Movie Lists

Laughter Meets Fear: 10 Iconic Horror Comedy Classics

We have brought together classic horror comedy movies for you in this list. Apart from sobs, there are two sounds you can hear in movie theaters: “laughter” and “screams.” When filmmakers ensure that both sounds echo through the theater, they can create some truly beautiful and moving movies. Movies in this genre are classified as horror comedies.

There is considerable debate about which cinematic work deserves to be called the “first horror comedy movie.” Horror comedy movies released in the first quarter of the 20th century, most notably the 1920 silent movie “Haunted Spooks,” can be considered worthy of this title.

In the 70s and 80s, many filmmakers, from Vincent Price to John Landis, joined the trend with works such as “The Abominable Dr. Phibes” and “An American Werewolf in London.” Soon after, horror comedies such as “Elvira: Mistress of the Dark,” “Evil Dead II,” “Re-Animator,” and “They Live” also appeared on the scene.

The horror comedy movies of that period were notable for their musical features, including classics such as “Rocky Horror Picture Show,” “Young Frankenstein,” and “Little Shop of Horrors.” Of course, the horror-comedy genre really became widespread in the 90s.

Wes Craven‘s 1996 horror movie “Scream” represents a peak in this genre with its entertaining elements, which include the patterns and clichés that horror-comedy movies had used extensively until that day. The Wayans brothers followed in the footsteps of “Scream” with the “Scary Movie” series, producing a comedy-focused cult classic.

Today, we will introduce you to 9 horror comedy classics that have become iconic among horror comedy movies and pioneered this genre. We are sure that every horror and comedy movie enthusiast will be excited to explore these movies, which met with audiences at different dates from 1974 to the beginning of the 21st century.

Enjoy reading…


1.Bubba Ho-tep

Laughter Meets Fear: 10 Iconic Horror Comedy Classics - Bubba Ho-tep

Bubba Ho-Tep, which won the Bram Stoker Award for Best Screenplay, is a 2002 Don Coscarelli movie.

Based on the Bram Stoker Award-nominated short story by master writer Joe R. Lansdale, Bubba Ho-Tep tells the “true” story of what really happened to Elvis Presley.

We find Elvis (Bruce Campbell) as a quiet old man in an East Texas nursing home who, years before his “death,” switched his identity with someone who looked like him and then missed the chance to return to his original identity.

Elvis meets Jack (Ossie Davis), a quirky nursing home resident who believes he is U.S. President John F. Kennedy. The two old friends set out to fight an evil Egyptian mummy that haunts them.

Here’s the information about Bubba Ho-Tep (2002):

  • Director: Don Coscarelli
  • Cast: Bruce Campbell, Ossie Davis, Ella Joyce
  • Release Year: 2002
  • Duration: 102 minutes
  • Country: United States
  • Genre: Comedy, Horror, Mystery
  • Language: English
  • Age Rating: R
  • Available Platforms: N/A
  • IMDb Rating: 7.0/10
  • Similar Movies: Army of Darkness (1992), The Cabin in the Woods (2011)
  • Trailer: Watch the Trailer on YouTube
  • IMDb Link: Bubba Ho-Tep on IMDb

2.Tremors

Tremors

This production, which was nominated for 4 Saturn Awards, is one of the movies that started the horror comedy movie trend that became widespread in the 1990s. It is a Ron Underwood movie starring the acclaimed actor Kevin Bacon.

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The residents of a small town begin to question how people who are disappearing one by one and being found dead underground met their fate. The townspeople start to become aware of the existence of a strange creature based on eyewitness accounts. But what is this creature, and where is it?

A seismologist working in the area tries to find a trace of the creature by following the tremors underground. The creature lives underground and ’emerges’ without warning. Will the people trapped in the town be able to find a way to escape? They have two options: either defend themselves or die.

