The Best Comedy Movies From The 2000s

Emily Rochotte

Posted: May 1, 2024 | Last updated: May 1, 2024

<p>Whether you're in need of a laugh or just want a light-hearted escape from the stress of every day life, is there any better solution than queuing up a <a href="https://www.cosmopolitan.com/entertainment/movies/a34718515/best-teen-comedy-movies/">comedy movie</a> and getting lost in the hilarious plot? There's just something about 2000s comedy movies that we can't get enough of no matter how many times we watch. From the full cast lists of Hollywood stars, many in the early days of their career, to the sometimes-predictable but engaging storylines, there's something about comedy movies from the aughts that make them especially rewatchable.<br><br>The quotability of a comedy movie is part of what turns it into a classic. With timeless pop culture references like the mantra, "On Wednesdays we wear pink," and the convincing argument that bunkbeds leave more room for activities, early 2000s comedies like <em>Mean Girls</em> and <em>Step Brothers</em> are hits that have withstood the test of time. Whether you're watching your favorite film for the umpteenth time or finally crossing a new one off your ever-growing Must Watch list, laughter really can be the best medicine. To help you plan your movie night, we've selected a few of the greatest comedy movies from the 2000s.</p>

Archive Photos - Getty Images

Whether you're in need of a laugh or just want a light-hearted escape from the stress of every day life, is there any better solution than queuing up a comedy movie and getting lost in the hilarious plot? There's just something about 2000s comedy movies that we can't get enough of no matter how many times we watch. From the full cast lists of Hollywood stars, many in the early days of their career, to the sometimes-predictable but engaging storylines, there's something about comedy movies from the aughts that make them especially rewatchable.

The quotability of a comedy movie is part of what turns it into a classic. With timeless pop culture references like the mantra, "On Wednesdays we wear pink," and the convincing argument that bunkbeds leave more room for activities, early 2000s comedies like Mean Girls and Step Brothers are hits that have withstood the test of time. Whether you're watching your favorite film for the umpteenth time or finally crossing a new one off your ever-growing Must Watch list, laughter really can be the best medicine. To help you plan your movie night, we've selected a few of the greatest comedy movies from the 2000s.

<p>This hit was directed by Nicolas Stoller and co-produced by Judd Apatow, the comedy legend responsible for hits like <em>The 40 Year-Old Virgin</em> and <em>Knocked Up. </em>The romantic disaster film <em>Forgetting Sarah Marshall</em> is no exception to Apatow's hilarious resume. Just when you think Jason Segal's character Peter's luck can't get any worse after he's dumped by his long-time actress girlfriend Sarah Marshall... it can. Peter heads to Hawaii for a vacation to help him get over the breakup but runs into none other than Marshall, on vacation with her new celebrity boyfriend.</p>

IMDb

1) Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008)

This hit was directed by Nicolas Stoller and co-produced by Judd Apatow, the comedy legend responsible for films like The 40 Year-Old Virgin and Knocked Up. The romantic disaster film Forgetting Sarah Marshall is no exception to Apatow's hilarious resume. Just when you think Jason Segal's character Peter's luck can't get any worse after he's dumped by his long-time actress girlfriend Sarah Marshall... it can. Peter heads to Hawaii for a vacation to help him get over the breakup but runs into none other than Marshall, on vacation with her new celebrity boyfriend.

<p>This raucous comedy movie follows Steve Carell's nerdy character, Andy, as his friends, played by Paul Rudd, Romany Malco and Seth Rogan, make it their mission to help him lose his virginity. Even if you're just watching the film to get to the iconic chest waxing scene and cathartically scream "Ahh, Kelly Clarkson," alongside Carell at the top of your lungs, you'll enjoy all the comedic trials and tribulations the 40 year-old faces during his interactions with women. </p>

IMDb

2) The 40 Year-Old Virgin (2005)

This raucous comedy movie follows Steve Carell's nerdy character, Andy, as his friends, played by Paul Rudd, Romany Malco and Seth Rogan, make it their mission to help him lose his virginity. Even if you're just watching the film to get to the iconic chest waxing scene and cathartically scream "Ahh, Kelly Clarkson," alongside Carell at the top of your lungs, you'll enjoy all the comedic trials and tribulations the 40 year-old faces during his interactions with women.

<p>After a wild bachelor party night out, three friends wake up in Las Vegas with no memory of the night before or any idea of where their friend, the groom, could be. To save the wedding, Zach Galifianakis, Ed Helms and Bradley Cooper's characters scour Las Vegas to find the groom with a baby in tow. Can't get enough of this hilarious film? Be sure to watch the sequels, <em>The Hangover Part II </em>and <em>The Hangover Part III</em> for more side-splitting laughter. </p>

IMDb

3) The Hangover (2009)

After a wild bachelor party night out, three friends wake up in Las Vegas with no memory of the night before or any idea of where their friend, the groom, could be. To save the wedding, Zach Galifianakis, Ed Helms and Bradley Cooper's characters scour Las Vegas to find the groom with a baby in tow. Can't get enough of this hilarious film? Be sure to watch the sequels, The Hangover Part II and The Hangover Part III for more side-splitting laughter.

