50 funniest films of the 80s: The Top 10

And now, the top 10 movies on our list of 50 funniest movies of the 80s.

Today's star, Chevy Chase, appears in three of the top 10 films. Bill Murray comes in a close second with two films in the top 10.

(Click here to read how we compiled the list; click for movies ranks 11-20, 21-30, 31-40,  41-50.)

THE TOP 10 FUNNIEST FILMS OF THE 80s

10. Caddyshack (1980): Chevy Chase, Bill Murray. "He hauls off and whacks one - big hitter, the Lama - long, into a ten-thousand foot crevasse, right at the base of this glacier. Do you know what the Lama says? Gunga galunga... gunga, gunga-galunga."

9. Vacation (1983): Chevy Chase, Beverly D'Angelo. "I gotta be crazy! I'm on a pilgrimage to see a moose. Praise Marty Moose!"

8. Big (1988): Tom Hanks, Elizabeth Perkins. "Do you mean sleep over?  Well, okay... but I get to be on top."

7. A Fish Called Wanda (1988): Kevin Kline, Jamie Lee Curtis. "It's K-K-K-Ken c-c-c-coming to k-k-k-kill me."

6. This is Spinal Tap (1984): Michael McKeen, Christopher Guest. "I do not, for one, think that the problem was that the band was down. I think that the problem may have been, that there was a Stonehenge monument on the stage that was in danger of being crushed by a dwarf." (Spinal Tap podcast)

5. Fletch (1985): Chevy Chase, Joe Don Baker. "You using the whole fist, Doc?" (More on Fletch)

4. Ghost Busters (1984): Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd. "I've been slimed."

3. Beetle Juice (1988): Michael Keaton, Geena Davis. "Not so fast, round boy. We're gonna have some laughs."

2. Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986): Matthew Broderick, Jeffrey Jones. "It's a little childish and stupid, but then, so is high school." (Ferris podcast)

1. Airplane! (1980): Leslie Nielsen, Robert Hays. "Joey, do you like movies about gladiators?"

Technically, there was a tie in votes received for Ferris Bueller and Airplane. I cast the tie-breaker in favor of Airplane because I felt it was a truer comedy and served as a big influence on many of the films that followed in the 80s, including Naked Gun and Top Secret-- both top 50 comedies as well. (Ferris influenced the creation of two short-lived TV series - "Parker Lewis Can't Lose" was the better of them -- and Broderick next appeared in Project X. So go figure.) Click here to hear our Airplane podcast with a compilation of the best quotes from the movie.

Most followers of the Stuck in the 80s blog and podcast may be shocked that I didn't pick Ferris. But the whole ending with Cameron and his dad's car -- that typical John Hughes ending -- hurts its overall comedy rating.

So there you go, feel free to leave a comment on the list. Agree, disagree, whatever. I'm all ears.

Comments

[Pete]

It's a shame Dirty Rotten Scoundrels didn't make the list. Steve Martin and Michael Caine made a wonderful team in that film and who can forget the dining scene with Ruprecht?On the whole, though, it is a good list.

[Hamptune]

Just curious about "Heaven Help Us", funny movie and never mentioned...What, no Platoon? Naked Gun reference...

[Steve Spears]

I think the Platoon reference in Naked Gun is one of the best scenes, especially since I remembering being near total depression after seeing Platoon.

[Brad]

I agree about Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. (Of course I couldn't be bothered to vote when polling was open, but you guys are in Florida, right?)"Oklahoma! Oklahoma! Oklahoma! Oklahoma!"

[Donna]

This this is a little strange, but I like it.

As I grew up in the 80's my mom made sure to give me a very healthy dose of these movies. I was a child who really didn't know what was going on in some of them (i.e. Airplane - "No thank you, I take it black, like my men.") but I love her for it today.

I teach now and will often throw quotes from movies at my students. I thought that if threw in "Bueller, Bueller," while taking role, that it would be too obvious, but I received many blank stares and had to give candy to those (very few) who did know what I was talking about.

The writer's of these comedies should be commended regularly for their wit.

I suppose they are with blogs like this, the people who talk about them, and those of us who try to use as many lines as we can in our everyday life :oB

"If you don't let me gut out this house and make it my own, I will go insane and I will take you with me!"
-Beetlejuice

[Bassnote]

I liked Fletch, but I don't think it deserves to be in the top 10. It should be switched with Better Off Dead. Great list though, good job Steve.

[--chaser]

ouch, Spearsy ... could you have crammed any more ads and dancing baloney on here?

ack.

[Barb]

I like Fletch near the top of the list. I missed some funny Richard Dreyfus movies, like Stakeout and Tin Men, both made in 1987.

[Bryan]

"What did you do Ray?"

"It's the Stay Puft Marshmellow Man."

;) classic

[Spears]

Yo Chase - it's a template. "Now all restaurants are Taco Bell."

[Mirrorball Man]

Hmm. Not my top 40 ,but we can't have it all our way now can we?!

I can't but help looking at the over all list and seeing some selections as more dramas with comical scenes in them than them being overall comedies.

A few choices that I would have liked to see on the list:

Monty Python and the Holy Grail:
( I fart in your general direction!)
Let us not go to Camelot ,tis a silly place.
He is brave Sir Robin,brave Sir Robin!

The Whoopie Boys:Going to charm school has it's own merits in this film which is so stupid it is funny.
Paul Rodriguez is halarious in this and he he even mentions Rock Me Amadeus in the film!

History Of The World Part 1: The Inquisition, Let's Begin!

Jeckyll and Hyde Together Again:
Mild manored doctor transforms into sex crazed party maniac! Baaaaaaaabe!
Give me some chicken sushi!

How can you get through 80s comedies and NOT mention Cheech and Chong? ROFL.

Just IMO...

MM

[Al]

What?!?!? No Cannonball Run? =)

[Bwah]

"What no cannonball run?"

As you know dude from the 1st rule of Italian driving...

"What's behind you is not important"

*rips of mirror and throws in road*

Yeah, OK so that quote's from the Gumball Rally (1976). So sue me.

[Scott]

Ahhh Beetlejuice... true classic.

"I've seen the Exorcist about 167 times, and it keeps getting funnier, each and every time I see it!!!!"

[MARK]

I amtrying to get a copy of whoopie boys on video or pref dvd, anyone know where i can obtain a copy my tape worn out absolutely hair-lairious.......ha ha