Annie Hall is the Funniest!
Thursday, November 12, 2015 at 12:45PM Murtada here.The Writers Guild of America released their list of the 101 funniest screenplays of all time. The screenplays were voted on by members of both the East and West coast branches of the WGA. The eligible screenplays had to be in English and at least one hour in length.
Woody Allen is by far the most popular name on the list. He has seven titles including the WGA’s top pick Annie Hall (1977) which he co-wrote with Marshall Brickman. Compartively Billy Wilder only has two titles on the list, The Apartment (1960) and Some Like it Hot (1959). Other writers scoring multiple films include Mel Brooks, Preston Sturges, Christopher Guest, Charlie Chaplin, the Coen Brothers and surprisingly Harold Ramis.
Perhaps to ward off criticism about the lack of representation of women and people of color, the WGA acknowledged the list’s heavy “white bro dudeness”:
"Comedy screenwriting has long been a playground that women and writers of color have not had enough time in. The work of Richard Pryor on Blazing Saddles, Tina Fey on Mean Girls, Amy Heckerling on Clueless, and Hagar Wilde, co-writer of Bringing Up Baby, makes you wonder what a list would be if the playground had been more inclusive all along."
That’s all well and good but even when included the stories of women were low on the list. Really The Hangover and Wedding Crashers are funnier than All About Eve and Mean Girls ? Come on !
Surely everybody looking at the list will have their own reservations and “Really!!!” moments. Tell us yours in the comments.
The list in full after the jump:
1. Annie Hall (1977) - Written by Woody Allen and Marshall Brickman
2. Some Like It Hot (1959) - Screenplay by Billy Wilder & I.A. L. Diamond, Based on the German filmFanfare of Love by Robert Thoeren and M. Logan
3. Groundhog Day (1993) - Screenplay by Danny Rubin and Harold Ramis, Story by Danny Rubin
4. Airplane! (1980) - Written by James Abrahams & David Zucker & Jerry Zucker
5. Tootsie (1982) - Screenplay by Larry Gelbart and Murray Schisgal, Story by Don McGuire and Larry Gelbart
6. Young Frankenstein (1974) - Screenplay by Gene Wilder and Mel Brooks, Screen Story by Gene Wilder and Mel Brooks, Based on Characters in the Novel Frankenstein by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley
7. Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964) - Screenplay by Stanley Kubrick and Peter George and Terry Southern
8. Blazing Saddles (1974) - Screenplay by Mel Brooks, Norman Steinberg, Andrew Bergman, Richard Pryor, Alan Uger, Story by Andrew Bergman
9. Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975) - Written by Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Michael Palin
10. National Lampoon’s Animal House (1978) - Written by Harold Ramis & Douglas Kenney & Chris Miller
11. This Is Spinal Tap (1984) - Written by Christopher Guest & Michael McKean & Rob Reiner & Harry Shearer
12. The Producers (1967) - Written by Mel Brooks
13. The Big Lebowski (1998) - Written by Ethan Coen & Joel Coen
14. Ghostbusters (1984) - Written by Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis
15. When Harry Met Sally… (1989) - Written by Nora Ephron
16. Bridesmaids (2011) - Written by Annie Mumolo & Kristen Wiig
17. Duck Soup (1933) - Story by Bert Kalmar and Harry Ruby, Additional Dialogue by Arthur Sheekman and Nat Perrin
18. There’s Something About Mary (1998) - Screenplay by John J. Strauss & Ed Decter and Peter Farrelly & Bobby Farrelly, Story by Ed Decter & John J. Strauss
19. The Jerk (1979) - Screenplay by Steve Martin, Carl Gottlieb, Michael Elias, Story by Steve Martin & Carl Gottlieb
20. A Fish Called Wanda (1988) - Screenplay by John Cleese, Story by John Cleese & Charles Crichton
21. His Girl Friday (1940) - Screenplay by Charles Lederer, Based on the Play “The Front Page” by Ben Hecht & Charles MacArthur
22. The Princess Bride (1987) - Screenplay by William Goldman, Based on Goldman’s Novel of the Same Name
23. Raising Arizona (1987) - Written by Ethan Coen and Joel Coen