<p>Arguably one of the most quoted movies of the 2000s, this fetch comedy with its star-studded cast is a comedy classic. When Cady Herron, played by Lindsay Lohan, starts public high school for the first time as a formerly homeschooled student, she's thrown into the world of cliques, popularity and, of course, mean girls. Trying to navigate figuring out who her real friends are and how to get her hot crush to like her back, this phenomenal movie follows Heron's coming of age story with a lot of drama along the way. </p>

IMDb

4) Mean Girls (2004)

Arguably one of the most quoted movies of the 2000s, this fetch comedy with its star-studded cast is a comedy classic. When Cady Herron, played by Lindsay Lohan, starts public high school for the first time as a formerly homeschooled student, she's thrown into the world of cliques, popularity and, of course, mean girls. Trying to navigate figuring out who her real friends are and how to get her hot crush to like her back, this phenomenal movie follows Heron's coming of age story with a lot of drama along the way.

<p>It's difficult to pick just one of Tyler Perry's uproarious Madea movies to add to the best comedy movie list, so we recommend you watch them all. <em>Madea's Family Reunion</em> is particularly hilarious thanks to the relatable hot mess family drama of trying to get everyone together for a reunion (though planning a reunion while being a fresh-out-of-prison grandmother that's also fostering a runaway teen may be a little less relatable). But if there's anyone who can keep us laughing through it all, it's Madea. </p>

IMDb

5) Madea's Family Reunion (2006)

It's difficult to pick just one of Tyler Perry's uproarious Madea movies to add to the best comedy movie list, so we recommend you watch them all. Madea's Family Reunion is particularly hilarious thanks to the relatable hot mess family drama of trying to get everyone together for a reunion (though planning a reunion while being a fresh-out-of-prison grandmother that's also fostering a runaway teen may be a little less relatable). But if there's anyone who can keep us laughing through it all, it's Madea.

<p>The pressure of meeting your girlfriend's parents is a tale as old as time which why <em>Meet the Parents</em> is still as funny as ever more than 20 years after its release. This People's Choice Award winner spotlights the anxiety faced by Ben Stiller's character as his girlfriend's dad, played by Robert DeNiro, puts him through the ringer in an attempt to scare Stiller away from proposing. You'll be laughing with joy that you're not in his position. </p>

IMDb

6) Meet the Parents (2000)

The pressure of meeting your girlfriend's parents is a tale as old as time which why Meet the Parents is still as funny as ever more than 20 years after its release. This People's Choice Award winner spotlights the anxiety faced by Ben Stiller's character as his girlfriend's dad, played by Robert DeNiro, puts him through the ringer in an attempt to scare Stiller away from proposing. You'll be laughing with joy that you're not in his position.

<p>Trying to decide between a horror movie or a comedy for your next movie night? Shaun of the Dead is the perfect compromise. This 2004 zombie comedy tells the story of electronics salesman Shaun, played by Simon Pegg, whose boring day-to-day life gets turned upside down when he and his best friend have to fight off a zombie apocalypse and save his girlfriend. It's not every day a zombie takeover is so successfully infused with humor which is why we've added it to our best movie list. </p>

IMDB

7) Shaun of the Dead (2004)

Trying to decide between a horror movie or a comedy for your next movie night? Shaun of the Dead is the perfect compromise. This 2004 zombie comedy tells the story of electronics salesman Shaun, played by Simon Pegg, whose boring day-to-day life gets turned upside down when he and his best friend have to fight off a zombie apocalypse and save his girlfriend. It's not every day a zombie takeover is so successfully infused with humor which is why we've added it to our best movie list.

<p>Ever wondered what you'd do if you could play God for a day? Jim Carrey answers our questions in <em>Bruce Almighty </em>when his character, smarmy TV reporter Bruce Nolan, accepts God's challenge to do a better job with his powers. God, played by none other than Morgan Freeman, lets Bruce take control and see for himself just how challenging it is to be God. Enjoy <em>Bruce Almighty</em>? Turn movie night into a double feature with the film's sequel, <em>Evan Almighty</em><em>.</em></p>

IMDb

8) Bruce Almighty (2003)

Ever wondered what you'd do if you could play God for a day? Jim Carrey answers our questions in Bruce Almighty when his character, smarmy TV reporter Bruce Nolan, accepts God's challenge to do a better job with his powers. God, played by none other than Morgan Freeman, lets Bruce take control and see for himself just how challenging it is to be God. Enjoy Bruce Almighty? Turn movie night into a double feature with the film's sequel, Evan Almighty.

<p>Telling the tale of competing gym owners, played by Vince Vaughn and Ben Stiller, the ridiculous plot follows what happens when they go head-to-head in a dodgeball contest that comes with a lucrative cash prize. With more than just money on the line, the dodge ball contest also comes with the chance for big name Globo-Gym to put underdog Average Joe's Gym out of business once and for all. With no shortage of raunchy ball jokes, this underdog story is comedy gold with a side of sports. </p>

IMDb

9) Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story (2004)

Telling the tale of competing gym owners, played by Vince Vaughn and Ben Stiller, the ridiculous plot follows what happens when they go head-to-head in a dodgeball contest that comes with a lucrative cash prize. With more than just money on the line, the dodge ball contest also comes with the chance for big name Globo-Gym to put underdog Average Joe's Gym out of business once and for all. With no shortage of raunchy ball jokes, this underdog story is comedy gold with a side of sports.

<p>The worlds of two grown adults who live at home with their parents, played brilliantly by Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly, are turned upside down when they're suddenly forced to share a room with each other as new step brothers. The comedic perils ensue as the pair struggles with sibling rivalry and the disappoint of getting grounded as punishment despite being 40 years old. </p>

IMDb

10) Step Brothers (2008)

The worlds of two grown adults who live at home with their parents, played brilliantly by Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly, are turned upside down when they're suddenly forced to share a room with each other as new step brothers. The comedic perils ensue as the pair struggles with sibling rivalry and the disappoint of getting grounded as punishment despite being 40 years old.