Top 10 Funny Movie Funerals

It’s common for people to make a scene at a funeral. We’ll take all the crying widows in the world over this incident from “Bad Grandpa,” though. The cringe-inducing comedy keeps piling on as the newly single Irving argues with his daughter, she tries to steal her late mother’s necklace, and they knock over the corpse. While we should feel bad for the deceased and the petrified, unsuspecting choir, all we can do is laugh as Irving breaks out the tambourine in an attempt to salvage the service through song.

Alan is full of surprises, which is why he’s constantly getting mixed up in crazy shenanigans. His reckless lifestyle contributes to his father’s fatal heart attack in the third “Hangover” picture. The character is full of nice surprises too, however, like his angelic voice when he sings. It’s mind-boggling and hilarious to think such a heavenly sound could come from such a messed up soul. What’s even more hilarious is the eulogy that follows, in which Alan insults his family, vows never to change, and caps things off with a selfie.

There comes a time when every veteran needs to admit defeat and retire. Real Admiral Thomas ‘Tug’ Benson demonstrates that his best years are clearly behind him in “Hot Shots!” when he mistakes a gun salute for enemy fire. Taking cover behind a coffin, Tug turns the graveyard into a battlefield with people running for their lives and diving into ponds. Seriously, who brings a grenade to a funeral? Tug might have been past his prime as a solider, but Lloyd Bridges was at his peak as a comedic actor.

Derek Zoolander is probably the only person who can say he lost his three best friends in a freak gasoline fight accident. Dressed in fashionable white where everybody else wears appropriate black attire, the male model salutes his fallen “brothers.” Even at a funeral, however, Derek still gets upstaged by that damn Hansel, who, as Mugatu notes, is so hot right now. As ridiculous as the circumstances might be, it’s hard not to feel empathy for the puppy-dog eyed Derek. Hopefully he’ll find some clarity at the after-funeral party.

This scene is a bit like the funeral from “The Hangover Part III,” which was also directed by Todd Phillips. “Old School” not only did this bit first; it did it funnier too. In one of the most uproarious film edits you’ll ever see, we jump from the elderly Blue getting the greatest thrill of his life to his fraternity brothers mourning his sudden death. While a sobbing Frank the Tank sings “Dust in the Wind,” Beanie gets in on the dark comedy as he tries to comfort Mitch with unsuccessful results.

“Scary Movie 3” isn’t exactly a smart comedy, but it does have several bits that will make anybody laugh themselves stupid. This scene is as hysterical as it is idiotic, which says a lot. Mistaking the meaning of “a wake,” George attempts to revive Brenda’s stiff body. There are too many great visual gags to count with George giving Brenda mouth to mouth, Mahalik somehow punching Brenda’s panties off, and her cadaver ultimately being electrocuted to pieces. Brenda’s mother’s mortified reactions are a particular highlight while all hell breaks loose.

A wedding may seem like the best place to pick up single ladies for a one-night stand. In “Wedding Crashers,” however, Will Ferrell’s Chazz enlightens Owen Wilson’s John about the true hotspot to take advantage of horny women: A cemetery. Although he doesn’t know the departed, Chazz bawls louder than anybody else at the funeral. In between weeps, he sends his new protégé a couple of crude, yet priceless, gestures. John meanwhile couldn’t feel more uncomfortable, but at least he walks away with a new outlook on life and death.

Nobody wanted to see Donny go in “The Big Lebowski,” but at least his death amounted to one of the funniest funerals in cinema. The Dude and Walter plan to scatter their friend’s ashes at the beach. Walter can’t resist talking about Vietnam, however, changing his eulogy’s subject. As a matter of fact, it’s unlikely Walter knew much about Donny except that he liked bowling. Walter continues to do a disservice to his friends as he empties Donny’s ashes from a Folgers can and the wind blows them into the Dude’s face.

As Ron Burgundy attempts to get the news team back together, he receives some heartbreaking news that Brick was lost at sea. Then, as if from nowhere, the brainless weatherman steps up to the podium and begins eulogizing himself. Everybody quickly goes from devastated to frustrated, attempting to open Brick’s eyes to the fact that he’s not quite dead yet. With memorable one-liners, surprises, and zero shame in being absurd, this scene is like something out of a classic “Saturday Night Live” sketch. Brick Tamland, swear that you’ll never die!

Before our top pick makes us laugh to death, here are a few honorable mentions:
- Falling Into Grave
“Meet the Browns” (2008)
- Closed Casket
“Mr. Deeds” (2002)
- Body Down the Manhole
“MouseHunt” (1997)
- Righteous Dude Called Jesus
“Heathers” (1988)

How could we deny this spot to an entire movie that turns death into a laugh riot? The filmmakers tackle every comedic possibility that can be derived from a funeral. The wrong body’s delivered, the coffin’s knocked over by a high guest, and the deceased is outed as a homosexual. On top of that, all the attendees are neurotic, bitter, and selfish, but still grieving in their own way. The film inspired an American remake, but just as you can’t reanimate the dead, you can’t recapture the original’s dark charm.

Do you agree with our list? What movie funerals had you laughing all the way to the mortician? For more entertaining Top 10s published every day, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.