100 best comedy movies - contributors W

View top ten comedy movies chosen by the likes of Jack Whitehall, Danny Wallace and Edgar Wright

100 best comedy movies – contributors W-Z

As chosen by

Danny Wallace

Danny Wallace has written several books including ‘Join Me’, ‘Friends Like These’ and ‘Yes Man’, which was made into a feature film starring Jim Carrey. 

Danny Wallace's top ten

  1. Ghostbusters (Ivan Reitman, 1984)
  2. Planes, Trains and Automobiles (John Hughes, 1987)
  3. Nuts In May (Leigh, 1976)
  4. King of Kong (Seth Gordon, 2007)
  5. Borat (Larry Charles, 2006)
  6. Groundhog Day (Harold Ramis, 1993)
  7. This Is Spinal Tap (Rob Reiner, 1984)
  8. Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (Adam McKay, 2004)
  9. The Cable Guy (Ben Stiller, 1996)
  10. Me, Myself & Irene (Bobby and Peter Farrelly, 2000)

Glen Walton

Glen Walton is one third of Australian comedy/music/junkyard-theatre group The Suitcase Royale.

Glen Walton's top ten

  1. Pet Sematary II (Mary Lambert, 1992)
  2. Young Frankenstein (Mel Brooks, 1974)
  3. Strictly Ballroom (Baz Luhrmann, 1992)
  4. Muriel's Wedding (P. J. Hogan, 1994)
  5. Romy and Michele's High School Reunion (David Mirkin, 1997)
  6. In Bruges (Martin McDonagh, 2008)
  7. Wayne's World 2 (Stephen Surjik, 1993)
  8. Planes, Trains and Automobiles (John Hughes, 1987)
  9. Meet the Parents (Jay Roach, 2000)
  10. National Lampoon's European Vacation (Harold Ramis, 1983)

David Ward

David is a well-established stand-up and storyteller on the comedy circuit.

David Ward's top ten

  1. Airplane! (Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, Jerry Zucker, 1980)
  2. Monty Python's Life Of Brian (Terry Jones, 1979)
  3. The Pink Panther (Blake Edwards, 1963)
  4. The Hangover (Todd Phillips, 2009)
  5. In the Loop (Armando Iannucci, 2009)
  6. Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (Jay Roach, 1999)
  7. Wayne's World (Penelope Spheeris, 1992)
  8. There's Something About Mary (Bobby and Peter Farrelly, 1998)
  9. Groundhog Day (Harold Ramis, 1993)
  10. Arthur (Steve Gordon, 1981)

Andrew Watts

Well-spoken stand-up Andrew Watts reached the finals of new act competitons So You Think You’re Funny?, Amused Moose Laugh Off and Laughing Horse.

Andrew Watts' top ten

  1. There's Something About Mary (Bobby and Peter Farrelly, 1998)
  2. Monty Python and the Holy Grail (Terry Gilliam and Terry Jones, 1975)
  3. Shaun of the Dead (Edgar Wright, 2004)
  4. Kind Hearts and Coronets (Robert Hamer, 1949)
  5. Some Like It Hot (Billy Wilder, 1959)
  6. Withnail & I (Bruce Robinson, 1987)
  7. Mean Girls (Mark Waters, 2004)
  8. Top Secret! (Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, 1984)
  9. Kung Fu Hustle (Stephen Chow, 2004)
  10. Tropic Thunder (Ben Stiller, 2008)

Reggie Watts

Multi-talented US comic Reggie Watts improvises musical sets, looping his voice to create shows and songs that are never the same twice.

