When you sit down to watch a horror movie, the last thing you expect to be doing is laughing. People pay to watch horror films with the sole intention of being scared out of their wits to the point of having to hide behind the popcorn bucket. However, in order to make things scarier, most horror movies have moments of levity in order to distract an audience. When people are thinking about other things, it is far easier to then pop up with a big scare, which is why many horror movies choose to add comedy to their movies.
Often it is the characters who are the victims that bring the funny moments, but sometimes the villains themselves can be funny as well. Some horror movies are so funny that they end up being secretly hilarious, and in this list, we will rank 10 of the funniest horror films.
Scream
When you think about horror movies that have funny moments within them, any of the films in the Scream franchise will likely come near the top of that list. The movies have so many different funny moments throughout that they’re borderline comedies at times.
The idea of the movies is to pay homage to the classic slasher genre, however, this film becomes incredibly ridiculous at times. The movies have some really funny moments, which is mainly because the villain isn’t a serious killer, it’s a teenager trying to work out what to do next.
The Cabin In The Woods
Another horror movie that does have plenty of light and funny moments is The Cabin In The Woods, which has become quite a popular movie after its release, as many horrors do. The movie has huge moments of pure horror, with gore and jump scares all being packed into one.
However, with the college student aspect of things being brought in, the movie does playoff many teen movie stereotypes, including the comedic beats. There are so many funny moments in this film that it is secretly very funny to watch, as long as you’re equally prepared to be scared.
IT
No matter which version of IT you want to look at, whether it be the two original movies or the two latest films, they are all full of funny moments. The first half of this story tends to be the funniest, mainly because it focuses on the children who have infectious energy.
The children busting out different jokes and winding each other up provides some hilarious moments from the movies, particularly in the most recent version. However, Pennywise also provides some funny moments in the movies, especially with his witty one-liners when he is trying to freak out his victims.
Killer Klowns From Outer Space
From one clown to a whole bunch of them. Killer Klowns From Outer Space may not be as well known as IT, mainly because this is seen as a ‘B-movie,’ however that doesn’t mean they aren’t as scary. This movie is totally insane, yet in the best way possible and it certainly blends humor into the equation.
The clowns in this film are complete monsters and really can create some scary moments within the film. However, at the same time, they’re silly and bonkers, turning their victims into cotton candy and because it isn’t too serious, it does allow for several moments of comedy throughout.
Gremlins
Gremlins is another movie that certainly leans on the wacky side of things, and while it can be utterly terrifying at times, especially for young audiences, that doesn’t mean it’s not funny. After all, this is a PG movie and therefore it is never going to be too horrific.
The creatures themselves have the perfect blend of being able to be scary, cute and funny at the same time. Not many movies or characters can get away with that, but Gremlins certainly does, which is why the movie is secretly very funny.
Shaun Of The Dead
Shaun of the Dead is a perfect movie to introduce someone to the world of horror if they are a little hesitant. This is Simon Pegg and Nick Frost at their absolute best, with the movie being littered with moments that will have you in tears of laughter.
Even though the movie is very funny and does have a lot of comedic elements, it certainly doesn’t shy away from being scary at the same time. After all, this is essentially a zombie apocalypse film, and while it only looks at it from one small group, it does an amazing job doing that.
American Werewolf In London
American Werewolf In London really did start to change things for the horror genre, starting to bridge the gap between the scariest genre of movies and the funniest. Horror comedies have become increasingly more popular, and a lot of that is down to this.
However, this classic does it perfectly and doesn’t rely upon the comedy too much. There are plenty of moments, mainly in the human points of the film where this is a tremendously funny movie. However, it’s balanced by sheer terror when the werewolf comes out and that’s why this is such a classic.
Happy Death Day
Happy Death Day is a very recent slasher movie that is littered with comedic moments that provides a fun watch, but also some huge scares. Because the movie has some hilarious moments, it allows for some amazing jump scares at the same time.
There are some truly funny parts to this film, especially with the repetitive nature of it. With Tree Glebman having the same issue of reliving her birthday on a looped repeat, it allows for some comedic moments where she mocks the situation or what is happening, all while remaining scary.
Krampus
If you’re going to create a Christmas horror movie, blending some form of comedy into it is probably the right decision. Given the time of year and the fact most people watching the film don’t want to be completely terrified, Krampus made the smart decision of blending in some humor.
The movie brings out the anti-Claus who certainly provides plenty of terrifying moments throughout the movie. However, that is nicely balanced with some funny moments from characters such as the teddy bear or the gingerbread men, who are just too silly to take seriously.
A Nightmare On Elm Street
When it comes to comedy within horror movies, A Nightmare On Elm Street really does take the top spot. You wouldn’t think a well-known franchise like this would be secretly hilarious, as when you think about horror movies this often comes to mind.
However, all of the movies are very funny and have built up a reputation for that. A character as scary to look at as Freddy Krueger might not seem like the funny type, but he is constantly busting out amazing jokes, even when he is halfway through killing someone. Krueger has you petrified one moment, but laughing the next, it truly is a secret comedy film at times.
