Action Comedy is an interesting genre to explore because the movies are a lovely blend of two genres of movie that people love; action and comedy.
With action comedy movies you get to experience the rush of adrenaline that flows through your body while watching an action movie and at the same time you get enough laughter to crack your ribs.
Because we care about you at that Movie Site, we’ve put together a list of the 15 best action comedy movies you’ll love whether you’re old or young. Want to know what these action-packed comedy movies are? Then let’s get right into the review.
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Reviews of the Best Action Comedy Movies
1. Red (2010)
This best action comedy movie is centered on Frank Moses, a former black-ops CIA agent, who is now in the RED (Retired, Extremely Dangerous) status, lives alone in Cleveland.
Frank is romantically interested in Sarah Ross, a General Services Administration’s pension office in Kansas City and to get her attention, he tears up his pension checks and calls to say they haven’t arrived.
In an attempt to kill Frank, an assassination squad raids Franks’s house but he easily wipes all of them out. Sensing that his life is in danger, Frank flees Cleveland along with Sarah whom he kidnapped because her life is also threatened.
To find out who is trying to get rid of him, Frank reaches out to some of his old associates for help. Through his former CIA mentor, Joe Matheson, Frank discovers that the same hit squad that came after him also murdered a New York Times reporter.
From this point, it becomes quite messy as Frank will do everything within his power to stay alive.
The consensus about the movie on Rotten Tomatoes is that “Red thoroughly outshines most of its big-budget counterparts with its wit and style” Indeed, it is one of the best action comedy movies.
Movie Details
- Cast: Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman, John Malkovich, Helen Mirren
- Box Office: $199 million
- Genre: Action comedy film
Award(s)
Organization | Year | Award |
AARP Movies for Grownups Awards | 2011 | Breakthrough Achievement – Helen Mirren |
Alliance of Women Film Journalists | 2011 | Actress Defying Age and Ageism – Helen Mirren |
Casting Society of America, USA | 2011 | Outstanding Achievement in Casting – Big Budget Feature – ComedyDeborah Aquila (Casting Director)Tricia Wood (Casting Director)Craig Fincannon (Location Casting Director)Lisa Mae Fincannon (Location Casting Director)Robin D. Cook (Location Casting Director) |
2. Deadpool (2016)
Deadpool is one of the best action comedy movies and it tells the story of Wade Wilson, a mercenary who was dishonourably discharged from the special forces.
Wade is engaged to a young lady named Vanessa but when he discovers that he is terminally ill with cancer he disappears so that she will not have to watch him die. A while later, Wade is approached by a mysterious recruiter who offers him an experimental cure for his cancer.
Wade agrees and then he is taken to Ajax and Angel Dust who injects him with a serum designed to kickstart the curing process.
At the end of the day, the serum activates a superhuman healing ability that counteracts the cancer but leaves Wilson severely disfigured with burn-like scars over his entire body.
Angered by the results of the serum, Wade decides to hunt down Ajax for the cure to the reactions.
Michael O’Sullivan of The Washington Post describes Deadpool as a “voraciously self-aware comedy” and the first R-rated Marvel film “with real teeth.” Dead pool is action packed and an absolute delight to watch.
Movie Details
- Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Morena Baccarin, Ed Skrein, T.J. Miller
- Box Office: $782.6
- Genre: Superhero film
Award(s)
Organization | Year | Award |
Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA | 2017 | Best Actor – Ryan Reynolds |
Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards | 2016 | Best Comedy |
Empire Awards, UK | 2017 | Best Screenplay – Rhett Reese,Paul Wernick |
3. Rush Hour (1998)
This is unarguably one of the best action comedy movies of all time and it follows the story of Detective Inspector Lee of the Hong Kong Police Force.
It is Lee’s last day of British rule of Hong Kong in 1997 and he leads a raid at the wharf. He hopes to arrest the anonymous crime lord, Juntao but unfortunately, he finds only Sang, Juntao’s right-hand man, who also eventually escapes.
Lee also recovers some Chinese cultural treasures stolen by Juntao, which he presents as a farewell victory to his departing superiors, Chinese Consul, Solon Han and British Commander, Thomas Griffin.
