Comedy Gone Dark: Dark Comedy Movies That Make Us Grin into the Abyss

A dark comedy is like that friend who makes a joke at the most inappropriate moment, but somehow is what you need to hear—and you bust a gut laughing at otherwise taboo subjects and context.

Dark comedy is a genre of movies and TV shows that dive headfirst into topics most people stay clear of at dinner parties. Think death, crime, the absurdity (a word we’ll use a lot in this piece) of life’s misfortunes, you name it. The great thing about dark comedy is that it makes these heavy themes and subjects hilarious.

Here are ten dark comedies, complete with scripts that you can find in our expansive screenplay library. We’ll showcase the trailers, loglines, and screenwriters and why these movies fall under the dark comedy genre.

Scripts from this Article

Knives Out

Fargo (1996)

Election

The Wolf Of Wall Street

Inglourious Basterds

Parasite

JoJo Rabbit

Heathers

Beetlejuice

Don’t Look Up

Knives Out (2019)

Screenplay by: Rian Johnson

Knives Out is a modern twist on the classic whodunit, filled with sharp wit and a critical eye on social dynamics and family discord. Its dark humor lies in the eccentricity of its characters and the clever unraveling of the mystery by Detective Benoit Blanc.

The film expertly balances tension with comedy, making pointed observations about class and privilege through its engaging narrative and intricate plot. There’s a dark edge to the comedy because we know that somebody in that house killed the family patriarch, yet it’s a hilarious whodunit amidst the backdrop of murder. 

Read More: Murder Mysteries to Study to Sharpen Your Cinematic Sleuthing Skills

Fargo (1996)

Screenplay by: Joel Coen and Ethan Coen

Fargo mixes brutal violence with the quirky niceness of the Midwest. The dark humor comes from the contrast between the polite demeanor of its characters and the grim reality of their actions, particularly embodied by the cheerful, pregnant police chief, Marge Gunderson.

The Coen Brothers craft a narrative that is both absurdly funny and disturbingly dark, showcasing their unique ability to blend genres seamlessly. What happens is tragic, but we find ourselves laughing amidst that tragedy.

Read More: The Dudes Abide: The Must-Read Scripts of the Coen Brothers

Election (1999)

Screenplay by: Alexander Payne, Jim Taylor, and Tom Perrotta

Election explores the dark underbelly of high school politics through the lens of a fiercely competitive student election. Its dark humor stems from the extreme lengths to which characters go to achieve their selfish ambitions, highlighting the absurdity of power struggles in the microcosm of a high school.

A teacher plotting against his students, accompanied by sexual fantasies with one of them. A student who will go to nearly all means necessary to get what she wants. It’s the perfect backdrop for dark comedy. Reese Witherspoon’s performance as the overzealous Tracy Flick, alongside Matthew Broderick’s disillusioned teacher, perfectly captures the film’s satirical take on ambition and morality.

The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)

Screenplay by: Terence Winter

The Wolf of Wall Street dives into the excess and depravity of the 1980s and 1990s finance world, portraying the life of Jordan Belfort with a scathing, humorous edge. The film’s dark comedy comes from its outrageous depiction of greed, addiction, and the absurd lengths Belfort and his associates go to maintain their wealth and power. 

Leonardo DiCaprio’s energetic performance captures the manic, hedonistic spirit of Belfort’s life, making the film a wild, comedic exploration of excess and moral decay. We know what these characters are doing is extremely wrong, but we laugh at their hijinks along the way. Crime, drugs, addiction, etc. What’s not to laugh at? At least in the context of a dark comedy.

Read More: Violence and Voice: Exploring the Brutal Storytelling of Martin Scorsese Films

Inglourious Basterds (2009)

Screenplay by: Quentin Tarantino

Inglourious Basterds is a stylized, alternate history tale that mixes graphic violence with sharp, witty dialogue. Its humor comes from the audaciousness of its premise and the caricatured depictions of historical figures. 

