10 Praiseworthy Comedies No One Ever Talks About

Whatever the reason, comedy produces a lot of underrated gems that slip by unnoticed. Sometimes they bomb at the box office, and other times they make a big splash only to be forgotten a few years down the line. Regardless of the specific circumstances, there are a boatload of comedy films out there that are stuffed with laughs, but few people talk about them.

Many of the films on this list got middling to poor reviews, but the critical reception is often in direct conflict with what audiences think. When a comedy can synch up with its intended viewer, the results are magical. There's no denying that the movies on the list aren't for everyone, but each is sure to be a classic to the portion of the audience that appreciates the film's individual sense of humor.

There are indie flicks and big-budget blockbusters, and quite a few recognizable names crop up as well. Legendary directors contribute movies to this list, as well as lesser-known filmmakers who nevertheless left a big mark on cinema. Various styles are also represented, from horror comedy to absurdist laughs, and everything in between.

10 Joe Versus The Volcano (1990)

In the years leading up to his big switch to drama in the 1990s, Tom Hanks made some of the best comedies of the era. In Joe Versus the Volcano, he plays a bored office worker who is given a stark diagnosis and decides to live lavishly before sacrificing himself to a tribe's volcano god. As bonkers as the plot sounds, the movie is actually pretty heartfelt.

Joe Versus the Volcano has a musical rhythm, and uses humorous visuals to convey its themes of modern alienation. Hanks is funny as always, and he's joined by Meg Ryan in a multiple-role performance. Though the film may not deliver a laugh-a-second, it's a joyous ride that deserves to be remembered as one of the best hidden gems in the romantic comedy genre.

9 Dirty Work (1998)

On the surface, Dirty Work looks like just another painfully raunchy '90s comedy. However, the Norm Macdonald vehicle is actually one of the funniest films of the last few years of the decade. A duo of slackers open a revenge-for-hire business, but a shady land developer makes them pawns in his nefarious plot. Dirty Work is endlessly quotable and hilariously cynical.

Macdonald's dry humor contrasts perfectly with the film's bombastic tone. Dirty Work is almost a parody of itself, poking fun at traditional comedy tropes. Despite only mustering a putrid 21% on Rotten Tomatoes, the lesser-known '90s gem is a late-night movie worth revisiting. It might not be for everyone, but it sure has a lot of laughs.

8 Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist (2008)

Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist is fondly remembered by indie kids of a certain age, but it deserves wider attention. The titular characters are lovelorn young adults who go on a wild adventure over the course of a single night as they try to attend a secret concert put on by their favorite band. The soundtrack is stuffed with 2000s indie rock earworms like The National and Vampire Weekend.

It combines the sincerity of rom-coms with the frenetic energy of a coming-of-age story, and adds in dashes of cringe for a unique mixture. Nick & Norah"s Infinite Playlist is endearing because of its punchy optimism, and it hearkens back to the hopeful mood of the late Aughts. It's just now starting to become delightfully dated, but that's another thing that makes it so enjoyable to revisit.

7 I'm Gonna Git You Sucka (1988)

As one of the more underrated parody films, I'm Gonna Git You Sucka has only gotten funnier in the last four decades. Spoofing the Blaxploitation genre of the '70s, the story concerns a military vet who vows revenge against the dealers who killed his brother. Gold chain overdoses and zany action sequences abound, and I'm Gonna Git You Sucka isn't afraid to go there.

The film springs from the minds of the Wayans family, and is a precursor to hits like Scary Movie. It has that same unrestrained energy, and nothing is off limits. Though some of the jokes land with a thud, the scattershot approach means the laughs don't really stop. I'm Gonna Git You Sucka is especially funny for those who appreciate the movies being spoofed.

6 L.A. Story (1991)

Steve Martin is responsible for a handful of truly praiseworthy underrated comedies, and L.A. Story is a jewel among them. A wacky Los Angeles weatherman begins getting signs from a literal sign, and changes his love life for the better. While telling a straightforward love story, the film takes some hilariously surreal and absurd detours.

Martin's playfulness is on full display, and so is his unbeatable charm as a leading man. Underneath all the zany jokes is a beautiful story about two people finding each other in the hectic modern world. The absurdity likely left a lot of viewers confused back in the early '90s, but the times have finally caught up to L.A. Story. In a modern world stuffed with distractions, the film is all the more prescient.

5 Bubba Ho-Tep (2002)

Horror comedy is notoriously hit-or-miss, and there's no denying the divisive nature of Bubba Ho-Tep. Decades after faking his death, Elvis spends his dying days in a nursing home where he befriends a Black man who thinks he's JFK to fight off a mummy. Don Coscarelli's goofy flick utilizes his skills as a horror director, but supplants them with laughs.

Though the movie leans a bit too much on its premise alone, Bruce Campbell (Elvis) and Ossie Davis (JFK) are a dynamic comedy duo. Bubba Ho-Tep is perfect for horror fanatics, and is a pretty popular fixture in the community. However, it's just silly enough to be appealing to other fanbases as well.

4 Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story (2007)

Walk Hard is a spoof of the Oscar-winning flick, Walk the Line, but it's so much more than a mere music movie parody. The silly biopic chronicles the turbulent life of the dim-witted country star, Dewey Cox. John C. Reilly headlines, and gives the best performance of his entire career. The movie shines brightest when it isn't spoofing, but actually crafting its own comedy style.

It's a spot-on dig at the clichés of biopics, and has everything from surreal laughs to fourth-wall-breaking jokes. There isn't a single moment in the movie that isn't funny, which is why it's so shocking that Walk Hard is largely forgotten almost two decades after its release. With music biopics clogging theaters in the 2020s, the movie is even funnier than it was back then.

3 The Ruling Class (1972)

Older comedies either age like fine wine or fade from the pages of history, and The Ruling Class is an example of the former. The heir of a lavish British estate believes he's Jesus Christ, and his handlers must find a way to bring him back down to Earth. The Peter O'Toole classic has musical elements, and a heaping helping of social satire.

The Oscar-nominee brilliantly skewers the wealthy elite class, and their eccentricities. There's an unrestrained goofiness not usually found in comedies from the era, but it is laser-focused on what it's trying to say. O'Toole captures the full scope of the movie's humor and tragedy, and The Ruling Class is a richer experience than the usual yuck-fest. It excels as a piece of cinema first and foremost.

2 True Stories (1986)

There is only one movie on Earth like True Stories, and that's why the praiseworthy comedy deserves to be talked about more. Talking Heads frontman David Byrne directs and stars in a film about a small Texas town preparing for its 150th anniversary celebration. It's delivered somewhat like a mockumentary, and has a humorous anthropological approach.

The scenes are loosely connected, and are underscored by music from the Talking Heads. What the film really is about is hard to say, though it is a celebration of individualism in an era of increasing sameness. The humor is downright weird, which is even funnier than straightforward jokes. It's also a brilliantly crafted film, and is one of the true hidden gems of the 1980s.

1 After Hours (1985)

An unusual detour in the filmography of Martin Scorsese, After Hours is a fiercely original addition to his oeuvre. A bored office worker goes on a wild ride through New York City after he loses his last $20 for cab fare. He steps out of his normal little world and discovers a universe of weird and wild people just outside his office window. It's safe to say that After Hours is a dark comedy.

It never sheds its sense of danger, so it's funny while also being legitimately thrilling. The "series of unfortunate events" formula isn't new, but never has it had such biting jokes and cynical twists. Scorsese's film makes the city feel alive, and that leads to some pretty bleak jokes. The praiseworthy comedy is often overlooked because it's so different from the legendary director's other films.