Best Screwball Comedy

The Philadelphia Story is a 1940 American screwball comedy directed by George Cukor for MGM. Starring Katharine Hepburn and Cary Grant, it’s notable for its sharp dialogue, romantic tension, and critical acclaim including an Academy Award win. The film explores themes of marriage and social expectat...

It Happened One Night is a 1934 Columbia film directed by Frank Capra. The story follows a wealthy heiress and a down-on-his-luck reporter as they navigate a challenging road trip across America. The movie earned an Academy Award for Best Picture, showcasing early screwball comedy at its finest. It...

The Apartment is a 1960 film starring Gary Cooper and Patricia Lakes. It’s a notable example of neo-screwball comedy exploring themes of loneliness and connection within a workplace setting. The story follows a man who uses his apartment for illicit affairs to appear socially successful. Primarily e...

Bringing Up Baby is a 1938 RKO Radio Pictures comedy directed by Howard Hawks, starring Katharine Hepburn and Cary Grant. The film centers on a paleontologist’s increasingly chaotic situation involving an heiress and a leopard named Baby. It was adapted from a short story by Hagar Wilde originally p...

To Be or Not to Be is a 1942 screwball comedy directed by Ernst Lubitsch. The film utilizes wartime anxieties and social satire through witty dialogue and physical humor. It’s notable for its sharp critique of American society during the period and remains a classic example of the genre. This movie...

The Diamond Arm is a 1969 Soviet comedy film directed by Leonid Gaidai and featuring a cast including Yuri Nikulin and Andrei Mironov. The story, adapted from a true incident involving jewel smuggling within an orthopedic cast, achieved significant popularity and box office success during the Soviet...

Airplane! is a 1980 American comedy film known for its rapid-fire dialogue and relentless barrage of visual gags. It’s a parody of disaster films and airplane movies, utilizing slapstick humor and absurd situations to great effect. The film's success revitalized the neo-screwball comedy genre. Airpl...

Sullivan’s Travels is a 1941 Paramount comedy directed by Preston Sturges. The film follows a silent movie director’s journey to Africa to observe and document hardship for his next project. It's notable for its meta-narrative structure blending fictional scenes with the director’s own travel experi...

The Lady Eve is a 1941 Paramount comedy directed by William A. Wellman starring Barbara Stanwyck and Henry Fonda. The film’s success stems from its clever con-artist plot and sharp dialogue, hallmarks of the screwball genre pioneered by Preston Sturges. It's notable for its sophisticated portrayal o...

His Girl Friday is a 1940 Columbia Pictures screwball comedy starring Cary Grant and Rosalind Russell. The film’s rapid-fire dialogue and witty performances established a classic example of the genre. It's notable for its examination of newspaper journalism and its depiction of a reluctant marriage...

Bringing Up Baby is a 1938 screwball comedy starring Katharine Hepburn and Cary Grant. The film’s chaotic energy stems from a frantic race against time as its characters navigate an unexpected pregnancy amidst a dinosaur exhibit. Its blend of slapstick and witty dialogue makes it notable within the...

The Princess Bride is a 1987 fantasy adventure comedy based on William Goldman’s novel. It blends elements of fairy tales and swordplay with witty dialogue and memorable characters. The film’s enduring popularity stems from its charming story, strong performances, and timeless themes of love, courag...

A Night at the Opera is a 1935 MGM screwball comedy starring the Marx Brothers. The film blends classical music with chaotic slapstick humor and features iconic performances by Groucho, Harpo, and Chico. Its intricate plot centered around opera and mistaken identity made it a notable example of the...

Duck Soup is a 1933 Paramount comedy starring the Marx Brothers. The film employs rapid-fire dialogue and chaotic physical humor to deliver sharp political satire targeting American foreign policy during the lead up to World War II. Its enduring appeal lies in its inventive comedic style and timeles...

