View source for Action comedy

{{Short description|Film and TV genre}} 
The '''action comedy''' is a film genre that applies to [[action films]] where humor plays a much more central role. While early films feature stuntwork and humor, academic Cynthia King wrote that the genre only came into its own as a mainstay of the American action film genre in the 1980s when actors who had backgrounds in comedy such as [[Eddie Murphy]] began taking roles in action films.{{sfn|King|2019|p=141}} The genre approaches various narratives and styles such as buddy films, superhero films, and [[Hong Kong action cinema]] featuring various actors such as [[Jackie Chan]].

Action comedy has also been a recurring theme in television, with series such as ''[[The Dukes of Hazzard]]'' (1979–1985) and ''[[Peacemaker (TV series)|Peacemaker]]'' (2022).{{fact|date=June 2025}}

==Film==
Academic [[Yvonne Tasker]] that most post-classical Hollywood [[action films]] are "more or less [[Action film#Hybrid genres|hybrids]]."{{sfn|Tasker|2004|p=4}} Action films are set across multiple settings and spaces with no single defining landscape and can become complicated in categorization which is sometimes acknowledged through hybridized designators such as action comedy.{{sfn|Holmlund|Purse|Tasker|2024|p=2}}

===Characteristics===
[[File:Eddie-murphy-1984.jpg|thumb|200px|Academic Cynthia King said that the action comedy film only came into its own as a mainstay of the American action film genre in the 1980s when actors who had backgrounds in comedy such as [[Eddie Murphy]] (pictured) began taking roles in action films.{{sfn|King|2019|p=141}}]]
Cynthia King referred to action comedy films as typically being reserved for action films where humor plays a much more central role.{{sfn|King|2019|p=140}} These films take on several other formats such as [[buddy films]] involving mismatched partners such as the [[Lethal Weapon (franchise)|''Lethal Weapon'']] (1987-1998) and [[Rush Hour (franchise)|''Rush Hour'']]  (1998-2006) film series, [[Hong Kong action cinema]] through work of actors like [[Jackie Chan]] and many others, and more comedic [[superhero films]] such as ''[[Mystery Men]]'' (1999), ''[[Hancock (film)|Hancock]]'' (2008) and ''[[The Green Hornet (2011 film)|The Green Hornet]]'' (2011).{{sfn|King|2019|p=140-141}}

Elements of action comedy films existed in early cinema work such as the chase sequences in pre-1915 films such as ''[[The Lonedale Operator]]'' (1911) provide editing patterns of later action films such as ''[[Wheels on Meals]]'' (1984).{{sfn|Barrowman|2019|p=19}} Later silent film comedy such as those featuring [[Charlie Chaplin]] and [[Buster Keaton]] such as ''[[Easy Street (1917 film)|Easy Street]]'' (1917) and ''[[The General (1926 film)|The General]]'' (1926) featured chases, gags and stunts that would serve as inspirations for both comedic and non-comedic action set pieces in later action films.{{sfn|Barrowman|2019|pp=19-20}} These films include Chaplin and Keaton using physical materials on stage, either weapons or props, to for cause and effect to add force on bodily actions.{{sfn|Barrowman|2019|p=20}} 

King wrote that despite a large cinematic history of humor and peril, the action comedy film only "came into its own" as part of American action film genre in the early 1980s. In spite of the rich theatrical history of humor and peril, action comedy only came into its own as a mainstay of the American action film genre in the 1980s. King highlighted that this happened when actors who had backgrounds in comedy such as [[Eddie Murphy]] began taking roles in action films.{{sfn|King|2019|p=141}}

