Best Dark Comedies
 

Apologies if a thread like this has already been posted, but search is disabled!

Anyway, so what are some of everyone's favorite dark comedies? The Bad Santa thread got me thinking about it, and I unfortunately haven't been able to see that yet.

So here are some of my favorites, in no particular order:

• Heathers
• Election
• War of the Roses
• Throw Mama from the Train

I can't even really think of too many other dark comedies... Very Bad Things and Death to Smoochy come to mind. I liked VBT, but in the end, I don't think it's that special. And I really didn't like Death to Smoochy; I wouldn't even categorize it as 'dark', actually.

What have I missed?

Ravenous :) The scoring alone is worth the entirety of the movie. mmm what else... pretty much anything with walken in it that much be construed as a possible thriller. Sleepy Hollow, True Romance, etc. But Ravenous, boy oh boy, its almost enough to become vegetarian :)

Fight Club and American Beauty, two of the best.

Hmm.... I'm teetering back and forth as to whether I would call them dark comedies. Don't get me wrong, you've mentioned two of all time favorite movies there, but I think I'd put them in a different category from the other movies I mentioned. I think the main reason is that I wouldn't call Fight Club and American Beauty comedies.

Suicide Kings, House of Yes, and Comic Book Villans are also ok dark comedies, although Heathers is probably my favorite.

The recent Bad Santa comes to mind. Definitely have to include Sleepy Hollow (one of my favorites). I can't think of any more right now even though I'm sure I like more.

-Lasereth

Would you consider Pump up the Volume a dark comedy? I liked that movie, but thought Heathers was better. Very Bad Things was a dark comedy in my book.

Don't really think of Fight Club as a comedy, more like a dark drama in my book.

being John Malkovich

and i agree that Fight Club is more of a dark drama than a dark comedy

You guys are forgetting the darkest, funniest movie of all time, Brazil!
Fargo was also very dark but some didn't find it too funny...

I laughed my ass off when Steve Buscemi gets fed into a wood chipper in Fargo.

Dr. Strangelove. Excellent movie.

Thank god, I thought I was going to have to be the first to mention Brazil. I just watched it again a few weeks ago. I think it has gotten funnier everytime I watch it. Fargo is another good one too.

Get Shorty, Suicide Kings (TOTALLY underappreciated), Lock Stock & Two Smoking Barrels

Both movies were dramatic, but in between the drama was some really funny stuff, not to mention dark funny stuff. Well, some of it at least. Like how in American Beauty the thing that motivated Lesters change was trying to fuck his daughters friend. Or how in the end he Spoiler: doesn't get killed by his wife, but by his neighbor who thinks Lester is having sex with his son.Thats just funny, in a dark way;) . Then in Fight Club when it shows Tyler splicing porn into kiddie films, yet again its funny in a dark way.

Rushmore
Election

Hail KnifeMissile, Batman976 et al!

In my opinion, Brazil is the greatest movie ever made.
-GH

Very Bad Things and Bad Santa were good times.

Black Adder is a great Dark Comedy Series.

Very Bad Things fucking rules! Loads of people will tell you that it is an awful movie. They are wrong! Dead wrong!

But by FAR the best black comedy ever made is Fargo.
As for people who didn't even realise it was supposed to be funny....ignore them, they're idiots!
Coen brothers rule!

Fight club was also hilarious. Again, plenty of people didn't find it funny at all. But then, they are also the same people who think it is about an illegal boxing club.

Fargo can't be funny. It's based on a true story! :lol:

Oh I agree that Fight Club was hilarious, but I am not sure I would call it a "Comedy". I guess it can go either way.

Favorite line is when Tyler is getting out of his plane seat passed Norton and says something like "And now a question of courtesy, as I pass...do I give him the ass or the crotch!!)

Age old question, but he says it so fast a lot of people missed it!

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Trainspotting

can't tell if your aware of this but it actually isn't even though they claim it.

Flirting With Disaster is wicked funny.

Fargo was both hilarious and dark. Loved it.

