20 of the best black comedies of all time

1. Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb

Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb

• US, UK, 1964.
• Black comedy.
• Duration: 95 minutes.
• IMDb: 8,4.

By accident, the fate of humanity is in the hands of very strange people. US General Jack D. Ripper gives mad orders to launch a nuclear attack on the Soviet Union. Meanwhile, a peace-loving US president is struggling to save the situation and communicates with the Secretary General of the CPSU Central Committee. He talks about the mysterious doomsday device capable of in case of a nuclear attack on the USSR destroy the whole world.

A satirical film by Stanley Kubrick is difficult to attribute to a particular genre. In the 60's a general atmosphere of paranoia prompted the director to the idea to remove the drama about nuclear war. For a basis of Kubrick Peter George took the book "Red Alert". But while working on the script turned out that over the uncompromisingly serious tone of the novel is impossible not to laugh. In the end, the director gave in and wrote the screenplay to the comedy style.

2. Monty Python and the Holy Grail

Monty Python and the Holy Grail

• United Kingdom, 1975.
• Adventure black comedy.
• Duration: 90 minutes.
• IMDb: 8,2.

The film plays in a humorous vein, the famous legend of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, and tells the story of heroes travels in search of the Holy Grail.

The first cinematic project celebrated British comic troupe "Monty Python" was the directorial debut of Terry Gilliam. The humor of the film can be described as the absurdity of the absurd name, but that's the beauty. For example, the Black Knight, even after the loss of arms and legs refused to admit defeat, and the haughty French soldiers flung livestock.

3. The King of comedy

The King of Comedy

• USA, 1982.
• Tragicomedy.
• Duration: 109 minutes.
• IMDb: 7,8.

Eccentric guy Rupert Papkin sure that it has the makings of a brilliant humorist. It is only necessary once to speak to the audience - and he becomes a star. Without waiting for the mercy of fate, he decides to steal a popular evening show host Jerry Langford, at any cost to attract attention.

"King of Comedy" Martin Scorsese has much in common with the removed seven years ahead of "Taxi Driver." By the way, both films have served as the inspiration for director Todd Phillips and his team to work on the film "Joker».

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4. After work

After Hours

• United States, 1985.
• Black comedy.
• Duration: 97 minutes.
• IMDb: 7,7.

Fixated on the programmer Paul Hacket will hold one of the most horrific and bizarre nights in my life in the bohemian quarter of Soho in New York City. Everything happens because of three women - Marcy, Kiki and Julie - who gets involved in an incredible adventure hero.

After the box office bomb "King of Comedy" in Hollywood is no longer want to trust Martin Scorsese work on large projects. Then the director took a low-budget film with young actors. Although this total absurdist and surrealist humor picture also failed to collect the box office, it was highly appreciated by the critics. Due to this over time, Scorsese was able to regain the trust of producers.

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5. Withnail and I

Withnail & I

• United Kingdom, 1986.
• Black comedy.
• Duration: 107 minutes.
• IMDb: 7,7.

The heroes of the film - the young actors-losers Uitneyl and Marwood. For reasons of economy they live in one apartment, and the unemployment benefit spending exclusively on booze. Once Marwood offers to get from London to "airing", and friends go to a country house uncle Uitneyla. However, vacation quickly turns into a failure.

The debut film directed by Bruce Robinson ( "The Rum Diary") is deservedly became a cult. The painting is based on the subtle dialogues full of absurd humor of English. And at some point in the story gives a comical tragic - namely feeling brutal senselessness of any attempt to change the heroes of the usual course of his life.

6. Barton Fink

barton Fink

• United States, 1991.
• Surreal black comedy.
• Duration: 117 minutes.
• IMDb: 7,7.

Hollywood studio offers novice playwright Barton Fink work. Screenwriter moved from New York to Los Angeles and settled in a provincial hotel, where there are strange and mysterious events.

"Barton Fink" - one of the most significant films of the Coen brothers. This movie is so strange, absurd and at the same time intelligent, that it is often compared with the work of Lynch and Buñuel.

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7. Death Becomes Her

Death Becomes Her

• United States, 1992.
• Black comedy.
• Duration: 104 minutes.
• IMDb: 6,6.

Broadway actress Madeline Ashton once stole the bride from writer Helen Sharp, but many years later feels unhappy in this marriage. Once the heroine with amazement and envy discovers that somehow her former rival was the slim, young and beautiful. To return to the elusive youth, Madeline decided to take extreme measures.

Black comedy Robert Zemeckis He won the "Oscar" for visual effects. They are really quite impressive and kind of creepy. Thus, during the showdown ladies torso Goldie Hawn is "decorated" impressive hole, and Meryl Streep turns his head 180 degrees.

8. Fargo

Fargo

• United States, 1996.
• Crime thriller, black comedy.
• Duration: 98 minutes.
• IMDb: 8,1.

Car mired in debt salesman Jerry Lundegaard conceives "steal" his own wife and father in law to require a ransom. For this, he hires two crooks, Carl and Geira, but the situation quickly gets out of control.

