20 Comedy Movies You Must See Before You Die

18. The 40-Year-Old Virgin (2005)

The 40-Year-Old Virgin was the first movie to really showcase Judd Apatow's comedic stylings (which can be felt pretty much everywhere nowadays - seriously, it's insane), and it's still arguably his best and most accomplished effort ever.

Whereas his more recent works - Knocked Up not included, which was great for the most part - seemed to overreach somewhat in their efforts to impress, The 40-Year-Old Virgin marks the definitive Apatow film: frequently hilarious, crude, heavy with improvisation, warming and sweet, and featuring flawed, loveable chumps.

Praise goes to Apatow for his neat directional work and for implementing his trademark comic sensibilities, of course, but the most valuable player here is without a doubt Steve Carrell, whose undeniably adorable virgin loser, Andy Stitzer, keeps the picture sweet and grounded, as an array of side-splitting supporting characters (the best of whom are played by Paul Rudd, Seth Rogen and Romany Malco to brilliant effect) try to help him out. Best of all, despite the frequently loud and obnoxious nature of the movie, it never loses it sense of heart and humanity.