“And the Oscar goes to…” Rarely, if ever, has what followed that statement been a film in the comedy genre – especially when it comes to the Best Picture category of the Academy Awards. It’s so rare, in fact, that when one strolls scrolls down memory lane, perusing through the nominees in the Best Picture category of past Oscars ceremonies, it’s tough to find a straight-up comedy or even a comedy-adjacent film. The Oscars are a serious affair; and the films recognized at the annual awards show are reflected as such.

But comedies aren’t completely snubbed by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. They do get acknowledged rather frequently with nominations and awards in other categories, such as Best Actor/Actress, Supporting Actor/Actress, Original Screenplay, Director, Animated Feature, etc. However, as previously mentioned, the Big One – the Best Picture category – is usually reserved for capital “c” Cinema. The serious stuff; the Forrest Gumps; the Moonlights; the Nomadlands.

Nevertheless, every now and then, a comedic film is so good that it sneaks into the revered Best Picture category. Below, here’s a handful of comedies to beat the odds, and get the nod.

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8 Annie Hall

     Rollins-Joffe Production

Written, directed, and starring Woody Allen, Annie Hall (1977) depicts a lovelorn neurotic as he pursues a relationship with the titular woman, played by Diane Keaton. In typical Woody Allen fashion, the film is full of comedic self-deprecation, awkwardness, anxieties, and attempts to understand and successfully woo the opposite sex – all set beneath the backdrop of 1970s New York City. The film swept at the 50th Oscars ceremony, taking home Best Picture, Best Director, Best Screenplay, and Best Supporting Actress for Keaton.

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MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

7 Juno

     Fox Searchlight Pictures

With breakout performances for both Elliot Page and Michael Cera, Juno (2007) won the hearts of fans, critics, and the awards circuit alike. The film shows the story of an unplanned teen pregnancy, with the titular character (played by Page) as an offbeat, yet lovable, lead heroine. With a $6.5 million budget, the film skyrocketed at the box office, grossing $231 million worldwide. It also got a handful of nods at the 80th Academy Awards, including Best Actress for Page, Best Director for Jason Reitman, and Best Picture (although it lost in that category to the Coen brothers’ No Country for Old Men).

6 Little Miss Sunshine

     Searchlight Pictures

A beloved indie darling of the mid 2000s, Little Miss Sunshine (2006) was a hit with critics and fans, as well as at film festivals and the box office. (From an $8 million budget, the film grossed a whopping $101 million at the box office.) That success can be largely attributed to the smart, darkly comedic writing, in addition to the acclaimed performances from heavy-hitters like Steve Carrell, Alan Arkin, Toni Collette, Paul Dano, and others. And thanks to all that talent behind the film, it was nominated at the 79th Academy Awards, but lost the honor to Martin Scorsese’s The Departed.

5 Sideways

Two former college roommates, played by Paul Giamatti and Thomas Haden Church, are now middle-aged, moderately depressed, and in search of adventure in 2004’s Sideways. So, before one is to be married, they set out on a raucous, booze-soaked road trip to wine country to shake things up a bit. As one might imagine, comedic chaos ensues. At the 77th Academy Awards, the film racked up a number of nods, including Best Director for Alexander Payne, Best Supporting Actor for Haden Church, Best Supporting Actress for Virginia Madsen, Best Adapted Screenplay (which it won), and Best Picture (although it lost to Million Dollar Baby).

4 Jojo Rabbit

Directed by comedic powerhouse Taika Waititi, Jojo Rabbit (2019) follows a young boy in Nazi Germany whose imaginary best friend is Hitler himself (played hilariously by Waititi). Of course, WWII and the Holocaust are no laughing matters; however, as young Jojo navigates his way through one of history’s greatest tragedies and attempts to make sense of the world, the film is filled with laughs. At the 92nd Academy Awards it received a slew of nods – Waititi won for Best Adapted Screenplay – but lost in the Best Picture category to Parasite.

3 Lost in Translation

     Focus Features

Sofia Coppola’s 2003 romantic dramedy, Lost in Translation, follows an over-the-hill movie star (played by Bill Murray) who forms an unlikely friendship with a young, recent college graduate (Scarlett Johansson) while in Tokyo to promote a whiskey brand. The two foreigners get into all sorts of hijinks in Japan and, of course, any time Bill Murray is involved, there’s bound to be laughs. For the 76th Academy Awards, Lost in Translation garnered a number of nods, including Best Director for Coppola, Best Actor for Murray, and Best Picture (however, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King took the title that year).

2 The Full Monty

     Redwave Films

Risqué and (literally) revealing, The Full Monty (1997), features a cast of unemployed former steelworkers who decide to band together and form a striptease performance. The reason? To help a friend make enough money to visit his son. The catch? They’ll strip down fully nude, hence the title, to separate themselves from other acts, à la Chippendales. The comedy was nominated for Best Picture at the 70th Academy Awards, but lost to the cinematic mega-hit, Titanic.

1 Four Weddings and a Funeral

     Polygram Filled Entertainment

The 1994 British comedy, Four Weddings and a Funeral, follows Hugh Grant as Charles, as he and his friends attend numerous social gatherings and, rather unsuccessfully, attempt to navigate romantic relationships. At the box office, in the UK and abroad, the film took off; it also helped propel Hugh Grant’s profile to broader audiences, particularly in the United States. And during the 67th Academy Awards, the film was nominated for Best Original Screenplay (Richard Curtis) and Best Picture (but it was no match for Forrest Gump, which took home the top honors that year and continues to be on “best movies of all time” lists today.)