100 best comedy movies - contributors B

Find out what our contributors’ top ten funny films are, featuring David Baddiel and Jo Brand

As chosen by

David Baddiel

Author, filmwriter and comedian, David Baddiel is perhaps best known for his work with Frank Skinner on ‘Baddiel and Skinner: Unplanned’ and ‘Fantasy Football’.

David Baddiel's top ten

  1. Play It Again, Sam (Woody Allen, 1972)
  2. Monty Python's Life Of Brian (Terry Jones, 1979)
  3. When Harry Met Sally (Rob Reiner, 1989)
  4. Annie Hall (Woody Allen, 1977)
  5. Team America: World Police (Trey Parker, 2004)
  6. Monty Python and the Holy Grail (Terry Gilliam and Terry Jones, 1975)
  7. Borat: Cultural Learnings of America For Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan (Larry Charles, 2006)
  8. Young Frankenstein (Mel Brooks, 1974)
  9. Waiting for Guffman (Christopher Guest, 1996)
  10. Derek and Clive Get The Horn (Russel Mulcahy, 1979)

Alistair Barrie

Alistair Barrie is a stand-up comedian and regular member of the team on topical show ‘The Cutting Edge’ at the Comedy Store.

Alistair Barrie's top ten

  1. Monty Python's The Meaning of Life (Terry Jones, 1983)
  2. Monty Python's Life Of Brian (Terry Jones, 1979)
  3. Monty Python and the Holy Grail (Terry Gilliam and Terry Jones, 1975)
  4. The Return of the Pink Panther (Blake Edwards, 1975)
  5. Withnail & I (Bruce Robinson, 1987)
  6. Team America: World Police (Bruce Robinson, 1987)
  7. Trading Places (John Landis, 1983)
  8. Airplane! (Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, Jerry Zucker, 1980)
  9. Groundhog Day (Harold Ramis, 1993)
  10. Bridesmaids (Paul Feig, 2011)

Todd Barry

New York stand-up Todd Barry has had roles in ‘Flight of the Conchords’, ‘The Larry Sanders Show’, ‘Sesame Street’ and ‘Bored to Death’ as well as appearing on all the top US talk shows.

Todd Barry's top ten

  1. Airplane! (Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, Jerry Zucker, 1980)
  2. Best in Show (Christopher Guest, 2000)
  3. Clueless (Amy Heckerling, 1995)
  4. Diner (Barry Levinson, 1982)
  5. The Kentucky Fried Movie (John Landis, 1977)
  6. Pumpkin (Anthony Abrams, Adam Larson Broder, 2002)
  7. Rodger Dodger (Dylan Kidd, 2002)
  8. The Naked Gun (David Zucker, 1988)
  9. This Is Spinal Tap (Rob Reiner, 1984)
  10. Top Secret! (Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, 1984)

Tom Basden

Tom Basden won the if.comedy Best Newcomer Award (formerly Perrier Award) in 2007 for his debut show ‘Tom Basden Won’t Say Anything’, and was awarded a Fringe First for his play ‘Party’.

Tom Basden's top ten

  1. Annie Hall (Woody Allen, 1977)
  2. ¡Three Amigos! (John Landis, 1986)
  3. Bullets Over Broadway (Woody Allen, 1994)
  4. Fargo (Joel and Ethan Coen, 1996)
  5. Team America: World Police (Trey Parker, 2004)
  6. Tootsie (Sydney Pollack, 1982)
  7. This Is Spinal Tap (Rob Reiner, 1984)
  8. Dear Diary (Nanni Moretti, 1994)
  9. Withnail & I (Bruce Robinson, 1987)
  10. Monty Python's Life Of Brian (Terry Jones, 1979)

Greg Behrendt

US stand-up Greg Behrendt is best known as the co-author of ‘He’s Just Not That Into You’. He plays headline tours regularly in America, and brought a show to the Edinburgh Fringe in 2009.

Greg Behrendt's top ten

  1. National Lampoon's Animal House (John Landis, 1978)
  2. Stripes (Ivan Reitman, 1981)
  3. The Royal Tenenbaums (Wes Anderson, 2001)
  4. National Lampoon's Vacation (Harold Ramis, 1983)
  5. Groundhog Day (Harold Ramis, 1993)
  6. Swingers (Doug Liman, 1996)
  7. Meet the Parents (Jay Roach, 2000)
  8. Kingpin (Bobby and Peter Farrelly, 1996)
  9. The Jerk (Carl Reiner, 1979)
  10. The Hangover (Todd Phillips, 2009)

Steve Bennett

Steve Bennett is the editor of comedy website Chortle.

