Top 10 Rewatchable Comedy Movies We Thought Would BOMB

Top 10 Most Rewatchable Comedy Movies We Originally Thought Would Flop

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the comedy movies that we thought would be forgettable, but years after their release, we can’t stop watching.

#10: “Blockers” (2018)

“Blockers” sounded like an outright disaster. It’s a sex comedy, which aren’t often critical darlings. It was directed by a writer/producer making her directorial debut, so things were likely to be rough around the edges. It starred John Cena, which seemed more like a meme than anything else. And even the title itself is derived from a dirty term. But the movie ended up being adored - not only for its humor, but also for its themes and tone. It flipped the teen sex comedy on its head by focusing on the parents, and it treats the characters with empathy and respect, lending the story an undeniable sweetness. These are people, not caricatures, and that is all too rare within the genre.

#9: “Good Boys” (2019)

On paper, a film about three middle school boys replacing a drone and going to a party doesn’t seem like it has much going for it. However, “Good Boys” proved that a simple premise doesn’t have to drag the final product down whatsoever. Equal parts chaotic misadventures and heartwarming moments, it ended up being a touching story about growing up and apart from childhood friends. While adults writing for kids can often come across as out of touch, the dialogue and modern references were both handled perfectly, creating the ultimate Gen Z coming-of-age flick. Between drug deals gone wrong and adult situations being seen through the eyes of innocent kids,”Good Boys” hits a perfect sweet spot between wholesome and hysterical.

#8: “Girls Trip” (2017)

Deft direction and a strong cast can turn a standard comedic premise into a really good movie. And as premises go, a group of friends going on a road trip is about as standard as you can get. But Regina Hall, Queen Latifah, Tiffany Haddish and Jada Pinkett Smith made their characters believable and fresh - with Haddish stealing the show as the hilarious Dina. Their friendship felt so real that audiences were only too happy to laugh along with them, and “Girl’s Trip” was a huge critical and commercial success. The result: a trip that’s surprisingly fun to take.

#7: “Hot Tub Time Machine” (2010)

Thanks to that silly title, audiences knew exactly what they were getting into. This sounded like just another goofy “guy comedy” that would come and go without much fanfare. Even the lead billing of John Cusack seemed questionable, as he’s not really the type of actor audiences would expect to lead a movie like this. But the script was surprisingly dexterous and intelligent, using its main characters as targets of satire. The characters were also far richer than anyone thought they would be: everyone was well-cast, and the sci-fi flick often leaned into its own ridiculousness. These aren’t things viewers typically see in a gross-out comedy such as this, and it took critics and audiences by surprise.

#6: “Spy” (2015)

The spy genre is one of the most easily-spoofed. As such, audiences have been given countless spy parodies throughout the years, with seemingly diminishing returns. But the winning magic of Paul Feig and Melissa McCarthy resulted in what is arguably the freshest and funniest spy spoof in recent memory. Much of the praise stems from Feig’s writing-directing and McCarthy’s lead performance, but much can also be said for the supporting roles. Rose Byrne’s comedic timing and line delivery are spot on, and Jason Statham provides a self-aware performance that was gleefully outlandish and surprisingly hilarious. “Spy” made the spoof genre funny again.

#5: “Game Night” (2018)

The premise seems simple: a competitive couple participate in a game night with their friends, and unusual hijinks ensue. But despite sounding like a cookie-cutter comedy, this 2018 film is far from it. Instead, the team behind “Horrible Bosses” delivers enough twists and turns to keep the audience constantly guessing. The charismatic ensemble cast manages the difficult trick of keeping viewers on the edge of their seats, while also making them laugh. With popular party games incorporated into the characters’ attempts to foil a kidnapping, this is genuinely a game night to remember!

#4: “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle” (2017)

The original “Jumanji” starring Robin Williams is a classic, so audiences could have been forgiven for viewing this belated sequel with trepidation. But with a fresh modern twist on the premise, it was a surprisingly fun and side-splitting movie. While in 1995’s “Jumanji,” a brother and sister get sucked into a board game, “Welcome to the Jungle” puts an entirely new cast inside a video game instead. Dwayne Johnson, Jack Black, Karen Gillan and Kevin Hart all give great performances and the fast-paced comedic action really works. It’s since spawned a sequel of its own and is poised to become a franchise.

#3: “Paddington” (2014)

This ended up being the very definition of not judging a book by its cover – or in this case, a movie by its trailer. When “Paddington” was first announced, many assumed it would end up like others focused around CGI animals – largely forgettable. The promotions didn’t help either, as they focused on physical comedy rather than jokes. However, “Paddington” ended up defying all preconceived notions. The quips were charming and wholesome, and the human cast played perfectly off the animated bear. While it’s undoubtedly made for children, the plot wasn’t dumbed down in the slightest, which led to adults enjoying it. “Paddington” serves as proof that just because something is made for kids, doesn’t mean it can’t be funny as well.

#2: “Bridesmaids” (2011)

“Bridesmaids” was a monumental success, effortlessly crossing demographics and grossing nearly $300 million worldwide. The movie could be enjoyed by anyone, as it deftly mixed seemingly disparate genres. It was a raunchy comedy, a sentimental chick flick, and a touching buddy story, with each aspect given equal importance. It wasn’t just a “gross-out comedy with women” as it was so often billed. It was also an intelligently written and wonderfully performed film that took an honest look at its characters’ lives and situations, crafting rich and mature themes amongst all the farting, puking, and pooping. It also helped launch Melissa McCarthy’s comedy career, which led to future Feig-McCarthy collabs like “The Heat” and “Spy.”

#1: “21 Jump Street” (2012)

Turning an old TV show into a big screen action comedy has been done so many times that it’s about as commonplace as ... well, as the undercover cop trope. Phil Lord and Christopher Miller’s adaptation of “21 Jump Street” involves both those things, yet it turned out to be incredibly entertaining - in no small part thanks to the on-screen chemistry between Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum. It also had solid character development, just the right amount of self-referential humor, and one hell of a comedy- and action-packed limo chase. In fact, the movie was such a hit that it spawned a solid sequel and ALMOST a “Men in Black” crossover.

Which comedy movie do you find most rewatchable? Let us know in the comments!