Comedy Movies That Didn’t Make Anyone Laugh

The history of cinema is filled with comedies that aimed for big laughs but ended up missing the mark entirely. These films often featured massive budgets and talented stars yet failed to resonate with audiences or critics. Many of these projects relied on repetitive tropes or crude humor that did not translate into genuine amusement. From poorly timed sequels to experimental parodies, the following movies are frequently cited as some of the least successful attempts at humor in film history. This collection explores the various productions that left viewers in silence rather than stitches.

‘Movie 43’ (2013)

This anthology film features various sketches that push the boundaries of gross out humor. Many famous actors appear in these short stories that range from a man with physical deformities to a cat that attacks its owner. Critics frequently described the production as a collection of ideas that failed to find a punchline. The movie received nearly universal negative reviews upon its release. Audiences often expressed confusion regarding why so many talented people agreed to participate in the project.

‘Jack and Jill’ (2011)

Adam Sandler plays both a successful advertising executive and his overbearing twin sister. The plot follows the sister as she visits for Thanksgiving and refuses to leave the family home. Al Pacino appears as a version of himself who becomes obsessed with the character of Jill. Reviewers felt the movie relied on tired stereotypes and repetitive physical gags. It earned many awards at ceremonies dedicated to poor filmmaking for its perceived lack of quality.

‘The Love Guru’ (2008)

Mike Myers stars as an American raised by gurus in India who returns to the United States to start a self help business. His mission involves helping a professional hockey player win back his wife and the Stanley Cup. The film uses a variety of puns and physical humor that many found to be dated and uninspired. It was a significant critical and commercial disappointment after the previous successes of the lead actor. Many noted that the jokes felt forced and failed to land with modern audiences.

‘Gigli’ (2003)

Ben Affleck plays a low level mobster who is sent to kidnap the younger brother of a powerful federal prosecutor. Jennifer Lopez portrays a fellow criminal who is hired to oversee the job and ensure everything goes smoothly. While marketed as a crime comedy and romance the movie struggled to find its identity or a consistent tone. Critics pointed to a lack of chemistry between the leads and a script that failed to provide humor. It has since become a frequent reference point for high profile cinematic failures.

‘The Emoji Movie’ (2017)

This animated adventure takes place inside a smartphone where various icons live in a digital city. The story follows an emoji that has multiple expressions and embarks on a journey to become a normal filter. Many viewers criticized the film for being a transparent attempt at corporate branding rather than a creative story. The jokes were often seen as predictable and lacking in wit. It received low scores from both professional critics and general audiences upon its debut.

‘Holmes & Watson’ (2018)

Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly reunite to play the famous detective duo in this slapstick interpretation of the classic characters. They must stop a plot to assassinate the Queen of England while dealing with their own incompetence. The humor relies heavily on modern references and physical pratfalls that many felt were poorly executed. Reports surfaced that some audience members walked out of screenings during its opening weekend. The film struggled to recapture the comedic energy of the previous collaborations between the two lead stars.

‘Dirty Grandpa’ (2016)

A young lawyer is tricked into driving his foul mouthed grandfather to Florida during spring break. Robert De Niro and Zac Efron star in this road trip comedy that focuses on crude behavior and wild parties. Critics argued that the script relied too much on shock value and lacked meaningful character development. Many reviews suggested that the legendary lead actor was wasted on such thin material. The film was generally panned for its mean spirited tone and lack of clever writing.

‘Pixels’ (2015)

Aliens misinterpret video feeds of classic arcade games as a declaration of war and attack Earth using those same games as models. A group of former gaming champions is recruited by the government to defend the planet from the pixelated invaders. While the premise offered nostalgia for older viewers the execution was largely seen as flat and unengaging. Reviewers noted that the jokes felt repetitive and the characters were not particularly likable. It failed to balance its action elements with effective comedy.

