A24 is a name that any film buff has probably heard thousands of times. It's the film studio responsible for allowing many great and upcoming filmmakers to express their true vision and have complete creative control over their films. The studio's main success has arisen from their popular horror, and that's what most people probably associate A24 with, surreal and more artsy "horror" films that have essentially become a genre of their own. People often forget that A24 produces all genre films, though, one of which has been seeing a great rise in recent years is their "comedy" films.

Just recently, Everything Everywhere All at Once has become one of A24's biggest hits, connecting with many audience members and becoming the studio's highest-grossing film. But that's not where A24's comedy successes end, as they still have many other big successes within that genre, such as Lady Bird and Spring Breakers.

Updated on July 31, 2023, by Hannah Saab:

Beau Is Afraid brought a unique (and surreal) brand of humor to the big screen, entertaining and dividing fans around the world. After the tragicomedy horror film's premiere, there's no reason not to check out the other best A24 comedy movies that have earned high scores on IMDb.

12 'Swiss Army Man' (2016)

IMDb Rating: 6.9/10

Daniel Radcliffe plays the role of an actual corpse in Swiss Army Man, a surrealist comedy-drama about a man stranded on a deserted island, Hank (Paul Dano), who is quickly losing all hope. Just when Hank decides to give up, a flatulent dead man shows up along the shore. Hank uses the corpse's flatulence to somehow travel to the mainland, and soon forges an unexpected bond with it.

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Ambitious and absurd, the Daniels' underrated 2016 flick pointed towards the success they would later earn for Everything Everywhere All At Once. Like their Oscar-winning masterpiece, Swiss Army Man is deliciously and hilariously bizarre, yet manages to deliver a life-affirming message that can change or challenge viewers' perspectives about their own paths.

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11 'Beau Is Afraid' (2023)

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Image via A24

IMDb Rating: 6.9/10

Directed by Ari Aster, Beau Is Afraid combines surrealism, tragedy, comedy, and horror to create a truly wild experience that only keeps escalating from start to finish. Joaquin Phoenix shines in his performance as the title character, who lives with severe paranoia and is thrown headfirst into a strange and often terrifying journey to get home in time for his mother's funeral.

Beau Is Afraid depicts the protagonist's confrontations of his deepest fears, which seem to crawl out of every corner and stem from his complicated past. At its core is an examination of his relationship with his mother, and how the secrets, experiences, and lies from his childhood haunt his life (all the way to its end). Of course, it's as dark as dark comedy can be, with its laugh-out-loud moments serving as almost awkward escapes from its more horrifying scenes.

10 'Red Rocket' (2021)

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Image Via A24

IMDb Rating: 7.1/10

Director Sean Baker understands how to study a terrible and trashy person in a way that still makes the character charming and amusing to watch, and this excels within Red Rocket. The film stars Simon Rex as an ex-porn star who has to retreat to his hometown after being devoid of success in Los Angeles. However, when he meets a young woman, he starts to get back on his feet and believes he can regain his sense of stardom.

This film combines comedy and drama to make an equally funny but also engaging and gripping experience. The film has some great performances that perfectly convey the range of emotions the film expresses, especially Rex, who shines in a peculiar role, unlike anything he has done before.

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9 'The Disaster Artist' (2017)

A man watches a cinema screen with delight, while his companion watches in horror
Image via New Line Cinema

IMDb Rating: 7.3/10

The Disaster Artist is directed by and even stars James Franco, who plays a fictional version of real-life actor Tommy Wiseau. The film serves as a biography for the actor and tells the story of the unlikely friendship between Wiseau and Greg Sestero (Dave Franco) and their production of their film The Room, which is regularly regarded as one of the worst films ever made.

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The Room is a legendary terrible film that is widely considered "so bad it's funny," which makes The Disaster Artist a great companion piece with it, as it is an actual hilarious film about the story of how The Room was conceived.

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8 '20th Century Women' (2016)

Annette Bening, Greta Gerwig, Elle Fanning, Lucas Jade Zumann and Billy Crudup all standing together in 20th Century Women
Image via A24

IMDb Rating: 7.3/10

Mike Mills' comedy-drama 20th Century Women stars Annette Bening, Elle Fanning, Greta Gerwig and Billy Crudup. The movie is set in 1979 and follows Dorothea (Bening), a single mother who enlists the aid of two younger women, Abbie (Gerwig) and Julie (Fanning), to help raise her adolescent son Jamie (Lucas Jade Zumann).

The A24 comedy is a genuine delight for fans of well-written female characters, and its leading actors provide some absolutely outstanding performances. Bening, in particular, shines as the resolute and fiercely independent Dorothea, who is determined to provide the finest possible upbringing for her son. Gerwig and Fanning are also fantastic as the two women who become Jamie's extraordinary mentors, and their interactions together are among the film's most interesting. The storyline of the bond between mothers and sons in the film is funny, joyful, and emotionally gripping. It's a must-see for everyone who enjoys coming-of-age stories, as well as anyone searching for a memorable, humorous, and touching cinematic experience.