24. Bringing Up Baby (1938) - Screenplay by Hagar Wilde and Dudley Nichols, Story by Hagar Wilde
25. Caddyshack (1980) - Written by Brian Doyle-Murray & Harold Ramis & Douglas Kenney
26. Monty Python’s Life Of Brian (1979) - Written by Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Michael Palin
27. The Graduate (1967) - Screenplay by Calder Willingham and Buck Henry, Based on the Novel by Charles Webb
28. The Apartment (1960) - Written by Billy Wilder & I.A.L. Diamond
29. Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan (2006) - Screenplay by Sacha Baron Cohen & Anthony Hines & Peter Baynham & Dan Mazer, Story by Sacha Baron Cohen & Peter Baynham & Anthony Hines & Todd Phillips, Based on a Character Created by Sacha Baron Cohen
30. The Hangover (2009) - Written by Jon Lucas & Scott Moore
31. The 40-Year-Old Virgin (2005) - Written by Judd Apatow & Steve Carell
32. The Lady Eve (1941) - Screenplay by Preston Sturges, Story by Monckton Hoffe
33. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986) *TIE - Written by John Hughes
34. Trading Places (1983) *TIE - Written by Timothy Harris & Herschel Weingrod
Sullivan’s Travels (1941) - Written by Preston Sturges
36. Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987) - Written by John Hughes
37. The Philadelphia Story (1940) - Screenplay by Donald Ogden Stewart, Based on the Play by Philip Barry
38. A Night at the Opera (1935) - Screenplay by George S. Kaufman and Morrie Ryskind, From a Story by James Kevin McGuinness
39. Rushmore (1998) - Written by Wes Anderson & Owen Wilson
40. Waiting for Guffman (1996) - Written by Christopher Guest & Eugene Levy
41 The Odd Couple (1968) - Screenplay by Neil Simon, From the Play by Neil Simon as Produced on the Stage by Saint-Subber
42. The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! (1988) - Written by Jerry Zucker & Jim Abrahams & David Zucker & Pat Proft, Based on the Television Series Police Squad! Created by Jim Abrahams & David Zucker & Jerry Zucker
43. Office Space (1999) - Written for the Screen by Mike Judge, Based on the “Milton” Animated Shorts by Mike Judge
44. Big (1988) - Written by Anne Spielberg & Gary Ross
45. National Lampoon’s Vacation (1983) - Screenplay by John Hughes
46. Midnight Run (1988) - Written by George Gallo
47. It Happened One Night (1934) - Screenplay by Robert Riskin, Based on the Short Story by Samuel Hopkins Adams
48. M*A*S*H (1970) - Screenplay by Ring Lardner, Jr., From the Novel by Richard Hooker
49. Harold and Maude (1971) - Written by Colin Higgins
50. Shaun of the Dead (2004) - Written by Simon Pegg & Edgar Wright
51. Broadcast News (1987) - Written by James L. Brooks
52. Arthur (1981) - Written by Steven Gordon
53. Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994) - Written by Richard Curtis
54. Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004) *TIE - Written by Will Ferrell & Adam McKay
Dumb and Dumber (1994) *TIE - Written by Peter Farrelly & Bennett Yellin & Bob Farrelly
56 Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997) - Written by Mike Myers
57. The General (1926) - Written by Buster Keaton and Clyde Bruckman, Adapted by Al Boasberg and Charles Smith
58. What’s Up, Doc? (1972) - Screenplay by Buck Henry and David Newman & Robert Benton, Story by Peter Bogdanovich
59. Wedding Crashers (2005) - Written by Steve Faber & Bob Fisher
60. Sleeper (1973) - Written by Woody Allen & Marshall Brickman
61. Galaxy Quest (1999) - Screenplay by David Howard and Robert Gordon, Story by David Howard
62. It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963) - Screenplay by William and Tania Rose, Story by William and Tania Rose
63. Best in Show (2000) - Written by Christopher Guest & Eugene Levy
64. Little Miss Sunshine (2006) - Written by Michael D. Arndt
65, South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut (1999) - Written by Trey Parker & Matt Stone & Pam Brady
66. Being There (1979) - Screenplay by Jerzy Kosinski, Inspired by the Novel by Jerzy Kosinski
67. Back to the Future (1985) - Written by Robert Zemeckis & Bob Gale
68. Superbad (2007) - Written by Seth Rogen & Evan Goldberg
