There has yet to be a decent compiled list of good dark comedies in film. Films whose themes are so twisted and whacked and vile, and yet you can’t help laughing along with them as they turn conservative morals on their ears and break every rule of decency imaginable.
I take it upon myself to provide my lovely 17 readers with an ongoing list of recommended Black Comedies to help skew your perspective of the world just a leeeetle bit more.
If you know of a movie I have forgotten or maybe not seen, I urge you to email me with your suggestion. Sharing is caring!
Click on the  ’s after some films to read my incredibly exciting and insightful reviews on imdb.com.
- American Beauty—Kevin Spacey, Annette Bening, 1999. The slimy underbelly of Picket Fence America.
- Arsenic & Old Lace—Cary Grant, 1944. Crazy ole’ biddies on a murderous spree.
- Brazil—Directed by Terry Gilliam, 1985. No more paperwork!
- Crimes of Passion—Kathleen Turner, Anthony Perkins, directed by Ken Russell, 1984. Whores can be clever too, with the right script.
- Desperate Living—Directed by John Waters, 1977. Welcome to Mortville; now go home!
- Dr. Strangelove—Peter Sellers, directed by Stanley Kubrick, 1964. Or “How I Stopped Worrying And Learned To Love The Bomb”.
- Eating Raoul—1982. Campy “Soylent Green”.
- Fargo—Cohen brothers, 1996. Kidnapping plot gone wrong — with those funny Midwest accents.
- Female Trouble—Divine, directed by John Waters, 1975. The misadventures of Dawn Davenport.
- Girl Most Likely To…—Stockard Channing, written by Joan Rivers, 1973. Good luck finding this TV movie never released on video.
- Happiness—Directed by Todd Solandz, 1998. Let’s play “Who’s the most dysfunctional”, shall we?
- Harold & Maude—Ruth Gordon, Bud Cort, 1971. Multiple suicide attemps and hot octagenarian action.
- Heathers—Winona Ryder, Christian Slater, 1989. Kill the popular girls!
- House of Yes—Parker Posey, 1997. Incest was never written so tightly.
- King of Comedy—Robert Deniro, Jerry Lewis, Sandra Bernhard, directed by Martin Scorsese, 1983. Do we laugh at or laugh with this unfortunate character?
- The Loved One—John Gielgud, Johnathan Winters, Liberace, book by Evelyn Waugh, 1965. Behind the scenes in the world’s most illustrious funeral home.
- Muriel’s Wedding—Toni Collette, 1994. Dorkgirl revenge.
- Parents—Randy Quaid, Mary Beth Hurt, 1989. “I’d like to know what this was before it was leftovers…”
- Pink Flamingos—Divine, directed by John Waters, 1972. Battle of the Filthiest People Alive!
- Pretty Maids All In A Row—Rock Hudson, Angie Dickinson, 1971. High school murders for lotsa nookie.
- Smile—Bruce Dern, Barbara Feldon, 1975.The blackest behind-the-scenes view of a teen beauty pageant.
- Sweethearts—Janeane Garofalo, 1996 Exploration of manic depression.
- Vampire’s Kiss—Nicholas Cage, Jennifer Beals, 1996. “I’m a wampire! I’m a wampire!”
- Welcome to the Dollhouse—Directed by Todd Solandz, 1995, Merciless children being cruel to children in junior high.
- Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?—Liz Taylor, Richard Burton, written by Edward Albee, 1966. “I am the earth mother and you are all flops!”
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