Here are the best A24 comedy movies including my favourites, award winners, critically acclaimed and cult favourites.
WYALAN star rating explained:
- 5 stars – Highly enjoyed and would highly recommend as a must watch
- 4 stars – Enjoyed and would watch again in the future
- 3 stars – Glad I watched it once, but I’ll probably never watch it again
- 2 stars – Watched to the end, but I wouldn’t watch it again
- 1 star – DNF (did not finish)
Award-Winning
Lady Bird (2017) – [Comedy/Drama/Coming-of-Age]
For fans of: Frances Ha, Booksmart, Little Women
Greta Gerwig’s directorial debut earned five Oscar nominations and stars Saoirse Ronan as a restless teen navigating love, ambition, and family in Sacramento. Laurie Metcalf’s portrayal of a complicated mother adds emotional depth. The film balances wit and vulnerability with precision. WYALAN Rating – 4.5/5
Everything Everywhere All At Once (2022) – [Comedy/Sci-Fi/Action]
For fans of: Eternal Sunshine, The Matrix, Scott Pilgrim
Michelle Yeoh stars in Daniels’ multiversal epic, which won seven Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Actress. Beneath the chaos lies a tender love story between Yeoh and Ke Huy Quan’s characters, spanning timelines and regrets. The film redefined genre storytelling with heart and invention. WYALAN Rating – 4.5/5
The Farewell (2019) – [Comedy/Drama/Family]
For fans of: Minari, Lady Bird, The Joy Luck Club
Awkwafina stars in Lulu Wang’s Sundance hit about a family hiding a terminal diagnosis from their matriarch. Romantic subplots thread through cultural tension and generational bonds. The film won Best Feature at the Independent Spirit Awards.
Marcel the Shell With Shoes On (2022) – [Comedy/Animation/Mockumentary]
For fans of: Paddington, Wallace & Gromit, My Life as a Zucchini
Jenny Slate voices Marcel, a tiny shell living in a human-sized world, in this heartwarming stop-motion feature. Directed by Dean Fleischer Camp and Oscar-nominated for Best Animated Feature, the film blends whimsy with emotional resonance. The humour is gentle, the soul enormous.
Best A24 best lists:
Best A24 Films ~ Best A24 Horror Movies
Critically Acclaimed
Eighth Grade (2018) – [Comedy/Drama/Coming-of-Age]
For fans of: Pen15, The Edge of Seventeen, Welcome to the Dollhouse
Bo Burnham’s directorial debut stars Elsie Fisher as a socially anxious teen navigating the final week of middle school. The film was praised for its authenticity, humour, and empathy. Fisher earned a Golden Globe nomination for her breakout role.
Friendship (2025) – [Black Comedy/Surreal/Social Satire]
For fans of: I Think You Should Leave, The Cable Guy, Beau Is Afraid
Written and directed by Andrew DeYoung in his feature debut, this TIFF-premiered black comedy stars Tim Robinson as Craig, a suburban dad whose obsessive quest to befriend his charming new neighbour (Paul Rudd) spirals into surreal chaos. Kate Mara and Jack Dylan Grazer round out the cast in a story that escalates from awkward dinners to soap-eating breakdowns and sewer labyrinths. Nominated for multiple Critics Choice awards including Best Actor (Robinson) and Best Original Screenplay, the film was hailed as “the funniest of the year” by The Independent. WYALAN Rating – 4.5/5
Obvious Child (2014) – [Comedy/Romance/Drama]
For fans of: Frances Ha, Knocked Up, The Big Sick
Jenny Slate stars in Gillian Robespierre’s Sundance breakout, blending abortion, romance, and stand-up comedy. The film was praised for its honesty, humour, and feminist perspective. Slate’s performance is raw and magnetic.
Dream Scenario (2023) – [Comedy/Surreal/Satire]
For fans of: Being John Malkovich, Adaptation, The Truman Show
Nicolas Cage plays a professor who inexplicably begins appearing in people’s dreams, triggering fame and backlash. Directed by Kristoffer Borgli (Sick of Myself), the film premiered at TIFF and earned acclaim for its originality. The satire is sharp, the surrealism grounded. WYALAN Rating – 3.5/5
You Hurt My Feelings (2023) – [Comedy/Drama/Relationship]
For fans of: Enough Said, Marriage Story, The Lovers
Nicole Holofcener directs Julia Louis-Dreyfus in a story about a writer whose confidence is shattered by a stray comment from her husband. The humour is quiet, the emotional honesty piercing. Sundance-premiered and warmly received.