69. Bananas (1971) - Written by Woody Allen, Mickey Rose
70. Moonstruck (1987) - Written by John Patrick Shanley
71. Clueless (1995) - Written by Amy Heckerling
72. The Palm Beach Story (1942) - Written by Preston Sturges
73. The Pink Panther (1963) - Written by Maurice Richlin & Blake Edwards
74. The Blues Brothers (1980) - Written by Dan Aykroyd and John Landis
75. Coming to America (1988) - Screenplay by David Sheffield & Barry W. Blaustein, Story by Eddie Murphy
76. Take the Money and Run (1969) - Screenplay by Woody Allen and Mickey Rose, Story by Jackson Beck
77. Election (1999) - Screenplay by Alexander Payne & Jim Taylor, Based on the Novel by Tom Perrotta
78. Love and Death (1975) - Written by Woody Allen
79. Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (1988) *TIE - Written by Dale Launer and Stanley Shapiro & Paul Henning
80. Lost in America (1985) *TIE - Written by Albert Brooks & Monica Johnson
81. Manhattan (1979) - Written by Woody Allen & Marshall Brickman
82. Modern Times (1936) - Written by Charles Chaplin
83. My Cousin Vinny (1992) - Written by Dale Launer
84. Mean Girls (2004) - Screenplay by Tina Fey, Based on the Book Queen Bees and Wannabes by Rosalind Wiseman
85. Meet the Parents (2000) - Screenplay by Jim Herzfeld and John Hamburg, Story by Greg Glienna & Mary Ruth Clarke
86. Fargo (1996) - Written by Joel Coen & Ethan Coen
87. My Favorite Year (1982) - Screenplay by Dennis Palumbo and Norman Steinberg, Story by Dennis Palumbo
88. Stripes (1981) - Written by Len Blum & Dan Goldberg and Harold Ramis
89. Beverly Hills Cop (1984) - Screenplay by Daniel Petrie, Jr., Story by Danilo Bach and Daniel Petrie, Jr.
90. City Lights (1931) - Written by Charles Chaplin
91. Sideways (2004) - Screenplay by Alexander Payne & Jim Taylor, Based on the Novel by Rex Pickett
92. Broadway Danny Rose (1984) - Written by Woody Allen
93. Swingers (1996) - Written by Jon Favreau
94. The Gold Rush (1925) - Written by Charles Chaplin
95. The Miracle Of Morgan’s Creek (1944) - Written by Preston Sturges
96. All About Eve (1950) - Screenplay by Joseph L. Mankiewicz, Based on the Short Story and Radio Program “The Wisdom of Eve” by Mary Orr
97. Arsenic and Old Lace (1944) - Screenplay by Julius Epstein & Philip G. Epstein, Based on the Play by Joseph Kesselring
98. The Royal Tenenbaums (2001) - Written by Wes Anderson & Owen Wilson
99. Mrs. Doubtfire (1993) - Screenplay by Randi Mayem Singer and Leslie Dixon, Based on Alias Madame Doubtfire by Anne Fine
100. Flirting with Disaster (1996) - Written by David O. Russell
101 Shakespeare in Love (1998) - Written by Marc Norman and Tom Stoppard
Reader Comments (41)
are these in order?
I may not be remembering it right, but is Rushmore even a comedy? Or better yet, is it "funny"?
Most egregious omissions: Ernst Lubitsch films. I mean, they seriously didn't figure in "To Be or Not to Be"!?
No reason for outrage. Hollywood from its inception is a patriarchal white supremacy. The lack of women and people of color is a given. Think of all the documentaries produced to tell the story of how Hollywood continues to operate in crude and cruel stereotypes. No one is relinquishing their power hence the yearly shaming they receive which is simply bad PR for them. Of course the supporting categories are a free for all for diverse nominees and winners.
"There's Something About Mary" over "My Best Friend's Wedding"???
The coarseness of "Borat" over the sharp, witty, and coherent beats of "Ocean's Eleven" (Soderbergh's script)?
A lot on this list just smells of populist flicks. Sure, I laughed a lot during "Wedding Crashers," and even "The Hangover." But I don't think their screenplays (let alone their comedic levels) are better than movies like "I Heart Huckabees" or "The Squid and the Whale" or "Juno" or "In the Loop."
Plus, is it just me or did I not see any animated movies?
So many towering classics rubbing shoulders with much else accomplished recent comedies. Such is life, I suppose.
Saddest omission is probably Elaine May. A New Leaf, The Birdcage, Primary Colors? No? Okay.
Nathaniel - yes they are in the order released by WGA.
