The 30 Best Comedy Movies Of 2009

Ranker Film
Updated April 1, 2024 30 items
Ranked By
711 votes
80 voters

List of the best 2009 comedy movies, ranked by how many upvotes they've received by other fans of the genre. These are all the comedy movies that defined the year 2009, so vote for your favorites and help them rise to the top. This poll is also a great resource for finding new movies that you haven't already seen, especially since you can watch trailers for each film right on this page. To make sure this list is as accurate as possible, please don't downvote a movie if you haven't seen it.

This list is made up of a variety of movies, including World's Greatest Dad and Good Hair. This isn't necessarily a list of all comedy movies from 2009, but it does contain all the ones worth watching.
Most divisive: Paul Blart: Mall Cop
Over 80 Ranker voters have come together to rank this list of The 30 Best Comedy Movies Of 2009
  • I Love You, Man
    1

    I Love You, Man

    Paul Rudd, Jason Segel, Rashida Jones
    23 votes
    In I Love You, Man, Peter Klaven (Paul Rudd) is a successful real estate agent with a looming wedding but no best man. In his quest to find a suitable friend, he stumbles upon Sydney Fife (Jason Segel), an eccentric and free-spirited man. Their kinship grows unexpectedly, causing turbulence in Peter's life as he juggles between his bride-to-be Zooey (Rashida Jones) and his new found buddy. This comedy film, directed by John Hamburg, explores the nuances of friendship amidst adult responsibilities and societal expectations, without surrendering to clichés.
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  • Zombieland
    2

    Zombieland

    Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone
    21 votes
    In a world overrun by zombies, Zombieland offers a thrilling comedic ride. Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg), a nerdy college student, pairs up with Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson), an unapologetic cowboy. They're joined by Wichita (Emma Stone) and Little Rock (Abigail Breslin), sisters with their own survival tactics. Together, they navigate their way across the zombie-infested United States in search of a safe haven. This 2009 horror-comedy is known for its unique blend of apocalyptic dread and humor, earning it critical acclaim as well as commercial success.
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  • The Hangover
    3

    The Hangover

    Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis
    36 votes
    In the raucous comedy The Hangover, Phil (Bradley Cooper), Stu (Ed Helms), and Alan (Zach Galifianakis) awake after a wild bachelor party in Las Vegas with no memory of the previous night. The trio's soon-to-be-married buddy Doug (Justin Bartha) is missing, their hotel suite is trashed, and a tiger lurks in the bathroom. As they scramble to piece together the events of their blackout night and locate Doug, they encounter an array of eccentric characters and outrageous situations. A Golden Globe winner for Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy, The Hangover delivers laughs with its unforgettable blend of chaos and camaraderie.
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  • Up
    4

    Up

    Ed Asner, Christopher Plummer, Jordan Nagai
    30 votes
    Up, an animation adventure film, spins a story of unexpected friendships and unforeseen journeys. Carl Fredricksen (Ed Asner), a retired balloon salesman, embarks on a whimsical journey after he ties thousands of balloons to his house. Russell (Jordan Nagai), a young wilderness explorer, accidentally joins him in this airborne odyssey. The two navigate diverse landscapes and meet colorful characters, including the exotic bird Kevin and the talking dog Dug (Bob Peterson). This Pixar creation, directed by Pete Docter, won the 2010 Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, a testament to its imaginative storytelling.
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  • Fantastic Mr. Fox
    5

    Fantastic Mr. Fox

    George Clooney, Meryl Streep, Jason Schwartzman
    23 votes
    In the animated film Fantastic Mr. Fox, Mr. Fox (George Clooney) lives an idyllic home life with Mrs. Fox (Meryl Streep) and their son, Ash (Jason Schwartzman). However, when Mr. Fox's sly nature drives him to raid the farms of three wealthy farmers, he jeopardizes not only his family but the entire animal community as well. Directed by Wes Anderson, this stop-motion comedy-drama is a captivating adaptation of Roald Dahl's children's novel. It was nominated for two Oscars including Best Animated Feature. The movie, known for its witty dialogues and rich visuals, is a delightful mix of humor and adventure.
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  • The Proposal
    6

