Best Comedy Films of 1975
- HaHa Jokester
- Jul 23
- 9 min read
1975 was a turning point for comedy on film. Satire sharpened its edge, absurdism went mainstream, and international voices began redefining what cinematic humor could look like. From England’s most iconic comedy troupe storming the big screen to American directors embracing deadpan, dark, and daring narratives, 1975 proved that laughter could be intelligent, irreverent, and surreal. Whether parodying medieval quests, deconstructing romance, or lampooning power structures, the comedies of this year weren’t afraid to challenge tradition—or logic.
The Comedy Landscape in 1975
British Comedy Goes Global
Monty Python’s transition from TV to film marked a seismic moment in cinematic humor. Their anarchic, sketch-based absurdism proved there was a global appetite for smart, silly, and surreal comedy.
Antiheroes and Existential Gags
Many of the best comedies this year featured flawed, awkward, or morally ambiguous leads. These weren’t feel-good movies—they were portraits of human contradiction, awkwardness, and dry wit.
Genre-Bending Becomes the Norm
From musical-comedy horror hybrids to dramatic comedies that bordered on tragedy, filmmakers in 1975 weren’t content with pure laughs—they blurred genres and layered their jokes with social commentary and emotional complexity.
Top 10 Comedy Films of 1975
Monty Python and the Holy Grail
Runtime: 1hr 31min
A landmark in surrealist comedy. This medieval parody is endlessly quotable, delightfully absurd, and structurally wild—combining low-budget visuals with high-concept satire. Coconut horses, killer rabbits, and anarcho-syndicalist peasants turned British nonsense into global cult legend.
Monty Python and the Holy Grail is a wildly irreverent parody of the King Arthur legend, following Arthur and his knights as they embark on a surreal and often nonsensical quest for the Holy Grail. Along the way, they face absurd obstacles including the taunting French soldiers, the Knights Who Say “Ni,” a killer rabbit, and bizarre trials that defy logic. With its low-budget charm, absurdist humor, and endless quotability, the film blends historical spoof with Monty Python’s trademark satire, breaking the fourth wall and mocking everything from medieval chivalry to filmmaking itself.
The Sunshine Boys
Runtime: 1hr 51min
Neil Simon's play comes to life in this hilarious and poignant tale of two aging vaudeville performers forced to reunite. George Burns (in an Oscar-winning role) and Walter Matthau shine in a comedy about memory, bitterness, and timing.
The Sunshine Boys is a poignant comedy about aging, friendship, and the enduring spark of show business. The film follows Al Lewis and Willy Clark, two former vaudeville partners who haven't spoken in years after a bitter falling out. When a television network wants to reunite them for a special, their old resentments resurface, leading to hilarious clashes and heartfelt moments. With sharp dialogue by Neil Simon and standout performances by George Burns and Walter Matthau, the film explores the tension between nostalgia and resentment, ultimately revealing the warmth beneath the bickering.
Love and Death
Runtime: 1hr 25min
Woody Allen’s Russian literature spoof blends slapstick, intellectual jokes, and philosophical riffs into one of his silliest and most literate films. It’s Allen’s funniest pre-Annie Hall work, with Diane Keaton matching him beat for beat.
Love and Death is a satirical comedy by Woody Allen that parodies Russian literature, philosophy, and historical epics. Set during the Napoleonic Wars, the film follows Boris, a neurotic and pacifist intellectual who is reluctantly drawn into both romance and revolution. As he navigates his love for his cousin Sonja and a farcical plot to assassinate Napoleon, Boris delivers a stream of witty observations on life, death, and existential dread. Blending slapstick, absurdity, and sharp philosophical humor, Love and Death is both a tribute to and a send-up of classic Russian novels and cinematic tropes.
Shampoo
Runtime: 1hr 49min
Warren Beatty stars as a womanizing hairdresser in this comedy of manners set on the eve of the 1968 election. A scathing, satirical take on sex, power, and American shallowness—disguised as a bedroom farce.
Shampoo is a satirical drama set on the eve of the 1968 U.S. presidential election, exploring the intersection of sex, politics, and personal ambition in Los Angeles. Warren Beatty stars as George, a charming and narcissistic hairdresser whose womanizing lifestyle begins to unravel as he juggles relationships with his girlfriend, his mistress, and his ex—all while hoping to open his own salon. Directed by Hal Ashby and co-written by Beatty and Robert Towne, the film critiques the sexual revolution and the emptiness beneath the glamour, offering a sharp, stylish snapshot of a turbulent era in American culture.