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7 'Mid90s' (2018)

Stevie and his friends sitting down in 'Mid90s' (2018)

IMDb Rating: 7.3/10

Mid90s is the directorial debut of famous comedy actor Jonah Hill, and his comedic background is definitely reflected within this film, but it also doesn't fail at being a compelling drama. It follows a young boy named Stevie (Sunny Suljic) who struggles to find his place within the world while dealing with a lot of family drama. However, he starts to feel a sense of belonging after hanging out with a group of older skateboarders.

Much of the film's comedy comes from amusing dialogue and enjoyable characters. This film has a sense of nostalgia and cares about the community and time frame where the film takes place, which adds to the aesthetic and enjoyment.

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6 'Eighth Grade' (2018)

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IMDb Rating: 7.4/10

Eight Grade is famous comedian Bo Burnham's feature film directorial debut, following a young teenager named Kayla (Elsie Fisher) as she struggles through her last week of Eighth Grade. Although Burnham is known for his comedy specials, this film differs from his usual style of art and humor.

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The film is a great coming-of-age comedy-drama meant to capture the essence of the final year of middle school and showcase the modern era of how teenagers interact with one another and the world around them through school and social media.

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5 'The Lighthouse' (2019)

Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson standing in front of a lighthouse in 'The Lighthouse'

IMDb Rating: 7.4/10

The Lighthouse is a psychological horror film set in the 1890s, in which two lighthouse keepers, Thomas Wake (Willem Dafoe) and Ephraim Winslow (Robert Pattinson), are isolated on an isolated New England island and begin to go mad.

The film is not for the faint of heart, as it contains horrific visuals and a creepy atmosphere that will have audiences on the edge of their seats. While it's not the first film that may come to mind when thinking about funny A24 movies, it’s categorized as a comedy on IMDb likely due to its absurd sense of humor. The Lighthouse is a masterclass in filmmaking that highlights the skills of everyone involved. It's a must-see for fans of psychological horror and anybody searching for a really unique cinematic experience.

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4 'Lady Bird' (2017)

Lady Bird

IMDb Rating: 7.4/10

Lady Bird tells the story of a high school senior (Saoirse Ronan) who plans to escape her small town and her declining relationship with her mother by going to college in New York. The film was directed by Greta Gerwig, with yet another tremendous directorial debut on this list. Gerwig is known for acting roles in Frances Ha and 20th Century Women and later went on to direct Little Women and, most recently, Barbie.

Lady Bird has a ton of personality, which can all be seen within the style of the film. Although it feels very grounded in scope, the film relies on its light-hearted and very hilarious screenplay that scores wonders in terms of the film's enjoyment. A lot of the humor in this film works well and is brought to life by the fantastic screenplay and performances.

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3 'The Farewell' (2019)

Still of Awkwafina hugging her fictional grandmother Zhao Shuzhen in The Farewell
Image via A24

IMDb Rating: 7.5/10

The Farewell tells a fascinating story about a family that learns that their grandmother has cancer and doesn't have a lot of time left to live. However, the family decides to keep this information a secret and not let their grandmother know and choose to have a family gathering to give her a nice sendoff.

RELATED: Great Lesser-Known A24 Movies on Max

The film is based on a true story, which is something the director Lulu Wang experienced. You can tell the film has a ton of care put into its subject and presentation, and its subtle humor earns it a spot among the best comedy movies from the studio. The lesser-known A24 film reflects on responsibility and cultural differences relating to how people choose to express information.

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2 'Marcel the Shell with Shoes On' (2021)

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Image via A24

IMDb Rating: 7.7/10

Based on the popular YouTube short film Marcel the Shell with Shoes On tells the story of a small shell that goes on a journey to find his long-lost family as he profoundly misses the community of shells he once lived within.

The film is such a joyous and sweet little experience that you might find it hard not to get emotionally invested. Marcel is such an adorable yet witty and funny character that enhances the film's tone and makes it an extraordinary family film that anybody can appreciate.

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1 'Everything Everywhere All at Once' (2022)

Evelyn in battle in Everything Everywhere All At Once

IMDb Rating: 7.8/10

The Daniels are back, snagging the top spot with their latest release, Everything Everywhere All at Once, which is one of 2022's best films. The movie – which won seven Oscars – follows a Chinese woman (Michelle Yeoh) living in America who is being audited by the IRS. However, during this whole affair, she gets contacted by another universe with a message stating she needs to stop a powerful being from destroying the entire multiverse.

Fans of most film genres can enjoy this one as it isn't entirely a comedy because, as its title suggests, it's a bit of everything. However, the film does have a high focus on its humorous aspects. It manages to blend so many genres such as drama, action, and comedy in such an entertaining way. Despite being very weird and unconventional, the film is still highly accessible and a joyous experience that has left many people charmed.

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NEXT: The Highest-Rated A24 Movies On Letterboxd