He returns to Los Angeles but shortly after his daughter, Soo Yung is kidnapped by Sang.
Lee to assist in the case, but the FBI believes that his involvement could result in an international incident, pawn him off on the LAPD.
Upon his arrival in the US, Detective James Carter is made to “babysit” Lee as punishment for messing up a particular operation. At the end of the day, with both Lee and Carter teeming up, they rescue the young girl.
Joe Leydon of Variety describes Rush Hour as “a frankly formulaic but raucously entertaining action comedy.” The movie is available for cheap rentals on this movie site
Movie Details
- Cast: Jackie Chan, Chris Tucker, Tom Wilkinson, Tzi Ma
- Box Office: $244.4 million
- Genre: Action comedy film
Award(s)
Organization | Year | Award |
Blockbuster Entertainment Awards | 1999 | Favorite Duo – Action/AdventureJackie Chan, Chris Tucker |
MTV Movie + TV Awards | 1999 | Best On-Screen DuoJackie ChanChris Tucker |
ALMA Awards | 1999 | Outstanding Actress in a Feature FilmElizabeth Peña |
4. Jumanji; Welcome to the Jungle (2017)
Jumanji, an action comedy movie opens in 1996, in Brantford, New Hampshire where Alex Vreeke, a teenager, receives a board game called Jumanji from his father.
The game was discovered half-buried in sand at the coast. Alex sets the game aside as he is not interested. However, his interest is picked later at night when he finds out that the board game has transformed into a video game cartridge.
Alex decides to play the game and upon choosing a character, he is immediately sucked up into the world of the game and locked in there for several years.
Twenty years down the line, four Brantford High School students namely Martha Kaply, Bethany Walker, Spencer Gilpin, and athlete Anthony “Fridge” Johnson are sent to clean up the school’s basement for detention.
Fridge discovers Alex’s discarded video game system, which he and Spencer decide to play and encourage the girls to join them. Upon starting the game, they are also sucked into Jumanji, landing in a jungle as their chosen characters.
Realising that to make it out of the game alive they have to overcome certain challenges, all four of them decide to set their differences aside and they play to win.
Dave White of The Wrap praised the cast and described the movie as “a funny family entertainment product that subverts more expectations than it was obligated to contractually.” It is one funny action movie to watch out for.
Movie Details
- Cast: Alex Wolff, Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Madison Iseman
- Box Office: $962.1 million
- Genre: Fantasy adventure comedy film
Award(s)
Organization | Year | Award |
Kids’ Choice Awards, USA | 2018 | Favorite Movie |
Kids’ Choice Awards, USA | 2018 | Favorite Movie Actor- Dwayne Johnson |
Teen Choice Awards | 2018 | Choice Movie Actor: ComedyDwayne Johnson |
5. Beverly Hills Cop (1984)
Written by Daniel Petrie Jr. and directed by Martin this best action comedy movie is centered on a young and reckless Detroit Police Department named detective Axel Foley’s, played by Eddie Murphy.
Axel’s latest unauthorized sting operation goes sour when two uniformed officers intervene, resulting in a high-speed chase through the city which results in widespread damage.
Axel is reprimanded by his boss, Inspector Todd with threats to fire him if he refuses to turn a new leaf.
A while later, Axel receives an unexpected visitor at his apartment and it is no other person than Mikey Tandino.
Before that time, Mikey did some time in jail but after his release, he began to work as a security guard at Beverly Hills. Mikey shows Axel some German bearer bonds and the latter resists the urge to ask him how he got it.
That very night, after spending some time at a bar together, Mikey is murdered because of those very German bonds. Axel takes it upon himself to get to the root of Mikey’s murder and the movie unfolds before our very eyes.
Christopher Hitchens, the British novelist and poet Kingsley Amis considered the film “a flawless masterpiece”.
Even though the movie is focused on unravelling a murder case, it is a great action comedy movie as well. Beverly Hills Cops action packed and full of rib cracking moments.
