10 Funniest Films of the 2010s, Year by Year

10 Funniest Films of the 2010s, Year by Year

The 2010s brought us some of the most hilarious movies ever made, with comedy evolving in fresh and exciting ways. From buddy cop adventures to female-led laughfests, this decade transformed what we expect from funny films. Let’s look back at the absolute funniest movie from each year of the 2010s – films that had us laughing until it hurt and still bring smiles today.

1. 2010 – The Other Guys

Detective comedies reached peak absurdity when Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg teamed up as mismatched desk jockeys desperate for action. Their chemistry sparked magic – Ferrell’s meek accountant contrasting perfectly with Wahlberg’s frustrated hothead.

Director Adam McKay brilliantly subverted buddy cop clichés while delivering quotable lines that fans still reference today. Remember the “aim for the bushes” scene? Pure comedy gold that somehow works even better on repeat viewings.

The film stands out for balancing over-the-top moments (like Ferrell’s mysterious past as a pimp named “Gator”) with surprisingly sharp commentary on corporate crime. Michael Keaton’s TLC-quoting captain and the whispered “desk pop” tradition show why this underrated gem deserves recognition as 2010’s comedy champion.

2. 2011 – Bridesmaids

Kristen Wiig’s Annie spirals hilariously out of control while trying to fulfill maid of honor duties for her best friend. The airplane scene alone – where a terrified Annie, high on medication, hallucinates a colonial woman on the wing – remains an unmatched comedy setpiece.

Meanwhile, the infamous food poisoning sequence at the bridal salon pushed gross-out humor to glorious new heights. Beyond the laughs, the film captured something authentic about female friendships and insecurity.

Melissa McCarthy’s scene-stealing performance as the confident, unfiltered Megan introduced audiences to a comedy force of nature. No wonder this Judd Apatow-produced gem became the template for a decade of comedies that followed.

3. 2012 – 21 Jump Street

Nobody expected a reboot of a cheesy 80s TV show to become comedy gold, yet here we are. Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill’s undercover high school adventure worked because it knew exactly what it was – a ridiculous concept played for maximum laughs.

The genius came from flipping expectations. Athletic Jenko (Tatum) discovers that high school has changed, with his macho attitude now uncool while Schmidt’s (Hill) awkwardness suddenly makes him popular. Their role reversal provided both hilarious moments and surprising emotional depth.

Directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller packed the film with meta-jokes about Hollywood’s reboot obsession and teenager movie tropes. Ice Cube’s perpetually angry Captain Dickson and the running gag about explosions that never happen showcased the film’s sharp, self-aware humor. A rare comedy that actually improved on its source material.

4. 2013 – This Is the En

Hollywood stars playing exaggerated versions of themselves during the apocalypse? This premise shouldn’t work, yet somehow became one of the decade’s most outrageous comedies. Seth Rogen, James Franco, Jonah Hill and friends trapped in a house as the world ends created comedy magic.

The film’s genius lies in how each actor lampoons their public image – Franco’s pretentious art obsession, Hill’s fake niceness, and Michael Cera playing against type as a cocaine-fueled party animal. When demons with anatomically exaggerated features start attacking, the film ventures into territory both horrifying and hysterically funny.

Memorable moments abound: Emma Watson’s misunderstanding leading to an axe-wielding confrontation, the improvised sequel to “Pineapple Express,” and the heavenly Backstreet Boys finale. Few comedies have balanced apocalyptic horror, celebrity satire, and genuine friendship as successfully as this end-of-days laugh riot.

5. 2014 – The Grand Budapest Hotel

Wes Anderson’s pastel-colored masterpiece proves comedy doesn’t need crude jokes to be hilarious. Set in a fictional European country between world wars, the film follows the adventures of legendary concierge Gustave H. (Ralph Fiennes) and his loyal lobby boy Zero (Tony Revolori).

Fiennes delivers the performance of a lifetime as the perfume-doused, poetry-reciting Gustave – a man equally comfortable seducing elderly women as he is orchestrating prison breaks. His impeccable comic timing transforms even simple lines into laugh-out-loud moments, all while maintaining his character’s dignified facade.

The supporting cast shines too – from Willem Dafoe’s terrifying hitman with brass knuckles to Jeff Goldblum’s meticulous lawyer with a cat. Anderson’s signature visual style – symmetrical shots, miniature models, and whip pans – creates a storybook world where even murder mysteries maintain a whimsical charm. A rare comedy that’s equally praised for its artistry and its humor.

