The Best Comedy Movies of 2019 (And The Worst)
Need a laugh? Then you were wise to visit Rotten Tomatoes, because we’re presenting our guide to the best comedies of 2019 so far, ranked by Tomatometer! (We’re also including the worst comedies of 2019, so you know what to avoid, or what to seek out if you’re in for a chuckle of a different variety.)
In the first half of 2019, comedy has come in the form of star vehicles (Long Shot, The Dead Don’t Die, The Professor), rom-com satires (Isn’t It Romantic), actual actual rom-coms (Plus One, Always Be My Maybe), and female-led efforts that range from the raucous (Booksmart) to the literary (Wild Nights With Emily) to the glamorous (The Hustle). The only stipulation for films being included on the list is that they needed at least 20 reviews –whether they were theatrical or streaming was not a factor.
As the year rolls on with more yuks in the form of Yesterday, Good Boys, and Where’d You Go, Bernadette, look back in laughter with our guide to the best comedies of 2019 (alongside the worst)! And check back every week as new movies are added when they’re released! —Alex Vo
Last updated 11/10: Last Christmas, Playing With Fire
Best Movies of 2019 | Best Horror Movies of 2019
Best Comedies of 2019 | Best Sci-Fi Movies of 2019
Best Action Movies of 2019
#43
Critics Consensus: A muddled story populated with thinly written characters and arranged around a misguided Johnny Depp performance, The Professor fails early and often.
Synopsis: After learning he has six months to live, a college lecturer transforms into a rebellious party animal. To the shock
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#42
Critics Consensus: It's hard to tell whether the lack of laughs in Jexi is a bug or a feature, but this AI rom-com is sorely in need of an OS update.
Synopsis: Phil has a major dependency issue -- he's addicted to his cellphone. He has no friends and his love life
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#41
Critics Consensus: A lackluster conclusion to Tyler Perry's long-running franchise, A Madea Family Funeral proves saying goodbye can be painful for all the wrong reasons.
Synopsis: A joyous reunion in small-town Georgia turns into an unexpected nightmare when Madea, Joe, Aunt Bam and other family members
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#40
Critics Consensus: The Hustle's stars might make an effective comedy team in a different setting, but this gender-flipped remake of a remake adds little beyond its feminine twist.
Synopsis: Josephine Chesterfield is a glamorous, seductive British woman who has a penchant for defrauding gullible men out of their money.
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#39
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: When straight-laced fire superintendent Jake Carson and his elite team of firefighters come to the rescue of three siblings, they
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#38
Critics Consensus: Being Frank suggests Jim Gaffigan may have a real future as a dramatic actor -- if only he's offered projects that don't suffer from so much wasted potential.
Synopsis: While celebrating spring break, 17-year-old Phil is shocked to see his father with another woman across state lines. His life
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#37
Critics Consensus: While the cast is something to cheer about, Poms squanders its talented stars on a clichéd comedy that disrespects the demographic it's trying to celebrate.
Synopsis: Martha is an introverted woman who moves to a retirement community that has shuffleboard, golf, bowling and other activities. Hoping
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#36
Critics Consensus: Though it makes a strong case for future collaborations between Kumail Nanjiani and Dave Bautista, Stuber fails to mesh its contrasting genres, settling for an overtly violent, mildly entertaining diversion that's far from a five-star ride.
Synopsis: A quick-tempered cop who's recovering from eye surgery recruits a mild-mannered Uber driver to help him catch the heroin dealer
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#35
Critics Consensus: Hampstead plays matchmaker with a pair of talented veterans, but the sum of their efforts isn't enough to overcome a deeply mediocre story.
Synopsis: Though Emily and Donald live in the same London neighborhood of Hampstead, the worlds they inhabit could not be more
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#34
Critics Consensus: Likable leads, terrific behind-the-scenes talent, and an intriguing musical hook aren't enough to save Last Christmas from its poorly conceived story.
Synopsis: Nothing seems to go right for young Kate, a frustrated Londoner who works as an elf in a year-round Christmas
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#33
Critics Consensus: Where'd You Go, Bernadette offers dispiriting proof that a talented director, bestselling source material, and terrific cast can add up to far less than the sum of their parts.
Synopsis: Former architect Bernadette Fox seems to have it all -- a beautiful home in Seattle, a successful and loving husband,
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#32
Critics Consensus: The Dead Don't Die dabbles with tones and themes to varying degrees of success, but sharp wit and a strong cast make this a zom-com with enough brains to consume.
