10 Greatest Comedy Performances of the 21st Century, Ranked

Comedy is notoriously difficult to judge because its greatest achievements often look effortless. The 21st century has given us a wave of seemingly effortless, iconic comedic movies, and with them, countless performances that further enhance the laughter. These characters are ridiculous yet unforgettable, brought to life by actors who took big risks and turned them into cultural milestones.

This list ranks the very best of them. The comedic performances below went above and beyond to become the best of the 21st century, not just entertaining crowds but seeping into the zeitgeist. They produced quotes that people still repeat, memes that people still post, and movies people will rewatch for the hundredth time when they need a good laugh.

10

John C. Reilly – ‘Step Brothers’ (2008)

“I wanted to be a Tyrannosaurus Rex more than anything in the world.” Oscar nominee John C. Reilly had already proven himself a master of both drama and supporting comedy roles, but in Step Brothers, he went all-in on absurdist humor (in the best way). As Dale Doback, a man-child forced to live with his new stepbrother Brennan (Will Ferrell), Reilly commits with absolute sincerity to a character who is juvenile, delusional, and yet oddly endearing.

His chemistry with Ferrell is what makes the movie soar. Their ridiculous arguments, bizarre shared interests, and eventual bond over “Boats ‘n Hoes” became comedy gold. Reilly never winks at the audience, either; he plays Dale’s immaturity with the same seriousness he’d bring to a dramatic role, which only makes it funnier. All this means that Step Brothers is one of the most straightforwardly entertaining comedies of the 2000s, a movie that lives or dies on the personality of its stars.

9

Regina Hall – ‘Scary Movie’ (2000)

“Lunch is not a class, Shorty.” In a franchise built on outrageous parody, Regina Hall managed to stand out as Brenda Meeks. Sure, the sequels offered diminishing returns, the jokes becoming increasingly crude and lazy, but Hall was a consistent highlight. She spoofs horror archetypes without becoming a cardboard cutout. She plays Brenda a whirlwind of attitude, panic, and laugh-out-loud outbursts. From her shrieking at the screen during a movie theater sequence to her hilariously over-the-top reactions, Hall always balances self-awareness with raw comedic timing.

She’s not afraid of exaggeration or slapstick, and yet she never loses the charm that makes Brenda oddly lovable. The movie hands her countless ridiculous moments and iconic lines (Shake-a-spear in Love!), and she knocks all of them out of the park. Even in a series filled with gags (and more than a little silliness), Hall made Brenda unforgettable. It’s an underrated comedic performance and one of the main reasons behind Scary Movie‘s enduring appeal. Shoutout to Anna Faris, too!

8

Jon Heder – ‘Napoleon Dynamite’ (2004)

“Tina, you fat lard, come get some dinner!” Jon Heder‘s turn as the painfully awkward yet strangely confident Napoleon Dynamite is one of the most iconic comedy performances of the century. With his monotone delivery, gangly body language, and deadpan absurdity, Heder created a character who became instantly recognizable, even to those who never saw the movie. Napoleon’s quirks turned him into a cultural phenomenon: he’s ridiculous, but, crucially, he’s not a joke.

Napoleon feels like a real person, the weird kid in school who lived in his unique world. In other words, Heder balances cringe-worthy awkwardness with moments of surprising sincerity, culminating in that legendary dance sequence. “This isn’t just a silly little scene,” Heder has said of that dance. “This is the moment where everything comes, and he’s making the sacrifice for his friend. That’s the whole theme of the movie.” It’s a role that shouldn’t have worked but did, precisely because of Heder’s commitment. For all these reasons, Heder’s Napoleon remains one of the funniest, strangest creations of the 21st century.

7

Jonah Hill – ‘Superbad‘ (2007)

“We could be that mistake!” Superbad is a millennial touchstone, easily one of the strongest comedies of the 2000s. It captures a very specific moment in time, yet it still feels universal. It works as well as it does because of the chemistry between its leads, but Jonah Hill‘s performance as Seth is its comedic engine. Loud, crude, and endlessly insecure, Seth is the perfect embodiment of teenage desperation. Hill’s delivery of the raunchy dialogue, ridiculous schemes to buy alcohol, and endless bickering with Michael Cera‘s Evan are all hysterical while also coming across as authentic.

There’s an emotional undercurrent to the performance. Beneath Seth’s bravado is a genuine fear of growing up and losing his best friend. Hill manages to be vulgar, ridiculous, and vulnerable all at once, walking a fine line between lovable and pathetic. In the process, he turned what could have been a one-note role into one of the funniest and most heartfelt comedy performances of all time.

6

Kristen Wiig

‘Bridesmaids‘ (2011)

“Help me, I’m poor.” As both co-writer and star of Bridesmaids, Kristen Wiig crafted one of the defining comedy performances of the 2010s. She plays Annie, a woman whose life is falling apart while she’s tasked with being maid of honor for her best friend. Drawing on skills honed at SNL, she turns in a performance that’s both hilariously awkward and deeply human. Wiig’s comedic timing is unfailingly impeccable, whether she’s drunkenly competing with Rose Byrne‘s character at an engagement party, suffering through food poisoning in a bridal shop, or goofily flirting with Chris O’Dowd‘s cop.