That part was pretty funny. And also if you'll notice as he passes by Edward Norton's character, he gives him the ass, while he gives the flight attendant lady the crotch. ;) Ahhhh, Great movie

One of my favourite lines from Fight Club:

"It was beautiful...we were selling rich women their own fat asses back to them!"
:lol:

here's another one for fargo, boy do i love that movie

I think American Beauty is pretty funny...as said before, not sure if it could be called a comedy or not. But my favourite part. "This is me, masturbating in the shower. This will be the highlight of my day. It's all downhill from here."

"House of Yes" was definetly a messed up film, but as far as dark comedies go, pretty darn amusing.

Oh my! I hadn't thought about Heathers in ages! Now, I really want to see that again.

Novacaine was pretty damn good.

Snatch and Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels

Both equally great

Donnie Darko maybe?

I know it isn't really a comedy, but it is dark, and it does have some hillarious lines.

I wouldn't consider trainspotting a comedy.

You could almost consider SLC punk a dark comedy..

ironchefkorea reminded me of this in another thread:

The Big Hit

While not as morbid as the typical dark comedy, it's still one of my favorites.

"Excuse me, I'd like to return this video"

poor guy.

Dr Strangelove. The movie is perfect, pacing, story, acting, directing, everything! Such a masterpiece, love it whenever I watch it.

Lock Stock/Snatch. Great british dark/bleak humour movies, shame Ritchie seems to have gone off the rails.

Delicatessen. French movie by the same directors who brought us 'the city of lost children'. Quite a bizarre tale, but dark throughout, both dark comedy and very surreal.

Dellamorte Dellamore. Hilarious.

i would say snach and fight club are 2 really good ones great movies simply greay

yeah i like cemetary man but is it a black comedy?i think it fits more into the evil dead slapstick horror genre.

I'd have to add Grosse Point Blank to the list as well

I love how Richie started off wanting to make Snatch a drama movie about the different underworld-type goings on in the UK but by the end it turned into a strange mixture between comedy and a drama-like caper.

I thought about that, and about suggesting ED , but I don't think we're being too stringent in our definition of black comedy. It doesn't matter, I suppose.

american psycho
and
american beauty

i'd have to say they are 'dark comedies' for witty dialogue. it's got some really funny, sarcastic lines/scenes.

and would monty python's meaning of life be a dark comedy?

also, edward scissorhands and beetlejuice.

I'm climbing onto the Very Bad Things train here, it's my favorite dark comedy.

Man, some great choices so far, but my all time favorite dark comedy has to be 'Buffalo 66'.

If you haven't seen this movie yet, turn your computer off, go out the damn door, and rent it NOW!!!

war of the roses tops my list i think

How about A Clockwork Orange. A funny, funny movie if you can forget what it is exactly that you're laughing about. The humor in the story is much more apparent in the book, however.

oooooh. my girl.

and ghost world.

Is "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" a dark comedy?

If so, that's my favorite...

"Bob Roberts" is pretty dark due to the implications of it that are surprisingly true, even know...

And in the political vein - "Dr. Strangelove"!

gotta throw another vote in for Rushmore and add The Royal Tennenbaums

The Big Lebowski

Some excellent films here, though some of them would not fit my definition of dark comedy. Put me down as a huge fan of Rushmore, Being John Malkovich and The Royal Tennenbaums.I don't know if anyone remembers a film from the mid 80's called After Hours about a guy (Griffin Dunne) on a quest through a hellish New York Night. Very funny, but probably very 80's seen today. And speaking of Griffin Dunne how about An American Werewolf in London?

The Cohens are the kings of dark comedy. The Big Lebowski, Fargo, The Hudsucker Proxy.... Fantastic stuff.

I second the nomination of Delicatessen. Absolutely brilliant film--especially the scene where the whole building is working in rhythm! Hysterical!! Oh, man, and the woman who kept attempting suicide because she was hearing voices.... Dark, funny stuff.

I guess I'm too dark. I'm a big fan of the Coen Brothers, but I never considered a lot of their films dark comedies. I guess Lebowski is, and Fargo, but I consider those all more absurd than dark. Matter of taste, I guess.