Reggie Watt's top ten

  1. Not Another Teen Movie (Joel Gallen, 2001)
  2. Young Frankenstein (Mel Brooks, 1974)
  3. The Adventures Of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Older Brother (Gene Wilder, 1975)
  4. Wet Hot American Summer (David Wain, 2001)
  5. Withnail & I (Bruce Robinson, 1987)
  6. Hot Shots! Part Deux (Jim Abrahams, 1993)
  7. Coming to America (John Landis, 1988)
  8. Dazed and Confused (Richard Linklater, 1993)
  9. Bongwater (Richard Sears, 1997)
  10. Bridesmaids (Paul Feig, 2011)
Jack Whitehall

Jack Whitehall

Jack Whitehall

Jack Whitehall has become a regular fixture on TV, presenting ‘Big Brother’s Big Mouth’, being a regular comic on ‘Stand Up for the Week’ and guesting on ‘Live at the Apollo’.

Jack Whitehall's top ten

Jason John Whitehead

Jason John Whitehead

Jason John Whitehead

Jason John Whitehead is a London-based Canadian stand-up who has been on the circuit for the past 12 years. He’s a regular at comedy festivals across the world.

Jason John Whitehead's top ten

  1. The Castle (Rob Sitch, 1997)
  2. The Big Lebowski (Joel and Ethan Coen, 1998)
  3. Happy Gilmore (Dennis Dugan, 1996)
  4. Elf (Jon Favreau, 2003)
  5. Groundhog Day (Harold Ramis, 1993)
  6. Trading Places (John Landis, 1983)
  7. Planes, Trains and Automobiles (John Hughes, 1987)
  8. Monty Python and the Holy Grail (Terry Gilliam and Terry Jones, 1975)
  9. This Is Spinal Tap (Rob Reiner, 1984)
  10. Office Space (Mike Judge, 1999)

Jodie Whittaker

Jodie Whittaker has been a glowing presence in films ranging from septuagenarian romp ‘Venus’ to ‘St Trinian’s’, ‘Attack the Block’ and the romantic drama ‘One Day’.

Jodie Whittaker's top ten

  1. Elf (Jon Favreau, 2003)
  2. Some Like It Hot (Billy Wilder, 1959)
  3. ¡Three Amigos! (John Landis, 1986)
  4. Zoolander (Ben Stiller, 2001)
  5. Ace Ventura, Pet Detective (Tom Shadyac, 1994)
  6. Hot Fuzz (Edgar Wright, 2007)
  7. Dumb & Dumber (Peter Farrelly, 1994)
  8. Weekend at Bernie's (Tedd Kotcheff, 1989)
  9. The Naked Gun (David Zucker, 1988)
  10. The Princess Bride (Rob Reiner, 1987)

© Steve Ullathorne

Catie Wilkins

Stand-up Catie Wilkins took her first solo show, ‘A Chip Off the Odd Block’, to the Edinburgh Fringe in 2011.

Catie Wilkins' top ten

  1. Airplane! (Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, Jerry Zucker, 1980)
  2. The Hudsucker Proxy (Joel and Ethan Coen, 1994)
  3. Dr Strangelove: or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (Stanley Kubrick, 1964)
  4. The Jerk (Carl Reiner, 1979)
  5. Bridesmaids (Paul Feig, 2011)
  6. The Naked Gun (David Zucker, 1988)
  7. Clueless (Amy Heckerling, 1995)
  8. So I Married an Axe Murderer (Thomas Schlamme, 1993)
  9. Bullets Over Broadway (Woody Allen, 1994)
  10. Wayne's World (Penelope Spheeris, 1992)

Ben Williams

Ben Williams is the Comedy Editor of Time Out. He also helps programme Time Out Live's comedy events and founded the Long Paws Comedy Club – an occasional comedy night in Somerset.

Ben Williams' top ten

  1. Rushmore (Wes Anderson, 1998)
  2. Robin Hood – Men in Tights (Mel Brooks, 1993)
  3. Office Space (Mike Judge, 1999)
  4. Trading Places (John Landis, 1983)
  5. Best in Show (Christopher Guest, 2000)
  6. The Naked Gun (David Zucker, 1988)
  7. Mean Girls (Mark Waters, 2004)
  8. This Is Spinal Tap (Rob Reiner, 1984)
  9. The Jerk (Carl Reiner, 1979)
  10. Dumb & Dumber (Peter Farrelly, 1994)

Ben Wilson

Ben Wilson is one quarter of slick sketch quartet, and Edinburgh Comedy Award nominees, Idiots of Ants.

