10 Greatest R-Rated Comedy Films Of All Time

Comedy, in its most literal sense, is the term lent to anything that is intended to be humorous. Unfortunately, the issue surrounding this definition lies in the subjectivity of humour itself; what exactly makes people laugh? It's probably fair to say that we're past the era of Ken Dodd and his 'tickling stick'. However, as Tom Green proved, neither are we ready for the spectacle of a socially awkward animal molester. So, where does that leave us then? Well, actually, rather nicely in an area known as 'Restricted'; or 'R-Rated' to you and me. The middle ground of comedy almost exclusively boasts the title of 'Home of the Funny'. It's the rating that isn't restricted by the limitations of Universal and PG-13, though neither is it at risk of going too overboard with the NC-17 rating. Whether you're the more reserved kind or the more flamboyant, old or (relatively) young, male or female, or if you simply need to pass the time, the R-Rated comedy is the film industry's light hearted gem that's bound to have you splitting at the sides. Of course, that's not to say that the greatest comedies are exclusively R-Rated, though. No, not by a long shot. Falling just below the 'R' category are classics such as Anchorman and The Monty Python Series, whilst exceeding the classification is none other than cult hit The Big Lebowski. On the other hand, if it wasn't for the R-Rated comedy, what we'd be left with is an uncomfortable black or white decision. Fortunately for us then, the R-Rating does exist and is often that reassuring shade of grey that fits the bill best. The latest addition to the R-Rated club is Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane's directorial debut, Ted. The story of John Bennett's (Mark Wahlberg) relationship with his animate anthropomorphic bear comes into fruition when Bennett's girlfriend Lori (Mila Kunis) grows frustrated by Ted's (MacFarlane) ever-presence; laughs and swears are a given. Ergo, in light of the recent release of Ted, I give you the 10 Greatest R-Rated Comedies Of All Time - enjoy!

10. There's Something About Mary

Racing out the blocks to start our list is 1998's, There's Something About Mary. With little initial interest in the build up to its release, the film turned out to be a sleeper hit, having raked in just under $370m at the box office; a feat deemed all the more incredible when you consider that the budget was only around the $25m mark. So what was it that drew people in with such force? Well, the story of lovesick/overly obsessed Ted Stroehmann (Ben Stiller) and his pining for childhood sweetheart Mary Jensen (Cameron Diaz), breathed new life into an era dominated by high school chick flicks. Ted's story was chaotic, it was filled with error, it was a farce; in other words, Ted's story was relatable. Forming somewhat of a general consensus, the mass majority of the public had grown tired of the monotonous clichés of the period, meaning that There's Something About Mary was exactly the the rom-com remedy that was needed. Undoubtedly, some people may react a little perplexed at the sight of Ted and Mary's tale in an all time greatest list. Admittedly, it's not the first thing that comes to mind when you think of a 'must see' film, but you'd be a fool indeed to dismiss it entirely.