100 best comedy movies - contributors C
The contributors to our list of the 100 best comedy movies, featuring Andrew Collins, Richard Curtis and Dan Clark
As chosen by
© Steve Ullathorne
Susan Calman
Susan Calman is a regular on BBC Radio Scotland and has made appearances on Radio 4’s ‘The News Quiz’ and ITV’s ‘Comedy Rocks with Jason Manford’.
Susan Calman's top ten
- Tootsie (Sydney Pollack, 1982)
- Clue (Jonathan Lynn, 1985)
- Young Frankenstein (Mel Brooks, 1974)
- Bridesmaids (Paul Feig, 2011)
- Mean Girls (Mark Waters, 2004)
- Airplane! (Jim Abrahams, Jerry Zucker, David Zucker, 1980)
- National Lampoon's European Vacation (Harold Ramis, 1983)
- Some Like It Hot (Billy Wilder, 1959)
- Trading Places (John Landis, 1983)
- Blades Of Glory (Josh Gordon, Will Speck, 2007)
Antonia Campbell-Hughes
Antonia Campbell-Hughes’ screen career has included a wonderful turn in Jane Campion’s ‘Bright Star’ and a recurring role as Sam in Jack Dee’s BBC sitcom ‘Lead Balloon’.
Antonia Campbell-Hughes's top ten
- Pet Sematary II (Mary Lambert, 1992)
- Young Frankenstein (Mel Brooks, 1974)
- Strictly Ballroom (Baz Luhrmann, 1992)
- Muriel's Wedding (P. J. Hogan, 1994)
- Romy and Michele's High School Reunion (David Mirkin, 1997)
- In Bruges (Martin McDonagh, 2008)
- Wayne's World 2 (Stephen Surjik, 1993)
- Planes, Trains and Automobiles (John Hughes, 1987)
- Meet the Parents (Jay Roach, 2000)
- National Lampoon's European Vacation (Harold Ramis, 1983)
Peter Capaldi
Peter Capaldi played vicious, sweary loudmouth Malcolm Tucker in ‘The Thick of It’ on TV, and ‘In the Loop’ in cinemas. His next film is called ‘Big Fat Gypsy Gangster’.
Peter Capaldi's top ten
- Planes, Trains and Automobiles (John Hughes, 1987)
- It's a Gift (Norman Z MacLeod, 1934)
- A Night at the Opera (Sam Wood, 1935)
- Four Lions (Christopher Morris, 2010)
- I'm Still Here (Casey Affleck, 2010)
- Ed Wood (Tim Burton, 1994)
- The Big Lebowski (Joel and Ethan Coen, 1998)
- Monty Python and the Holy Grail (Terry Gilliam and Terry Jones, 1975)
- This Is Spinal Tap (Rob Reiner, 1984)
- Broadway Danny Rose (Woody Allen, 1984)
Stephen Carlin
Stephen Carlin is a deadpan, snooker-obsessed stand-up comedian. He was named one of the ‘ten best comedians in the world ever’ by Stewart Lee and has supported him on tour.
Stephen Carlin's top ten
- Clerks (Kevin Smith, 1994)
- This Is Spinal Tap (Rob Reiner, 1984)
- Dr Strangelove: or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (Stanley Kubrick, 1964)
- Monty Python and the Holy Grail (Terry Gilliam and Terry Jones, 1975)
- Annie Hall (Woody Allen, 1977)
- Best in Show (Christopher Guest, 2000)
- Team America: World Police (Trey Parker, 2004)
- Planes, Trains and Automobiles (John Hughes, 1987)
- Dumb & Dumber (Peter Farrelly, 1994)
- Monty Python's Life of Brian (Terry Jones, 1979)
Dominic Cavendish
Dominic Cavendish
Dominic Cavendish is the deputy theatre critic and comedy critic for The Telegraph.
Dominic Cavendish's top ten
- Kind Hearts and Coronets (Robert Hamer, 1949)
- Some Like It Hot (Billy Wilder, 1959)
- Annie Hall (Woody Allen, 1977)
- Borat (Larry Charles, 2006)
- The Odd Couple (Gene Saks, 1968)
- Tootsie (Sydney Pollack, 1982)
- All of Me (Carl Reiner, 1984)
- Heathers (Michael Lehmann, 1988)
- Monty Python's Life of Brian (Terry Jones, 1979)
- A Fish Called Wanda (Charles Crichton, 1988)
Alfie Hitchcock
Jarred Christmas
Jarred Christmas is a London-based Kiwi comic and regular MC for Time Out’s comedy events. He’s a Chortle Award-winning compere, has appeared on ‘Dave’s One Night Stand’, ‘8 Out of 10 Cats’.
