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The Best 90s Comedies

Slacker cult objects, dark farces and one Italian fable — the 1990s comedies that entered the canon, ranked by composite score.

Pulp Fiction (1994) leads with a composite score of 5.76. Top 100 of 254 films in our library.

Part of The Best Comedies of All Time — the 1990s →

Masters of the genre

  1. 1
    Pulp Fiction1994 · Quentin Tarantino · United States · crime, drama, thriller
    5.76

    Palme d'Or winner 1994 · Empire 500 (2008) #9 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 1994

  2. 2
    Shakespeare in Love1998 · John Madden · United Kingdom / United States · comedy, romance, drama
    3.77

    Oscar Best Picture winner 1998 · BAFTA Best Film winner 1999 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1999 #1

  3. 3
    Forrest Gump1994 · Robert Zemeckis · United States · comedy, drama, romance
    3.45

    Oscar Best Picture winner 1994 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1995 #4 · AFI 100 (2007) #76

  4. 4
    Underground1995 · Emir Kusturica · France / Germany / Bulgaria · comedy, drama, war
    3.13

    Palme d'Or winner 1995 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1996 #3 · Kehr's annual top 10 1995 #2

  5. 5
    Sense and Sensibility1995 · Ang Lee · United Kingdom / United States · drama, romance, comedy
    3.08

    BAFTA Best Film winner 1996 · Berlin Golden Bear winner 1996 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 1995

  6. 6
    Fargo1996 · Joel Coen, Ethan Coen · United States / United Kingdom · crime, drama, film-noir
    3.02

    Ebert's annual top 10 1996 #1 · Siskel's annual top 10 1996 #1 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 1996

  7. 7
    Barton Fink1991 · Joel Coen, Ethan Coen · United States / United Kingdom · film-noir, comedy, drama
    2.98

    Palme d'Or winner 1991 · Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 1991 #3 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1992 #5

  8. 8
    Life Is Beautiful1997 · Roberto Benigni · Italy · comedy, drama
    2.80

    Cannes Grand Prix winner 1998 · TIFF People's Choice winner 1998 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 1998

  9. 9
    American Beauty1999 · Sam Mendes · United States · comedy, drama
    2.74

    Oscar Best Picture winner 1999 · BAFTA Best Film winner 2000 · TIFF People's Choice winner 1999

  10. 10
    The Full Monty1997 · Peter Cattaneo · United Kingdom / United States · comedy, drama
    2.62

    BAFTA Best Film winner 1998 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 1997 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1998 #5

  11. 11
    The Story of Qiu Ju1992 · Zhang Yimou · China · comedy, drama
    2.30

    Venice Golden Lion winner 1992 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1993 #2 · Sarris's annual top 10 1993 #1

  12. 12
    All About My Mother1999 · Pedro Almodóvar · France / Spain · comedy, drama
    2.16

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2000 #2 · Kehr's annual top 10 1999 #1 · Sight & Sound 2022 critics' poll #157

  13. 13
    Short Cuts1993 · Robert Altman · United States · comedy, drama
    2.16

    Venice Golden Lion winner 1993 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1994 #3 · Siskel's annual top 10 1993 #2

  14. 14
    Miller's Crossing1990 · Ethan Coen, Joel Coen · United States · film-noir, crime, drama
    2.13

    Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 1991 #2 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1991 #3 · TIME All-TIME 100

  15. 15
    Four Weddings and a Funeral1994 · Mike Newell · United Kingdom · comedy, romance, drama
    2.10

    BAFTA Best Film winner 1995 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 1994 · BFI Top 100 British films #23

  16. 16
    Shall We Dance?1996 · Masayuki Suo · Japan · comedy, drama
    2.07

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (Japanese) 1996 #1 · Japan Academy Prize winner 1997 · Sarris's annual top 10 1997 #2

  17. 17
    Chungking Express1994 · Wong Kar-wai · Hong Kong, China · comedy, drama, romance
    1.92

    Sight & Sound 2022 critics' poll #88 · Hoberman's annual top 10 1994 #2 · TIME All-TIME 100

  18. 18
    Cyrano de Bergerac1990 · Jean-Paul Rappeneau · France · romance, drama, comedy
    1.86

    César Best Film winner 1991 · TIFF People's Choice winner 1990 · Empire 500 (2008) #143

  19. 19
    My Sons1991 · Yōji Yamada · Japan · comedy, romance
    1.75

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (Japanese) 1991 #1 · Japan Academy Prize winner 1992