I was pretty much with the list until I got to the one-two punch of Anchorman and Dumb and Dumber. WTF. I know comedy is subjective, but DAMN. Those are two stupid, stupid movies. I was most shocked by the lack of Ernst Lubitsch. To Be Or Not To Be and Trouble in Paradise should be easy gets on this list.
I don't know how I feel about the inclusion of the more modern films that rely so much on improvisation for their humor, since it's a list based on writing.
Some of these, especially the most recent releases, are funny much less because their screenplays are particularly special than because of great performances or zeitgeist boost. The placement of All About Eve and Arsenic and Old Lace on this list is a joke.
Eh, I've laughed more over The Parent Trap and The Long Long Trailer than half of these, but I can' really quibble.
At least they included Miracle of Morgan's Creek, but I was pretty darn surprised not to see It Happened One Night nearer the top.
Humor is so subjective that the very concept of listing the 'best" in any type of order is ridiculous. There are many brilliant works here but I can't agree with the rankings.
I kept going, "Yeah, that's good. Sure. Right. Of course," and then got to DUCK SOUP at No. 17 and thought, "Wait, no Marx Bros. until then? That's where we part."
I move Marxes up. Also LOVE AND DEATH, which is pound for pound Woody's funniest. Which is saying a lot.
But it's a good list.
I will never understand why people like, love, or even admire "Animal House." I can see the appeal in basically every other movie on the list in some form or another, but not "Animal House." Does anyone else have a similar reaction to any so-called classic?
Is "Heathers" on the list?
I don't see it. It should definitely be there!
....I gotta motor....
Funny's bad for you. Everything our parents said is good is bad.
By my count, these are the only five movies I haven't seen...
Trading Places (1983)
Waiting for Guffman (1996)
Midnight Run (1988)
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (1988)
Swingers (1996)
I've heard only good things about all of them, but It's interesting to think that not one of those movies is on the AFI list from 2000.
Ernst Lubitsch isn't the only missing film icon from this list. I don't see any movies from Harold Lloyd or Abbott & Costello or Laurel & Hardy.
I would say Singin' in the Rain (1952) and Pulp Fiction (1994) are two of the biggest omissions, film wise. Donald O'Connor's "Make 'Em Laugh" dance number is funnier than half of the movies on this list. And I'll never understand why Fargo continuously makes lists like this while Pulp Fiction doesn't. It's not like the Coen Brothers have a monopoly on black comedy.
And I can't be the only one who's actually happy to see Dumb and Dumber on this list, right? I know it's advertised as low-brow, and it's probably most popular with the low-IQ population, but how many of those viewers understand that it's actually smarter than they are? The opening credit sequence alone is enough to tell us that. It deserves to be here for its script.
This list is obviously the product of a bunch of illiterates. If a women are going to be represented why such moronic twaddle as Bridesmaids or When Harry Met Sally... and no Ruth Gordon? Adam's Rib and Pat and Mike are two of the wittiest and brilliant comedies ever made in America. And no Mae West. And only one token Buster Keaton. And no Awful Truth. Classic Hollywood really gets the shaft. And even though they did remember Preston Sturges, putting The Lady Eve way down at 32 and Miracle at Morgan's Creek way way down at 95 and omitting Hail the Conqueing Hero completely, well my thoughts are not fit to be aired. As are my thoughts on the omission of any Ernst Lubitsch movies, which has been noted my many already (Trouble in Paradise, Ninotchka, To Be or Not to Be, Cluny Brown) or John Waters (Multiple Maniacs, Pink Flamingos, Female Trouble, Desperate Living, Polyester). And what about such Hitchcock films as The Lady Vanishes and North by Northwest? Isn't a brilliant comedy even more brilliant when it's a brilliant thriller? And that goes double for such hilarious musicals as Singin' in the Rain and The Band Wagon. I'm not half-finished but I'll stop now. You're welcome
Things I'd disagree with, but it has a healthy, nice mix.
No Altman?
No Beetlejuice?
No Paul Bartel?
No John Waters?
No Death Becomes Her? I found that to be funny throughout, but I realize other people (quien?) like Airplane and Trading Places (como?).
Not a bad list, but of course there are glaring omissions: Serial Mom, What About Bob?, and any Astaire-Rogers film.
I tend to disagree more than I agree. Some of the films listed weren't funny at all.
And did they add Shakespeare in love at 101 just to please Academy members who made a really really bad decision that year.
No Brazil? No Network? The Pink Panther 1963 over A Shot in the Dark?
