List This: Top Ten Sci-Fi Comedies
Filed under: Comedy, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fandom, Lists, Summer Movies
In spite of the some rather negative early reviews, I plan on plunking down my cash to see Land of the Lost this weekend. It's a silly move, but I can't help myself; I blame my addiction to Danny McBride. Plus, I wasn't around for the original series, so it's not like Ferrell can mess up any childhood memories. But it did get me thinking; sci-fi and comedy are two genres that usually work pretty well together, right? So what does any movie geek do in this situation? That's right, we make a list. So now I present in no particular order, my top ten sci-fi comedies:
1. Hellboy
So technically, maybe not a pure sci-fi flick (it has gadgets...does that count?). But you definitely can't argue with funny; and it made for a nice departure for those of us tired of seeing our heroes 'brood' all the time.
2. Innerspace
Most people I know hate this movie; and to be fair, it hasn't aged well. The F/X are a little creaky, and Meg Ryan is downright annoying, but when I saw this film as a kid it was the height of hilarity -- score one for nostalgia.
3. Idiocracy
How could you not love Mike Judge's vision of a dystopic future where the #1 rated TV show is Ow! My Balls!
4. Ghostbusters
When it comes to sci-fi comedy, Ghostbusters is the granddaddy. To this day I consider it one of the funniest films ever made; and thanks to Bill Murray, I grew up to be the smart-a** that my family and friends know and love.
5. Sleeper
Woody Allen and sci-fi probably aren't two things that most people think would work well together. But Allen transplanted his nebbish New Yorker into the future, and still managed to make jokes about sex and health food stores.
After the jump; the final five...
6. Back to the Future
Robert Zemeckis made a classic when he first introduced us to Doc Brown and Marty McFly. You don't need me to tell you why this film is fantastic, all you have to do is spend two hours with the genuinely lovable hero, and you'll be singing along with Power of Love in no time -- now if they could just do something about getting those Nikes into mass production...
7. Galaxy Quest
For anyone who has ever remotely flirted with sci-fi fandom, then Galaxy Quest is for you. There isn't much I can say about this movie that Scott already hasn't covered. But I will say that if you haven't seen it, do yourself a favor and start updating your Netflix queue now.
8. Spaceballs
It may not be Mel Brooks' greatest comedy (*cough* Young Frankenstein *cough*), but Rick Moranis' performance as Dark Helmet alone earned this movie a spot on the list.
9. Weird Science
A young Robert Downey Jr. is just one of my favorite things about this '80s throwback -- well, that and that Oingo Boingo song. But, the story of two geeks who learn a valuable lesson after making the perfect woman on their home computer earned a spot for giving me Chet's (Bill Paxton) threat to his younger brother, Gary: "OK, you die, she walks out of here with a severe limp..."
10. Zapped!
Before Scott Baio was humiliating himself on reality TV, he was the star of a hit show and trying to branch into a film career -- and unfortunately one of those films was Zapped! It was a new low even by teen sex-romps standards with Baio starring as a lovable loser with Telekinesis -- if only he could have transported himself out of the movie. But I love a movie that is the so bad it's good, so Zapped! managed to grab a spot.
So now it's your turn. Sound off below, and leave your nominations for the best sci-fi comedies...
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
6-06-2009 @ 8:49AM
Scott Weinberg said...
Who doesn't like INNERSPACE?? I'll beat 'em up!
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6-06-2009 @ 9:34PM
MCW said...
Thanks for the reminder that I need to see it, both of you... it sounds like my kind of movie.
6-06-2009 @ 10:18PM
Dan said...
I second the notion, Scott. Innerspace is GREAT!
6-06-2009 @ 8:18PM
Midnight13 said...
I will forever defend that "Robocop" is a comedy. Its a over the top 80's action movie that made fun of over the top 80's action movies. "Starship Troopers" was pretty much the same as well. And how can you leave out "Gremilins"? I don't know if that's sci-fi or fantasy or horrer, but maybe the fact that it fits all three plus being funny is part of its genuis.
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6-06-2009 @ 9:25PM
almostinfocus said...
Hard to argue with the first seven, and I'll even overlook "Spaceballs", but surely there were better choices than "Weird Science" and "Zapped!", respectively the movie where John Hughes stopped caring and the movie that ranks below "Charles in Charge" on Scott Biao's resume.
