The 7 Best A24 Comedies
While A24 has become synonymous with art house horror, they also have some killer comedies.
A little over a decade since its foundation, A24 has quickly become one of the most exciting production studios in the contemporary film industry.
As evidenced by its extensive lineup of past films, the independent studio has released a steady wave of worthwhile comedies, dramas, mysteries, and horror movies, many of which have earned avid acclaim from critics and international audience members alike.
As many films as A24 has released in the past, there’s something to be said about the studio’s engrossing comedy movies in particular. From absurdist action films to bittersweet coming-of-age dramas, here are some of the best comedies we’ve seen from A24 yet, ranked in order from worst to best.
Swiss Army Man (2016)
Before they catapulted to new heights with their Oscar-winning Everything Everywhere All at Once, the filmmaking duo known as the Daniels made a name for themselves with their 2016 absurdist comedy, Swiss Army Man. A survival narrative like no other, Swiss Army Man expertly illustrates the Daniels’ propensity for bold and exciting creative material, including – in this case – the idea of a mysterious corpse with an infinite supply of practical uses. With a premise like that, it’s no wonder the film has since acquired a steadfast cult following.
Eighth Grade (2018)
Not content to be one of the most lauded stand-up comics of his day and age, Bo Burnham has since proven himself a more than capable director with his 2018 debut effort, Eighth Grade. Drawing on his own past experiences with anxiety and ailing mental health, Burnham carefully crafts a jarringly relatable portrait of young adulthood through Eighth Grade. For all of its serious elements, though, Burnham still manages to incorporate his trademark sense of humor, paving the way to a film that will leave viewer chuckling even as their eyes fill with tears.
Red Rocket (2021)
Over the years, director Sean Baker has earned consistent praise for his realistic, socially profound indie dramas and comedies, from his lauded Tangerine to his more recent Red Rocket. With the latter, Baker provides a moving portrait around modern Americans’ polarized reactions to taboo subject matter, most especially when it comes to the adult film industry. Bolstered by Simon Rex’s awe-inspiring lead performance, Red Rocket succeeds as another riveting comedy about small-town America, making for another strong addition to Baker’s growing filmography.
Bodies Bodies Bodies (2022)
Realistically, we don’t really know what to describe Bodies Bodies Bodies as, the entire film seeming to fall somewhere between a claustrophobic thriller and a first-rate dark comedy. Yet, like Scream before it, the muddled mix of genres is what makes this 2022 whodunit so enjoyable in the first place. Poking fun at Gen Z culture, social media, wealth, and the characters’ vastly privileged backgrounds, Bodies Bodies Bodies makes for a film every bit as funny as it is intellectually stimulating (a feat A24 accomplishes time and time again).
The Lobster (2015)
Anyone familiar with Yorgos Lanthimos’ career can recognize what a creative juggernaut he truly is. A prolific visionary who’s never afraid to veer into some dark, unsettling territory, each of Lanthimos’ movies showcase his brilliant handling of odd subject matter, as seen through his 2015 dark comedy, The Lobster. Like his later work on The Favourite, The Killing of a Sacred Deer, and Poor Things, The Lobster perfectly captures the surreal spirit that infects so many of Lanthimos’s most breathtaking movies.
Lady Bird (2017)
Before she was busy spearheading Barbie or the upcoming Narnia series for Netflix, Greta Gerwig helped make a name for herself as a promising young director with her 2017 teen comedy, Lady Bird. A fascinating character study wrapped around a coming-of-age story, Lady Bird provides a careful examination of young adulthood and the pressures one feels to find out who they are and what they want out of life. Led by a luminous Saoirse Ronan in the title role, Lady Bird undoubtedly ranks among the finest teen films of the past decade, reaching the same heights as The Breakfast Club, Pretty in Pink, or Sixteen Candles before it.
Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022)
It’s not an exaggeration to call Everything Everywhere All at Once the best A24 movie to date. A creative hodgepodge of conflicting genres and visual styles, Everything offers a ceaselessly funny story of family, relationships, and existentialist dread, all rooted around the idea of branching universe and alternative realities. With humorous references to everything from The Matrix to Ratatouille, Everything Everywhere All at Once’s anarchic story never fails to garner a laugh in the most surprising places imaginable.
