Best Horror Comedies of 1988
- HaHa Jokester
- May 29
- 9 min read
Updated: Jun 20
1988 was a glorious circus of gore, gags, and genre-bending chaos. Horror comedy didn’t just exist on the margins anymore—it was the main attraction. This was the year where filmmakers got weirder, funnier, and more daring, smashing together slapstick humor, outlandish monsters, and surreal storytelling into bold, unforgettable cult hits.
From killer clowns to demonic tricksters and possessed dolls, 1988 turned horror comedy into a playground of practical effects and wicked imagination.
The Horror Comedy Landscape in 1988
Killer Concepts Go Wild
This was the year of “high concept, low sanity.” Movies weren’t afraid to pitch gonzo ideas—alien clowns, tiny terror dolls, and wisecracking demons—and fully commit to the bit.
Comedy Balancing the Carnage
While gore stayed heavy, the laughs were sharper. These films knew how to toy with tone—pivoting from grotesque to hilarious in a heartbeat.
Cult Status Cemented
Many of 1988’s horror comedies weren’t box office hits—but they became midnight movie royalty, endlessly rewatched, quoted, and adored.
Top 10 Horror Comedies of 1988
Beetlejuice
Runtime: 1hr 32min
Tim Burton’s goth comedy masterpiece is a perfect storm of surreal visuals, undead slapstick, and Michael Keaton’s manic brilliance. A ghost story with style, wit, and a killer soundtrack.
Beetlejuice (1988) is a wildly inventive horror-comedy directed by Tim Burton that blends the macabre with the absurd. The film follows a recently deceased couple, Adam and Barbara Maitland, who find themselves trapped as ghosts in their former home. When an obnoxious new family moves in, the Maitlands turn to the chaotic and crude "bio-exorcist" Betelgeuse (Michael Keaton) to scare them away. What follows is a surreal, darkly comedic romp through the afterlife filled with twisted visuals, eccentric characters, and Burton’s signature gothic flair. Keaton’s unhinged performance as the titular ghoul has become iconic, cementing Beetlejuice as a cult classic that redefined horror comedy with its bold style and irreverent spirit.
Killer Klowns from Outer Space
Runtime: 1hr 28min
Alien clowns invade Earth with cotton candy cocoons and balloon-animal weapons. Equal parts silly and terrifying, this is one of the most iconic horror comedies ever made.
Killer Klowns from Outer Space (1988) is a campy cult classic that gleefully blends sci-fi, horror, and slapstick comedy into one gloriously bizarre spectacle. Directed by the Chiodo Brothers, the film follows a small town invaded by alien creatures who resemble grotesque clowns. These extraterrestrial jesters use circus-themed weapons—like cotton candy cocoons and deadly shadow puppets—to capture and kill unsuspecting humans. With its creative practical effects, over-the-top premise, and tongue-in-cheek tone, the film embraces its absurdity and turns it into a strength. Killer Klowns has earned a devoted fanbase for its inventive visuals, dark humor, and unforgettable weirdness, standing out as one of the most unique horror comedies of the 1980s.
Elvira: Mistress of the Dark
Runtime: 1hr 36min
Horror’s camp queen gets her own movie—serving sarcasm, cleavage, and creature-feature chaos with gleeful irreverence.
Elvira: Mistress of the Dark (1988) is a cheeky, gothic comedy that brings the beloved horror hostess to the big screen in a riotous fish-out-of-water tale. When Elvira (Cassandra Peterson) inherits a creepy old house in a conservative small town, her outrageous style, double entendres, and campy charisma clash hilariously with the uptight locals. As she battles puritanical townsfolk and uncovers a magical secret hidden in her family’s past, Elvira proves she’s more than just cleavage and quips—she’s a fierce, funny, and independent heroine. Packed with playful horror nods, gaudy glam, and irreverent one-liners, the film perfectly captures Elvira’s unique blend of spooky sass and 1980s excess.
Fright Night Part 2
Runtime: 1hr 48min
This stylish sequel ups the camp and creature effects while maintaining the humor and charm of the original. Sexy, spooky fun with a cult following.
Fright Night Part 2 (1988) continues the stylish blend of horror and humor that made the original a cult favorite, this time with a fresh vampiric twist. Set a few years after the events of the first film, the story finds Charley Brewster trying to move on—now convinced that vampires aren’t real. But his delusion shatters when a seductive and deadly new vampire, Regine, arrives with a pack of supernatural allies, seeking revenge for the death of her brother, Jerry Dandrige. With Peter Vincent once again reluctantly joining the fight, the film dives into sleek gothic visuals, quirky scares, and offbeat comedy. Though not as widely known as its predecessor, Fright Night Part 2 maintains the franchise’s flair for blending campy charm with bloody thrills.