  20. 20
    Sumo Do, Sumo Don't1992 · Masayuki Suo · Japan · comedy
    1.75

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (Japanese) 1992 #1 · Japan Academy Prize winner 1993

  21. 21
    Wild at Heart1990 · David Lynch · United States · crime, drama, romance
    1.61

    Palme d'Or winner 1990 · Edgar Wright's 1,000 favorite movies

  22. 22
    Being John Malkovich1999 · Spike Jonze · United States · comedy, drama, fantasy
    1.59

    Ebert's annual top 10 1999 #1 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2000 #7 · Empire 500 (2008) #441

  23. 23
    Rushmore1998 · Wes Anderson · United States · comedy, drama
    1.48

    Kehr's annual top 10 1998 #1 · National Film Registry (inducted 2016) · Empire 500 (2008) #175

  24. 24
    Beauty and the Beast1991 · Gary Trousdale, Kirk Wise · United States · romance, musical, comedy
    1.46

    Oscar Best Picture nominee 1991 · Ebert's annual top 10 1991 #3 · National Film Registry (inducted 2002)

  25. 25
    Groundhog Day1993 · Harold Ramis · United States · comedy, romance, drama
    1.45

    National Film Registry (inducted 2006) · Kehr's annual top 10 1993 #5 · Empire 500 (2008) #259

  26. 26
    Toy Story1995 · John Lasseter · United States · fantasy, adventure, comedy
    1.41

    Siskel's annual top 10 1995 #2 · AFI 100 (2007) #99 · Empire 500 (2008) #99

  27. 27
    Ed Wood1994 · Tim Burton · United States · biography, drama, comedy
    1.41

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1995 #5 · Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 1995 #8 · Siskel's annual top 10 1994 #3

  28. 28
    Mother1996 · Albert Brooks · United States · comedy, drama
    1.29

    Sarris's annual top 10 1996 #1 · Kehr's annual top 10 1996 #2 · NYT Best 1,000 Movies

  29. 29
    Thelma & Louise1991 · Ridley Scott · United States / United Kingdom / France · comedy, drama, crime
    1.29

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1991 #4 · National Film Registry (inducted 2016) · NYT Best 1,000 Movies

  30. 30
    The Commitments1991 · Alan Parker · United Kingdom / United States / Ireland · musical, drama, comedy
    1.28

    BAFTA Best Film winner 1992 · BFI Top 100 British films #38

  31. 31
    Through the Olive Trees1994 · Abbas Kiarostami · France / Iran · comedy, drama
    1.26

    Kehr's annual top 10 1995 #1 · Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 1995 #9 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1994 #9

  32. 32
    Same Old Song1997 · Alain Resnais · France / United Kingdom / Switzerland · comedy, romance, musical
    1.25

    César Best Film winner 1998 · Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 1997 #6 · Sarris's annual top 10 1999 #10

  33. 33
    The Hairdresser's Husband1990 · Patrice Leconte · France · drama, romance, comedy
    1.23

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1991 #6 · Kehr's annual top 10 1992 #4 · Sarris's annual top 10 1992 #6

  34. 34
    The Wedding Banquet1993 · Ang Lee · United States / Taiwan, China · comedy, romance, drama
    1.23

    Berlin Golden Bear winner 1993 · National Film Registry (inducted 2023)

  35. 35
    Smoking/No Smoking1993 · Alain Resnais · France / Italy · drama, comedy
    1.18

    César Best Film winner 1994 · Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 1993 #4

  36. 36
    Caro diario1993 · Nanni Moretti · Italy / France · drama, comedy
    1.14

    Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 1994 #1 · Kehr's annual top 10 1994 #null

  37. 37
    Terminator 2: Judgment Day1991 · James Cameron · United States · action, thriller, sci-fi
    1.14

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1991 #8 · Empire 500 (2008) #35 · National Film Registry (inducted 2023)

  38. 38
    Larks on a String1990 · Jiří Menzel · Czechoslovakia · comedy
    1.14

    Berlin Golden Bear winner 1990 · Hoberman's annual top 10 1991 #11

  39. 39
    Autumn Tale1998 · Éric Rohmer · France · comedy, romance, drama
    1.13

    Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 1998 #3 · Kehr's annual top 10 1999 #2 · Sarris's annual top 10 1999 #2

  40. 40
    Reservoir Dogs1992 · Quentin Tarantino · United States · crime, thriller, drama
    1.11

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1993 #6 · Kehr's annual top 10 1992 #3 · Empire 500 (2008) #97

  41. 41
    The Truman Show1998 · Peter Weir · United States · sci-fi, comedy, drama
    1.10