I'm an old guy, so I'm going to name some old films.

Dr. Strangelove and Clockwork Orange, of course. Kubrick rules.

The Loved One. All about death, American style. Cheaply shot in black and white, but with name star cameos. Check it out if you've never heard of it. You won't believe it.

Bluebeard. Sound comedy made by Charlie Chaplin about '50 about a guy who marries and kills women.

Psycho. It _is_ a comedy, if you look at it right.

Eating Raoul -- Paul Bartel's take on cannibalism in LA.

Night of the Comet -- valley girls with Uzis, flesh-eating zombies, what could be better?

Chopper Chicks in Zombie Town -- the only Troma film I've ever seen. Lot of fun, in a crude way.

Death Race 2000 -- let's not forget the classics!

Escape from New York, Escape from LA.

They Live.

Personally, I loved Death to Smoochy, Brazil, Gross Pointe Blank, and Fight Club...

BUT

Only a few mentions of Dr. Strangelove? P'shaw...
Just the thought of the line "Gentlemen you can't fight in here, this is the war room!" makes me smile.

Finaly, i thought no one was going to say Death to Smoochy. That is one of my favorit movies of all time.

As Spektr was the first to point out: Grosse Pointe Blank.

It was good forn no other reason than it was actually Dan Akroyd in a good role. Trying to organize all of the hitmen/contract killers into a union is just such a great premise.

another vote for Snatch and Lock/Stock, too bad Ritchie cant release sumthing new

fightclub is fucking hilirious!!! its a comedy

CABLE GUY!!!

YES!!! I was hoping that no one had posted it yet...but oh well. Great movie!

I have to jump on the Dr. Strangelove train, SUCH a funny movie.

[General Turgenson's phone rings in the war room]
General "Buck" Turgidson: Hello... (whispering)look, I told you never to call me here, don't you know where I am?... Well look, baby, I c-, I can't talk to you now... my president needs me!... Of course Bucky'd rather be there with you!... Of course it isn't only physical!... I deeply respect you as a human being... Some day I'm gonna make you Mrs Buck Turgidson!... Ah, listen uh, you just go back to sleep hon, and Bucky'll be back there just as soon as he can... Alright... listen, sug, don't forget to say your prayers!"

and the whole conversation the president has on the p[hone with the soviet presideny...so damn funny.

Also, i have to add "The Royal Tenenbaums", that's really very funny, and fantastically acted.

How 'bout The Last Supper? Five liberal graduate students who claim to be open-minded, but kill (and bury in their backyard under tomato plants) everyone who comes to dinner and articulates a view on life contrary to their own. Classic.

Can't believe no one's said 'Penn and Teller Get Killed'. Half the fun is them spelling out how they do their stage act through out the movie.

I would like to sit in the Guy Ritchie section here. Lock Stock and Snatch are two of my very favorite flicks.

what about apocalypse now?
Duvall's scenes make it a black comedy in my book.

The Cohen Bros. I love their stuff. Especially The Big Lebowski

Also

Election

im not sure if it has been said if it is even classed as a black comedy (if its not my bad, not sure what to class it) but Orange County. i love this movie, it is in my top five (my friends dont agree with me but ohwell)...

I'm surprised no one has mentioned Idle Hands. But Death to Smoochie and American Psycho are awesome too.

dr.strangelove even tho i didnt understand the movie :p

OK, Dr. Strangelove has got to be the best of all time. I mean, General Jack D. Ripper, and President Merkin Muffley? "Gentlemen! You Can't Fight in here! This is the War Room!" It just doesn't get any better than that.

Heathers was, perhaps the best dark comedy in color. It must suck for Christian Slater to know that he could live to be 1000 and never top that role.

