Best Comedy Films of 1997
- HaHa Jokester
- Jun 18
- 7 min read
Updated: Jun 20
1997 was a year when comedy flexed its versatility—balancing outrageous concept comedies with clever romances, gross-out gags, and indie character studies. As studios leaned into high-energy blockbusters and romantic charmers, the indie scene delivered sharp, observational humor. From aliens in suits to high-school reunion chaos, 1997 proved that great comedy could be heartfelt, vulgar, stylish, or all three at once.
The Comedy Landscape in 1997
Star Vehicles Dominate
Big-name actors drove much of the year’s success—Jim Carrey, Julia Roberts, Mike Myers, and Robin Williams all delivered major comedic hits.
Rom-Com Revival
Films like My Best Friend’s Wedding and As Good as It Gets brought new energy to the romantic comedy—emphasizing quirks, flaws, and unpredictability over formula.
Genre-Mashing Goes Mainstream
1997 embraced hybrid comedies—from sci-fi and action (Men in Black) to crime capers (Grosse Pointe Blank), proving that funny didn’t have to mean traditional.
Top 10 Comedy Films of 1997
Men in Black
Runtime: 1hr 38min
A secret agency monitors extraterrestrial life on Earth while trying to stop an alien threat.
Men in Black is a sci-fi comedy in which Agent K (Tommy Lee Jones) recruits streetwise NYPD officer James Edwards (Will Smith) to join a covert organization that polices alien activity on Earth. As the newly christened Agent J, he must adapt to a hidden world of bizarre technology, disguised extraterrestrials, and dryly bureaucratic procedures. Together, the duo face a bug-like alien who threatens planetary destruction unless stopped. The film’s clever mix of humor, action, and imaginative world-building made it an instant blockbuster and spawned a franchise.
Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery
Runtime: 1hr 35min
A cryogenically frozen 1960s British spy is thawed out in the 1990s to battle his nemesis Dr. Evil.
This outrageous spoof of James Bond-style espionage follows Austin Powers (Mike Myers), a groovy, sex-crazed spy from the 1960s who is frozen and reawakened in the 1990s to confront his arch-nemesis Dr. Evil—also played by Myers—who threatens the world with nuclear annihilation. As Austin struggles to adjust to a more politically correct era, he partners with the capable Vanessa Kensington (Elizabeth Hurley), bringing outdated charm and chaotic energy to every mission. The film blends slapstick humor, absurd characters, and clever parody, launching a wildly successful comedic franchise.
My Best Friend’s Wedding
Runtime: 1hr 45min
A woman tries to sabotage her best friend’s wedding after realizing she’s in love with him.
In this romantic comedy, Julianne (Julia Roberts) is shocked when her longtime best friend Michael (Dermot Mulroney) announces his engagement to the sweet and young Kimmy (Cameron Diaz). Realizing she's in love with him, Julianne embarks on a last-minute mission to derail the wedding and confess her feelings. However, her scheming leads to emotional complications and introspection, forcing her to confront the consequences of her actions. The film flips traditional rom-com tropes, balancing humor and heartbreak with a memorable supporting turn from Rupert Everett.
As Good as It Gets
Runtime: 2hr 19min
An obsessive-compulsive writer forms unlikely bonds with a waitress and a gay artist.
Jack Nicholson stars as Melvin Udall, a misanthropic novelist with severe OCD, whose rigid world is disrupted when he must care for his gay neighbor's dog and interact with Carol (Helen Hunt), a waitress dealing with her sick child. Through these awkward and often hilarious interactions, Melvin is gradually pulled out of his isolation and learns how to connect with others. The film is a character-driven romantic dramedy about personal growth, empathy, and the messy imperfections of love, winning Oscars for both Nicholson and Hunt.
The Full Monty
Runtime: 1hr 31min
Laid-off steelworkers in England decide to become male strippers to earn money and regain self-worth.
Set in economically depressed Sheffield, The Full Monty centers on a group of unemployed men who, desperate for cash and a sense of purpose, hatch a plan to stage a striptease show. Led by the determined Gaz (Robert Carlyle), they promise to go "the full monty"—stripping completely—despite their lack of traditional dancer physiques. The film combines sharp social commentary with heart and humor, celebrating friendship, resilience, and the power of vulnerability in the face of adversity.
Liar Liar
Runtime: 1hr 27min
A lawyer is magically forced to tell the truth for 24 hours, upending his career and family life.
Jim Carrey plays Fletcher Reede, a slick, self-serving attorney who habitually lies—until his young son makes a birthday wish that his dad can't lie for a whole day. Magically granted, the wish sends Fletcher into comedic chaos as his professional and personal lives spiral out of control due to his sudden honesty. As the truth derails his courtroom antics and relationships, Fletcher must confront his priorities and rediscover the importance of sincerity and fatherhood. The film is a high-energy blend of physical comedy and heartfelt redemption.
Grosse Pointe Blank
Runtime: 1hr 47min
A hitman returns to his hometown for his high school reunion and tries to rekindle a lost romance.
In this offbeat dark comedy, Martin Blank (John Cusack) is a professional assassin experiencing a career crisis who reluctantly returns to Grosse Pointe, Michigan, for his ten-year high school reunion. There, he reconnects with his former flame Debi (Minnie Driver) and tries to reconcile his past and present while fending off rival hitmen and government agents. With quirky dialogue, sharp satire, and unexpected emotional depth, the film mixes action, romance, and existential humor in a truly unique package.
Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion
Runtime: 1hr 32min
Two quirky best friends reinvent themselves to impress classmates at their high school reunion.
Romy (Mira Sorvino) and Michele (Lisa Kudrow) are inseparable best friends living a carefree life in L.A., but when their ten-year high school reunion approaches, they realize they haven't accomplished much by traditional standards. To save face, they concoct a lie about inventing Post-it Notes, which spirals into comedic chaos. The film is a celebration of female friendship, individuality, and self-acceptance, dressed in '90s fashion and backed by a killer soundtrack. It became a cult classic for its offbeat charm and empowering message.
Chasing Amy
Runtime: 1hr 45min
A comic book artist falls for a lesbian woman, leading to emotional turmoil and identity crises.
Kevin Smith's Chasing Amy follows Holden (Ben Affleck), a comic book writer who falls deeply for Alyssa (Joey Lauren Adams), a fellow artist who identifies as a lesbian. Their intense connection challenges both of their assumptions about love, sexuality, and relationships, as jealousy and insecurity threaten to unravel them. Blending raunchy humor with surprising emotional depth, the film explores themes of identity, acceptance, and the complexities of adult relationships in a refreshingly candid way.
Flubber
Runtime: 1hr 34min
An absent-minded professor creates a flying green goo with chaotic and comical consequences.
In this family-friendly sci-fi comedy, Robin Williams plays Professor Philip Brainard, an eccentric inventor who accidentally creates "Flubber," a rubbery, sentient substance with extraordinary bouncing and flying abilities. While trying to save his college from financial ruin and win back his fiancée, Brainard unleashes Flubber’s unpredictable power into the world, resulting in madcap mayhem. A remake of The Absent-Minded Professor, the film blends slapstick gags, CGI effects, and Williams’s energetic charm into a whimsical tale of invention and redemption.
Underrated Picks Worth Your Time
Addicted to Love
Runtime: 1hr 41min
A surprisingly dark romantic comedy where Meg Ryan and Matthew Broderick play jilted lovers turned amateur stalkers—it’s twisted, stylish, and oddly satisfying.
Addicted to Love is a dark romantic comedy that flips the typical love story on its head, following two jilted lovers—Sam (Matthew Broderick), a mild-mannered astronomer, and Maggie (Meg Ryan), a fiery photographer—who team up to spy on and sabotage their exes after being dumped. As they plot revenge from an abandoned building across the street, their schemes grow increasingly elaborate and morally questionable, even as an unexpected attraction forms between them. Blending quirky humor with cynical undertones, the film explores obsession, heartbreak, and the messy road to moving on, offering a twisted but charming take on the rom-com formula.
The Castle
Runtime: 1hr 25min
This Australian gem is a deadpan delight about one man’s fight to keep his modest home—funny, warm, and filled with quotable charm.
The Castle is a beloved Australian comedy that tells the story of the Kerrigan family, whose humble home near an airport is threatened by compulsory acquisition from the government. Patriarch Darryl Kerrigan (Michael Caton) refuses to back down, believing that a man’s home is truly his castle, and takes the fight all the way to the High Court with the help of an earnest lawyer. Full of quirky humor, heartfelt moments, and a deep sense of working-class pride, The Castlecelebrates the everyday Australian spirit and has become a cult classic for its iconic one-liners and sincere portrayal of family resilience.
In & Out
Runtime: 1hr 32min
Kevin Kline leads a small-town ensemble through a coming-out story laced with screwball humor, social satire, and genuine sweetness.
In & Out is a satirical comedy about a small-town English teacher, Howard Brackett (Kevin Kline), who is unexpectedly outed as gay by a former student during an Academy Awards acceptance speech—just days before his wedding to a woman. As the revelation sends shockwaves through his conservative community and throws his own identity into question, Howard embarks on a hilarious and heartfelt journey of self-discovery. With sharp writing, memorable performances, and a playful take on media, stereotypes, and acceptance, the film balances farce with warmth, becoming a landmark mainstream comedy tackling sexuality in the late ’90s.
Comedy Highlights & Trivia
“Yeah, Baby!”
Austin Powers launched a cultural phenomenon—reviving spy parody with absurd accents, groovy suits, and endless catchphrases.
The British Invasion
The Full Monty became a surprise international sensation, using working-class male stripping as a vehicle for class comedy and emotional depth.
Romantic Comedy Rebooted
My Best Friend’s Wedding flipped the rom-com formula on its head, embracing selfishness, failure, and complicated friendships over a tidy happily-ever-after.
Where to Watch These Today
Men in Black – Starz
Austin Powers – Max
My Best Friend’s Wedding – Pluto TV
Liar Liar – Starz
Grosse Pointe Blank – Hoopla
Romy and Michele – Prime
Chasing Amy – Paramount +
In & Out – Paramount +
Closing Thoughts
1997 delivered comedy with range—witty, weird, wildly popular, and quietly brilliant. It was a year of bold choices, fresh perspectives, and breakout characters who stuck with audiences long after the credits rolled. Whether you were suiting up for Men in Black, crashing a reunion, or quoting Austin Powers, the best comedies of 1997 found a perfect balance between heart and hilarity.