In his book, ''Lights, Camera, Action: Crafting an Action Script'' (2005), Gregory Sarno said that the action comedy film that not all films that contain conflict and humor were action comedies saying that films that action-laden subplots such as ''[[Big Momma's House]]'' (2000) or ''[[Dumb & Dumber]]'' (1994) were more straight comedies as the action lacked an integral roll in the films narrative.{{sfn|Sarno|2005|p=3}} King echoed this stating that films are better categorized as straight comedy such as ''[[Night at the Museum]]'' (2006) or ''[[Loaded Weapon 1]]'' (1993) as most of the action was framed comically with no serious violence or peril and similarly, action films that contain sardonic one-liners such as "[[Go ahead, make my day]]" from ''[[Sudden Impact]]'' (1983) are not action comedies.{{sfn|King|2019|p=142}}

Mark Gallagher, in ''Action Figures: Men, Action Films and Contemporary Adventure Narratives'' (2006) action comedies often feature a [[fish out of water]] theme such as Murphy's character clashing with upper-class white communities and conventional police procedures in the ''[[Beverly Hills Cop (franchise)|Beverly Hills Cop]]'' film series.{{sfn|Gallagher|2006|p=163}}

===List of films===
{| class="wikitable sortable" border="1" <!-- width="100%" -->
|+ List of action comedy films
|-
! scope="col" | Film
! scope="col" | Year
! scope="col" class="unsortable" style=white-space:nowrap | {{Ref heading}}
|- 
| ''[[21 Jump Street (film)|21 Jump Street]]'' || 2012 || <ref name="rt" />
|-
| ''[[22 Jump Street]]'' || 2014 || <ref name="rt" />
|-
| ''[[48 Hrs.]]'' || 1982 || <ref name="rt" />
|-
| ''[[American Made (film)|American Made]]'' || 2017 || <ref name="rt" />
|-
| ''[[Ant-Man (film)|Ant-Man]]'' || 2015 || <ref name="rt" />
|-
| ''[[Ant-Man and the Wasp]]'' || 2018 || <ref name="rt" />
|-
| ''[[Attack the Block]]'' || 2011 || <ref name="cosmopolitan" />
|-
| ''[[Bad Boys (1995 film)|Bad Boys]]'' || 1995 || <ref name="menshealth" />
|-
| ''[[Bad Boys for Life]]'' || 2020 || <ref name="rt" />
|-
| ''[[Big Trouble in Little China]]'' || 1986 || <ref name="rt" />
|-
| ''[[Beverly Hills Cop]]'' || 1984 || <ref name="rt" />
|-
| ''[[Birds of Prey (2020 film)|Birds of Prey]]'' || 2020 || <ref name="rt" />
|-
| ''[[Black Dynamite]]'' || 2009 || <ref name="rt" />
|-
| ''{{sortname|The|Blues Brothers|dab=film}}'' || 1980 || <ref name="rt" />
|-
| ''{{sortname|The|Cabin in the Woods}} '' || 2011 || <ref name="cosmopolitan" />
|-
| ''[[D.E.B.S. (2004 film)|D.E.B.S.]]'' || 2004 || <ref name="cosmopolitan" />
|-
| ''[[Deadpool (film)|Deadpool]]'' || 2016 || <ref name="rt" />
|-
| ''[[Deadpool 2]]'' || 2018 || <ref name="rt" />
|-
| ''[[Deadpool & Wolverine]]'' || 2024 || <ref>{{Cite web |title=Deadpool & Wolverine {{!}} Rotten Tomatoes |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/deadpool_and_wolverine |access-date=2025-01-04 |website=www.rottentomatoes.com |language=en}}</ref>
|-
| ''[[Drive-Away Dolls]]'' || 2024 || <ref name="cosmopolitan" />
|-
| ''[[Drunken Master II]]'' || 1994 || <ref name="rt" />
|-
| ''[[Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves]]'' || 2023 || <ref name="cosmopolitan" />
|-
| ''[[Everything Everywhere All at Once]]'' || 2022 || <ref name="cosmopolitan" />
|-
| ''{{sortname|The|Fall Guy|dab=2024 film}}'' || 2024 || <ref name="cosmopolitan" />
|-
| ''[[Free Guy]]'' || 2021 || <ref name="rt" />
|-
| ''[[Galaxy Quest]]'' || 1999 || <ref name="cosmopolitan" />
|-
| ''[[Game Night (film)|Game Night]]'' || 2018 || <ref name="rt" />
|-
| ''[[Get Smart (film)|Get Smart]]'' || 2008 || <ref name="menshealth" />
|-
| ''{{sortname|The|General|dab=1926 film}}'' || 1926 || <ref name="rt" />
|-
| ''{{sortname|The|Gentlemen|dab=2019 film}}'' || 2019 || <ref name="rt" />
|-
| ''[[Ghostbusters]]'' || 1984 || <ref name="cosmopolitan" />
|-
| ''[[Guardians of the Galaxy (film)|Guardians of the Galaxy]]'' || 2014 || <ref name="rt" />
|-
| ''[[Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2]]'' || 2017 || <ref name="rt" />
|-
| ''{{sortname|The|Heat|dab=film}}'' || 2013 || <ref name="menshealth" />
|-