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1998 #3 · National Film Registry (inducted 2025) · Siskel's annual top 10 1998 #5

  42. 42
    The Fisher King1991 · Terry Gilliam · United States · fantasy, comedy, drama
    1.08

    TIFF People's Choice winner 1991 · NYT Best 1,000 Movies · Criterion Collection spine #764

  43. 43
    Antonia's Line1995 · Marleen Gorris · Netherlands · comedy, drama
    1.07

    TIFF People's Choice winner 1995 · Sarris's annual top 10 1996 #2

  44. 44
    Dr. Akagi1998 · Shohei Imamura · Japan / France · comedy, drama
    1.06

    Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 1998 #2 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (Japanese) 1998 #4

  45. 45
    The Match Factory Girl1990 · Aki Kaurismäki · Finland / Sweden · comedy, drama
    1.01

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1991 #7 · Hoberman's annual top 10 1992 #4 · NYT Best 1,000 Movies

  46. 46
    Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead1990 · Tom Stoppard · United Kingdom · comedy, drama
    1.00

    Venice Golden Lion winner 1990

  47. 47
    Ridicule1996 · Patrice Leconte · France · comedy, drama
    1.00

    César Best Film winner 1997 · Sarris's annual top 10 1996 #3

  48. 48
    Topsy-Turvy1999 · Mike Leigh · United Kingdom · biography, musical, comedy
    0.98

    Hoberman's annual top 10 1999 #3 · Sarris's annual top 10 1999 #3 · Empire 500 (2008) #481

  49. 49
    Jerry Maguire1996 · Cameron Crowe · United States · romance, comedy, drama
    0.97

    Oscar Best Picture nominee 1996 · Kehr's annual top 10 1996 #6 · Empire 500 (2008) #420

  50. 50
    As Good as It Gets1997 · James L. Brooks · United States · comedy, romance, drama
    0.93

    Oscar Best Picture nominee 1997 · Empire 500 (2008) #140 · Siskel's annual top 10 1997 #10

  51. 51
    The Swindle1997 · Claude Chabrol · France / Switzerland · crime, comedy
    0.89

    San Sebastián Golden Shell winner 1997 · Sarris's annual top 10 1998 #null

  52. 52
    Life Is Sweet1990 · Mike Leigh · United Kingdom · drama, comedy
    0.83

    BFI Top 100 British films #95 · NYT Best 1,000 Movies · Ebert's annual top 10 1991 #7

  53. 53
    Happiness1998 · Todd Solondz · United States · comedy, drama
    0.81

    Ebert's annual top 10 1998 #5 · Kehr's annual top 10 1998 #6 · NYT Best 1,000 Movies

  54. 54
    The Watermelon Woman1996 · Cheryl Dunye · United States · comedy, drama, romance
    0.80

    Sight & Sound 2022 critics' poll #146 · National Film Registry (inducted 2021) · Criterion Collection spine #1184

  55. 55
    The Nightmare Before Christmas1993 · Henry Selick · United States · musical, fantasy, comedy
    0.79

    Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 1994 #5 · National Film Registry (inducted 2023) · Empire 500 (2008) #327

  56. 56
    Trust1990 · Hal Hartley · United States · comedy, romance, drama
    0.78

    Sarris's annual top 10 1991 #1 · NYT Best 1,000 Movies · Edgar Wright's 1,000 favorite movies

  57. 57
    A Tale of Springtime1990 · Éric Rohmer · France · comedy, drama
    0.75

    Sarris's annual top 10 1990 #1 · Sarris's annual top 10 1992 #3

  58. 58
    Letters from Alou1990 · Montxo Armendáriz · Spain · drama, comedy
    0.75

    San Sebastián Golden Shell winner 1990

  59. 59
    Johnny Suede1991 · Tom DiCillo · United States · comedy, romance, musical
    0.75

    Locarno Golden Leopard winner 1991

  60. 60
    Other People's Money1991 · Norman Jewison · United States · comedy, romance, drama
    0.75

    César Best Film winner 1979

  61. 61
    Autumn Moon1992 · Clara Law · Japan · comedy, romance
    0.75

    Locarno Golden Leopard winner 1992

  62. 62
    In the Soup1992 · Alexandre Rockwell · United States · comedy, drama
    0.75

    Sundance Grand Jury Prize winner 1992

  63. 63
    Strictly Ballroom1992 · Baz Luhrmann · Australia · comedy, romance
    0.75

    TIFF People's Choice winner 1992

  64. 64
    The Snapper1993 · Stephen Frears · United Kingdom / Ireland · comedy, drama
    0.75

