Strictly Business Daily Variety – Laugh Factory: Owen Gleiberman and Peter Debruge on Variety's 100 Best Comedy Movies of All Time List
Nov 25, 2025
Owen Gleiberman, Variety's chief film critic known for his incisive analyses, teams up with fellow critic Peter Debruge to dissect their carefully curated list of the 100 Greatest Comedy Movies of All Time. They dive into the fleeting nature of comedy, exploring why some laughs age like fine wine while others fizzle. Highlights include a spirited defense of 'Waiting for Guffman' and celebrating the comedy goldmine of 1988. They also reflect on modern comedic trends, the evolution of the genre, and the joy of crafting such lists.
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The Naked Gun As A New Comedy Canon
- The Naked Gun was chosen as Variety's number one comedy because it advanced a new, media-age lunacy comparable to the Marx Brothers.
- Owen Gleiberman argues ZAZ's fast, gag-dense style elevated lowbrow spoof into a lasting comedic form.
Comedy's Shelf Life Depends On Freshness
- Comedy ages differently than drama because its shocks and edges must be continually raised to stay fresh.
- Owen Gleiberman says evaluating comedies requires rewatching with fresh eyes to separate disposable gags from enduring truths.
Great Comedies Illuminate Human Truths
- Top comedies reveal truths about the human condition, from relationship dynamics to social absurdities.
- Cynthia Littleton highlights The Philadelphia Story and other relation-centered films as timeless because they illuminate lasting human behavior.