2024 was the year of re-releases. Every production house and film distribution company wants to capitalise on good ol’ nostalgia, because… why not? And even the films that are actually going on the floor are probably the seventh installment in a cop franchise or an uninspired remake of an old classic. But that doesn’t mean original film-making isn’t happening. You just need to dig a little, look past the massive billboards. That’s exactly what we did to find these comedies.

In India, we finally got an outright comedy after ages, unadulterated with romance and drama. We got some sharp satires that are making their way to the Oscars. Our friends overseas did not disappoint either, delivering everything from small indie films to studio flagship features. Here are 10 films that left us chuckling long after the credits were done rolling.

10. Do Aur Do Pyaar

Extra-marital affairs. Loveless marriages. Breakups. These are topics that are treated with such melodramatic flair in Hindi cinema that I was quite wary going into this film. But director Shirsha Guha Thakurta takes the road less travelled and offers a fresh, more realistic depiction of these personal dilemmas that sets Do Aur Do Pyaar apart. 

Starring Pratik Gandhi, Vidya Balan, Sendhil Ramamurthy and Ileana D’Cruz, this light-hearted comedy is heavy on the chuckles, even within serious conversations of adultery and separation. Imagine calling your South Indian father-in-law an appam in the heat of the moment. It’s not exactly comedic brilliance, but the timing and tone of the scene elevate the joke. There are many such moments that keep this romantic comedy afloat. There are definitely some shortcomings, including the wonky pacing in the second half, but you can look past them for a couple of hours of simple, unadulterated entertainment. 

9. Wicked Little Letters 

Can you remember a time when people weren’t blatantly hateful? When public decency and respect for others was a thing? When people were pulled up for using “indecent language”? Wicked Little Letters takes us back to such a time—1923 to be exact. Based on a true story (that’s quite sad actually) this heavily fictionalised film looks at how the judiciary and people who run it are inherently flawed and prejudiced. But it’s littered with good ol’ British humour that keeps things fairly dry and breezy.

A lot of the humour comes from how surprised the characters are by seeing words like “asshole” and “whore” in print, a novelty that eventually wears off. But Olivia Coleman’s performance, and the writing, keep us on edge throughout this whodunit. There are occasional missteps, particularly the slightly messy ending. But Coleman keeps you engaged and laughing throughout.

8.  Laapataa Ladies 

Just a glimpse at a popular female content creator’s comment section is enough to remind us of the fact that too many Indians have no respect for women. They are viewed as commodities—baby-making machines with no agency, who might as well be interchangeable. That’s why Kiran Rao’s Laapataa Ladies’ bride-swapping premise doesn’t seem particularly outlandish. Both women are clad in the typical red bridal saree, faces covered in purdah. They are replicas of each other, just like the men in the film and society at large see them. 

That’s the jumping off point for this biting satire. But even as she exposes deep-rooted misogyny and patriarchial social norms, writer Sneha Desai doesn’t forget to bring the punchlines. Probably to make the truth more palatable. The actors complement the sharp writing with their vulnerable performances. Ravi Kishan, playing the corrupt sub-inspector Shyam Manohar, proves once again that he has impeccable comic timing. When he said “Biwi kho gayi” with a mouthful of paan and amusement on his face, I snorted my coffee. No cap. India’s entry for the Oscars (although it failed to land a nomination), Laapataa Ladies is a great example of comedy holding a mirror up to society. 

7. My Old Ass 

We’ve all wanted a do-over at life. You know, give your younger self some advice. Tell him to study a little so he doesn’t have to be writing end-of-year lists while all his academically accomplished friends are sipping on cocktails in the daytime. Am I projecting? Anyway, My Old Ass is all about that feeling of missed opportunities. Maisy Stella makes her acting debut as Elliott LaBrant in this coming-of-age drama that is equal parts surreal and hilarious. 

It all starts when teenage LaBrant hops on board the psilocybin roller coaster and comes face-to-face with her 39-year-old self, played by Aubrey Plaza. That’s one of the many choices the film gets totally on point. Plaza effortlessly projects the disdain that us jaded adults have for life. The two LaBrants stay in touch even after the trip, something that the film decides doesn’t need any addressing, and the older one tries to change their destiny. There are tons of laugh-out-loud moments throughout this fantastical film, that explores themes of regret, youthful exuberance and optimism. 

6. Aavesham 

Ranga is a good-natured, “non-violent” gangster. Played to perfection by Fahadh Faasil, this character was the comedic glue that holds Aavesham together. Don’t get us wrong. The other performances are equally funny. But Faasil was just dealt a better hand and he runs with it. At its core, the film is about fragile male egos and how quickly men resort to violence to settle differences. Like any wounded animal, it’s either fight or flight.

The film chronicles the lives of three college students who seek Ranga’s help to exact revenge on their seniors for belittling them. Cue hilarious fight sequences, tall tales about the unorthodox gangster’s ferocity and college humour that goes beyond the cliches. Director Jithu Madhavan, who delivered the blockbuster horror-comedy Romancham last year, keeps it visually fresh, amping up the comedic elements with slo-mo sequences and elaborate action pieces. This is the fun film you can pull out for a laugh riot at your next hang. 

