The 10 best sci-fi comedy films of the last decade

There have been many great sci-fi comedies over the past decade, from underrated gems to award winners and summer blockbusters. Sci-fi comedies are often best when they balance their two genres well. Films like Back to the future and Men in black, for example, they have exciting stories and intriguing sci-fi concepts, as well as great jokes and strong comedic performances.

Over the past 10 years, sci-fi comedies have been used to lovingly poke fun at the genre, but sci-fi has also been used as a cover to facilitate a lot of social commentary and satire. Films like Sorry to bother you, Palm Springs and The lobster all use science fiction concepts to show how everyday life has become unusual for people in the here and now. Other science fiction comedies have used humor to lighten some cerebral stories that could otherwise be very dystopian and depressing.

10

Sorry to Bother You (2018)

A unique and unpredictable science fiction film

Sorry to bother you takes a satirical look at modern corporate culture, with an emphasis on code switching and black experiences within capitalist structures. Atlanta star Lakeith Stanfield plays Cash, a man who suddenly begins to excel at his low-level call center job when he discovers the power of his “white voice,” provided by David Cross. The premise doesn't begin to explain the science fiction weirdness that Sorry to bother you can pack your bags.

Sorry to bother you It begins as a grounded story, but more and more sci-fi elements are included as Cash rises through the ranks and discovers the sick reality that reinforces his comfortable job. Still, there's very little to give the third act a bizarre twist. Sorry to bother you It's a film that loves to shock its audience. It can be so surreal that the audacity of the film is funny, but it also has some hard-hitting satirical ideas.

9

The Mitchells vs. The Machines (2021)

A creative animated comedy with a lot of heart

Phil Lord and Christopher Miller worked The Mitchells against the machines between Spider-Verse filmsand has the same unorthodox animation style. The story follows an ordinary family as they fight the robotic apocalypse and features comedic homages to films such as The Terminator and 2001: A Space Odyssey. It's definitely one of Netflix's best animated films, even though it was originally developed by Sony Pictures Animation with the intention of a wide theatrical release.

The Mitchells against the machines features an excellent voice cast full of comedic talent. Danny McBride, Abbi Jacobson and Olivia Colman laugh a lot despite playing completely different characters. The Mitchells against the machines manages to combine this fresh humor with a lot of emotion. It's a family film and offers a thrilling ending, even in the middle of a chaotic sci-fi fight sequence with an army of robots.

8

Asteroid City (2023)

Wes Anderson's latest comedy is an underrated gem

Asteroid City did not receive the same level of critical acclaim as some of Wes Anderson's best films, such as The Grand Budapest Hotel, Rushmore and Fantastic Mr. Fox. However, its popularity may well grow as time passes. In some ways, it feels like one of Anderson's most personal filmsreflecting on his artistic evolution and the limits of his idiosyncratic style.

Anderson adds some new faces to his regular rotation of actors in Asteroid City, with Margot Robbie and Tom Hanks among the most notable newcomers. It's often the case that the most interesting performances in Anderson's films come from those who don't quite fit his style, and Hanks is one of them. Robbie also leaves a lasting impression despite only appearing in one scene. Completely, Asteroid City is a densely layered sci-fi comedy that deserves a second look.

7

The Lobster (2015)

The lobster is Yorgos Lanthimos at his funniest

Yorgos Lanthimos's films are instantly recognizable, due to their dull, emotionless dialogue and the unsettling, edgy atmosphere that hangs over them. This unorthodox style has been used for horror and psychological drama, but it's also a great comedic tool. The lobster is arguably Lanthimos' funniest film, thanks to a masterfully deadpan central performance from Colin Farrell.

The lobster satirizes the state of modern romanceattending events at a hotel for singles who need to find love or be surgically transformed into animals. The absurd dystopia offers a lot of laughs simply because of the absurd way the characters behave. Farrell isn't the only actor who matches Lanthimos's deadpan comedy in The Lobster, as John C. Reilly, Olivia Colman and Rachel Weisz have memorable moments.

6

Ant-Man (2015)

The first Ant-Man film mixes action with humor

Before joining the MCU, Paul Rudd built a reputation as one of the funniest actors of his generation, appearing in numerous films and TV shows. Ant-Man is a big-budget sci-fi actioner, but has the same humorous side as many of Paul Rudd's best films. Comedy doesn't always improve the MCU, but Ant-Man it hits the right tone and is a great way to introduce a relatively obscure comic book character.

