Summary

• Subverting genres with comedy in sci-fi is risky but hilarious when successful, creating iconic films loved for decades.
• Movies like Meet Dave, Mars Attacks!, and The World's End blend outrageous sci-fi with humor, delighting audiences.
• Classics like The Nutty Professor, Spaceballs, and Back to the Future combine comedy and sci-fi seamlessly for timeless fun.

Subverting genres by inserting comedy into them is a risky, but particularly hilarious endeavor when it is successful — especially with science-fiction. The outrageousness that typically accompanies science fiction stories is a perfect canvas for comedic elements. These comedies have delighted audiences for decades and, for a lucky few, have become some of the best films in history. Here are some of the best movies that mix sci-fi and comedy.

Updated on March 5th, 2024, by Samuel Cormier: If you are a fan of comedy and science-fiction, then you will be happy to know that this article has been updated with more content.

12 Meet Dave (2008)

Meet Dave is a frankly strange comedy where 100 tiny humanoid aliens drive a human-looking spaceship, that goes by the name Dave (Eddie Murphy), to infiltrate humans. Their goal is to drain the Earth's oceans with a special metal ball that crashed into the Earth some months before to get salt, which they need as an energy source on their home planet. However, the aliens do not know how humans normally act, and Dave has to navigate New York to find his lost ball and escape the police while attempting to befriend Gina (Elizabeth Banks), a single mother who happened to crash into Dave soon after his arrival on Earth.

A Fun So-Bad-It's-Good Romp

Meet Dave was not a critical or commercial success at the time of its release, by any means: $50.7 million box office against a $60 million budget, and a 20% score on Rotten Tomatoes. Murphy himself said that it was one of his worst movies... However, it hits just the right spot with its concept being both original and hilarious. Dave's wooden movements and robot-like social awkwardness are peak physical comedy, and could only have been played so well by Murphy. Overall, Meet Dave is fun to watch once, with family or some friends who can enjoy a so-bad-it's-good comedy.

11 Mars Attacks! (1996)

Mars Attacks! may very well be Time Burton's craziest outing, and that is saying a lot when it comes to the famous director. It also boasts one of the most star-studded ensembles ever put onto film, consisting of Jack Nicholson, Annette Bening, Glenn Close, Michael J. Fox, Pierce Brosnan, Danny DeVito, Martin Short, Jack Black, and even a young Natalie Portman. The setup isn't anything new: aliens from Mars come to Earth on their first visit, and meet with the President of the United States (Nicholson). Although they may seem peaceful at first, there may be some dark motives lurking underneath.

The Absurdity Is Dialed All the Way Up

Mars Attacks boasts some of the best comedy found in Burton's films. The brilliant cast and over-the-top humor of the movie make it a sure-fire sci-fi comedy classic. Specifically, true to Burton's style, the aliens have a dark and cruel sense of humor, which separates Mars Attacks! from most of the other movies on this list. The film also shamelessly features some of the weirdest moments in cinema history, from a chihuahua-woman hybrid to a less-than-family-friendly voyeur scene. Although some of the special and practical effects have aged poorly, it is still a nostalgic and enjoyable watch.

10 The Nutty Professor (1963)

Before the 1996 remake of the same name starring Eddy Murphy, classic comedic actor Jerry Lewis starred in The Nutty Professor, the story of a stereotypically nerdy scientist named Julius Kelp who develops a serum that turns him into a suave and charming man under the alias Buddy Love (subtle). The film is a parody of the famous novel Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, whereby the same man is a successful doctor during the day and a criminal at night, without remembering any of it. Which version will woo over the beautiful Stella Purdy?

A Charming and Timeless Classic

Widely considered to be one of Lewis's finest comedic performances, The Nutty Professor appears on the American Film Institute's 100 Years... 100 Laughs ranking comedy films. Despite being over 60 years old at this point, this brightly colored comedy is still enjoyable to watch, the humor has not aged too badly, and neither have the special effects due to the simple nature of the concept (no unsightly CGI beasts in sight). The Nutty Professor proved to be a successful concept since it was followed by the aforementioned remake, a sequel to the remake, an animated sequel to the original, and two musicals. Stream on Kanopy and PlutoTV.

9 The World's End (2013)

The World's End marked the final of three films in Edgar Wright's "Cornetto Trilogy" featuring Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, with Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz coming before it. The World's End tells the story of five school friends who reunite, only to discover that everyone they know has been replaced by alien replicas. "The World's End" refers to the last bar on the local "Golden Mile" pub crawl, which the group attempted as teens but failed, and now return to try as adults.

