1. The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)
An aging former hotel lobby boy tells a famous writer about the life of his mentor M. Gustave in Wes Anderson’s The Grand Budapest Hotel, which has since fallen into disrepair. The role of Gustave, played by Ralph Fiennes, is one of the funniest and most heartfelt ever played on film.
To date, The Grand Budapest Hotel is Anderson’s most visually ambitious work because of the various aspect ratios that represent different eras in the story’s timeline.
2. Hot Rod (2007)
The Lonely Island first appeared on the big screen in Hot Rod, a film that was a critical and commercial failure, but has since gained cult status as a result of the unique absurdist style of comedy it featured.
A want tobe Evel Knievel stuntman named Rod is played by Andy Samberg, and his goal is to raise money for his stepfather’s life-saving surgery so that he can stomp on him mercilessly.
3. Beetlejuice (1988)
To put it simply, Geena Davis and Alec Baldwin play a married couple who meet their end far too soon in Tim Burton’s horror-comedy Beetlejuice. They hire Betelgeuse, a free-lance poltergeist, to frighten them when their dream house is sold to new owners.
Betelgeuse, played by Michael Keaton, is one of his best roles, right up there with Batman and Birdman.
4. Step Brothers (2008)
It’s a simple joke, but it works in Adam McKay’s Step Brothers. People who fall in love and get married are forced to deal with the problems that arise as a result of the union of their children from previous marriages. What makes this story unique is that both of their sons are approaching middle age and will be turning 40 soon.
Step Brothers is a modern comedy classic thanks in large part to the hysterical on-screen chemistry between Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly.
5. Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory (1971)
Gene Wilder’s Willy Wonka stole the show (and the title) from Charlie Bucket in the surreal 1971 classic Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory with his wonderfully zany portrayal of the chocolate magnate.
Many memorable songs, such as “(I’ve Got A) Golden Ticket” and “Pure Imagination,” can be heard throughout the film. The production design of The Toy Factory is also impressive.
6. The Big Lebowski (1998)
The Big Lebowski, starring Jeff Bridges as the title character, is a stoner noir classic written and directed by the Coen brothers. He’s thrown into a Chandleresque mystery plot involving kidnapping and a briefcase full of ransom money after being mistaken for someone else.
He’s in the company of a Vietnam War veteran with a gun, an abstract artist who paints while naked and in a harness, a trio of violent nihilists, and a hairnet-wearing creep named Jesus. There are quite a few outliers in this film.
7. Napoleon Dynamite (2004)
Napoleon Dynamite’s hero, played by Jon Heder, is one of cinema history’s most eccentric leads. In addition to his obsession with ligers, his character is also known for his frequent altercations with his family’s pet llama and his general tendency to be obnoxious to anyone he meets without cause.
Most importantly, Napoleon never hesitates to be authentically himself. Even though he’s not perfect, audiences around the world adore him because he doesn’t put on a showy front.
8. The King Of Comedy (1982)
As Rupert Pupkin, played by Robert De Niro in one of Martin Scorsese’s most underrated films, he has dangerous new delusions after meeting Jerry Langford, the late-night host played by the legendary Jerry Lewis.
Full of biting black humor, The King of Comedy takes aim at the hollowness of fame, which Scorsese and De Niro were both experiencing after Raging Bull made them stars in the 1980s.
9. The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)
When it comes to cult classics, The Rocky Horror Picture Show reigns supreme. It borrows elements from everything from 1930s silent films to 1960s Roger Corman farces.
In Tim Curry’s portrayal of Dr. Frank-N-Furter, the character was brought to life as one of the most iconic movie figures ever.
10. Rushmore (1998)
Wes Anderson isn’t the only one who has made films about outcasts. From oceanographer Steve Zissou to Khaki Scout Sam Shakusky, all of his films feature characters who are out of place.
For the director’s second film, he cast Jason Schwartzman in the leading role of Max Fischer, a high school student who meets a wealthy industrialist, falls in love with his widowed first-grade teacher, and puts on elaborate plays instead of studying.
Aside from being a writer, comedian, and filmmaker, Ben Sherlock is also a stand-up comedian. For Screen Rant, he compiles lists of movies, and for Game Rant, he writes features and reviews on games like Mando, Melville, and Mad Max. He’s been pre-producing his first feature film for a while now due to the high cost of filmmaking. Meanwhile, he’s working on a number of short films in pre-production. In the past, he’s worked with sites like Taste of Cinema, Comic Book Resources, and BabbleTop as a contributor. His stand-up routines can be seen at a variety of pubs across the United Kingdom that are willing to let him perform.
