Happy 4th! Get Ready for Fireworks with the 15 Most Comical Explosions in Film and TV

This holiday weekend is sure to be filled with fireworks up the wazoo and movie marathons running films like Independence Day and Apocalypse Now that feature the most ultimate explosions in cinematic history. Both fireworks and explosions are, of course, very patriotic (as you will be, too, as you drink from that American flag-themed can of Budweiser and listen to your burger sizzle on the grill). But what about the funniest explosions? You know, those bursts of peril that made you howl? We came up with the 15 most comical explosions in film and TV from darkly hilarious to bizarrely hilarious—just in case your 4th of July is lacking in explosive humor.

15. The Joker Blows Up Gotham General, The Dark Knight 
Starting with the creepiest, but somehow still funny, The Joker gets frustrated when his detonator isn’t working properly while trying to blow up Gotham General Hospital.

The Dark Knight is available for rental on Amazon Instant Video. 

14. Major Kong Rides the Bomb, Dr. Strangelove or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb
Major Kong went out the only way his cowboy self knew how: by riding the atomic bomb. Too bad the whole thing got called off. Oh, well; he seemed to have an awesome time on the way down.

Dr. Strangelove is available for rental on Amazon Instant Video. 

13. Containment Unit Shutdown, Ghostbusters
Can’t say they weren’t warned. When the fuzz tries to shutdown the protection grid, insults fly before… boom! The entire unit is blown to pieces, threatening the entire city.

Ghostbusters is available on Netflix and Hulu. 

12. Fried Chicken, 21 Jump Street 

Just about everything, including an oil truck, fails to explode in this scene—except a giant truck carting a bunch of chickens. 

21 Jump Street is available for rental on Amazon Instant Video and iTunes. 

11. Grow House, Pineapple Express

After the grow house is set on fire, the barn above it couldn’t take it anymore. Dale and Saul (Seth Rogen and James Franco) make it out just in time before the explosion; later, Red (Danny McBride) shockingly crawls to safety unscathed.

Pineapple Express is available for rental on Amazon Instant Video and for purchase on iTunes.

10. Whale Watch, Reno 911: Miami

After an adventurous day at the beach, the Reno 911 gang blows up a beached whale with a little help from the Miami locals. 

All seasons of Reno 911 are available for rental on Amazon Instant Video. 

9. Welcome to the Jungle, Tropic Thunder
Mistaking director Damien Cockburn’s (Steve Coogan) flailing temper tantrum as a signal for the special effects, pyromaniac Cody (Danny McBride) lets loose.

Tropic Thunder is available for rental on Amazon Instant Video. 

8. Never Left the Chair, Hot Fuzz

In this hilarious explosion, note how the victim inside the house that explodes never leaves his living room recliner as he ascends into the night. 

Hot Fuzz is available on Hulu. 

7. Silly Rabbit, Rubber

Leaning towards the more bizarre end of the spectrum, Rubber, an evil tire, finds pleasure in telepathically blowing up small animals with its mind.

Rubber is available on Netflix.

6. Gas Shower, Zoolander
You’ve always been told not to play with fire, but no one ever said anything about gasoline. Derek Zoolander’s model buddies have a little too much fun at the pump.

Zoolander is available on Netflix. 

5. The Lone Biker of the Apocalypse, Raising Arizona

“He was especially hard on the little things.” Cue a grenade blowing up yet another innocent rabbit hopping through the desert. It’s the terrorizing Lone Biker, and nothing in his past lasts for long. 

Raising Arizona is available on Hulu.

4. Bonjour, Paris, Team America: World Police

There’s an explosion just about every 10 minutes in this movie, but perhaps the funniest is when the team invades Paris. 

Team America: World Police is available for rental on Amazon Instant Video.

3. Goodbye, Gophers, Caddyshack

Carl (Bill Murray) attempts to kill the gophers who have been terrorizing Bushwood golf course, but he’s not letting them go quietly. 

Caddyshack is available for rental on Amazon Instant Video.

2. Jeffrey’s Sacrifice – Tim & Eric’s Billion Dollar Movie

Tim has to make a hard choice when he and Eric are getting shot at, so he decides to use his newly adopted son, Jeffrey, as bait against their attackers by tossing him into the air. As you can see, it doesn’t end well for Jeffrey. 

Tim & Eric’s Billion Dollar Movie is available on Netflix and for rental on Amazon Instant Video. 


1. Call it Quits, Family Guy

After an exhausting attempt to renovate a house, Stewie and Brian decide to throw in the towel, but Stewie adds a little dynamite causing the most ridiculous explosion ever seen on television.

All seasons of Family Guy are available on Netflix.