The classic comedy movie genre has laugh-out-loud moments, hilarious characters, and unforgettable scenes. But behind the main action of these films are some interesting trivia facts that many people don’t know about! Here are 50 fantastic movie trivia facts from the top 50 comedy movies to celebrate the best in comedic entertainment.
The First Top 20 Amazing Facts About The Best Comedy Movies
1. The Hangover (2009) was inspired by a real bachelor party weekend experienced by one of the writers.
2. Airplane! (1980) features over 100 sight gags, including a conversation between two nuns about their love lives.
3. Animal House (1978) has become so iconic that its featured fraternity house is now a National Historic Landmark.
4. Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975) was filmed in Scotland, using real locations, including Doune Castle and Loch Ness.
5. Happy Gilmore (1996) is filled with many cameos from pro golfers, including a scene featuring Tiger Woods as a young fan of Happy’s!
6. Caddyshack (1980) was inspired by director Harold Ramis’ experiences as a caddy at an exclusive Chicago country club.
7. Ghostbusters (1984) was initially meant to be darker and gorier than the final version, but it was ultimately released to theaters.
8. Office Space (1999) continues to gain new fans due to its depiction of corporate culture, and its timeless “take this job and shove it” themes.
9. The Naked Gun (1988) was loosely based on a popular 1950s TV show called Police Squad!
10. National Lampoon’s Vacation (1983) includes a scene where Chevy Chase’s character, Clark Griswold, is offered marijuana by two truckers at a rest stop.
11. Dumb & Dumber (1994) features Jim Carrey’s character, Lloyd Christmas, attempting to buy a fake Rolex watch at a pawn shop.
12. The Princess Bride (1987) was based on an obscure novel by the same name, written by William Goldman in 1973.
13. Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004) has some creative liberties that filmmakers took, such as including bears in an epic newsroom fight scene.
14. Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997) cast Mike Myers’ father-in-law as Austin Powers’ dad!
15. Heathers (1988) references several 1980s films with their storyline and humor, including Pretty in Pink and Valley Girl.
16. The 40-Year-Old Virgin (2005) was shot in just twenty-nine days, a surprising feat for an R-rated Hollywood comedy!
17. Groundhog Day (1993) takes place in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, and features Bill Murray as a TV weatherman caught in a time loop.
18. Superbad (2007) has an opening credits sequence that pays homage to the iconic pre-title lines of James Bond films.
19. The Big Lebowski (1998) was inspired by the real-life exploits of Jeff Dowd, who served as Jeff Bridges’ character’s namesake.
20. Wayne’s World (1992) is known for its frequent use of the word “excellent,” which is said over 100 times throughout the movie.
Other Top 30 Comedy Movies With Surprising Facts That Should Not Be Missed
21. Step Brothers (2008) features John C Reilly and Will Ferrell in a crazy step-brother rivalry improvised on set.
22. Bridesmaids (2011) originally had an entirely different ending, including an epic food fight scene between Kristen Wiig’s character and her rival Helen!
23. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989) has become one of history’s most beloved holiday films, thanks to its realistic depiction of family dysfunction.
24. The Blues Brothers (1980) features an impressive cast of over 130 professional blues musicians, including Ray Charles and Aretha Franklin!
25. Blazing Saddles (1974) was the first major film to use a profanity-laced script for comedic effect, with Mel Brooks taking risks that no other filmmaker had before him.
26. Stripes (1981) cost just $8 million, yet it grossed more than double that at the box office!
27. Clueless (1995) is based on Jane Austen’s classic novel Emma, first published in 1815.
28. Beverly Hills Cop (1984) was the first R-rated movie to earn over $100 million at the US box office.
29. The Hangover Part II (2011) features a real tiger in one of its most iconic scenes, with no special effects required!
30. Coming To America (1988) stars Eddie Murphy as Prince Akeem, an African prince who travels to Queens, New York, searching for love.
31. Spaceballs (1987) was Mel Brooks’ attempt to spoof the wildly popular Star Wars franchise, with several references and homages throughout the movie.
32. A Fish Called Wanda (1988) features John Cleese as a man trying to locate stolen diamond jewels while being chased by a hitman played by Kevin Kline.
33. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986) has become one of history’s most beloved teen films, thanks to its wise and rebellious hero!
34. The Proposal (2009) is set in Sitka, Alaska, and was filmed in Massachusetts and Canada, using local actors for many of its key roles.
35. Airplane! (1980) was written by Zucker-Abrams-Zucker, a trio of filmmakers who also wrote and directed Top Secret!, another spoof movie released the same year.
36. Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975) had a meager budget – just £229,575 –yet earned more than $100 million worldwide!
37. Old School (2003) features Luke Wilson as a middle-aged man trying to relive his college days with his old fraternity brothers.
38. The Hangover Part III (2013) has the highest rating among the three films in the Hangover franchise on IMDb, scoring 7.4 out of 10 stars.
39 The Wedding Singer (1998) is set in the 1980s and features Adam Sandler as a wedding singer trying to win back his ex-fiancée.
40. Napoleon Dynamite (2004) became an instant cult classic thanks to its unique writing and quirky characters, most notably Jon Heder’s titular role.
41. The 40-Year-Old Virgin (2005) was the first feature film directed by Judd Apatow, who had previously worked as a writer for several TV shows and movies.
42. Clerks (1994) is set in New Jersey and was written and directed by Kevin Smith, making it his debut independent feature film.
43. Dazed and Confused (1993) follows a group of high schoolers on their last day of classes in Austin, Texas, in 1976.
44. Office Space (1999) stars Ron Livingston as an employee who becomes fed up with his job and takes drastic measures to get out of it!
45. Superbad (2007) features Jonah Hill and Michael Cera as two high schoolers trying to get booze for a party.
46. Elf (2003) stars Will Ferrell as Buddy, a human raised by elves at the North Pole who embarks on an adventure to find his birth father.
47. Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997) follows Mike Myers’ titular character as he battles Dr. Evil and his minions in this spy-thriller parody.
48. Mean Girls (2004) was written by Tina Fey and stars Lindsay Lohan as a teen girl navigating the cliques of high school social life.
49. The Hangover Part III (2013) is set in Las Vegas, making it the only film in the franchise not to be put in Las Vegas.
50. This Is Spinal Tap (1984) is considered one of the most influential and essential comedy films ever made, thanks to its biting satire of rock stars.
We hope you enjoyed these 50 hilarious movie trivia facts from the top 50 comedy movies! Share your favorite ones with friends and keep exploring these classics.
