Film critics are important. Their reviews have become an important tool for audiences, a go-to resource that helps viewers determine which films are worth their time and money. One of cinema’s most famous and significant critics wasRoger Ebertof theChicago Sun-Times.Most people associate him with his “thumbs up, thumbs down” critique and his partnerships with fellow film critics, Gene Siskel and Richard Roeper. But among movie buffs and filmmakers, Ebert was known for his honest and passionate assessment of movies, where he’d sprinkle film history and knowledge throughout his well-worded opinions. His reviews often filled theater seats for the movies that he championed – and Ebert championed everything, from dramas to documentaries to comedies.
If you check out his websiteand visit the “Great Movies” tab, you’ll find a long list of four-starred films, which is the highest rating that Ebert gave to movies. And if you filter this list by genre, you’ll come across Ebert’s favorite comedies, the very best of the best in his eyes. Some of them you’ve never heard of. Others are iconic films that you’ll probably recognize. Here are 10 of Ebert’s favorite comedies, ranked by year of release.
10’Duck Soup' (1933)
The Marx brothers are one of cinema’s most legendary comedic acts.They churned out a number of great movies over the years. But perhaps no Marx brothers' film is more renowned or beloved than the 1933 classic,Duck Soup.Starring four of the Marx brothers, the movie follows a newly installed dictator, who unjustly declares war on a neighboring country while contending with two inept spies.
Although it was a commercial and critical disappointment at the time,Duck Souphas since risen to the ranks of a masterpiece, revered for its political satire and slapstick comedy. While Ebert acknowledges that aspects ofDuck Soupare dated, he praises the brothers' comedic performances and cinematic influence in his 2000 review. “The brothers broke the classical structure of movie comedy and glued it back again haphazardly,” he wrote, “and nothing was ever the same.”
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9’The Great Dictator' (1940)
The Great Dictator
The Great Dictatoris arguably the greatest anti-fascist movie ever made. Directed by and starring film legend Charlie Chaplin, it’s the legendary filmmaker’s first true sound film.The Great Dictatoris simultaneously follows a ruthless fascist dictator of the fictional country Tomainia and a poor Jewish barber, who look exactly like each other– probably because they’re both played by Chaplin.
With its political satire and impassioned anti-fascist messaging,The Great Dictatoris viewed as one of the greatest and most important films ever made. Although he took issue with the film’s ending, Roger Ebert gaveThe Great Dictatorfour stars and lauded Chaplin for his comedic and satirical brilliance.
8’Singin' in the Rain' (1952)
Singin' in the Rain
Singin' in the Rainis a romantic musical classic, starring Gene Kelly and Debbie Reynolds. It paints a lighthearted picture of Hollywood during the late 1920s, capturing three performers trying to transition from silent films to “talkies.“Singin' in the Rainis one of the most famous movies ever made, particularly for its iconic scene wherethe wholesome Gene Kellysings and tap dances his way gleefully through the pouring rain. Roger Ebert’s opening paragraph in his 1999 review ofSingin' in the Rainsays it best:
“There is no movie musical more fun than “Singin’ in the Rain,” and few that remain as fresh over the years. Its originality is all the more startling if you reflect that only one of its songs was written new for the film, that the producers plundered MGM’s storage vaults for sets and props, and that the movie was originally ranked below “An American in Paris,” which won a best picture Oscar. The verdict of the years knows better than Oscar: “Singin’ in the Rain” is a transcendent experience, and no one who loves movies can afford to miss it.”
Now that’s high praise.
7’Some Like It Hot' (1959)
Some Like It Hot
Some Like It Hotis considered one of the greatest comedies and films ever made. Two male musicians flee the state after witnessing a mob hit and disguise themselves as women in an all-female band. It stars Hollywood icon Marilyn Monroe andsupports the LGBTQ+ communityat a time when it was largely condemned.
Roger Ebert praised Monroe’s on-screen charisma and called Billy Wilder’s 1959 comedy “one of the enduring treasures of the movies, a film of inspiration and meticulous craft, a movie that’s about nothing but sex and yet pretends it’s about crime and greed.”
6’Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb' (1964)
Dr. Strangelove Or: How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love The Bomb
Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bombis as dark as a comedy can get. Loosely based on the 1958 novelRed Alertby Peter George,Dr. Strangelovecaptures the bumbling antics of a war room filled with politicians and generals, as they try to prevent a global nuclear holocaust. A political satire, it parodies the fears of nuclear war between the United States and the Soviet Union during the 1980s. It was direct by the legendary Stanley Kubrick and starscomic actor Peter Sellers in three different roles.
Dr. Strangeloveis widely considered one of the greatest films of all time. It was a favorite of Roger Ebert’s, who claimed to have seen the film upwards of ten times in his 1999 review. He praises the film’s comedic performances and refers to itas Stanley Kubrick’s masterpiece, along with the director’s sci-fi epic,2001: A Space Odyssey.