    The Proposal

    Sandra Bullock, Ryan Reynolds, Mary Steenburgen
    25 votes
    Within the 2009 rom-com The Proposal, Margaret Tate (Sandra Bullock), an exacting book editor, finds herself in a pickle. Her work visa is denied, threatening her high-power job in New York. Andrew Paxton (Ryan Reynolds), her tormented assistant, becomes an unlikely solution. A faux engagement to circumvent immigration laws puts them in a hilarious situation. They journey to Alaska, meeting Andrew's vibrant family and experiencing eccentric local traditions. Amidst the comedy, unforeseen feelings emerge. Directed by Anne Fletcher, this film intertwines humor with unexpected romance, revealing that love can blossom in the most unusual circumstances.
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  • 17 Again
    7

    17 Again

    Zac Efron, Leslie Mann, Thomas Lennon
    33 votes
    In 17 Again, Mike O'Donnell (Zac Efron) finds himself reliving his high school days after a mysterious event transforms him back to 17 from his adult self (Matthew Perry). He seizes this chance to rewrite his life, navigating teenage problems and rekindling the spark with his estranged wife, Scarlett (Leslie Mann). As he tries to fix past mistakes, he realizes that age is just a number. This light-hearted comedy-drama explores themes of regret, second chances and self-discovery without sacrificing its humorous undertone, making it a well-rounded family entertainment piece.
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  • Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian
    8

    Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian

    Ben Stiller, Robin Williams, Amy Adams
    27 votes
    In Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian, Larry Daley (Ben Stiller) is back, now as a successful inventor and entrepreneur. The exhibits at his old workplace, the Natural History Museum, are being shipped to federal storage at the Smithsonian Institution. Amidst this change, the magical Egyptian tablet that brings museum exhibits to life gets misplaced. This leads to an all-out battle between good and evil exhibits in the world's largest museum complex. With his old friends like Teddy Roosevelt (Robin Williams), Sacagawea (Mizuo Peck), and new ones such as Amelia Earhart (Amy Adams), Larry must save the day once again. This adventure comedy sequel is a rollercoaster ride packed with humor, history, and action.
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  • Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
    9

    Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs

    Bill Hader, Anna Faris, James Caan
    23 votes
    In the animated film, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, Flint Lockwood (voiced by Bill Hader) is an eccentric inventor whose latest creation, a machine that converts water into food, accidentally launches into the sky. The device starts to malfunction and causes food to rain down on his small town, much to the delight and then dismay of its inhabitants. Alongside weather reporter Sam Sparks (Anna Faris), Flint must stop his invention before it wreaks global disaster. This wacky comedy-adventure won the Golden Trailer award for Best Animation/Family in 2009.
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  • Paul Blart: Mall Cop
    10

    Paul Blart: Mall Cop

    Kevin James, Jayma Mays, Keir O'Donnell
    24 votes
    A single suburban father (Kevin James) works at a mall as a security guard to make ends meet, and he takes his job very seriously, even though most of his colleagues and customers don't. As the holidays approach, Paul gets his moment to shine when Santa's little helpers shut down the mall down and take hostages, including his daughter and girlfriend. He realizes no one knows the place better than he does, and he mounts his trusty steed, a Segway, and goes to the rescue.
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  • He's Just Not That Into You
    11

    He's Just Not That Into You

    Ben Affleck, Jennifer Aniston, Drew Barrymore
    17 votes
    In the heart of bustling Baltimore, a group of friends navigate the complex terrain of modern relationships in He's Just Not That Into You. Gigi (Ginnifer Goodwin), a hopeful romantic, struggles to understand mixed signals from men. Her friend Janine (Jennifer Aniston) tries to save her marriage with Ben (Bradley Cooper), who's entangled with yoga instructor Anna (Scarlett Johansson). Meanwhile, Beth (Jennifer Connelly) seeks commitment from Neil (Ben Affleck), a firm non-believer in marriage. This ensemble romantic comedy explores love and heartbreak in the digital age, offering a humorous yet thoughtful look at how men and women often misunderstand each other.
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  • The Ugly Truth
    12

    The Ugly Truth

    Katherine Heigl, Gerard Butler, Eric Winter
    20 votes
    Abby Richter (Katherine Heigl) is a lovelorn TV producer who, despite a long and arduous search for the perfect mate, is hopelessly single. The battle of the sexes heats up when her employers team her up with Mike Chadway (Gerard Butler), an opinionated TV celebrity who plans to put Abby through the wringer to prove his own theories about what makes men and women tick.
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  • The Boat That Rocked
    13