As with Hill in Supperbad, there’s remarkable honesty behind the humor. Annie’s breakdowns are funny because they’re rooted in real insecurity, envy, and fear of irrelevance. As a result, the character is simultaneously absurd and endearing. Bridesmaids redefined female-led comedy in the 21st century and proved Wiig as one of the genre’s brightest stars.

5

Will Ferrell – ‘Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy‘ (2004)

“Boy, that escalated quickly.” Will Ferrell has given plenty of great comic performances, but Ron Burgundy is his magnum opus. The pompous, clueless 1970s news anchor is absurd from the first frame, with his booming voice, polyester suits, and endless malapropisms. Ferrell plays him with total conviction, never winking, never breaking character. He pulls off an endless stream of laugh-out-loud moments, whether it’s his jazz flute performance, oblivious sexism, or declaration that San Diego means “whale’s vagina”. Few films can compete with Anchorman in terms of jokes per second.

The performance made a big impact, winning over legions of fans and producing several immortal memes. Even people who haven’t seen the film know Burgundy’s catchphrases, like “I’m kind of a big deal” or “Stay classy, San Diego.” Anchorman‘s surreal tone would not work without Ferrell anchoring it with such ridiculous confidence, proving the star’s comedic genius.

4

Steve Carell – ‘The 40-Year-Old Virgin‘ (2005)

“You know what’s a fun game?” The 40-Year-Old Virgin was the film that made Steve Carell a star, and for good reason. His Andy is a man who, as the title suggests, has never had sex, and his awkward attempts to navigate romance provide endless comedic material. His mannerisms, facial expressions, and stammerings are all perfectly calibrated. Yet rather than simply mocking him, Carell makes the character endearingly innocent, a guy whose naivety is funny but also sympathetic.

Carell’s chemistry with the ensemble cast allows him to play both the straight man and the source of the comedy, shifting seamlessly between vulnerability and absurdity. It’s just one of many performances that prove Carell is one of the great comedy talents of his generation, and the film’s esteem has only grown over the last two decades. And that’s without even getting started on the infamous waxing scene, where Carell screams real profanity while getting his actual chest hair ripped off.

3

Amy Adams

‘Enchanted’ (2007)

“I’ve been wandering very far and long tonight, and I’m afraid nobody has been very nice to me.” In Enchanted, Amy Adams pulled off a high-wire act of comedy. She plays a Disney princess who comes to life in modern-day New York, yet makes the character way more than a cartoon. This is no mere parody — as Giselle, Adams sings to pigeons, twirls through Central Park, and reacts to the cynicism of the real world with wide-eyed innocence. She gives a character a ton of heart.

Adams never undercuts Giselle with irony, which allows the comedy to arise naturally from her sincerity colliding with reality. It’s a deceptively difficult part, requiring timing, precision, and control, and Adams nails it. The result is one of the most endearing comedic heroines in modern cinema, an unforgettable character that established Adams as one of the most versatile actresses of her generation. Enchanted became a success largely because of her, and it remains a showcase for her incredible range.

2

Sacha Baron Cohen

‘Borat’ (2006)

“What’s up with it, Vanilla face?” His earlier characters were great too, but when Sacha Baron Cohen unleashed Borat on the world, he created a genuine icon and a cultural phenomenon. The Kazakh journalist’s broken English, gray suit, and endless catchphrases (“Very nice!”) made him instantly recognizable the world over. Even if you’ve never seen the film, you know the mustache, the accent, and the lime-green mankini.

Still, the real genius of Cohen’s performance is in how he used the character as a weapon, throwing him into real situations with unsuspecting people to expose prejudice, ignorance, and absurdity. Borat is funny because he’s outrageous, but also because he reflects something very real about the people he interacts with. Cohen’s fearless improvisation and absolute commitment to character created a kind of comedy that was equal parts lunacy and smart satire. Without this blueprint, there would be no Nathan For You or Philomena Cunk.

1

Meryl Streep

‘The Devil Wears Prada‘ (2006)

“Is there some reason that my coffee isn’t here? Has she died or something?” Meryl Streep elevates everything she’s in, and that’s particularly the case with The Devil Wears Prada. Miranda Priestly could have been a caricature; instead, Streep makes her an icon. Even audiences who haven’t seen the film know Miranda’s image: the silver bob, the sharp suits, the air of terrifying elegance. As the imperious editor-in-chief of Runway (heavily inspired by Anna Wintour), the actress commands every scene with a whisper, a glance, or a withering “That’s all.”

Her restraint is fine-tuned. This is comedy at its most precise: the raised eyebrow, the sigh, the silence that stretches just long enough to unnerve. Miranda doesn’t shout or flail; she dominates through icy composure and perfectly timed condescension. Yet Streep also gives her depth, allowing glimpses of vulnerability that complicate the satire. It’ll be fun to see what she does with the character in next year’s sequel.