Monty Python's Life of Brian. There is a relentlessly dour streak running through all of Python (British Culture in general) but Brian completely captures the absurdity of it all. "Anyone who doesn't want to be crucified here, raise your hand!" I think it's their best movie, mostly because, excepting the bit with the spaceships, it could have been a documentary. Holy Grail and Meaning of Life (in that order) are next. Either of them are more thoroughly death soaked even than Brian, and each is every bit as funny. The only thing that puts Brian ahead of them is that the story itself is better.

M*A*S*H. How much darker than the middle of a war can you get? Well, Kelly's Heroes didn't come across as dark because the violence was antiseptic and cartoon, but trading witticisms soaked to the elbows in blood has got to qualify as dark. The whole scene with Donald Sutherland baiting Robert Duvall over this "thing" with Sally Kellerman is comedic gold, particularly with Gary Burghoff reporting the play by play.

I personally think the Cohen Brothers are overrated, which I'm sure makes me no friends here, but credit where it's due; they come up with some great one liners. I think the lady cop and that goofy accent everyone in the movie has makes Fargo, but for sheer silliness Big Lebowski is funnier, and for pure novelty, Raising Arizona has got to be their best.

Anyone else remember "After Hours"? Griffin Dunn trapped in a New York where absolutely everything that can go wrong for him does in the silliest way possible. Last time I saw it must've been '86, so I don't remember it that clearly, but I remember thinking it was hysterical.

And a quick shout out to the Addams Family movies. They are too self-conciously dark to be truely great, but their fault is trying too hard, and that's worth something.

Edit:
I can't believe I couldn't come up with this before: Harold & Maude. Death Obsessed Teenager has torrid love affair with life obseessed 80 year old while his partents are desparately trying to match him up with a "nice girl". Cat Stevens did the soundtrack, so they don't get much darker /sarcasm. All in all, the movie is like a They Might Be Giants song: cheerfully grim.

And, as long as I'm back, let's not forget Arsenic and Old Lace.

OK, enough of that.

that and dr. strangelove are easily the best if you ask me...

KWSN. Clerks?

Fargo was hilarious and not remotely true. It was more of an urban legend than anything else. I'm pretty sure the Coens clear this matter up in an interview concerning Fargo.

My vote for best ever black comedy goes to Fargo

It's Coen, not Cohen.

I really really hated Election. Scenes meant to be funny often ended up being painful to watch. It's like Meet The Parents in that regard.

I guess I'd choose American Beauty or Death To Smoochy. Although there was some annoying pretension in the former.

I didn't find Clerks to be dark myself... maybe a little but not much...

I would like to add Death to Smoochy to my own list though.

Maybe you had to be there :-). Like most satires, it dates a little bit as time passes. Slim Pickens riding the bomb down to Armageddon, though, in a fit of yee-haw cowboy patriotism -- that will _never_ date.

Somebody mentioned Harold and Maude; don't know how I forgot that one; it was one of my favorite films back in the '70s, plus I'd actually been to a lot of the places around the SF Bay where they'd shot it. Life of Brian, too -- I guess because it's Python I put it in a special category, but they don't come any darker. How 'bout the guys nailed up on crosses singing "Let's Look on the Bright Side of Life" at the end as the camera pulls back for the last time? Wow.

Am I just sick?

Kids

It was written to be a dark comedy...but nobody seems to find the humor in it....I think it's hilarious....tragic....but hilarious.

totally agree. i watched it with some friends once prefacing it by saying "this movie is fucking hysterical, you have to see it."

afterwards they thought i was some perverse psycho :)

Trainspotting, I love that movie. Same with snatch and lock stock. My all time favorites and all can be considered dark comedies.

"FALLING DOWN".... THATS ME IN THE FUTURE.

I dont know why, but i loved "Death to Smoochy"

Something about corrupt kiddie show hosts that screams comedy. :)

it's good to know that i'm not alone

Barton Fink
Near Dark
Bad Boy Bubby (very out there and well worth a watch)
Nurse Betty
Shallow Grave
Very Bad Things

Fight Club was truly the BEST EVER. You only truly understand that movie after the second time you watch it. I feel that the worst was the Royal Tenenbaums. That movie was boring, all i can remember was falling asleep during a 5pm showing.

SNATCH!