Ant-Man It's a superhero origin story and a crime plot rolled into one, and it mines comedy from both sides of its story. Rudd is funny as the petty thief trying to salvage his relationship with his daughter and as the unwitting superhero. Rudd helped write the scriptalongside longtime comedy collaborator Adam McKay. Edgar Wright and Joe Cornish also contributed to the script, so it's no surprise that it brims with great character-driven comedy.

5

Palm Springs (2020)

Palm Springs rejuvenates the Time Loop subgenre

All time loop science fiction films must bear comparisons with Groundhog Day, and very few of them have the opportunity to meet such high standards. Palm Springs is a rare exception and brings some fun ideas that innovate the concept of time loop. For one, the protagonist's love interest is quickly drawn into the time loop alongside him, and this means their relationship can develop in a bubble.

Andy Samberg and Cristin Milioti begin an infectious and believable chemistry in Palm Springs. There's plenty of fun and games to be had, but they also offer enough dramatic weight to bring home some of the film's surprisingly emotional moments. JK Simmons is the icing on the cakewith a scene-stealing performance as the third individual trapped in the time loop, occasionally stalking and murdering others when he feels like it.

4

The Martian (2015)

Ridley Scott's epic adventure combines drama and comedy

The Martian won the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy. This raised some eyebrows at the time, as there was some debate about whether The Martian it should even be eligible as a comedy. There is nothing inherently funny about the plot. It's a sci-fi thriller about an astronaut stranded on Mars who faces impossible odds as he tries to survive long enough to await rescue.

Although The Martian It doesn't have a funny story, there are plenty of comedic moments to keep the tone light and the pace fast. Matt Damon's affable protagonist keeps a video diary on Mars, which often doubles as a way for him to speak directly to the audience and crack a joke or two. Humor is not important to the plot, but it is vital to differentiate it The Martian from other dangerous astronaut films of the 2010s, such as Gravity, Interstellar and Ad Astra, none of which offer any laughs. Overall, it's one of Ridley Scott's best films, proving that he can make sci-fi that isn't as dark as Blade runner or Foreigner.

3

Thor: Ragnarok (2017)

The third Thor film shook up the franchise

The first two Thor the films offer solid superhero fare, but don't exactly stand out from the other MCU films. Taika Waititi was hired as the trio's director, and Thor: Ragnarok took a wild new direction. It's a much funnier, colorful, and upbeat film than the two that preceded it, and its style sent shockwaves throughout the MCU.

Instead of compromising his style to fit the MCU formula, Waititi bends Thor: Ragnarok to your own taste. Before Ragnarok, Waititi gained fame directing independent comedies. His first big-budget blockbuster has more recognizable stars, some explosive action and impressive visual effects, but it still has his fingerprints all over it. Few directors have managed to do their own thing with a Marvel film in this way.

2

Poor Things (2023)

The dark comedy is shocking and surreal

Poor things is a confrontational film, full of sex, violence and perverse scientific experiments that subvert the natural order. Emma Stone stars as a woman with a newborn brain who gradually ages and learns about the world around her throughout the story. It's a distorted view of a Frankenstein tale as only Yorgos Lanthimos could, but it's also often hilarious.

The absurd and often repulsive nature Poor things sets the stage for some surprising comedic outbursts. Mark Ruffalo delivers many of the funniest lines as a spoiled, pompous dandy, but most of the humor comes from Bella Baxter's exploration of the world. Poor things markets the darkest of dark humorgetting laughs at the sight of Bella gleefully stabbing a corpse or pleasuring herself at the dinner table.

1

Everything Everywhere at Once (2021)

The Oscar winner explores a surreal multiverse

It's relatively rare for a comedy film to win the Oscar for Best Picture, but that's what Everything everywhere at the same time achieved. The multiverse martial arts comedy presents a heady mix of grounded family drama and oversized madness. The great miracle that makes Everything everywhere at the same time What matters is that it remains engaging and emotionally resonant, even when the infinite scope of its premise might otherwise threaten to lower its stakes.

Everything everywhere at the same time has a great scriptand moves between comedy and emotional drama with ease. This is because the flurry of surreal images – like the Sausage Finger universe and the Racacoonie universe – are all linked to the deeper meaning of Everything everywhere at the same time. It's the rare type of comedy that can make the audience think without neglecting its duty to make them laugh.