Black comedy movies have paved the way for legendary actors, comics and creatives like Tyler Perry, who may have started with Madea but has gone on to bring the Black experience to the large and small screen in dramatic form, as well as comedic, shedding light on stories that needed to be told. Some of the best Black comedy movies are responsible for timeless hilarious catchphrases, social media gifs and memes. Especially in recent years, and after generations of marginalization, Hollywood has recognized the importance of Black mainstream comedies with Black leads; the 2017 film Girls Trip raked in more than $100 million at the box office. In this list of the best Black comedy movies of all time, we have captured movies that will make you laugh until you cry, films that have a hint of romance and hilarious movies that also teach valuable lessons. From Pryor to Eddie Murphy and Martin Lawrence, the stars represented here include some of the best performers in comedy. So grab your popcorn and check out the 41 of the best Black comedy movies you should watch to tickle your funny bone. We’ll start with the film whose sequel might be one of the most anticipated movies of 2021.
Coming to America (1988)
He who finds a wife finds a good thing and that’s exactly what privileged Prince Akeem (Murphy) plans to do. In an effort to avoid an arranged marriage, the Prince and his trusted valet, Semmi (Arsenio Hall) leave the fictional country of Zamunda and move to New York in search of his future queen. The culture shock is comedic gold and the best part? The sequel will be released in March.
Cooley High (1975)
This coming of age dramedy by screenwriter Eric Monte follows the story of high school seniors and best friends, Preach (Glynn Turman), an aspiring playwright, and Cochise (Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs), a basketball champion, in Chicago in 1964. The lighthearted film takes a tragic turn during the final weeks of their senior year.
Life (1999)
During Prohibition in the early 1930s, two men (Eddie Murphy and Martin Lawrence) team up and travel to Mississippi on a prosperous bootlegging mission. Instead of success, they are wrongfully convicted of murder and end up in prison with a life sentence. It’s a film about a friendship that stands the test of time.
House Party (1990)
Hip-hop duo Kid ’n Play star as themselves in this classic as two best friends who are determined to have the house party to end all house parties.
Breakin’ 2: Electric Boogaloo (1984)
The three main dancers from the first film, Breakin,’ Kelly “Special K” Bennett (Lucinda Dickey), Ozone (Adolfo Quiñones) and Turbo (Michael Chambers), struggle to stop the demolition of a community recreation center by a developer who wants to build a shopping mall. The film is full of pop-locking, break-dancing nostalgia.
Dolemite is My Name (2019)
After a long hiatus, Eddie Murphy returned to the big screen transformed into 1970s comedian Rudy Ray Moore. The film follows Moore as he creates his hilarious raunchy alter ego “Dolemite,” making him one of the biggest stars of the Blaxploitation film era.
Soul Plane (2004)
In this cult classic, Nashawn Wade (Kevin Hart) wins millions of dollars from a lawsuit against a major airline. He takes that money and launches his very own dream airline, but things get crazy aboard the first flight of this Black-owned airline.
Stir Crazy (1980)
Richard Pryor and Gene Wilder reunited in this film as two unemployed best friends sent to prison after being wrongfully accused of a bank robbery. While in prison, they have difficulty adjusting to their new lives, so they work on finding a plan to escape before they go crazy. Pryor and Wilder previously appeared in the 1976 comedy thriller Silver Streak.
Rush Hour (1998)
Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker team up for this film about a Hong Kong inspector and an L.A.P.D. detective that work together to save the daughter of a Chinese diplomat. As they work against the clock to rescue her, they have to overcome their annoyance with each other and handle the obstacles that come their way. The film spawned two other sequels with the comedic duo, Rush Hour 2 and Rush Hour 3.
Friday (1995)
It’s Friday, and with two unemployed friends in South Central L.A., what could possibly go wrong in this Ice Cube-penned comedy classic? Craig and Smokey (Chris Tucker) owe money to a neighborhood drug dealer and have to pay him by the end of the day. As they try to make their deadline, they come up against a cast of characters. The phrase and internet meme, “Bye Felicia!” was born in this movie. Other sequels were created in the franchise, Next Friday, Friday After Next and Friday: The Animated Series
Beverly Hills Cop (1984)
A Detroit cop, Axel Foley (Eddie Murphy) heads to Beverly Hills after his childhood friend is murdered. Murphy brings his fast-talking, slick, comedic timing as he tries to find the killer. The film spawned a film series with two sequels, Beverly Hills Cop II and Beverly Hills Cop III, both starring Murphy, in 1987 and 1994.
