Dark Comedies
Some times it's hard to find really depressingly dark comedy. And some times it's not all pitch black. Here is a formidable list of comedy movies and shows that take a more serious departure often enough in their runtime to earn their place in my blackened heart. Some are much darker than others.
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- DirectorDrew HancockDan HarmonRyan NagataStarsJack BlackDeMorge BrownEric Falconer"Joke Chasers", "Who Farted?", "Homeless James Bond", "Teensies", "Anna Manesia" & "Mr. Sprinkles"I'm putting this at the very top because most people probably haven't seen it. Mr Sprinkles was the first Dan Harmon / Justin Roiland collaboration. It's a 15ish minute series of shorter parts. The story arc gets increasingly dark and *beep* up. This should have been a full fledged series, imagine it airing right before Rick and Morty every night?
- CreatorTrey ParkerMatt StoneBrian GradenStarsTrey ParkerMatt StoneIsaac HayesFollows the misadventures of four irreverent grade-schoolers in the quiet, dysfunctional town of South Park, Colorado.South Park redefined television. It dethroned the Simpsons as the most important animated cartoon of all time. Trey Parker and Matt Stone are geniuses. I honestly consider them the most important comedic duo in history. Between South Park, all of their movies (from Cannibal to Orgazmo to Team America), the music they make, they've redefined the limits you can push again and again.
- CreatorDino StamatopoulosStarsCarolyn LawrenceScott AdsitBritta PhillipsA parody of past religious-geared animated shows starring Orel, an optimistic God-fearing young boy in a world of cynicism.The opening episode is a zombie apocalypse. Before the season closes the adolescent protagonist is lead to believe ejaculating without the intent of conception is a sin, so he masturbates into a turkey baster and impregnates women all around the town. This is the lightest season the show.
The turn in the "Nature" two parter that closes Season 2 was brilliant. Season 3 should have finished it's planned 20 episode arc, and the additional two season transition into "Moralton" would have been some of the most satisfyingly dark television ever made. As it stands, it already is one of those shows. Clay Puppingtons Sacrifice rant deserves awards. - StarsMorwenna BanksBrian BowlesSimon GreenallA definitely-not-for-children animated series with each episode made up of an array of perverse skits.This one is *beep* on various levels. It covers society at large, and cleverly intersects the "arcs" of dozens of different characters extremely vaguely. As a cross section view of society this show is unparalleled. And I'm from the US.
- CreatorRob McElhenneyGlenn HowertonStarsCharlie DayGlenn HowertonRob McElhenneyFive friends with big egos and small brains are the proprietors of an Irish pub in Philadelphia.The anti-sitcom that changed TV. The show where characters get increasingly more *beep* up. Each season adds another layer of filth to Charlie and Frank, to the sociopathic tendencies of Dennis, the self-esteem issues of Dee and Mac, and the overall depravity of the entire group. The devious plotting of the gang both as a team against others and inner turmoil is the most entertaining depiction of delusional lunatics in TV history.
- CreatorJon GlaserStarsJon GlaserEugene MirmanJacob KoganA man who's in the witness protection program creates a TV reality show about his situation. He has to wear a black ski mask all the time, but other than that he and his family try to live a "normal" life in front of the camera.Jon Glaser is a genius. This shows dark moments rival the darkest of any other dark comedy, and probably the best part is Jon's inability to empathize with the other characters. His reality show literally causes every problem he turns a blind eye too.
- CreatorBen BestJody HillDanny McBrideStarsDanny McBrideSteve LittleKaty Mixon GreerMany years after he turned his back on his hometown, a burned-out major league ballplayer returns to teach Physical Education at his old middle school.The journey of Kenny Powers is fascinating to behold.
- CreatorChristopher McCullochStarsChristopher McCullochJames UrbaniakDoc HammerThe bizarre escapades of pseudo-heroic scientist Dr. Rusty Venture, his competent, high-strung bodyguard, and his two overenthusiastic sons.The Venture Bros has an extremely satisfying story that continues to grow and expand with each season. Every episode builds upon the lore of the universe. I prefer the Ventureverse to DC or Marvels stake-less affairs.
- CreatorLouis C.K.StarsLouis C.K.Hadley DelanyUrsula ParkerThe life of Louie C.K., a divorced comedian living in New York with two kids.While oftentimes bordering on pretentious, Louie strikes a good balance between comedy and bleak in it's early and later seasons. Doug Stanhope crushes it as Eddie in one of the darker earlier moments. Other standouts are Louie's "New Years" surprise and the three episode arc of him gunning for a position as a late night talk show host.
- CreatorJeffrey BlitzAndy DalyCharlie SiskelStarsAndy DalyJessica St. ClairMegan StevensonIn this spoof of review shows, Forrest MacNeil, a critic obsessed with his work, experiences whatever the viewers ask him to review including divorce, anonymous sex, and all manner of criminal activity.Love the show within a show concept. Andy Daly plays a great character here, putting his family, friends and co-workers through strenuous situations just to appease his misplace loyalty to the show he hosts, which is literally on basic cable (in the universe of course). Pancakes, Divorce, Pancakes is one of the best pieces of dark comedy ever written.