Movie Details
- Cast: Eddie Murphy, Judge Reinhold, John Ashton, Lisa Eilbacher
- Box Office: $316.4 million
- Genre: Action comedy film
Award(s)
Organization | Year | Award |
Grammy Awards | 1986 | Best Album of Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or Television SpecialHarold Faltermeyer (composer) |
People’s Choice Awards, USA | 1985 | Favorite Motion Picture |
Stuntman Awards | 1985 | Best Vehicular Stunt (Feature Film)Eddy Donno |
6. 21 Jump Street (2012)
This best action comedy movie is centered on Morton Schmidt and Greg Jenko, who were high school mates and later became friends and partners in the Police Academy years later.
Schmidt and Jenko are assigned a case to work on and it involves infiltrating Sagan High School to contain the spread of a synthetic drug called HFS (“Holy Fucking Shit”) They are given new identities and enrolled as students in the school.
Schmidt gets intel on HFS from classmate Molly, which leads to him and Jenko meeting Eric, the school’s main dealer.
To maintain their cover, they both have to take the drug and they experience its effect themselves. From this point, the quest begins to discover who Eric’s supplier is.
The consensus about the movie on Rotten Tomatoes is “21 Jump Street offers rowdy mainstream comedy with a surprisingly satisfying bite.” 21 Jumpstreet is one of the best action comedies of all times and it is definitely worth watching.
Movie Details
- Cast: Jonah Hill, Channing Tatum, Brie Larson, Dave Franco
- Box Office: $201.6
- Genre: Buddy cop action comedy film
Award(s)
Organization | Year | Award |
BMI Film & TV Awards | 2012 | Film Music – Mark Mothersbaugh |
Golden Schmoes Awards | 2012 | Comedy of the Year |
MTV Movie + TV Awards | 2012 | Best Music For the song – “Party Rock Anthem” by LMFAO |
7. Kick-Ass (2010)
This superhero action comedy movie tells the story of Dave Lizewski, a teenager who lives in Staten Island New York. Dave is fascinated by comic books and dreams of becoming a real-life superhero.
To fulfil his dream, he buys and modifies a scuba diving suit, arms himself with a baton and takes to the streets to fight crime. His first outing doesn’t go as planned as he is stabbed and also hit by a car,
Dave recovers and gains the ability to endure pain due to having some of his bones replaced with metal. Along the line, he meets two vigilantes, Hit-Girl and her father big daddy who encourage him in his desire to fight crime.
Peter Bradshaw gave the film 5/5 stars and called it an “explosion in a bad taste factory” that is “thoroughly outrageous, jaw-droppingly violent and very funny. You can get Kick-Ass on this site at the best movie deal you can’t find elsewhere.
Movie Details
- Cast: Aaron Johnson, Mark Strong, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Chloë Grace Moretz
- Box Office: $96.2
- Genre: Superhero film
Award(s)
Organization | Year | Award |
Central Ohio Film Critics Association | 2011 | Breakthrough Film Artist – Chloë Grace Moretz |
Empire Awards, UK | 2011 | Best British Film |
Empire Awards, UK | 2011 | Best NewcomerChloë Grace Moretz |
8. The Hitman’s Bodyguard (2017)
Undoubtedly one of the best action comedy movies ever made, this movie is centred on Michael Bryce, played by Ryan Reynolds who is a UK based private bodyguard. Bryce is renowned at what he does until a client, Takashi Kurosawa is assassinated under his watch.
Two years later we see Bryce working as a private bodyguard for corporate executives who are also drug addicts in London.
On the other hand, Vladislav Dukhovich, a ruthless dictator in Belarus is on trial for crimes against humanity at the International Criminal Court.
The prosecution is unable to secure solid evidence or testimony against Dukovich hence they resort to reaching out to notorious incarcerated hitman Darius Kincaid (Jackson), who agrees to testify against Dukhovich.
However, Kincaid only agrees to testify if his wife Sonia is released from prison. Afterwards, an armed convoy led by Interpol Agent Roussel (Yung) escorts Kincaid to Hague. On the way, they are attacked by Dukhovich’s men but Kincaid survives the attack.
Having survived the attack, Agent Roussel takes Kincaid to an Interpol safehouse and employs the help of Bryce to escort and protect Kincaid on the way to The Hague. From this point, Bryce does everything within his power to get Kincaid to Hague without a scratch.
