Laughing out loud: the best comedies since 1990

Groundhog Day (1993)
L.A. Story (1991)
Delicatessen (1991)
Citizen Ruth (1996)
Bottle Rocket (1996)
Waiting for Guffman (1996)
Rushmore (1998)
Election (1999)
South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut (1999)
Being John Malkovich (1999)
Best in Show (2000)
Songs from the Second Floor (2000)
Shaolin Soccer (2001)
School of Rock (2003)
Windy City Heat (2003)
Kung Fu Hustle (2004)
Napoleon Dynamite' (2004)
Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
Team America: World Police (2004)
Sideways (2004)
Idiocracy (2006)
You the Living (2007)
Superbad (2007)
Le Donk & Scor-Zay-Zee (2009)
The Trip (2010)
What we do in the shadows (2014)
The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)
They Came Together (2014)
Mistress America (2015)
Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping (2016)
One Cut of the Dead (2017)
Groundhog Day (1993)

Feel like having a good laugh? Check out this list of the best comedies since the 1990s, compiled by the British filmmaker Edgar Wright and published through Letterboxd.

We start with 'Groundhog Day,' a classic with the poor reporter Phil Connors (Bill Murray) for whom each day is (exactly) the same as the last. Something is going on here...

L.A. Story (1991)

'L.A. Story' - Steve Martin plays Harry Telemacher, a weatherman who believes that his life would be better without his unpredictable girlfriend. But things can always change... for the worse.

Delicatessen (1991)

'Delicatessen' - This French film by Jean-Pierre Jeunet and Marc Caro focuses on the inhabitants of an old building located in a vast open space. The arrival of a peculiar circus worker on the block will alter their lives.

Citizen Ruth (1996)

'Citizen Ruth' - In the back of the room we see Ruth Stoops, played by Laura Dern. She's a girl living on the street and not bothering anyone. All of a sudden, however, she becomes the center of attention... even from the political class! A great comedy.

Bottle Rocket (1996)

'Bottle Rocket' - The young brothers Owen and Luke Wilson play together in this comedy directed by Wes Anderson. Inexplicably, it was a box-office failure. Critics, among them Martin Scorsese, loved this movie about three low-life thieves from Dallas.

Waiting for Guffman (1996)

'Waiting for Guffman' - This musical comedy revolves around Blaine, a small town in Missouri that is putting all of its hopes in the arrival of the peculiar Mort Guffman. This theater critic will be in charge of judging the local show of Blaine's inhabitants. They will do anything to make theirs a world-renowned event.

Rushmore (1998)

'Rushmore' - A comedy with Jason Schwartzman and Bill Murray never hurts. It was written by Wes Anderson and Owen Wilson, on top of that. Max Fisher is a student at one of the most prestigious schools in the United States. He tries everything possible to change his luck in love and academics, as he has a crush on the young teacher Miss Cross and needs to improve his grades at the same time.

Election (1999)

'Election' - An understated and underestimated comedy with Matthew Broderick and Reese Witherspoon as enemies within a high school. She plays Tracy Flick, an ambitious student at a small school in Nebraska who is trying to get elected as student body president.

South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut (1999)

'South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut' - An animated film focusing on the characters of the popular TV series 'South Park' (Kyle, Stan, Kenny and Cartman) who, on this occasion, orchestrate the resistance to an imminent war between the United States and Canada.

Being John Malkovich (1999)

'Being John Malkovich' - Spike Jonze's independent film details the adventures and misfortunes of a group of people who travel through a direct gateway into the mind of actor John Malkovich. Stars in the cast include Cameron Diaz, John Cusack, Catherine Keener, and, of course, John Malkovich as himself.

Best in Show (2000)

'Best in Show' - A mockumentary in which the protagonists are little dogs that compete in a national competition. Anything can happen there.

Songs from the Second Floor (2000)

'Songs from the Second Floor' - In this Swedish film, a man decides to set fire to his old furniture shop in order to claim the insurance money. Everything that will happen to him afterwards is unexpected and hardly imaginable.

Shaolin Soccer (2001)

'Shaolin Soccer' - This is a Chinese comedy in which the protagonist Sing, a disciple of Shaolin, tries to make kung fu popular in the world. How does he intend to do that? By associating with Fung, a former footballer, who proposes to unite both disciplines in the same art.

