In 2021, a year after the COVID-19 pandemic started, everyone was looking for a reason to continue to have hope and laugh. As theaters slowly reopened globally, comedy films gave a reason for people to come out and laugh in front of the big screen again. Audiences could go out to theaters for a good laugh or stay at home, and streaming provided viewers who were still unsure about returning to theaters with a wide array of comedies to choose from.
Update May 16, 2023: This article has been updated with even more laugh-out-loud comedies released in 2021, in case you were looking for something funny to watch at home.
2021 saw a wide variety of comedies released. Holiday movies and romantic comedies were great sources, but so was the indie film scene, where bold new filmmakers were making an impression with what they could offer. Even superhero blockbusters embraced comedy with laugh-out-loud moments. A combination of movies that were originally intended to be released in 2020 as well as films that had premiered on time, made 2021 an interesting year for comedy. Here are 20 great comedies from 2021.
20 Home Sweet Home Alone
Home Sweet Home Alone is a comedy Christmas film distributed by Disney+. It is the fifth sequel to the original Home Alone starring Macaulay Culkin. The film stars Archie Yates as Max Mercer, who is left home alone during the holidays when his parents left for Tokyo and forget him. Once they realize their son is not with them, the parents attempt to get a flight back to him.
Max initially embraces his time alone but soon misses his family. All feelings are halted when a group of criminals breaks into the home while he is there. The family eventually reunites with their son after he is taken care of by the neighbors. Being a sequel to one of Christmas’ most classic films, it had a lot to live up to. The movie received mixed reviews but is still a standout holiday film.
19 Vacation Friends
Vacation Friends follows a couple, Marcus and Emily (Lil Rel Howery and Yvonne Orji, respectively), who are on vacation to Mexico when Marcus’ plan to propose to her goes awry. He decides to propose in the hotel lobby, where they meet another couple (John Cena and Meredith Hagner) who seem a little too carefree and wild.
Vacation Friends manages to turn a buddy comedy film into something with substance; its characters are fleshed out, and it has an actual storyline that’s surprisingly good. The movie also offers the perfect mix of comedy and seriousness, enhanced by the outstanding performances of its cast.
18 Don't Look Up
Don’t Look Up boasts what may be the ensemble cast of 2021, as it has Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Lawrence, Meryl Streep, Timothee Chalamet, Ariana Grande, Jonah Hill, and many more. Lawrence is an astronomy student who discovers a comet that’s going to hit the Earth and kill everyone, and with her professor (DiCaprio), she tries to warn the government and media to stop what’s coming.
The strength of the humor in the film lies in its political satire showcasing a corrupt government, the pervasive nature of social media and constructed news, capitalism, and a divided society on exactly what is and isn’t real. For some critics, the film was an unfunny failure, but even in those reviews, it's clear that Don't Look Up was an important failure.
17 Love Hard
Romantic comedies have discovered dating apps, which has led screenwriters down an entirely new rabbit hole. Love Hard is a product of that new obsession. A dating column writer (Nina Dobrev) is a serial dater; she uses all of her dating app adventures for her writing endeavors. She finds what could be “the one” on the other side of the country. However, when she comes to meet him for Christmas, she finds out that she’s been catfished. Love Hard is a funny movie, but it also has wholesome moments. It teaches that appearances aren’t everything when it comes to finding true love, nor is it intentional at the end of the day.
16 Red Rocket
The Florida Project’s director Sean Baker returned in 2021 with Red Rocket, a comedy-drama about a former porn star who has very few redeeming qualities. He chases the American Dream and leaves his former life behind to return to his hometown in Texas. However, he’s extremely unlikable, his ex-wife wants nothing to do with him, and his shamelessness is hilarious to watch. Some might think that this man has some redeeming qualities, but as the movie progresses, it shows he has a one-dimensional personality. And the viewer begins to root against him and his exploits, making this movie a spectacle of schadenfreude.
15 Ghostbusters: Afterlife
The most recent installment in the Ghostbusters series, Ghostbusters: Afterlife, is set thirty-two years after the events of Ghostbusters II. Egon Spengler, one of the original members of the Ghostbusters, has left his farm to his daughter and her two children. There the children discover the equipment used by their grandfather and accidentally let loose a ghost, leading to catastrophic events.
Unlike other Ghostbusters films, this movie is rather light on jokes and instead takes the franchise in a more earnest direction. However, the moments of levity and comedy come from the fact of having heads play around with the Ghostbusters arsenal.