According to Peter Debruge of Variety, “The chemistry of stars Samuel L. Jackson and Ryan Reynolds—it makes for a delightfully ridiculous screwball action comedy.” f you want a good laugh, the Hitman’s Bodyguard is definitely one of the best action comedies of all time.
Movie Details
- Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Samuel L. Jackson, Gary Oldman, Salma Hayek
- Box Office: $180.6 million
- Genre: Action comedy
Award(s)
Organization | Year | Award |
Golden Trailer Awards | 2018 | Best Radio/Audio Spot – Lionsgate UKSeismic Productions |
9. Bad Boys for Life (2020)
Bad Boys for Life is a sequel to Bad Boys II (2003) and the third instalment in the Bad Boys trilogy. The movie follows the story of Isabel Aretas, the widow of cartel kingpin Benito who escapes from a Mexican prison with the aid of her son Armando.
Afterwards, Isabel sends Armando to Miami to recover a stash of money his father Benito had secured somewhere and also assassinate the people responsible for his father’s arrest and death in prison.
Isabel specifically orders that Armando kills Miami detective Mike Lowrey last.
Upon arriving Miami, Armando defies Isabella’s order and attacks Mike first but unfortunately, Mike doesn’t die. Upon recovery, Mike is bent on finding out who his attacker was and he eventually does.
Todd McCarthy of The Hollywood Reporter had this to say about the movie, “the third time really is the charm,…. the two directors roll with ease between raucous comedy and raw drama, to considerable effect, just as they crank up the tension on any number of occasions.”
Bad Boys for Life is indeed a worthy action comedy movie.
Movie Details
- Cast: Will Smith, Martin Lawrence, Paola Núñez, Vanessa Hudgens
- Box Office: $424.6 million
- Genre: Action comedy
Award(s)
None as of the time of writing this post
10. Shazam (2019)
Based on the DC Comics character, this best action comedy movie opens in 1974 with young Thaddeus Sivana riding in a car with his father and brother when he is suddenly transported to the Rock of Eternity, a magical temple in another realm.
In this realm, an ancient wizard Shazam has spent centuries searching for someone with a pure heart on whom to bestow his power on. Thaddeus is tempted by the Eye of Sin, through which he hears the voices of the Sins, trapped in stone statues, promising him power if he will free them.
Shazam deems Thaddeus unworthy and returns him to the car, where he makes a scene that leads to a car accident, crippling his father. The Sins send Thaddeus a message telling him to find them.
Fast forward to present-day Philadelphia, 14-year-old foster child, Billy Batson searches for his birth mother. He is placed in a group home run by Victor and Rosa Vasquez, with five other foster children.
Meanwhile, the embittered Sivana succeeds in his lifelong quest to find a way back to the Rock of Eternity. He steals the Eye of Sin, becomes the Sins’ vessel, beats the wizard, and uses his newfound power to kill his father, brother, and Sivana Industries’ board of directors.
At school, Billy defends Freddy from bullies and is chased into a subway, where he is transported to the Rock of Eternity.
The wizard chooses Billy to be his new champion. As a result, Billy has superhero strength that allows for super strength, speed, near-invulnerability, and electricity manipulation. Thaddeus discovers that Billy has superpowers and the battle for the powers begin.
Movie Details
- Cast: Asher Angel, Zachary Levi, Mark Strong, Jack Dylan Grazer
- Box Office: $366 million
- Genre: Superhero film
Award(s)
None as of the time of writing this post
11. The Other Guys (2010)
Directed by Adam McKay, this funny action comedy movie is centered on Allen Gamble and Terry Hoitz who are both detectives of the New York City Police Department (NYPD).
Allen is a forensic accountant while Terry is a detective and the both of them have a terrible reputation in the police force. Allen and Terry investigate a scaffolding permit violation by multi-billionaire Sir David Ershon but at the end of the day, they uncover a much bigger plot by Ershon to cover the losses incurred by his client Lendl Global.
On the other hand, Lendl CEO Pamela Boardman has hired a team of mercenaries led by Roger Wesley to make sure Ershon pays her back.
