Top 10 Comedy Movies: 1970s

Sports and comedy are a perfect combination and this film is solid proof of that. Walter Matthau is the show runner here and he’s just as surly and sarcastic as ever. The heart of “The Bad News Bears” is in his relationship with the ragtag bunch of kids who make up the baseball team. Everyone plays his or her role to perfection and Matthau’s relationship with the only girl on the team is oh-so-sweet, despite the movie’s hard exterior.

When fight-oriented hockey was at its peak in the 1970s, this movie skated up to poke loving fun at the players and fans that thought violence was more important than good clean fun. Starring Paul Newman and Michael Ontkean, “Slap Shot” proves to be both hilarious and action-packed at the same time. It’s fun, vulgar and everything you’d want from a hockey flick. The movie even inspired its own genre of slapstick sports comedies that continues to endure today.

Considered by many to be Woody Allen’s best film, “Annie Hall” is a heartfelt story of two people who can’t seem to commit to their relationship. The comedy comes from the little instances and arguments found in all relationships, along with the injections of neuroticism and biting social commentary that Allen has come to be known for. While not an all-out slapstick, it’s definitely a romantic comedy with a fair bit of hilariousness, especially in the scenes where Woody Allen breaks the fourth wall.

If you want a great summer teen comedy without some of the more risqué elements usually associated with the genre, then this is the movie for you. In his first starring role, Bill Murray is memorable as Tripper, a zany camp counselor that everyone comes to love. “Meatballs” strays from the sexy tactics used in teen movies and opts instead for a more heartfelt approach. While it’s still one of the funniest movies from the ‘70s, it also offers thoughtful commentary on the inevitable end of summer.

Mel Brooks is at it again and this time he’s taking on all the classic horror films. Gene Wilder and Peter Boyle give knee-slapping performances as Dr. Frankenstein (pronounced Fronk-en-Steen) and his abominable creation in “Young Frankenstein.” They are joined by comedy legends Madeline Kahn, Marty Feldman and Cloris Leachman as well as many others to deliver a transcendent comedy classic that is still praised to this day.

As far as stoner comedies go, this one was one of the first to break ground in the genre. The big screen debut of stage comedians Cheech and Chong, “Up in Smoke” was quick to become a cult classic that would define a generation of pot smokers. While the storyline isn’t particularly deep, the film more than makes up for it with its comedy sequences.

Steve Martin makes with the funny in this surrealist comedy about the adopted white son of an African-American family who sets out to find his true purpose in life. The film doesn’t stop for a single second to let the audience catch its breath and Martin pulls out all the comedic stops to make sure this is the case. “The Jerk” takes sharp left turns almost everywhere and brings you into scene after scene of delightful hilarity. Martin even takes time out to serenade us with some of his musical stylings.

This Mel Brooks classic was one of the first in a long line of spoof comediesthat kicked off the legendary director’s career. A lampoon of old cowboy westerns, “Blazing Saddles” takes all the tropes and clichés and lovingly pokes fun at them while delivering a satisfying comedy chalk full of visual gags, wordy puns and hilarious dialogue. Fart jokes find their place alongside biting political satire and the combination makes for a constantly re-watchable classic.

Widely regarded as the epitome of teen sex comedies, “National Lampoon’s Animal House” undoubtedly set a precedent for the gross-out movies that followed and imitated it. With characters like the crusty old Dean Wormer and the fun-loving frat boy Otter, later teen comedies took their cues from this John Landis flick. While the laughs come from both lowbrow and more sophisticated comedy, the highlight has gotta be John Belushi’s performance as the simple-yet dedicated Bluto.

Before we unveil our pick for Comedy of the 1970s, here are a few honorable mentions:
- “Harold and Maude” (1971)
- “Return of the Pink Panther” (1975)
- “The Out-of-Towners” (1970)
- “Sleeper“ (1973)

Monty Python loves to lampoon history, and they did it again with “Life of Brian.” However, it’s “The Holy Grail” that’s our pick for their greatest comedy achievement. Starting from the memorable opening shot, the movie does offer some of the Python gang’s trademark stream of consciousness comedy but under a more unified theme, and it’s replete with simple sight gags and intellectual humor. The film has deservedly become a classic and the lines have been endlessly re-quoted by comedy aficionados everywhere. King Arthur and his knights are mercilessly ridiculed with the Middle Ages becoming a backdrop for one of the bestcomedies of all time.

Do you agree with our list? What’s your favorite 1970s comedy? For more hilarious Top 10s published daily, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.