Jarred Christmas's top ten
- The Jerk (Carl Reiner, 1979)
- Withnail & I (Bruce Robinson, 1987)
- Groundhog Day (Harold Ramis, 1993)
- Planes, Trains & Automobiles (John Hughes, 1987)
- The King of Comedy (Martin Scorsese, 1982)
- Monty Python's Life of Brian (Terry Jones, 1979)
- The Castle (Rob Sitch, 1997)
- Funny Bones (Peter Chelsom, 1995)
- Broadway Danny Rose (Woody Allen, 1984)
- This Is Spinal Tap (Rob Reiner, 1984)
Ray Burmiston
Dan Clark
Dan Clark is the writer, producer and star of BBC3 sitcom ‘How Not To Live Your Life’, which has run for three seasons to date.
Dan Clark's top ten
- Monty Python's Life of Brian (Terry Jones, 1979)
- The Apartment (Billy Wilder, 1960)
- Borat (Larry Charles, 2006)
- There’s Something About Mary (Bobby and Peter Farrelly, 1998)
- Annie Hall (Woody Allen, 1977)
- Groundhog Day (Harold Ramis, 1993)
- Swingers (Doug Liman, 1996)
- An American Werewolf in London (John Landis, 1981)
- Stir Crazy (Sidney Poitier, 1980)
- The Royal Tenenbaums (Wes Anderson, 2001)
Andy Hollingworth
Laurence Clark
Laurence Clark topped Shortlist magazine’s Britain’s Ten Funniest New Comedians in 2009 and has performed five Edinburgh Fringe shows.
Laurence Clark's top ten
- Clockwise (Christopher Morahan, 1986)
- Borat (Larry Charles, 2006)
- Four Lions (Christopher Morris, 2010)
- Some Like It Hot (Billy Wilder, 1959)
- Monty Python's Life of Brian (Terry Jones, 1979)
- This Is Spinal Tap (Rob Reiner, 1984)
- Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (John Hughes, 1986)
- Best in Show (Christopher Guest, 2000)
- Cemetery Junction (Ricky Gervais, Steve Merchant, 2010)
- Avanti! (Billy Wilder, 1972)
Johnny Cochrane
Johnny Cochrane reached the finals of the Jongleurs and Loaded Lafta new act competitions.
Johnny Cochrane's top ten
- American Pie (Paul Weitz, 1999)
- Tropic Thunder (Ben Stiller, 2008)
- Brüno (Larry Charles, 2009)
- Groundhog Day (Harold Ramis, 1993)
- Borat (Larry Charles, 2006)
- There’s Something About Mary (Bobby and Peter Farrelly, 1998)
- Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (Guy Ritchie, 1998)
- The Hangover (Todd Phillips, 2009)
- Heavy Weights (Steven Brill, 1995)
- Friday (F. Gary Gray, 1995)
Sarah Cohen
Sarah is the Listings editor for the Time Out website.
Sarah Cohen's top ten
- South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut (Trey Parker, 1999)
- Airplane! (Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, Jerry Zucker, 1980)
- Annie Hall (Woody Allen, 1977)
- Best in Show (Christopher Guest, 2000)
- Team America: World Police (Trey Parker, 2004)
- The Royal Tenenbaums (Wes Anderson, 2001)
- Clueless (Amy Heckerling, 1995)
- Wayne's World (Penelope Spheeris, 1992)
- Together (Lukas Moodysson, 2000)
- Galaxy Quest (Dean Parisot, 1999)
© Steve Brown
Andrew Collins
Andrew Collins is the co-writer of sitcoms ‘Grass’ with Simon Day and ‘Not Going Out’ with Lee Mack. He is also the film editor of the Radio Times, a regular radio presenter and podcaster.
Andrew Collin's top ten
- Monty Python and the Holy Grail (Gilliam and Jones, 1975)
- Carry on Screaming (Gerald Thomas, 1966)
- Broadway Danny Rose (Woody Allen, 1984)
- Blazing Saddles (Mel Brooks, 1974)
- Airplane! (Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, Jerry Zucker, 1980)
- Carry On Up The Khyber (Gerald Thomas, 1968)
- Hot Fuzz (Edgar Wright, 2007)
- Stripes (Ivan Reitman, 1981)
- It's A Mad Mad Mad Mad World (Stanley Kramer, 1963)
- Borat (Larry Charles, 2006)
Ali Cook
Ali Cook is a magician and comedian who regularly plays the comedy circuit and Edinburgh Fringe. He was in Channel 5’s ‘Monkey Magic’ and Channel 4’s ‘Dirty Tricks’.