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
Runtime: 2hr 13min
Though largely a drama, Milos Forman’s adaptation of Ken Kesey’s novel has moments of brilliant black comedy. Jack Nicholson’s anti-authoritarian antics and the deadpan institutional absurdity make it a tragicomedy for the ages.
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest is a powerful drama about individuality, authority, and the human spirit, set within the confines of a mental institution. Jack Nicholson stars as Randle McMurphy, a rebellious convict who fakes insanity to avoid prison labor and finds himself in a rigid psychiatric ward run by the tyrannical Nurse Ratched. His defiant spirit inspires the other patients to question the oppressive system, leading to both moments of liberation and tragic consequences. Directed by Miloš Forman and based on Ken Kesey’s novel, the film is a landmark in American cinema—emotionally gripping, darkly humorous, and a searing critique of institutional control.
Barry Lyndon
Runtime: 3hr 5min
Stanley Kubrick’s lush period epic may seem out of place, but its dry, ironic detachment and social satire give it a uniquely biting comedic undertone—especially in its portrayal of status, marriage, and misfortune.
Barry Lyndon, directed by Stanley Kubrick, is a visually stunning period drama that chronicles the rise and fall of an ambitious Irishman in 18th-century Europe. The story follows Redmond Barry, a roguish young man who climbs the social ladder through duels, deception, and a strategic marriage into nobility, only to be undone by his own vanity and hubris. Adapted from the novel by William Makepeace Thackeray, the film is known for its painterly cinematography, meticulous attention to historical detail, and slow, deliberate pacing. A meditation on fate, class, and the illusion of grandeur, Barry Lyndon is both a tragic character study and a critique of aristocratic society.
The Return of the Pink Panther
Runtime: 1hr 54min
Peter Sellers returns as the bumbling Inspector Clouseau in one of the franchise’s best entries. With Blake Edwards directing and Sellers in peak form, the slapstick lands hard and hilariously.
The Return of the Pink Panther marks the triumphant comeback of Peter Sellers as the bumbling yet endearing Inspector Jacques Clouseau. When the legendary Pink Panther diamond is stolen once again, Clouseau is called back to the case, much to the dismay of his superiors. His investigation takes him across Europe in a series of hilariously inept misadventures, complete with outrageous disguises, slapstick chaos, and confrontations with his exasperated nemesis, Chief Inspector Dreyfus. Directed by Blake Edwards, the film blends sharp physical comedy with a jazzy Henry Mancini score, reviving the beloved series with style, wit, and Sellers at his comedic best.
Rafferty and the Gold Dust Twins
Runtime: 1hr 31min
A darkly comedic road movie about a disillusioned driving instructor and two grifters. Underrated, strange, and surprisingly soulful with lots of dry humor and charm.
Rafferty and the Gold Dust Twins is a quirky road comedy that follows the misadventures of Rafferty, a disillusioned former Marine and driving instructor, played by Alan Arkin, who gets unexpectedly hijacked by two free-spirited young women. The trio embarks on a spontaneous cross-country journey filled with oddball encounters, emotional detours, and a growing, unlikely bond. Blending humor with poignant character moments, the film captures the spirit of 1970s Americana and personal reinvention, offering a heartfelt look at three lost souls trying to find meaning, freedom, and connection on the open road.
The Prisoner of Second Avenue
Runtime: 1hr 38min
Jack Lemmon and Anne Bancroft anchor this Neil Simon comedy about a man unraveling amid New York chaos. A darkly funny look at urban anxiety and marital strain.
The Prisoner of Second Avenue is a dark comedy based on Neil Simon's stage play, starring Jack Lemmon and Anne Bancroft as a middle-aged Manhattan couple grappling with the pressures of urban life. When Mel Edison loses his job and their apartment is robbed during a sweltering New York summer, he spirals into a nervous breakdown, forcing his devoted wife Edna to take charge. The film blends sharp wit with genuine pathos, portraying the anxieties of middle-class existence amid economic instability and emotional burnout. With strong performances and Simon’s trademark humor, it offers a biting yet compassionate look at personal crisis in the modern city.
Tommy
Runtime: 1hr 51min
Ken Russell’s insane adaptation of The Who’s rock opera blends psychedelic visuals, biting satire, and musical excess. Less traditional comedy, more surrealist parody—but unforgettable in its over-the-top audacity.
