The 10 Funniest War Movies, Ranked

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While many war movies feature plenty of drama and action, there are some movies that focus on the comedy and absurdity of war. While dramatic war stories can highlight the tragedy people experience, comedic stories about war can emphasize the characters' humanity. Comedic movies set during war can offer unique perspectives that dramas don't. Comedic war movies may put characters in absurd situations, or they might satirize real ones.

Some movies, like The Great Dictator, satirize real people and events and offer real-time commentary on current events. Other movies, like M*A*S*H, were based on real experiences that showcased the absurdity of war and how many of those who live through war rely on their humor as a coping mechanism. The best comedic war movies showcase the futility of war and how people will often look for humor in the midst of otherwise horrifying circumstances.

10 '1941' (1979)

Directed by Steven Spielberg

While Steven Spielberg is more well-known for his war dramas, 1941 is a war comedy that represents an earlier look at his talents as a director. The movie follows the panic that gripped the Los Angeles area in the aftermath of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. 1941 is loosely based on real events that happened in the United States during World War II. The movie stars Dan Aykroyd, Ned Beatty, John Belushi, and Christopher Lee, among others.

What makes 1941 so funny is the fact that it leans into the chaos of its story. This hilarious ensemble heightens the outrageous premise and elevates the story's comedy. As funny as 1941 is, it is also a surprisingly poignant look at how easily it is for people to be whipped into a frenzy when they are given incorrect or incomplete information. The gags and action sequences featured in the movie only underline the comedy.

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1941

Release Date December 14, 1979

Runtime 118 Minutes

Director Steven Spielberg

9 'Catch-22' (1970)

Directed by Mike Nichols

Catch-22 is based on the 1961 novel of the same name by Joseph Heller. The story is set on a fictional base in the Mediterranean during World War II. The movie stars Alan Arkin as American bombardier Captain John Yossarian. Yossarian is known for flying dangerous missions but looks to escape after watching his colleagues die in combat. As his schemes to protect himself become more convoluted, those around him also take increasingly extreme measures to meet Yossarian's unrealistic combat targets.

Catch-22 captures the folly of war by making fun of its premise. The entire story is a meditation on the quote from one of the characters, Doc Daneeka (Jack Gilford), An airman would have to be crazy to fly more missions, and if he were crazy, he would be unfit to fly." Each of the characters goes through so much to confront the reality in which they find themselves. Catch-22 highlights the lengths people will go to process the realities of war.

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Catch-22

Release Date June 24, 1970

Runtime 122 Minutes

Director Mike Nichols

8 'Good Morning, Vietnam' (1987)

Directed by Barry Levinson

Good Morning, Vietnam is loosely based on the true story of Adrian Cronauer (Robin Williams), a DJ with the Armed Forces Radio Service. The movie highlights Cronauer's experience while being stationed in Vietnam during the Vietnam War. Good Morning, Vietnam follows Cronauer as he goes from a mostly apolitical DJ focused on playing music for the troops to a man who is profoundly disturbed by the violence he witnesses.

What makes Good Morning, Vietnam such an effective comedy is the fact that it is a story told by an outsider. The movie relies on Williams' incredible talent to tell the story of a man who fought to maintain his humanity while witnessing war up close and being censored by his government. The horrors of war featured in Good Morning, Vietnam are made all the more personal because of how innocent the protagonist is.

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Good Morning, Vietnam

Release Date December 23, 1987

Runtime 121 Minutes

Director Barry Levinson

7 'Jojo Rabbit' (2019)

Directed by Taika Waititi

Jojo Rabbit is a satirical story set in World War II. It follows Johannes "Jojo" Betzler (Roman Griffin Davis), a young German boy who speaks to an imaginary version of Adolf Hitler (Taika Waititi). Jojo is deeply indoctrinated by Nazi ideals in the Hitler youth and desperately tries to prove himself despite not being taken seriously by his peers. Jojo Rabbit follows Jojo as he grows up and realizes the harsh truths about war and his country's involvement in it.

Jojo Rabbit is an effective commentary on war because it never ceases to mock Hitler and his horrific ideology. Jojo's relationship with his mother Rosie (Scarlett Johansson) is what grounds him in the midst of the chaos of war. Additionally, meeting Elsa (Thomasin McKenzie), the Jewish teenager his mother is hiding, gives him much-needed perspective on the war. This perspective is what elevates the movie's comedy and makes the mockery even more hilarious.

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Jojo Rabbit

Release Date October 18, 2019

Runtime 108 minutes

Director Taika Waititi

6 'Kelly's Heroes' (1970)

Directed by Brian G. Hutton

Kelly's Heroes is a comedy heist that takes place in World War II. The story follows a group of American soldiers as they go AWOL and attempt to rob a French bank of its German gold. Kelly's Heroes follows this group as they get into increasingly perilous situations as they work towards completing the mission they gave themselves. The movie stars Clint Eastwood, Telly Savalas, Donald Sutherland, and Don Rickles, among others.