However, their investigation comes to a halt when Ershon’s attorney, Don Beaman, learns of Ershon’s plan to cover his losses, leading Wesley to kill him and make it look like a suicide.
Despite all the obstacles they face, Terry and Allen get to the bottom of the case.
The film was praised as “a highly entertaining movie filled with witty dialogue and over-the-top action.
Movie Details
- Cast: Will Ferrell, Mark Wahlberg, Eva Mendes, Mark Wahlberg
- Box Office: $170.9 million
- Genre: Buddy cop action comedy
Award(s)
Organization | Year | Award |
ASCAP Film and Television Music Awards | 2011 | Top Box Office Films |
Awards Circuit Community Awards | 2010 | Honorable Mentions |
IGN Summer Movie Awards | 2010 | Best Comedy |
12. Hot Fuzz (2007)
Hot Fuzz is one of the best fighting comedy movie and it tells the story of Nicholas Angel, a high-achieving officer of the London Metropolitan Police Service. He is promoted to Sergeant, but his jealous colleagues arrange for him to be reassigned to the small rural town of Sandford, Gloucestershire.
Angel is soon frustrated by his lazy and incompetent colleagues. While in Sandford, two lead actors of a poorly acted “homage to Romeo and Juliet”, are decapitated by a cloaked figure wielding an axe. The incident is disguised as a car crash but Angel suspects foul play.
Later on, while on assignment to resolve a dispute, Angel discovers a stash of illegal guns, including an old sea mine, and locks them in the police station.
That night, wealthy land developer George Merchant is killed in a gas explosion caused by another cloaked figure who fries bacon and beans at his stove. George’s body is launched out of a window by the explosion and lands on the road preceding his house.
Angel suspects that the killings are connected to a recent property deal and he begins investigations to unravel what exactly is going on.
The consensus about the movie on Rotten Tomatoes is “The brilliant minds behind Shaun of the Dead successfully take a shot at the buddy cop genre with Hot Fuzz. The result is a bitingly satiric and hugely entertaining parody.”
Movie Details
- Cast: Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Jim Broadbent, Paddy Considine
- Box Office: $80.7 million
- Genre: Action comedy film
Award(s)
Organization | Year | Award |
Empire Awards, UK | 2008 | Best Comedy |
National Movie Awards, UK | 2007 | Best Comedy |
13. Kingsman: The Secret Service (2014)
This best action comedy movie opens in the Middle East in 1997 where probationary secret agent Lee Unwin gives up his life to protect his superior, Harry Hart.
Hart blames himself and feels indebted to Lee. Upon his arrival in London, he visits Lee’s widow, Michelle, and her young son Gary “Eggsy” and he gives them a medal engraved with an emergency assistance number.
Seventeen years later, Eggsy drops out of training for the Royal Marines despite his intelligence and talent. One day, Eggsy is arrested for stealing a car and he decides to call the number engraved on the medal.
This phone call changes the trajectory of Eggsy’s life. Hart arranges Eggy’s release and explains that he is a member of Kingsman, a private intelligence service founded by British elites concerned with protecting the world; the organization is named for the tailor shop that clothes them.
Eggsy undergoes training to become an agent with Kingsmen and his life takes a turn for the better. On Rotten Tomatoes, the movie is described as “Stylish, subversive, and above all fun.”
Movie Details
- Cast: Colin Firth, Samuel L. Jackson, Mark Strong, Taron Egerton
- Box Office: $414.4 million
- Genre: Action spy comedy film
Award(s)
Organization | Year | Award |
ASCAP Film and Television Music Awards | 2015 | Top Box Office Films – Matthew Margeson, Henry Jackman |
Empire Awards, UK | 2015 | Best British Film |
Empire Awards, UK | 2015 | Best Male NewcomerTaron Egerton |
14. The Nice Guys (2016)
Directed by Shane Black and written by Black and Anthony Bagarozzi, this action comedy movie follows the story of Misty Mountains, a porn star who dies in a car crash. Determined to get to the root of her niece’s death, Misty’s aunt hires Holland March, a private investigator.
