The Top 10 Best Horror Comedies

5. The Cabin in the Woods

The horror genre is filled with cliches. So much so, that many have become pedantic over the years. Cabin in the Woods takes the horror movie formula and turns it on the head as it reveals that all these terrible stories are the result of secret government programs around the world manipulating sacrifices in order to avoid the end of the world. The movie breaks down the tropes we see in every horror movie and gives them an edge with hilarious dialogue and quirky twists. It also sports an impressive cast of actors including, Richard Jenkins, Bradly Whitford, and Chris Hemsworth. What makes it so damn good though is that writer/ director Drew Goddard really understands the horror genre and gives fans just the kind of laughs they’re looking for.   

4. Shaun of the Dead

Yet another zombie movie on this list of horror comedies. This one though takes place on the other side of the pond in merry old England, as two loveable slackers, played by Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, take on hordes of zombies. It’s the first entry in Edgar Wright’s cornetto trilogy, and my favorite of the bunch. What makes Shaun of the Dead so funny is that the characters seem like the least likely to survive the zombie apocalypse, but manage to bumble their way through every dangerous situation with the grace of a drunken gorilla. Filled with plenty of wit and heartfelt moments, Shaun of the Dead is a cult classic for a reason. Some even say it’s the best horror-comedy of all time, but there are a few even better ones on this list.

3. What We Do in the Shadows

There have been more vampire movies over the years than you can shake a stake at. Of course, there are plenty of horror comedies that feature the fanged bloodsuckers from Once Bitten to Bloodsucking Bastards to Dracula: Dead and Loving It. However, the best one of all time is easily What We Do in the Shadows. The comedy from directors/writers Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi is a mockumentary that follows a small group of vampire roommates in New Zealand. They’re far from what you might expect from undead rulers of the night though and prove to be incredibly awkward in the modern world. The movie was so popular it even spawned a spin-off series that is just as fun to watch. If you love vampires, then you’ll like this amazing horror-comedy.  

2. Tucker and Dale vs Evil

One of my absolute favorite horror comedies of all time is Tucker and Dale vs Evil. The film follows two loveable rednecks played by Alan Tudyk and Tyler Labine who just want to spend a peaceful weekend fixing up their cabin. Through some incredible misunderstandings, they find themselves at war with a group of college kids that think they’re murderous hillbillies. The film is filled with incredibly gory sequences that are contrasted by the brilliant chemistry and dialogue from the two leads. This is a film that I always force my friends who are “too scared” to watch horror movies to sit through and all of them have laughed their butts off at it. So, if you’re the kind who can’t stand horror flicks, but still wants to get into the spirit of things, you should definitely check out this absolutely brilliant film.  

1. Ghostbusters (1984)

Now, most people will claim that Ghostbusters is a straight-up comedy. However, I’ll argue that there are still plenty of horror elements and even scary parts in the film (the ghost of Eleanor Twitty in that library sequences scared me to death as a kid, not to mention the gargoyles that chased Rick Moranis). It’s a movie that manages to get everything right from the casting of comedy greats like Bill Murray and Dan Akroyd to the crazy ghosts designed by Jim Henson. Everything came together to make one of the best movies of all time and a pop culture phenomenon. Ask anyone, “Who you going to call,” and they know the answer. That’s why these paranormal exterminators earn the top spot on this list of horror comedies.

Honorable Mention: Young Frankenstein 

I’ll probably get some gruff for not including this Mel Brooks classic among the horror comedies above. As brilliant as it is though, it’s a little light on the actual horror aspects, which is why it’s just getting a shout out. Still, I’m a huge fan of this flick.

As I said earlier, this was a tough list to narrow down. Even a lot of my favorite horror comedies weren’t able to earn a spot on it. With that in mind, I’d love to hear what some of your favorites are and what you think of the films that did earn a place. As always, I’ll be updating this list as new and noteworthy horror comedies hit theaters. So, be sure to check back from time to time to see how the rankings change!