They should have released another statement apologizing for the inclusion of The Hangover, and at no. 30 at that! If the WGA thinks it's the third best comedy of this century, it is no wonder that comedy is in such a dire state in Hollywood.
How depressing that the deliciously witty shade-fest that is The Women is not on this list.
I was excited to see a diverse range of decades show up on the list. Our collective sense of humor is constantly evolving so it's cool to see that represented here. Also, it's good to see a major organization list show love to recent films that deserve the credit.
How "Clue" isn't on this list is beyond me.
Intentional or not, I am loving Spinal Tap at 11.
This list seems put together by frat boys?
This is a WGA list and they give classic screwball comedies from the 30's and 40's very short shrift. The Women, Ninotchka, The Awful Truth, these are absolute classics of the form.
Manhatten isn't even funny - how does it rate being #81 ?
These lists are always so stupid, not only is the order ridiculous, ignoring the very heritage of cinema is inexcusable.
The Russians Are Coming, The Russians Are Coming (1966)
This list is bananas. I don't understand how Network, Sixteen Candles, The Women, or Working Girl don't make this list. The Hudsucker Proxy is a personal favorite, but I know that Coen Brothers movie isn't everyone's cuppa.
Maybe it's because I occasionally work as a stand-up comedian, but the concept of ranking funny drives me NUTS.
Comedy is subjective.
Also, something on the page can be completely funnier -- or the opposite -- onscreen as opposed to onstage.
This takes nothing away from the writers of comedic screenplays or TV scripts. Funny writing is funny writing. I just take issue with ranking it all. One person's "Annie Hall" is one person's "Tommy Boy", y'know?
While I also don't agree with a lot of the choices and omissions here, I wonder if some commenters here are confusing "funniest" with "best."
They're not saying these are the best comedies but the funniest, therefore some low-brow stuff like "Dumb & Dumber" (which I'm not defending as being actually funny, just using it as an example) might have made the voters laugh more than, say, "Network" (to use a random example from another comment) and therefore made the list.
Also, Ken s, "Bridesmaids" and "When Harry Met Sally..." are not "twaddle." And why would they have to get rid of screenplays written by women to make room for other screenplays written by women? It's not like they have a max. number of women to fill the list.
DJDeeJay -- "Bridesmaids" and "When Harry Met Sally" are worthless and they could have gotten rid of them for movies written by men for all I care. A gal gets diarrhea in a bridal gown in the middle of the street? How witty. When Woody met Goldie? How original. I'm just saying that tokenism isn't necessary at all. Adam's Rib and Pat and Mike are masterpieces, and they were co-written by a woman.
ken s - ok, so low-brow humor isn't your thing, that's cool (even though "Bridesmaids" has a lot of types of humor and gross-out gags were just a small part of them). but it's weird to then lump "When Harry Met Sally..." with it when its screenplay is almost entirely intelligent, witty dialogue made by and for adults.
Assessing comedy by screenplay alone is certainly a daunting task, isn't it? The actors are the ones who elevate so much of the material and make it truly funny. (I also imagine this is why the Marx Bros. aren't on here higher- their movies aren't writing-driven, but reliant on extremely effective comedic business and bits).
DJDeeJay: You've never seen Adam's Rib or Pat and Mike, have you? Actually, I do like some dumb gross-out humor -- I'll defend Animal House, Dumb and Dumber, but I feel that we live in an age where vulgarity=lotsa laffs. Practically the only scene I liked was the scene where they were trying to top each other's reminiscences. But most of the rest was atrocious. When Harry Met Sally is for adults, all right, adults who watch too much television and want more of the same when they go to the movies.
P.S. That's it for now, you can have the last word should you so wish. I think I've said all I have to say. Maybe we'll find something to agree on in the future.
Ken S - no need to wait for the future, as I also love the scene where they're trying to top each other's speeches! The future is now!
I am sure it was a mistake to not include Death Becomes Her, The Women, The Devil Wears Prada, Heathers and To Die For, because Those are the green gifts that you all are receiving this year, along with a free suit.
Mel Brooks has 3 on the list... Robert Altman had Mash which he did not write and Network is not a Comedy People ...I'm stunned Hannah and her Sisters is not listed and 2 john Hughes movies are that high on the list...no Christmas Story and no Mother and Lost in America is ranked so low and All About Eve is NO COMEDY
Wga's Whitest Laughs Ever