Synopsis: In the sleepy small town of Centerville, something is not quite right. The moon hangs large and low in the
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#31
Critics Consensus: The role of a lifetime for Matthew McConaughey, The Beach Bum is set apart by Harmony Korine's distinctive style, but that isn't always enough to offset the unfocused story.
Synopsis: Moondog is a fun-loving, pot-smoking, beer-drinking writer who lives life on his own terms in Florida. If he can put
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#30
Critics Consensus: Yesterday may fall short of fab, but the end result is still a sweetly charming fantasy with an intriguing -- albeit somewhat under-explored -- premise.
Synopsis: Jack Malik is a struggling singer-songwriter in an English seaside town whose dreams of fame are rapidly fading, despite the
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#29
Critics Consensus: Mister America misses a number of its targets, but fans of Tim Heidecker's unique brand of comedy will find moments worth savoring in this dry political satire.
Synopsis: Despite being completely inexperienced and broke and having just defeated a murder charge, a man mounts a campaign to unseat
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#28
Critics Consensus: Absurd yet anchored in knotty real-world themes, The Day Shall Come adds another bleakly funny satire to director/co-writer Christopher Morris' filmography.
Synopsis: An impoverished preacher who brings hope to the Miami projects is offered cash to save his family from eviction. He
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#27
Critics Consensus: It follows as many genre conventions as it mocks, but Isn't It Romantic is a feel-good rom-com with some satirical bite -- and a star well-suited for both.
Synopsis: Natalie is a New York architect who works hard to get noticed at her job, but is more likely to
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#26
Critics Consensus: Adult Life Skills covers familiar territory, but an endearingly quirky story -- and starring turn from Jodie Whittaker -- make this coming-of-age comedy well worth a watch.
Synopsis: As her 30th birthday nears, sulking Anna still finds herself living in her mother's shed and recording videos. Soon, her
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#25
Critics Consensus: Much like its well-meaning but clueless protagonist, Adam occasionally seems to be in over its head -- but its good intentions make those fumbles easier to forgive.
Synopsis: Awkward teen Adam spends his last high school summer in New York City with his sister, Casey, who throws herself
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#24
Critics Consensus: Papi Chulo is a cross-cultural comedy that mostly avoids the pitfalls of its premise, largely thanks to the chemistry between its well-matched leads.
Synopsis: After a newly-single TV weatherman is put on leave following an on-air meltdown, he directs his energy into home improvement
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#23
Critics Consensus: A talented cast and a pleasantly bittersweet spin on a familiar story help Sink or Swim finish a length or two ahead of the average feel-good comedy.
Synopsis: Several 40-something guys, all on the verge of a mid-life crisis, decide to form their local pool's first synchronized swimming
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#22
Critics Consensus: The Death of Dick Long mixes dark humor with provocative ideas to produce a sharp blend that's admittedly uneven but uniquely satisfying.
Synopsis: In small-town Alabama, Zeke and Earl scramble to cover up the unlikely and illegal events that led to their friend's
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#21
Critics Consensus: Swinging Safari gathers an entertaining ensemble to offer audiences a messy yet ultimately endearing comedy rich with period detail.
Synopsis: Local kids get a dose of excitement when a 200-ton blue whale washes up on a beach in 1970s Australia,
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#20
Critics Consensus: Greener Grass is far from the first comedy to skewer suburbia -- but it might be among the most bizarre and surreally distinctive.
Synopsis: Soccer moms Jill and Lisa compete for approval and acceptance in a bizarre suburbia while their kids battle it out
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#19
Critics Consensus: Jojo Rabbit's blend of irreverent humor and serious ideas definitely won't be to everyone's taste -- but either way, this anti-hate satire is audacious to a fault.
Synopsis: Jojo is a lonely German boy who discovers that his single mother is hiding a Jewish girl in their attic.
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#18
Critics Consensus: Led by typically outstanding work from Lupita Nyong'o, Little Monsters is a horror/rom-com hybrid that proves the zombie genre still has fresh brains to savor.
#17
Critics Consensus: Good Boys is undermined by an eagerness to repeatedly indulge in profane humor, but its appealing cast and ultimately thoughtful message often shine through.
