The 50 Best Comedies of All Time

"An apple a day keeps the doctor away," right? Well, a laugh a day might help keep that nagging sense of total doom at bay. At least we can hope. In many ways, it’s vital for humans to laugh whenever we can, especially in times of crisis. What better option to induce laughter—a natural stress reliever, mind you—than a movie? A comedy classic is the best medicine for such moments.

That brings us to the best of the best. There are comedies coming out all the time. But to become a great, you have to have a few things. Part of it is a little bit of time, to make sure the laughs weren't just in the moment. The next is a die-hard fan base that will keep the story alive. And the third part is a little bit of movie magic. Dark comedies, slapstick, rom coms... the best of their sub-genres all have it.

Even if you’re not the type to laugh out loud at comedies, the following films are sure to elicit some small giggle, or perhaps even one of those loud, surprising guffaws. From National Lampoon comedy classics to iconic stoner adventures plus new takes on the sex comedy genre, below are the 50 funniest films of all time.