Dead Heat
Runtime: 1hr 26min
A buddy-cop zombie action-comedy where one cop is literally decomposing. A bizarre, effects-heavy blend of noir, gore, and punchlines.
Dead Heat (1988) is a wild, genre-bending ride that fuses buddy-cop action with zombie horror and pitch-black comedy. The film stars Treat Williams and Joe Piscopo as detectives investigating a series of bizarre crimes—only to uncover a sinister plot involving reanimated corpses used for high-stakes heists. When one of the cops is killed and brought back from the dead, the duo races against time (and decay) to crack the case before the undead cop deteriorates for good. With outrageous practical effects, witty one-liners, and a gleefully absurd tone, Dead Heat embraces its B-movie roots and delivers a fast-paced, grotesquely fun mashup of horror and humor.
Waxwork
Runtime: 1hr 37min
A group of teens visits a mysterious wax museum—only to get pulled into twisted horror vignettes. A mash-up of genres and monsters with a wicked sense of humor.
Waxwork (1988) is a clever and imaginative horror comedy that pays loving tribute to classic monster movies while adding its own twisted flair. The story follows a group of young adults who are invited to a mysterious wax museum, only to find that the exhibits are portals into terrifying alternate realities. As each character is transported into a different horror scenario—ranging from werewolves to vampires to zombies—they must fight to survive or become part of the gruesome displays. Directed by Anthony Hickox, Waxwork stands out for its inventive premise, practical effects, and playful tone, offering a meta-horror experience that’s as fun as it is frightening. It’s a nostalgic love letter to the genre with a darkly comedic edge.
Night of the Demons
Runtime: 1hr 30min
A Halloween party turns demonic in this outrageous, effects-heavy splatter fest. While scary, its ridiculous energy and goth-punk attitude keep it weirdly fun.
Night of the Demons (1988) is a gleefully gory and rebellious slice of 1980s horror punk that turns a Halloween party into a demonic bloodbath. Set in a spooky abandoned funeral parlor, the film follows a group of teens who gather for a night of mischief—only to unleash a horde of malevolent spirits that possess them one by one. Directed by Kevin Tenney, the film mixes over-the-top practical effects, heavy metal energy, and dark humor to create a cult classic dripping with attitude. With standout performances (especially from goth icon Amelia Kinkade as the seductive Angela), unforgettable makeup, and a devil-may-care tone, Night of the Demons captures the wild, rule-breaking spirit of late-80s horror comedy.
Hobgoblins
Runtime: 1hr 28min
A Gremlins knockoff so poorly executed it veers into unintentional comedy gold. Infamous for its Mystery Science Theater 3000 appearance.
Hobgoblins (1988) is a low-budget, high-camp cult oddity that rides the wave of tiny creature horror comedies popularized in the ’80s. Directed by Rick Sloane, the film centers on a group of mischievous alien creatures—hobgoblins—who escape from a film vault and wreak havoc by manipulating people’s deepest fantasies, often with chaotic and deadly results. As a group of young adults scramble to stop the creatures, the movie delivers a mix of clumsy action, awkward humor, and cheesy effects that have earned it a reputation as one of the "so-bad-it’s-good" gems of the era. While critically panned, Hobgoblins has found an enduring fanbase thanks to its unintentional hilarity, nostalgic charm, and infamous feature on Mystery Science Theater 3000.
Return of the Killer Tomatoes
Runtime: 1hr 38min
George Clooney stars in this ultra-meta sequel that mocks product placement, low-budget filmmaking, and itself—brilliantly.
Return of the Killer Tomatoes (1988) is a hilariously self-aware sequel that leans fully into absurdity, parody, and fourth-wall-breaking humor. Set years after the original tomato uprising, the film finds the world recovering—until mad scientist Professor Gangreen (John Astin) creates human-looking tomatoes to restart his evil plot. Caught in the chaos are a college student (Anthony Starke) and his roommate Chad (a young George Clooney in one of his earliest roles), who get swept up in the madness when one of the tomato-people becomes Chad’s love interest. With ridiculous gags, tongue-in-cheek performances, and a plot that gleefully mocks commercialism and movie clichés, Return of the Killer Tomatoes proves that sometimes the dumbest ideas make for the smartest laughs.
Psychos in Love
Runtime: 1hr 28min
A low-budget romantic slasher comedy about a couple who fall in love over their mutual hatred of grapes—and murder. It’s strange, silly, and darkly charming.
