The 40 Best Black Comedy Movies, Ranked, from ‘Friday’ to ‘Girls Trip’

Being raised in a household that owned a diverse collection of Black movies, I’ve grown to develop a deep appreciation for Black cinema. If I want to watch something that makes me think, I can turn to Spike Lee. If I’m feeling nostalgic, it’s time to break out '90s classics like Soul Food and Brown Sugar. But lately, I’ve been craving feel-good flicks that deliver all the laughs.

From Friday to Coming to America, keep reading for the 40 best Black comedy movies, ranked, and all available to stream on Netflix, Prime Video and more.

• Cast: Eddie Murphy, Jada Pinkett, James Coburn, Larry Miller
• Directed by: Tom Shadyac

Professor Sherman Klump, who happens to be a brilliant scientist, invents a magical solution that makes him appear thinner. However, due to adverse side effects, the potion turns him into an arrogant and self-absorbed person. His new appearance seems to do wonders for his reputation, but the longer he continues to rely on his invention, the more obnoxious he gets.

• Cast: Shawn Wayans, Marlon Wayans
• Directed by: Paris Barclay

Yes, that’s probably the longest movie title you’ll ever see in your life, but don’t let that detail faze you. The entire film pokes fun at cliché, coming-of-age films that center on African Americans from poor neighborhoods. The Wayans will have you laughing non-stop.

• Cast: Martin Lawrence, Marsha Thomason, Tom Wilkinson, Vincent Regan
• Directed by: Gil Junger

Critics may not have loved the film, but trust me when I say it will elicit some big laughs. In Black Knight, Lawrence plays Jamal Walker, a slacker who works at the Medieval World Amusement Park. While on the job, he stumbles upon a shiny medallion, and when he tries to take it, he's magically transported to 1328 England. We’ll leave it at that.

• Cast: Chris Rock, Kerry Washington, Gina Torres
• Directed by: Chris Rock

While he seems to have it all on the surface, businessman Richard Cooper feels trapped in a stale marriage. So naturally, when he crosses paths with his very attractive ex, Nicki, he struggles to fight the temptation to cheat.

• Cast: Martin Lawrence, Nicole Ari Parker, Margaret Avery, Michael Clarke Duncan
• Directed by: Malcolm D. Lee

RJ Stevens, who was always the awkward outsider in his family, is now a major talk-show host with millions of fans. When he gets the opportunity to return home and celebrate his parents’ anniversary, RJ is determined to show how he has grown—although this proves to be more challenging than he initially thought.

• Cast: Eddie Murphy, Martin Lawrence, Ned Beatty, R. Lee Ermey
• Directed by: Ted Demme

Two New Yorkers, Ray Gibson and Claude Banks, travel to Mississippi on a bootlegging mission to pay off a large debt. But when they get there, the two are framed for murder and sentenced to prison for the rest of their lives. While serving time, they try to overcome their differences and prove their innocence. While the plot does sound rather dark, there’s no shortage of funny moments.

• Cast: Keenen Ivory Wayans, Charles S. Dutton, Jada Pinkett
• Directed by: Keenen Ivory Wayans

Former detective Andre Shame is down on his luck. Despite taking on several dangerous jobs as a private investigator, he simply can't afford to keep his firm afloat. But when an old officer from his past informs Shame that there’s a break in his unsolved case, he jumps at the opportunity to finish what he started.

• Cast: Eddie Murphy, Robin Givens, Halle Berry
• Directed by: Reginald Hudlin

Murphy shines as the overconfident ad executive and ladies’ man, Marcus Graham. When Marcus begins to work with Jacqueline Boyer, the new head of his department, he realizes that she’s exactly like him, and when they begin to date, he’s put off by her behavior. Fortunately, there may be hope for him yet, as he starts to fall for Jacqueline’s thoughtful colleague, Angela.

• Cast: Martin Lawrence, Luke Wilson, Graham Beckel
• Directed by: Les Mayfield

After serving two years in jail for a diamond heist, Miles Logan is free and ready to retrieve his treasure from its hiding place. The only problem? That location has been turned into a police station. Determined to get his loot back, Miles poses as “Detective Malone” to infiltrate the building, leading to plenty of hilarious moments.