    The Boat That Rocked

    Philip Seymour Hoffman, Bill Nighy, Rhys Ifans
    13 votes
    In 1966, BBC radio broadcasts less than an hour of pop music a day, forcing pirate DJs to take up the slack from boats anchored outside British waters. Quentin (Bill Nighy) is the commander of such a pirate station, overseeing a host of seedy, lusty and dope-smoking DJs, including the Count (Philip Seymour Hoffman) and Dave (Nick Frost), who makes it his personal mission to see to it that Quentin's newly arrived godson (Tom Sturridge) loses his virginity.
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  • 3 idiots
    14

    3 idiots

    Kareena Kapoor, Aamir Khan, R. Madhavan
    13 votes
    3 Idiots is a 2009 Indian coming of age comedy-drama film co-written, edited and directed by Rajkumar Hirani, produced by Vidhu Vinod Chopra, and screenplay by Abhijat Joshi. It was loosely adapted from the novel Five Point Someone by Chetan Bhagat. The film stars Aamir Khan, Kareena Kapoor, R. Madhavan, Sharman Joshi, Omi Vaidya, Parikshit Sahni and Boman Irani. Upon release, the film broke all opening box office records in India. It was the highest-grossing film in its opening weekend in India and had the highest opening day collections for a Bollywood film. It also held the record for highest net collections in the first week for a Bollywood film. It also became one of the few Indian films to become a major success in East Asian markets such as China, eventually bringing its overseas total to more than US$ 65 million—the highest-grossing Bollywood film of all time in overseas markets, before being overtaken by Dhoom 3. It was expected to be the first Indian film to be officially released on YouTube, within 12 weeks of releasing in theatres on 25 March 2010. It was officially released on YouTube in May 2012 but its access has since been restricted.
  • Bride Wars
    15

    Bride Wars

    Kate Hudson, Anne Hathaway, Kristen Johnston
    22 votes
    Bride Wars is an engaging rom-com featuring the humorous rivalry of two brides-to-be. Liv (Kate Hudson) and Emma (Anne Hathaway), best friends since childhood, dream of a June wedding at New York's Plaza Hotel. Through a booking error, their weddings are scheduled on the same day, sparking an all-out war. This light-hearted comedy, directed by Gary Winick, weaves in themes of friendship, love, and personal growth amidst the chaos of wedding planning. Each character's journey to the altar is as unpredictable as it is entertaining.
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  • Funny People
    16

    Funny People

    Adam Sandler, Seth Rogen, Leslie Mann
    17 votes
    In Funny People, George Simmons (Adam Sandler) is a successful comedian who learns he has a terminal illness. He hires Ira Wright (Seth Rogen), an aspiring stand-up comic, to write jokes and be his personal assistant. As George's health degrades, the duo embarks on a journey of self-discovery, humor, and friendship. Also featuring Laura (Leslie Mann), George's past love, this comedy-drama directed by Judd Apatow explores the intricacies of life, fame, and relationships through a comedic lens. Despite its humorous undertones, Funny People delves deep into the human condition and the healing power of laughter.
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  • World's Greatest Dad
    17

    World's Greatest Dad

    Robin Williams, Alexie Gilmore, Daryl Sabara
    12 votes
    When the son of high school English teacher Lance Clayton (Robin Williams) accidentally kills himself, Clayton writes a fake suicide note to evade scandal. At first uninterested in the death, the school is taken by the letter after it is published in the school paper. Hoping to claim the literary renown he has always wanted, Lance writes a diary, too. Fame and intrigue follow and Lance receives the attention he always wished for, but finds keeping his cool might be easier written than done.
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  • Written By
    18

    Written By

    Sean Lau, Jo Kuk, Kelly Lin
    12 votes
    Written By is a 2009 Hong Kong fantasy drama film co-written, produced, and directed by Wai Ka-Fai, and starring Lau Ching-Wan and Kelly Lin. Lau plays a lawyer who is killed in an accident, leaving behind his wife, daughter, and son. He is resurrected as a character in his daughter's novel, where he finds himself a grieving husband who lost his family and his sight during a car accident, living in an alternate reality. The film premiered at the New York Asian Film Festival in June 2009, and was released theatrically in Hong Kong on 10 July 2009.
  • The Men Who Stare at Goats
    19
  • How To Seduce Difficult Women
    20

    How To Seduce Difficult Women

    12 votes
  • Cold Souls
    21

    Cold Souls

    10 votes
  • Confessions of a Shopaholic
    22

    Confessions of a Shopaholic

    Isla Fisher, Hugh Dancy, Krysten Ritter
    10 votes
    In the lively comedy Confessions of a Shopaholic, Rebecca Bloomwood (Isla Fisher) is an aspiring journalist caught in the throes of retail addiction. Living in the bustling city of New York, her love for shopping is matched only by her mounting debt. Struggling to balance her passion for fashion and financial reality, she lands a job at a finance magazine under the watchful eye of editor Luke Brandon (Hugh Dancy). As Rebecca navigates through her professional obligations and personal desires, she learns lessons about money management and self-discovery, all while keeping audiences entertained with her charming antics and humorous mishaps.
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  • The Little Shop of Horrors
    23