Ben Wilson's top ten

  1. Groundhog Day (Harold Ramis, 1993)
  2. Monty Python and the Holy Grail (Gilliam and Jones, 1975)
  3. Monsters, Inc. (Pete Docter, David Silverman, 2001)
  4. Rushmore (Wes Anderson, 1998)
  5. Uncle Buck (John Hughes, 1989)
  6. Airplane! (Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, Jerry Zucker, 1980)
  7. The Blues Brothers (John Landis, 1980)
  8. Trading Places (John Landis, 1983)
  9. A Fish Called Wanda (Charles Crichton, 1988)
  10. The Princess Bride (Rob Reiner, 1987)

Nick Wilty

Nick Wilty is a circuit regular stand-up who has performed in every continent except Antarctica.

Nick Wilty's top ten

  1. Till Death Us Do Part (Norman Cohen, 1971)
  2. Borat (Larry Charles, 2006)
  3. Monty Python's Life Of Brian (Terry Jones, 1979)
  4. Withnail & I (Bruce Robinson, 1987)
  5. This Is Spinal Tap (Rob Reiner, 1984)
  6. Top Secret! (Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, 1984)
  7. Airplane! (Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, Jerry Zucker, 1980)
  8. Groundhog Day (Harold Ramis, 1993)
  9. The Italian Job (Peter Collinson, 1969)
  10. ¡Three Amigos! (John Landis, 1986)

Mike Wozniak

Mike Wozniak is a stand-up, actor, writer and half of The Golden Lizard with Henry Paker. He is also part of improv troupe The Bruce Collective, with Jarred Christmas.

Mike Wozniak's top ten

  1. The Princess Bride (Rob Reiner, 1987)
  2. Airplane! (Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, Jerry Zucker, 1980)
  3. Ghostbusters (Ivan Reitman, 1984)
  4. Groundhog Day (Harold Ramis, 1993)
  5. Mystery Men (Kinka Usher, 1999)
  6. There's Something About Mary (Bobby and Peter Farrelly, 1998)
  7. Monty Python's Life Of Brian (Terry Jones, 1979)
  8. A Shot in the Dark (Blake Edwards, 1964)
  9. This Is Spinal Tap (Rob Reiner, 1984)
  10. A Fish Called Wanda (Charles Crichton, 1988)

Edgar Wright

Edgar Wright co-wrote and directed ‘Shaun of the Dead’, ‘Hot Fuzz’ and ‘Scott Pilgrim vs. the World’.

Edgar Wright's top ten

  1. Raising Arizona (Joel and Ethan Coen, 1987)
  2. This Is Spinal Tap (Rob Reiner, 1984)
  3. Airplane! (Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, Jerry Zucker, 1980)
  4. Duck Soup (Leo McCarey, 1933)
  5. Take the Money and Run (Woody Allen, 1969)
  6. Monty Python's Life Of Brian (Terry Jones, 1979)
  7. Blazing Saddles (Mel Brooks, 1974)
  8. National Lampoon's Animal House (John Landis, 1978)
  9. Election (Alexander Payne, 1999)
  10. South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut (Trey Parker, 1999)
Share your thoughts
  4. * mandatory fields

100 best comedy movies by section

Spotify

Subscribe to Time Out London on Spotify for daily playlists and recommendations from our Music team.

 

 

Spotify

Pinterest

We feature London's most spectacular sights and coolest locations.
Pinterest

The Time Out Blog

Your daily guide to city life, news and culture - updated seven days a week.

  • Hotwise
  • Cool brands
  • Star