The 20 best action comedies

One of Eddie Murphy’s most iconic roles is as Axel Foley in the ‘80s classic Beverly Hills Cop. In the film, Foley is a street-wise and smart-mouthed detective from Detroit, who goes to Beverly Hills to investigate the murder of his friend. However, Beverly Hills is quite different from Detroit, which Foley soon realizes. This is the film that made Murphy a comedy star, thanks to his perfectly timed delivery and humor. It’s a movie that has as many laughs as it does explosions.

Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul’s Bob Odenkirk takes on a very different role in Nobody. Odenkirk plays family man Hutch Mansell, who leads a quiet life with an ordinary job, kids, and wife. When his house is broken into, he doesn’t fight back, disappointing his family. This leads him down a path of rage and vengeance, forcing him to return to his former life as an assassin. Odenkirk is perfectly cast as the seemingly mild-mannered Hutch, who has quite the violent streak. 

From director Matthew Vaughn, Kicĸ-Ąss is a satirical, R-rated take on the superhero genre. The story follows teenage comic book geek Dave, who decides to become a superhero called Kicĸ-Ąss despite having absolutely no powers, training, or resources. With its blend of comedy, violence, shock value, and action, Kicĸ-Ąss makes for a cheeky and clever alternative to regular superhero movies. The film also launched Chloë Grace Moretz’s career after she played Hit-Girl. 

Ryan Reynolds injected new energy into the superhero genre in 2016’s Deadpool, one of Marvel’s first R-rated films. Reynolds plays wisecracking mercenary Wade Wilson, who is left immortal but disfigured after being experimented on after a cancer diagnosis. Wade seeks revenge as Deadpool, the merc with a mouth, and becomes an all-out antihero. The violence, sex, drug use, and language are turned up all the way, making Deadpool a raucous good time.

Matthew Vaughn returned to the action-comedy genre with 2014’s Kingsman: The Secret Service, this time trading superheroes for spies. The film follows Bugsy, a troubled street kid who is recruited and trained by a secret spy organisation. Their mission is to take down twisted tech genius Richard Valentine. Featuring slick choreography, stylized violence, and cheeky humor, Kingsman is unlike any other spy movie. It also stars Taron Egerton, Colin Farrell, and Samuel L. Jackson. 

One of the most iconic and beloved action-comedy films of all time is the original The Naked Gun, starring Leslie Nielsen. Nielsen plays detective Frank Drebin, an incompetent officer who must stop an assassination attempt on Queen Elizabeth II. As a slapstick parody of other police films, The Naked Gun is over the top in its ridiculousness and gags. The comedy is utterly silly and stupid, yet completely hilarious. Nielsen’s deadpan delivery and seriousness are also genius. 

Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling unite for Shane Black’s buddy comedy The Nice Guys . Set in 1970s Los Angeles, the film follows Jackson Healy (Crowe) and Holland March (Gosling), two mismatched detectives who investigate a missing girl and the death of an adult film star. Crowe and Gosling are great together, and the film mixes action, mystery, and comedy to create a movie that stands out within its genre. The film also features early roles from Margaret Qualley and Angourie Rice. 

When it comes to classic 1980s comedies, The Blues Brothers is always on the list. John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd play Jake and Elwood Blues, who are on a “mission from God” to reunite their old R&B band and save their childhood orphanage from being torn down. The Blues Brothers features many over-the-top sequences, such as the film's climax, in which the pair are pursued by police in cars. Over one hundred cars were destroyed on set during filming. 

Guy Ritchie is a household name in British action films, with his feature-length directorial debut being the dark comedy Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels . The plot follows four criminals who lose a poker game to a London kingpin and are left with only one week to settle their enormous debt. To save themselves, they have to resort to extreme measures. The film marks the first collaboration between Ritchie and Jason Statham, who are a synonymous duo in the action world. 

Edgar Wright has cemented himself as a filmmaker who knows how to blend action with comedy perfectly, and Scott Pilgrim vs. the World is a prime example. Set in an alternate version of Toronto, the story follows the titular Scott, who meets Ramona Flowers and falls in love with her. However, he realizes he must defeat her seven evil exes to claim her heart. The film is adapted from a graphic novel, which is clearly conveyed on screen through eye-popping visuals and action. 