Sharp, Witty, and Triumphant

Pegg and Frost work so well together as a comedic duo. Throw in the likes of Martin Freeman and Rosamund Pike, and here is one of the best sci-fi comedies ever. In fact, the film goes much further beyond comedy and science-fiction; it is also a social commentary on drinking, aging, young adulthood, and the nostalgia of returning to one's hometown. While some of those topics are pretty dark, they only appear in a deeper reading of the film, making the audience think without spoiling the fun. For a mildly cerebral and terribly funny watch, The World's End is the movie of choice.

8 Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (2009)

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs is a strange, often forgotten animated movie from 2009 that tells the story of Flint Lockwood, an inventor who creates a machine that makes food rain from the sky for his town, who can only afford sardines. But soon, the machine goes out of control and starts showering the town with unmanageable amounts of food. The film features a range of eccentric characters, played by a nice ensemble cast, with Bill Hader, Anna Faris, Andy Samberg, Mr. T, and Neil Patrick Harris. The film is loosely adapted from the 1978 book of the same name.

A Sci-Fi Comedy for the Whole Family

While Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs is definitely aimed at children, it is fun to watch at any age. Older viewers can understand the underlying commentary about food insecurity, food waste, and the unhealthiness of processed foods. The film has been particularly praised for its colorful visuals (although the character design has been critiqued for its simplicity) and entertaining score. Dealing with the ridiculous original idea of food raining from the sky, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs smartly mixes science-fiction, comedy, and apocalyptic genres. A movie sequel, a television show, and a console video game have spun out from this concept.

7 Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (1989)

A sci-fi comedy that appeals more to a younger audience, Honey, I Shrunk the Kids is a Rick Moranis classic. Wayne Szalinski (Moranis) is a scientist who is working on a shrinking machine. However, things go badly when he mistakenly shrinks his two kids and their friends down to the size of an insect and even throws them in the trash. He then goes through a series of gags and adventures to find the children and revert them to their normal size.

Another Family Friendly Delight

Full of larger-than-life set pieces and the Moranis charm, Honey, I Shrunk the Kids still holds up as a timeless classic. Moranis just plays the lovable loser so well. The concept itself is also interesting, and surprisingly not explored a whole lot outside this franchise. Fans of the series should be excited as, after two sequel films, a whole television series, and two Disney attractions (now closed), it is expected that Rick Moranis will come out of retirement and reprise his role alongside Josh Gad in a Disney+ remake. However, a 2023 update on X said that the project had been put on hold for the time being, hopefully, the project will go back into development as soon as possible.

6 Paul (2011)

Another sci-fi comedy featuring the duo of Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, albeit without Edgar Wright, is 2011's Paul. The movie features Pegg and Frost as two buddies traveling the western United States following a science fiction convention. As they visit Area 51, they soon find themselves with an alien companion known as Paul (voiced by Seth Rogen), who loves racy jokes and outrageous behavior and is attempting to go back to his home planet.

A Must Watch for Pegg and Frost Fans

Paul is not for every audience, as its humor is definitely for adults and borderline offensive at times. But if viewers just put their guard down, they are left with a stupidly funny mockery of all the alien lore that they have grown up with. The writing of the main human pair is particularly smart, as they are unbridled geeks but are not mocked by the film for it. A hilarious re-imagining and occasional parody of E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Paul is chocked full of comedy and heart, making it one of the best sci-fi comedies of this decade or any other.

5 Weird Science (1985)

Featuring a somewhat... problematic premise, Weird Science by John Hughes (The Breakfast Club, which takes place at the same high school as this film) stars Anthony Michael Hall and Ilan Michael-Smith as two nerdy teenagers who set out to create the perfect woman. However, she will soon make the boys' lives spin out of control. Alongside Michael-Smith and Brat Pack member Hall, the film also features Robert Downey Jr. and the late Bill Paxton in some of their earliest roles. The film is based on a 1951 comic book story titled "Made of the Future", by Al Feldstein.

Ridiculous in the Best Ways

Considered by many to be one of the best John Hughes movies, Weird Science is science fiction blended with classic '80s comedy. While mixing an unbelievable amount of strange elements from shapeshifting and memory erasure to mutant bikers, the story is well tied together, and thoroughly entertaining from beginning to end. It is definitely a goofy '80s teen comedy, but it works, and it has a particularly great score, with the title song being performed by famous composer Danny Elfman's new-age band, Oingo Boingo. And if the concept feels too misogynistic by today's standards, audiences can turn to Making Mr. Right, which has a similar concept but with the genders reversed.

