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There are many popular movie genres, but comedy is one of the most successful. It doesn't just make people laugh — it can also point out the weak sides of today's world in a humorous way. Some of the most hilarious comedies are classified as cringe comedies, though, meaning that, while funny, they'll be making you uncomfortable.
This usually happens when the characters face a lot of awkward situations and they don't know how to fix things. They suffer, but the viewers are having a lot of fun watching their misadventures. The best cringe comedy movies have stood the test of time and work just as well today as they did when they were first released.
6 Drop Dead Fred (1991)
The fantasy comedy Drop Dead Fred is a hidden jewel with a unique sense of humor that comes across as cringe sometimes, but never too much. Phoebe Cates plays Elizabeth, a young woman, whose life is falling apart. Her husband is cheating on her, her mother is trying to control every aspect of her life... and to make matters even worse, Elizabeth's childhood imaginary friend Fred drops in and decides it's time to have some fun again — despite the fact that Elizabeth is now an adult.
A large portion of this movie's humor stems from the fact that Fred plays pranks and does things that other people think Elizabeth has done. And what would be understandable for a child, is unacceptable behavior for an adult woman. That leads to some awkward situations in which poor Elizabeth doesn't know what to do. The movie offers several surprising situations and multiple hilarious sequences when Fred goes off the rails and is just playing, no matter the consequences. It also has a strong cast — other than the leading duo Cates and Rik Mayall, it stars Carrie Fisher, for example, as Elizabeth's best friend.
5 There's Something About Mary (1998)
Even though Cameron Diaz is no longer active as an actress, her status as a former queen of romantic comedies is something she will never lose. And There's Something About Mary is one of Diaz's most iconic movies. The movie focuses on Ted (Ben Stiller) who was once madly in love with Mary when they were going to school together. Mary even chose Ted as her prom partner, but things didn't go according to plan, and Ted promised himself he would never see Mary again. However, that didn't stop him from loving her.
The movie sometimes uses more vulgar humor that might not sit well with anyone, but all people who like this style of jokes are in for a treat. Stiller and Diaz are excellent in the leading roles, and another juicy role went to Matt Dillon who plays the lying detective Healy who falls for Mary. The movie combines both comedy and romance and creates a story that no fan of this genre will forget any time soon!
4 Meet The Parents (2000)
Having Robert De Niro as the father-in-law would be a dream come true for many of the actor's fans, but not so much for Ben Stiller in this comedy. Stiller's Greg Focker works as a nurse, which can be a challenging occupation, but not even the stress he handles in his job could have prepared him for meeting his girlfriend's parents before he proposes to her. Greg soon realizes that Pam's dad Jack isn't thrilled about his presence, and things soon get even more complicated.
While a conflict between a boyfriend and his potential son-in-law is nothing new in TV shows and movies (for example, the recent Christmas showMerry Happy Whatever uses it well), Meet the Parents remains one of the most iconic movies that work with this theme. It spawned two sequels, but the first movie is universally hailed as the best one from the trilogy.
3 The 40-Year-Old Virgin (2005)
Steve Carell became a star in the mid-2000s by appearing in cringe comedies both on TV (The Office) and on the big screen. The title of this movie speaks for itself, and the viewers can't help but feel embarrassed for Carell's character Andy as he's coaxed by his co-workers and friends to lose his virginity.
The movie has a strong comedy cast. Other than Carell, it also stars the likes of Paul Rudd, Seth Rogen, Jane Lynch, and Catherine Keener. While the situation Andy faces will be unfamiliar to many people, the peer pressure is something the audience will most likely know. That makes Andy even more sympathetic than he already is thanks to Carell's performance.
2 Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan (2006)
While the recent sequel does a decent enough job in repeating a part of the movie's charm, there can only be one original Borat. The 2006 movie sees Borat travel to the United States and confront the people who live there with his unique opinions and behavior. And, of course, he also falls in love with Pamela Anderson and decides to win her over.
Sacha Baron Cohen is no stranger to putting his onscreen heroes in uncomfortable situations that are difficult to watch sometimes — yet so hilarious. Whether the audience agrees with Borat's attitude or not, it's fascinating to watch his conversations with the so-called normal people he meets on his journey.
1 Death At A Funeral (2007)
Funerals are usually a sad occasion where there's very little space for humor, but not so much in this British movie. The creators turn things around and show that, when something can go wrong at a funeral, it's likely that it will! And when things turn south for more people, it becomes chaos.
The movie has many scenes that are oozing dark humor, and the viewers have a hard time figuring out what will happen next. Plus, Death at a Funeral has a strong cast. It stars Matthew Macfadyen, Alan Tudyk, and Peter Dinklage, to name just a few. It got a 2010 American remake, but the newer version didn't have its predecessor's wit.