Ali Cook's top ten
- Anchorman (Adam McKay, 2004)
- Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (Frank Oz, 1988)
- Groundhog Day (Harold Ramis, 1993)
- The Man With Two Brains (Carl Reiner, 1983)
- Best in Show (Christopher Guest, 2000)
- Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (Jay Roach, 1997)
- Shaun of the Dead (Edgar Wright, 2004)
- Little Miss Sunshine (Jonathan Dayton, Valerie Faris, 2006)
- Annie Hall (Woody Allen, 1977)
- Ghostbusters (Ivan Reitman, 1984)
John Cooper
John Cooper is a stand-up and character comedian performing live as Danny Pensive.
John Cooper's top ten
- Monty Python's Life of Brian (Terry Jones, 1979)
- Way Out West (James W. Horne, 1937)
- Manhattan (Woody Allen, 1979)
- Dad's Army
- Top Secret! (Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, 1984)
- UHF (Jay Levey, 1989)
- Soul Man (Steve Miner, 1986)
- Doctor Who: Dalek Invasion of Earth 2150 (Gordon Flemyng, 1966)
- The Plank (Eric Sykes, 1967)
- Sleeper (Woody Allen, 1973)
© Rich Hardcastle
Chris Cox
Chris Cox is a mind reader who can’t read minds – a professional coincidentalist. He’s performed five Edinburgh Fringe shows, two UK tours and three West End runs.
Chris Cox's top ten
- South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut (Trey Parker, 1999)
- In Bruges (Martin McDonagh, 2008)
- Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (Shane Black, 2005)
- The Aristocrats (Paul Provenza, 2005)
- Best in Show (Christopher Guest, 2000)
- Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (Jay Roach, 1997)
- Borat (Larry Charles, 2006)
- Jackass: The Movie (Jeff Tremaine, 2002)
- There's Something About Mary (Bobby and Peter Farrelly, 1998)
- Anchorman (Adam McKay, 2004)
Tom Craine
Tom Craine is a stand-up comic and writer. He presents his own radio show on BBC Radio Bristol and is part of sketch troupe ‘Jigsaw’.
Tom Craine's top ten
- Withnail & I (Bruce Robinson, 1987)
- Groundhog Day (Harold Ramis, 1993)
- Monty Python and the Holy Grail (Terry Gilliam and Terry Jones, 1975)
- In The Loop (Armando Iannucci, 2009)
- Zoolander (Ben Stiller, 2001)
- Monty Python's Life of Brian (Terry Jones, 1979)
- Team America: World Police (Trey Parker, 2004)
- Anchorman (Adam McKay, 2004)
- Shaun of the Dead (Edgar Wright, 2004)
- This Is Spinal Tap (Rob Reiner, 1984)
Caprice Crane
Caprice Crane is an American novelist, screenwriter and television writer-producer. She has written four novels.
Caprice Crane's top ten
- The Jerk (Carl Reiner, 1979)
- The Blues Brothers (John Landis, 1980)
- This Is Spinal Tap (Rob Reiner, 1984)
- Annie Hall (Woody Allen, 1977)
- Raising Arizona (Joel and Ethan Coen, 1987)
- The Princess Bride (Rob Reiner, 1987)
- Knocked Up (Judd Apatow, 2007)
- The Apartment (Billy Wilder, 1960)
- Office Space (Mike Judge, 1999)
- Defending Your Life (Albert Brooks, 1991)
Hal Cruttenden
Hal Cruttenden is a stand-up, writer and actor and regular on the UK comedy circuit. He has appeared on ‘Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow’ and performed in front of the Queen at the
Hal Cruttenden top ten
- Shaun of the Dead (Edgar Wright, 2004)
- This Is Spinal Tap (Rob Reiner, 1984)
- Swingers (Doug Liman, 1996)
- Some Like It Hot (Billy Wilder, 1959)
- The Odd Couple (Gene Saks, 1968)
- Monty Python's Life of Brian (Terry Jones, 1979)
- Airplane! (Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, Jerry Zucker, 1980)
- Annie Hall (Woody Allen, 1977)
- Stir Crazy (Sidney Poitier, 1980)
Richard Curtis is the screenwriter and director responsible for the likes of 'Blackadder', 'Four Weddings and a Funeral' and 'Notting Hill'.
Richard Curtis's top ten
- Annie Hall (Woody Allen, 1977)
- This Is Spinal Tap (Rob Reiner, 1984)
- National Lampoon's Animal House (John Landis, 1978)
- Lost in Translation (Sofia Coppola, 2003)
- Dr Strangelove: Or, How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love The Bomb (Stanley Kubrick, 1964)
- Knocked Up (Judd Apatow, 2007)
- 500 Days of Summer (Marc Webb, 2009)
- Elf (Jon Favreau, 2003)
- Local Hero (Bill Forsyth, 1983)
- Duck Soup (Bill Forsyth, 1983)
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