March begins his investigation and he finds out that Misty had an associate named Amelia Kuttner whom she worked with. Amelia discovers that March is on to her, so she hires Jackson Healy to scare him away.
Healy breaks into March’s house and leaves him with a broken arm. They learn that Amelia and her late boyfriend, Dean were working with Misty on an “experimental film” — combining pornography and investigative journalism however the film is missing.
March concludes that there is more than meets the eye and he decides that he will not stop until he cracks the case.
Richard Roeper of Chicago Sun-Times gave the movie 3 stars out 4 and wrote, “Forget about Kevin Hart and Ice Cube in Ride Along 2, or Zac Efron and Robert De Niro in Dirty Grandpa, or Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson in Zoolander 2. Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling are the funniest duos of the year so far in The Nice Guys.”
Movie Details
- Cast: Russell Crowe, Ryan Gosling, Angourie Rice, Matt Bomer
- Box Office: $62.8 million
- Genre: Action comedy film
Award(s)
Organization | Year | Award |
Golden Schmoes Awards | 2016 | Most Underrated Movie of the Year |
Golden Trailer Awards | 2017 | Most Original TrailerWarner Bros.Big Picture |
Golden Trailer Awards | 2017 | Best Comedy PosterWarner Bros.Concept Arts Studios |
15. Central Intelligence (2016)
This action comedy film opens in 1996 with star athlete Calvin Joyner being at his high school. Halfway through his speech, nude and obese Robbie Wheirdicht is thrown into the hall by some bullies led by Trevor Olson.
Joyner and his girlfriend, Maggie Johnson, are sympathetic towards Robbie and they try to cover him up. Twenty years later, in 2016, Joyner is married to Maggie and works as a forensic accountant but is unsatisfied with his career.
Joyner receives a friend request on Facebook from a man named Bob Stone, who invites Joyner to meet at a bar. Bob Stone turns out to be Robbie Wheirdicht. Joyner is amazed to see that Wheirdicht has transformed into a well built and confident man who is skilled in martial arts.
Stone asks Joyner to review some online transactions, and Joyner discovers a multimillion-dollar auction with bidders from radical countries, with the final bids to conclude the following day.
However, Joyner soon discovers that it is much more than just an ordinary transaction and that Robbie has the CIA on his back.
Keith Phipps of Uproxx gave the film a positive review, saying, “It all adds up to the sort of breezy, undemanding comedy that fits nicely into the summer months, and plays beautifully in endless cable repeats.” It is indeed one of the best action comedies of all time.
Movie Details
- Cast: Kevin Hart, Dwayne Johnson, Amy Ryan, Aaron Paul
- Box Office: $217 million
- Genre: Action comedy film
Award(s)
Organization | Year | Award |
Kids’ Choice Awards, USA | 2017 | BFFs (Best Friends Forever) – Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart |
Teen Choice Awards | 2016 | Choice Summer Movie Star: Male – Kevin Hart |
FAQS
There are several amazing action movies out there and it’s quite hard to draw up a comprehensive list of the best ones there are. However, some of the best action movies to watch are; Black Panther, Avenger: End game, Spider Man, Mission Impossible, Mad Max: Fury Road, Wonder Woman and King Kong.
Some of the best action comedy movies of the 2000s are; Hot Fuzz, The Incredibles, Central Intelligence, The Nice Guys, Shazam to mention a few.
There are some great comedy films and some of the best are; Bridesmaid, The Big Sick, Game Night, Legally Blonde, Bridget Jones Diary When Harry met Sally etc.
Yes, there are several adventure comedy films and some of them include; The Golden Child, Vacation, The Kings of Summer, Dolittle, A Walk in the Woods, Without a Paddle and many more.
Of course, there are funny action movies on Netflix, all you have to do is search for them.
Conclusion of the Top Action Comedy Movies Review
There you have it, 15 best action comedy movies for everyone to watch. If you’re itching to have a good laugh while feeling your blood pumping through your veins and your heart thumping as well, then grab your popcorn and watch any of these.
For more movie reviews check out our best movies for couples, best romantic movies, best Canadian movies, best African movies best romantic anime movies, and best military movies. Also, note that movies are available on this movie site at discount deals. Enjoy!