SiftPop

Every week at SiftPop.com, we challenge our writers to choose what they think is the best movie under a certain topic related to a recent release. So this week, with the release of Strays, we’re counting down our favorite raunchy comedies with one-word titles! Let us know @SiftPop what your ranking is!

Easily one of the most quoted pieces of media throughout my teen years — well let’s be honest, even in my adult years — has to be 2001’s classic hit, “Relax” by Frankie Goes to Hollywood. Sorry, I mean, Zoolander. Even the stuffiest of persons would be hard pressed to not burst out in laughter at least a few times as they follow a bafflingly out-of-touch Derek Zoolander (Ben Stiller), as he must reckon not only with the sun setting on his career, but his unknowing role in a plot to assassinate the Malaysian Prime Minister. All the while, he is manipulated and hounded by the unhinged Mugatu, perfectly played by Will Ferrel, as well as Milla Jovovich’s Katinka, taking on an enforcer gig in her downtime between saving the universe and fighting zombies. Watching Derek’s growth as he turns foes into friends while he makes his way from self-wedgie-giving failure to a magnum, ambiturning hero is sure to make anybody’s night. (Matt Lawson)

You’ve got about the same chance of having a ladybug land on you, while finding a four-leafed clover, under a rainbow, on February 29th as directing a movie that’s both financially successful and a pop culture classic your first time out. Who would have thought Harold Ramis, with the help of co-writer Brian Doyle Murray, would do just that when they teamed up on Caddyshack? It’s been described as Animal House on a golf course, and I have to agree. Basically, if you swap the college for a country club, the dean for an uptight judge (Ted Knight), John Belushi for Bill Murray, and the frat boys for outcast caddies and gaudy golfers, you’ve got one of the most raunchy, quotable, and offbeat comedies of all time. Chevy Chase leads a cast of gifted comedic performers in what seems like a social experiment in how to break down classism in a private country club full of stuffy snobs and old money elitists. It’s wacky, raucous, endlessly quotable, and a ridiculous way to spend an hour and a half. Running the gamut of goofiness, from its Kenny Loggins anthem and a sadistic gopher, to the eccentric antics of a trust fund loafer and off the rails groundskeeper, it will leave you laughing… even if it does turn you off candy bars for a bit. (Patrice Downing)

Amidst the beginning of the Twilight saga, and a decade before she would be Oscar-nominated for Spencer, Kristen Stewart was great in a raunch-com: Adventureland. From Greg Mottola, the director of Superbad, Adventureland brings some of the same laughs, and a lot of the heart. This film released at an interesting time in the careers of its main stars. Twilight hadn’t fully taken off yet for Stewart, Jesse Eisenberg would go on to star in The Social Network the following year, and Ryan Reynolds, while still famous, wasn’t a ubiquitous presence the way he is now. Add on Bill Hader, Kristen Wiig, and Martin Starr in supporting roles, and you’re in for a good, funny time. (Robert Bouffard)

Would you believe me if I said Community’s snarky lead man, Jeff Winger (Joel McHale), was named for a similar character Bill Murray played in the early ’80’s? It’s true, according to show creator Dan Harmon, and there’s good reasoning for that. 1984’s Stripes is only Murray’s second time out as leading man following his standout performance in Meatballs, but even then, his future trajectory as one of Hollywood’s most sought-after comedic leads was obvious.  Partnered with future Ghostbusters co-star Harold Ramis, the two join the army to get away from the day-to-day grind of their mundane lives, and unsurprisingly, hilarity ensues. The raunchy group of rejects are led by the no-nonsense Drill Sergeant Hulka (Warren Oates), and include baby faced Bill Paxton and Judge Reinhold, along with the legendary John Candy.  After Hulka succumbs to an injury at the hands of his commanding officer (John Larroquette), the platoon miraculously comes together to graduate boot camp and get assigned to protect a fancy “new” piece of government tech. Of course, at the first opportunity, Winger and Ziskey (Ramis) throw caution to the wind and basically steal government tech for the chance at hotel sex in a warring nation. With all the tropes that would come to represent the 80’s, this flick is packed with bawdy language, booze, babes, buffoonery, and bikinis (both women’s and Murray’s mesh briefs). (Patrice Downing)

I enjoy rom-coms, and I enjoy raunch-coms. So when you have a rom-com that is also a raunch-com, I’m on board. That’s what we have with Bros. Starring Billy Eichner as a character who is marginally quieter than he normally is, Bros is emotionally honest to its core, and is about what it’s like living as a gay person in the modern world. It’s historically significant, in that it was one of the first rom-coms of its kind to get a major release, but it doesn’t flaunt that fact. Instead, it lets its humor and its earnestness take charge. (Robert Bouffard)

