Few genres have directly complimented and brought the best out of one another quite like action and comedy, making for easily one of the most iconic and memorable combinations of genres in terms of filmmaking. Whether it be classic slapstick comedies from the classic era of Hollywood or modern satires that blend high-octane action with goofy characters and witty dialogue, there have been countless great action comedies released over the years. Every individual person is going to have their own personal favorite action comedies, making it all the more interesting to see which ones rise up among a larger community.
In terms of communities based around the expression and love, Letterboxd stands out amidst other sites like IMDb for its distinct taste and younger userbase. The larger result in the context of the highest-rated action comedies is a larger focus not only on the most popular blockbusters, but a mix of classic cinema, international films, and just outright great films. This list is distinctly different from many other “best action comedies” lists, but it’s perfectly in line with the tastes and experiences of the modern era’s hottest movie-based social media platform.
10
‘The Blues Brothers’ (1980)
Average Letterboxd Rating: 3.9/5
A defining icon of the ’80s that combines action, comedy, and energizing musical numbers into a must-watch experience, The Blues Brothers fully embraced what made the characters work so well as an SNL sketch onto the big screen. The film proves to be much more than simply a sketch elongated to feature-length, as it utilizes every penny of its budget to create chaoticly hilarious action sequences and top-of-the-line musical performances.
Sequences like the mad car chase through the mall and the massive police-car pileup single-handedly made the film an icon in terms of action-comedy filmmaking. The film expertly utilizes a top-of-the-line cast that features an array of comedy all-stars, legends in the world of blues music, and even various iconic cameos and small roles. While there would be a wide array of other Saturday Night Live adaptations to film in the years following its success, nothing holds a candle to the charm and mastery on display in The Blues Brothers.
9
‘Black Dynamite’ (2009)
Average Letterboxd Rating: 4.0/5
A wildly entertaining parody and love letter to 1970s action and blaxploitation films, Black Dynamite is a glorious display of violence, instantly quotable lines, and a goofy story that constantly one-ups itself in terms of absurdity. The film utilizes the various clichés and conventions of blaxploitation filmmaking as a jumping-off point for a one-of-a-kind parody experience, feeling tailor-made for fans of the genre. Even for those not as familiar with blaxploitation, the dialogue is so effective and the gags are so absurd that it’s hard not to have a great time with the film.
A lot of the inherent greatness of the film, both in terms of its comedy and its action, is the undeniable screen presence and electrifying leading performance by Michael Jai White as the titular Black Dynamite. He fully embraces the status as a goofy, no-nonsense blaxploitation hero, with bombastic line readings and almost having a mythical sort of strength to him that allows him to accomplish anything. Considering how much the Letterboxd userbase loves film history and all types of genres, it would make sense that they would connect with such a passionate love letter to a historic subgenre of the past.
8
‘Police Story’ (1985)
Average Letterboxd Rating: 4.0/5
Few actors have been so directly synonymous with countless great action comedies as Jackie Chan, who has made a name for himself as a master of combining dynamic martial arts choreography with a comedic edge. Among all the top-notch Jackie Chan action comedies out there, however, Police Story is easily among his best and most iconic. Directed by and starring Chan in a leading role, Police Story is a perfect blend of unbelievable stuntwork that is utilized for the sake of comedic antics and hijinks.
It follows a relatively simple story, seeing Chan as a police officer dedicated to taking down a major Hong Kong drug dealer and putting him behind bars, attempting to do so entirely by himself. To accomplish this unbelievable feat, Chan finds himself in a wide array of electrifying fights and memorable stunts, each more fun and high-flying than the last. The film has had a massive legacy and importance not only in the realm of action comedies, but in Hong Kong cinema as a whole.
7
‘Hot Fuzz’ (2007)
Average Letterboxd Rating: 4.1/5
The second film in the highly acclaimed trilogy of comedies known as the Cornetto trilogy, Hot Fuzz acts as Edgar Wright‘s response to the trends of action filmmaking, creating a high-octane action film out of a duo of small-town cops. Much like Wright’s other films, it’s the heightened sense of style and editing that elevates Hot Fuzz into being a truly exceptional action comedy experience. The film does everything in its approach to parallel a classic heightened action movie, even when said approach creates all sorts of comedy in the actual context of what is happening.
The film certainly has its share of genuinely great action sequences, especially in the final act, but it also makes for a great comedic time when goofy mistakes and normally boring paperwork are treated like a bombastic action fight scene. It’s this inherent parody of action filmmaking that has raised the film to be a fan-favorite not just of the Cornetto trilogy, but of Edgar Wright’s entire filmography as a whole.
6
‘Hundreds of Beavers’ (2024)
Average Letterboxd Rating: 4.1/5
It’s rare for a film released in the current era of digital storefronts and social media to immediately cement itself as a hidden gem and a future cult classic, yet Hundreds of Beavers feels tailor-made for maximum cult status. The film simultaneously feels like a love letter to the classic era of silent era slapstick and Saturday morning cartoons while also expertly utilizing a modern sense of comedy and internet-style absurdism. It quickly made waves among modern film fans as a must-watch independent film, almost as if it were designed to appeal to the Letterboxd user base.