Showing Up (2023) – [Comedy/Drama/Art World]
For fans of: Paterson, Synecdoche, New York, Frances Ha
Kelly Reichardt’s latest stars Michelle Williams as a sculptor preparing for a show while navigating daily distractions. The film premiered at Cannes and was praised for its observational tone and dry humour. Art and life blur in subtle, textured ways.
While We’re Young (2015) – [Comedy/Drama/Satire]
For fans of: Greenberg, The Squid and the Whale, The Meyerowitz Stories
Ben Stiller and Naomi Watts play a middle-aged couple drawn to a younger, hipper pair played by Adam Driver and Amanda Seyfried. Noah Baumbach’s generational satire skewers authenticity, ambition, and aging. The laughs are sharp, the discomfort real.
The End of the Tour (2015) – [Comedy/Drama/Biopic]
For fans of: Sideways, My Dinner with Andre, Capote
Jesse Eisenberg and Jason Segel star in this adaptation of David Lipsky’s interview with David Foster Wallace. Directed by James Ponsoldt, the film is dialogue-driven and emotionally layered. Critics praised its performances and intellectual intimacy.
Cult Favourites
Swiss Army Man (2016) – [Comedy/Surreal/Adventure]
For fans of: Eternal Sunshine, The Fall, Harold and Maude
Paul Dano plays a stranded man who befriends a flatulent corpse (Daniel Radcliffe) in this Sundance-premiered oddity. Directed by Daniels (Everything Everywhere All At Once), the film blends absurdity with emotional longing. Beneath the fart jokes lies a tender story of loneliness and connection.
Beau Is Afraid (2023) – [Comedy/Horror/Surreal]
For fans of: Synecdoche, New York, Brazil, Mother!
Ari Aster’s three-hour odyssey stars Joaquin Phoenix as a paranoid man navigating a nightmarish world of guilt and anxiety. The film divided critics but earned praise for its ambition and visual invention. It’s darkly comic, deeply strange, and unlike anything else in A24’s catalogue. WYALAN Rating – 2.5/5
Bodies Bodies Bodies (2022) – [Comedy/Thriller/Satire]
For fans of: Scream, Euphoria, The Bling Ring
A Gen Z party turns deadly in Halina Reijn’s genre-savvy slasher, which won Best Screenplay at the SXSW Film Awards. Amandla Stenberg, Rachel Sennott, and Maria Bakalova lead a cast of influencers and frenemies. The satire is sharp, the pacing relentless.
The Disaster Artist (2017) – [Comedy/Biopic/Meta]
For fans of: Ed Wood, Tropic Thunder, Adaptation
James Franco directs and stars as Tommy Wiseau in this behind-the-scenes look at the making of The Room, one of cinema’s most infamous cult films. The film earned a Golden Globe and was praised for its affectionate tone. Dave Franco and Seth Rogen round out the ensemble.
Funny Pages (2022) – [Comedy/Coming-of-Age/Artistic Identity]
For fans of: Ghost World, Crumb, The Squid and the Whale
Owen Kline’s debut follows a teenage cartoonist who drops out of school to pursue his artistic dreams in a grimy New Jersey subculture. The film premiered at Cannes and earned praise for its tone and character work. It’s awkward, abrasive, and strangely compelling.
Dicks: The Musical (2023) – [Comedy/Musical/Queer]
For fans of: South Park, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Grease 2
Aaron Jackson and Josh Sharp star in this campy, chaotic musical about two businessmen who discover they’re long-lost twins. Directed by Larry Charles (Borat) and featuring Megan Thee Stallion and Nathan Lane, the film premiered at TIFF and became an instant cult hit. The songs are outrageous, the tone proudly unhinged.