| ''[[Hit Man (2023 film)|Hit Man]]'' || 2023 || <ref name="cosmopolitan" />
|-
| ''[[Hot Fuzz]]'' || 2007 || <ref name="rt" />
|-
| ''[[If Looks Could Kill (film)|If Looks Could Kill]]'' || 1991 || <ref>{{cite news|last=Baldwin|first=Daniel|date=July 29, 2016|title=From Grieco With Love: Remembering 'If Looks Could Kill'|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/danielbaldwin/2016/07/29/from-grieco-with-love-remembering-if-looks-could-kill/|url-status=live|work=[[Forbes]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231227035018/https://www.forbes.com/sites/danielbaldwin/2016/07/29/from-grieco-with-love-remembering-if-looks-could-kill/|archive-date=December 27, 2023|access-date=December 29, 2023}}</ref>
|-
| ''{{sortname|The|Interview}}'' || 2014 || <ref name="menshealth" />
|-
| ''[[Johnny English]]'' || 2003 || <ref name="menshealth" />
|-
| ''[[Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle]]'' || 2017 || <ref name="menshealth" />
|-
| ''[[Keanu (film)|Keanu]]'' || 2016 || <ref name="rt" />
|-
| ''[[Kick-Ass (film)|Kick-Ass]]'' || 2010 || <ref name="rt" />
|-
| ''[[Kingsman: The Secret Service]]'' || 2014 || <ref name="rt" />
|-
| ''[[Kiss Kiss Bang Bang]]'' || 2005 || <ref name="rt" />
|-
| ''[[Kung Fu Hustle]]'' || 2004 || <ref name="rt" />
|-
| ''[[Lethal Weapon]]'' || 1987 || <ref name="rt" />
|-
| ''[[Lethal Weapon 2]]'' || 1989 || <ref name="rt" />
|-
| ''[[Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels]]'' || 1998 || <ref name="rt" />
|-
| ''[[Logan Lucky]]'' || 2007 || <ref name="cosmopolitan" />
|-
| ''{{sortname|The|Man from U.N.C.L.E.|dab=film}}'' || 2015 || <ref name="cosmopolitan" />
|-
| ''{{sortname|The|Mask|dab=1994 film}}'' || 1994 || <ref name="cosmopolitan" />
|-
| ''[[Men in Black (1997 film)|Men in Black]]'' || 1997 || <ref name="rt" />
|-
| ''[[Midnight Run]]'' || 1988 || <ref name="rt" />
|-
| ''[[Miss Congeniality (film)|Miss Congeniality]]'' || 2000 || <ref name="cosmopolitan" />
|-
| ''[[Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005 film)|Mr. & Mrs. Smith]]'' || 2005 || <ref name="cosmopolitan" />
|-
| ''{{sortname|The|Nice Guys}}'' || 2016 || <ref name="rt" />
|-
| ''[[Now You See Me 2]]'' || 2016 || <ref name="cosmopolitan" />
|-
| ''{{sortname|The|Other Guys}}'' || 2010 || <ref name="rt" />
|-
| ''{{sortname|The|Paper Tigers}}'' || 2020 || <ref name="rt" />
|-
| ''[[Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl]]'' || 2003 || <ref name="cosmopolitan" />
|-
| ''[[Polite Society (film)|Polite Society]]'' || 2023 || <ref name="cosmopolitan" />
|-
| ''{{sortname|The|Princess Bride|dab=film}}'' || 1987 || <ref name="cosmopolitan" />
|-
| ''[[Red (2010 film)|Red]]'' || 2010 || <ref name="rt" />
|-
| ''[[Ride Along (film)|Ride Along]]'' || 2014 || <ref name="menshealth" />
|-
| ''[[Romancing the Stone]]'' || 1984 || <ref name="rt" />
|-
| ''[[Rumble in the Bronx]]'' || 1995 || <ref name="rt" />
|-
| ''[[Scott Pilgrim vs. the World]]'' || 2010 || <ref name="rt" />
|-
| ''[[Shanghai Noon]]'' || 2000 || <ref name="rt" />
|-
| ''[[Shaolin Soccer]]'' || 2001 || <ref name="rt" />
|-
| ''[[Shaun of the Dead]]'' || 2004 || <ref name="menshealth" />
|-
| ''[[Shazam! (film)|Shazam!]]'' || 2019 || <ref name="rt" />
|-
| ''[[Sherlock Holmes (2009 film)|Sherlock Holmes]]'' || 2009 || <ref name="cosmopolitan" />
|-
| ''[[Shotgun Wedding (2022 film)|Shotgun Wedding]]'' || 2022 || <ref name="cosmopolitan" />
|-
| ''[[Something Wild (1986 film)|Something Wild]]'' || 1986 || <ref name="rt" />
|-
| ''[[Spy (2015 film)|Spy]]'' || 2015 || <ref name="rt" />
|-
| ''[[Spy Kids (film)|Spy Kids]]'' || 2001 || <ref name="cosmopolitan" />
|-
| ''{{sortname|The|Suicide Squad|dab=film}}'' || 2021 || <ref name="rt" />
|-
| ''[[Supercop]]'' || 1992 || <ref name="rt" />
|-
| ''[[Tag (2018 film)|Tag]]'' || 2018 || <ref name="cosmopolitan" />
|-
| ''[[Team America: World Police]]'' || 2004 || <ref name="rt" />
|-
| ''[[Thor: Ragnarok]]'' || 2017 || <ref name="rt" />
|-
| ''[[Three Kings (1999 film)|Three Kings]]'' || 1999 || <ref name="rt" />
|-
| ''[[Tropic Thunder]]'' || 2008 || <ref name="rt" />
|}

