20 Comedy Movies You Must See Before You Die

13. Rushmore (1997)

The genius of Rushmore might not be made instantly apparent to the uninitiated. Certainly, it's one of the more subtle entries on our list, and the humour is highly idiosyncratic - almost to the point of bewilderment. That said, this still might well be the most accessible of all Wes Anderson's films, given that his style here isn't quite as overbearing as it is in many of his later films.

Rushmore's plot is an oddity in itself, and follows Max Fischer (Jason Schwartzman), a precocious underachiever at the school of the movie's title, as he befriends a lonely industrialist (Bill Murray). Much of the movie explores the battle that ensues when Max and Murray's highly apathetic Herman Blume realise that they're both in love with the same woman, but really Rushmore's narrative is incredibly loose, and there's no definitive storyline that powers the movie.

Indeed, Rushmore's genius mostly derives from its tone, which is breezy and cool, and crammed with deadpan jokes that will have you sniggering time and time again. As an exercise in auteurist comedy, Rushmore serves as a leading example; it's hilarious, sad, and weird all at once.