Comedies and funny movies will be a very popular commodity in the near future in the film market. As people begin to face the economic consequences of the lockdown policy enacted in many countries, escapism and laughter will be in huge demand.
If you are thinking about making a film in the near future, make a film about subject matter that you are passionate about. Also, see if you can make that film into a comedy. If you help people to laugh and escape for a couple of hours, your film will be successful in the upcoming market.
As the old Hollywood adage goes, make people laugh and cry and your film may well be a hit film.
Here are a list of the top 10 biggest box office comedies of all time.
- “Mrs. Doubtfire” (1993) $452 million (adjusted)
$219.1 million – unadjusted
Robin Williams plays the role of a father who decides to dress up as an elderly female housekeeper to spend more time with his children while in the midst of a nasty divorce. This was such a crowd pleaser and a film most people saw.
- “M*A*S*H” (1970) — $460.6 million (adjusted)
20th Century Fox
$81.6 million – unadjusted
Before the hit TV show, it was a hit movie from director Robert Altman. It was an arthouse style film that became a box office success. A classic that had a dry sharp humour that ultimately came the very successful TV series.
- “It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World” (1963) — $462.2 million (adjusted)
United Artists
$46.3 million – unadjusted
An oldie film that still plays well today.
- “Smokey and the Bandit” (1977) — $487.6 million (adjusted)
Universal Pictures
$126.7 million – unadjusted
The film is about a hotshot driver trying to get beer across the Georgia border. It came a huge box office success and made Burt Reynolds into a big star of the 70S
- “Tootsie” (1982) — $488.2 million (adjusted)
Columbia Pictures
$177.2 million – unadjusted
I loved the film at the time and remember seeing it on opening week. Dustin Hoffman plays an out of work actor that nobody will hire, who decides to dress as a woman and becomes a soap opera star. Sydney Pollock (pictured) directed the film and also acted. Hilarious and worth a watch today.
- “Nation Lampoon’s Animal House” (1978) — $513.8 million (adjusted)
Universal
$141.6 million – unadjusted
A College film that really pushed the envelope at the time. John Belushi became a big star as a result of this film. Soon after, he died of a drug overdose in a bungalow at Chateau Marmont hotel in Hollywood.
- “Blazing Saddles” (1974) — $542.5 million (adjusted)
$119.6 million – unadjusted
Another classic that never gets old is Mel Brooks’ Western comedy. For better or worse, this is the movie that paved the way for the gross-out genre. It played for over a year in the cinemas
- “Beverly Hills Cop” (1984) — $576.1 million (adjusted)
Paramount
$234.7 million – unadjusted
After being a popular star on “Saturday Night Live,” Eddie Murphy’s first leading-man movie was this action-comedy that made him one of the biggest stars of the 1980s.
- “Home Alone” (1990) — $581.1 million (adjusted)
$285.7 million – unadjusted
A film that came a Christmas time favourite and made Macaulay Culkin very famous as the kid left behind.
- “Ghostbusters” (1984) — $610.6 million (adjusted)
Columbia Pictures
$242.2 million – unadjusted
The original “Ghostbusters” is still one of the biggest hit comedies. Four inept guys create a business busting ghosts. A real crowd pleaser.
Please see the video below for a different take.
