Dark comedy is a film genre that has a lot of interesting and good films. Some of them, asPulp FictionorThe Big Lebowski,are recognized as some of the greatest movies in history. In this post, we will recommend you some great movies from the dark comedy genre:
1.True Romance (1993)
When someone talks about Quentin Tarantino, the first thought that comes to an average watcher isPulp FictionorInglorious Basterds,but there is a film that represents the dark comedy genre and usually keeps unnoticed because of being directed by Tony Scott. This film isTrue Romance,one of the first drafts of Quentin Tarantino (along withReservoir DogsandNatural Born Killers). The plot of this movie is amusing and violent at the same time; showing us the particular story of the love of Clarence and Alabama, that is not an average couple. The cast of the film is amazing, with Christian Slater and Patricia Arquette giving life to the strange couple and some stars along with them as Gary Oldman, Christopher Walken, or Dennis Hopper; with a plot that represents the freshness and creativity of “starting” Quentin Tarantino.
2.The Nice Guys (2016)
This film, directed by Shane Black, shows us a 70s L.A. with two peculiar leading characters (portrayed by Ryan Gosling and Russel Crowe, giving two great interpretations) that have to collaborate to solve a wave of criminality related to the shooting of a porn film. The movie is funny and violent at the same time, with quirky secondary characters and giving a mystery-solving plot that keeps the audience amused and intrigued at the same time.
3.The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)
Directed by Wes Anderson and with a coral cast full of recognized actors as Ralph Fiennes, Edward Norton, Bill Murray, Saoirse Ronan, Tilda Swinton, Adrien Brody, Willem Dafoe… is a film with a dark comedy plot, but at the same time one of the most beautiful films of the last years when we talk about composition and colors. It is a must-watch film that provokes laughs and worries at once.
4.The King of Comedy (1982)
This is one of Martin Scorsese’s films that often go unnoticed by the general public but it has been a fount of inspiration to a recent film that got a lot of prestige last year: Joker. Starring by a young Robert De Niro, this film is about the character portrayed by De Niro himself and the obsession that he has with a tv comedy show presenter, interpreted by Jerry Lewis and the things that the crazy main character is willing to do to catch his attention.
5.Four Rooms (1995)
This film is an anthology of short films with one element in common, the main character (Tim Roth); that is a lobby guy that have to attend to the demands of the hotel clients on New Year’s Eve Night. These short films are directed by great directors as Robert Rodríguez or Quentin Tarantino (that stars in his own short as one of the main characters, portraying a cartoonish version of himself). This film tells 4 different funny stories that put the hotel worker in some troubles, with a cast with great actors that portray the extravagant secondary characters: Madonna, Bruce Willis, Antonio Banderas…
6.In Bruges (2008)
This film, directed by Martin McDonagh, tells the story of two hitmen that have to hide in Bruges after work living in weird and violent situations that will change their lives. With Brendan Gleeson and Colin Farrell (in one of his best performances, that gave him a Golden Globe) leading the movie and Ralph Fiennes portraying the cruel boss of both of them, this American-British film ensures laughs and entertainment for the viewer in great doses.
7.Raising Arizona (1987)
Raising Arizonais the second film of the Coen Brothers, and one of their funniest movies with a young Nicholas Cage portraying its main character H.I., that is a recurrent delinquent that fells in love with a cop (interpreted by Holly Hunter) and together they decide to create a family. Because of her being infertile, they decide to steal one of the five kids that a businessman and his wife have had. Alongside with some funny and great secondary characters and a cast full of great actors as John Goodman and Frances McDormand.
8.Snatch (2000)
This coral film shows us different stories with extravagant characters as hitmen, thieves, gangsters, gypsies… The movie is directed by Guy Ritchie, which films are always of the dark comedy genre, but being this work one of the most relevant and representative of his career. With a great film edition and a cast full of stars as Jason Statham, Brad Pitt, Benicio del Toro… this movie has great British humor at the same time that will keep you stuck to screen to see what is going to happen to its flamboyant characters.
9.Lock, Stock & Two Smoking Barrels (1998)
Again, it a film directed by Guy Ritchie, being the first long movie of the British director. The plot is about a group of friends that bet all their saves in a poker match and they lose, owing to a gangster a large amount of money and being under threat if they don´t pay him in time. This movie is coral too and has great characters and a funny and entertaining plot, but usually keeps unnoticed in the director´s career because of his next films (RocknRolla, Sherlock Holmes, The Man from U.N.C.L.E., The Gentlemen…). If you are looking for dark comedy films, I recommend you the whole filmography of Guy Ritchie, but this film shows us the creativity and the fresh start of the British filmmaker.
10.Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998)
This film, featuring Johnny Deep and Benicio del Toro and directed by Terry Gilliam, is a book adaptation from the autobiography book written by the eccentric journalist Hunter S. Thompson. The movie shows us the story of the two characters traveling to Vegas to cover a photo report but taking a lot of synthetic drugs in their way, living weird situations, and having hallucinations, without even remembering why are they there. Johnny Deep and Benicio del Toro giving two great performances and a plot with violence and fun in great quantities have made this movie of Terry Gilliam the state of the cult film after the years.