The film’s blend of tension, comedy, and drama, along with memorable performances, especially by Christoph Waltz as Colonel Hans Landa, showcases Tarantino’s knack for creating compelling narratives that are as entertaining as they are provocative. It’s difficult to make Nazis funny. But when it involves characters going out of their way to make them pay, it’s hard not to laugh. 

Parasite (2019)

Screenplay by: Bong Joon-ho and Han Jin Won

Parasite is a masterful commentary on social inequality, wrapped in a gripping narrative that seamlessly blends humor with suspense. The film’s dark comedy emerges from the absurd yet tragic situations the Kim family navigates to improve their circumstances. 

Bong Joon-ho’s meticulous direction crafts a story that is both a thrilling social satire and a poignant exploration of the human condition. We know what they are doing is wrong. But we can’t help but root for them because we’ve seen the poverty they have come from.

JoJo Rabbit (2019)

Screenplay by: Taika Waititi and Christine Leunens

JoJo Rabbit uses humor to tackle the absurdity of hate and bigotry through the eyes of a young Nazi fanatic who is both comical and endearing. Taika Waititi’s bold storytelling and direction, in which he also stars as a ridiculous imaginary Adolf Hitler, brings a unique perspective to the horrors of World War II, blending satire with heartwarming moments of clarity and transformation. 

Let’s be honest, it’s very difficult to make Hitler funny. There’s nothing to laugh at beyond the absurdity of what he and the Nazis stood for and did. 

Heathers (1988)

Screenplay: Daniel Waters

You can’t have a dark comedy list without this 1980s classic. Heathers stands as a seminal dark comedy that satirizes the social dynamics of high school life, blending sharp wit with a critique of teenage superficiality and cruelty. Its dark humor comes from the extreme measures taken by the protagonists to confront and dismantle the social hierarchy of their school. 

The film’s daring approach to topics like suicide and bullying, coupled with its biting dialogue and memorable performances by Winona Ryder and Christian Slater, makes it a darkly comedic examination of the angst and absurdity of adolescence.

Download the script! 

Beetlejuice (1988)

Screenplay: Michael McDowell and Warren Skaaren

Speaking of 1980s classics, here’s another one from the likes of the dark director himself, Tim Burton. Beetlejuice is a fantastical exploration of the afterlife, filled with Burton’s signature gothic whimsy and dark humor. 

The film cleverly plays with the idea of the living being more troublesome than the dead, with Michael Keaton’s performance as Beetlejuice stealing the show as a grotesquely hilarious bio-exorcist. Its inventive visuals, quirky characters, and the hilarity of the situations they find themselves in, create a uniquely entertaining film that’s both funny and macabre. And with the long-awaited sequel finally coming to theaters fairly soon, you better brush up on the classic.

Download the script!

Don’t Look Up (2021)

Screenplay: Adam McKay and David Sirota

Don’t Look Up uses the premise of an impending global catastrophe to satirize the contemporary world’s response to a crisis, particularly climate change and political apathy. The film’s humor lies in its depiction of the media circus and political machinations surrounding the scientists’ attempts to save the world. 

Once again, we have a dark comedy that highlights the absurd by way of the denial faced by those trying to address real-world problems. With a star-studded cast delivering biting satire, Adam McKay crafts a dark comedy that is as thought-provoking as it is darkly humorous, reflecting the dire consequences of ignoring science and common sense.

Download the script!

Read More: The Dark Humor of Adam McKay Movies

Ken Miyamoto has worked in the film industry for nearly two decades, most notably as a studio liaison for Sony Studios and then as a script reader and story analyst for Sony Pictures.

He has many studio meetings under his belt as a produced screenwriter, meeting with the likes of Sony, Dreamworks, Universal, Disney, Warner Brothers, as well as many production and management companies. He has had a previous development deal with Lionsgate, as well as multiple writing assignments, including the produced miniseries Blackout, starring Anne Heche, Sean Patrick Flanery, Billy Zane, James Brolin, Haylie Duff, Brian Bloom, Eric La Salle, and Bruce Boxleitner, the feature thriller Hunter’s Creed, and many Lifetime thrillers. Follow Ken on Twitter @KenMovies and Instagram @KenMovies76