100+ Clean Comedy Movies for When You Need a Laugh

Let’s talk about the best clean comedy movies of all time.

When you need a good laugh, but don’t find the crude antics of Seth Rogen, Chris Tucker, Mike Myers, Sacha Baron Cohen and the like appealing, what can you watch?

Thankfully, there are plenty of delightful and entertaining films that can make you laugh with wit, slapstick, or just plain silliness. In fact, some of the best movies of all time are actually appropriate (and cherished) by all ages.

These are some of our favorites from the comedy genre. We’ll start with a list of the best comedy movies, which will include silent classics, contemporary animated flicks, and everything in between.

Then we’ll provide even more titles under several headings, including family, rom-coms, classics, and a mishmash of clean films that will appeal to grownups. Everything on the list is rated PG or under, although we have included a few mild PG13 options at the very end.

Get ready for a movie night filled with cinematic humor! Here is our list of the top 100 family comedy movies.

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Best Clean Comedy Movies

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1. The Princess Bride (1987)

8.0 IMDB / 98% RT

One of the best clean comedies of all time, this clever spin on the medieval fairy tale genre didn’t do well at the box office but has lived on through its endearing combination of earnest adventure, tongue-in-cheek humor, and amazingly quotable lines.

2. City Lights (1931)

8.5 IMDB / 96% RT

City Lights is without a doubt Charlie Chaplin’s greatest film. The entire picture is just wonderful, but the whistle scene leaves me in tears every time. A must-see.

3. The Truman Show (1998)

8.2 IMDB / 95% RT

The Truman Show was Jim Carrey’s first foray into a more dramatic role, and he nailed it. Carrey plays Truman, an average, everyday man whose entire existence — from the moment he was born — has been played in front of an audience as a non-stop TV show. He’s the star of the world’s most-watched show, and he has no idea.

Equal parts drama, comedy, and social commentary, this Peter Weir-directed masterpiece was ahead of its time in depicting every aspect of a person’s life captured and broadcast through social media.

If any of that sounds ponderous, don’t let it turn you away from watching. It’s thoughtful without forgetting to be entertaining, with Jim Carrey in his best performance. Pure, clean fun.

4. How to Train Your Dragon (2010)

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8.1 IMDB / 99% RT

In a fantastical Nordic island country where every child learns to become a dragon hunter, Hiccup, the town chief’s hapless son, becomes best friends with the dragon he was supposed to kill.

While many animated films appeal to the whole family (see: most Pixar movies), this non-Disney title is one of the best. A creative script, delightful computer animation, engaging characters, lots of action, and plenty of humor throughout, if you haven’t seen this modern classic yet, put it on your list pronto.

5. Groundhog Day (1993)

8.0 IMDB / 94% RT

A time-traveling fantasy wrapped in a romantic comedy that somehow gets to the big questions of the meaning of life, told from the perspective of a wisecracking Bill Murry in his funniest movie of all time.

Perfect for anyone who loves good romantic comedies, it’s one to watch every year on Groundhog Day! Because you never know… “Well, what if there is no tomorrow? There wasn’t one today.”

6. Secondhand Lions (2003)

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7.5 IMDB / 84% RT

Secondhand Lions is just one of those feel-good, heartwarming family films that is a must see for comedy lovers.

Centered around a shy young man and the summer he is forced to spend with his two grouchy, eccentric great uncles (played by none other than Robert Duvall and Michael Caine), you’ll be rolling from the antics and the well-timed dry humor.

The onscreen dynamic of three leads is just about as perfect as it gets, too.

7. The Sandlot (1993)

7.8 IMDB / 89% RT

“You’re killin’ me, Smalls.”

Practically a piece of Americana, The Sandlot is also a comedic classic that can be enjoyed by audiences of all ages.

Set in 1962’s small town America, new kid on the block Scottie Smalls is keen to quickly fit in with a group of baseball loving neighborhood kiddos that eat, sleep and breathe their favorite sport. The only problem is that he has no idea how to play baseball…

With tons of nostalgia, lots of heart, and some of the most iconic one-liners in comedy history, you’d regret passing up this gem of good clean comedy movies.

8. His Girl Friday (1940)

7.8 IMDB / 99% RT

Cary Grant and Rosalind Russell star in the ultimate screwball comedy. There’s a good reason this film is often ranked among the all-time greats: It’s hilarious!

Grant plays Walter Burns, a divorced newspaper editor who uses the urgent and developing story of an escaped murderer to try and keep his ex-wife — who is also his star reporter — from leaving the job and marrying her newly engaged fiancé.

