The 1970s were a wild decade for comedy. It was a time when filmmakers boldly stepped beyond convention, daring to mix outrageous humor with sharp political and cultural critiques. The result? Some of the most unforgettable and provocative comedies in cinematic history—films that still resonate today with their fearless approach to satire, parody, and absurdity.
While mainstream studios hesitated to fully embrace controversy, independent voices and comedy legends like Mel Brooks, Monty Python, and Woody Allen weren’t afraid to get loud, weird, or politically incorrect. These artists challenged taboos, tore into institutions, and reimagined what laughter could look like on screen. Whether through slapstick, surrealism, or razor-edged dialogue, the decade gave birth to an era of humor that was both shockingly smart and riotously silly.
This list revisits 20 of the boldest and most hysterical comedies of the ’70s—a curated tour through satire, farce, and social rebellion in celluloid form. From anarchic sketch humor to twisted love stories, each entry showcases the decade’s comedic audacity in its own unforgettable way. Prepare for mayhem, mockery, and more than a few moments that could never be made today.
1. Blazing Saddles (1974)
Nothing in Mel Brooks’ blazing satire is sacred—not racism, not the Western genre, not even Hollywood itself. With Cleavon Little and Gene Wilder delivering pitch-perfect performances, the film dives headfirst into politically incorrect territory and dares viewers to laugh. Its fourth-wall-breaking absurdities and flat-out offensive jokes were designed to expose the very prejudices they mock. In a time when few dared to openly satirize race relations, Brooks gleefully shattered barriers with a pie to the face. Sheriff Bart’s arrival in an all-white town isn’t just hilarious—it’s revolutionary. Even today, the audacity of Blazing Saddles feels dangerous and thrilling. It’s not just a spoof; it’s a flamethrower disguised as a comedy.
2. Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975)
In the hands of Monty Python, the King Arthur legend becomes a vessel for pure, chaotic hilarity. Rather than follow traditional plot structure, the film embraces a sketch-based approach that treats medieval quests like absurd modern inconveniences. Killer rabbits, shrubberies, and coconut-horse gallops stand in for epic battles. British dry wit collides with complete surrealism in ways no one had seen before. Despite its low budget, the creativity behind each scene is staggering. The film doesn’t just spoof medieval myths—it reinvents how parody functions. Every minute oozes with gleeful disrespect for history, form, and logic.
3. Animal House (1978)
As the blueprint for nearly every college comedy to follow, Animal House wrote the manual on chaos, debauchery, and unfiltered laughs. John Belushi’s Bluto is the embodiment of reckless energy, and every food fight, toga party, and campus prank only adds to the legend. Instead of glamorizing elite fraternities, the film glorifies the outcasts and weirdos. It’s a celebration of rebellion dressed up as a college romp. The film’s unapologetic crudeness was radical for its time, and its legacy is still felt in teen comedies today. No studio expected it to succeed—yet it became a box office smash. Animal House gave middle fingers to authority with a beer in hand and a grin.
4. Young Frankenstein (1974)
Styled like a 1930s horror film and shot in glorious black and white, Young Frankenstein is both homage and masterclass in parody. Gene Wilder’s portrayal of the reluctant heir to the Frankenstein legacy is full of manic charm. Each scene balances slapstick with razor-sharp wordplay, and the supporting cast—Madeline Kahn, Marty Feldman, Cloris Leachman—elevates every gag. From “Put… the candle… back!” to “Puttin’ on the Ritz,” the film is packed with iconic moments. Mel Brooks proves here that reverence and ridicule can coexist in harmony. His direction mirrors the elegance of classic horror, while twisting every trope into absurdity. It’s a love letter soaked in lightning and laughter.
5. MAS*H (1970)
Set during the Korean War but released amid the Vietnam era, MASH* weaponized humor against the brutality of military life. Robert Altman’s overlapping dialogue and naturalistic style gave it a realism most comedies lacked. The film treats its mobile surgical hospital as a theater of the absurd, where gallows humor is the only way to survive. Hawkeye and Trapper John aren’t heroes—they’re pranksters trying not to go mad. It’s less about the war and more about surviving the system around it. Black comedy became a shield, and behind every laugh was a critique of authority. MASH* proved that the funniest stories often come from the darkest places.