==TV series==
{| class="wikitable sortable" border="1" <!-- width="100%" -->
|+ List of action comedy TV series
|-
! scope="col" | TV series
! scope="col" | Year(s)
! scope="col" class="unsortable" style=white-space:nowrap | {{Ref heading}}
|- 
| ''{{sortname|The|A-Team}}''
| 1983–1987
| <ref name="beard">{{cite news |last1=Beard |first1=Matthew |title='A-Team' is viewers' most-wanted oldie for prime-time revival |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/ateam-is-viewers-mostwanted-oldie-for-primetime-revival-92658.html |access-date=December 15, 2022 |work=[[The Independent]] |date=October 23, 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221215220335/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/ateam-is-viewers-mostwanted-oldie-for-primetime-revival-92658.html |archive-date=December 15, 2022}}</ref>
|-
| ''[[Burn Notice]]''
| 2007–2013
| <ref>{{cite news | author=Staff | url=https://deadline.com/2010/03/action-comedy-tv-showrunner-matt-nix-23122/ | title=Action Comedy TV: Showrunner Matt Nix | work=[[Deadline Hollywood]] | date=March 14, 2010 | access-date=December 2, 2022 | archive-date=December 2, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221202191519/https://deadline.com/2010/03/action-comedy-tv-showrunner-matt-nix-23122/ | url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
| ''[[Chuck (TV series)|Chuck]]''
| 2007–2012
| <ref>{{cite book | last1=Proulx | first1=Mike | last2=Shepatin | first2=Stacey | year=2012 | title=Social TV: How Marketers Can Reach and Engage Audiences by Connecting Television to the Web, Social Media, and Mobile | publisher=Wiley | isbn=978-1-118-23965-0 }}</ref>
|-
|''[[Doom Patrol (TV series)|Doom Patrol]]''
| 2020–2022
| <ref>{{cite news | last=Butler | first=Karen | url=https://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/TV/2022/10/10/doom-patrol-hbo-max/6681665405020/ | title=Season 4 of 'Doom Patrol' to premiere on Dec. 8 | work=upi.com | publisher=[[UPI]] | date=October 10, 2022 | access-date=December 12, 2022 | archive-date=October 10, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221010135208/https://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/TV/2022/10/10/doom-patrol-hbo-max/6681665405020/ | url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
| ''{{sortname|The|Dukes of Hazzard}}''
| 1979–1985
| <ref name="perlmutter">{{cite book | last=Perlmutter | first=David | year=2018 | title=The Encyclopedia of American Animated Television Shows | publisher=[[Rowman & Littlefield]] | isbn=978-1-5381-0374-6 }}</ref>
|-
| ''[[Future Man (TV series)|Future Man]]''
| 2017–2020
| <ref name="hulu">{{cite web | url=https://www.hulu.com/hub/comedy-tv/collections/5466 | title=Action Comedy | work=hulu.com | publisher=[[Hulu]] | access-date=December 2, 2022 }}</ref>
|-
| ''[[Kidd Video]]''
| 1984–1985
| <ref name="perlmutter" />
|-
| ''[[Lethal Weapon (TV series)|Lethal Weapon]]''
| 2016–2019
| <ref name="hulu" />
|-
| ''[[Our Flag Means Death]]''
| 2022-2023
| <ref>{{cite news | last=Shachat | first=Sarah | url=https://www.indiewire.com/2022/03/our-flag-means-death-pirate-ship-revenge-1234705721/ | title=How 'Our Flag Means Death' Built a Realistic but Farcical Pirate Ship | work=[[IndieWire]] | date=March 12, 2022 | access-date=December 12, 2022 | archive-date=December 12, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221212142133/https://www.indiewire.com/2022/03/our-flag-means-death-pirate-ship-revenge-1234705721/ | url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
| ''[[Peacemaker (TV series)|Peacemaker]]''
| 2022
| <ref>{{cite news | last=Truitt | first=Brian | url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/tv/2022/01/13/peacemaker-hbo-max-superhero-show-brings-hair-metal-friends-vibe/9160893002/ | title=How HBO Max's 'Peacemaker' became a hair metal superhero spin on the ensemble comedy | work=[[USA Today]] | date=January 13, 2022 | access-date=December 12, 2022 | archive-date=December 11, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221211231546/https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/tv/2022/01/13/peacemaker-hbo-max-superhero-show-brings-hair-metal-friends-vibe/9160893002/ | url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
| ''[[Remington Steele]]''
| 1982–1987
| <ref>{{cite book | last=Taylor | first=Larry | year=2018 | chapter=Nomads | title=John McTiernan: The Rise and Fall of an Action Movie Icon | publisher=McFarland | isbn=978-1-4766-3233-9 | page=17 }}</ref>
|-
| ''[[Rush Hour (American TV series)|Rush Hour]]''
| 2016
| <ref>{{cite news | last=Swift | first=Andy | url=https://tvline.com/2014/09/30/rush-hour-tv-series-bill-lawrence/ | title=Rush Hour TV Series In the Works for CBS from Bill Lawrence, Brett Ratner | work=[[TVLine]] | date=September 30, 2014 | access-date=December 12, 2022 }}</ref>
|-
| ''[[Teenage Bounty Hunters]]''
| 2020
| <ref>{{cite news | last=Nemetz | first=Dave | url=https://tvline.com/2020/07/30/teenage-bounty-hunters-trailer-netflix/ | title=''Teenage Bounty Hunters'' Trailer: High School Girls Kick Ass After Class in Netflix's Edgy Action Comedy | work=[[TVLine]] | date=July 30, 2020 | access-date=December 12, 2022 | archive-date=July 30, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200730161215/https://tvline.com/2020/07/30/teenage-bounty-hunters-trailer-netflix/ | url-status=live }}</ref>
|}

