This week is Halloween, which means it is time for scary movies. Because this blog is dedicated to comedy, today will be a countdown of the Top 10 Horror Comedies of all time. Horror comedies have always been a very popular genre and come in many forms, including romantic horror comedies, dark horror comedies, and even musical horror comedies. These movies may frighten you, but they will make you laugh.
10. Death Becomes Her
Kicking off our list is 1992’s Death Becomes Her, directed by Robert Zemeckis. Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn star as actress Madeline Ashton and writer Helen Sharp. After Helen’s husband, Ernest (Bruce Willis), leaves her for Madeline, Helen drinks an eternal youth potion, prompting Madeline to do the same out of jealousy. This sparks a bitter feud between the two, using Ernest as a pawn in their game of revenge. Death Becomes Her is consistently praised for its cast performances, especially among Streep and Hawn. Willis’s portrayal of Ernest also received praise for his eccentric, comedic performance, despite being known primarily for his action films. Death Becomes Her was adapted into a musical in 2024.
9. Lisa Frankenstein
Zelda Williams’s romantic horror comedy Lisa Frankenstein tells the story of Lisa (Kathryn Newton), an alienated teenager who falls in love with a resurrected Victorian-era corpse (Cole Sprouse). Released in 2024, this charming and darkly funny story offers a fresh twist on a familiar horror favorite and features a 1980s setting and a coming-of-age vibe. Lisa Frankenstein is sure to become a cult favorite in the years to come.
8. Scary Movie
After the resurgence of the slasher genre in the 1990s with films such as Scream and I Know What You Did Last Summer, the Wayans Brothers responded with 2000’s Scary Movie, a hilarious parody of the genre that also revitalized the spoof genre. Featuring a talented cast and humorous cameos, Scary Movie also serves as a time capsule of the late 90s/early 2000s, poking fun at other popular films of the time and including references to the era’s popular culture. Scary Movie also spawned a media franchise, including four sequels and a 2026 reboot. Since its release, Scary Movie has become one of the most memorable and quotable comedies and earned its spot among the best spoof movies of all time.
7. Zombieland
2009’s Zombieland is a post-apocalyptic zombie comedy starring Jesse Eisenberg as Columbus, a nerd who survives the zombie apocalypse thanks to his survival rules and social isolation. As he travels through the apocalyptic wasteland, he meets other survivors, including Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson) and the sisters Wichita and Little Rock (Emma Stone and Abigail Breslin). Together, they form a found family, battle zombies, and even meet Bill Murray in one of the funniest examples of a celebrity portraying themselves in a movie. Zombieland is a perfect comedic twist on the zombie apocalypse genre.
6. Addams Family
This 1991 adaptation of the iconic Addams Family is not only one of the best horror comedies of all time, but also one of the most well-received film adaptations of the television show. Originally based on characters from Charles Addams’s comic strip, the creepy and kooky family is brought to life by exceptional performances from Anjelica Houston and Raoul Julia, who portray Morticia and Gomez Addams, respectively. Joining them is Christopher Lloyd’s Uncle Fester, giving one of the best performances of his career. The Addams Family featured all the macabre charm that has made these characters beloved for decades and renewed interest in the media franchise, which continues today with Netflix’s Wednesday series. The Addams Family delights audiences to this day with its dark humor and charming portrayal of this odd yet loving family.
5. Little Shop of Horrors
1986’s Little Shop of Horrors stars Rick Moranis as Seymour, a poor florist living on “Skid Row” who unintentionally creates a monster after feeding his blood to a singing, talking, flesh-eating plant named Audrey II. As this “Mean Green Mother from Outer Space” continues to grow, so does Seymour’s confidence as he saves the woman of his dreams, Audrey (played by Elle Green), from her abusive dentist boyfriend (played by Steve Martin, who also gives one of the most iconic performances in the film), and eventually saves the world from Audry II. A massive achievement in the surprisingly vast genre of horror-comedy musicals, Little Shop of Horrors continues to charm audiences with its heart, humor, an all-star cast featuring cameos from comedy legends including John Candy, Bill Murray, James Belushi, and Christopher Guest, and many, many memorable musical performances.
