nicolas Cage when he unwittingly becomes entangled with a criminal cartel. On the brink of bankruptcy, Cage (played by himself) is made an offer he can’t refuse: $1 million to appear at the birthday party of a wealthy fan named Javi (Pedro Pascal). However, Cage’s trip puts him in the middle of a CIA investigation into Javi, and he finds himself caught between his new friend and a whole host of very dangerous people.
The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talentis easilyamong the most creative concepts explored by a comedy movie in the last few years. Released in 2022, this action-packedcomedy film stars Nicolas Cageas a fictionalized version of himself, alongside Pedro Pascal, who plays Javi. Facing a dismal end to his career, Cage accepts an offer of one million dollars to attend the birthday party of Javi, an obsessive fan of Cage’s work.
Thanks to its increasingly outlandish premise andlovable chemistry between Cage and Pascal, the film is a zany, comical ride from beginning to end. These elements didn’t end up being enough to draw audiences to theaters, though, asThe Unbearable Weight of Massive Talentcame just short of recuperating its 30 million dollar budget.
Being released at the same time asThe Northmanhas been attributed to the film’s less-than-stellar performance, with the two movies essentially dividing the potential audience in half. Regardless,The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talentremains a delightfully wacky experience, especially for those familiar withCage’s extensive career.
BlackBerry
BlackBerry is a biographical drama film that tells a dramatized rendition of the history of the now-defunct mobile phone manufacturer. The movie explores the fast-paced and cutthroat entrepreneurial atmosphere of Silicon Valley that BlackBerry had to trudge through to make it to the top. But all great empires eventually fall - a lesson BlackBerry learned the hard way.
When stripped down to its bare premise,BlackBerrydoes not sound like it would be quite as hilarious as it is. Inspired by real events, this 2023 Canadian film chroniclesthe massive rise in prominence of BlackBerry cell phones, before quickly changing pace and focusing on the abrupt downfall of the company soon after.
BlackBerryhas a 97% rating onRotten Tomatoes.
Thanks to the creative work of filmmaker Matt Johnson,BlackBerrydoes consistently manage to find the humor in this shocking story, frequently inserting moments of major laughter in the midst of the chaos.BlackBerrywas made on a budget of only five million dollars, but still came up short of earning this much back.
BlackBerry Cast & Real-Life Character Guide
The 2023 biopic BlackBerry explores the rise and fall of the titular company, with the cast and characters being led by Jay Baruchel & Glenn Howerton.
However, this is not to say thatBlackBerrywas considered a failure. Rather, the film merely had a very limited release.BlackBerrywent on to dominate the Canadian Screen Awards in May 2024, winning fourteen awards, including Best Picture. This biographical comedy proves that box office numbers aren’t the clearest indicator of a film’s success.
Palm Springs
Palm Springs is a sci-fi comedy film that sees two strangers, Nyles and Sarah, who meet at a wedding reception and, after heading off for a night of debauchery, are tossed into a strange vortex that keeps them date locked in November 9th with no perceivable way out. Nyles and Sarah bond while trying to find an escape from the odd time loop as the truth behind the vortex slowly unravels.
The 2020 Max Barbakow film,Palm Springs, is far from a typical romantic comedy. Instead,this clever film infuses the genre with elements of science fiction, highlighting the story of two characters who begin to fall in love when trapped in a mysterious time loop together, being forced to relive the same day over and over again.
Andy Samberg andCristin Milioti staras the pair trapped in theGroundhog Day-esque scenario, with Oscar winner J.K. Simmons also playing a major role. Because of its very limited release,Palm Springsmade less than two million dollars at the box office, falling short of its budget of five million dollars.
However, the film proved to be much more successful on the streaming service, Hulu, where its viewership numbers were massive.Palm Springseven managed to earn two Golden Globe nominations, one for the film itself and one for Samberg’s performance. This inventive rom-com may have flopped theatrically, but it did find a loving audience eventually.
Joy Ride
Joy Ride (2023) is a comedy film directed by Adele Lim. The story follows four Asian American friends as they embark on a journey to Asia in search of one of their birth mothers. The film explores themes of friendship, identity, and cultural connection, featuring performances by Ashley Park, Sherry Cola, Stephanie Hsu, and Sabrina Wu in major roles.
The idea of four friends going on a crazy vacation together isn’t exactly the most groundbreaking concept in the world of comedy, butJoy Ridegoes above and beyond, taking the premise to some of the furthest extremes imaginable. The exciting film stars Ashley Park, Sherry Cola, Stephanie Hsu, and Sabrina Wu as a quartet of friends sharing a vacation in Asia full of bonding and absolute craziness.
