Humour is a very personal, subjective thing. If you've ever watched a comedy in the cinema. you'll know this to be true. One person's "laugh until they cry" is another person's "check their phone to show disinterest".
But when it comes to the classics, there's not much room for debate. We've gone through the entire catalogue on UK Netflix to uncover the 10 funniest films now available to stream.
"Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit sniffing glue"
Airplane!
Quite possibly the greatest spoof of all time, this tirelessly funny parody of Airport is still as ingenious as it ever was. The late Leslie Nielsen ruthlessly steals scenes as Dr. Rumack (just don't call him Shirley) and the film became a blueprint for pretty much every spoof that followed yet remains the greatest. You can find out 15 things you probably didn't know about the film right here.
"How's it hangin' Death?"
Bill and Ted’s Bogus Journey
The Wyld Stallyns themselves, Bill & Ted, have to save the world (and heavy metal) from two evil android versions of themselves sent from the future to destroy them. A bit like Terminator but, you know, funnier. This goofy time travel comedy sequel is probably the most Keanu Reeves that Keanu Reeves has ever Keanu Reevesed, and we couldn’t love it more.
"Keep your hands off my lobby boy!"
The Grand Budapest Hotel
Wes Anderson’s deadpan comedy centres on Ralph Fiennes’s Gustave, devoted concierge of Europe’s most luxurious hotel, and his efforts to keep a sense of panache as the continent descends into war. This is Anderson at his most Anderson-ey, so it may irritate as much as it entertains, but the stellar cast keep the belly laughs coming.
"How many times have I told you guys that I don't want no horsing around on the airplane?"
Dr Strangelove or: How I Learned How to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb
Stanley Kubrick’s jet-black satire of Cold War nuclear madness bursts with scenes and lines that are among the most legendary in film history. All together now: ‘Gentlemen, you can’t fight in here, this is the war room!’
"Matt Damon!"
Team America: World Police
Another pungent military satire, this sees the team behind South Park cast their ire on the war on terror. It feels very Bush-era at times, but laughs never stop, and this has to be the smartest movie ever to feature a graphic scene of puppet sex.
"What is this? A centre for ants?"
Zoolander
Poking fun at an industry that is practically begging for it, Ben Stiller's magnum opus is still an endlessly rewatchable joy. His vacant male model Derek Zoolander is unarguably one of the most memorable comic creations of the past 20 years. You can also find out 15 things you probably didn't know about the film right here.
"That sex was the most fun I've ever had without laughing"
Annie Hall
Woody Allen’s inventive classic pretty much pioneered the modern romantic comedy, and combines comedy and pathos in equal measure. Watch out for fun cameos from youthful versions of Jeff Goldblum and Christopher Walken, too.
"If you touch me again, I'll rip your goddamned wings off!"
Scrooged
Quite possibly the funniest Christmas movie ever made, Bill Murray's acerbic take on the Dickens classic is one of the few festive films that's worth watching whatever the month. We'll even allow the slightly sentimental ending because a) it's Christmas and b) The Night The Reindeer Died. So that's okay then.
"We're not worthy! We're not worthy!"
Wayne's World
The list of Saturday Night Live characters who've failed to make an impression at the cinema is longer than a lot of elbows (hello Coneheads, Superstar and MacGruber) but the rare success story comes from an unlikely place. Wayne and Garth, two long-haired basement-dwelling TV show hosts, became household names when Mike Myers and Dana Carvey brought the characters to the big screen. And Bohemian Rhapsody was never the same again. Try your luck at our Wayne's World quiz here.
"It's your job to make sure kids don't drown!"
Wet Hot American Summer
This pastiche of Eighties summer camp comedies wasn’t a hit on release, but has since developed enough of a cult following for a spin-off series to be made and show on – appropriately enough – Netflix.
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