20 Worst Comedy Movies of All Time

It’s often interesting when big-name comedies fail – especially when they have huge budgets and just don’t make people laugh. This list explores some of those high-profile flops, movies that disappointed both critics and audiences despite a lot of pre-release buzz. You’ll find sequels that didn’t live up to the original, parodies that relied too much on inside jokes, and films built around stars repeating old routines until they weren’t funny anymore. For each movie, we’ll tell you who created it, who starred in it, and what it was trying to achieve, so you can understand exactly what went wrong.

‘Movie 43’ (2013)

Peter Farrelly oversaw this film, which is a collection of short stories directed by different filmmakers. It boasts a star-studded cast, including Hugh Jackman, Kate Winslet, and Halle Berry. The movie is structured like a series of sketches, tied together by a story about a struggling screenwriter. Released in 2013, it quickly gained a reputation for its over-the-top humor and somewhat chaotic, fragmented plot.

‘Gigli’ (2003)

Okay, let me tell you about this one. Martin Brest directed ‘Gigli,’ and honestly, it’s a bit of a mess. It stars Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez, and the story centers around a small-time mob guy tasked with kidnapping the brother of a federal prosecutor. Apparently, they did a lot of reshoots during production, which really pushed the film from a crime comedy into something much more focused on the romance – and not in a good way. It came out in 2003 with a huge amount of press, but sadly, it quickly became famous for being one of the biggest box office bombs of all time.

‘The Love Guru’ (2008)

Mike Myers stars as Guru Pitka, a self-help expert, in a comedy about a hockey player dealing with relationship problems. Marco Schnabel directed the film, which also features Jessica Alba and Justin Timberlake. The movie relies heavily on humor from situations where Pitka is out of his element, and repeating jokes. Released in the summer of 2008, it didn’t find a large audience outside of fans who enjoyed Myers’ previous roles.

‘Jack and Jill’ (2011)

In this comedy, Adam Sandler plays both a polished advertising executive and his unruly twin brother who comes to visit for the holidays. Directed by Dennis Dugan, the film also features Al Pacino playing a comedic, exaggerated version of himself who develops a crush on Sandler’s character, Jill. The movie relies heavily on obvious product placement and physical comedy. Despite being released during Thanksgiving in 2011, it didn’t receive much positive buzz.

‘Norbit’ (2007)

In this comedy, Eddie Murphy showcases his range by playing several different characters, including a shy man stuck in a troubled marriage. Directed by Brian Robbins and also starring Thandiwe Newton and Cuba Gooding Jr., the film relies heavily on Murphy’s transformations and over-the-top scenes. Although the makeup effects were impressive, the movie received negative reviews when it came out in early 2007, with critics finding fault in its characters and overall feel.

‘Son of the Mask’ (2005)

This second movie in the series doesn’t feature Jim Carrey. Instead, it stars Jamie Kennedy as an artist who loves cartoons and finds the magical mask. Directed by Lawrence Guterman, the story centers around a baby with unpredictable, powerful abilities. The film relies heavily on computer-generated effects for its humor and action. Released in 2005, it’s a family-friendly sequel to the popular 1990s original.

‘Little Man’ (2006)

Okay, so I just saw ‘Little Man,’ and it’s… a movie. Shawn and Marlon Wayans are hilarious, as always, playing a jewel thief who disguises himself as a baby to get a stolen diamond back. Keenen Ivory Wayans directed, and honestly, a lot of the fun comes from the visual effects they used to pull off that central gag. It’s basically a home invasion comedy mixed with a lot of baby-related slapstick. It came out in 2006, and it’s definitely a film built around one really wild idea – that’s what it’s known for, really.

‘Disaster Movie’ (2008)

Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer created this comedy by quickly spoofing famous blockbuster movies. It features a young cast playing characters based on well-known figures from pop culture. The story is simple and mostly exists to provide opportunities for jokes and references. Released in late 2008, the film follows the same formula as their previous parodies.

‘Epic Movie’ (2007)

This comedy, from the creators of other spoofs, playfully pokes fun at popular fantasy movies like ‘The Chronicles of Narnia’ and ‘Pirates of the Caribbean.’ The story follows a pair of orphaned kids who find themselves in a series of silly, over-the-top situations inspired by different genres. The humor relies a lot on quick impressions of famous people and celebrities. Released in early 2007, the movie was full of references to what was popular at the time.