‘Little Man’ (2006)

A very short jewel thief disguises himself as a baby to recover a stolen diamond from an unsuspecting couple. The film uses special effects to place the head of Marlon Wayans onto the body of a much smaller actor. Much of the humor stems from the thief acting like an adult while in the guise of an infant. Many critics found the visual effects unsettling and the situations to be highly predictable. The movie was criticized for its reliance on slapstick and crude jokes that failed to produce laughter.

‘Bucky Larson: Born to Be a Star’ (2011)

A young man from a small town discovers that his parents were adult film stars in the seventies. He decides to follow in their footsteps and moves to California to find fame in the same industry despite having no talent. The movie was widely criticized for its repetitive gags and lack of a coherent plot. It holds a rare zero percent rating on major review aggregation websites. Most reviewers found the protagonist to be more annoying than funny throughout the runtime.

‘Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2’ (2015)

Kevin James returns as the titular security guard who travels to a convention in Las Vegas with his teenage daughter. He stumbles upon a heist and must use his limited skills to stop the criminals. The sequel was noted for repeating many of the same physical jokes from the first film without adding new elements. Critics felt the humor was lazy and focused too much on the lead character falling down or running into objects. It failed to impress even those who enjoyed the original production.

‘Grown Ups 2’ (2013)

This sequel follows a group of childhood friends who have moved back to their hometown to be closer to each other. The plot consists of various loosely connected scenes depicting their daily lives and interactions with local eccentric characters. Critics pointed out that the film lacked a central conflict or any real narrative direction. The humor was often described as juvenile and dependent on bodily functions. Despite its commercial success the movie was heavily dismissed by critics for its lack of effort.

‘The Adventures of Pluto Nash’ (2002)

Eddie Murphy stars as a nightclub owner on the moon who refuses to sell his business to a powerful mobster. He goes on the run with a waitress and a robot bodyguard through various lunar locations. The film had a massive budget but failed to deliver either convincing action or successful comedy. It became one of the biggest box office failures in history at the time of its release. Most viewers found the script to be dull and the jokes to be consistently flat.

‘Bio-Dome’ (1996)

Two dim witted friends accidentally get locked inside a high tech ecological research center for a full year. They cause chaos for the scientists who are trying to conduct a serious experiment on sustainability. The film relies almost entirely on the energetic and eccentric performances of its lead actors. Critics found the characters to be grating and the situations to be largely devoid of humor. It is often cited as a low point in the careers of everyone involved in the production.

‘Superbabies: Baby Geniuses 2’ (2004)

A group of toddlers who can communicate with each other through baby talk must stop a media mogul from brainwashing children. The film features infants performing stunts and fighting villains using digital effects. It is frequently ranked as one of the worst movies ever made due to its poor writing and bizarre premise. The humor was seen as nonexistent for both children and adults. The production was panned for its low quality visuals and nonsensical story.

‘Son of the Mask’ (2005)

A cartoonist finds the legendary mask of Loki and fathers a child who possesses supernatural powers. The film attempts to recreate the frantic energy of the original movie without the presence of Jim Carrey. Many viewers found the computer generated imagery to be terrifying rather than funny. The plot was described as chaotic and lacking the charm that made the first film a success. It was a massive failure at the box office and received scathing reviews.

‘Disaster Movie’ (2008)

This parody film aims to mock various blockbusters and pop culture trends from the time of its release. It features a loose plot about a group of friends trying to survive a series of natural disasters and celebrity encounters. Reviewers criticized the movie for using outdated references and jokes that lacked any real wit. Many felt the film was rushed and relied on simple recognition rather than clever satire. It is often mentioned as one of the weakest entries in the parody genre.

‘Epic Movie’ (2007)

Four orphans travel to a magical factory and end up in a world filled with parodies of famous fantasy films. They encounter characters that resemble those from popular franchises while navigating a series of crude sketches. The film was criticized for its reliance on toilet humor and poor impersonations. Critics noted that the movie seemed to prioritize the quantity of references over the quality of the jokes. It was largely dismissed as a low effort attempt to capitalize on the success of other films.

