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All 13 Marx Brothers Movies Ranked by Tomatometer

We’re ranking the films of legendary comedy troupe the Marx Brothers!

Groucho (the wisecracker), Chico (the schemer), Harpo (the musical mute), and Zeppo (the straight man) honed their vaudeville comedy and musical routine on stage in the 1910s and 1920s, before singing with Paramount to adapt their act just as the talkies were overtaking silent pictures. The five Paramount films (The Cocoanuts, Animal Crackers, Monkey Business, Horse Feathers, and Duck Soup) are their most anarchic films, with Soup still a deft political satire with non-stop jokes.

After Paramount (and with Zeppo gone), the rest of the three brothers signed with MGM and produced two of their biggest box office draws: 1935’s A Night at the Opera (arguably their masterpiece) and A Day at the Races. The Marx Brothers continued making films into the 1940s, ending with Love Happy. —Alex Vo

A Night at the Opera (1935)

97%

Critics Consensus: Watermelons may go out of season, but in A Night at the Opera, the Marx Brothers' daffy laughs are never anything less than uproariously fresh.

Synopsis: The Marx Brothers run amuck in the world of opera when Otis B. Driftwood meets aspiring singer Ricardo, who is determined to win the love... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Groucho Marx, Harpo Marx, Kitty Carlisle Hart, Chico Marx

Directed By: Sam Wood

Duck Soup (1933)

91%

Critics Consensus: Fueled by inspired silliness and blessed with some of the Marx brothers' most brilliant work, Duck Soup is one of its -- or any -- era's finest comedies.

Synopsis: When the tiny nation of Freedonia goes bankrupt, its wealthy benefactor, Mrs. Teasdale (Margaret Dumont), insists that the wacky Rufus T. Firefly (Groucho Marx) become... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Groucho Marx, Harpo Marx, Chico Marx, Zeppo Marx

Directed By: Leo McCarey

At the Circus (1939)

91%

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: At the Circus features the Marx Brothers (Groucho, Harpo, Chico) working together to save a circus from closing. Circus owner Jeff (Kenny Baker) needs $10,000... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Groucho Marx, Harpo Marx, Chico Marx, Margaret Dumont

Directed By: Edward Buzzell

Horse Feathers (1932)

97%

Critics Consensus: Horse Feathers finds the Marx Brothers in fine madcap form, taking aim at an array of timely targets while serving up classic set pieces.

Synopsis: The Marx Brothers take on higher education and football in this riotous comedy. The newly minted president of Huxley University, Quincy Adams Wagstaff (Groucho Marx),... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Groucho Marx, Harpo Marx, Chico Marx, Zeppo Marx

Directed By: Norman Z. McLeod

Animal Crackers (1930)

97%

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: The well-known explorer and hunter Captain Spaulding has just returned from Africa, and is being welcomed home with a lavish party at the estate of... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Groucho Marx, Harpo Marx, Chico Marx, Zeppo Marx

Directed By: Victor Heerman

The Cocoanuts (1929)

95%

Critics Consensus: Brought to life by the Marx Brothers' charming anarchy, The Cocoanuts is a groundbreaking musical romp.

Synopsis: In an effort to keep his business, Hotel de Cocoanuts, from bankruptcy, owner Hammer (Groucho Marx) flatters and cajoles the wealthy Mrs. Potter (Margaret Dumont),... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Groucho Marx, Harpo Marx, Chico Marx, Zeppo Marx

Directed By: Joseph Santley, Robert Florey

A Day at the Races (1937)

95%

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: Hugo Hackenbush (Groucho Marx) is a veterinarian who masquerades as a lead doctor at Standish Sanitarium to aid the wealthy patient Emily Upjohn (Margaret Dumont).... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Groucho Marx, Chico Marx, Harpo Marx, Allan Jones

Directed By: Sam Wood

Monkey Business (1931)

90%

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: The four Marx Brothers star in their first film written specifically for the screen as stowaways on an ocean liner bound for New York. Each... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Groucho Marx, Harpo Marx, Chico Marx, Zeppo Marx

Directed By: Norman Z. McLeod

Go West (1940)

90%

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: New Yorkers "Rusty" Panello (Harpo Marx) and his brother, Joe (Chico Marx), cheat S. Quentin Quale (Groucho Marx) out of some money, enough to buy... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Groucho Marx, Chico Marx, Harpo Marx, John Carroll

Directed By: Edward Buzzell

#10

Room Service (1938)

64%

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: Broadway producer Gordon Miller (Groucho Marx) has sunk every dime into his latest project but still lacks the money to get the play out of... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Groucho Marx, Chico Marx, Harpo Marx, Lucille Ball

Directed By: William A. Seiter

#11

The Big Store (1941)

70%

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: Private detectives Wolf J. Flywheel, Wacky and Ravelli (The Marx Brothers) are hired by the officious Martha Phelps (Margaret Dumont), co-owner of the Phelps Department... View Full Synopsis

Starring: The Marx Brothers, Tony Martin, Margaret Dumont, Virginia Grey

Directed By: Charles Reisner

#12

A Night in Casablanca (1946)

63%

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: In this Marx Brothers film, Ronald Kornblow (Groucho Marx) takes over as the manager of a luxurious hotel in Casablanca, in the aftermath of World... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Groucho Marx, Harpo Marx, Chico Marx, Lisette Verea

Directed By: Archie Mayo

#13