Get ready to laugh out loud as we present the "Top 9 Best Robert De Niro Comedy Movies"! Join us as we explore De Niro's comedic genius, showcasing his hilarious performances and unforgettable moments on the big screen. From classic comedies to hidden gems, get ready for a side-splitting journey through De Niro's lighter side. Enjoy the wit, humor, and impeccable timing of one of Hollywood's greatest talents!
9. We're No Angels (1989)
Image: Paramount Pictures
Sean Penn and Robert De Niro both take part in the 1989 comedy. In the classic 1950s film remake We're No Angels, the talented couple plays two escaped criminals who use a priestly disguise to cross the border into Canada and take refuge in a monastery to avoid capture.
When a disturbed serial killer unintentionally draws Ned (De Niro) and Jim (Penn) into a prison escape, they attempt to find their way out. As they maintain their priest guise in Canada, Ned falls for a beautiful local girl (Demi Moore). Although the movie stars some hilarious performances, it impacts viewers differently than the original picture.
8. Brazil (1985)
Image: Universal Pictures
In the 1985 dystopian dark comedy Brazil, De Niro plays a wanted terrorist and outlaw heating engineer. The film tells the story of a perpetually daydreaming man (Jonathan Pryce) who pursues the woman of his dreams while becoming involved in a dangerous government plot. The satirical fantasy is directed by Terry Gilliam, who takes inspiration from George Orwell's acclaimed sci-fi dystopian masterpiece Nineteen Eighty-Four while making fun of subjects like state capitalism and excessive surveillance. De Niro expertly displays his comedic skills as a straight man in an exciting and absurd world, greatly enhancing the satire's enjoyment.
7. Mad Dog and Glory (1993)
Image: Universal Pictures
The 1993 crime dramedy Mad Dog and Glory stars a stellar cast led by De Niro, Uma Thurman, and Bill Murray. It centers on shy crime scene photographer Wayne "Mad Dog" Dobie, who, in exchange for saving the life of notorious mob boss Frank Milo (Murray), is given a week's worth of company from a stunning waitress. However, things get much more complicated when the two fall in love, and Milo demands what is "his."
For De Niro, who typically plays strong and feared characters, playing a mild-mannered man being pursued by the mob was a welcome change of pace. The great satisfaction of Mad Dog and Glory, according to The New York Times, is seeing Mr. De Niro and Mr. Murray plays against type with such energizing ease.
6. Greetings (1968)
Image: Sigma III
In his first significant film role, De Niro plays a budding director with peeping tom tendencies in the 1968 black comedy Greetings. The film tells three interconnected stories about a group of New York friends and satirizes hot-button issues of the day, like free love and the Vietnam War. The movie, directed by Brian De Palma, premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival and won the coveted Silver Bear award and critical acclaim. It also represents the beginning of a string of collaborations between De Palma and De Niro, who would later team up on films like The Untouchables and the well-received Greetings sequel Hi, Mom!
5 Analyze This (1999)
Image: Warner Bros.
In the mafia comedy Analyze This from 1999, notorious gangster Paul Vitti seeks the assistance of a worn-out psychiatrist when he begins to experience panic attacks due to a botched assassination attempt. The legendary comedian Billy Crystal plays the reluctant doctor tasked with "fixing" De Niro's Vitti's deep-seated issues in the Harold Ramis hit, a critical and financial success that made over $176 million.
The Chicago-Sun Times praised the movie and noted that it was "funny partly because De Niro and Crystal do what we expect them to do, and partly because they don't," highlighting the undeniable chemistry between the two actors. The success of Analyze This inspired the 2002 follow-up Analyze That.
4 Meet the Parents (2000)
Image: Universal Pictures
The comedy duel between Ben Stiller and Robert De Niro in the 2000 blockbuster hit Meet the Parents features the legendary actor playing a war veteran and retired CIA agent who strongly dislikes his daughter's new boyfriend and plans to propose with his approval.
After seeing the actor in action in Analyze This and The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle, director Jay Roach approached him to star in the comedy. De Niro's performance in the film was praised, and Stiller admitted that working with the Goodfellas actor was "a little bit intimidating" but that he "has a great sense of humor, and I think that's the biggest surprise about him."
3 Wag the Dog (1997)
Image: New Line Cinema
De Niro plays a shrewd Washington D.C. spin doctor in Barry Levinson's 1997 black comedy Wag the Dog, which received an Oscar nomination. With the help of a powerful Hollywood producer, he devises a scheme to cover the president's sex scandal by inventing a fictitious conflict. The political satire, which stars the actor alongside Dustin Hoffman and Anne Heche, gained notoriety and attention due to the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal that broke a month after the film's release.
Wag the Dog was listed as one of the best political films by The Washington Post, among other critics, and won the Special Jury Prize at the Berlin International Film Festival. Wag the Dog also appeared on many other top critics' lists.
2. The King of Comedy (1982)
Image: 20th Century Fox
In the satirical black comedy The King of Comedy from 1982, De Niro excelled as a delusional up-and-coming stand-up comic with big dreams. The plot follows Rupert Pupkin's character as he stalks and eventually kidnaps his favorite comedian, renowned late-night host Jerry Langford (Jerry Lewis). De Niro performs masterfully in the Martin Scorsese masterpiece King of Comedy, portraying the well-intentioned but mentally unstable Rupert. The actor spent months studying stand-up comedians to perfect his rhythm and delivery for the demanding role.
The King of Comedy has gained a cult following and a reputation as one of Scorsese's best movies despite its initial failure to garner attention. The director claimed that De Niro's portrayal of Rupert Pupkin was his favorite from their working together.
1. Midnight Run (1988)
Image: Universal Pictures
In the witty 1988 buddy cop comedy Midnight Run, starring Robert De Niro and Charles Grodin, the former plays skilled bounty hunter Jack Walsh, tasked with apprehending a mob accountant who is wanted by everyone from dangerous criminals to the FBI. Jack and the erratic Jonathan "The Duke" Mardukas navigate mobsters and law enforcement on their cross-country journey, leading to hilarious antics.
As a result of the success of Midnight Run, De Niro received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor. Roger Ebert wrote, "Whoever cast De Niro and Grodin must have had a sixth sense for the chemistry they would have; they work together so smoothly, and with such an evident sense of fun that even their silences are intriguing."
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