Psychos in Love (1987, often associated with the 1988 horror-comedy wave) is a twisted, ultra-low-budget cult film that combines splatter horror with deadpan romantic absurdity. Directed by Gorman Bechard, the story follows Joe, a misanthropic bartender, and Kate, a manicurist—both of whom share a deep hatred for grapes and an even deeper penchant for murder. When they discover each other’s homicidal tendencies, they fall into a bizarrely charming relationship built on bloodlust and mutual dysfunction. With deliberately cheesy effects, offbeat monologues, and a no-holds-barred commitment to dark humor, Psychos in Love is a gleefully weird and irreverent take on love, serial killing, and the horror genre itself.
Underrated Picks Worth Your Time
Brain Damage
Runtime: 1hr 28min
A man befriends a talking brain parasite that gives him euphoric highs—and demands human victims. Weird, disturbing, and funny in all the wrong ways.
Brain Damage (1988), directed by Frank Henenlotter, is a bizarre and darkly comedic body-horror film that explores addiction, control, and grotesque transformation through a surreal lens. The story follows Brian, a young man who becomes the host for a parasitic creature named Aylmer—a smooth-talking, leech-like entity that injects a euphoric hallucinogenic fluid into his brain in exchange for human victims. As Brian spirals into dependency, losing grip on reality and morality, the film delivers gruesome practical effects, outrageous visuals, and biting satire. With its mix of sleaze, absurdity, and social commentary, Brain Damage stands as a bold and unforgettable entry in the horror-comedy canon—equal parts disgusting and darkly funny.
Sorority Babes in the Slimeball Bowl-O-Rama
Runtime: 1hr 20min
A demonic imp, a haunted bowling alley, and Linnea Quigley. It's pure B-movie bliss.
Sorority Babes in the Slimeball Bowl-O-Rama (1988) is a gleefully trashy and self-aware horror comedy that embodies the spirit of late-’80s B-movie excess. Directed by David DeCoteau, the film follows a group of college students—frat boys and sorority pledges alike—who break into a bowling alley as part of a hazing ritual, only to accidentally unleash a mischievous imp from a cursed trophy. The imp grants twisted wishes that quickly spiral into murderous chaos, all set against the neon-lit backdrop of an empty mall. With gratuitous nudity, rubber monsters, cheesy one-liners, and a cast of cult favorites like Linnea Quigley, the film leans hard into its exploitation roots and delivers a knowingly ridiculous ride. It’s campy, chaotic, and proud of it.
Ghoulies II
Runtime: 1hr 28min
The little monsters return—this time terrorizing a traveling carnival with gleeful goop.
Ghoulies II (1988) ramps up the creature-feature chaos with a carnival twist, delivering a gleefully gooey horror comedy that improves on its predecessor by fully embracing its campy potential. This time, the mischievous, grotesque little monsters wreak havoc at a struggling traveling carnival—specifically in a haunted house attraction called "Satan’s Den." As the ghoulies turn the funhouse into a deathtrap, unsuspecting guests are picked off in creatively gruesome (and hilarious) ways. With better pacing, slimy practical effects, and a setting that heightens the absurdity, Ghoulies II leans into its B-movie identity and delivers exactly what fans of ‘80s horror comedy crave: laughs, gore, and pint-sized monsters causing maximum mayhem.
Horror Highlights & Trivia
Tim Burton Breaks Out: Beetlejuice proved Burton’s vision could work on the big screen—launching a style that would define genre storytelling for decades.
Practical Effects Go Bonkers: Killer Klowns, Dead Heat, and Waxwork showcased jaw-dropping creature effects that were both grotesque and hilarious.
Cassandra Peterson Rules the Screen: Elvira made the leap from late-night host to cult movie queen with snark and spooky charisma.
Where to Watch These Today
Streaming:
Beetlejuice – Max, Apple TV
Killer Klowns from Outer Space – Tubi, Pluto TV
Elvira: Mistress of the Dark – Prime Video, Shudder
Dead Heat – Shudder, Plex
Night of the Demons – AMC+, Freevee
Physical Media Collectors:Look for boutique releases from Scream Factory, Vinegar Syndrome, and Arrow Video for restored editions of Waxwork, Elvira, and Killer Klowns.
Closing Thoughts
1988 proved that horror comedy had no rules—just monsters, madness, and mayhem. It was a year that embraced the absurd, leaned into practical effects, and made even the most ridiculous concepts work through charm and creativity. If you're looking for horror that’s hilarious, handcrafted, and completely unhinged, 1988 is essential viewing. It didn’t just entertain—it exploded with imagination, proving horror comedy could be bold, bizarre, and bigger than ever.