The Lobster (2016) – [Comedy/Dystopian/Absurdist]
For fans of: Eternal Sunshine, Dogtooth, Being John Malkovich
Yorgos Lanthimos directs Colin Farrell in a world where singles must find a partner or be turned into animals. Cannes Jury Prize winner and BAFTA-nominated, the film blends deadpan humour with existential dread. Rachel Weisz adds romantic tension to the surreal premise. WYALAN Rating – 4.5/5
The Death of Dick Long (2019) – [Comedy/Dark/Crime]
For fans of: Fargo, I Don’t Feel at Home in This World Anymore, The Greasy Strangler
Daniel Scheinert (Swiss Army Man) directs this small-town mystery about a man who dies under bizarre circumstances. The humour is pitch-black, the twists genuinely surprising. Sundance-premiered and quietly adored by genre fans.
The Bling Ring (2013) – [Comedy/Crime/Satire]
For fans of: Spring Breakers, Clueless, The Social Network
Sofia Coppola’s stylish take on the real-life teens who robbed celebrity homes stars Emma Watson and Taissa Farmiga. The film critiques fame obsession with cool detachment and glittering visuals. It’s shallow by design, and that’s the point.
Spring Breakers (2013) – [Comedy/Crime/Experimental]
For fans of: Trainspotting, Natural Born Killers, Climax
Harmony Korine’s neon-drenched saga follows four college girls who descend into crime and chaos on spring break. James Franco’s performance as Alien became instantly iconic. Divisive on release, the film has since earned cult status for its style and subversion.
Mid90s (2018) – [Comedy/Drama/Coming-of-Age]
For fans of: Kids, Skate Kitchen, Dope
Jonah Hill’s directorial debut follows 13-year-old Stevie as he falls in with a group of skaters in 1990s Los Angeles. The film blends lo-fi aesthetics with raw emotional beats, earning praise for its authenticity. Sunny Suljic leads a non-professional cast with surprising depth.
Zola (2021) – [Comedy/Drama/Crime]
For fans of: Hustlers, Tangerine, The Bling Ring
Based on a viral Twitter thread, Janicza Bravo’s film stars Taylour Paige and Riley Keough as dancers caught in a chaotic road trip. The romantic tension simmers beneath stylised visuals and social media satire. Sundance-premiered and critically praised for its voice and verve.
How to Talk to Girls at Parties (2018) – [Comedy/Romance/Sci-Fi]
For fans of: Scott Pilgrim, Velvet Goldmine, Submarine
Elle Fanning and Alex Sharp star in this punk-infused alien romance based on Neil Gaiman’s short story. Directed by John Cameron Mitchell (Hedwig and the Angry Inch), the film is quirky, colourful, and defiantly weird. Critics were divided, but its cult appeal endures.
Life After Beth (2014) – [Comedy/Romance/Zombie]
For fans of: Warm Bodies, Shaun of the Dead, Dead Alive
Aubrey Plaza returns from the dead in this romantic zombie comedy directed by Jeff Baena. Dane DeHaan plays her grieving boyfriend as things spiral into undead absurdity. The tone is offbeat, the humour macabre.
Never Goin’ Back (2018) – [Comedy/Coming-of-Age/Stoner]
For fans of: Broad City, Booksmart, Wetlands
Maia Mitchell and Camila Morrone star as two high school dropouts scheming for a beach getaway in this rebellious teen comedy. Directed by Augustine Frizzell and premiered at Sundance, the film is chaotic, profane, and full of heart. Friendship takes centre stage amid the mess.
The Lovers (2017) – [Comedy/Drama/Romance]
For fans of: Marriage Story, The Squid and the Whale, The Kids Are All Right
Debra Winger and Tracy Letts play a married couple rekindling romance while cheating on each other. Azazel Jacobs directs with dry wit and emotional restraint. The film was praised for its performances and tonal balance.
The Last Movie Star (2018) – [Comedy/Drama/Reflection]
For fans of: Nebraska, The Wrestler, Lucky
Burt Reynolds plays an aging actor invited to a low-rent film festival, confronting his legacy and regrets. Directed by Adam Rifkin, the film is bittersweet and self-aware. Reynolds delivers a poignant final performance.
Y2K (2024) – [Comedy/Disaster/Coming-of-Age]
For fans of: Superbad, Project X, The End of the World
Kyle Mooney directs this nostalgic teen comedy set during the millennium bug panic, starring Jaeden Martell and Rachel Zegler. A house party turns apocalyptic in this chaotic blend of disaster and adolescence. The tone is absurd, the energy relentless.