Immerse yourself in the rollicking world of the best black comedy movies, where quick-witted humor meets tales of camaraderie and family. Boasting casts of incredibly talented black actors, these African American comedy films offer gut-busting scenarios that have set a high bar in the realm of cinema. From the belly laughs of The Nutty Professor to the clever jests of Think Like a Man, this list encompasses an array of films that guarantee good cheer. Over 7.9K Ranker voters have come together to rank this list of The Funniest Black Movies Ever Made!
Dive into classic Black comedies that not only tickle your funny bone but have also earned their place in the annals of famous black comedies. Eddie Murphy's brilliant performance in Coming to America as the charming African prince seeking love in New York is a quintessential example from the 80s. It's movies like this, alongside 90s Black comedies like the vibrant neighborhood narrative of Barbershop and the day-in-the-life snapshot presented by Friday, that exemplify the best of comedy movies with black actors.
Top 5 Comedy movies to watch when BORED (2021-2022)
Curated with care and ranked by passionate film lovers, this list is a hotspot for the top black comedy movies that resonate with audiences everywhere. Here are some examples of the funniest black comedy movies ever made:
Examples of Black Comedy Movies
- Norbit (2007): Professor Sherman Klump, who happens to be a brilliant scientist, invents a magical solution that makes him appear thinner. However, due to adverse side effects, the potion turns him into an arrogant and self-absorbed person.
- Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood (1996): The entire film pokes fun at cliché, coming-of-age films that center on African Americans from poor neighborhoods.
- Black Knight (2001): In Black Knight, Lawrence plays Jamal Walker, a slacker who works at the Medieval World Amusement Park. While on the job, he stumbles upon a shiny medallion, and when he tries to take it, he's magically transported to 1328 England.
- I Think I Love My Wife (2007): While he seems to have it all on the surface, businessman Richard Cooper feels trapped in a stale marriage. So naturally, when he crosses paths with his very attractive ex, Nicki, he struggles to fight the temptation to cheat.
- Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins (2008): RJ Stevens, who was always the awkward outsider in his family, is now a major talk-show host with millions of fans. When he gets the opportunity to return home and celebrate his parents’ anniversary, RJ is determined to show how he has grown-although this proves to be more challenging than he initially thought.
- Life (1999): Two New Yorkers, Ray Gibson and Claude Banks, travel to Mississippi on a bootlegging mission to pay off a large debt. But when they get there, the two are framed for murder and sentenced to prison for the rest of their lives. While serving time, they try to overcome their differences and prove their innocence.
- I'm Gonna Git You Sucka (1988): Former detective Andre Shame is down on his luck. Despite taking on several dangerous jobs as a private investigator, he simply can't afford to keep his firm afloat. But when an old officer from his past informs Shame that there’s a break in his unsolved case, he jumps at the opportunity to finish what he started.
- Boomerang (1992): Murphy shines as the overconfident ad executive and ladies’ man, Marcus Graham. When Marcus begins to work with Jacqueline Boyer, the new head of his department, he realizes that she’s exactly like him, and when they begin to date, he’s put off by her behavior.
- Blue Streak (1999): After serving two years in jail for a diamond heist, Miles Logan is free and ready to retrieve his treasure from its hiding place. The only problem? That location has been turned into a police station.
- Hitch (2005): Alex "Hitch" Hitchens may be a love doctor when it comes to coaching other men, but the same can’t be said for his own romantic relationships.
- White Chicks (2004): After ruining a drug bust, FBI agents Marcus and Kevin Copeland are forced to escort two famous white twins to the Hamptons to catch a kidnapper.
- Madea Goes to Jail (2009): After confronting a rude woman in a public parking lot and engaging in a high-speed car chase, Madea lands behind bars.
- Last Holiday (2006): Georgia Byrd, a shy cookware sales clerk, finally decides to let loose after she discovers that she has a terminal illness.
- The Brothers (2001): Meet Eva Dandrige. While she only wants the best for her three little sisters, her approach can be a bit much-and the sisters’ boyfriends aren’t happy about it.
- Think Like a Man (2012): Four tight-knit friends, Dominic, Jeremy, Michael and Zeke, are caught off-guard when they learn that their girlfriends have been taking advice from Steve Harvey’s book, Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man.
- Jumping the Broom (2011): After a whirlwind romance, Sabrina Watson and Jason Taylor are engaged to be married. But when Sabrina's upper-class parents meet Jason's colorful family at their luxurious estate, hilarity and awkwardness ensue.
- Little (2019): Little tells the story of a woman named Jordan, a bossy tech company owner who transforms into her 13-year-old self after getting cursed by a stranger.
- Beauty Shop (2005): This Barbershop spin-off follows Gina, a popular hairstylist who quits her job and decides to start her own business.
- A Thin Line Between Love and Hate (1996): Womanizer Darnell Wright is in for a rude awakening when he hooks up with a stunning woman Brandi.
- Just Wright (2010): Leslie Wright gets the job of a lifetime as a physical therapist for basketball star Scott McKnight.
- Money Talks (1997): In this funny film, James helps law enforcement bring a criminal named Franklin to justice.
- Beverly Hills Cop (1984): In this classic comedy, Murphy plays Alex Foley, a Detroit detective who's determined to bring the killer of his best friend to justice.
- Rush Hour (1998): Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan are simply a delight to watch in this action comedy-and the action sequences are pretty amazing.
- Barbershop (2001): The iconic Barbershop, which centers on his character, Calvin Palmer Jr., who inherits his late father’s struggling barbershop-despite having no interest in taking over the business.
- The Wood (1999): Three childhood friends have their work cut out for them when they discover that their best friend, Roland, has gone missing mere hours before his wedding.
- The Best Man (1999): When Harper Stewart reunites with his squad for their friend Lance's wedding, he desperately tries to prevent the groom from reading his juicy new novel, which happens to include details that could jeopardize everything.
- Bad Boys (1995): The action-comedy follows close friends and Miami detectives Mike Lowrey and Marcus Burnett , who are sent out to investigate the theft of over $100 million worth of heroin from a police vault.
- Brown Sugar (2002): Andre Ellis and Sidney Shaw have been close friends since childhood, and it’s largely due to their shared passion for hip-hop.
- Sister Act (1992): This laugh-out-loud comedy follows Deloris Van Cartier, a talented singer who moves to California and poses as a nun after witnessing a crime.
- Girls Trip (2017): Join the Flossy Posse as they reunite for one of the wildest trips ever.
- Sorry to Bother You (2018): In the film, Stanfield plays Cassius Green, a telemarketer in Oakland, California.
- White Men Can't Jump (1992): In this film, Billy Hoyle, who's white, and Sidney Deane, who's Black, are two skilled basketball hustlers who decide to make some cash by conning people who underestimate their abilities on the court.
- Harlem Nights (1989): Set in 1918 Harlem, the movie follows Sugar Ray and his adopted son, Quick, who run a nightclub together.
- Cool Runnings (1993): Cool Runnings follows a group of four Jamaican athletes who dream of competing in the Olympics as a bobsled team-even though they’ve never experienced the cold.
- Crooklyn (1994): Lee's semi-autobiographical film centers on 9-year-old Troy Carmichael, who lives in Bedford-Stuyvesant with her parents and four siblings.
Looking to have a say in what the funniest black comedy movies are? It's your votes that bring the best to the limelight. Show some love for your favorites so they climb to the top spots, reflecting what the collective movie buff community finds the most hilarious in urban comedy.
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