I Watched 20 Comedies In 2024. There Are 6 You Need To Watch Immediately And 3 You Can Totally Skip

As a cinema enthusiast who’s been frequenting the silver screen since the days of black-and-white televisions, I must say that 2024 has truly been a golden year for comedies! The range and creativity on display have left me giggling from January to December, and these films have become my cherished companions in the grand cinematic tapestry of life.

Hearing that I enjoy laughter, I was careful to catch as many comedies as possible in the 2024 film lineup. Ranging from action-packed comedies to those with unexpected emotional depth to even horror-comedy mixes, this year was brimming with humor and amusement.

Consequently, given that I’ve watched 20 comedies this year – here are my recommendations for six movies you absolutely should not miss, and another three that you might want to pass on.

Six Comedies You Should Watch ASAP

Anora

In the limelight during this year’s award season, Anora is earning its accolades with a strong showing at the 2025 Golden Globes. Directed by Sean Baker, this film follows the story of Ani (played by Mikey Madison), a sex worker who unexpectedly falls for the son of a Russian tycoon, Mark Eidelstein. Initially a romantic comedy, the movie takes an abrupt turn into an action-packed buddy comedy as chaos and emotions escalate, making it one of the year’s most surprising and hilarious comedies.

You can catch Anora in theaters, and you can pre-order it on Amazon.

Hit Man

I had the good fortune to catch “Hit Man” in theatres this year, which ranks among my top cinema experiences. The transformation of Glen Powell from an awkward, nerdy character into a plethora of outrageous fake hitman personas was incredibly amusing. This performance showcased his comedic acting abilities and underscored the effectiveness of his collaboration with director Richard Linklater. These two artists excel at creating a unique, offbeat, and captivating comedy.

You can stream Hit Man with a Netflix subscription.

A Real Pain

A Real Pain is one of the funniest yet saddest movies I’ve seen this year, and that’s why it’s so wonderful. Written, directed by and starring Jesse Eisenberg, this film follows two cousins – played by Eisenberg and Kieran Culkin – as they reunite to go on a Holocaust tour across Poland. They do this to honor their grandmother, and while it has its somber and tear-jerking moments, this movie is also truly hilarious as the two stars’ frenetic and chaotic energy jumps off the screen while they get into various shenanigans on their adventure.

You can see A Real Pain in theaters.

My Old Ass

Despite the somewhat unconventional title of “My Old Ass,” allow me to assure you that this film is far from what it seems. With a wildly intriguing name, it manages to be both genuinely humorous and profoundly heartfelt all at once. Leading the cast is Maisy Stella as Elliot, who embarks on a mushroom trip and encounters her older self, portrayed by Aubrey Plaza. The journey includes surreal discussions, a touch of romance, and numerous laugh-out-loud moments that will resonate especially with those who were teenagers during the 2010s like myself.

You can stream My Old Ass with an Amazon Prime subscription.

Thelma

In a twist of events, when an elderly woman named Thelma, played by June Squibb, loses a substantial amount of money due to phone fraud, she embarks on a mission for retribution. This film chronicles her thrilling adventure, filled with humorous exchanges between Thelma, her grandson Danny (Fred Hechinger), and her friend Ben (Richard Roundtree). Additionally, it showcases some Tom Cruise-esque action as Thelma takes to a scooter that’s top-notch.

In essence, “Thelma” is a captivating story about an elderly woman who boldly challenges societal norms regarding her age, ultimately claiming what is rightfully hers, and she accomplishes this task in a highly engaging manner.

You can stream Thelma with a Hulu subscription.

Y2K

Experience a hilarious and zany adventure with the movie “Y2K”, set in the Y2K era, helmed by former Saturday Night Live star Kyle Mooney. As our review reveals, this film is brimming with ’90s nostalgia and offers a thrilling, chaotic, and gory depiction of what transpires when computers attempt to seize control. Packed with inventive deaths and terrifying jumpscares, it stands as an exceptional horror production. Yet, its infectious humor ensures that you’ll be grinning from ear to ear throughout the entire runtime, ensuring a double dose of enjoyment – a perfect blend of terror and laughter!

You can catch Y2K in theaters.

Three Comedies To Skip

Sweethearts

I’m a big fan of heartwarming teenage journey narratives, and Sweethearts seemed like it would be perfect for me. As a Zillennial who appreciates the movie Booksmart, I had high expectations. Unfortunately, it didn’t live up to them for me. The humor missed the mark, and although awkward situations can be amusing, here I just felt uncomfortable rather than laughing.

In summary, the movie centered around two college friends deciding to end their relationships during Thanksgiving fell flat for me. It was packed with humor that missed its mark, and unfortunately, it didn’t live up to my expectations. Regrettably, it doesn’t rank among Max’s top films, but I can’t help but wish it did.

Sweethearts is available to stream with a Max subscription.

Ricky Stanicky

As a gamer, let me share my thoughts on “Ricky Stanicky” – unlike TopMob who rated it 3.5 stars, I found myself giving it a 2. The movie centers around a group of guys, headed by Zac Efron’s character, who bring in John Cena as Ricky Stanicky, their made-up friend to get out of tricky situations. John Cena does manage some laugh-out-loud moments trying to portray this fictional character.

Ricky Stanicky is streaming on Amazon Prime.

Killer’s Game

The idea of a hitman hiring a bunch of hitmen to kill him, because he thinks he’s going to die, and then changing his mind because he finds out he’s not actually dying sounds awesome. However, in practice, all the killers hired to take out Dave Bautista’s main man felt like cheesy caricatures, sometimes the film took itself way too seriously, and overall, I never felt invested in what was going on. Therefore, as our review for Killer’s Game illustrates, it didn’t hit.

Killer’s Game is available to buy or rent on Amazon.

In summary, even though we discussed comedies from this year that didn’t appeal to me personally, I must acknowledge that they were exceptionally excellent. They ranged widely in terms of content and pushed the boundaries of creativity, and I’m thankful for the numerous moments of laughter they provided me throughout the year.

By the end of 2024, consider spending some of your time enjoying these fantastic comedies. They truly merit your focus, and you certainly deserve a fun-filled experience.

2024-12-12 23:07