The witty dialogue is delivered at a frenetic pace, which has been clocked at 240 words per minute (150 wpm is the average talking speed for most people), and is full of jokes and clever repartee.

A must-see for anyone who loves journalism, classic film, romance, and — of course! — knee-slapping comedy.

9. Tangled (2010)

best clean comedy movies - Tangled — Check Latest Price

7.7 IMDB / 89% RT

In all honesty, Tangled is probably one of the best animated films Disney has released since the 90’s.

A fresh look at the classic fairy tale Rapunzel, it is witty, charming, not overly preachy about this or that agenda, and — quite frankly — hilarious.

With a star-studded cast of voice actors, a delightfully catchy soundtrack, and gorgeous animation headed up by Glen Keane (aka the mastermind behind most of your favorite Disney characters like Tarzan, Ariel, Pocahontas and many more), Tangled is a must see.

10. Paddington 2 (2017)

7.8 IMDB / 99% RT

How can you not love the adorable and hilarious antics of Paddington bear? The second installment of this family franchise will not disappoint.

Now an established member of the lovely Brown family, Paddington the bear sets out on the quest of finding the perfect gift for his adoptive aunt’s birthday. His quest for a present soon turns into a frolicking and humorous adventure as Paddington lands himself in the clinker by accident.

We just about guarantee your cheeks will hurt from smiling by the time this precious pick of our best clean funny movies wraps up.

11. Home Alone (1990)

7.7 IMDB / 80% RT

“Haaaarrrrrrrryyyyyy…” The quotables are just too many to list in this cult classic comedy that doubles as the perfect Christmas movie!

It’s Christmas time in suburban Chicago, when a bratty Kevin McCallister (played by Macaulay Culkin) accidentally gets left home alone while the rest of his family travels to Paris for the holidays.

He’s ecstatic at first, until he discovers two bumbling burglars intend to rob his home.

You’ll be in absolute stitches from the antics that ensue in this all-round good movie.

Related: Best Family New Years Movies

12. It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963)

7.5 IMDB / 83% RT

There are a lot of great, classic knee-slappers out there, but few can hold a candle to the craziness that makes up the laugh-out-loud comedy It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World.

After being unable to come to a negotiation on how to split it, eight unique individuals end up on a mad dash for $350,000 buried in Santa Rosita, CA by a recently deceased convict.

With a phenomenal comedic cast of greats like Spencer Tracy, Milton Berle, Sid Caesar, Buddy Hackett, Mickey Rooney, and so many more, you’ve never seen slapstick like this. It will have you roaring.

13. Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)

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7.9 IMDB / 93% RT

People can jeer and jab all they want about Wes Anderson’s unique approach to film, but you cannot dispute his ability to make a fantastic movie. And Fantastic Mr. Fox is no exception. In one of the best book-to-movie adaptations out there, Roald Dahl’s tale of Mr. Fox and his family comes to life in stop-motion perfection.

We find Mr. Fox fulfilling his promise to his wife Felicity to abandon his farm-raiding ways and live a quiet, non-dangerous life with their son Ash. But Mr. Fox can only resist the pull of his old ways for so long and eventually gives in, instigating horrid retaliation from the three gluttonous farmers from which he steals.

Lots of life lessons and lots of laughter fill this critical acclaim earning film that will absolutely delight you.

14. Holes (2003)

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7.0 IMDB / 78% RT

The family favorite Holes, based on a novel by the same title, is full of laughs, adventure, and life lessons that ring true even in today’s climate.

Stanley Yelnats (played by a young Shia LeBeouf) is an unlucky teen who is wrongfully convicted of theft and sentenced to serve out his time at Camp Green Lake, Texas. Once a lush, thriving, lakeside community, nothing remains but a dustbowl of an old lakebed where underaged convicts dig holes all. day. long.

During his time there, Stanley forms some alliances and friendships while slowly uncovering the history of the site, as well as his family’s long-lost connection to it. A great family flick that you really don’t want to miss.

15. Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris (2022)

7.1 IMDB / 94% RT

This elegant, understated, and heartwarming film may not make you laugh out loud, but it will bring plenty of smiles to your face so we’re happy to categorize it as a comedy.

Lesley Manville stars as Ada Harris, a lonely London cleaning lady in the 1950s who begins to dream of owning a dress made by Dior. She works, saves, and finally scrapes together enough to purchase the dress, only to realize…well, you’ll just have to watch it. You may have just found a new favorite.

A thoroughly enjoyable and beautiful movie, the 1992 version starring Angela Landsbury and Omar Sharriff is equally charming.