Based on the ‘80s TV series, 21 Jump Street is a buddy cop film featuring Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill. They play Jenko and Schmidt, two underperforming police officers who are sent undercover to a high school. There, they must blend in convincingly as students in order to take down a drug ring. Tatum and Hill make for a hysterical duo, and it is hilarious to see their characters try to keep up with the high school crowd. 21 Jump Street is proof that not all reboots are bad. 

One of Marvel’s most loved films is the fast-paced, funny, and heartfelt Guardians of the Galaxy. The plot follows a group of space criminals — Star-Lord, Gamora, Drax, Rocket, and Groot — who must put aside their differences and work together to save the galaxy from the evil Ronan. The film expertly blends superhero thrills and excitement with laugh-out-loud comedy, making it a fan favorite. Guardians of the Galaxy’s two sequels are also equally entertaining. 

One of the most underrated comedy movies from the 2010s is Game Night , starring Jason Bateman and Rachel McAdams. They play a couple, Max and Annie, who regularly meet with their friends for murder mystery game nights. However, one night the game becomes real when Max’s brother is kidnapped by gangsters while playing. The high-concept comedy has a lot of fun with its absurd premise, and also features a scene-stealing turn from Jesse Plemons. 

Long before Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, Edgar Wright entered the action-comedy genre with 2007’s Hot Fuzz. Part of Wright’s Cornetto trilogy (which also features Shaun of the Dead and The World’s End), the film follows an overachieving police officer who is transferred to a remote village where grisly murders start to occur. Hot Fuzz is led by frequent Wright collaborators Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, and also features Martin Freeman and Bill Nighy. 

The action-comedy was reinvigorated when Rush Hour was released in 1998. The film stars Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker, who play a Hong Kong inspector and a loud-mouthed LAPD detective. Their different backgrounds force them to clash, and they must try to work together to save a Chinese diplomat’s daughter. While some of the comedy in Rush Hour is certainly outdated, it is still highly enjoyable and entertaining, largely thanks to the dynamic between Chan and Tucker. 

Most action movies cannot be made without the efforts of stunt performers, who are finally celebrated in 2024’s The Fall Guy. Ryan Gosling plays Colt Seavers, a stuntman forced to end his career after an injury. When the star of a big movie studio goes missing, Colt is forced back into the business as he becomes enveloped in the case. Fresh off his performance in Barbie , Gosling continues his comedic streak alongside Emily Blunt in this eventful romp. 

Polite Society is a coming-of-age action comedy with effective social commentary. Ria Khan is an aspiring stuntwoman who believes she must save her older sister Lena from her impending marriage. To free her sister, she plans an extravagant wedding heist. Exploring themes of girl power, adolescence, culture, and more, Polite Society is a fast-paced, chaotic ride that is relatable, funny, and, of course, full of martial arts and awesome characters. 

Deep Cover is a film that takes the combination of action and comedy to a whole new and literal level. The story follows three improv comedy actors, who are tasked by the police to go undercover and infiltrate London’s criminal underworld. The film has a lot of fun with its premise and is as wild as it sounds, focusing on characters who are completely out of their depth. Deep Cover stars Bryce Dallas Howard, Nick Mohammed, and Orlando Bloom, who plays a method actor taking his job a little too seriously. 

In The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent , Nicolas Cage plays a heavily fictionalized and exaggerated version of himself. Struggling with his career, Cage agrees to appear at a party for billionaire superfan Javi Gutierrez. When it is revealed that Javi is the head of a cartel, the actor must work for the CIA and take on the role of the action hero he is known for playing in his films. The self-aware and surprisingly heartfelt film is a blast, with Pedro Pascal as a perfect sidekick for Cage. 

Riders of Justice is a Danish action-comedy starring Mads Mikkelsen in a rare non-villainous role. Mikkelsen plays Markus, who goes home to his teenage daughter after his wife dies in a train crash. The incident seems to be a tragic accident, until another survivor shows up and tries to convince Markus that it was actually a planned murder. Darkly funny and playful, this tale of revenge is unexpectedly touching and does not hold back on over-the-top violence.