Action comedies have a light-hearted feel to them, with little to no death and drama, but all of the excitement. The appeal of this genre is that these films have the action aspect without causing any extreme emotional reaction. This makes the action-comedy ideal for regular watching as well as serving as a perfect pick-me-up for when you’re in a sour mood.
Due to the popularity of the genre, tons of action comedies are released every year. Some of the most recent are Free Guy, Shotgun Wedding,and Bullet Train, all of which have a great deal of action while keeping the mood overall light. Considering that action comedies have existed for decades, it’s hard to decide which are the best of the best.These are the best action comedies of the 2010s.
10 Incredibles 2
Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
A sequel that came 15 years after the release of the first Incredibles, Incredibles 2 revolves around Helen Parr reclaiming her individual powers as a superhero when she is needed, while Bob stays back and takes care of the children. This role reversal is not only a refreshing step in the right direction, but shows children that any role can be filled by any person. The film was nominated for Best Animated Feature Film at the Academy Awards, but lost out to Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.
9 Shazam!
Warner Bros. Pictures
14-year-old Billy Batson becomes an adult superhero every time he shouts the word “Shazam.” Shazam revolves around Billy as he carries out typical teen behavior in an adult body. All fun and games come to a screeching halt when Dr. Thaddeus Sivana threatens to take Billy’s powers. With a 90% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, Shazam! has somewhat fallen under the radar and deserves more attention. The film was successful enough to warrant a sequel, Shazam! Fury of the Gods, which was released in March 2023.
8 Deadpool 2
Marvel Entertainment
A sequel to the first Deadpool film, Deadpool 2 follows Wade after the love of his life is killed and he struggles to find a reason to exist and continue being a hero — until he meets Russell. Russell becomes the target of Cable, a mutant from the future, as Russell’s anger combined with his powers are capable of causing great destruction. Deadpool works to protect Russell while building a new friendship with the boy and finding a new purpose for his never-ending life. This is the second film in the franchise so far, with a third on the way.
7 21 Jump Street
Columbia Pictures
A remake of the original TV series, 21 Jump Street stars Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill as the high school enemies turned friends who become cops together. The two wind up going undercover as high-schoolers to uncover the drug trafficking, which is taking the lives of young people. Featuring big names like Ice Cube and Brie Larson, 21 Jump Street is a phenomenal action comedy that is a fantastic pick-me-up.
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6 Kingsman: The Secret Service
20th Century Studios
The original film that kick-started the franchise, Kingsman: The Secret Service revolves around Gary “Eggsy” Unwin, who seems headed for a life of trouble until he is recruited by agent Harry Hart to be a trainee in the Secret Service. The two must stop Richmond Valentine’s evil plan to wipe out a great deal of the population as a resolution to climate change. Starring Taron Egerton, Colin Firth, and Samuel L. Jackson, Kingsman was met with great reviews, winning the Empire Award for Best British Film.
5 Kick-Ass
Lionsgate
Kick-Ass is a one-of-a-kind film that follows teen David Lizewski who becomes a superhero without having any natural powers, naming himself “Kick-Ass.” In order to truly prove himself a worthy superhero, Dave teams up with a father-daughter team of Big Daddy and Hit Girl along with the Red Mist to take down a local mobster. The film sparked controversy among some due to the level of violence and profanity. That being said, Kick-Ass has gained a strong cult following, prompting the creation of a sequel.
4 The Nice Guys
Warner Bros.
Starring Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe, The Nice Guys follows PI Holland March who partners up with the dangerous Jackson Healy after the young Amelia’s sudden disappearance. On their search for her, March and Healy soon discover that there is much more to the story than they anticipated. The Nice Guys was very well-received, praised for its tactful combination of humor and mystery. Gosling and Crowe were also praised for their performances, being nominated for several accolades.
3 Deadpool
20th Century Fox
Starring the hilarious Ryan Reynolds, Deadpool has become one of the most iconic superheroes to ever emerge from the MCU. Between his distaste for the X-Men and his love of chimichangas, Deadpool has become one of the most beloved sarcastic characters to ever get his own movie. Deadpool stands out among the crowd and is not the typical superhero movie. After getting a diagnosis with cancer, Wade goes above and beyond to save himself from death, even going through tortuous treatment which gives him burns all-over his body, but also makes him immortal.
2 Scott Pilgrim vs. the World
Universal Pictures
Based on the comic book of the same name, Scott Pilgrim vs, the World follows the journey of Scott Pilgrim, a deadbeat bassist for a rock band who falls for Ramona Flowers. Only trouble is, in order to get to Ramona, Scott must fight off a barrage of ex-partners. Starring Michael Cera and Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World was a box office bomb but garnered a massive cult following. The film has been praised for its form of storytelling and has been nominated for countless awards, including a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects.
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1 Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
Sony Pictures
Topping our list is Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. Following the journey of Mile Morales who is bitten by a radioactive spider, he takes on the powers of Spider-Man. When Miles meets Peter Parker, he discovers that there are many others with the same powers as him. Miles must use his new powers to fight the Kingpin who opens portals to other universes, wreaking havoc on reality. The film was wildly popular and critically acclaimed, earning the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature Film.
