Top 10 Sci-Fi Comedy Movies

A movie that fulfilled the fantasies of legions of unpopular teenagers, “Weird Science” sees a duo of outcasts use their computer hacking skills and a stray Barbie doll to create a beautiful woman whose sole purpose is to boost their confidence – and hopefully their popularity. Although director John Hughes was known for his quirky teen dramas, he plays for laughs here and the sci-fi elements serve to make it a unique take on the era of zits and awkward kisses. As a result, it became one of the most re-watchable teen comedies ever.

What would happen if a meteorite carrying incredibly deadly alien creatures crash-landed in the middle of a neighborhood in England? If Nick Frost were a resident of said neighborhood, hilarity would of course ensue. A group of young self-styled gangsters arms themselves after it becomes clear that their lives are in danger and set out to defend the block they call home against these predatory extra-terrestrials, with sci-fi elements and comedy gold showing up in equal measure. An instant cult classic, this attack is not to be missed.

The second Nick Frost film from 2011 on our list, “Paul” is the heartwarming tale of a ragtag group of comic book nerds and Christian fundamentalists who come together to protect a rough-around-the-edges alien from the authorities. Featuring some of the best comedic talents of the last decade, “Paul” had huge expectations to live up to and succeeded at every turn. Not only parodying the genre but also paying homage to it, this sci-fi comedy is so full of references that if you laugh too hard you might miss a few.

Scientists develop the technology to shrink a ship to a size so small it can travel inside the body of any life form. As this is a comedy, you know things go awry and the ship ends up inside the body of grocery store worker John Putter, played by Martin Short. The ship’s presence causes disturbances in Putter’s life that make people think he’s lost his mind. Playing out a somewhat traditional sci-fi premise, Short’s impeccable comedic timing and the unusual circumstances he’s in allow for huge laughs.

Nick Frost and Simon Pegg appear several times on this list for a reason: the duo specializes in the science fiction and fantasy comedy sub-genre, and they clearly share an affinity for the subject matter. In the third film of their “Three Flavours Cornetto” trilogy, pesky aliens who think they know what’s best for the human race spoil the reunion of five former best friends as they set off on a pub-crawl twenty years after their estrangement. As you might expect, that means drunken shenanigans, drunken brawls and, well, lots of drunkenness.

A film based on a comic book series that dramatizes the real-life accounts of several supposed UFO witnesses who claim to’ve been questioned by men dressed in black suits, “Men in Black”’s stars embody the concept of sci-fi humor. Will Smith’s comedy chops are undeniable and Tommy Lee Jones serves as the perfect science fiction mentor and straight man who shepherds our hero through a strange new world that happens to exist on Earth. With great effects and a great script, this blockbuster appealed both to sci-fi fans and to newbies of the genre.

When most people think about science fiction, Woody Allen is not a name that immediately jumps to mind. In this movie, Allen tells a story with the observational comedy style he’s known for, but sets it 200-years in the future. Unlike many other sci-fi movies, which often feature awesome adventures or epic quests, Allen’s man-out-of-time spends most of the movie commenting on the weird circumstances he finds himself in or masquerading as a helper robot. Paying tribute to sci-fi classics that preceded it; this flick is a tribute that cinephiles will get a kick out of.

famous line (end of movie): "Sex and death. Two things that come once in a lifetime. But at least after death you're not nauseous."

He’s Bill S. Preston Esquire and he’s Ted “Theodore” Logan and together they are Wyld Stallyns! Even though Bill and Ted may not be the brightest characters ever to hit the big screen, their endless joy and enthusiasm are infectious. George Carlin’s Rufus takes these two high school metal heads on a journey across time to help them study for a history test, ensuring their graduation and the future of the world, which achieves peace in the future due to the music of the Wyld Stallyns. Most triumphant!

This movie centers on the cast of a sci-fi television show (that has an uncanny resemblance to “Star Trek”) that suddenly finds themselves thrust into a real-world conflict between two alien species. Thrown into a world where the fiction they performed in is turned into reality, the charm of early sci-fi’s cheesy ideas about science is undeniable. Featuring stellar comedic performances from the likes of Sam Rockwell, Alan Rickman, Tony Shalhoub, sci-fi mainstay Sigourney Weaver and many others, this “Quest” is one that will enthrall almost any audience.

Before we get to our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions:
- “Dark Star” (1974)
- “The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension!” (1984)
- “The Absent-Minded Professor” (1961)
- “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” (2005)
- “Idiocracy” (2006)

Mel Brooks is such a respected comedic writer and director that when he set out to spoof the “Star Wars” franchise, he actually received permission from George Lucas to do so. And the result was an absolute comedy classic. By keeping the story as close to the original as possible, with references to several other sci-fi standards, he ensures that the affection audiences had already developed for their favorite characters resonated. By then twisting all of the elements we know and love in brilliant ways, “Spaceballs” became our pick for the best sci-fi comedy ever.

Do you agree with our list? What’s your favorite sci-fi comedy? For more galactic Top 10s published daily, be sure to subscribe to Watchmojo.com