16. Galaxy Quest (1999)

7.4 IMDB / 90% RT

If you are equally as much of a sci-fi fan as you are a comedy fan, then Galaxy Quest would be a great pick for family movie night!

A quirky cast of greats like Tim Allen, Alan Rickman and Sigourney Weaver team up in this intergalactic romp as the washed up cast of a 70’s hit sci-fi series. Past their prime and time in the limelight, the crew is now grown weary of reprising their roles at conventions and scratching out a living through reruns.

Bored and a bit depressed, the team is suddenly beamed aboard a real alien spacecraft, whose crew — believing them to be real space heroes — is seeking their help to fight off invaders. Hilarity and adventure ensues, coupled with topnotch on-screen energy and dynamic from the ensemble cast.

17. Hook (1991)

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6.8 IMDB / 76% RT

Picking up forty years after his last adventure in Neverland, Peter Pan — now Peter Banning (Robin Williams) — is an overworked and negligent father in the real world, with no memory of his former life.

His wife Moira happens to be the granddaughter of none other than his old friend Wendy Darling. The aged Wendy tells Peter of his real identity, though he refuses to believe her stories of their adventures together in Neverland. That is until his children are kidnapped by his supposed old nemesis, Captain Hook (played by Dustin Hoffman).

Peter is then faced with the reality of his true identity, the loss of his imagination, and the near loss of his children, though he is helped through his trials by a crew of old friends who still believe in him.

Fun, delightfully entertaining, and boasting a supporting cast of too many greats, Hook is one of the best funny clean movies that you don’t want to miss out on.

18. Elf (2003)

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7.1 IMDB / 85% RT

A wonderfully clean comedy that’s also a great Christmas movie? Yes, please!

From the moment of its release, Elf was one of those instant classics. Will Ferrell plays Buddy, an oversized elf that just can’t seem to understand why he doesn’t (quite literally) fit in at the North Pole. Frustrated and feeling dejected, Buddy heads to New York City to find his “real father.”

Despite his childlike conduct and lack of understanding of the real world, Buddy manages to eventually win over pretty much everyone he meets, including his new-found father.

Lots of charm, lots of laughs, and lots of Christmas shenanigans make this flick an absolute winner.

19. The Return of the Pink Panther (1975)

7.0 IMDB / 85% RT

C’mon. You can’t not love Peter Sellers as the bumbling Inspector Jaques Clouseau!

In this sequel to 1963’s The Pink Panther, Clouseau sets out in pursuit of the notorious thief known only as “the Phantom,” whom he believes has stolen the pink panther diamond. Determined to win back his reinstatement by solving the case, Clouseau goes on a hilarious hunt following his *usually wrong* instincts and poor detective skills.

Packed with laughs and good-hearted fun, it’s a funny movie the whole family will enjoy.

20. Arsenic and Old Lace (1944)

7.9 IMDB / 92% RT

Boy-oh boy, what a film. Arsenic and Old Lace will have you crying with laughter once you’re through being thoroughly confused.

Cary Grant plays Mortimer Brewster, a congenial newspaperman and writer who has finally found the woman he wants to marry, and so he does. Marry, that is, and on Halloween night. Thrilled to announce the news of his nuptials to the two spinster aunts that raised him, he returns home.

Knowing full-well that a bit of a “mad gene” runs in his family (for instance, his uncle believes himself to be Teddy Roosevelt), Mortimer is still shocked to discover the dark secret his sweet old aunts have been hiding.

Chaotic and incredibly charming, this dark comedy has to be one of my all-time faves, and is just a great movie when you want to laugh ’til your belly hurts.

Author’s tip: If you’re looking for some more of the best clean comedies and you don’t mind the occasional black and white, old films (usually pre-1960) are a pretty safe bet. After all, the saying “They just don’t make movies like they used to.” came from somewhere.

Clean Comedy Movies for the Whole Family

Some more of best clean comedy movies that fell just short of our top twenty list above.

More: 100 Non-Animated Family Movies You Need to Watch

Clean Romantic Comedies

Classic Comedies

More: 12 Amazingly Clean Movies You’ve Probably Never Seen

More Funny Clean Comedy Movies

These are the titles that don’t quite fit into the other categories. Some are slightly more grownup fare, with laugh-out-loud yet appropriate comedy movies to dramedies that feature more subtle themes, while others just don’t “feel” like traditional family films or rom-coms.

Clean PG-13 Comedies

Consider this a list of clean comedy movies for adults. Below you’ll find mostly-clean flicks rated PG13, so be aware that there will be some mild swearing, innuendo, and things like that.

We’ve also included the best of the 1980s PG-rated comedies, which would definitely be PG13 nowadays.