Five years after the "Barton Fink" brothers Joel and Ethan Coen were awarded the "Oscar" for his original screenplay "Fargo." Another "Oscar" in the same year received the actress Frances McDormand for Best Actress.

Later, based on the cult movie filmed more and series are taken from the original only the atmosphere and scene. At this time, the Coen brothers acted as executive producers, but usually prefer to work on their own projects.

9. The big Lebowski

The Big Lebowski

• United States, 1998.
• absurd comedy.
• Duration: 118 minutes.
• IMDb: 8,1.

Good Life unemployed loafers Jeffrey Lebowski, nicknamed Dude (Eng. Dude, in other translations - Dyudya) comes to an end when his doorstep announced two bandits. Last demanding the return of his wife's debt Lebowski, although he has never been married. Realizing that they have the wrong address, bouncers go, but before that spoil a wonderful carpet. Man decides to go to the namesake and demand compensation for the damage inflicted, but unwittingly becomes involved in a series of bizarre events.

New job Coen were greeted with a very cool, but after a while the film has found a way to the hearts of the audience and he was pulled for a quote. Although at the first viewing it is not always clear why. After all, half of the events of the film could be thrown out without prejudice to the plot, and even voiceover seems to not really know what to talk about him. Still, thanks to the strange charm of motley characters in "The Big Lebowski" is difficult not to fall in love.

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10. Happiness

Happiness

• United States, 1998.
• Black comedy.
• Duration: 134 minutes.
• IMDb: 7,7.

The plot is centered around three sisters Jordan, each in its own unhappy. One is married to a psychiatrist, a pedophile, and the second - a writer, an intellectual, secretly dreaming of being raped, and the youngest from time to time thinks about suicide.

In "Happiness" an American independent film director and screenwriter Todd Solondz raises the difficult topic of the family institution degradation. But this film does not look depressed or gloomy, and watching it is very easy thanks to playfully cynical manner plot exposition. On the fate of the characters can be found in the later film Solondz 'Life During Wartime ", filmed 10 years later, with a different cast member.

11. Office space

Office Space

• United States, 1999.
• Criminal comedy.
• Duration: 89 minutes.
• IMDb: 7,7.

Ordinary office worker Peter Gibbons hates his boring and uninteresting work. Eventually one bad hypnosis inspires him to rebel against the bosses and corporate America.

The film's director Mike Judge is most famous as the creator of Beavis and Butthead. Painting "Office Space" in many ways echoes the comedy series "Office". Both works make fun of the corporate culture, and many of them lit a problem relevant to this day.

In this case, the basic idea of ​​"Office Space" optimistic: perfect job does not exist, but any you can find something that makes you happy.

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12. Dogma

Dogma

• United States, 1999.
• Black comedy, fantasy, adventure.
• Duration: 130 minutes.
• IMDb: 7,3.

Two fallen angels, expelled from paradise for disobedience to the Lord, find a way to return home due to a loophole in the church dogmas. But the former inhabitants of heaven do not assume that, having carried out his plan against the will of God, they will create a paradox, and break down the principles of the universe. So that humanity is in dire danger.

Hoping to prevent a catastrophe archangel Metatron hastily assembles a team favorite. Among them - is going through a crisis of faith Catholic Bethany Sloane, in whose veins flows the blood of Jesus Christ, the prophets, Jay and slovens Silent Bob, the thirteenth apostle Rufus and muse-inspirer Serendipity temporarily working a stripper in a roadside bar.

Filmmaker Kevin Smith to think seriously about the "dogma" when he was only 23 years old. The young director wanted to make a movie in which the key issues of religion would be discussed in a humorous manner. In this case, the director did not want to spoil very important for him a picture of his inexperience and put an ambitious project on the shelf.

As a result, Smith could still carry out his plan in full. The role of the fallen angels went still very young and little-known Matt Damon and Ben Affleck. In addition, in the film, played by many celebrities: Linda Fiorentino, Alan Rickman, Salma Hayek, singer Alanis Morissette and veteran stand-up comedy, George Carlin.

Critics took the tape favorably as simple spectators were thrilled. "Dogma" instantly became a cult, with a hit remains even now.

13. Ghost world

Ghost World

• US, UK, Germany, 2001.
• Tragicomedy.
• Duration: 11 minutes.
• IMDb: 7,3.

Bosom friend Enid and Rebecca decide not to go to college, like other classmates, and to live for yourself. Ahead of them, a long summer, looking for a job and an apartment. Spy on other people's lives - the main passion of Enid, and one day she meets a music lover and collector plates Seymour, a typical loser and klutz. Enid gradually start to think that it is increasingly moving away from this world, because apart from its Seymour nobody understands.

"Ghost World" - a screen version of the eponymous graphic novel by Daniel Close, one of the most talented contemporary artists working in the genre of the independent comics. This trend has had a strong influence on director Terry Zwigoff picture. Back in the 70s the director met with one of its founders - the Californian artist Robert Crumb, which subsequently made a documentary.