==References==
{{Reflist|refs=
<ref name="cosmopolitan">{{cite magazine | last=Thomas | first=Leah Marilla | url=https://www.cosmopolitan.com/entertainment/movies/g60079761/funniest-action-movies/ | title=These 35 Comedy Action Movies Add 'Ha Has' To Your 'Pew Pews' | magazine=[[Cosmopolitan (magazine)|Cosmopolitan]] | date=July 30, 2024 | accessdate=December 13, 2024 | archive-date=August 14, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240814164431/https://www.cosmopolitan.com/entertainment/movies/g60079761/funniest-action-movies/ | url-status=live }}</ref>
<ref name="menshealth">{{cite magazine | last=Calderon | first=Jenna | url=https://www.menshealth.com/entertainment/g34183919/funny-action-movies/ | title=The Best Action Comedy Movies of All Time | magazine=[[Men's Health]] | date=September 28, 2020 | access-date=December 2, 2022 | archive-date=December 2, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221202201956/https://www.menshealth.com/entertainment/g34183919/funny-action-movies/ | url-status=live }}</ref>
<ref name="rt">{{cite news | last=Vo | first=Alex | url=https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/guide/action-comedies/ | title=The 50 Best Action-Comedy Movies, Ranked By Tomatometer | work=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] | publisher=[[Fandango Media]] | date=August 10, 2021 | access-date=December 2, 2022 | archive-date=February 18, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230218094254/https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/guide/action-comedies/ | url-status=live }}</ref>
}}