    TIFF People's Choice winner 1993

  65. 65
    What Happened Was1994 · Tom Noonan · United States · comedy, romance, drama
    0.75

    Sundance Grand Jury Prize winner 1994

  66. 66
    The Brothers McMullen1995 · Edward Burns · United States · comedy, romance, drama
    0.75

    Sundance Grand Jury Prize winner 1995

  67. 67
    The Young Poisoner's Handbook1995 · Benjamin Ross · France / United Kingdom / Germany · comedy
    0.75

    Sundance Grand Jury Prize winner 1995

  68. 68
    Bwana1996 · Imanol Uribe · Spain · comedy, drama
    0.75

    San Sebastián Golden Shell winner 1996

  69. 69
    Wind with the Gone1998 · Alejandro Agresti · Argentina / France / Spain · comedy, drama
    0.75

    San Sebastián Golden Shell winner 1998

  70. 70
    Venus Beauty Institute1999 · Tonie Marshall · France · comedy, romance, drama
    0.75

    César Best Film winner 2000

  71. 71
    Husbands and Wives1992 · Woody Allen · United States · romance, comedy, drama
    0.74

    Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 1992 #4 · NYT Best 1,000 Movies · Sarris's annual top 10 1992 #11

  72. 72
    A League of Their Own1992 · Penny Marshall · United States · comedy, drama
    0.73

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1992 #7 · National Film Registry (inducted 2012) · NYT Best 1,000 Movies

  73. 73
    There's Something About Mary1998 · Peter Farrelly, Bobby Farrelly · United States · comedy, romance
    0.72

    Kehr's annual top 10 1998 #7 · Siskel's annual top 10 1998 #8 · Hoberman's annual top 10 1998 #null

  74. 74
    Nobody's Fool1994 · Robert Benton · United States · drama, comedy
    0.67

    Sarris's annual top 10 1994 #1 · NYT Best 1,000 Movies

  75. 75
    The White Balloon1994 · Jafar Panahi · Iran · comedy, drama
    0.67

    Sarris's annual top 10 1996 #1 · Kehr's annual top 10 1996 #7

  76. 76
    Babe: Pig in the City1998 · George Miller · Australia / United States · comedy, drama, fantasy
    0.67

    Siskel's annual top 10 1998 #1 · Ebert's annual top 10 1998 #7

  77. 77
    Babe1995 · Chris Noonan · Australia / United States · comedy, drama
    0.67

    Oscar Best Picture nominee 1995 · Siskel's annual top 10 1995 #4

  78. 78
    Conspirators of Pleasure1996 · Jan Švankmajer · United Kingdom / Czech Republic / Switzerland · comedy, action, animation
    0.64

    Hoberman's annual top 10 1997 #1 · Hoberman's annual top 10 1999 #null

  79. 79
    A Tale of Winter1992 · Éric Rohmer · France · comedy, drama
    0.64

    Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 1992 #8 · Sarris's annual top 10 1994 #5 · Roger Ebert's Great Movies

  80. 80
    Big Night1996 · Campbell Scott, Stanley Tucci · United States · drama, comedy
    0.64

    Kehr's annual top 10 1996 #4 · NYT Best 1,000 Movies · Ebert's annual top 10 1996 #10

  81. 81
    The Big Lebowski1998 · Joel Coen, Ethan Coen · United States / United Kingdom · comedy, crime, film-noir
    0.63

    Empire 500 (2008) #43 · National Film Registry (inducted 2014) · Roger Ebert's Great Movies

  82. 82
    For Ever Mozart1996 · Jean-Luc Godard · France · comedy, drama
    0.63

    Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 1996 #2

  83. 83
    Existenz1999 · David Cronenberg · Canada / United Kingdom / France · horror, sci-fi, thriller
    0.62

    Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 1999 #4 · Hoberman's annual top 10 1999 #5

  84. 84
    Naked1993 · Mike Leigh · United Kingdom · drama, comedy
    0.62

    Hoberman's annual top 10 1993 #6 · Kehr's annual top 10 1993 #7 · Criterion Collection spine #307

  85. 85
    Everyone Says I Love You1996 · Woody Allen · United States · comedy, romance, musical
    0.61

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1997 #10 · Sarris's annual top 10 1996 #7 · Ebert's annual top 10 1996 #8

  86. 86
    Clueless1995 · Amy Heckerling · United States · comedy, romance
    0.61

    National Film Registry (inducted 2025) · Sarris's annual top 10 1995 #4 · NYT Best 1,000 Movies