The Palm Beach Story is a 1942 Paramount film directed by Ernst Lubitsch and starring Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire. This screwball comedy showcases their exceptional dance talents within a witty romantic plot set against the backdrop of Florida's social scene. It’s notable for its sophisticated hu...

Ninotchka is a 1939 MGM screwball comedy directed by Ernst Lubitsch. The film satirizes Soviet attitudes towards American culture through the comedic interactions between an American millionaire and the icy Russian woman he intends to marry. It’s notable for its sharp political commentary and sparkl...

The Thin Man is a 1934 MGM screwball comedy starring William Powell and Myrna Loy as Nick and Nora Charles, a witty married detective couple. Noted for its sharp dialogue and sophisticated mystery plots, it established a beloved cinematic archetype. The film appeals to audiences who enjoy classic ro...

Groundhog Day is a 1993 comedy film centered around Phil Connors, a cynical weatherman who repeatedly relives February 2nd due to a time loop phenomenon. The movie’s notable exploration of self-improvement and empathy through this unusual circumstance has resonated with audiences for decades. It's p...

Tootsie is a 1982 comedy film about Dustin Hoffman as Michael Dorsey, a struggling actor who dresses as a woman to land roles and gain fame. The movie’s innovative use of cross-dressing and its exploration of identity within the entertainment industry made it notable. It's for audiences who enjoy ro...

My Man Godfrey is a 1936 screwball comedy starring William Powell and Carole Lombard. The film’s sharp social satire explores themes of wealth, identity, and class disparity during the Depression era. It gained recognition for its witty dialogue and performances, appealing to audiences interested in...

Libeled Lady is a 1936 romantic comedy starring Jean Harlow and William Powell. The film’s significance lies in its screwball comedic style and showcases a pivotal collaboration between director Howard Hawks and Ginger Rogers. It tells the story of a woman pursuing legal action against a newspaper f...

Trouble in Paradise is a 1932 American screwball comedy directed by Ernst Lubitsch. The film stars Fred MacMurray as a jewel thief who falls for a nightclub singer played by Carmen Miranda. Noteworthy for its witty dialogue and pre-code romantic elements, it exemplifies the genre's blend of suspense...

Knives Out is a 2019 mystery comedy film centered around a wealthy family gathering following the death of patriarch Harlan Thrombey. The narrative employs dark humor and satire to explore themes of wealth, inheritance, and deception within an ensemble cast. It’s notable for its clever plotting and...

When Harry Met Sally… is a 1989 romantic comedy directed by Rob Reiner. The film explores whether men and women can truly be friends without romantic complications. It’s notable for its sharp dialogue and realistic portrayal of relationships. Primarily aimed at audiences who enjoy character-driven s...

“The Miracle of Morgan’s Creek” is a 1944 Paramount comedy starring Ginger Rogers and James Stewart. The film's notable use of mistaken identity and its depiction of wartime anxieties make it a significant example of screwball humor. It’s particularly appealing to viewers interested in classic Holly...

The Gay Divorcee is a 1934 American musical film directed by Mark Sandrich, starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. The story adapts the Broadway musical “Gay Divorce,” originally based on a play by J. Hartley Manners, featuring a cast including Alice Brady and Edward Everett Horton. It was written...

Swing Time is a 1936 American screwball comedy musical starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. The film showcases their exceptional dance talents within a romantic narrative set against the backdrop of jazz music and Broadway. It’s notable for its seamless integration of song and dance, demonstrati...

Charade is a 1963 film starring Grant Hepburn and Audrey Hepburn. It’s a romantic comedy blending elements of suspense and mistaken identity, notable for its sophisticated set design and witty dialogue. The story involves a widow suspecting her husband's infidelity while trapped in a mansion with th...

Hail the Conquering Hero (1944) is a Paramount film showcasing William Powell and Ginger Rogers in a witty wartime satire. The story follows an American officer's mistaken identity amidst German resistance, offering sharp social commentary through its comedic portrayal of cultural misunderstandings....