Although humor is subjective, some comedy movies are so great that everyone seems to agree they’re hilarious. When they work and the jokes land, comedies can be among the greatest movies of all time. From Mel Brooks to Monty Python to the Zucker brothers, the best comedy filmmakers have mastered both the comedy side and the medium, making sure their movies are well-staged and well-shot in addition to having plenty of laughs.

Comedy is one of the most hit-and-miss genres, but the ones that hit really hit. There are some comedies from more than 50 years ago that still hold up today, like Dr. Strangelove and Some Like It Hot. Some comedies from the 21st century, like Bridesmaids and Shaun of the Dead, are so great that they rank alongside the all-time greats. From the pitch-perfect structure of Back to the Future to the prescient self-awareness of Monty Python and the Holy Grail, here's our take on the best comedy movies of all time.

If you're looking for more recommendations, why not check out our list of the best movies on Netflix, the best comedy movies on Prime, and the best TV shows of all time.

15 Step Brothers (2008)

Cruelly under-rated by critics on release, Adam McKay's delightfully silly comedy Step Brothers is one of Will Ferrell's funniest movies. Combining with John C Reilly in a partnership that would prove to be surprisingly prolific, Ferrell plays Brennan, a 40-year-old manchild forced to face the prospect of a step-brother (Reilly's Dale) infringing on his cozy only child set-up when his mother (Mary Steenburgen) remarries. What follows is a 98-minute war between the two developmentally stunted enemies whose escalation memorably includes scrotal defilement of a drum kit. Infinitely quotable and hugely funny, Step Brothers is easy watching with a slapstick kicker that gets better every time you watch it.

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 55%

Where To Watch: Peacock

14 Raising Arizona (1987)

After bursting onto the scene with their grisly neo-noir Blood Simple, the Coen brothers followed it up with a tonal 180-degree turn. Raising Arizona’s story sounds dark on paper – an ex-convict and his wife, desperate to start a family, kidnap one of a local businessman’s octuplets to raise as their own – but the Coens’ execution couldn’t be wackier. Most comedies use standard coverage to keep the audience’s focus on the performances and the dialogue, but Raising Arizona uses a fast-moving camera to enhance the humor.

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 90%

Where to Watch: Hulu

13 Withnail And I (1987)

Release Date: January 1, 1987 | Director: Bruce Robinson | Runtime: 107 Mins

Cast: Richard E. Grant, Paul McGann, Richard Griffiths

As with only the greatest comedy characters, almost everything Richard E. Grant's Withnail says could be a t-shirt slogan. So beloved is the cult classic British comedy, that its most famous lines are quoted back and forth among fans in an eternal loop, celebrating the unemployed actor and his straighter sidekick (Paul McGann's "I"). Withnail and I delightfully challenges the idea of British elegance, introducing the pair of debauched, possibly depraved down-and-outers who seek a weekend of respite in a country cottage owned by Withnail's wealthy, lascivious uncle Monty (the excellent Richard Griffiths). Roaringly funny and desperately sad, Withnail and I gave the world Richard E Grant, thanks to his stunning breakout performance, and should be on every comedy fans' to-watch list.

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 93%

Where to Watch: Max

12 Back To The Future (1985)

When Marty McFly is flung 30 years into the past in his inventor friend’s time machine, he accidentally prevents his parents’ first meeting and has to make sure they get together so he won’t be erased from history. Back to the Future is as close to a perfect movie as there’s ever been, with a perfectly crafted script. Everything that gets set up in the present day in the opening act ends up having real significance when Marty goes back in time. What’s truly impressive is that Back to the Future manages to pack so many laughs into its airtight narrative.

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 93%

Where to Watch: Apple TV

11 Team America: World Police (2004)