The Funniest Movie of Every Year of the 2010s

If the 2000s gave us comedy classics like Superbad, The Hangover and Mean Girls, the next decade picked up the torch and ran with it, delivering a mix of raunchy, clever, and outrageous films that kept audiences laughing nonstop. The comedies of the 2010s are constantly trying new angles and voices to create something new. The sub-genres like slapstick comedies, teen comedies or action comedies still thrived, but the best of them entered the room with a twist.

Here, we dive into the funniest films of each year in the 2010s. From high school hijinks to pop star parodies, the decade offered a wide range of comedy styles that appealed to every kind of humor. These films captured the spirit of a decade obsessed with fun, friendship, and fearless humor, carrying forward the comedic energy of the 2000s while carving out a style entirely their own before the next decade takes over.

2010: ‘Easy A’

Easy A follows Olive (Emma Stone), a smart but overlooked high school student who fabricates a story about losing her virginity to get out of an awkward situation. This lie quickly spirals into a wildfire of gossip, with Olive now being known as the scandalous girl at school. She leans into the rumors by embracing her new image with humor and flair, sewing a scarlet “A” on her clothes in a nod to The Scarlet Letter.

Easy A shines thanks to Emma Stone’s star-making performance, which blends sarcasm, quick wit, and vulnerability. The script brims with clever dialogue, biting commentary on high school life, and exaggerated yet painfully accurate depictions of teenage gossip. With Olive’s self-aware narration, Olive also breaks the fourth wall to provide an entertaining commentary on her hilarious ordeal. The supporting cast, such as Stanley Tucci and Lisa Kudrow, also adds to the hilarity. Easy A is a modern teen classic that refreshes a classic source material and also delivers nonstop laughs.

2011: ‘Bridesmaids’

Bridesmaids follows Annie (Kristen Wiig), a woman whose life is already in shambles when her best friend Lillian (Maya Rudolph) asks her to be maid of honor. When Annie meets Lillian’s other bridesmaids, including the crass Megan (Melissa McCarthy) and the wealthy Helen (Rose Byrne), she becomes even more eager to rise to the occasion. But, she finds herself contending with Helen for Lillian’s attention, and so the mayhem ensues.

Bridesmaids is notable for being one of the very few comedies nominated at the Oscars for Best Original Screenplay. The film is incredibly funny for its fearless blend of raunchy humor, physical comedy, and sharp character dynamics. Kristen Wiig nails the awkwardness of a woman unraveling, while Melissa McCarthy’s unfiltered, unpredictable energy steals nearly every scene she’s in, resulting in her Best Supporting Actress nod at the Oscars. By balancing laugh-out-loud absurdity with genuine emotion, Bridesmaids became not just a comedy hit but also a cultural moment that proved female-led comedies could dominate the genre.

2012: ‘Ted’

Ted tells the story of John Bennett (Mark Wahlberg), whose childhood wish magically brings his teddy bear to life. Decades later, Ted (voiced by Seth MacFarlane) has grown into a foul-mouthed, hard-partying roommate, and their bond is as strong as ever. While John clings to his carefree friendship with Ted, his long-term girlfriend Lori (Mila Kunis) pushes him to take responsibility, forcing John to actually grow up and settle down.

The film may have a ridiculous premise, but Ted works because of its commitment, playing Ted’s raunchy antics completely straight against John’s relatable struggles. MacFarlane’s sharp timing and crude humor make Ted both shockingly inappropriate and irresistibly funny. One memorable sequence in the film is when Ted and John sing the “Thunder Buddies” song when they are afraid of the thunder. The whole movie shows contrast between the innocence of a childhood toy and the behavior of a reckless best friend, while clever pop-culture riffs and outrageous one-liners keep the laughs flowing. Ted has a sequel, a prequel series and soon, an animated series, voiced by Wahlberg and Macfarlane.

2013: ‘Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa’

Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa brings Steve Coogan’s infamous radio DJ to the big screen, where he has to mediate the station’s attempted takeover. When Alan’s colleague Pat (Colm Meaney) is fired because of his suggestion, he returns with a shotgun and takes the staff hostage, sparking a tense yet absurd standoff. Alan, ever the opportunist, steps in as an unlikely negotiator to boost his own public image and protect his career.

While the character Alan Partridge may be much more renowned in the UK because of his appearances in BBC shows since the 1990s, the film’s standalone nature makes it easy for general audiences to watch. The humor comes from Alan Partridge’s complete lack of self-awareness. Audiences who love British humor, like the original version of The Office, would enjoy this. Steve Coogan plays him as a man so desperate for relevance and validation that he exploits a hostage situation for personal gain, turning every moment into a cringeworthy comedy version of Die Hard. The film mines laughs from Alan’s vanity and missteps, all while satirizing media sensationalism. It’s both absurd and razor-sharp, and still criminally underseen outside of Coogan’s home country.

2014: ’22 Jump Street’

22 Jump Street sees the return of undercover cops Schmidt (Jonah Hill) and Jenko (Channing Tatum) for a new mission, this time infiltrating a college to track down the supplier of a dangerous new drug. The premise mirrors their high school case from the first film, but college life throws them into new kinds of chaos, like fraternities and spring break parties. As they try to fit in, their partnership is tested, with Jenko bonding with the jocks and Schmidt drifting toward the outcasts.