==Sources==
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite book|title=A Companion to the Action Film|chapter=Origins of the Action Film|year=2019|editor-last=Kendric|editor-first=James|last=Barrowman|first=Kyle|publisher=[[Wiley-Blackwell|Blackwell Publishing Ltd.]]|isbn=978-1119100492}}
* {{cite book|last=Gallagher|first=Mark|year=2006|title=Action Figures: Men, Action Films and Contemporary Adventure Narratives|publisher=[[Palgrave Macmillan]]|p=163|ISBN=1403970122}}
* {{cite book|title=Action Cinema Since 2000|editor-last1=Holmlund|editor-last2=Purse|editor-last3=Tasker|editor-first1=Chris|editor-first2=Lisa|editor-first3=Yvonne|isbn=9781839022784 |year=2024|last1=Holmlund|last2=Purse|last3=Tasker|first1=Chris|first2=Lisa|first3=Yvonne|chapter=Introduction: Action as Mode|publisher=[[Bloomsbury Publishing]]|author-link3=Yvonne Tasker}}
* {{cite book|title=A Companion to the Action Film|chapter=Comedy in Action|year=2019|editor-last=Kendric|editor-first=James|last=King|first=Cynthia M.|publisher=Blackwell Publishing Ltd.|isbn=978-1119100492}}
* {{cite book|last=Sarno|first=Gregory|year=2005|title=Lights, Camera, Action: Crafting an Action Script|publisher=Littlebear Productions|ISBN=978-0595360574}}
* {{cite book|title=Action and Adventure Cinema|editor-last1=Tasker |editor-first1=Yvonne|publisher=Routledge|year=2004|isbn=0-203-64515-4}}
{{refend}}

{{Film genres|state=collapsed}}
{{Comedy footer}}

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