‘Meet the Spartans’ (2008)

This film serves as a direct parody of the movie regarding the Battle of Thermopylae. It incorporates various television shows and celebrities into the historical setting for comedic effect. The humor was widely panned for being repetitive and failing to provide any actual satire of the source material. Most critics agreed that the film felt like a collection of random ideas rather than a structured movie. It struggled to find an audience despite the popularity of the films it was mocking.

‘The Master of Disguise’ (2002)

Dana Carvey plays a waiter who comes from a long line of masters of disguise and must use his skills to save his father. He transforms into various characters using elaborate costumes and strange accents to infiltrate a criminal organization. The film was targeted at children but many found the humor to be too bizarre or repetitive. Critics noted that the sketches felt like rejected ideas from a variety show. It was heavily criticized for its thin plot and lack of genuine laughs.

‘That’s My Boy’ (2012)

A man who became a teen father decades ago resurfaces to ask his estranged and successful son for money. The two spend time together before the son’s wedding and engage in various wild and inappropriate activities. Critics found the relationship between the father and son to be more uncomfortable than humorous. The film used aggressive humor that many felt was mean spirited or simply not funny. It underperformed at the box office and received poor marks for its screenplay.

‘Norbit’ (2007)

Eddie Murphy plays multiple roles including a mild mannered man and his overbearing wife. The story involves the protagonist trying to find a way to be with his childhood sweetheart while dealing with his current spouse. Many critics argued that the film relied on offensive stereotypes and fat shaming for its comedy. While it was a commercial success the critical reception was overwhelmingly negative. Reviewers felt that the talent of the lead actor was hidden behind layers of prosthetics and poor jokes.

‘Dudley Do-Right’ (1999)

Brendan Fraser stars as the bumbling Canadian Mountie in this live action adaptation of the classic cartoon. He must stop his arch nemesis from turning their small town into a tourist trap based on a fake gold rush. The film struggled to translate the charm of the original animation into a feature length format. Critics found the slapstick to be uninspired and the pacing to be sluggish. It failed to resonate with fans of the original show or new viewers.

‘The Cat in the Hat’ (2003)

Mike Myers portrays the famous Dr. Seuss character who visits two children while their mother is away. The film adds many adult themed jokes and pop culture references to the simple children’s story. Many viewers felt that the tone was inconsistent and the title character was more creepy than whimsical. The visual design was also criticized for being garish and distracting. It was a critical failure that led the author’s estate to ban further live action adaptations of his books.

‘The Ridiculous 6’ (2015)

This western comedy follows six strangers who discover they share the same outlaw father and decide to find him. They travel across the old west and encounter various historical figures and eccentric locals. The film was criticized for its length and its use of tired western tropes. Many reviewers felt the humor was lazy and often leaned on offensive caricatures. It was one of the first major original films produced for a streaming platform and received poor reviews across the board.

‘Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo’ (2005)

The title character travels to Amsterdam to help his former pimp who is being accused of murdering several male escorts. He must go undercover in the local sex work industry to find the real killer. The sequel was criticized for having a repetitive script that focused on gross out gags and insults. Critics felt the movie lacked the minor charm of its predecessor and was largely unnecessary. It received several awards for being one of the worst films of its year.

‘Daddy Day Camp’ (2007)

Cuba Gooding Jr. takes over the lead role in this sequel about two fathers who decide to run a summer camp. They face various challenges including rival camps and their own lack of outdoor skills. The movie was panned for its reliance on physical humor involving children and animals. Many critics noted that the film felt like a cheap imitation of the original with a much weaker script. It was a significant failure both critically and commercially.

‘Envy’ (2004)

Two neighbors find their friendship tested when one of them becomes incredibly wealthy after inventing a spray that makes dog waste disappear. Ben Stiller and Jack Black star in this comedy about jealousy and failed business ventures. Despite the high profile cast the film struggled to find a consistent comedic tone. Many viewers found the central premise to be thin and the jokes to be surprisingly scarce. It received poor reviews and failed to make an impact at the box office.

