The 20 Smartest Comedy Movies Ever Made

Comedy and smart are not always synonymous, but humor can address deeper issues or offer an abstract way of viewing the world. This list celebrates comedies that make you think while making you laugh, spanning different eras and featuring acclaimed directors and actors.

Trading Places, starring Eddie Murphy, Dan Aykroyd and Jamie Lee Curtis, flips the lives of an upper-class broker and a poverty-stricken man to critique class, discrimination and the corrupting influence of money. The Other Guys pairs Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg as desk-bound detectives, cleverly deconstructing cop-movie clichés by killing off the 'cool' cops to focus on a less glamorous duo.

Back to the Future treats the consequences of altering the past seriously, using time travel to show how small decisions shape our futures. Road and romantic comedies also make the list: Due Date pairs Robert Downey Jr.

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