Synopsis: Invited to his first kissing party, 12-year-old Max asks his best friends Lucas and Thor for some much-needed help on
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#16
Critics Consensus: Smart, timely, and brought to life by a terrific cast, Late Night is a workplace comedy with a lot of heart -- and just as many laughs.
Synopsis: A late-night talk show host's world is turned upside down when she hires her first and only female staff writer.
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#15
Critics Consensus: A sharp and deceptively layered comedy that's further fueled by the odd couple chemistry of its leads, this Long Shot largely hits its marks.
Synopsis: Fred Flarsky is a gifted and free-spirited journalist who has a knack for getting into trouble. Charlotte Field is one
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#14
Critics Consensus: The Art of Self-Defense grapples compellingly with modern American masculinity -- and serves as an outstanding calling card for writer-director Riley Stearns.
Synopsis: After getting attacked on the street, Casey enlists in a local dojo that's led by a charismatic and mysterious sensei.
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#13
Critics Consensus: Frothy and funny, Cyrano, My Love imagines life behind the scenes of a classic story, with whimsically entertaining results.
Synopsis: In 1897 in Paris, a playwright offers a new and unwritten production to an investor.
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#12
Critics Consensus: Thrillingly unrestrained yet solidly crafted, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood tempers Tarantino's provocative impulses with the clarity of a mature filmmaker's vision.
Synopsis: Actor Rick Dalton gained fame and fortune by starring in a 1950s television Western, but is now struggling to find
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#11
Critics Consensus: Brittany Runs a Marathon is an earnest and hilarious dramedy that finally gives Jillian Bell a role worthy of her gifts.
Synopsis: A hard-partying woman receives a startling wake-up call when a visit to the doctor reveals how unhealthy she is. Motivated
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#10
Critics Consensus: Like a life-affirming rock anthem, Blinded by the Light hits familiar chords with confidence and flair, building to a conclusion that leaves audiences cheering for an encore.
Synopsis: Javed is a Pakistani teenager who experiences racial and economic turmoil while living in Luton, England, in 1987. He writes
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#9
Critics Consensus: Plus One reinvigorates the rom-com with an entertaining outing elevated by well-matched leads and a story that embraces and transcends genre clichés.
Synopsis: Longtime single friends agree to be each other's plus one at every wedding they are invited to.
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#8
Critics Consensus: Silly yet deceptively smart, Wild Nights with Emily approaches its oft-investigated subject from a unique -- and utterly entertaining -- vantage point.
Synopsis: The secret life of Emily Dickinson.
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#7
Critics Consensus: Carried by the infectious charms of Ali Wong and Randall Park, Always Be My Maybe takes familiar rom-com beats and cleverly layers in smart social commentary to find its own sweet groove.
Synopsis: Childhood sweethearts have a falling out and don't speak for 15 years. They reconnect as adults when Sasha runs into
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#6
Critics Consensus: Expertly drawn characters and a strong senes of humanity make Sword of Trust an enjoyable -- if at times meandering -- journey.
Synopsis: A cantankerous pawnshop owner and his man-child employee team up with an out-of-town couple who are trying to hawk a
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#5
Critics Consensus: Stan & Ollie pays tribute to a pair of beloved entertainers with an affectionate look behind the scenes -- and a moving look at the burdens and blessings of a creative bond.
Synopsis: Laurel and Hardy -- the world's greatest comedy team -- face an uncertain future as their golden era of Hollywood
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#4
Critics Consensus: Fast-paced, funny, and fresh, Booksmart does the seemingly impossible by adding a smart new spin to the coming-of-age comedy.
Synopsis: Academic overachievers Amy and Molly thought keeping their noses to the grindstone gave them a leg up on their high
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#3
Critics Consensus: The Farewell deftly captures complicated family dynamics with a poignant, well-acted drama that marries cultural specificity with universally relatable themes.
Synopsis: Billi's family returns to China under the guise of a fake wedding to stealthily say goodbye to their beloved matriarch
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#2
Critics Consensus: Darkly funny and impressively ambitious, Chained for Life is as unpredictable as it is original.
Synopsis: An actress bonds with a young man who has a severe facial deformity.
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#1
Critics Consensus: Brainy and bloody in equal measure, One Cut of the Dead reanimates the moribund zombie genre with a refreshing blend of formal daring and clever satire.
Synopsis: Real zombies attack a hack director and a film crew who are shooting a low budget zombie film in an
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