Brewster’s Millions (1985)
Richard Pryor is a minor league baseball player on a mission. He has to spend $30 million in 30 days, in order to inherit $300 million. But it comes with a clause: he’s not allowed to own any assets, destroy the money, gift it or tell anyone about the deal, including his best friend Spike (John Candy).
The Best Man (1999)
Taye Diggs stars in this romantic comedy about an up-and-coming writer whose latest novel is based on the lives of his closest friends. When the novel makes its way into the hands of the wrong person, he tries to keep the book a secret before it ruins relationships and a wedding.
Do the Right Thing (1989)
It’s the hottest day of the summer in this critically-acclaimed Spike Lee joint. The film is based in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Bedford-Stuyvesant as racial tensions build and eventually explode into violence.
Barbershop (2002)
In this 2002 classic, a Chicago barbershop owner (Ice Cube) does everything he can to save his struggling shop from closing, including accepting money from a greedy loan shark who has other plans for the business. This was the first installment in the Barbershop series.
Beauty Shop (2005)
This film is a spinoff from the Barbershop franchise, starring Queen Latifah as a new salon owner and established stylist faced with a lot of obstacles as she tries to make her salon a success.
Boomerang (1992)
In this ’90s romantic comedy, Eddie Murphy stars as Marcus, a self-involved ad executive and womanizer who meets his match in his beautiful new boss, Jacqueline (Robin Givens). Marcus finds comfort in his colleague Angela (Halle Berry), who could give him a reason to put down his player’s card.
Bad Boys (1995)
Will Smith and Martin Lawrence play two wise-cracking Miami detectives who are tasked with investigating a theft from the local police department. It’s the first of the three-film franchise. The story follows detectives Mike Lowrey and Marcus Burnett, who must track down millions of dollars worth of stolen drugs in order to save the narcotics division at their station.
I’m Gonna Git You Sucka (1988)
The days of Blaxploitation films are long gone, but who doesn’t love a good parody courtesy of one of the members of the infamous Wayans family? Keenan Ivory Wayans wrote, starred in and debuted as a director in this cult classic. In the spoof, Wayans plays a Black hero wannabe that reunites former Black heroes from the 70s to help him get revenge on the neighborhood chain lord that he deems responsible for killing his brother.
Car Wash (1976)
Welcome to the car wash where you get more than you bargained for. The film deals with the exploits of a close-knit group of employees at a Los Angeles car wash. It’s set over a single day in the month of July when they come in contact with the most eccentric customers, including the money-hungry evangelist played by Richard Pryor.
Don’t Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood (1996)
Shawn and Marlon Wayans star in this parody film about life in South Central L.A. The film spoofs the clichés of many coming of age hood movies.
Hollywood Shuffle (1987)
Robert Townsend stars as an actor limited to stereotypical roles because of his ethnicity. The film explores the mental and external roadblocks to success in the entertainment industry and takes a satirical look at Black actors in Hollywood.
The Nutty Professor (1996)
Eddie Murphy plays scientist Sherman Klump (as well as a whole cast of characters) who creates a miracle fast-working weight loss solution that he tries on himself. It works and he turns into Buddy Love, his womanizing, thinner alter ego. It’s a remake of the 1963 film of the same name starring Jerry Lewis.
Harlem Nights (1989)
Richard Pryor and Eddie Murphy star in this crime comedy set in 1930s Harlem. The pair fend off gangsters and corrupt cops while running a speakeasy that is outperforming the rival establishment. The film also features Redd Foxx, Della Reese, Jasmine Guy, Arsenio Hall and Charlie Murphy.
White Chicks (2004)
Marlon and Shawn Wayans play FBI agents who foil a drug bust and as their punishment, they are forced to escort a pair of socialites to the Hamptons where they will be used as bait for a kidnapper. But, when the girls back out, the agents are forced to disguise themselves as two socialites who are very rich, blonde and white.
