The 9 Best Comedies of 2024 (So Far)
Including, but certainly not limited to: The Fall Guy, Drive-Away Dolls, and Hit Man.
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Even if the box office isn’t quite showing it, 2024 has been a damn good year for movies. We’ve seen stellar films across the board, from Dune: Part Two to A24-produced hits like I Saw the TV Glow and Love Lies Bleeding. But the medium has truly shined in the comedy department. This year brought the messiest love triangle in history (we’re looking at you, Challengers crew), slapstick fun in the form of beaver hunting, a Thelma & Louise–inspired buddy comedy, The Fall Guy’s hilarious revival, and much, much more.
Best of all, Hollywood titans have let loose and shown their goofy sides. Check out Tilda Swinton’s portrayal of a wacky but lovable art curator in Problemista, as well as Pedro Pascal’s derpy scream king, Santos, in Drive-Away Dolls. Come to think of it, his costars Margaret Qualley, Geraldine Viswanathan, and Beanie Feldstein left lasting impressions, too.
The point is that comedy has, once again, reigned supreme. If you’re in need of a laugh, look no further—below you’ll find the funniest movies of 2024 (so far).
Challengers
I know Challengers was promoted as a sports romance, but to me, it’s a comedy. What’s funnier than two men lacing up their tennis shoes to fight for a woman who doesn’t want them? Zendaya, Mike Faist, and Josh O’Connor star in this steamy love triangle, which follows Tashi (Zendaya), an elite tennis player turned coach. Years after a devastating injury, she trains her husband, Art (Faist). In hopes of boosting his confidence, Tashi signs Art up for a challengers event. To their surprise, the match is against Patrick (O’Connor), Art’s former best friend—and Tashi’s ex-boyfriend.
Drive-Away Dolls
Drive-Away Dolls is an action comedy starring Margaret Qualley and Geraldine Viswanathan, with special appearances from Pedro Pascal and Beanie Feldstein. The story follows two girls, Jamie (Qualley) and Marian (Viswanathan), who embark on an impromptu road trip. Their getaway falls apart when they realize their rental car belongs to a criminal who will stop at nothing to find it.
Problemista
Problemista stars Julio Torres as the hilarious and heartwarming Alejandro. Alejandro is an immigrant from El Salvador who moves to New York in hopes of becoming a toy designer. When his work visa expires, he’s tasked with finding a new sponsor. Enter: Elizabeth, a wacky gallery curator who offers to help Julio out in exchange for his artistic expertise.
Janet Planet (In Theaters)
Janet Planet takes place in rural Massachusetts and follows Lacy, an 11-year-old who thinks every moment of her life is “hell.” As it turns out, her mom, Janet, isn’t so happy with her life, either. It’s 1991 and the summer is long, hot, and rife with eccentric visitors. Over the course of three months, Lacy observes their life, making sense of its joys and misgivings with her childlike humor and bustling imagination.
Thelma (In Theaters)
June Squibb stars as the hilarious Thelma Post, a 93-year-old grandmother who falls victim to a phone scam. When she realizes she’s given $10,000 to a con artist, Thelma embarks on a mission to get her money back. With nothing but a motorized scooter, a rusty gun, and the help of her friend, Ben (Richard Roundtree), Thelma proves that grannies shouldn’t be messed with.
The People’s Joker (In Theaters)
The People’s Joker is a Batman parody that asks viewers to reconsider one of the most well-known villain origin stories. In this iteration, Vera Drew stars as Joker—a queer comedian who is grappling with her gender identity. After moving to Gotham to join a prestigious comedy team, she realizes the club isn’t all it’s cracked up to be—so she forms a rival comedy troupe.
Hundreds of Beavers
Hundreds of Beavers is every cartoon-loving kid’s dream. Think Looney Tunes but live-action. This comedy follows an applejack salesman whose farm is destroyed by a bunch of beavers. To get revenge, he becomes a fur trapper and dukes it out with his furry enemies. Don’t think too much about the plot. All you need to know is that Hundreds of Beavers is a slapstick comedy that will keep you laughing long after the credits roll.
The Fall Guy
This film is a revival of the Fall Guy television series. If you need a refresher, the story follows action star Tom Ryder. When he disappears , his stuntman, Colt Seavers, is asked to find him. During the epic search mission, Colt discovers that Tom is in grave danger and uses his stuntman skills to save him. Who’s playing Colt, you ask? Ryan Gosling.
Hit Man
Hit Man is Richard Linklater’s latest masterpiece. The film—which is based on a true story—stars Glen Powell as Gary Johnson, a police officer who poses as a hit man to arrest the criminals who hire him. His mission gets a little thorny when he tries to save a woman who hires him to kill her husband. Yikes!
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