Steve Bennett's top ten

  1. Withnail & I (Bruce Robinson, 1987)
  2. Monty Python's Life Of Brian (Terry Jones, 1979)
  3. This Is Spinal Tap (Rob Reiner, 1984)
  4. Team America: World Police (Trey Parker, 2004)
  5. Borat (Larry Charles, 2006)
  6. The Jerk (Carl Reiner, 1979)
  7. A Night at the Opera (Sam Wood, 1935)
  8. Airplane! (Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, Jerry Zucker, 1980)
  9. The Aristocrats (Paul Provenza, 2005)
  10. Dr Strangelove: or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (Stanley Kubrick, 1964)

Luke Benson

Geordie comic Luke Benson has reached the final of many new act competitions, including the Amused Moose Laugh-Off and Hackney Empire New Act of the Year.

Luke Benson's top ten

  1. This Is Spinal Tap (Rob Reiner, 1984)
  2. The Naked Gun (David Zucker, 1988)
  3. Annie Hall (Woody Allen, 1977)
  4. In the Loop (Armando Iannucci, 2009)
  5. Four Lions (Christopher Morris, 2010)
  6. Airplane! (Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, Jerry Zucker, 1980)
  7. Team America: World Police (Trey Parker, 2004)
  8. Dr Strangelove: or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (Stanley Kubrick, 1964)
  9. Batman & Robin (Spencer Gordon Bennet, 1949)
  10. The Hangover (Todd Phillips, 2009)

Tom Binns

Tom Binns is well-known on the stand-up circuit. He's appeared in ‘Spooks’, ‘The IT Crowd’ and ‘Knowing Me, Knowing You… with Alan Partridge’ and has presented radio shows on XFM and BRMB.

Tom Binns' top ten

  1. Life Is Beautiful (Roberto Benigni, 1997)
  2. Monty Python's Life Of Brian (Terry Jones, 1979)
  3. The Producers (Mel Brooks, 1968)
  4. Local Hero (Bill Forsyth, 1983)
  5. Family Guy: Blue Harvest (Dominic Polcino, 2007)
  6. Family Guy: It's a Trap (Peter Shin, 2010)
  7. Family Guy: Something, Something, Something Dark Side (Dominic Polcino, 2009)
  8. The Muppet Christmas Carol (Brian Henson, 1992)
  9. There's Something About Mary (Bobby and Peter Farrelly, 1998)
  10. Groundhog Day (Harold Ramis, 1993)

Andrew Bird

Comedian Andrew Bird regularly plays the British comedy circuit and has performed all over the world. Most recently he took his third solo show to the Edinburgh Fringe.

Andrew Bird's top ten

  1. Ace Ventura, Pet Detective (Tom Shadyac, 1994)
  2. Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (Adam McKay, 2004)
  3. The Castle (Rob Sitch, 1997)
  4. Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (Jay Roach, 1999)
  5. Jackass The Movie (Jeff Tremaine, 2002)
  6. Ace Ventura – When Nature Calls (Steve Oedekerk, 1995)
  7. Shaun of the Dead (Edgar Wright, 2004)
  8. Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (Jay Roach, 1997)
  9. Hot Fuzz (Edgar Wright, 2007)
  10. Dumb & Dumber (Peter Farrelly, 1994)

Joe Bor

Joe Bor is a stand-up comedian. In 2007 he won the Jewish Comedy Factor competition.

Joe Bor's top ten

  1. Dumb & Dumber (Peter Farrelly, 1994)
  2. Groundhog Day (Harold Ramis, 1993)
  3. Back to the Future (Robert Zemeckis, 1985)
  4. Annie Hall (Woody Allen, 1977)
  5. The Kid (Charlie Chaplin, 1921)
  6. Airplane! (Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, Jerry Zucker, 1980)
  7. Toy Story (John Lasseter, 1995)
  8. Wayne's World (Penelope Spheeris, 1992)
  9. Borat (Larry Charles, 2006)
  10. Shaun of the Dead (Edgar Wright, 2004)

John Boyega

John Boyega made his screen debut in 2011 as the lead in ‘Attack the Block’. He’s currently working on British drama ‘Junkhearts’ with Eddie Marsan.

John Boyega's top ten

  1. Coming to America (John Landis, 1988)
  2. Team America: World Police (Trey Parker, 2004)
  3. Soul Plane (Jessy Terrero, 2004)
  4. You Don't Mess with the Zohan (Dennis Dugan, 2008)
  5. Groundhog Day (Harold Ramis, 1993)
  6. Friday (F. Gary Gray, 1995)
  7. Borat (Larry Charles, 2006)
  8. The Gold Rush (Charles Chaplin, 1925)
  9. Bridesmaids (Paul Feig, 2011)
  10. Who Framed Roger Rabbit (Robert Zemeckis, 1988)
Jo Brand

Jo Brand

Jo Brand

Jo Brand is one of the UK’s best-loved comedians. A pioneer of the alternative comedy scene in the late ’80s, she’s a Bafta and British Comedy Award winner and best-selling author.

