Dark Comedy is all about finding humor in life’s bleakest moments. The genre is known for touching on taboo and dark themes like death, violence, and moral ambiguity then turning them into sources of laughter. Eliciting both amusement and discomfort in audiences for decades, the genre’s roots can be traced back 1940s movies like Charlie Chaplin’s The Great Dictator and Frank Capra’s Arsenic and Old Lace.
Culturally, Britain has a long tradition of using humor to tackle uncomfortable topics. Its use of self-deprecation and gallows humor as coping mechanisms translates perfectly into dark comedy movies. Below we look at some of the greatest ever dark comedy movies to come out of the island.
10 Four Lions (2010)
From the creative mind of British comedy icon Chris Morris,Four Lions is a scathing satire looking at the complexities of extremism using pitch black humor and wit. It follows a group of bumbling British would-be jihadi terrorists as they attempt to plan a major London attack.
Four Lions Is Utterly Absurd Yet Uncomfortably Realistic
Four Lions is full of laugh-out-loud moments as audiences bear witness to the dimwitted extremists on their ill-fated quest for martyrdom. Scratch beneath the surface, though, and some very real and uncomfortable truths are being addressed. Highlighting the roles disenfranchisement, social alienation and radicalization play in extremism, the movie was a huge hit with critics and earned Morris the BAFTA award for Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director, or Producer.
9 Death at a Funeral (Death at a Funeral 2007)
Featuring a strong cast of talented British actors, including Peter Dinklage, Alan Tudyk and Krish Marshall, Death at a Funeral is a hilarious story of a dysfunctional family trying to resolve a number of issues set against the backdrop of a dead relative’s funeral. Infusing a dark, somber atmosphere with moments of utter chaos makes for the perfect juxtaposition.
Death at a Funeral Later Received an American Makeover
Death at a Funeral was praised for its dark humor and was considered a critical and commercial hit. It was later remade in America, this time around starring Chris Rock, Tracy Morgan, Martin Lawrence, and Peter Dinklage reprising his role from the original (although this time under a different name).
8 Sightseers (2012)
Sightseers
- Release Date
- November 30, 2012
- Cast
- Alice Lowe , Eileen Davies , Steve Oram , Roger Michael , Tony Way , Seamus O’Neill
Before Ben Wheatley had hundreds of millions of dollars at his disposal, directing huge Hollywood blockbusters like TheMeg 2, he was making quirky British indie movies. Among them is Sightseers. It follows a British couple on a sightseeing expedition of England’s national parks as they leave a trail of death wherever they go.
Sightseers Is Britain’s Understated Counterpart to Natural Born Killers
Take away the hyper-stylized freneticism of Oliver Stone’s controversial hit Natural Born Killers and replace it with a slower, more introspective approach and you’ve got Sightseers. While both movies follow a traveling couple who develop an unquenchable thirst for blood, Sightseers finds humor in the banality of evil in everyday life which allows the audience to relate to the characters’ deadly descent into madness on a more personal level.
7 Three and Out (2008)
After accidentally hitting and killing two people on the tracks, train driver Paul, played by Mackenzie Crook, is led to believe that if three civilians are killed within a month whilst he’s driving, he would be entitled to early retirement and a hefty payout. The movie then follows Paul as he attempts to persuade a depressed, suicidal man to take his own life on the train track, as it would be mutually beneficial for both.
Despite the Crass Nature of its Premise, Three And Out Is Full of Heart
Due to its extremely dark subject matter, the movie failed to win over most critics and struggled at the box office, with many deeming it ‘tasteless.’ Despite these initial reactions, the movie actually deals with these sensitive topics rather delicately with a blend of sensitivity, humor and plenty of heart, offering a unique and thought-provoking take on depression, mortality and human connection.
6 The Ladykillers (1955)
Released in 1955, The Ladykillers tells the story of a criminal gang who rent rooms from an old lady to use to prepare a daring heist. Things get complicated, though, once the heist has taken place and the old lady has figured out what has gone down. As tensions mount, the criminals are forced to make life-changing decisions in order to protect their freedom.