• Cast: Will Smith, Eva Mendes, Kevin James
• Directed by: Andy Tennant

Alex "Hitch" Hitchens may be a love doctor when it comes to coaching other men, but the same can’t be said for his own romantic relationships. While his client, Albert, makes significant progress in winning over his dream girl, Hitch is surprised to find that his techniques aren’t working as well on his own love interest, Sara Melas. Smith is hysterical in this film, as always.

• Cast: Marlon Wayans, Shawn Wayans, Jaime King, Frankie Faison
• Directed by: Keenen Ivory Wayans

After ruining a drug bust, FBI agents Marcus and Kevin Copeland are forced to escort two famous white twins to the Hamptons to catch a kidnapper. But when this plan goes south, the agents decide to assume the identities of both sisters. This is, by far, one of the funniest movies by the Wayans brothers.

• Cast: Cheryl Pepsii Riley, Cassi Davis, LaVan Davis, Keshia Knight Pulliam
• Directed by: Tyler Perry

After confronting a rude woman in a public parking lot and engaging in a high-speed car chase, Madea lands behind bars. Meanwhile, Josh Hardaway, a successful attorney, takes on a new case that involves an old friend, Candace. However, his jealous fiancée begins to suspect that they have feelings for each other.

• Cast: Queen Latifah, LL Cool J, Timothy Hutton
• Directed by: Wayne Wang

Georgia Byrd, a shy cookware sales clerk, finally decides to let loose after she discovers that she has a terminal illness. And as she embarks on her adventures, she strikes up a romance with her charming co-worker, Sean Williams.

• Cast: Gabrielle Union, Duane Martin, Gary Hardwick, LL Cool J
• Directed by: Gary Hardwick

Meet Eva Dandrige. While she only wants the best for her three little sisters, her approach can be a bit much—and the sisters’ boyfriends aren’t happy about it. In an attempt to get Eva off their backs, the three men hire a professional player named Ray to seduce her—but things don’t exactly go according to plan.

• Cast: Michael Ealy, Jerry Ferrara, Terrence J Howard, Romany Malco
• Directed by: Tim Story

Four tight-knit friends, Dominic, Jeremy, Michael and Zeke, are caught off-guard when they learn that their girlfriends have been taking advice from Steve Harvey’s book, Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man. In response, the men conspire to use the book’s advice to turn the tables, except it only leads to more problems. Incredible ensemble cast aside, Think Like a Man packs a lot of laughs and some swoon-worthy moments.

• Cast: Angela Bassett, Paula Patton, Laz Alonso, Mike Epps
• Directed by: Salim Akil

After a whirlwind romance, Sabrina Watson and Jason Taylor are engaged to be married. But when Sabrina's upper-class parents meet Jason's colorful family at their luxurious estate, hilarity and awkwardness ensue. Watch for the star-studded cast, the solid performances and Pam Taylor's snappy comebacks.

• Cast: Regina Hall, Issa Rae, Marsai Martin
• Directed by: Tina Gordon

Little tells the story of a woman named Jordan, a bossy tech company owner who transforms into her 13-year-old self after getting cursed by a stranger. (Think of it as a remixed version of 13 Going on 30.)

• Cast: Queen Latifah, Alicia Silverstone, Andie MacDowell, Mena Suvari, Kevin Bacon
• Directed by: Bille Woodruff

This Barbershop spin-off follows Gina, a popular hairstylist who quits her job and decides to start her own business. Unfortunately, many issues pop up and threaten the success of her salon, and it’s all because of her jealous former boss, who’s determined to bring her down.

• Cast: Martin Lawrence, Lynn Whitfield, Regina King
• Directed by: Martin Lawrence

Womanizer Darnell Wright is in for a rude awakening when he hooks up with a stunning woman Brandi. When he tries to kick her to the curb like his other flings, he discovers that she’s not willing to let go without a fight.

• Cast: Queen Latifah, Common, Paula Patton
• Directed by: Sanaa Hamri

Leslie Wright gets the job of a lifetime as a physical therapist for basketball star Scott McKnight. It’s not long before Leslie catches feelings, but unfortunately for her, Scott is too busy focusing on her gorgeous friend, Morgan, to notice. If you’re a big fan of cutesy rom-coms, then this is a must-watch.