Jo Brand's top ten

  1. Monty Python's Life Of Brian (Terry Jones, 1979)
  2. Airplane! (Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, Jerry Zucker, 1980)
  3. Riff-Raff (Ana Cristina Franco, 2009)
  4. Life Is Sweet (Ana Cristina Franco, 2009)
  5. Local Hero (Bill Forsyth, 1983)
  6. The Odd Couple (Gene Saks, 1968)
  7. This Is Spinal Tap (Rob Reiner, 1984)
  8. Harold and Maude (Hal Ashby, 1971)
  9. True Stories (David Byrne, 1986)
  10. Blazing Saddles (Mel Brooks, 1974)

Bendet Brandreth

Benet Brandreth is the son of Gyles Brandreth and rhetoric coach at the RSC. He recently performed his first solo show, ‘The Brandreth Papers’, at the Edinburgh Fringe.

Bendet Brandreth's top ten

  1. Annie Hall (Woody Allen, 1977)
  2. This Is Spinal Tap (Rob Reiner, 1984)
  3. Blazing Saddles (Mel Brooks, 1974)
  4. Sleeper (Mel Brooks, 1974)
  5. Groundhog Day (Harold Ramis, 1993)
  6. Monty Python and the Holy Grail (Terry Gilliam and Terry Jones, 1975)
  7. Galaxy Quest (Dean Parisot, 1999)
  8. Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (Adam McKay, 2004)
  9. Duck Soup (Leo McCarey, 1933)
  10. The Court Jester (Melvin Frank, Norman Panama, 1955)

Rob Broderick

Rob Broderick is one half of incredibly impressive hip-hop impro duo Abandoman. They are regulars on CBBC’s ‘Dick and Dom’s Funny Business’ and are winners of the Musical Comedy Awards.

Rob Broderick's top ten

  1. Intermission (John Crowley, 2003)
  2. Superbad (Greg Mottola, 2007)
  3. In Bruges (Martin McDonagh, 2008)
  4. Old School (Todd Phillips, 2003)
  5. The Big Lebowski (Joel and Ethan Coen, 1998)
  6. Borat (Larry Charles, 2006)
  7. Monty Python's Life Of Brian (Terry Jones, 1979)
  8. Zoolander (Ben Stiller, 2001)
  9. Happy Gilmore (Dennis Dugan, 1996)
  10. Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (Adam McKay, 2006)

Spencer Brown

A regular on the London stand-up scene, Spencer Brown has also performed on NBC’s ‘Last Comic Standing’ series and played Rufus in ‘Nathan Barley’.

Spencer Brown's top ten

  1. Brewster McCloud (Robert Altman, 1970)
  2. MASH (Robert Altman, 1972)
  3. The Ninth Configuration (William Peter Blatty, 1980)
  4. Sullivan's Travels (Preston Sturges, 1941)
  5. The Jerk (Carl Reiner, 1979)
  6. The Cable Guy (Ben Stiller, 1996)
  7. Groundhog Day (Harold Ramis, 1993)
  8. The Heartbreak Kid (Elaine May, 1972)
  9. Duck Soup (Leo McCarey, 1933)
  10. What Have I Done To Deserve This? (Pedro Almodovar, 1984)

Marissa Burgess

Marissa Burgess is a freelance comedy journalist and regular writer for the Manchester Evening News.

Marissa Burgess's top films

  1. The Ladykillers (Alexander Mackendrick, 1955)
  2. Monty Python's Life Of Brian (Terry Jones, 1979)
  3. In the Loop (Armando Iannucci, 2009)
  4. Withnail & I (Bruce Robinson, 1987)
  5. Play It Again, Sam (Woody Allen, 1972)
  6. The Big Lebowski (Joel and Ethan Coen, 1998)
  7. Kind Hearts and Coronets (Robert Hamer, 1949)
  8. Monty Python and the Holy Grail (Terry Gilliam and Terry Jones, 1975)
  9. Sleeper (Woody Allen, 1973)

Bill Burr

Bill Burr is an American stand-up who first gained a following from a recurring role on ‘Chappelle’s Show’. He’s performed multiple times on ‘The Late Show with David Letterman’.

Bill Burr's top ten

  1. GoodFellas (Martin Scorsese, 1990)
  2. Airplane! (Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, Jerry Zucker, 1980)
  3. Slap Shot (George Roy Hill, 1977)
  4. Dr Strangelove: or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (Stanley Kubrick, 1964)
  5. Young Frankenstein (Mel Brooks, 1974)
  6. There's Something About Mary (Bobby and Peter Farrelly, 1998)
  7. Stripes (Ivan Reitman, 1981)
  8. Sling Blade (Billy Bob Thornton, 1996)
  9. Midnight Run (Martin Brest, 1988)
  10. Old School (Todd Phillips, 2003)
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