Dope (2015)
This coming of age comedy follows Malcolm, a geeky high schooler living in Inglewood, who spends his time bonding with his two best friends over music and his dream to go to Harvard. Then one day, after an interesting interaction with a drug dealer, his life takes a sudden turn.
Disorderlies (1987)
This film features the rap group, The Fat Boys, as three of the most inept orderlies hired to speed up the demise of a millionaire by his nephew. The trio’s bumbling antics actually do the opposite and help reenergize the ailing man.
Big Momma’s House (2000)
Martin Lawrence stars as FBI agent Malcolm Turner in this comedy franchise. He goes undercover as southern granny Big Momma, to lure her estranged granddaughter and suspect in a robbery case to her house when the real big momma goes out of town.
Bustin’ Loose (1981)
Cicely Tyson plays the director of a foster home and is forced to move the kids from Philadelphia to Seattle by bus. Richard Pryor stars as the fast-talking parolee assigned to drive the bus, and what ensues is a hilarious road trip adventure.
Sister Act (1992)
A Las Vegas showgirl (Whoopi Goldberg) accidentally witnesses a murder and is later put into the witness protection program in the most unconventional place: a convent. She ends up turning the convent choir into a soulful chorus, which could threaten her disguised identity.
Girls Trip (2017)
Four best friends known as the Flossy Posse travel to New Orleans for the annual Essence Festival. Sisterhoods are rekindled and wild sides are uncovered–and there’s plenty of drinking, dancing and romancing in this Big Easy comedy.
Two Can Play That Game (2001)
All is fair in love and war, and Vivica A. Fox and Morris Chestnut go head to head in this comedy to see who comes crawling back first through a series of mind games and tricks.
About Last Night (2014)
A remake of the 1986 film, one night, Danny (Michael Ealy) meets successful businesswoman Debbie (Joy Bryant), and they have an instant connection. But despite being cautious when it comes to love, the two want to make it work. At the same time, their best friends are strongly against commitment while simultaneously falling for each other.
Dear White People (2014)
This satire follows the lives of several Black students who attend a fictional Ivy League school that’s predominantly white. From microaggressions to overt acts of racism, this film is told from the Black perspective. It’s also a series on Netflix.
Diary of a Mad Black Woman (2005)
Tyler Perry brings outspoken, pistol-packing grandma Madea to the big screen in this film, the first in the Madea franchise. After her husband leaves her for another woman, Helen (Kimberly Elise) flees and seeks out the comfort of Madea.
Think Like a Man (2012)
When a group of friends discover that the women in their lives have been reading Steve Harvey’s book, Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man for relationship advice, the men decide to use the book’s teachings against them.
Little (2019)
Jordan (Issa Rae) is a take no prisoners tech CEO who magically turns into a 13-year-old version of herself. Now she must rely on the help of her assistant, who she treated horribly. Marsai Martin was Hollywood’s youngest ever executive producer with the release of this film.
The Wood (1999)
As they celebrate the wedding of one of their own, three best friends reminisce about their childhood in Inglewood. In between the trek down memory lane, the groom (Taye Diggs) goes missing, and they have to find him in time to make it to the altar.
The Original Kings of Comedy (2000)
Steve Harvey, Cedric the Entertainer, Bernie Mac and D.L. Hughley each showcased their skills in this concert feature film as four of the most successful Black comics in the business at the time this was filmed. Harvey serves as the host, while Cedric offers his musings on the lost art of dance, Hughley rants about the dangers of firing white people, and Mac tells the story about his sister’s kids that ultimately ended up being the premise of his sitcom, The Bernie Mac Show.
B.A.P.S. (1997)
Two Georgia waitresses (Halle Berry and Natalie Desselle) travel across the country to L.A. so they can audition for a music video to earn the money for their dream business of a soul food restaurant that doubles as a hair salon. Somehow, they find themselves in the good graces of a millionaire, and despite their cultural differences, these Black American Princesses get a little closer to their goal.
Bébé’s Kids (1992)
In this animated classic, Robin Harris just wanted to see the gorgeous Jamika on a second date. He agrees to take her and her son to an amusement park. But what he didn’t sign up for was Bébé’s kids, three more children Jamika is babysitting. In the mood for some television instead? Try one of the best Black TV shows of all time.