The humor featured in Kelly's Heroes works because it serves as a commentary on military leadership in World War II. The story combines realistic battlefield action and a fun heist that puts the movie's characters in fun and chaotic situations. Kelly's Heroes uses its heist to showcase the humanity of those who experienced war and how they needed direction, even from eccentric leaders. The movie is also humorous because it shows how disconnected its characters are from the rest of the war.

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Kelly's Heroes

Release Date June 22, 1970

Runtime 144 Minutes

Director Brian G. Hutton

5 'Dr. Strangelove' (1964)

Directed by Stanley Kubrick

Dr. Strangelove is a political satire that is considered a classic. While the movie is set during the Cold War, it has pointed commentary on warfare as a whole. The movie is loosely based on the novel "Red Alert" by Peter George. The movie follows a mentally unstable American general who orders a pre-emptive nuclear attack against the Soviet Union. As everyone struggles to deal with the fallout of this decision, the American president and his advisors are faced with decisions that will impact the entire world.

Dr Strangelove is another example of a movie that uses an outrageous hypothetical to tell a compelling story. The movie relies on its characters to tell a wild story that tapped into the fears of so many Americans during the Cold War. The fact that the movie uses absurd humor to get its point across is part of what makes it so compelling. Dr. Strangelove also uses an unsettling tone to amp up its humor and make viewers consider uncomfortable truths about the possibility of nuclear war.

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Dr. Strangelove Or: How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love The Bomb

Release Date January 29, 1964

Runtime 95 minutes

Director Stanley Kubrick

4 'The Great Dictator' (1940)

Directed by Charlie Chaplin

The Great Dictator is a movie that was written, directed, and produced by Charlie Chaplin. Chaplin also starred in the movie as Adenoid Hynkel, a parody of Adolf Hitler and a Jewish barber who loses his memory after his experience as a soldier in World War I. The movie was an anti-fascist rallying cry and was meant as a stark criticism of such leaders as Hitler and Mussolini, who were wreaking havoc in Europe at the time.

What makes The Great Dictator such a sharp comedy is the fact that Chaplin plays characters who represent the oppressed and the oppressors of Europe during World War II. The classic Chaplin humor is underlined by the stirring speech at the end of the movie that was a call to action. The Great Dictator is another example of a movie that used its humor to ruthlessly mock the evils of war and the leaders who were responsible for such destruction.

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The Great Dictator

Release Date October 15, 1940

Runtime 125 Minutes

Director Charlie Chaplin

3 'Stripes' (1981)

Directed by Ivan Reitman

Stripes is a comedy starring Bill Murray as John Winger, a taxi driver who enlists in the army after his life becomes a chaotic mess. His laid-back attitude puts him in the crosshairs of his instructors during basic training. During his stint in the armed forces, he has a whirlwind romance and makes some equally oddball friends along the way. Stripes follows John's story as he is deployed to Europe and has to navigate a potentially dangerous military situation.

Stripes is an example of a movie that is so funny because of its star. Murray pulls off this character who would ordinarily be completely unsympathetic. However, seeing the American military through John's eyes is both hilarious and poignant. Stripes shows how silly military training and order can be. The fact that John never takes himself or his training seriously makes him a protagonist worth cheering for.

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Stripes

Release Date June 25, 1981

Runtime 106 minutes

Director Ivan Reitman

2 'Three Kings' (1999)

Directed by David O. Russell

Three Kings is another example of a comedic war film centered around a group of soldiers going on a heist. Specifically, the movie follows American soldiers who remain in Iraq following the Gulf War. Three Kings stars George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg, and Ice Cube. These soldiers are caught up in the 1991 Iraq uprisings and are convinced by their leader that there is a map that leads them to stolen gold.

What makes Three Kings an effective comedy is the fact that it showcases characters who are disillusioned with war and have nothing to lose. This makes the humor harsher and more compelling. Ultimately, the movie makes fun of the over-confident American soldiers who felt entitled to any resources available in the aftermath of war. The fact that no one faces any consequences for their actions just makes the movie funnier.

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Three Kings

Release Date September 27, 1999

Runtime 114 minutes

Director David O. Russell

1 'M*A*S*H' (1970)

Directed by Robert Altman

M*A*S*H is based on the book by Richard Hooker, which detailed his own experiences as a surgeon during the Korean War. The movie follows the staff of an American Mobile Army Surgical Hospital. The movie inspired the creation of the TV series, which ran for 11 seasons and is still considered one of the best TV series ever made. Gary Burghoff appears in both the movie and TV series as company clerk Radar O'Reilly.

M*A*S*H's humor comes from the fact that it leans into the boredom that is often a hallmark of war. From the beginning of the movie, it is clear that the staff of the 4077 are listless. This leads them to use their imaginations to come up with ways to keep themselves entertained. M*A*S*H's humor also comes from the fact that the characters are trying to distract themselves from the chaos around them.

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M*A*S*H

Release Date February 18, 1970

Runtime 116 Minutes

Director Robert Altman

NEXT: 10 Must-Watch War Movies, Ranked