Here’s the information about Tremors (1990):

  • Director: Ron Underwood
  • Cast: Kevin Bacon, Fred Ward, Finn Carter
  • Release Year: 1990
  • Duration: 96 minutes
  • Country: United States
  • Genre: Action, Comedy, Horror
  • Language: English
  • Age Rating: PG-13
  • Available Platforms: N/A
  • IMDb Rating: 7.1/10
  • Similar Movies: Arachnophobia (1990), The Relic (1997)
  • Trailer: Watch the Trailer on YouTube
  • IMDb Link: Tremors on IMDb

3.Re-Animator

Re-Animator

Re-Animator, which won the Best Movie award at the Catalonia International Film Festival, also known as Sitges, is a Stuart Gordon movie adapted from a work by world-famous horror writer H.P. Lovecraft.

In this Lovecraft story, Herbert West is a Swiss scientist who discovers a liquid that can bring dead tissue back to life. After his professor dies under suspicious circumstances in Switzerland, West moves to Miskatonic University to continue his research.

He recruits fellow student Dan Cain and his fiancée Megan Halsey to assist him in his experiments on their deceased cats. Impressed by West’s research, Dan agrees to take him to the hospital morgue to continue his experiments.

Here’s the information about Re-Animator (1985):

  • Director: Stuart Gordon
  • Cast: Jeffrey Combs, Bruce Abbott, Barbara Crampton
  • Release Year: 1985
  • Duration: 106 minutes
  • Country: United States
  • Genre: Comedy, Horror, Sci-Fi
  • Language: English
  • Age Rating: R
  • Available Platforms: N/A
  • IMDb Rating: 7.2/10
  • Similar Movies: From Beyond (1986), The Evil Dead (1981)
  • Trailer: Watch the Trailer on YouTube
  • IMDb Link: Re-Animator on IMDb

4.Gremlins

Gremlins

This horror comedy classic, which won 5 Saturn Awards, is a Joe Dante movie from 1984. The third movie in the series, which also has a sequel, is planned to be released in 2023.

Searching for the perfect Christmas gift for his teenage son Billy, Randall Peltzer finds a tiny creature named “Mogwai.” However, Peltzer is warned that caring for this sweet, furry pet comes with its own set of responsibilities, and he must not break the three basic rules of owning such a unique creature, or all hell will break loose for him and his family.

Of course, when Billy ignores these strict rules, what happens is this: When the Mogwai changes form, the small town that Randall and Peltzer live in is besieged by malevolent monsters.

Here’s the information about Gremlins (1984):

  • Director: Joe Dante
  • Cast: Zach Galligan, Phoebe Cates, Hoyt Axton
  • Release Year: 1984
  • Duration: 106 minutes
  • Country: United States
  • Genre: Comedy, Horror, Family
  • Language: English
  • Age Rating: PG
  • Available Platforms: N/A
  • IMDb Rating: 7.3/10
  • Similar Movies: The Goonies (1985), Ghostbusters (1984)
  • Trailer: Watch the Trailer on YouTube
  • IMDb Link: Gremlins on IMDb

5.The Return of the Living Dead

The Return of the Living Dead

The Return of the Living Dead, which was nominated for 4 Saturn Awards, is a 1985 Dan O’Bannon movie.

A pair of bumbling employees at a medical supply store accidentally release a deadly gas into the air. The steaming gas spreads across Louisville, Kentucky, causing the dead to come to life in search of their favorite meal: human brains. What will they do when a zombie apocalypse rampages through the town’s streets?

Here’s the information about The Return of the Living Dead (1985):

  • Director: Dan O’Bannon
  • Cast: Clu Gulager, James Karen, Don Calfa
  • Release Year: 1985
  • Duration: 101 minutes
  • Country: United States
  • Genre: Comedy, Horror
  • Language: English
  • Age Rating: R
  • Available Platforms: N/A
  • IMDb Rating: 7.3/10
  • Similar Movies: Night of the Living Dead (1968), Re-Animator (1985)
  • Trailer: Watch the Trailer on YouTube
  • IMDb Link: The Return of the Living Dead on IMDb

6.Army of Darkness

Army of Darkness

Written and directed by Sam Raimi and starring Bruce Campbell, this 1992 horror comedy won the Saturn Award for Best Horror Movie and was nominated for Best Movie at the Sitges Festival.