    The Little Shop of Horrors

    Jonathan Haze, Jackie Joseph, Mel Welles
    13 votes
    Seymour Krelboin (Jonathan Haze) works in the Skid Row flower shop owned by Mr. Mushnik (Mel Welles). In his spare time, Seymour creates a new plant species he names Audrey Junior in honor of his girlfriend Audrey (Jackie Joseph). Audrey Junior begins speaking and demands to be fed human blood and flesh, convincing Seymour to kill a railroad detective, a sadistic dentist and a trollop. Seymour's guilt over the deaths forces him to confront Audrey Junior in a final confrontation.
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  • We Have to Stop Now
    24

    We Have to Stop Now

    Trisha Noble, John W. McLaughlin, Cathy DeBuono
    11 votes
    "Festival favorites Jill Bennett and Cathy DeBuono (Out at the Wedding, And Then Came Lola) once again ignite the screen, this time as a sexy, professional couple who seem to have it all. But relationship therapist Susan (comedian Suzanne Westenhoefer) doesn’t need a PhD to see that emotionally uninhibited Kit (Bennett) and uptight know-it-all Dyna (DeBuono) can barely stand each other for a single session, let a lone eternity. Just as Kit is about to walk out the door and move in with her queerish sister Cindy, the duo’s co-written relationship guide How to Succeed in Marriage Without Even Trying tops the best seller lists, and Kit and Dyna make the professional decision to stay together. Soon, a documentary film crew invades their home to capture the successful couple in all their merriment, newly evicted stoner Cindy moves in, and the pretense of happiness becomes a full-time job. A lingering carnal attraction is the only thing left going for Kit and Dyna. But, hey, maybe that’s enough when angry sex is this good. Director Robyn Dettman’s engaging vignettes string us along as the humor and mischief build. Packed with sexy stripteases and vibrator miscommunication, We Have to Stop Now is a wacky but down-to-earth emotional rollercoaster likely to remind you of your most dysfunctional (yet likeable) queer friends." Quoting Alexis Whitham from the 2010 Frameline 34 - SF LGBT Film Festival site.
  • Beeswax
    25

    Beeswax

    Alex Karpovsky, Bob Byington, Kyle Henry
    11 votes
    Beeswax is a 2009 American mumblecore film written and directed by Andrew Bujalski. The film examines a few days in the life of twins, played by real-life sisters Tilly and Maggie Hatcher. It premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival and had a limited theatrical release in the United States on August 7, 2009.
  • Shortkut - The Con is On
    26

    Shortkut - The Con is On

    11 votes
  • Good Hair
    27

    Good Hair

    11 votes
  • Penguins of Madagascar: New to the Zoo
    28

    Penguins of Madagascar: New to the Zoo

    Tom McGrath, Jeff Bennett, Kevin McDonald
    16 votes
  • Old Jews Telling Jokes
    29

    Old Jews Telling Jokes

    12 votes
    Old Jews Telling Jokes is a web series launched in 2009 created and directed by Sam Hoffman and produced by Eric Spiegelman and Tim Williams for Jetpack Media, Inc. It has since gone on to garner millions of unique views over several original series shot in places like New York, Los Angeles and Boca Raton. In 2010 OJTJ was published as a paperback book by Villard. Written by Sam Hoffman with Eric Spiegelman, it is subtitled 5000 Years of Funny Bits and Not-So-Kosher Laughs." Its chapters consist of jokes and humorous anecdotes contributed by several Jewish personalities, including Ed Koch, Norman Stiles, John Pleshette and Annie Korzen. In the introduction Hoffman says his book "categorized the jokes into chapters, roughly tracing the trajectory of the Jewish experience in America". In addition to the book, the OJTJ series has also been distributed on DVD, as two audio books, a successful BBC Four television series and was named one of the Top 5 podcasts on iTunes in 2010. In 2011 OJTJ won an Audie Award for Humor. In May 2012, OJTJ opened as an off-broadway play at the Westside Theater. The BBC adapted the format for Some People With Jokes.
  • All The Best: Fun Begins
    30