The best stand-up concert films

1. Richard Pryor: Live on the Sunset Strip

Recorded in 1982, this seminal stand-up concert film chronicles Pryor's Olympic record of shredded marriages, his accidental discovery of masturbation in the tub and a cocaine freebasing mishap that literally blew up in his face. Pryor's panoramic survey of life's miscalculations does not translate as a litany but rather as an autobiographical carnival that illuminates the brightest, funniest attractions.

2. Eddie Murphy: Raw

No matter how ridiculous of an outfit Eddie Murphy insists on wearing, he makes everyone else look like fools. He castrates Michael Jackson for having zero intimidation quality, slips into a chilling Bill Cosby impersonation and showcases some of his crudest comedy in this highly lucrative 1987 stand-up concert film, the highest-grossing one to date. Fun fact: It contains the word fuck 223 times, and dethroned Scarface as the feature-length film with the most uses of the word at the time.

3. The Original Kings of Comedy

Grossing the second highest numbers for a stand-up concert film, The Original Kings of Comedy also launched the careers of comedians Steve Harvey, D.H. Hughley, Cedric the Entertainer and Bernie Mac. With Spike Lee as the director, the 2000 release offers perspectives on racial issues, church, family and African-American culture. And its enormous influence is illustrated by all it's since inspired: The Original Latin Kings of Comedy, The Kims of Comedy, The Comedians of Comedy, The Killers of Comedy and The Queens of Comedy---so far.

4. Richard Pryor: Here and Now

In a somewhat darker and more surreal sequel to Live on the Sunset Strip, Pryor delves into thornier crevices in Here and Now (1983). The show deals with many of the same topics in his first film, such as drug abuse, drinking, racism and sex, while elevating the material with improvisation, an account of his spiritual passage to Africa and a reincarnated salute to a retired character, Mudbone. In the midst of the show Pryor endures ruthless heckling and the bizarre interruption of a hermit crab in a glass of water gifted by a middle-aged man. Pryor's effortless resilience and ability to finesse such diversions to his benefit illuminates his brilliant ability to weave humor out of adversity.

5. Comedian

After Seinfeld the sitcom ended, Seinfeld the comic did the unexpected: He started from scratch, returning to small clubs to write and develop jokes. This 2002 concert film and documentary delves into the unseen dimension of stand-up comedy, chronicling the preparation, politics, nausea and creative tumult that goes into creating the material being showcased. Woven between his performances are illustrations of the struggles of up-and-coming comic Orny Adams and the challenges of squeezing oneself through the diminutive keyhole of show business.

6. Bill Cosby: Himself

This 1983 classic is aptly named: It represents Cosby at his most essential, and sees him exploring much of the same autobiographical subject matter that his hit sitcom, The Cosby Show, would later. Out of mundane familial situations, he teases hilarious tension, striking relatable chords with anyone who's also tried to approach a frenzied spouse or desperate child with logic. The anger surrounding the accusation that Carlos Mencia plagiarized a joke from Himself---about a devoted father who trained a successful, thankless son---only proves Cosby's continued reach and influence.

7. The Comedians of Comedy

A play on The Original Kings of Comedy, this project---between 2005 and 2007, it was released in different cuts on Comedy Central, DVD and also in theaters---provides an intimate look into the world comedy tour of stand-ups Patton Oswalt, Maria Bamford, Brian Posehn and Zach Galifianakis. The film pivots between stand-up routines and backstage footage as the group bypasses established comedy clubs for unassuming theaters and indie-rock venues. Several other comics and friends of the cast appear as well.