In this sequel to the Evil Dead series, Ash finds himself stranded in the year 1300 AD with his car, rifle, and chainsaw. His existence is soon discovered, and he is taken prisoner as he is thought to be a spy for a rival kingdom. After being taken prisoner, he proves his innocence and merit and is released by the kingdom.

Wise Wiseman names Ash as the “Chosen One” who will receive the Necronomicon, but Ash is only interested in the idea of returning home and is not interested in other things. When Ash learns that the only way to return to his time is to use the Necronomicon, he decides to travel to the unholy lands of the Deadites.

The Sage tells Ash that in order to use the Necronomicon safely, he must say the words “Klaatu Barada Nikto.” However, Ash forgets the last word, and the consequences will be severe. An army of the dead has already set out to attack Arthur’s castle and take back the Necronomicon

Armed with only his chainsaw and a 12-gauge double-barreled shotgun, can Ash fight his way through the army, also known as the “Army of the Darkness,” and save both worlds from the curse of the Necronomicon?

Here’s the information about Army of Darkness (1992):

  • Director: Sam Raimi
  • Cast: Bruce Campbell, Embeth Davidtz, Marcus Gilbert
  • Release Year: 1992
  • Duration: 81 minutes
  • Country: United States
  • Genre: Action, Comedy, Horror
  • Language: English
  • Age Rating: R
  • Available Platforms: N/A
  • IMDb Rating: 7.5/10
  • Similar Movies: Evil Dead II (1987), The Evil Dead (1981)
  • Trailer: Watch the Trailer on YouTube
  • IMDb Link: Army of Darkness on IMDb

7.Dead Alive

Dead Alive

The 1992 Peter Jackson movie is a classic that has made its mark on our list of horror comedy movies and won the Best Visual Effects award at the Sitges Festival.

Living in poor bachelorhood with his evil mother Vera in the sleepy town of Wellington, New Zealand, Lionel Cosgrove finally finds his soul mate, kindly grocery store clerk Paquita. However, soon after, a wild Sumatran Rat Monkey from Skull Island bites Lionel’s mother, Vera, while they are visiting the local zoo.

The bite throws things into chaos in Lionel’s already turbulent world. A lethal infection in the monkey’s saliva quickly turns Vera into a flesh-eating undead creature.

The living dead begin to multiply rapidly with the bites of the zombified Vera. Lionel manages to find a way and fills his basement with all the zombies. He must clean up and tidy the place while confronting his secret on one hand; on the other hand, he must save the beautiful day he plans to spend with Paquita.

Here’s the information about Dead Alive (1992):

  • Director: Peter Jackson
  • Cast: Timothy Balme, Diana Peñalver, Elizabeth Moody
  • Release Year: 1992
  • Duration: 104 minutes
  • Country: New Zealand
  • Genre: Comedy, Horror
  • Language: English
  • Age Rating: R
  • Available Platforms: N/A
  • IMDb Rating: 7.5/10
  • Similar Movies: Braindead (1992), Evil Dead II (1987)
  • Trailer: Watch the Trailer on YouTube
  • IMDb Link: Dead Alive on IMDb

8.An American Werewolf in London

An American Werewolf in London

Directed by John Landis and starring David Naughton, this 1981 horror comedy movie won an Oscar for Best Makeup.

While on holiday in Northern England, two American friends, David and Jack, are attacked by a werewolf during their walk. Jack is torn to death, while David survives but is seriously injured. The seriously injured David wakes up in a London hospital a week later and is deeply saddened by the news that his friend Jack has died.

