Dark Comedy backdrop

Dark Comedy movies

Comedy with a grim edge, finding humor in crime, disaster, moral failure, and uncomfortable consequences.

271. Bubba Ho-tep

Bubba Ho-tep
Comedy Horror Thriller Mystery Fantasy
6.9
20021h 32minUnited States
Director: Don Coscarelli

Overview

Bubba Ho-tep tells the "true" story of what really became of Elvis Presley. We find Elvis as an elderly resident in an East Texas rest home, who switched identities with an Elvis impersonator years before his "death," then missed his chance to switch back. He must team up with JFK and fight an ancient Egyptian mummy for the souls of their fellow residents.

Themes

Deception and imposture, Companionship under pressure, Aging and dignity, Belief and superstition, Communal vulnerability, Mortality and courage

Available on

Amazon Prime Video
Amazon Video
Apple TV
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

272. Death to Smoochy

Death to Smoochy
Comedy Crime Drama Thriller Dark Comedy
6.3
20021h 49minUnited Kingdom, United States
Director: Danny DeVito

Overview

Tells the story of Rainbow Randolph, the corrupt, costumed star of a popular children's TV show, who is fired over a bribery scandal and replaced by squeaky-clean Smoochy, a puffy fuchsia rhinoceros. As Smoochy catapults to fame - scoring hit ratings and the affections of a network executive - Randolph makes the unsuspecting rhino the target of his numerous outrageous attempts to exact revenge and reclaim his status as America's sweetheart.

Themes

Deception and manipulation, Corruption in entertainment, Murder as leverage, Irish mob influence, Dark comedy tone, Success and status pressure

Available on

Amazon Video
Apple TV
Google Play Movies
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

273. Philanthropy

Philanthropy
Comedy Drama Dark Comedy Coming-of-Age Drama
8.4
20021h 50minRomania, France
Director: Nae Caranfil

Overview

In 21st century Bucharest, to go out in the city on Saturday evening on the arm of a beautiful woman is a risky financial investment. Ovidiu, an unassuming high school teacher, never could afford it. Looking for a source of income more substantial than a teacher's salary, Ovidiu plunges into a fabulous world – the beggar mob.

Themes

Social climbing, Deception for money, Commodification of poverty, Class aspiration and reality, Performative charity, Media spectacle and pity, Transactional romance

Available on

Universcine
Sooner Amazon Channel
Sooner
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

274. The Happiness of the Katakuris

The Happiness of the Katakuris
Comedy Drama Horror Dark Comedy Family Drama
6.9
20021h 53minJapan
Director: Takashi Miike

Overview

The Katakuri family has just opened their guest house in the mountains. Unfortunately their first guest commits suicide and in order to avoid trouble they decide to bury him in the backyard. Things get way more complicated when their second guest, a famous sumo wrestler, dies while having sex with his underage girlfriend and the grave behind the house starts to fill up more and more.

Themes

Economic precarity, Reputation vs survival, Deception during crisis, Moral ambiguity under crisis, Family obligation under pressure, Betrayal within a close circle

Available on

Amazon Video
Apple TV
Google Play Movies
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

275. 8 Women

8 Women
Comedy Thriller Mystery Whodunit Domestic Thriller
7.0
20021h 51minFrance, Italy
Director: François Ozon

Overview

In a remote estate, a family gathers to celebrate Christmas, but the master of the house is found murdered. Eight women living on the property fall under suspicion—each of them has her own motives and hidden secrets.

Themes

Appearances vs reality, Wealth and inheritance pressure, Intimate relationships and power, Class dynamics and secrecy, Hidden motives and manipulation, Confinement and social performance

Available on

Rakuten TV
Amazon Video
blue TV
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

276. Mean Machine

Mean Machine
Comedy Drama Dark Comedy Sports Competition
6.4
20011h 39minUnited Kingdom
Director: Barry Skolnick

Overview

Disgraced ex-England football captain, Danny 'Mean Machine' Meehan, is thrown in jail for assaulting two police officers. He keeps his head down and has the opportunity to forget everything and change the lives of the prisoners. When these prisoners have the chance to put one over the evil guards during a prison football match, Danny takes the lead.

Themes

Loyalty under pressure, Celebrity vs confinement, Power dynamics in prison, Bribes and blackmail, Sport as resistance, Threats and retaliation

Available on

Amazon Video
Apple TV
Google Play Movies
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

277. The 51st State

The 51st State
Thriller Action Comedy Crime Narcotics Crime
6.3
20011h 33minCanada, United Kingdom
Director: Ronny Yu

Overview

An American master chemist plans to score big on a once in a lifetime drug deal. All does not go as planned and he is soon entangled in a web of deceit.

Themes

Deception and manipulation, Alliances and betrayals, Organized crime networks, Drug market volatility, Power and leverage, Crime and law enforcement tension

Available on

Amazon Prime Video
Amazon Video
The Roku Channel
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

278. Birthday Girl

Birthday Girl
Comedy Crime Thriller Dark Comedy Con Artist Crime
6.0
20011h 33minUnited Kingdom
Director: Jez Butterworth

Overview

John is a mild-mannered banker who has never been lucky in love. Fed up with waiting for the right girl to come along, John takes a chance on a Russian mail-order bride arranged via the Internet, where he is introduced to Nadia. John's fondness for Nadia grows... until the sudden arrival of Nadia's gregarious cousins makes John realize that he's in over his head.

Themes

Deception and con, Romance fraud, Economic vulnerability, Power dynamics in relationships, Crime and coercion, Trust and betrayal

Available on

Amazon Video
Apple TV
Google Play Movies
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

279. Hedwig and the Angry Inch

Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Comedy Music Drama Narrative Musical Dark Comedy
7.7
20011h 35minUnited States
Director: John Cameron Mitchell

Overview

Raised a boy in East Berlin, Hedwig undergoes a personal transformation in order to emigrate to the U.S., where she reinvents herself as an 'internationally ignored' but divinely talented rock diva, inhabiting a 'beautiful gender of one'.

Themes

Gender identity negotiation, Exploitation within performance economy, Outsider status and belonging, Fame and personal cost, Ownership of creative work, Artistic integrity under pressure

Available on

Amazon Video
Apple TV
Google Play Movies
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

280. Ghost World

Ghost World
Comedy Drama Coming-of-Age Drama Dark Comedy
7.3
20011h 51minUnited Kingdom, United States
Director: Terry Zwigoff

Overview

Two quirky, cynical teenaged girls try to figure out what to do with their lives after high school graduation. After they play a prank on an eccentric, middle aged record collector, one of them befriends him, which causes a rift in the girls’ friendship.

Themes

Friendships among outcasts, Post high school aimlessness, Social exclusion and envy, Art as social commentary, Longing for belonging, Manipulation and consequences, Authenticity vs performance

Available on

Amazon Prime Video
Amazon Video
Apple TV
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.