This specific blending of classic and modern comedy and filmmaking gave Hundreds of Beavers a niche and edge that quickly made it an internet fan favorite. Between the goofy mascot costume animals, the exaggerated physical performances of the entire cast, and leaning into cartoonish green-screen antics while in live-action, Hundreds of Beavers is a must-watch comedy experience for the modern era.
- Release Date
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February 9, 2024
- Runtime
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108 Minutes
- Director
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Mike Cheslik
- Writers
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Mike Cheslik, Ryland Brickson Cole Tews
5
‘Who Killed Captain Alex?’ (2010)
Average Letterboxd Rating: 4.2/5
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While the majority of conversation in film revolves around Hollywood productions designed for Western audiences, even the smallest of countries have their own dedicated visionaries working to create cinematic experiences. In a true labor of love from beginning to end, Who Killed Captain Alex? is an over-the-top action comedy from Uganda, made with a budget of less than $100 and having a blast with its existence. The passion and energy of the film is felt in every second of its runtime, making it a beautifully genuine film experience that simply can’t be replicated.
While the plot of an action-packed aftermath following the death of famed policeman Captain Alex (William Kakule) is simple, the inherent beauty of the film comes from all the amateur charm and wit that it provides. The majority of the comedy in the action comedy comes from the utilization of V.J. Emmie, who acts as a joking, over-the-top commentator throughout the entire film, as if the film is doing a goofy Mystery Science Theater 3000 commentary track of itself in real time. It’s a one-of-a-kind action comedy that needs to be seen to be believed, with Letterboxd as a whole fully embracing the film’s unyielding passion.
4
‘The General’ (1926)
Average Letterboxd Rating: 4.2/5
One of the earliest visionaries when it came to pushing the boundaries of what was possible in terms of action comedy and stuntwork in early cinema, many of Buster Keaton‘s films are highly rated on Letterboxd for their inherent legacy. The General especially stands out as one of his premier filmmaking achievements, most commonly recognized for the masterful stunt sequence that sees Keaton at the front of a moving train.
The film’s brilliant sense of humor and wild action sequences haven’t lost any of their impact in the nearly 100 years since the film’s release, as The General helped lay the groundwork for nearly every action comedy film to follow. Even more than its most famous stunt, the film features a wide array of top-notch car chases, wild slapstick, and an outright fundamental mastery of action comedy in the era of silent film. The film’s lasting legacy as an action comedy classic has helped it maintain a high score among Letterboxd users.
3
‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’ (2023)
Average Letterboxd Rating: 4.3/5
The recent sci-fi action comedy that swept the Academy Awards and became an instant classic of the decade, Everything Everywhere All at Once is easily the defining action comedy of the modern era. It features an array of different attributes that have helped it achieve near-unanimous acclaim, from its intense and skillful action choreography to its wild sense of creativity and imagination. However, it’s the film’s emotional core and genuine tearjerker moments that have helped it become such a widely beloved fan-favorite.
Of all the audiences that connected with the film, it’s clear that it struck a nerve with younger audiences with its themes of generational trauma and its zany, high-concept filmmaking style. This directly correlated to the film’s immediate praise on Letterboxd, with the film initially even having such a high score that it was the highest-rated film on all of Letterboxd. While the hype has died down in the years since its debut, the film still holds a respectable spot in the Letterboxd Top 250, currently being the #185 highest rated film on the site.
2
‘Sherlock Jr.’ (1924)
Average Letterboxd Rating: 4.4/5
Another massively influential action comedy by Buster Keaton, Sherlock Jr. simply features a lot of inherent attributes that have helped it age even better among the other Keaton masterpieces. Even at only 45 minutes long, the film features a wide array of great visual gags, a simple yet compelling story of love and determination, and a sense of love and respect for the art form of film. It especially becomes a standout experience during its finale, where it becomes one of the most energetic and cathartic action comedy movies out there.
Sherlock Jr. is especially beloved by the Letterboxd community, being one of the highest-rated silent films on the site on top of being one of the highest-rated action comedies. People still consider the film to have some of the best action scenes put to film, as well as a moniker of just how exceptional of a filmmaker and ahead of his time Keaton was. The film is so beloved on Letterboxd that it even holds the spot as the #79 highest-rated film of all time on the site.
1
‘Love Exposure’ (2008)
Average Letterboxd Rating: 4.4/5
One of the biggest differences that sets Letterboxd as a community apart from various other film sites is just how open and willing the community is to praise international and more experimental films in general. This is most directly emblematic of the site’s praise for Love Exposure, a 4-hour-long Japanese action-comedy-drama epic that spans a wide array of different plots, themes, and tones across its runtime. While the film is relatively unknown and underrated on other sites, Letterboxd captures the perfect space for the film to thrive and find a dedicated audience of fans ready to share its high quality.
It’s certainly a strange and chaotic watch that is emblematic of the filmmaking style of director Sion Sono, featuring a character who works as an “up-skirt” photographer, themes of religion and cult worship, and self-realization and gender roles. Its steep runtime makes it difficult to recommend for the average person, but the type of dedicated, artsy film fan that makes up the Letterboxd user base has fallen in love with the film’s style and quirks. It currently holds a ranking as the #76 highest rated film of all time on the site, ever-growing as more people experience its non-traditional perfection.