‘Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot’ (1992)

Sylvester Stallone plays a tough police officer whose overbearing mother comes to stay with him and begins interfering in his work. She cleans his guns with soap and water and follows him on dangerous missions. The film was intended to show a softer side of the action star but the humor was largely seen as flat. Stallone himself has frequently cited this movie as the worst project of his entire career. Critics found the premise to be one dimensional and the execution to be boring.

‘It’s Pat’ (1994)

Based on a popular Saturday Night Live character the film follows an individual whose gender is never revealed to the audience. Pat navigates various social situations while people around them become obsessed with figuring out if they are male or female. The movie struggled to expand a short sketch format into a full length narrative. It was a major box office bomb and was pulled from theaters shortly after its release. Reviewers found the character to be grating when featured for ninety minutes.

‘Caddyshack II’ (1988)

This sequel attempted to capture the magic of the original golf comedy without most of the original cast members. The plot follows a wealthy man who tries to join an exclusive country club but is rejected by the snobbish members. Many fans of the first film were disappointed by the lack of clever writing and the over reliance on cartoonish humor. The production was troubled and the final result was a movie that felt disjointed. It is frequently cited as one of the most disappointing sequels in comedy history.

‘Zoolander 2’ (2016)

The world famous male models return to the spotlight to stop a conspiracy that is targeting the world’s most beautiful people. Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson reprise their roles alongside a massive number of celebrity cameos. Critics felt the sequel arrived too many years after the original and relied on recycled jokes. The plot was described as bloated and the humor was seen as less sharp than the first film. It failed to recreate the cult success of its predecessor.

‘Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd’ (2003)

This prequel explores the high school years of the lead characters from the original hit comedy. New actors take on the roles and attempt to mimic the mannerisms of the original stars. Many viewers found the performances to be poor imitations that lacked the chemistry of the first movie. The script was criticized for its lack of originality and its focus on crude physical gags. It was largely ignored by audiences and panned by critics who felt the franchise did not need an origin story.

‘Saving Christmas’ (2014)

Kirk Cameron stars in this film that attempts to explain the religious significance of modern holiday traditions. The story follows a man who has lost his Christmas spirit and is shown the origins of various customs by his brother in law. While marketed as a comedy many viewers found the tone to be preachy rather than funny. It received extremely low scores for its production quality and its narrative structure. The film became famous for its negative reception on social media platforms.

‘The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard’ (2009)

Jeremy Piven plays a fast talking liquidator who is hired to save a failing car dealership during a holiday weekend. He brings a team of eccentric experts to help sell every car on the lot using aggressive tactics. The humor relies on fast paced dialogue and crude behavior that many felt was more exhausting than amusing. Critics noted that the characters were difficult to root for and the plot was formulaic. It failed to find a large audience during its theatrical run.

‘A Thousand Words’ (2012)

A fast talking literary agent discovers a magical tree in his yard that loses a leaf every time he speaks a word. He is told that once the tree loses all its leaves he will die so he must learn to communicate without talking. The premise forced the lead actor Eddie Murphy to remain silent for much of the film. Critics found the physical comedy to be uninspired and the sentimental elements to be forced. The movie was delayed for several years before being released to poor reviews.

‘Vampires Suck’ (2010)

This parody film targets the popular vampire romance franchises that were successful during its release. It mimics specific scenes and characters while adding slapstick humor and pop culture references. Reviewers argued that the movie lacked any real insight into the source material it was mocking. Many felt the jokes were lazy and the pacing was uneven throughout the film. It was part of a trend of parody movies that were widely dismissed by modern critics.

‘Inappropriate Comedy’ (2013)

This film is a collection of short sketches that aim to be as offensive and shocking as possible. It features several well known actors appearing in segments that mock various social issues and stereotypes. The production was originally conceived as a series of videos for a website before being turned into a movie. Critics found the content to be desperate for attention and lacking any actual comedic craft. It received almost no positive reviews and had a very limited release.