• Cast: Chris Tucker, Charlie Sheen, Heather Locklear
• Directed by: Brett Ratner

It’s no wonder this movie landed on Netflix’s top ten list after it hit the platform. In this funny film, James helps law enforcement bring a criminal named Franklin to justice. Franklin, however, manages to escape during his journey to prison, and when several officers are killed in the process, the authorities blame him. To help prove his innocence, he turns to James, but this only lands them both in more trouble.

• Cast: Eddie Murphy, Judge Reinhold, John Ashton, Ronny Cox
• Directed by: Martin Brest

In this classic comedy, Murphy plays Alex Foley, a Detroit detective who's determined to bring the killer of his best friend to justice. The sharp dialogue and non-stop action make this film a must-see.

• Cast: Jackie Chan, Chris Tucker, Tom Wilkinson, Chris Penn
• Directed by: Brett Ratner

Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan are simply a delight to watch in this action comedy—and the action sequences are pretty amazing. When a Chinese diplomat's daughter is kidnapped for a huge ransom, Hong Kong Detective Inspector Yan Naing Lee teams up with Detective James Carter to crack the case. As expected, they don’t get along, but with a young girl’s life at stake, they must overcome their differences and get her back.

• Cast: Ice Cube, Anthony Anderson, Sean Patrick Thomas, Eve
• Directed by: Tim Story

Another stand-out comedy starring Ice Cube? The iconic Barbershop, which centers on his character, Calvin Palmer Jr., who inherits his late father’s struggling barbershop—despite having no interest in taking over the business. He immediately decides to sell the shop to a loan shark, but after realizing how much this place means to the community, Calvin has a change of heart. Cedric the Entertainer, who plays Eddie Walker, is remarkable in this one.

• Cast: Omar Epps, Richard T. Jones, Taye Diggs
• Directed by: Rick Famuyiwa

Three childhood friends have their work cut out for them when they discover that their best friend, Roland, has gone missing mere hours before his wedding. As they venture out to find him in time for the ceremony, they exchange funny stories and reflect on all the lessons they learned during their high school days.

• Cast: Taye Diggs, Morris Chestnut, Nia Long
• Directed by: Malcolm D. Lee

When Harper Stewart reunites with his squad for their friend Lance's wedding, he desperately tries to prevent the groom from reading his juicy new novel, which happens to include details that could jeopardize everything. To make matters even more complicated, Harper learns that his ex, Jordan Armstrong, has an advance copy of his book.

• Cast: Martin Lawrence, Will Smith, Téa Leoni, Tchéky Karyo
• Directed by: Michael Bay

Is it just us, or is it impossible to hear Inner Circle’s “Bad Boys” without thinking of Smith and Lawrence? The action-comedy follows close friends and Miami detectives Mike Lowrey and Marcus Burnett , who are sent out to investigate the theft of over $100 million worth of heroin from a police vault. Smith and Lawrence together are, simply put, comedy gold.

• Cast: Taye Diggs, Sanaa Lathan, Mos Def, Nicole Ari Parker
• Directed by: Rick Famuyiwa

Andre Ellis and Sidney Shaw have been close friends since childhood, and it’s largely due to their shared passion for hip-hop. Both turn out to be successful adults with careers in the industry, but when they try to embark on romantic relationships with other people, they finally begin to realize they may have feelings for each other. Prepare to laugh and catch all the feels.

• Cast: Whoopi Goldberg, Maggie Smith, Kathy Najimy, Wendy Makkena
• Directed by: Emile Ardolino

This laugh-out-loud comedy follows Deloris Van Cartier, a talented singer who moves to California and poses as a nun after witnessing a crime. When she joins Saint Katherine's Convent, Deloris is assigned to lead the convent's choir, which she turns into a hugely successful act.

• Cast: Regina Hall, Queen Latifah, Jada Pinkett Smith, Tiffany Haddish
• Directed by: Malcolm D. Lee

Join the Flossy Posse as they reunite for one of the wildest trips ever. Ryan, Sasha, Lisa and Dina travel together to New Orleans, turning what started as a work trip into a party-filled vacation. Not only is the acting phenomenal, but these ladies will have you cracking up.

• Cast: Lakeith Stanfield, Tessa Thompson, Jermaine Fowler
• Directed by: Boots Riley

Lakeith Stanfield truly stands out in this film, which will probably be one of the most unique and insightful comedies you ever watch. In the film, Stanfield plays Cassius Green, a telemarketer in Oakland, California. After struggling on the job, a co-worker encourages him to use his "white voice." And from that point on, things start to look up for him—but it’s hard to ignore the protests of co-workers who are speaking out against capitalist greed.