What is the film that finally grabbed people’s attention and made them realize women could be just as funny and raunchy as men? Bridesmaids. Paul Feig’s directorial effort brings the comedy and humor of Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo’s screenplay to life in such a satisfying way. We get to see a stacked cast of talented female comedians on display, with Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Rose Byrne, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Ellie Kemper, and of course Melissa McCarthy. There was an Oscar nomination for McCarthy in this film… let that sink in. Comedic performances don’t sell well at the Academy Awards, but her performance was so impactful that it made the splash. We have bad language, drunk antics, and an unfortunate battle with food poisoning. Everything you want out of the raunchiest of comedies. This is a hilarious and moving film about friendship so these ladies can deliver both laughs and drama. There are many films that have tried to capture the magic of this one, but just failed miserably. But at least we still have Bridesmaids. (Shane Conto)

After footage got “leaked” by “an unknown person,” definitely not anyone involved with the film, who was trying to force the Fox studio to green light it in 2014, Ryan Reynolds got his chance for redemption. And deliver he (and others around him) did, where most fans have forgiven what the studio did to Deadpool back in 2009’s X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Deadpool crushes all the fourth walls (sometimes, he even crushes 16 walls!) while delivering fun action, quippy dialogue, and, most importantly, gave Reynolds his second career reboot, which he utilized by… playing “Ryan Reynolds” type in every movie since then. But hey, if it ain’t broke… And I won’t lie, I still find him charming and funny, despite most of his roles being him mixed with Wade, which is the reason he’s always been the perfect choice for this role, when you, you know, don’t sew his mouth shut. Deadpool came at the right time, too, when most comic book movies were too serious, and we were not overwhelmed by how many we get each year. There was a sliver of time when this movie should have been made, and they seemed to nail it alongside everything else (like casting, direction and the screenplay). Speaking of casting, I need to shout out Morena Baccarin for grounding this movie (and giving us one hell of a Valentine scene. That is just one of many scenes that makes Deadpool a film you will not forget any time soon. (Luke Burian)

Superbad is a 2007 comedy written by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg that became an instant classic. With now-iconic jokes and performances, and an outstanding cast, it’s easy to see why. The film tells the story of Seth (Jonah Hill) and Evan (Michael Cera) as they set out to get alcohol for the party Jules (Emma Stone) is throwing. With the help of Fogell (Christopher Mintz-Plasse), they hope to get the drinks for the party and be seen as cool. Along the way, the three guys encounter one crazy night that will be remembered. The cast is incredibly stacked with the likes of Bill Hader, Rogen, Joe Lo Truglio, Kevin Corrigan, Dave Franco, and so many other comedic actors who make this movie truly that much better. Rogen and Goldberg penned this script at 13 just to prove they could.  This film brings so many young stars to the forefront that they are now A-List stars and household names. Superbad is a slice of life movie in a way, as it’s one night in high school that captures what it’s like to be someone the cool people don’t notice. (Austen Terry)

When I think of modern coming-of-age comedies, the first one I think of is Booksmart. Olivia Wilde, pre-drama from Don’t Worry Darling, made a stellar directorial debut about two high school students, Amy (Kaitlyn Dever) and Molly (Beanie Feldstein), who try to cram four years of partying and fun into one epic night. It’s a familiar plot, but what makes Booksmart stand out is its two female leads who push back on the enormous pressure of high school life. The message of nobody being a stereotype is poignant and well-crafted. Booksmart is also exceedingly funny, with smart jokes and amazing timing from all performers, and will tug at your heart. (Mike Hilty)

By sheer coincidence, I watched Election for the first time a couple weeks ago. All that I knew going in was that Reese Witherspoon and Matthew Broderick were in it, and that it centered around a high school election, so I must say that I was rather surprised at its raunchy. The first few minutes seem normal enough, but then we get an unfortunately timed mid-sentence freeze frame on Witherspoon’s face as we learn of an improper relationship that she had with a former teacher. From there on out, writer/director Alexander Payne maintains this darkly comedic tone to excellent effect, resulting in a lot of laughs. Witherspoon and Broderick are both great and have wonderful anti-chemistry, really selling the disdain their two characters feel for one another. It may not make it into the highest tier of the pantheon of cinematic rivalries, but watching the two bicker and fight makes for a great two hours of entertainment. (Jake Hjort)