5.  Madgaon Express 

What does a mashup of Dil Chahta Hai and The Hangover look like? What would a coked up Gujarati mumma’s boy do? And are gangsters susceptible to post-lunch siestas? These might be questions that have crossed very few minds but we have an answer to them anyway, in the form of Madgaon Express. Kunal Kemmu’s directorial debut—starring Divyenndu, Pratik Gandhi and Avinash Tiwary—is an unorthodox buddy comedy by Bollywood’s standards, featuring drug deals gone wrong, psychedelic trips and hilarious criminals straight out of a Coen Brothers movie.

On its surface, Madgaon Express has an incredibly silly premise—a friend who has been putting up a charade of prosperity on social media lands himself and his two childhood friends in trouble with a local gangster. But it’s the sincerity with which the actors commit to this premise that helps us suspend our disbelief and get engrossed in their plight. There are tons of nods to classic comedies such as Golmaal, Welcome and Dhamaal, the type of films that nobody wants to make anymore. But Madgaon Express proves that it’s a tried-and-tested formula that, done right, still works.

4. Hit Man 

When Richard Linklater isn’t busy producing epic coming-of-age films that take 11 years to shoot, or setting unrealistic expectations of love, he turns his eye to what I believe is his strongest genre—comedy. After giving us cult comedies such as Dazed And Confused and School of Rock, Linklater has churned out another banger with Hit Man. 

Loosely based on the true story of Gary Johnson, our protagonist—played by Glen Powell who also co-wrote the film—serves as a Sociology and Psychology professor who also moonlights as a fake hit-man. The idea of this meek professor masquerading as a tough undercover agent who dresses up in exotic disguises to elicit confessions serves as the comedic foundation of the film. It reminded me of Seth Rogen in Pineapple Express putting on various costumes to subpoena people. But the stakes are higher here because we know it’s based on true events. Tensions rise when Powell’s character begins to mix work with pleasure. With incredible chemistry between the characters, tensions simmering and incredible comedic writing, Hit Man made a strong case for the return of action rom-coms. 

3. Babes 

“Your vagina looks like it’s yawning.” Eden’s (Ilana Glazer) fascination with her friend Dawn’s (Michelle Buteau) anatomy, while the latter is in labour, aptly captures the essence of Babes. It is unapologetic in its portrayal of pregnancy, motherhood and female friendships. The film also makes a compelling case for romantic comedies focusing on best friends, as we dive deeper into our protagonists’ lives and their decades-long friendship. 

Debutant director Pamela Adlon (known for Better Things and Louie) punches up Glazer and Josh Rabinowitz’s script with hilarious visual comedy. Think finding out you’re pregnant while tripping on magic mushrooms. Oh, the chaos. The performances by the lead actors and their supporting cast (which includes Hasan Minhaj) are so natural, it all feels truly teetering-on-the-rails. My favourite part about Babes is that there are no real “villains”. All the characters have their heart in their right place and you’re rooting for all of them. It’s just that life has a way of getting messier the more you try to get a handle on it. Like Charlie Chaplin said, “Life is a comedy in long-shot.” 

2. The Fall Guy 

What Fall Guy does incredibly well is pay homage to the crews and stunt doubles that work behind-the-scenes on grand action films such as Mission Impossible and Rambo. It masterfully captures the symphony of orchestrated manoeuvres that make grand action sequences possible, all while having a gripping storyline, a romance you find yourself rooting for, and enough laughs to keep it fresh. Most of the credit there goes to Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt’s chemistry and seamless comedic timing.

This action caper follows the life of Colt (played by Gosling), an action double, who returns to show business after a life-altering accident on set, only to find himself caught in a web of lies. Given that director David Leitch worked as a stunt-double for two decades, there are a lot of industry in-jokes sprinkled throughout the film, but they never miss the landing or seem too self-indulgent. The Fall Guy proved that you can have a potent and funny big budget film without pandering to your fans with force-fit memes and fourth wall breaks. You know who we’re talking about. 

1.  A Real Pain 

When you have a track record like Jesse Eisenberg’s—whether it’s his writing, acting or direction—it takes a lot to level up. But Eisenberg rose to the challenge with his latest project as a writer-director-star. A Real Pain is a remarkable dramedy that is emotionally charged but also comes with a full complement of laughs. To add a little more oomph to the phenomenal writing, Eisenberg has Kieran Culkin at his disposal, in what might be his best performance ever. 

The film tells the story of two cousins who travel to Poland to visit their grandmother’s Holocaust-impacted hometown. They are both fundamentally different human beings in every aspect of their lives and this contrast between the characters sparks moments of laughter and vulnerability throughout the film. But we’re never asked to pity them. The sentimentality of the location—both in human history and their personal lives—isn’t used as a crutch to gain sympathy for the protagonists. It’s truly a visual and emotional treat that will leave you in tears—from laughs and the feels.