The film is hilarious because it knows it’s a sequel and never stops making fun of itself for it. Phil Lord and Christopher Miller load the script with self-aware jokes about repetition and buddy-cop clichés, all while doubling down on the outrageous action and physical comedy. Hill and Tatum’s chemistry is the driving force of the film, with Schmidt’s insecurity and Jenko’s dim-witted enthusiasm bouncing off each other in perfect rhythm. By leaning into meta-humor while still delivering big, silly set pieces, 22 Jump Street manages to be both a parody of sequels and one of the funniest R-rated comedies of the decade.

2015: ‘What We Do in the Shadows’

What We Do in the Shadows is a mockumentary that follows four vampire roommates — Viago (Taika Waititi), Vladislav (Jermaine Clement), Deacon (Jonathan Brugh), and the ancient Petyr (Ben Fransham) — who live together in modern-day Wellington, New Zealand. The film chronicles their attempts to deal with everyday roommate issues like chores, paying rent, and arguing about who does the dishes, all while also navigating vampire-specific challenges like hunting victims or dressing for nights out without mirrors.

The comedy thrives because it blends the supernatural with the utterly mundane, creating humor out of the contrast between centuries-old vampires and the trivialities of flatmate life. The deadpan delivery, documentary style, and improvisational feel make even the most absurd scenarios feel natural. Waititi and Clement play their roles with perfect awkwardness, poking fun at gothic horror tropes while keeping the characters oddly lovable. It becomes a sharp parody of the vampire genre and also one of the funniest films ever. The film was a success that it was adapted into a TV series, which ran for six seasons.

2016: ‘Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping’

Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping follows Conner4Real (Andy Samberg), a former boy-band member turned solo pop sensation whose career unravels when his new album bombs. As Conner spirals into desperation, his entourage scrambles to salvage his reputation through outrageous publicity stunts, overblown concerts, and shameless product tie-ins. The film is structured like a typical musician documentary, with interviews from real celebrities, like DJ Khaled and Usher.

If you’ve seen The Lonely Island‘s musical numbers on SNL or YouTube, you can expect catchy, absurd songs in this film. The fake pop songs are laugh-out-loud funny, like “Equal Rights” and “Finest Girl,” also known as the Bin Laden song. The humor is relentless, as it skewers celebrity culture, from Conner’s tone-deaf lyrics to his attempts to stay relevant. Samberg’s commitment to playing Conner as both ridiculous and strangely sympathetic makes the comedy land even harder. It’s the modern update for music comedies like Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story, aimed at the social media crowd. The film, unfortunately, bombed at the box office, but it has quickly become a comedy cult classic.

2017: ‘Girls Trip’

Girls Trip centers on four lifelong friends, Ryan (Regina Hall), Sasha (Queen Latifah), Lisa (Jada Pinkett Smith), and Dina (Tiffany Haddish), who reunite for a wild weekend at the Essence Festival in New Orleans. Each one of them is grappling with personal struggles, from relationship troubles to career setbacks, but their getaway turns into an outrageous adventure of partying, bonding, and rediscovering their sisterhood.

The film is uproariously funny because it blends raunchy, over-the-top humor with genuine warmth. Haddish steals nearly every scene with her unfiltered antics, delivering some of the most memorable comedic moments of the decade, but the entire cast thrives on their natural chemistry. The comedy comes not only from outrageous physical comedy but also from the raw honesty in the women’s conversations. By celebrating friendship and female empowerment, Girls Trip manages to be both entertaining and refreshingly heartfelt, making it one of the standout comedies of the 2010s.

2018: ‘Game Night’

Game Night follows Max (Jason Bateman) and Annie (Rachel McAdams), a competitive couple who host regular game nights with their friends. One night, a typical evening of board games takes a chaotic turn when Max’s brother, Brooks (Kyle Chandler), stages an elaborate murder-mystery party. Brooks happens to be actually kidnapped by real criminals, and the group must bumble their way through increasingly dangerous situations under the belief that it’s all part of the game.

The film was a hit with audiences and critics because it’s a refreshing take on an action comedy. The cast’s chemistry, particularly Bateman and McAdams, is so electric that they managed to keep the jokes coming even with the fast-paced dialogue. Not to mention, there are also standout minor characters, like the neighbor played by Jesse Plemons, who’s constantly left out of the game and is obsessed with snacks. Game Night finds its humor in the twisty thriller scenario and numerous sight and physical gags. By mixing a slick action-mystery plot, Game Night is arguably the most inventive comedy of the decade.

2019: ‘Booksmart’

Booksmart centers on best friends Molly (Beanie Feldstein) and Amy (Kaitlyn Dever), two overachieving high school seniors who realize they’ve spent their entire teenage years focusing on their grades while their classmates managed to have fun and still get into good colleges. Determined to make up for lost time, they go on a wild all-nighter to attend the biggest graduation bash.

This feature, the directing debut from Olivia Wilde, is hilarious for its relatable scenarios and energetic humor. It strikes the perfect balance between raunchy comedy and heartfelt coming-of-age story. The duo of Dever and Feldstein has impeccable chemistry that makes every scene work, and audiences immediately connect with them. Its humor is even heightened by the characters’ social anxiety and overcompensation, which are all very understandable and relatable. Booksmart is not only one of the most critically acclaimed comedies in recent memory, but also one of the defining teen comedies of the 21st century.