‘Meet the Spartans’ (2008)

Directed by Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer, this 2008 comedy pokes fun at the movie ‘300’ and reality television. It retells famous battle scenes with a humorous twist, relying on silly costumes, repeated phrases, and fast-paced sketches for laughs. The film is part of a series of similar spoofs that were popular at the time.

‘The Hottie & the Nottie’ (2008)

Paris Hilton leads the cast of a lighthearted romantic comedy where a man needs to play matchmaker for his crush’s best friend before he can pursue his own feelings. Directed by Tom Putnam and also starring Christine Lakin and Joel David Moore, the film features classic makeover scenes and the backdrop of the Los Angeles dating scene. Released in 2008, it quickly became known as an interesting example of how celebrity status can be used in marketing.

‘Freddy Got Fingered’ (2001)

Tom Green’s 2001 film features him as an animator whose wacky antics disrupt his life both at home and at work. The movie is known for its over-the-top pranks and edgy humor. Rip Torn plays Green’s frustrated father. While it received a lot of criticism when it first came out, it has since gained a dedicated cult following.

‘Dirty Grandpa’ (2016)

Robert De Niro and Zac Efron star in a funny road trip movie about a buttoned-up lawyer and his wild grandfather going to spring break. Directed by Dan Mazer, the film is mostly set at college parties and relies on both outrageous humor and the amusing contrast between the two leads. It was released in 2016, during a busy time for new movies.

‘Holmes & Watson’ (2018)

Okay, so I just heard about this new movie starring Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly, and it sounds…interesting. They’re basically doing a really silly, over-the-top version of Sherlock Holmes and Watson. Apparently, it’s directed by Etan Cohen and the whole thing is set at Buckingham Palace, with them trying to foil some kind of crime. From what I’ve gathered, it’s all about big, physical gags and making fun of that whole period setting. It came out around the holidays in 2018, but I’ve heard the early audience reactions weren’t great at a few showings, which is a little worrying.

‘Superbabies: Baby Geniuses 2’ (2004)

Okay, so I just saw this movie from 2004, and let me tell you, it’s… something. It’s a sequel directed by Bob Clark, and the premise is completely wild: babies, yes, babies, are secretly communicating and working together to stop a bad guy from controlling minds. It’s a really silly concept, and the movie leans into that with a mix of live-action stunts and some pretty goofy talking-baby effects for laughs. Jon Voight and Scott Baio pop up in supporting roles, which is fun. It definitely made a name for itself with just how out-there the idea is.

‘The Master of Disguise’ (2002)

In the 2002 comedy film, Dana Carvey plays Pistachio Disguisey, a master of disguise who must use his family’s unique skills to save his parents. Directed by Perry Andelin Blake, the movie is filled with quick costume changes and funny character moments, with scenes like the ‘turtle club’ being central to the humor. It’s a great display of Carvey’s talent for impersonations.

‘The Ridiculous 6’ (2015)

This streaming movie stars Adam Sandler in a Western comedy about six half-brothers who go on an adventure to learn more about their outlaw father. Frank Coraci directed the film, which also features Terry Crews, Taylor Lautner, and Jorge Garcia. Released in 2015, it gained attention for both its humor and some cultural debates it sparked.

‘Zoolander 2’ (2016)

Ben Stiller is back as the hilariously vain model Derek Zoolander in this sequel, alongside Owen Wilson and Penélope Cruz. The story brings the retired fashion stars out of retirement and into a surprising plot involving powerful figures in the fashion world. Expect plenty of famous faces and over-the-top runway scenes! While the movie came out in 2016, it didn’t quite capture the same unexpected charm as the original.

‘Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2’ (2015)

In this 2015 sequel, Kevin James returns as mall cop Paul Blart, this time at a security convention in Las Vegas. Director Andy Fickman moves the action from the mall to casinos and convention halls, where Blart must stop a group of criminals attempting a heist. The movie continues the slapstick humor and silly gadgets that fans enjoyed in the first film.

‘The Emoji Movie’ (2017)

This funny animated movie tells the story of an emoji who goes on an adventure inside a smartphone, trying to stop a factory reset. Directed by Tony Leondis and featuring the voices of T. J. Miller, James Corden, and Anna Faris, the film takes place within recognizable app environments and uses text messaging as a key part of its visual style. Released in 2017, it’s known for being a movie where the idea for the story came before the animation was created.

Let us know in the comments what comedies you think didn’t land well, and if there are any other funny movies that deserve to be on this list!

2025-11-07 19:20