Tarantino Reveals His Pick for Funniest Film in 25 Years
The acclaimed director shared his surprising choice for the most hilarious movie he's watched in recent decades, explaining how it had him and his entire film crew in stitches during production.
Quentin Tarantino may have built his reputation on stylized violence and cult cinema references, but the legendary filmmaker also has a deep appreciation for comedy that pushes boundaries. Despite being known for blood-soaked narratives and provocative dialogue, the director has always had a soft spot for movies that embrace pure, unfiltered humor.
Recent Controversies and Praise
The filmmaker has been making headlines recently, though not for updates on his rumored final tenth film. While the director's cut of Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair finally saw release after years of being split into two parts, Tarantino sparked internet debates with controversial remarks made during an appearance on Bret Easton Ellis' podcast.
His harsh critiques of various actors, particularly his unflattering comments about Paul Dano, drew significant backlash from industry colleagues and fans who rushed to defend the actor. However, these negative soundbites overshadowed the bulk of the interview, where Tarantino actually spent most of his time celebrating what he considered the top 20 films of the 21st century.
An Unexpected Comedy Champion
Tarantino's list featured the usual mix of acclaimed masterpieces, divisive titles, and lesser-known gems that only true cinema obsessives would recognize. Ridley Scott's intense war drama Black Hawk Down claimed the top spot, followed by Pixar's emotional Toy Story 3 and Sofia Coppola's contemplative Lost in Translation.
While entries from renowned directors like David Fincher's Zodiac and Woody Allen's Midnight in Paris seemed predictable, one selection caught everyone off guard: Jackass: The Movie. The director declared it the most hilarious film he'd encountered in decades.
"This was the movie I laughed at the most in these last 20 years," Tarantino explained. "I don't remember laughing from beginning to end like this since Richard Pryor. As I was making Kill Bill, I thought this movie was so fucking funny I had to show it to the crew. So we found a print, watched the movie, and just died."
The Jackass Phenomenon
The film continued the outrageous legacy of the popular MTV series, reuniting Johnny Knoxville, Bam Margera, Chris Pontius, Steve-O, and Dave England for another round of death-defying stunts and absurd pranks. Critics initially struggled to categorize the movie, but younger audiences who grew up with the show's chaotic energy embraced it wholeheartedly.
The success spawned three additional sequels, with each installment surprisingly gaining more critical acceptance than its predecessor. Tarantino's endorsement aligns with his history of championing unconventional choices, and his appreciation for the Jackass crew's approach makes sense given his own independent filmmaking roots.
The collaborative spirit of lifelong friends creating passion projects mirrors the same DIY ethos that made Reservoir Dogs so groundbreaking in 1992, inspiring countless aspiring filmmakers to pursue their visions. While Tarantino's list included other comedic favorites like Shaun of the Dead and The School of Rock, none apparently matched the sustained laughter that Jackass delivered.