6. 2015 – Spy

Melissa McCarthy transformed from desk-bound CIA analyst to international super-spy in this action-comedy that cleverly subverted both gender expectations and genre tropes. Director Paul Feig brilliantly showcased McCarthy’s physical comedy skills while letting her create a character with genuine heart and competence.

The film’s secret weapon? Jason Statham’s scene-stealing performance as an over-the-top agent who constantly boasts about impossible feats (“I once had my arm ripped off, sewn back on with my other arm”). His deadpan delivery of increasingly ridiculous claims creates some of the decade’s funniest moments.

Rose Byrne’s villain, with her perfect hair and casual cruelty, provides the perfect foil for McCarthy’s earnest agent. The film’s strength comes from how it allows its protagonist to succeed through intelligence rather than making her the butt of jokes. With genuine action sequences and globe-trotting adventure, Spy proved comedy and female-led blockbusters could coexist perfectly.

7. 2016 – Deadpool

Ryan Reynolds was born to play the Merc with a Mouth in this R-rated superhero comedy that gleefully shattered the fourth wall along with audience expectations. After years stuck in development hell, Reynolds’ passion project arrived with maximum effort and even more laughs.

The film’s opening credits alone signal something different – not naming actors but describing them as “God’s Perfect Idiot” and “A Hot Chick.” Deadpool’s constant acknowledgment that he’s in a movie creates endless comedy opportunities, from mocking X-Men budget limitations to calling out superhero movie clichés while actively participating in them. Between graphic violence and crude jokes lies surprising heart in Wade Wilson’s love story with Vanessa.

Their relationship, built on trying to out-terrible each other’s childhoods, gives emotional stakes to the raunchy proceedings. The film proved audiences were hungry for superhero stories that didn’t take themselves too seriously – and Hollywood has been trying to capture its magic ever since.

8. 2017 – The Big Sick

Based on the real-life courtship of Kumail Nanjiani and Emily V. Gordon, this romantic comedy tackled cultural differences, family expectations, and medical emergencies with remarkable warmth and humor. Kumail plays himself, a struggling comedian whose relationship with Emily (Zoe Kazan) faces challenges from his traditional Pakistani family.

When Emily falls into a medically-induced coma, Kumail finds himself awkwardly bonding with her parents (brilliantly played by Holly Hunter and Ray Romano). The hospital waiting room becomes the unlikely setting for some of the year’s funniest and most touching moments. The film’s genius lies in finding humor in deeply uncomfortable situations without diminishing their emotional impact.

Kumail’s one-man show about Pakistan, his terrible audition during personal crisis, and the painfully realistic family dinner scenes all ring with authenticity. Produced by Judd Apatow, the film proved comedy could be simultaneously hilarious, culturally specific, and universally relatable.

9. 2018 – Game Night

What happens when competitive game night enthusiasts accidentally get mixed up in a real kidnapping? This underrated gem from directors John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein answers that question with style, suspense, and non-stop laughs.

Jason Bateman and Rachel McAdams shine as a married couple whose weekly game night spirals into actual danger involving criminals, stolen artwork, and mistaken identities. The film’s visual flair – including scenes shot to look like board game pieces moving across neighborhoods – elevates it above standard comedy fare. Jesse Plemons steals every scene as the creepy, divorced neighbor desperate to be included in game night

His deadpan delivery and unsettling intensity create comedy gold whenever he appears. The film balances genuine thrills with absurd situations, like McAdams attempting to remove a bullet from Bateman’s arm using YouTube tutorials and convenience store supplies. A perfect comedy for viewers who enjoy their laughs with a side of suspense.

10. 2019 – Booksmart

Olivia Wilde’s directorial debut reinvented the high school comedy for a new generation. Best friends Molly (Beanie Feldstein) and Amy (Kaitlyn Dever) realize they’ve spent four years studying instead of partying – and decide to cram four years of fun into one wild night before graduation.

The film’s brilliance comes from updating teen movie tropes for today’s more inclusive, aware teenagers. These characters feel like actual Gen Z kids – concerned with social justice and college admissions while navigating friendship, sexuality, and identity. The pool scene, featuring an underwater sequence where reality and fantasy blur, showcases Wilde’s visual creativity.

Billie Lourd’s unpredictable rich girl Gigi appears magically at every party, creating some of the film’s most surreal comedy moments. Meanwhile, the heartbreaking fight between the two leads in the middle of a party captures the intensity of teenage friendship with painful accuracy. Booksmart closed the decade by proving coming-of-age comedies could be both progressive and utterly hilarious.