6. The Jerk (1979)
Steve Martin’s breakout film starts with the absurd declaration, “I was born a poor black child,” and never slows down from there. Naive, clueless, and weirdly charming, Navin Johnson stumbles through one ridiculous scenario after another. Martin’s physical comedy blends seamlessly with the film’s off-kilter rhythm. Whether inventing “Opti-Grab” or fleeing from snipers, his antics are surreal yet weirdly grounded in optimism. The humor walks a tightrope between slapstick and existential crisis. Every joke lands with a thud of unexpected brilliance. The film is bizarre, disjointed, and oddly profound—and that’s exactly why it works.
7. Life of Brian (1979)
Imagine being born in the manger next to Jesus and spending your life mistaken for the Messiah—Life of Brian turns that concept into comic gold. Monty Python uses this premise to skewer religious dogma, mob mentality, and blind faith. Banned in multiple countries, the film thrived on controversy and outrage. Brian’s insistence that he isn’t the savior becomes a metaphor for misunderstood truths. Python’s fearless irreverence is on full display, and the film’s finale—“Always Look on the Bright Side of Life”—is equal parts hilarious and heartbreaking. It’s a comedy with stakes and satire that bites hard. Life of Brian remains one of the most audacious commentaries ever cloaked in silliness.
8. Harold and Maude (1971)
Death and joy find an unlikely alliance in this offbeat romance between a teenage boy obsessed with suicide and a 79-year-old woman full of life. Hal Ashby crafts a tone that floats between melancholy and ecstasy. The film subverts every idea of what love should look like, offering instead a deeply human portrait of connection. Maude’s infectious spirit brings color to Harold’s grayscale world. Cat Stevens’ soundtrack underscores the film’s dreamy oddness. It’s a celebration of living fully, even in the face of inevitable loss. Harold and Maude is weird, wonderful, and impossible to forget.
9. Sleeper (1973)
Cryogenically frozen and awakened 200 years later, Woody Allen’s character stumbles into a dystopian future that’s equal parts Orwell and Marx Brothers. The jokes come fast and ridiculous—banana peels, robot dogs, orgasmatrons. Allen’s neurotic energy plays brilliantly against the futuristic absurdity. Political satire blends with Buster Keaton-style slapstick in every scene. Diane Keaton’s daffy poet adds even more chaotic sparkle. Beneath the laughs is a sly critique of conformity and authoritarianism. Sleeper is goofy sci-fi with brains and bravado.
10. Bananas (1971)
Dictatorships, revolutions, and deli orders collide in this chaotic romp through Latin American politics. Woody Allen plays a hapless New Yorker who becomes an accidental revolutionary. Nothing is too sacred to mock—not the CIA, not Marxism, not marriage. The film veers between slapstick, satire, and complete nonsense. Allen’s knack for blending intellectual wit with lowbrow comedy is on full display. Every scene feels improvised, yet weirdly purposeful. It’s anarchic comedy with a fake mustache and a raised fist.
11. The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)
Few films celebrate deviance with the glee of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. This campy musical invited audiences to throw toast, shout at the screen, and embrace sexual liberation. Dr. Frank-N-Furter, a sweet transvestite from Transylvania, leads a cast of characters who defy every societal norm. The film was shocking in its time—and thrillingly so. Glam rock, horror tropes, and gender fluidity merge into something magical. Its cult following has turned midnight screenings into rituals of rebellion. To this day, Rocky Horror dares you to be strange and proud.
12. Up in Smoke (1978)
Cheech and Chong stumble through van chases, garage band auditions, and border crossings in a cloud of pot smoke. The film ignores structure in favor of stoned tangents and lovable idiocy. It’s less about plot and more about presence—the two leads have flawless comic rhythm. Their humor, though crude, captures a rebellious spirit rarely seen in mainstream comedy. That made it dangerous, hilarious, and incredibly popular. Even now, it’s a high watermark for counterculture comedy.