With a screenplay byFamily Guy’s Cherry Chevapravatdumrong and Teresa Hsiao, viewers can be sure they’re in for some major laughs. Unfortunately,Joy Ridedid not bring as many people to theaters as many were expecting. The film’s box office run only produced a little under sixteen million dollars, less than half of its total budget.
Despite its poor performance in theaters,Joy Rideremains a laugh-out-loud spectacle for comedy lovers everywhere, certainly one that never shies away from raunchy situations and gross-out humor. If those elements are what you’re looking for in a comedy,Joy Ridewill be right up your alley.
The King of Staten Island
The King of Staten Island is a drama film that stars Pete Davidson as a man dealing with loss and an inability to move on with life after tragedy strikes their family. Scott (Davidson) has been a case of arrested development since his firefighter dad died. He spends his days getting high and dreaming of being a tattoo artist until his mother begins dating another firefighter like his father, who passed away during the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The film is a biography of sorts, with elements being lifted from Davidson’s life.
When it comes to the comedy movies of the 2000s and beyond, few filmmakers are better known than Judd Apatow. While tons of his movies have experienced massive success, some have managed to slip through the cracks over the years. One such film isThe King of Staten Island, a semi-autobiographical film starring the acclaimed comedian Pete Davidson in his most personal role to date.
Although the film does touch on serious topics inspired by Davidson’s own life, it remains unafraid to find humor even in rather grim situations. Sadly,The King of Staten Islandessentially fell victim to the Covid-19 pandemic. The film was originally set to premiere in the spring of 2020, but theater closures and festival cancellations sent the release into disarray.
It eventually made its way into select theaters in various countries, but only managed to make back less than three million of its 35 million dollar budget at the box office. The theatrical release ofThe King of Staten Islandmay not have gone as planned, but the film remainsa refreshingly honest addition to the world of modern comedy.
Renfield
In this horror comedy, Renfield, the lackey of Count Dracula, aids the famous vampire on his journey to the new world. Unfortunately, the long-suffering servant is committed to an insane asylum after being framed for the murder of several ship crew members on arrival. When given a second chance at life, he falls for a quirky and aggressive traffic cop named Rebecca Quincy.
Every so often, a film comes around that blends two genres that could not seem further apart: comedy and horror. One recent example of a film achieving this feat isRenfield, a 2023 horror-comedy directed by Chris McCay. Inspired by characters from the classic Bram Stoker novel,Dracula,Renfieldopts to follow the story of Dracula’s primary associate and helper, who has found himself growing tired of his connection to the fearsome vampire over the years.
With Nicholas Hoult as Renfield and Nicolas Cage as Dracula, the film offers a very comedic spin on the classic horror characters.
With Nicholas Hoult as Renfield and Nicolas Cage as Dracula, the film offers a very comedic spin on the classic horror characters.Renfieldmay have impressed its audiences with its clever mix of genres, but the sizes of those audiences were definitely not quite what the filmmakers had hoped they would be.
The unusual film made less than thirty million dollars at the global box office, less than half of what it cost to make the movie. A potential explanation for the lack of success could bethe general confusion regarding whetherRenfieldwould be more of a horror or a comedy. This uncertainty sadly kept many potential viewers from heading to the theater, not realizing how humorous the film would be.
The Nice Guys
Directed by Shane Black and starring Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling, The Nice Guys tells the story of a private investigator and a hired enforcer who team up to investigate the disappearance of a young woman. Set in 1970s Los Angeles, the 2016 comedy thriller puts a modern spin on the noir genre.
Shane Black’s 2016 buddy comedy,The Nice Guys, may have finally found a loving audience in recent years, but it wasn’t the immediate hit that some were expecting it to be. This action-heavy comedy film starsRussell Crowe and Ryan Goslingas an unlikely partnership tasked with investigating some mysterious events unfolding in 1970s Los Angeles.
Many elements helpedThe Nice Guysbecome a fan favorite over time, including the undeniable chemistry between its stars, its clever story, and its dazzling setting. The Nice Guysdid manage to recuperate its budget at the box office, but not by nearly as much as the studio would have been hoping.
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Timing proved to be a massive issue for the film’s release, as two other major comedies (Neighbors 2: Sorority RisingandThe Angry Birds Movie) premiered in theaters at the same time. Because these other films were based on pre-existing properties,The Nice Guys(being an original idea) was largely overshadowed. Fortunately, this hilariouscomedy filmdid manage to make people laugh in later years thanks to streaming services.
