Are you looking for laughs? Here’s the right place with our inaugural Top 5 Comedy Films list. Starting with the live-action adaptation of a Disney classic, a video game character with heart and comedian spends his 2020 lockdown creating something utterly unique.

Here are our picks for the Best Comedy Films of 2021.

5.) Cruella (dir: Craig Gillespie)

The live-action adaptation of the 101 Dalmatians story isn’t what fans of the original films may have wanted and instead strikes out on its own. With Emma Stone in the lead as Estella, a new myth is born behind the famed fashion mogul. The film is loud, beautiful and full of character, with a lot of the comedy coming from Stone on-screen with her best friends Jasper and Horace, played by Joel Fry and Paul Walter Hauser. Cruella is a blast to watch and a welcome live-action retelling of a classic character.

– Dylan Blight

4.) Free Guy (dir: Shawn Levy)

Shawn Levy has crafted a really fun and silly film that rides on the back of Ryan Reynolds’ charm and comedic skill. As the innocent NPC Guy who breaks away from his everyday life in pursuit of the girl of his dreams, Reynolds is fantastic and more than willing to make fun of himself. With a great supporting cast of Jodie Comer, Taika Waititi, Utkarsh Ambudkar, Joe Keery and Lil Rel Howery there is an abundance of likeable and silly performances for everyone to find something to enjoy.

– Ashley Hobley

3.) Long Story Short (dir: Josh Lawson)

This Australian film takes the time loop idea of other comedies and throws it on its head. Here Rafe Spall’s Teddy moves another year into his life every couple of minutes. The almost ghost of Christmas future elements leads to dramatic changes to Teddy as a character and those around him — while also some ridiculously funny scenes. Be that Teddy attempting to guess the name of the baby he didn’t know he had, or fighting against his (now) ex-wife’s new partner while growing an attachment to their dog.

– Dylan Blight

2.) The Mitchells vs. the Machines (Michael Rianda)

This film about a young woman being taken to college on a road trip with her family one last time that gets interrupted by the robot apocalypse is hilarious and yet one of the most touching films of the year. Filled with great dialogue, funny sight gags and a lot of general insanity, if this film doesn’t at least make you crack a smile, you might already be dead. At its core, it’s a story about family, accepting each other for who you are and the dreams we chase and the ones we let go of but also a cautionary tale about how much we use our phones and technology every day. The robot apocalypse isn’t likely, but do we want to risk it? Featuring one of the most relatable characters to me in Katie Mitchell, this is easily the best animated film of the year.

– Ashley Hobley

1.) Bo Burnham: Inside (dir: Bo Burnham)

What is Bo Burnham’s: Inside? A question I’m sure many are asking around awards season as the ninety-minute special continues to confuse and confound. The collection of songs and moments Burnham filmed in his guest house in 2020 during the height of COVID-19 lockdowns in American are at times sad but usually hilarious. Even if it’s in a dark: “Oh shit, we’re still living in this crap” kinda way. I’ve got my favourite songs and moments from the film, and I’m sure you will too after watching, and it’s well worth appreciating the show of direction from Burnham to create something like this in a one-set environment.

– Dylan Blight

Dylan Blight and Ashley Hobley compiled this Top 5 list. The movies nominated must have had a theatrical release in a cinema, VOD or on a streaming platform within December 27th 2020 – December 27th 2021.