Tommy is a bold and surreal rock opera directed by Ken Russell and based on The Who’s groundbreaking 1969 concept album of the same name. The film follows the story of Tommy Walker, a boy who becomes deaf, dumb, and blind after a traumatic childhood event, only to develop a miraculous talent for pinball. As he rises to fame as a messianic figure, the story unfolds through a series of vivid, often psychedelic musical sequences that explore themes of trauma, celebrity, and spiritual awakening. With an all-star cast including Roger Daltrey, Ann-Margret, Oliver Reed, and appearances by Elton John and Tina Turner, Tommy is a visually extravagant and emotionally charged exploration of alienation, exploitation, and the search for meaning through music and spectacle.
Underrated Picks Worth Your Time
Smile
Runtime: 1hr 57min
A sharp satire of beauty pageants and American conformity. Prefigures Drop Dead Gorgeous by decades.
Smile is a sharp, satirical comedy that peels back the glittery surface of small-town America through the lens of a teenage beauty pageant. Directed by Michael Ritchie, the film follows the contestants of the fictional “Young American Miss” competition in California, while also exposing the insecurities, hypocrisies, and ambitions of the adults running the show. With an ensemble cast led by Bruce Dern and Barbara Feldon, Smile blends deadpan humor with biting social commentary, skewering everything from middle-class values to the performative nature of patriotism and perfection. It’s a quietly subversive snapshot of American life in the mid-1970s—funny, uncomfortable, and strikingly relevant.
Man Friday
Runtime: 1hr 55min
A retelling of Robinson Crusoe from the servant’s point of view. Comedic, satirical, and politically provocative.
Man Friday is a thought-provoking reinterpretation of the Robinson Crusoe story, told from the perspective of the so-called "savage" rather than the colonizer. Starring Richard Roundtree as Friday and Peter O'Toole as Crusoe, the film challenges colonialist and Eurocentric assumptions by flipping the power dynamic. When Friday is brought into Crusoe’s rigid, hierarchical worldview, the cultural clash between individual freedom and imposed civilization becomes increasingly stark. As Friday questions and resists Crusoe’s values, the story evolves into a powerful critique of Western superiority, racism, and the illusion of progress. With minimalist settings and rich philosophical dialogue, Man Friday is a daring and subversive exploration of race, power, and human dignity.
Hearts of the West
Runtime: 1hr 43min
Jeff Bridges stars in this gentle Hollywood satire about a wannabe cowboy writer caught up in B-movie madness.
Hearts of the West is a charming comedy-drama that affectionately satirizes Hollywood’s golden age of B-movie Westerns. Jeff Bridges stars as Lewis Tater, a naive aspiring writer from the Midwest who travels to 1930s California in pursuit of his dream of becoming a novelist. Instead, he stumbles onto a low-budget film set and unexpectedly finds himself cast in a series of cheesy cowboy flicks. As Lewis navigates the eccentric world of Hollywood misfits, including a tough yet endearing script girl played by Blythe Danner and a grizzled director portrayed by Andy Griffith, the film explores the line between fantasy and reality. With its warm tone, witty script, and nostalgic flair, Hearts of the West is a lighthearted ode to movie magic and unlikely heroism.
Comedy Highlights & Trivia
Monty Python’s Breakout: Holy Grail made Monty Python international comedy legends. Its success helped launch Life of Brian four years later.
George Burns’ Comeback: After years away from film, Burns’ turn in The Sunshine Boys earned him an Academy Award and a late-career revival.
Warren Beatty’s Bold Satire: Shampoo was a commercial hit and a political critique, using sexual comedy to lampoon American apathy and male ego.
Slapstick Lives On: The Return of the Pink Panther proved that broad, physical humor still had major box office appeal in an era leaning toward irony.
Where to Watch These Today
Monty Python and the Holy Grail – Streaming on Netflix and Blu-ray via Criterion
The Sunshine Boys – Available on Amazon and physical media
Love and Death – Streaming on MAX and rentable on major platforms
Shampoo – Available on Prime Video and Criterion Collection
Return of the Pink Panther – Streaming on MGM+, rentable on Apple TV
Smile – Streaming on Criterion Channel and available on Blu-ray
Closing Thoughts
1975 proved that comedy could be anything—loud or quiet, silly or philosophical, broad or existential. From the farcical to the finely observed, these films reflected the complexity of their time while delivering timeless laughs. Whether you're quoting Monty Python, cringing through awkward romance, or admiring dry satire in corsets, the comedies of 1975 continue to surprise and delight—often in the most unexpected ways.