The Ladykillers Was Later Remade by The Coen Brothers
Originally starring Alex Guinness, Peter Sellers, and Katie Johnson, the movie was later remade by the Coen Brothers with Tom Hanks being cast in the lead role. While the remake has its merits, the original is widely regarded as one of the greatest films of all time and stands as one of the only movies to have a perfect 100% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. It was praised for its plot twists, dark humor, and the stellar performances of its star-studded cast.
5 Withnail & I (1987)
Released in 1987 and starring Richard E Grant and Paul McGann, Withnail & I tells the story of two heavy-drinking unemployed actors as they take a vacation at a dilapidated cottage in the English countryside. From there on, the film takes a turn for the absurd as the pair’s drunken shenanigans escalate.
Withnail & I Has Left an Indelible Mark on the Dark Comedy Genre
Often cited as one of the finest movies in the genre, Withnail & I’s exploration of an unlikely couple of friends’ hazy escapades has been cited as an influence on a plethora of movies that followed, from David Gordon Green’s Pineapple Express to Shane Black’s The Nice Guys. It currently stands at 92% on Rotten Tomatoes and is still enjoyed by its cult fanbase to this day.
4 A Fish Called Wanda (1988)
Full of twists and turns, this farce heist film was released to critical acclaim in 1988 and stars John Cleese, Michael Palin, Kevin Kline, and Jamie Lee Curtis. Finding humor in the criminal groups’ morally questionable behavior, A Fish Called Wanda manages to jump between silly slapstick shenanigans and pitch-black, witty dialogue without ever missing a beat.
A Fish Called Wanda Is Considered by Many as One of the Funniest Movies Ever Made
The movie was showered with praise and accolades, including a Best Supporting Oscar for Kevin Kline and a BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role for John Cleese, to name but a few. Critics praised its humor and it was named in a plethora of ‘best movie’ lists. Additionally, according to Cleese himself, the movie was so funny a man was actually reported to have laughed to death whilst watching it.
3 Trainspotting (1996)
Director Danny Boyle’s major breakthrough movie Trainspotting is a grim, bleak, and disturbing exploration of the lives of a group of heroin addicts in Scotland. Yet, amongst all the darkness and despair, Boyle manages to inject the movie with an undercurrent of pitch-black humor.
Trainspotting Is a One-of-a-Kind Exploration of Addiction and Youth Culture
Featuring breathtaking cinematography, memorable characters, and a raw and unflinching look at addiction, Trainspotting captivates audiences by somehow managing to seamlessly combine humor and heroin-induced horror. Critics lauded its gutsy approach to serious subject matter whilst still maintaining a sense of humor.
2 Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998)
Often considered the British equivalent of Quentin Tarantino, Guy Ritchie made a name for himself directing a slew of gritty British gangster movies before becoming one of Hollywood’s most sought-after directors, helming huge-scale movies like Aladdin and the Sherlock Holmes series. The boldest and best of his early output is arguably Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, which takes viewers deep into the seedy underbelly of London’s criminal fraternity.
Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels Was Guy Ritchie’s Debut Feature Film
Viewers are thrown back and forth into various interweaving stories filled with gangsters, deception, guns, drugs, and dogs. It manages to keep audiences on the edge of their seats with its use of crash zooms, involuntary camera movements, visual storytelling, wonderful needle drops, and witty, profanity-filled dialogue.
1 Shaun of the Dead
The Citizen Kane of zom-coms, Shaun of the Dead is as funny as it is gory. Set during a zombie apocalypse, viewers are treated to a slew of gloriously gory zombie slayings at the hands of an unlikely group of friends as they strive for survival. It received universal acclaim and has been cited by Quentin Tarantino as being one of his favorite movies. It currently holds an impressive 92% approval score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Shaun of the Dead Is the Perfect Combination of Horror and Comedy
Full of blood, guts, gore, and genuine frights, the movie also features some of the funniest movie moments ever committed to film. Whether arguing over what vinyl records are worth sacrificing to be used to decapitate oncoming zombies (apparently Dire Straits can go but New Order is too precious) or holing up at the ‘Winchester pub for it to all ‘blow over,’ there’s never a dull moment.