School of Rock (2003)

'School of Rock' - Jack Black is the protagonist of this crazy film in which an unemployed rock guitarist decides to accept the position of substitute music teacher in a somewhat peculiar high school.

Windy City Heat (2003)

'Windy City Heat' - A reality film for television in which protagonist Perry Karavello becomes the victim of a great practical joke. We can't say anything more about it, to avoid spoilers.

Kung Fu Hustle (2004)

'Kung Fu Hustle' - This the second Stephen Chow movie on Edgar Wright's list of recommended comedies. Like the first one, it's a humorous action movie of Chinese making and high quality.

Napoleon Dynamite' (2004)

'Napoleon Dynamite' - Actor Jon Heder brings to life Napoleon Dynamite, a somewhat peculiar young man who lives in rural Idaho with his grandmother and brother. What not everyone knows is that he is a dancer and a ninja. Laughs are guaranteed.

Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)

'Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy' is a classic in recent comedy whose main character is played by Will Ferrell. His Ron Burgundy is a proud and vain news anchor from the 70s. When his position gets threatened, he'll do anything to protect it.

Team America: World Police (2004)

'Team America: World Police' is a puppet and marionette comedy for an adult audience. It has humor and action in the style of 'South Park' but with meticulously designed puppets.

Sideways (2004)

'Sideways' - This film was applauded by both public and critics: it won an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay in 2004. It describes a road trip by two friends, one of them a sad divorcee, the other about to get married. What binds them is their love of tasting wine in the California countryside.

Idiocracy (2006)

'Idiocracy' - This comedy denounces the consumerist and anti-intellectual aspects of American culture. Luke Wilson and Maya Rudolph are among the star cast.

You the Living (2007)

'You the Living' - Another Swedish film in Edgar Wright's list. In this scenario, a group of people become frustrated because they cannot bond with each other on any level. It's something completely different from the average American comedy.

Superbad (2007)

'Superbad' - Johan Hill, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, and Michael Cera star in this student comedy where three geeks think about only one thing: girls.

See how Jonah Hill transformed after his breakthrough with this film

Le Donk & Scor-Zay-Zee (2009)

'Le Donk & Scor-Zay-Zee' - This comedy stars the musician Le Donk and his faithful friend: two guys with a lot of talent looking to make a name for themselves in the world of rock.

The Trip (2010)

'The Trip' - Curiously, Edgar Wright's list contains few British comedies. Here's one of the rare English titles. The main character, played by Steve Coogan, is chosen by 'The Observer' to tour the best restaurants in the UK with his girlfriend. However, plans do not turn out as he initially thought. His girlfriend leaves him and he is forced to make the trip with an extravagant guy. Highly recommended.

What we do in the shadows (2014)

'What we do in the shadows' -Terror and humor from a group of vampires living together near Wellington is what this half-New Zealand, half-American comedy proposes. The film is directed and starred by Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi.

The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)

'The Grand Budapest Hotel' - Director Wes Anderson returns with this choral comedy centered on the character by Ralph Fiennes, the concierge of a large European hotel, who has to come up with an interesting plan to prove the innocence of one of the hotel employees who's been unjustly accused.

They Came Together (2014)

'They Came Together' - This American romantic comedy stars Paul Rudd and Amy Poehler. He is an executive of a large company and she is the owner of a small candy shop. The multinational that Paul Rudd's character represents, wants to buy the little candy shop. However, love will come in between.

More romantic comedies? Check out this list of the best romcoms ever

Mistress America (2015)

'Mistress America' - This independent film stars Greta Gerwig and Lola Kirke. The lonely and unpopular Tracy sees her life change completely when she meets the adventurous Brooke.

Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping (2016)

'Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping' - After a big failure with his new album, an extravagant artist tries to come up with a plan to regain his fame. With the funny 'Brooklyn 99' actor Andy Samberg.

One Cut of the Dead (2017)

'One Cut of the Dead' - The final movie on Edgar Wright's list of best comedies is from 2017. It's a Japanese film in which a group of people tries to get out of a zombie apocalypse. Anything can happen there.

Want to see more movies from Wright's selection? Check out his favorite 70s' and 80s' comedies

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