How about "Men in Black"? An obvious choice and everyone has seen it to death, but the same could be said for "Ghostbusters", and "MiB" was pretty fun in its day. Maybe "Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure". It fits the description as much as "Back to the Future", and while it's the lesser film, it was always the funnier film. You could have chosen a rather dark comedy, like "Brazil", or and animated sci-fi comedy, like "Wall-E". "The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension" would have been a good choice for a cult, midnight movie kind of film. Or a film that usually isn't considered sci-fi, such as "Being John Malkovich" would have been a nice selection.
But it's your list and, as you said, you like those two films. Kudos on the post.
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6-08-2009 @ 9:09AM
ML said...
Glad you enjoyed Buckaroo Banzai; I found it disappointing and rather full of itself - but not particularly funny. Ghostbusters, Men in Black, Galaxy Quest, even Bill & Ted, all excellent suggestions.
6-06-2009 @ 9:40PM
MCW said...
Netflix lists The Mask as Sci-Fi... and I would pretty much agree (Mask melds to dudes face, makes him insane... tell me another movie where that happens, excluding the Haunted Mask by R.L. Stine), though it skews more towards the comedy end of the spectrum. It's one of the SF comedies I've seen that you did not mention.
I also like almostinfocus' recommendation of Men In Black. Even looking back on the movie today, you're constantly saying "How'd they do that?" (The special FX work and CGI holds up). It's really an amazing movie... I don't know that you could stand to watch it repeatedly, but it's good all the same.
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6-07-2009 @ 3:13AM
uforeader said...
MiB and Fifth Element are strangely absent.
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6-06-2009 @ 9:48PM
Bobby Booey said...
Uh... forgot about Star Trek 4 I assume? And I would rather watch Manos, Hands Of Fate before anything with Scott Baio.
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6-06-2009 @ 9:53PM
Toobusyforyourignorantthoughts said...
I loved Zapped! Haha good times indeed!
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6-06-2009 @ 10:58PM
Jay said...
Oh yuck! Hellboy is #1?! That movie was a lot of things, but funny wasn't one of them.
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6-06-2009 @ 11:14PM
tumplet said...
hellboy= fantasy comedy
aint nothing scientific about demons, mermen and firestarters.
replace it with bill and teds.
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6-07-2009 @ 1:35PM
Vince said...
Hey Jessica, this top ten list is fantastic. I would have to go with Spaceballs, Mel Brooks and company really out did themselves on that one. Let the Schwartz be with you, Yogurt, Combing the dessert. that is awesome. You can post this to our site http://www.toptentopten.com/ and link back to your site. We are trying to create a directory for top ten lists where people can find your site. The coolest feature is you can let other people vote on the rankings of your list.
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6-07-2009 @ 1:03AM
Bryan Price said...
I remember seeing Zardoz in the theater (yes, I'm an old fart). It might have been better on DVD, then you could replay some moments. But then, it wasn't made as a comedy (I'm not sure what it was made as...)
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6-07-2009 @ 5:28AM
TurnipHead said...
Spaceballs, Ghostbusters, HELLBOY! All great Sci-Fi!
I want to know why Sci-Fi Channel took TRIPPING THE RIFT
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6-07-2009 @ 9:44AM
WillTheSecond said...
Men In Black?
Star Trek IV?
Wall-E?
The Fifth Element?
Starship Troopers?
I don't think Hellboy is a great choice either, it's not really sci-fi, it's fantasy. Other than that a fairly good list.
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6-07-2009 @ 10:29AM
Joshua said...
I always think of the 1984 movie "Ice Pirates" I was just a youngster when i first saw it but I do remember it being funny and sci-fi
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6-07-2009 @ 1:09PM
Moe said...
Two words: DARK STAR.
Spaceballs had a couple of moments but is sadly one of Mel Brook's unfunniest films.
Other nominees could include: The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, Real Genius, Time Bandits and of course, Star Trek: Generations. What? What do you mean that one wasn't a comedy. ;)
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6-07-2009 @ 6:03PM
MooseMalloy said...
HELLBOY?! I think that movie fits into the now well established "Super-Hero/Comic book" genre, don't you think? As mentioned above, DARK STAR should be on this list, as well as SPACESHIP (aka: THE CREATURE WASN'T NICE, aka: NAKED SPACE).
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6-09-2009 @ 10:13AM
jalap said...
Hitchhickers Guide to the Galaxy
Great movie
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