Funny At Its Finest: 20 Downloadable Comedy Scripts To Learn From
They say that funny can’t be taught, but writing an awesome script absolutely can. And if you’re going to try to learn, you might as well learn from the best. In this article, I’ve compiled a list of 20 quality (and downloadable) comedy screenplays that any aspiring writer can learn from. And since comedy is subjective and no two people have the exact same sense of humor, I’ve made sure to include scripts from all walks of the comedic realm. Some are clever, some are crude, some are romantic–but one thing’s for sure: they’re all funny. So no matter what your style of humor is, there’s something to be learned from each and every one of the scripts on this list.
What Makes a Great Comedy Script?
Evaluating what makes comedy work is one of the hardest things to do, primarily because it relies more on the effect than the cause. You can have the greatest setup in the world, but if nobody’s laughing, then what’s the point? To top it off, it’s much easier to analyze why funny works in retrospect rather than predict how it’ll work in real time. And I know what you’re thinking, “How the hell am I supposed to learn anything then?”. Well, luckily, analyzing what makes a comedy script work is much easier than trying to figure out the concept of comedy as a whole.
A comedy script is different than a singular joke. You have to take everything that would make any other genre of script work (act structure, plot, character development, etc) and somehow make most or all of those elements funny by themselves. The individual aspects implemented have to be funny on their own, and then you have to make them come together smoothly (while also remaining funny), and then you have to sprinkle in singular jokes wherever appropriate to top it off. And this isn’t even taking into account all of the more subtle scriptwriting techniques that comedies tend to emphasize more than other genres (such as precise timing of dialogue, leaving room for creative line delivery, originality of plot, and faster pacing). It’s a very exhausting process, but man, is it rewarding once you have a quality finished product. So as I walk you through each of these hilarious scripts, I’m going to make sure to point out where they comedically shine the brightest and explain how you can take advantage of those techniques to make your own comedy scripts even better.
1.When Harry Met Sally (1989) - Nora Ephron
One of my favorite romcoms of all time, When Harry Met Sally is a simplistically beautiful tale of two characters who slowly develop a strong love for each other over twelve years of chance encounters. Ephron does an excellent job of ensuring that every chance encounter between the two titular characters is hilarious on its own, and she does an even better job of making the two characters so frustratingly different in personality that the audience can’t help but hold their breath as they slowly grow fonder and fonder of each other. Additionally, by emphasizing wholesome themes and cute dialogue a majority of the time, the audience is constantly lowering their guard, allowing for the spontaneous, more raunchy scenes to catch us off guard (and therefore, make us laugh). I’d say if you were looking to give your script better character development and act structure, then this is the one to read.
2. Groundhog Day (1993) - Danny Rubin, Harold Ramis
When a cynical TV weatherman is sent to Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, to report on the annual Groundhog Day festival, he finds himself stuck in a timeloop, forced to endlessly relive his least favorite day of the year. This film was so original in plot that it essentially claimed the time-loop schtick for itself and created an entire genre of copycats. Plus, it sticks the landing on one element of comedy script writing that is almost impossible to achieve: it has a consistently funny protagonist who is actually trying to be funny (helped tremendously by Bill Murray’s performance, of course). That may not sound like much, but it’s essentially the same as writing a script about a genius and having to come up with ideas so smart that the audience actually believes it. Plus, Rubin and Ramis take full advantage of the time-loop aspect of the plot and manage to put the protagonist through every situation imaginable, resulting in an incredibly satisfying watch that unexpectedly presents the audience with more serious themes such as love, nihilism, and existential dread. If you’re looking to make your characters funnier and bring some originality to your core concept, then look no further.
3. Annie Hall (1977) - Woody Allen
It’s not every day a comedy script wins Best Screenplay at the Oscars, but Annie Hall managed to achieve that feat while also remaining culturally relevant for decades after its release – and for good reason. Annie Hall tells the story of how a timid TV writer falls in love with a struggling nightclub singer, all while the protagonist stops to address the audience directly with stories from his personal life leading up to the present moment. This script broke all the rules of traditional screenplay writing at the time and achieved universal appraise, so if you’re looking to improve the originality of your story’s format, then maybe Annie Hall can help inspire you.
4. Bridesmaids (2011) - Annie Mumolo, Kristen Wiig
When our hot-mess protagonist is chosen to be her childhood best friend's maid of honor, we follow her through all of the hilariously stupid and silly rituals that come with the job. This film does an excellent job of utilizing the ensemble team of irregular characters that any audience member has come to recognize at a wedding, but also manages to find the best humor and humanity within a fleet of flawed protagonists. If you’re looking to improve on making your characters likable and dynamic, then Bridemaids’ script is a no-brainer.
5. Superbad (2007) Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg
Superbad tells the straightforward story of three high school nerds who find themselves going on an unexpected adventure across their town when they’re tasked with providing the alcohol for a popular girl’s party. And before I say anything else, I just want to point out that I can’t praise Superbad enough. In fact, I already did an entire script analysis on how it may be the funniest screenplay of all time here (you should check it out). To reiterate what I wrote there, this script absolutely masters what I call the “Big Three” of a perfect comedy screenplay: it has a funny plot, funny characters, and actually funny jokes at every single turn.