- CreatorJason GannDavid ZuckermanAdam ZwarStarsElijah WoodJason GannFiona GubelmannThe story of a depressed man who inexplicably is the only one who can see his neighbor's dog as a full-grown man in a dog suit.This show has an interesting ongoing storyline and takes a very interesting look at mental illness. I like to think this show is a prequel to the "Maniac" remake also starring Elijah Wood.
- CreatorDan HarmonJustin RoilandStarsChris ParnellSpencer GrammerSarah ChalkeThe fractured domestic lives of a nihilistic mad scientist and his anxious grandson are further complicated by their inter-dimensional misadventures.This show drops episodes like MCs drop microphones after dominating rap battles. Justin crushes it as both titular characters, the improvisational flare adding a uniquely spontaneous comedic layer most shows lack. The universe is extremely interesting, and the dark moments are some of the best on television. The "Unity" ending and Morty burying himself are standouts. "Emotional countermeasures" is some deep *beep* This show is guaranteed to become an all-time classic and already is considered one with only two seasons. A thousand years Rick and Morty.
- CreatorRaphael Bob-WaksbergStarsWill ArnettAmy SedarisAlison BrieBoJack Horseman was the star of the hit television show "Horsin' Around" in the '80s and '90s, but now he's washed up, living in Hollywood, complaining about everything, and wearing colorful sweaters.
- CreatorBill BurrMichael PriceStarsBill BurrLaura DernJustin LongFollow the Murphy family back to the 1970s, when kids roamed wild, beer flowed freely and nothing came between a man and his TV.
- CreatorJohn AltschulerMike JudgeDave KrinskyStarsThomas MiddleditchT.J. MillerJosh BrenerFollows the struggle of Richard Hendricks, a Silicon Valley engineer trying to build his own company called Pied Piper.Not necessarily the darkest of the dark, but definitely a show that feeds off the anxiety it instills in it's viewers. A masterclass in comedic writing, Mike Judge has rarely missed a beat and continues to nail it here every episode.
- CreatorAdam ReedStarsH. Jon BenjaminJudy GreerAmber NashCovert black ops and espionage take a back seat to zany personalities and relationships between secret agents and drones.
- CreatorDavid CrossStarsSharon HorganWill ArnettDavid CrossTodd Margaret is an American who takes a job running the London sales team for an energy drink. He has no experience with British culture, knows nothing about sales and has only one employee, Dave.
- CreatorMichael JacobsBob YoungStarsStuart PankinAllan TrautmanJessica WalterThis show follows the life of a family of dinosaurs, living in a modern world. They have televisions, refrigerators, et cetera. The only humans around are cavemen, who are viewed as pets and wild animals.This shows main competition was the Simpsons, and I'd argue Dinosaurs was the stronger series. Not only is the puppetry and sets themselves artistically satisfying, the messages of the show are on another level for the time period. The intended series finale was so shocking they had to air it out of order so as to not traumatize children.
(SPOILER: The episode literally depicts the extinction of the dinosaurs and ends on a sobering news broadcast before they turn over to emergency systems. The world around freezes, due to a blunder of the main protagonist of the series.) - CreatorJim JefferiesPeter O'FallonStarsJim JefferiesDan BakkedahlDJ QuallsJim and his put upon friends try to learn what it means to be a good person.
- DirectorEdgar WrightStarsSimon PeggNick FrostKate AshfieldThe uneventful, aimless lives of a London electronics salesman and his layabout roommate are disrupted by the zombie apocalypse.
- DirectorBobcat GoldthwaitStarsBobcat GoldthwaitJulie BrownBruce BaumShakes is good at his job as party clown - when he's sober and shows up. Five druggy clowns frame him for the murder of his boss.Alcoholic clowns snorting cocaine and dealing with everyday problems. A gritty, down-to-earth treasure.
- DirectorJohn WatersStarsMelanie GriffithStephen DorffAlicia WittAn insane independent film director and his renegade group of teenage filmmakers kidnap an A-list Hollywood actress and force her to star in their underground film.
- DirectorDan AykroydStarsChevy ChaseDan AykroydJohn CandyA businessman and his friends are captured by a sadistic judge and his equally odd family in a bizarre mansion in the backwoods.
- DirectorQuentin DupieuxStarsStephen SpinellaRoxane MesquidaWings HauserA homicidal car tire, discovering it has destructive psionic power, sets its sights on a desert town once a mysterious woman becomes its obsession.
- DirectorTerry ZwigoffStarsBilly Bob ThorntonBernie MacLauren GrahamA miserable conman and his partner pose as Santa and his Little Helper to rob department stores on Christmas Eve. But they run into problems when the conman befriends a troubled kid.