He begins to have nightmares of running wild in the woods. One of the nurses, Alex, becomes close to David, and when he is discharged, they move in together in Alex’s flat in London.

After seeing his dead friend Jack in his dreams, David begins to receive warnings from Jack that he will turn into a werewolf during the next full moon, that the souls of those killed by werewolves suffer as they are trapped between two worlds, and that he must take his own life before all this happens. Thinking that he is going crazy, David ignores all of Jack’s warnings and finds himself in the middle of an unexpected situation when the night of the full moon arrives.

Here’s the information about An American Werewolf in London (1981):

  • Director: John Landis
  • Cast: David Naughton, Jenny Agutter, Griffin Dunne
  • Release Year: 1981
  • Duration: 97 minutes
  • Country: United States, United Kingdom
  • Genre: Comedy, Horror
  • Language: English
  • Age Rating: R
  • Available Platforms: N/A
  • IMDb Rating: 7.5/10
  • Similar Movies: The Howling (1981), Dog Soldiers (2002)
  • Trailer: Watch the Trailer on YouTube
  • IMDb Link: An American Werewolf in London on IMDb

9.Young Frankenstein

Young Frankenstein

Young Frankenstein, one of the productions that started the horror comedy movie trend, is a 1974 Mel Brooks movie that received Oscar nominations for Best Screenplay and Best Sound.

Victor Frankenstein’s grandson, Frederick Frankenstein, is a researcher and doctor who has spent his life living in the shadow of his grandfather’s legend, even changing his name for this reason and denying any connection to his grandfather.

While on a trip to visit his family castle in Transylvania, Dr. Frederick unexpectedly discovers his grandfather’s secret laboratory and personal journals on raising the dead. What he reads inspires him to pick up where his grandfather left off, along with his loyal, hunchbacked servant Igor and his beautiful lab assistant Inga. The entire movie is shot in black and white to stay true to the concept of old creature movies.

Here’s the information about Young Frankenstein (1974):

  • Director: Mel Brooks
  • Cast: Gene Wilder, Peter Boyle, Marty Feldman
  • Release Year: 1974
  • Duration: 106 minutes
  • Country: United States
  • Genre: Comedy, Horror
  • Language: English
  • Age Rating: PG
  • Available Platforms: N/A
  • IMDb Rating: 8.0/10
  • Similar Movies: Blazing Saddles (1974), The Producers (1967)
  • Trailer: Watch the Trailer on YouTube
  • IMDb Link: Young Frankenstein on IMDb

10.Zombieland

Zombieland

(Although it is not among the classic horror comedy movies, we wanted to introduce Zombieland, an impressive and entertaining horror comedy, to you, our valued readers.

While America is filled with zombie armies from end to end, Columbus, one of the few survivors of the zombie apocalypse, travels to Ohio to check if his family has survived. Determined to continue his dangerous journey in this chaotic and destructive landscape, Columbus will join forces with Tallahassee, a professional survival expert he meets on the road.

However, an unfortunate encounter with Wichita and her little sister Little Rock will bring an unexpected change to Columbus and Tallahassee’s plans. Convincing them that there is one last place where the survivors gather and that it still resembles the “old world,” Wichita and Little Rock head to the Pacific Playland amusement park in Los Angeles. Could the rumors be true? Is it harder for the team to trust each other or to emerge victorious from the relentless war against the zombies?

Here’s the information about Zombieland (2009):

  • Director: Ruben Fleischer
  • Cast: Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone, Woody Harrelson
  • Release Year: 2009
  • Duration: 88 minutes
  • Country: United States
  • Genre: Action, Comedy, Horror
  • Language: English
  • Age Rating: R
  • Available Platforms: N/A
  • IMDb Rating: 7.6/10
  • Similar Movies: Shaun of the Dead (2004), 30 Days of Night (2007)
  • Trailer: Watch the Trailer on YouTube
  • IMDb Link: Zombieland on IMDb

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