In the age of the Internet, pretty much anyone can share their opinions of movies and TV shows anywhere. It’s great that folks have platforms to voice their views, but for potential movie-goers, it can be hard to decide whether or not to see a film when there are a million conflicting reviews. Thankfully, Rotten Tomatoes compiles the most prominent critics and audience scores into one place, making it easier to make decisions.
While you might want to take any review with a grain of salt, you have to it the immense influence that Rotten Tomatoes has on modern movies. With innumerable movies getting released each year, Rotten Tomatoes is generally a reliable indicator of a movie’s quality and a good way to help you narrow down your never-ending to-watch list.
Not all of the top-ranked comedies over at Rotten Tomatoes have 100% ratings, but they’re sure to entertain pretty much anyone. Some of those funny flicks might even make you cry, both from laughter and nostalgia. The ones stuck at 0%, on the other hand, will probably make you cry from boredom, fling your computer across the room, or mourn for the time you just wasted.
Of course, how funny a comedy is can really vary from person to person, depending on one’s sense of humour. So keep in mind that the list below is based on critics’ reviews, and if you disagree, hey, to each their own.
In no particular order, here are the 13 Best Comedies According to Rotten Tomatoes (and 12 Stuck With 0%).
Good: Toy Story 2 (100 %)
Let’s be real, this one isn’t that big a surprise. With Toy Story 4 on the horizon, it’s needless to say that the franchise has cemented its place in pop culture forever. Toy Story 2 is a particular stand-out.
The first sequel follows Buzz and friends as they try to rescue Woody, who has been taken by a toy collector. The production process was plagued with a number of issues, but what was meant as a direct-to-video release ended up becoming one of Pixar and Disney’s greatest hits, with a whopping 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Bad: Bucky Larson: Born To Be A Star (0%)
When you hear Bucky, you’ll probably think of Bucky Barnes. When you see the words ‘born’ and ‘star’, you’ll probably think of the various remakes of A Star is Born. We’re sad to inform you that Bucky Larson: Born to be a Star falls short of both franchises. Dreadfully short.
The 2011 comedy racked up six Golden Rasberry nominations, including for Worst Picture. In a nutshell, the movie is about a guy who tries to follow in his parents’ footsteps in Hollywood, but considering the screenplay was penned by Adam Sandler, Allen Covert, and Nick Swardson, it’s really not the most family-friendly flick.
Good: Singin' In The Rain (100%)
Singin’ in the Rain is one of those magical movies that can put a smile on the face of even the grumpiest, most bitter musical haters. Who doesn’t know at least a few lines of the titular musical number or the iconic ‘Good Morning’, one of the most epic dance numbers of all time? The movie is so popular that it’s even prompted stage productions all across the globe.
Starring Hollywood royalty like Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds, and Donald O’Connor, the movie is set in the 1920s, as movie studios began transitioning to talkies.
Bad: Pinocchio (0%)
No, this isn’t Disney’s animated classic that has a 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes. It’s the 2002 Italian movie with a 0% rating that stars Roberto Benigni as the titular puppet. Benigni intended for the movie to be a fantastical adaptation of the much-beloved tale but instead ended up what Rotten Tomatoes calls “an unfunny, poorly-made, creepy vanity project.” Quite a scalding critique of the Oscar-winning actor.
This iteration of Pinocchio pretty much adheres to the same classic plot. A wooden puppet named Pinocchio comes to life, and after a lot of mischief and turmoil, he finally becomes a real boy.
Good: La La Land (91%)
Who could ever forget the dramatic ending of the 89th Academy Awards, when a giant mix-up had La La Land handing over the Oscar for Best Picture to Moonlight? However, the high critics and audience ratings over at Rotten Tomatoes leave no room for doubt about La La Land’s popularity.
The musical movie stars Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone as Sebastian and Mia, two young artists trying to make their big breaks in Los Angeles. The two fall in love and learn to navigate both their budding relationship and careers.
Bad: Merci Docteur Rey (0%)
Dianne Wiest is, simply put, an icon. She’s been in multiple critically acclaimed theatre productions and so many high-profile movies that we’ve lost count. Sadly, even Wiest’s stardom couldn’t save Merci Docteur Rey from critical reviews and a 0% on Rotten Tomatoes.
The movie follows Thomas, a young man who witnesses a man’s ing and then seeks help from a psychiatrist – the titular Docteur Rey – to alleviate the burden. But as it turns out, the doctor has also ed, and Thomas has confided in an actress. What follows is a farcical crime mystery that ultimately falls short of its potential.
Good: Modern Times (100%)
Modern Times is truly one of the most monumental movies ever made – even the Library of Congress agrees and has included it in the United States National Film Registry. Industry legend Charlie Chaplin not only stars in the movie as his Little Tramp character. He also wrote, directed, produced and scored this hilarious and biting satire.
Chaplin’s Little Tramp character is an assembly line worker who gets swept up in an increasingly industrialized society. Modern Times may be a silent film released over 80 years ago, but its unwavering popularity shows how relevant it remains.
Bad: Superbabies: Baby Geniuses 2 (0%)
Yes, the ‘2’ in the title means there was an original Baby Geniuses movie. The basic premise is that babies are born with immense knowledge and speak in “Babytalk”, which is impossible to translate. The babies then lose that knowledge when they begin to learn how to speak human languages. Long story short, some scientists transform a bunch of babies into baby geniuses and hijinks ensue.
The first movie was panned, but not enough for its sequel to get shelved. Oh, and there’s a TV series that aired in Italy, the episodes of which were later released as movies directly to video.
Good: Coco (97%)
Get your tissues ready people, because even though Rotten Tomatoes lists Disney and Pixar’s Coco as a comedy, you are guaranteed to at least tear up a little bit.
This feel-good tearjerker won multiple awards, including Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song for “ Me” at the 2017 Oscars. It follows Miguel as he gets transported to the Land of the Dead and tries to reverse his family’s ban on music. It features an all-Latin cast and beautifully depicts Mexican culture with respect, all while reminding the audience what family is about.
Bad: Wagons East (0%)
Westerns have long been a staple of the film industry, exploring the lives of cowboys in the late 19th century. While the genre’s popularity has seen ups and downs, but from the old John Wayne classics to the Coen brothers’ Ballad of Buster Scruggs released in 2018, it’s safe to say that the genre isn’t going entirely away any time soon.
That said, having a rugged sheriff and showdowns in dusty streets won’t guarantee success. Wagons East is technically a Western, but actually follows a group as they venture back home to the East coast.