‘The Animal’ (2001)

Rob Schneider plays a man who receives organ transplants from various animals after a car accident. He begins to take on the traits and behaviors of those animals in his daily life as a police officer. The humor relies on the lead actor acting like a dog or a horse in public situations. Many viewers found the premise to be thin and the jokes to be repetitive. It was criticized for its juvenile tone and lack of clever writing.

‘Boat Trip’ (2002)

Two friends who have had bad luck with women decide to go on a singles cruise to meet new people. They accidentally end up on a cruise intended for gay men and must navigate the situation while looking for romance. The film was widely panned for its use of outdated stereotypes and its predictable plot. Critics found the humor to be offensive and largely devoid of actual wit. It is frequently mentioned as a low point for the actors involved.

‘Bubble Boy’ (2001)

Jake Gyllenhaal stars as a young man with no immune system who lives inside a plastic bubble in his bedroom. He builds a portable bubble suit to travel across the country and stop the woman he loves from getting married. The film attempts to find humor in his strange situation and his interactions with the outside world. Many reviewers felt the tone was inconsistent and the jokes were often at the expense of the protagonist. It failed to achieve commercial success or positive critical notices.

‘Corky Romano’ (2001)

A bumbling veterinarian is recruited by his mobster family to go undercover as an FBI agent to destroy evidence against them. He must navigate the professional world of federal agents while hiding his true identity and his incompetence. The film focuses on physical comedy and the frantic energy of the lead actor. Critics found the character to be more annoying than charming and the plot to be highly improbable. It was largely dismissed as a formulaic comedy that lacked genuine inspiration.

‘The Ladies Man’ (2000)

Tim Meadows brings his popular radio host character from Saturday Night Live to the big screen. The plot involves the character searching for a mystery woman while giving romantic advice to his listeners. Like many other sketch based movies it struggled to maintain its humor over a long runtime. Reviewers noted that the character worked better in short segments than in a feature film. The movie failed to make a significant impact at the box office.

‘Say It Isn’t So’ (2001)

A young man falls in love with a woman only to be told that they are actually siblings. He embarks on a journey to find her after they separate but eventually learns the truth about their heritage. The film features several gross out gags and uncomfortable situations that many found to be more disturbing than funny. Critics panned the movie for its weak script and lack of likable characters. It was a significant disappointment for the production team.

‘Stealing Harvard’ (2002)

A man promises to pay for his niece’s college tuition but finds himself short on money when she gets into Harvard. He is convinced by his eccentric friend to turn to a life of crime to raise the necessary funds. The movie features various failed attempts at heists and robberies that are intended to be comedic. Reviewers found the chemistry between the leads to be lacking and the situations to be unoriginal. It received poor marks for its directing and its screenplay.

‘The Garbage Pail Kids Movie’ (1987)

Based on a popular line of trading cards the film features live action versions of the gross out characters. They help a young boy deal with bullies while causing chaos in a small town. The movie is famous for its unsettling character designs and its focus on disgusting behavior. Critics and audiences alike found the film to be repulsive rather than entertaining. It is frequently cited as one of the most ill conceived movies ever produced.

‘Going Overboard’ (1989)

Adam Sandler makes his film debut as a struggling comedian who takes a job as a waiter on a cruise ship. He hopes to get a chance to perform his act for the passengers and become a star. The movie was made on a very low budget and features many unpolished sketches. After the actor became famous the film was re released to capitalize on his success. Most viewers found the early work to be lacking the humor and timing of his later projects.

‘Chairman of the Board’ (1998)

Comedian Carrot Top plays a surfer and inventor who unexpectedly inherits a major corporation from a wealthy benefactor. He must use his strange inventions to save the company from a greedy executive who wants to take over. The film relies heavily on the prop comedy style of its lead star. Critics found the acting to be poor and the jokes to be consistently weak. It was a major failure that effectively ended the film career of the lead actor.

Tell us about your most disappointing movie experiences in the comments.