4 Spaceballs (1987)

Nobody does parody films quite like Mel Brooks and to take on the mega power that was Star Wars throughout the late '70s and '80s was a bold move for sure. Spaceballs is a space opera where space mercenary Lone Starr (Bill Pullman) and his dog-dressed sidekick, Barf (John Candy) must rescue Princess Vespa (Daphne Zuniga). Vespa was captured by the eponymous Spaceballs, a humanoid alien species, led by President Skroob (Mel Brooks himself). There is also a desert magician named Yogurt (Brooks again) and a mysterious power called "The Schwartz". The film also parodies Star Trek, Alien, The Wizard of Oz, 2001: A Space Odyssey, Planet of the Apes, Transformers, and even The Bridge on the River Kwai.

An Iconic and Long-Standing Parody

Spaceballs is packed full of outrageous and silly comedy only Mel Brooks could produce. The film breaks down and makes fun of almost every key element from Star Wars in such a successful way that the parody has orbited to the same stratosphere as the thing it is parodying and gained a proper cult following. The costumes are walking a surprising line between ridiculous and fashionable — for example, the helmets worn by the Spaceballs have since become iconic. The score is amazing, full of hilarious yet catchy musical numbers. Spaceballs has since become a running reference, from the sale of flamethrower toys to Tesla Motors copying the spaceship's speed names.

3 Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (1989)

Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure is another example of science fiction working so well in 80s comedy. The movie shows a utopian future that exists thanks to best friends Bill (Alex Winter) and Ted's achievements (Keanu Reeves). However, in current-day 1988, the pair are failing their history class. Rufus, a resident of the future, travels to them through phone booth time machines to take them on a journey through human history so that they can successfully write their reports.

The Best of its Kind

Heavy on the laughs as it is on the rock and roll, Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure stands the test of time as a classic science fiction comedy. The time travel makes for a perfect setup for hilarious gags and absurd discussions with famous figures of the past. It is refreshing to see Reeves in a comedic role, and he does it so well, especially thanks to his chemistry with co-star Winter. Although it was originally a shy box office success at $40 million against a $10 million budget, it has since gained an incredible cult following. The film even saw two sequels, spread quite far apart in time: Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey (1991) and Bill & Ted Face the Music (2020).

2 Back to the Future (1985)

Considered to be one of the smartest comedy movies ever made, Back to the Future also ranks as one of the best sci-fi comedies of all time. In it, high schooler Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) is mistakenly sent 30 years back by a time machine, the DeLorean created by kooky inventor Dr Emmet Brown (Christopher Lloyd). After getting into a car accident, his teenage mother tends to him and falls in love with him. Dr Brown realizes that Marty is altering the future, the boy must now try his hardest to make his parents meet and fall in love — otherwise, he and his siblings will never be born.

Everyone's Favorite Time Travel Movie

This Robert Zemeckis classic has so many iconic images and hilarious lines. But humor is not a placeholder for story. Back to the Future has a complex and solid plot all throughout. Fox and Lloyd show wonderful chemistry as a grandfather and grandson duo. This film alone has birthed some of the most iconic objects in cinema history; namely the hoverboard, the DeLorean, and even the self-lacing shoes. It is quite a feat for a comedy to be considered one of the best science-fiction films of all time. Perhaps the most perfect blockbuster ever made, Back to the Future has etched its way into popular culture forever and will live on far into a roadless future.

1 Galaxy Quest (1999)

Oftentimes, some of the greatest works of art are the most overlooked ones, and this entry fits the definition of both. In Galaxy Quest, Jason Nesmith (Tim Allen) is the former star of the successful fictional television show "Galaxy Quest." While he still basks in those glory days and tours the US for fan conventions, the rest of his co-stars have put this project behind them. Out of the blue, Nesmith is contacted by real-life aliens, who complain that extra-terrestrial beings were wrongly represented in the show, and now want rectification. This movie is both an homage and a parody to classic science-fiction movies and shows, and their particularly dedicated fans.

Hilarious Comedy and Wonderful Sci-Fi All in One

Galaxy Quest is not only the best science fiction comedy ever, but is also one of the most vastly underrated comedy movies of all time. The film features some of the best comedy writing ever, which transcends the decades since this movie came out, as well as classic performances from Allen and Sigourney Weaver, who play characters completely against the archetypes they are most notably known for. Words can not do it justice, if you or anyone you know is unfamiliar with Galaxy Quest; then, in the words of the late, great Alan Rickman, "by Grabthar's Hammer" watch it or show them now.