13. Silent Movie (1976)
In an age of loud, rapid-fire dialogue, Mel Brooks made a nearly wordless comedy—and it worked. Sight gags rule the screen, each one escalating more ridiculously than the last. Brooks himself plays the lead, surrounded by a crew of silent misfits trying to make a silent film. Marcel Marceau, famously silent, delivers the only spoken word in a perfect twist. The film pays tribute to silent era legends while lampooning modern Hollywood. Its cleverness lies in physicality, timing, and creative audacity. Even silence can be uproariously funny.
14. The Pink Panther Strikes Again (1976)
Inspector Clouseau returns, more oblivious and destructive than ever, in this fourth Pink Panther outing. Peter Sellers’ genius lies in physical comedy that looks effortless and bizarrely elegant. His attempts at simple tasks spiral into absurd chaos with clockwork precision. The story is secondary to the spectacle of Clouseau fumbling through the world. Herbert Lom’s Chief Inspector Dreyfus gradually going mad is a subplot worth its own film. There’s sophistication beneath the slapstick, making each gag hit harder. It’s a ballet of blunders that only Sellers could pull off.
15. The Twelve Chairs (1970)
Set in post-revolution Russia, this treasure hunt blends desperation with farce. A dying woman’s confession leads to a mad dash for a fortune hidden in a piece of furniture. Mel Brooks weaves slapstick and satire through dusty towns and corrupt officials. The characters shift between scheming, dreaming, and flailing. Dom DeLuise nearly steals the film as a deranged priest chasing the prize. Unlike Brooks’ other films, this one leans into pathos without losing punchlines. It’s a funny, oddly touching journey.
16. Love and Death (1975)
A Russian war epic twisted into absurdist comedy, this is Allen’s love letter to Dostoyevsky with a wink. Philosophical monologues crash into slapstick duels and bizarre asides. Every serious moment is undercut by nonsense, yet somehow it feels cohesive. Diane Keaton’s deadpan brilliance balances Allen’s neurotic rambling. There’s satire of religion, patriotism, and logic itself. It’s a chess match where the pieces are made of rubber. Few comedies dare to be this smart and this dumb simultaneously.
17. The Ruling Class (1972)
Peter O’Toole plays a nobleman who believes he is Christ—and then morphs into a homicidal maniac. The performance is magnetic, swinging between messianic joy and terrifying rage. Satire drenches every frame, from class structure to sanity itself. The tone is unstable, shifting between musical numbers and murder. British absurdism meets Shakespearean tragedy with twisted elegance. It’s less a film than an experience—one that laughs while staring into the abyss. Few films mock power this theatrically.
18. What’s Up, Doc? (1972)
Barbra Streisand and Ryan O’Neal crash into each other—and everything else—in this modern screwball. Four identical bags, a musicology conference, and a hotel chase make for joyful pandemonium. Bogdanovich pays tribute to classic comedies with breathless pacing and charm. Streisand is magnetic, matching rapid dialogue with grace and mischief. San Francisco becomes a playground for destruction. The humor is smart, romantic, and slapstick all at once. It’s chaos with a heart.
19. The Groove Tube (1974)
This sketch comedy movie feels like flipping channels through your weirdest dreams. It parodies TV culture with raunch, shock, and genuine inventiveness. There’s no main character—just recurring bits that skewer commercials, news anchors, and softcore cinema. The pacing is fast and often baffling, intentionally breaking every rule of coherence. It inspired future sketch titans like SNL. Some bits are dated, but many remain absurdly fresh. It’s comedy as cultural collage.
20. Kentucky Fried Movie (1977)
From kung-fu parody to absurd infomercial, this film has no rules and even fewer boundaries. Written by the Airplane! team, it’s a greatest hits album of outrageousness. The “Fistful of Yen” sketch alone is worth the runtime. Each segment is gleefully offensive, often unpredictable, and endlessly quotable. If subtlety is your thing, look elsewhere. This is loud, lowbrow, and proud of it. It’s the weird uncle of sketch movies—and still the funniest at the reunion.
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