Edgar Wright Lists His 100 Favorite Comedies, Including ‘Popstar’, ‘Some Like It Hot’ And More
Edgar Wrightisn’t just the director of comedy treasures likeShaun of the Dead, Hot FuzzandThe World’s End. He’s also an educated cinephile and comedyconnoisseur with a deep knowledge of the biggest and best laughs ranging from classics in Hollywood’s Golden Age to contemporary hits. Since many of you are probably looking for a lot more movies to pass the time while we’re in self-quarantine from coronavirus, Edgar Wright has listed his 100 favorite comedies of all-time on Letterboxd, giving you some gut-busting options to seek out from home.
Edgar Wright introduced his list by writing this onLetterboxd:
“To get you through these tough times, please enjoy a generous helping of SOME of my favourite screen comedies that I’ve enjoyed over the years. I could easily do another 100 so don’t say ‘Where’s so and so?’ Just sit back and enjoy the movies. Let us know below, which ones you raise a smile.”
Edgar Wright lists his favorite comedies in the order in which they were releases, and he starts with some comedy staples from comedy legends likeThe Gold Rush, The Circus, and City LightswithCharlie Chaplin, as well asThe Music BoxandSons of the Desertstarring famed comedy duoLaurel and Hardy.
A couple decades later, Wright lists a couple of Jack Lemmon’s greatest comedies,Some Like It HotwithMarilyn MonroeandTony Curtis, andThe Apartmentwith Shirley MacLaine. You’ll also find 1960s comedies likeDr. Strangelove: Or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomband the Best Picture nomineeThe Graduate.
Flash forward to the 1970s, and we get some love for the beloved comedies ofMel BrooksandMonty Python. From Brooks we haveBlazing SaddlesandYoung Frankenstein, and from the British comedy troupe we haveMonty Python and the Holy GrailandThe Life of Brian.
The 1980s brings the spoof comedy ofAirplane!, Top Secret!andThe Naked Gunfrom parody mastersJim Abrahams, David Zucker, andJerry Zucker. Plus,John Hughesgets some love forPlanes, Trains & AutomobilesandFerris Bueller’s Day Off.
There’s a handful ofChristopher Guesthere spread across the 1980s and 1990s withThis Is Spinal Tap, Waiting for GuffmanandBest in Showmaking the list.
As for contemporary comedy favorites, Edgar Wright is certainly picky. There are only 21 comedies from the past 20 years on the list. However, I’m happy to seeWhat We Do in the Shadows, They Came Together, andPopstar: Never Stop Never Stoppingmake the list, three ofmy favorite comedies of the decade, two of which made/Film’s collective list of the best films of the decade.
As for the most recent entry, it’sOne Cut of the Dead. That makes perfect sense since the Japanese comedy from writer/directorShin’ichirô Uedawas a refreshing approach to the zombie movie, not unlikeShaun of the Deadwas back in 2004. The movie is now available on Shudder, which is currentlyoffering a 30-day free trialwhile we’re all under self-quarantine.
See the entire list of Edgar Wright’s favorite comedies over atLetterboxd.