Ted

Have you ever made a wish and hoped for it to come true? I have, but those wishes never came to fruition. In 2012’s Ted, a childhood wish came true for John Bennett (Mark Wahlberg), as his teddy bear named Ted (voiced by Seth MacFarlane) comes to life. But hilarity and complications ensue as Ted comes between John and his girlfriend Lori’s (Mila Kunis) relationship. The story is codependency at its best. John and Ted depend on one another so much that John makes up outrageous stories to get out of work and get high with his favorite teddy bear. Lori gives John a request that he must choose between her and Ted, which isn’t easy for John. But John does realize he has to grow up. The film, which isn’t for kids, was nominated for Best Original Song, “Everybody Needs A Best Friend,” which I know every word of. We have hilarious performances from the cast, including Joel McHale, Giovanni Ribisi, and Patrick Stewart as the narrator, and a surprising cameo from Mr. Flash Gordon, Sam J. Jones. The film packs crude jokes, wild antics, and a scene dealing with defecation. After 10 years, Ted is still raunchy yet funny, and is a classic in its own right. (Chantal Ashford)

Blockers

Blockers feels like the rare type of ranch-com that doesn’t come out anymore. Released in the young year of 2018, we somehow got an original premise, and one that feels like it couldn’t have come out at any other period in history. It is not often a comedy deals with coming of age from a parents’ perspective in such a way. Maybe a joke here or there, but this film goes places. John Cena, Leslie Mann, and Ike Barinholtz play parents to Geraldine Viswanathan, Kathryn Newton, and Gideon Adlon, respectively. The girls make an American Pie-esquepact that they will lose their virginity on prom night. The twist here being the parents grow wise to it and set out to ruin their night. This film leans into the over-the-top premise, and doesn’t shy away from how weird it is. Sticking to knowing what kind of movie it is makes it one of the very best raunchy comedies. The adults are just as raunchy as their children, and sometimes, grossly together. But it’s also somewhat refreshing. Along with the comedy, there is heart, and it asks, what does it mean to let go? (Scott Batchelor)

Neighbors

Remember when Zac Efron was the wholesome and adorable little movie star? Then remember how he started doing comedies and romantic movies, and became even more of a heartthrob? Neighbors was the peak of the Efron hype train. The man was raunchy, cut from granite, and often downright hilarious when paired up against legends like Seth Rogan and Rose Byrne, the new parents who have Efron’s fraternity move in next door to them. What a great time at the movies! If you want to turn off your brain and just enjoy a funny movie, turn this one on! (Samuel Nichols)

Accepted

There are countless raunchy comedies of widely varying quality about the quintessential college experience, so it’s refreshing to see a movie like Accepted turn the concept on its head and highlight the outcasts and misfits who couldn’t get into college, but still have something unique to offer. Justin Long delivers his most charming and hilarious performance ever as Bartleby Gaines, an underachiever who inadvertently becomes an overachieving conman when the college he conjures up to get his parents off his back snowballs into reality. What starts as a fake acceptance letter and website quickly escalates into establishing a campus, as Bartleby discovers he is far from alone in his literal and metaphorical struggles to find acceptance. The movie excels in lampooning the college experience by contrasting Bartleby with Jonah Hill, as his best friend Sherman Schrader, who gets into his college of choice and rushes a fraternity as a legacy, but routinely finds the experience a hollow shell of expectations. Through this lens, the fraternity lifestyle is presented as one to be jeered rather than revered. Blake Lively plays romantic interest Monica Moreland, and is presented as a true love interest with a character arc, not just a conquest for the main character. Accepted is consistently absurd, but always genuine in its message, as it successfully sends up both the collegiate institution and the prototypical collegiate comedy. A delightful cast of familiar faces in oddball roles, combined with an original concept, make this highly quotable comedy a hidden gem of the raunchy genre. (Jason Mack)

Click

In between the comedies that made him one of Hollywood’s biggest stars and his newer “vacation with friends” films, Click was something a little different than Adam Sandler’s other comedies. Sandler plays a workaholic dad, gung-ho for a promotion, who finds a magical remote that allows him to pause, fast forward, and slo-mo everyday life. The comedy does offer the brand of raunch comedy that audiences came to expect from one of the more consistent comedic forces of the mid-‘90s to the mid-‘00s. Sandler’s first instinct upon getting this magical item is what you’d expect from his childish comedic persona. However, there’s more of an attempt at emotion here than most of his comedic projects before or since. (Jake Bourgeois)

Also See: Vacation, Trainwreck, Tag, Paul, Sisters