Interestingly, in the original comic book full name of the main character (Enid Coleslaw) - complete an anagram of the name of the artist (Daniel Clowes).

14. Shaun of the Dead

Shaun of the Dead

• Britain, France, 2004.
• Comedy zombie horror.
• Duration: 99 minutes.
• IMDb: 7,9.

Infantile seller appliances Sean nowhere and seeks much of his free time engaged in crap together with childhood friend Ed. Everything changes when London starts to spread rapidly zombie virus.

A black comedy by Edgar Wright is a parody of the classic zombie movie - from the "Dawn of the Living Dead" to "28 Days Later." In the film, there's even a subtle reference to the little-known film "Zombies" Lucio Fulci and a clear homage to "rabid dogs" Quentin Tarantino.

And after the fun "Shaun of the Dead", you can see the rest of the "Trilogy of three flavors of Cornetto" - "Hot Fuzz" and "The World's End," which definitely will not disappoint fans of black humor.

15. Thank You for smoking

Thank You for Smoking

• United States, 2005.
• Satirical black comedy.
• Duration: 92 minutes.
• IMDb: 7,6.

Nick Naylor, a leading lobbyist for one of the largest manufacturers of tobacco products, leads a relentless struggle against smoking opponents. The hero is not too worried about what he called a major killer of America. But soon his life principles will be subjected to a test of strength.

The film is based on the bestseller by Christopher Buckley's "Thank You for Smoking" and turned out quite worthy of the original source, and Aaron Eckhart's character charming delights despite its immorality. At the same time throughout the whole picture viewers do not show any lighted cigarette.

16. Death at a Funeral

Death at a Funeral

• United Kingdom, 2007.
• Black comedy.
• Duration: 90 minutes.
• IMDb: 7,4.

In the house of Daniel and his wife, Jane's whole family to honor the memory of the deceased father of the protagonist. Except that the funeral is not specified at the outset. The burial coffins mixed office and one of the guests by mistake instead of taking drugs sedative. But on top of all the event is declared dwarf blackmailer with compromising on the deceased.

This exemplary black British comedy, which is looking with a suitable attitude, you can get a lot of fun and a good laugh to tears. The film is so impressed the audience that a few years later came the American adaptation of the same name.

17. Zombieland

Zombieland

• United States, 2009.
• Comedy zombie horror.
• Duration: 84 minutes.
• IMDb: 7,6.

In the US, an outbreak of the zombie virus. The main character named Columbus - one of the few who managed to survive in a changed world. Across the country boy goes home to find out whether his parents are alive, and on the way meets a strange fellow travelers.

In the film, Ruben Fleischer has everything you need to perfect a black comedy. And after exactly 10 years, the entire cast is back in continuation picture.

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18. Mud

Filth

• United Kingdom, 2013.
• Black comedy.
• Duration: 97 minutes.
• IMDb: 7,1.

Bruce Robertson - a staunch sexist, racist, foul-mouthed and generally horrible person. In this case, the hero is not the last post in Edinburgh Police and hopes to increase, but at some point starts to rapidly go crazy.

Scottish filmmaker John S. Baird made of evil and cynical novel by Irvine Welsh successful black comedy. BUT James McAvoy I played in it one of his best roles.

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19. real vampires

What We Do in the Shadows

• New Zealand, USA, 2014.
• Black comedy.
• Duration: 86 minutes.
• IMDb: 7,7.

Viagem, Vladislav, Deacon and Petyr - vampiresLiving in Wellington. During the years of immortality bloodsuckers have been unable to adapt to modern realities. But after a quartet joins convert vampire named Nick in their lives come to the internet and other digital technologies, as well as new challenges.

New Zealand's low-budget comedy, filmed Taiko Vaytiti and Jemaine Clement, became a cult and turned into an entire franchise. First, New Zealand on TVNZ left channel mini-series "Paranormal Wellington", which takes place in the same universe. Heroes were already familiar to viewers of "real vampires" discreet police officers, and the show itself plays a trick on the "X-Files" and is devoted to the investigation of supernatural events.

And a year later on the US cable channel FX premiere of serial another spin-off of the original film. The series "What we are doing in the shadows" also tells about the life of modern vampires. But now the action is centered around new characters and moved from New Zealand to the United States.

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20. Three billboard on the border Ebbing, Missouri

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

• US, UK, 2017.
• Crime drama.
• Duration: 115 minutes.
• IMDb: 8,2.

In the life of Mildred Hayes comes a terrible event - her daughter, a teenager killed by unknown hands. Tired of waiting for the results of the police investigation, a desperate mother pays the rent three billboards and places them on the cutting charges eyes against the local sheriff. War lonely woman with a town eventually leads those involved to an unpredictable and dramatic climax.

In this film there is everything that may require the soul of film fans: the outstanding actor's game perfectly matched music and an extraordinary story that goes beyond good and evil in the traditional understanding. That is why a picture is required for viewing, as well as previous full-length work of Martin McDonagh - "In Bruges" and "Seven Psychopaths".

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