14 North Hollywood
Named after a neighborhood in Los Angeles, North Hollywood is a coming-of-age story about a young man who has a decision to make. He can follow the footsteps and dreams paved out for him by his father, or he can follow his dream of becoming a professional skater. Its premise is simple, but it allows the story to develop and flow realistically. Solid performances, visually appealing cinematography, and well-timed comedic scenes made this film an unforgettable and touching experience.
13 Coming 2 America
Legendary comedian Eddie Murphy is reunited with stars like Arsenio Hall and James Earl Jones in the highly-anticipated romantic comedy Coming 2 America, the long-awaited sequel to the 1988 hit, Coming to America. The sequels follow Zamunda King Akeem and his trusted right-hand-man Semmi as they travel to Queens, New York, searching for his long-lost son.
Murphy serves up plenty of laughs in the farce, taking on multiple memorable side-splitting characters like Sexual Chocolate lead singer Randy Watson and local barber Mr. Clarence. Jermaine Fowler and Leslie Jones join the film as Akeem's son Lavelle and his mother Mary, bringing funny and fresh energy to the buzzed-about follow-up and playing off Murphy superbly.
12 The Hating Game
The Hating Game is a dramedy film adaptation of the novel of the same name written by Sally Thorne. The film stars Lucy Hale from Pretty Little Liars and Austin Stowell, known best for his role in Whiplash. When the two business executives have to compete for the same promotion, they become closer than ever and eventually fall for one another.
The competition mixed with romance between the two leads is infectious, and the natural charm of the actors helps make the movie a success. The film is fun and depicts a story that could be relatable to viewers. The rom-com is often overlooked when it comes to comedies, so The Hating Game really shined when it premiered on PVOD in December 2021.
11 El Planeta
On the more artistic and surreal edges of comedy, writer/director Amalia Ulman explores generational differences, economic anxieties, and complicated mother-daughter relationships with El Planeta. This gorgeous black-and-white dark comedy from Spain stars Ulman and her actual mother as Leo and Maria, a pair of down-on-their-luck women preparing to get evicted from their home.
The film feels like a throwback to the defining indie movies of the '80s and '90s in America (Clerks, Slacker, Border Radio, Stranger Than Paradise), feeling like a feminist comedian's variation on Jim Jarmusch's filmography. Despite its cultural references, it's a highly unique, morbidly entertaining comedy-drama.
10 Bad Trip
Each year, the movie world remembers hidden cameras can either have one of two results: end poorly or turn out hilariously. Bad Trip is an example of it going well. Two best friends (Eric André and Lil Rel Howery) decide to take a road trip to New York City to rediscover a high school crush. The catch here is that they decided to steal a car belonging to an ex-convict sister, she gets upset, and then she decides to hunt them down after discovering her car is gone. As a prank comedy movie, Bad Trip is a spiritual cousin to Borat, although it’s less politically inclined and wonderfully relies on strangers who’ve been unknowingly starring in a movie.
9 Shiva Baby
Writer and director Emma Seligman made a confident debut in 2021 with Shiva Baby, a feature-length anxiety attack film. With a star-making performance from Rachel Sennott, the angsty comedy follows the day in the life of a woman at a Jewish funeral, where she encounters an ex-lover and a current sugar daddy, struggles with her sexuality, is tormented by parents and acquaintances alike, and finds herself caught in lie after lie. The tension escalates in these extremely uncomfortable but hilarious films. Seligman and Sennott will reunite for Bottoms, a comedy set to open in theaters on August 25, 2023.
8 Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar
Two middle-aged Midwestern women have decided they’ve had enough of Nebraska. They’re going to leave and go on vacation for the first time, and naturally, they’ve chosen to go to Florida. But everything starts to go south when a native of the area, traumatized by childhood bullying of her pale skin, decides to concoct an evil plan to kill everyone.
Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar is unapologetic about what it’s about and doesn’t take itself seriously. As these two white women escape from the doldrums of everyday life, their lives seem almost too perfect in the hotel — complete with musical numbers by the staff. No cliché villain will ruin this vacation, and viewers are given the perfect amount of comedy for quality entertainment.
7 Plan B
In the endearing coming-of-age comedy Plan B, reserved and sheltered high school student Sunny and her outgoing best friend Lupe decide to throw a house party, which results in Sunny losing her virginity and making the horrifying realization she might be pregnant. The panicked duo set out to find Sunny the Plan B pill but find the task extremely difficult, so the teenagers head off in search of the crucial contraceptive across the state of South Dakota.