• Cast: Woody Harrelson, Wesley Snipes, Rosie Perez
• Directed by: Ron Shelton

We're always down for a fun comedy that challenges common racial stereotypes. In this film, Billy Hoyle, who's white, and Sidney Deane, who's Black, are two skilled basketball hustlers who decide to make some cash by conning people who underestimate their abilities on the court.

• Cast: Richard Pryor, Redd Foxx, Danny Aiello, Michael Lerner, Della Reese
• Directed by: Eddie Murphy

The crime comedy was written and directed by Eddie Murphy, who also stars alongside the legendary Richard Pryor. Set in 1918 Harlem, the movie follows Sugar Ray and his adopted son, Quick, who run a nightclub together. After a dangerous competitor learns that their establishment is earning more money than his own club, he hires a dirty cop to try and close them down.

• Cast: John Candy, Leon Robinson, Doug E. Doug
• Directed by: Jon Turteltaub

Based on the true story of the Jamaica national bobsleigh team's debut at the 1988 Winter Olympics in Canada, Cool Runnings follows a group of four Jamaican athletes who dream of competing in the Olympics as a bobsled team—even though they’ve never experienced the cold. It’s as inspiring as it is funny.

• Cast: Alfre Woodard, Delroy Lindo, Spike Lee, Zelda Harris
• Directed by: Spike Lee

Lee's semi-autobiographical film centers on 9-year-old Troy Carmichael, who lives in Bedford-Stuyvesant with her parents and four siblings. Set during the '70s, Troy spends the summer with her aunt in the south. But when she returns home, she's forced to confront some shocking family news.

• Cast: Shameik Moore, Tony Revolori, Kiersey Clemons, Kimberly Elise, Chanel Iman
• Directed by: Rick Famuyiwa

This epic coming-of-age tale revolves around a brilliant boy who finds himself in the wrong place at the wrong time. When he encounters a drug dealer, he ends up at a nightclub party that turns violent. Worse yet, when Malcolm escapes, he discovers that drugs are stashed in his backpack.

• Cast: Christopher Reid, Christopher Martin, Robin Harris
• Directed by: Reginald Hudlin

You may recognize Kid and Play from the popular hip-hop duo, Kid 'n Play. In this film, Peter "Play" Martin decides to throw a big party because his parents are out of town. His BFF, Christopher "Kid" Robinson, Jr., unfortunately, gets grounded after getting into a fight at school, but because he’s determined to see his crush, he sneaks out to celebrate at one of the biggest parties of the year. Prepare for freestyle battles, make out sessions and the works.

• Cast: Spike Lee, Danny Aiello, Ossie Davis, Ruby Dee, Richard Edson
• Directed by: Spike Lee

Not only does this have laughs, but it also offers some thought-provoking commentary about race relations in America. Lee’s groundbreaking film follows Mookie, a young delivery guy who works at a pizzeria in Bedford–Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. Racial tensions rise in the neighborhood when people start to take issue with the pizzeria’s Wall of Fame exhibit, which features exactly zero Black actors. (And it doesn’t help that the pizzeria’s owner, Sal Fragione is hesitant to make any changes).

• Cast: Ice Cube, Chris Tucker, Nia Long, Tiny "Zeus" Lister Jr., Regina King
• Directed by: John Landis

After Craig gets fired from his job for stealing, he spends his Friday hanging out with his best friend and drug peddler, Smokey. As the day rolls on, we get some insight into their everyday life in South-Central L.A., which has no shortage of drug addicts and drive-by shootings. Craig and Smoke find themselves in funny situations that will make you chuckle.

• Cast: Eddie Murphy, Arsenio Hall, James Earl Jones, Shari Headley
• Directed by: John Landis

In one of his most iconic roles, Murphy plays Prince Akeem, the wealthy African prince of Zamunda. After being presented with a bride that he doesn’t love, he and his partner in crime, Semmi (Arsenio Hall), travel to America to find his future queen. From smart one-liners to clever satire, you’ll love this flick. (Oh, and did I mention that Coming to America has a sequel?!)

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