5’Annie Hall' (1977)
Annie Hall
Annie Hallis regarded asone of Woody Allen’s best filmsand one of the greatest comedies ever made. It centers on a comedian who examines the beginning and end of his relationship with ex-girlfriend Annie Hall. Starring Diane Keaton and Allen himself, this Oscar-winning film is known for its dry humor, introspective dialogue, and surreal fantasy sequences.
Ebert calledAnnie Hall"just about everyone’s favorite Woody Allen movie,” including his own. In his review, he praised the film’s witty dialogue and quirky tone while lamenting how the age of the blockbuster has made films likeAnnie Hallharder and harder to come by.
4’Planes, Trains and Automobiles' (1987)
Planes Trains and Automobiles
Planes, Trains and Automobilesis a classic comedy, especially around the Thanksgiving holiday. It follows two mismatched strangers and travel companions who embark on a three-day odyssey of planes, trains, and automobiles, as they attempt to get home in time for Thanksgiving dinner. It was directed by John Hughes and stars comedy legends Steve Martin and John Candy.Planes, Trains and Automobileswas a sentimental favorite of Roger Ebert, who claimed to watch it every Thanksgiving with his family. He also had this to say about the film in his four-starred 2000 review:
“Some movies are obviously great. Others gradually thrust their greatness upon us. When “Planes, Trains and Automobiles” was released in 1987, I enjoyed it immensely, gave it a favorable review and moved on. But the movie continued to live in my memory. Like certain other popular entertainments (“It’s a Wonderful Life,” “E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial,” “Casablanca“) it not only contained a universal theme, but also matched it with the right actors and story, so that it shrugged off the other movies of its kind and stood above them in a kind of perfection.”
3’Do the Right Thing' (1989)
Do the Right Thing
Before 1989, Spike Lee was a New York City auteur, trying to make a name for himself in the movie business.Do the Right Thingput the director on the map and is nowwidely regarded as his best film. Here, tensions and temperatures rise among a diverse cast of characters, and ultimately reaching a boiling point, on the streets of Brooklyn during a scorching-hot day.Do the Right Thingdidn’t just launch Spike Lee’s career. It was also the film debut for comedic actor Martin Lawrence and helped establish future A-listers like Samuel L. Jackson and John Turturro.
Throughout his career, Roger Ebert was known for supporting up-and-coming filmmakers before they became household names, and Spike Lee was one of them. For this one, we’ll let Ebert’s own words summarize his thoughts and feelings about this film:
“I have been given only a few filmgoing experiences in my life to equal the first time I saw “Do the Right Thing.” Most movies remain up there on the screen. Only a few penetrate your soul. In May of 1989 I walked out of the screening at the Cannes Film Festival with tears in my eyes. Spike Lee had done an almost impossible thing. He’d made a movie about race in America that empathized with all the participants.”
2’The Big Lebowski' (1998)
Big Lebowski
The Big Lebowskiis the Coen brothers' comedy masterpiece. It follows The Dude (Jeff Bridges), a lackadaisical bowling stoner who gets caught up in a ridiculous case of mistaken identity. Joining Bridges is an all-star ensemble that includes John Goodman, Julianne Moore, Steve Buscemi, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and John Turturro. And each one of them is hilariously absurd.
Although it’s now regarded as an iconic film,The Big Lebowskiactually didn’t fare well with critics when it first hit theaters. Ebert’s partner, Gene Siskel, called the humor “uninspired” and said,“Kingpinwas a much funnier movie set in the world of bowling.” Ebert, however, was ahead of the curve. He separated himself from other critics when he gaveThe Big Lebowskia three-star review and called it “weirdly engaging.” But Ebert must’ve done a rewatch because years later, he revised his original score to four stars, something he rarely did, and addedThe Big Lebowskito his “Great Movies” canon.
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1’Lost In Translation' (2003)
Lost in Translation
Lost in Translationcaptures the midlife crisis of an isolated and fading movie star (Bill Murray), who finds comfort in an unconventional romance with a much younger woman. This movie turnedits writer and director, Sofia Coppola, into a credible filmmaker, winning her the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay. It also turned its young actress, Scarlett Johansson, into a rising star in Hollywood. Ebert spoke highly ofLost in Translationin his 2010 review, though it was Murray’s performance that truly wowed him.
“Bill Murray’s acting inSofia Coppola‘s “Lost in Translation” is surely one of the most exquisitely controlled performances in recent movies. Without it, the film could be unwatchable. With it, I can’t take my eyes away.”
Murray’s performance and Coppola’s direction landedLost in Translationa four-star review and a place on Ebert’s “Great Movies” list.