Plan B is both incredibly funny but also horrifying when one considers the entire plot of the movie and the dangers these young girls are in would not exist if they had easier access to birth control. The heartwarming film features brilliant performances by its talented young leads, Kuhoo Verma and Victora Morales. Plan B director Natalie Morales went on to win the Filmmaker on the Rise Award at the Hollywood Critics Association Film Awards for her impressive debut.
6 The French Dispatch
The French Dispatch was Wes Anderson's first anthology film and is a non-stop delight. With an even larger ensemble than usual, the film follows the misadventures of various reporters for the titular newspaper who are assembling the final piece of the publication following their editor's death. Wes Anderson's unique style and aesthetic have only become sharper and more refined with time, and every single frame of this film is a masterpiece of cinematography, lighting, coloring, costuming, and set design. It's a whimsical and breezy film that is stuffed to the brim with artistry and demands multiple viewings.
5 Werewolves Within
Werewolves Within is a horror-comedy based on the video game of the same name and might be the best video game movie by default. The film follows a forest ranger (Sam Richardson) who is assigned to a new town and meets the colorful townspeople. In the middle of a massive snowstorm, they realize they are being hunted by a werewolf, and everyone begins to suspect who could be behind the killings. Featuring a great ensemble of comedic actors, including Milana Vayntrub, Michaela Watkins, Harvey Guillen, and Sarah Burns to name a few, Werewolves Within finds the perfect balance between humorous and terrifying.
4 Fatherhood
Fatherhood is a dramedy based on the 2011 memoir written by Matthew Logelin, Two Kisses for Maddy: A Memoir of Loss and Love. Originally intended for release in theaters, Sony sold the movie to Netflix, where it premiered over Father's Day weekend. The film stars Kevin Hart in a way that is uncommon to his normal comedies, as he has to portray a loving and nurturing father for his role.
Matthew Logelin, played by Hart, is the father to Maddy, played by Melody Hurd. Matthew has to care for Maddy as a single father after his wife dies shortly after giving birth. Both grandmothers help support the two as Matthew raises Maddy alone, all while grieving the loss of his counterpart. When Maddy grows older, Matthew finally embraces having a girlfriend, and Maddy approves. There’s love, loss, strains in relationships, and low-volume humor, making this true story a kindred joy to watch.
3 The Suicide Squad
The Suicide Squad was a sequel and franchise rebranding of the 2016 Suicide Squad in the DCEU. The film follows the titular team as they are sent to shut down a top-secret lab in a foreign country, only to discover it has dark links to the United States government. The movie features fan-favorite Harley Quinn and introduces new villains like Bloodsport, King Shark, Ratchatcher II, Polka Dot Man, and Peacemaker to the franchise.
The Suicide Squad was seen as a major improvement over its predecessor in every way. While it disappointed the box office, it received a television spin-off in Peacemaker that aired in January 2022. Director James Gunn was then appointed the co-head of DC Studios and will relaunch the DC film franchise, shifting the DCEU to the DCU.
2 Free Guy
.jpg?q=50&fit=crop&w=1500&dpr=1.5)
Ryan Reynolds is back, and he showed up ready to serve one of the most entertaining performances of his career. Guy (Reynolds) is a non-playable character in a video game, just trying to live his best life. He doesn’t know that he’s in a video game and works as a bank teller, but when someone from the outside world tries to get his attention, the world as he knows it is turned upside down forever. Free Guy is a chaotic but fun ride, an experience that feels like an homage to its non-comedic action movie predecessors like The Matrix. Strangely heartwarming, Free Guy is worthy of seeing at least once.
1 Licorice Pizza
Paul Thomas Anderson’s Licorice Pizza does not disappoint. Fifteen-year-old Gary Valentine (Cooper Hoffman) has asked out twenty-five-year-old Alana Kane (Alana Haim), leading to an on-off dance of whether they’re a couple. It’s yet another coming-of-age story, but there’s something intimate about Licorice Pizza; it seems almost like a play or musical visually unfolding on the screen.
This was both Haim’s and Hoffman’s first major acting roles, which is surprising when looking at the quality of their acting. This is a situation that seems outlandish, as we have this fifteen-year-old pursuing a woman ten years older than him, but Anderson made it work and seem authentic. Because of this, audiences couldn’t help to laugh along and be charmed by the movie.