4. Beetlejuice
This 1988 Tim Burton classic stars Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis as the “recently deceased” Maitland couple who meet “the ghost with the most”, Beetlejuice, iconically portrayed by Michael Keaton. The Maitlands enlist the help of Beetlejuice in order to scare off the Deetz family (Winona Ryder, Catherine O’Hara, and Jeffrey Jones), who have moved into the Maitlands’ old house. An early Burton film, Beetlejuice features many of the elements that would become recurring themes in Burton’s work, including the meticulous sets and costumes, the practical effects that bring the world to life, the dark tone and humor, and his genius use of music, featuring songs by Harry Belafonte and a score by Danny Elfman. Beetlejuice is memorable for its performances, especially from Ryder, O’Hara, and Keaton, whose characters have become iconic figures despite appearing in the film for less than 18 minutes. Since its release, Beetlejuice has been the subject of an animated series, a Broadway musical, popular Halloween costumes, and a sequel Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice released in 2024.
3. Young Frankenstein
One of Mel Brooks’s finest and funniest films, Young Frankenstein stars the incomparable Gene Wilder as Dr. Frederick Frankenstein (though he pronounces it “Fronkensteen”). The grandson of Dr. Victor Frankenstein, Frederick quickly follows in his grandfather’s footsteps by creating his very own Monster, who terrorizes everyone who sees and can also sing and dance. Filled with hilarious gags, Young Frankenstein is filmed entirely in black and white, features great comedic performances from Wilder, Peter Boyle, Madeline Kahn, Marty Feldman, and Teri Garr, and simultaneously serves as a perfect parody and tribute to the classic monster films of the 1930s. Young Frankenstein remains a beloved comedy classic and one of Brooks’s and Wilder’s most famous works; it is frequently watched around the Halloween season and was even adapted into a Tony Award-nominated musical.
2. Ghostbusters
This 1984 smash hit comedy became an instant classic among critics and audiences alike. Directed by Ivan Reitman, written by Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis, and featuring an all-star cast that includes Aykroyd, Ramis, Bill Murray, Ernie Hudson, Sigourney Weaver, and Rick Moranis, Ghostbusters follows the titular team as they create a business of finding ghosts and paranormal activity that has taken over New York City. There is something for everyone to love in Ghostbusters: Horror, comedy, science fiction, iconic characters such as “Slimer” and “The Stay Puft Marshmallow Man,” and its unforgettable theme song that will stay stuck in your head forever. The film is also recognized for its historic achievement as a Hollywood blockbuster and for its special effects. Ghostbusters is a cultural phenomenon and one of the most enduring franchises of all time, spawning a direct sequel in 1989, multiple animated shows, a video game, merchandise, a 2016 reboot, and another reboot series in the 2020s. Ghostbusters is one of the most ubiquitous movies of all time, and everyone knows the answer to the question “Who you gonna call?”
1. The Rocky Horror Picture Show
The number one spot goes to none other than the ultimate cult classic, the musical horror comedy The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Created by Richard O’Brien, this stage musical-turned-film stars the legendary Tim Curry as Dr. Frank-N-Furter, a cross-dressing alien mad scientist, along with a cast of characters including Riff Raff (Richard O’Brien), Magenta (Patricia Quinn), and Eddie (Meat Loaf). After a recently engaged couple, Brad and Janet (Barry Bostwick and Susan Sarandon), visit Frank-N-Furter’s castle after getting a flat tire, the couple is terrorized (and seduced) by Frank- N- Furter and his Creation. Released in 1975, The Rocky Horror Picture Show was initially a critical and commercial flop but quickly found an audience through midnight showings in which audience members would attend dressed as the characters, throw rice during the wedding scene, bring newspapers to hold over their heads during “Over at the Frankenstein Place”, yell at the screen, and quote and sometimes mock the movie while it was playing. Over the years, these midnight shows became a tradition, and since then, The Rocky Horror Picture Show has become the biggest cult classic of all time and is often considered the longest-running theatrical release. The Rocky Horror Picture Show is known for its campy charm and its famous musical numbers such as “The Time Warp”, “Dammit Janet”, “Hot Patootie- Bless My Soul”, and “Rose Tint My World,” to name a few. The film is also celebrated by modern audiences for its inclusive themes, especially among the LGBTQ+ community. Midnight showings continue all around the world. As someone who has been lucky enough to go to a midnight showing on two occasions, I highly recommend it. This year, The Rocky Horror Picture Show carried even more weight as Tim Curry passed away this past August. Curry was a brilliant actor and performer, and Dr. Frank-N-Furter remains one of his most beloved and iconic roles. The Rocky Horror Picture Show will make you laugh, it will make you dance, and when Tim Curry sings “I’m Going Home,” it will even make you cry.