  87. 87
    Out of Sight1998 · Steven Soderbergh · United States · crime, comedy, romance
    0.61

    Sarris's annual top 10 1998 #2 · Empire 500 (2008) #326 · Edgar Wright's 1,000 favorite movies

  88. 88
    Fallen Angels1995 · Wong Kar-wai · Hong Kong, China · drama, romance, crime
    0.60

    Hoberman's annual top 10 1998 #2 · Hoberman's annual top 10 1999 #null · Sarris's annual top 10 1998 #null

  89. 89
    Kikujiro1999 · Takeshi Kitano · Japan · comedy, drama
    0.60

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (Japanese) 1999 #7 · Hoberman's annual top 10 2000 #9 · Rosenbaum's Essential Cinema

  90. 90
    Scream1996 · Wes Craven · United States · horror, comedy, mystery
    0.58

    Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 1997 #9 · Empire 500 (2008) #482 · Edgar Wright's 1,000 favorite movies

  91. 91
    Madadayo1993 · Akira Kurosawa · Japan · drama, comedy
    0.58

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (Japanese) 1993 #10 · Sarris's annual top 10 2000 #10 · Siskel's annual top 10 1998 #10

  92. 92
    Pleasantville1998 · Gary Ross · United States · comedy, drama, fantasy
    0.57

    Ebert's annual top 10 1998 #2 · Siskel's annual top 10 1998 #3

  93. 93
    What's Eating Gilbert Grape1993 · Lasse Hallström · United States · drama, comedy
    0.55

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1994 #5 · NYT Best 1,000 Movies

  94. 94
    Defending Your Life1991 · Albert Brooks · United States · comedy, romance, fantasy
    0.52

    Kehr's annual top 10 1991 #3 · Criterion Collection spine #1071 · Rosenbaum's Essential Cinema

  95. 95
    Irma Vep1996 · Olivier Assayas · France · comedy, drama
    0.52

    Hoberman's annual top 10 1997 #3 · Criterion Collection spine #1074 · Rosenbaum's Essential Cinema

  96. 96
    Metropolitan1990 · Whit Stillman · United States · comedy, drama
    0.52

    Sarris's annual top 10 1990 #5 · NYT Best 1,000 Movies · Criterion Collection spine #326

  97. 97
    Clerks1994 · Kevin Smith · United States · comedy, drama
    0.51

    National Film Registry (inducted 2019) · Empire 500 (2008) #361 · Edgar Wright's 1,000 favorite movies

  98. 98
    La Discrète1990 · Christian Vincent · France · comedy, drama
    0.50

    Sarris's annual top 10 1992 #1

  99. 99
    Passion Fish1992 · John Sayles · United States · comedy, drama
    0.50

    Sarris's annual top 10 1992 #1

  100. 100
    Bad Behaviour1993 · Les Blair · United Kingdom · comedy
    0.50

    Sarris's annual top 10 1993 #1

Slower burns, stranger shapes

Nineties comedy took the polished high-concept machine of the eighties and bent it into odder, more durable shapes. The decade's most canonized comedies were rarely its biggest openers; they were the films that grew in the culture for years after release. The Big Lebowski (1998) is the defining case: a commercial and critical shrug in March 1998 — sandwiched between the Coens' Oscar-winning Fargo and their next prestige project — that became the most quoted American comedy of its generation, spawned an annual festival, and entered the National Film Registry in 2014. The Registry's citation language ("cultural, historical, or aesthetic significance") is doing real work there: no institution ranked it highly in 1998, and every endurance-based measure ranks it now.

Groundhog Day (1993) ran the same arc at higher speed. Received as a solid Bill Murray vehicle, it was being cited within a decade by philosophers, theologians and screenwriting teachers as a nearly perfect narrative machine — a Buddhist parable smuggled inside a Harold Ramis studio comedy — and the Registry inducted it in 2006. Its premise has since become a genre of its own; "it's Groundhog Day" entered the language, which is the kind of canonical fact no box-office table records.

Comedy crosses borders

The decade also produced the rare comedy the international awards apparatus could not ignore: Roberto Benigni's Life Is Beautiful (1997), which took the Grand Prix at Cannes and then broke the Academy's foreign-language ceiling with a Best Picture nomination and Benigni's chair-climbing acceptance speech. The film remains genuinely contested — a comedy set inside the Holocaust divides critics to this day — but its canonical footprint is exactly the kind of cross-source fact this site exists to measure: festival jury, Academy, and popular memory all registering the same improbable object. Ranked by composite score, the nineties comedy shelf is short but heavy: films that institutions came to slowly and audiences never left.