Murray Declares Kung Fu Hustle Best Comedy of Century
The comedy legend singles out Stephen Chow's martial arts masterpiece as unmatched in modern cinema, delivering a harsh verdict on American comedy's future.
Bill Murray knows comedy. After four decades making audiences laugh and becoming one of the genre's biggest names, the Saturday Night Live alum has earned his stripes judging what works. His track record speaks volumes. Stripes, Meatballs, Caddyshack, Ghostbusters, Scrooged, Groundhog Day, The Royal Tenenbaums. These films keep getting rewatched decades later.
But when Murray surveyed 21st-century comedy, he delivered sobering news for American filmmakers. One movie had set the bar impossibly high. No one could touch it.
The Supreme Achievement
Stephen Chow's Kung Fu Hustle earned Murray's ultimate praise. The film blends martial arts with slapstick comedy, visual gags, and relentless pacing that channels both Buster Keaton and Tex Avery. Murray didn't hold back his assessment.
"It's the supreme achievement of the modern age in terms of comedy," Murray declared. "It's not even close."
The comparison hit close to home for Murray. "Quick Change, after it, looked like a home movie. It looked like a fucking high school film. I was like, 'Oh man, I just saw this thing', and 'God, that's just staggering, just staggering'. When I saw that, I was like: That. Just. Happened."
A Warning to American Comedy
Murray's reaction went beyond simple admiration. He saw Chow's work as a game-changer that exposed American comedy's limitations. The Academy Award-nominated actor issued a stark warning to his peers.
"There should have been a day of mourning for American comedy the day that movie came out," Murray concluded.
The statement might sound extreme, but anyone familiar with Kung Fu Hustle's wild energy understands Murray's point. The film operates on a different level entirely. Its mix of outrageous physical comedy, martial arts choreography, and pure visual madness creates something American comedy rarely attempts.
Murray's endorsement carries weight. His own directorial effort pales in comparison, as he readily admits. The gap between what American comedy produces and what Chow achieved seems insurmountable. At least according to one of comedy's most respected voices.