6. The Big Sick (2017) - Kumail Nanjani, Emily V. Gordon
When the woman our protagonist is casually dating suddenly falls into a coma, he begins to form an unexpected relationship with her eccentric parents as he refuses to leave her side. A true story written by the people this actually happened to, The Big Sick masters the art of balancing humor with emotional drama. It’s raw, it’s real, and if you’re looking to bring some lighthearted humor to your already tear-filled dramatic screenplay, then it can be a great source of inspiration.
7. Little Miss Sunshine (2006) - Michael Arndt
Yet another Best Screenplay winner at the Oscars, Little Miss Sunshine tells the story of a twelve-year-old, unexpected beauty pageant contestant who is suddenly crowned the winner of a local contest (due to the real winner dropping out), forcing her and her dysfunctional family to race across the country so that she can compete for the national prize. Once again, this is a script I can’t talk enough about (and also already wrote a script analysis about here). If there’s anything an aspiring screenwriter can learn from this script, it’s how to balance dark subject matter such as death, addiction, and unconventional family dynamics with lighthearted humor that makes the audience somehow feel positive in the end.
8. Shaun of the Dead (2004) - Simon Pegg, Edgar Wright
A zombie flick told not through the perspective of honorable heroes, but rather through a friend group of barely employed losers who drink too much and have to step up to the occasion in order to prove their lives are worth living. Like most Edgar Wright comedies, what this script excels at more than anything is its incredible comedic timing and rapid joke/per second rate, allowing for unexpected depth in an otherwise surface-level genre. If you’re looking to improve your comedy primarily from a proper joke-telling perspective, then consider Shaun of the Dead the ultimate text to study (in fact, I’d also recommend reading the scripts to any of Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright’s collaborations).
9. Juno (2007) - Diablo Cody
And once again, we have yet another comedic Best Screenplay winner at the Oscars (okay, maybe it does happen more than I thought). Juno focuses on the teenage titular character as she navigates the adoption process after becoming unexpectedly pregnant, eventually forming an unprofessional relationship with the prospective father that threatens the future of the family he’s actively trying to build. Diablo manages to give Juno an especially distinctive voice as she navigates all too common coming-of-age scenarios, allowing for witty dialogue to shine through an otherwise serious subject matter.
10. The Nice Guys (2016) - Shane Black, Anthony Bagarozzi
A classic noir tale, The Nice Guys focuses on an alcoholic P.I. and a no-funny-business enforcer who are forced to team up after a mutual client mysteriously disappears. The noir genre has become more difficult to pull off in recent years (mainly because it’s inherently repetitive in style and plot), but Black’s ability to juggle fun action sequences, a legitimately interesting mystery, and hilarious character dynamics makes this film a breath of fresh air. So for any writer who wants to bring a new, comedic twist to an otherwise overplayed genre, there’s no better script to read than this one.
11. Game Night (2018) - Mark Perez
When a murder-mystery game night between an average group of friends suddenly turns real, our protagonists have to use the skills they’ve learned from years of boring game nights to solve a real-life murder case. A modern masterpiece of irony, this script manages to present the audience with a ridiculously original plot that is executed way better than it has any right to be. The jokes are funny, the characters are unique, and the plot is sprinkled with so many brilliant twists and turns that the audience can’t help but feel like they’re right there alongside our protagonists, trying to help them solve the case. For any screenwriter wanting to learn how to effectively escalate their comedic conflicts to the max, Game Night is the script to study.
12. Palm Springs (2020) - Andy Siara
Remember when I mentioned how Groundhog Day practically created an entire genre? Well, Palm Springs is one of those movies, and in my opinion, the only one to really get it right. Like its predecessor, Palm Springs focuses on a cynical man who finds himself stuck in a time loop, forced to relive the same day over and over. Except this time, our protagonist is stuck reliving the same Palm Springs wedding every day (where he’s an unknown plus-one). It somehow manages to take everything established in Groundhog Day and up the energy to the max, putting our protagonist in even more extreme and hilarious situations. Additionally, by allowing other characters to join him in his time-loop dilemma, this script provides a great avenue for an unexpected romance to grow when the sister of the bride finds herself in the same situation as our protagonist. If you’re looking to implement some surreal comedy into your script or want to put a new twist on an older tale, then definitely give this script a read.
13. Lady Bird (2017) - Greta Gerwig
A coming-of-age story about a unique teenager navigating a difficult home life and complicated romantic relationships during her final year in high school in the early 2000s, Lady Bird manages to stand as something completely new in an otherwise predictable genre. While this debut feature from Gerwig excels in almost every direction, she can perhaps be most praised for this script’s ability to present the audience with a constant stream of realism. The dialogue, characters, and situations our protagonist finds herself in don’t feel like elements of a movie, but rather snippets of Gerwig’s own life from growing up in the bland town of Sacramento, California. I would strongly recommend any screenwriter hoping to make their characters, dialogue, or humor more realistic to give this script a read.
14. Scott Pilgrim vs. The World (2010) - Edgar Wright, Michael Bacall
Adapted from Bryan Lee O’Malley’s popular graphic novel series Scott Pilgrim, Wright and Bacall’s script tells the story of a dorky rock band guitarist who must defeat his girlfriend’s seven evil ex-boyfriends in order to be with her. This film is typically considered the gold standard of graphic novel adaptation, somehow managing to present the audience with an intriguing plot, modern pop culture references, and a unique visual style–all while staying true to the source material. If you’re the kind of writer who is obsessed and inspired by previous works of art and want to implement such homages into your own comedic writing, then this script can be a great roadmap for achieving that goal efficiently.
15. The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014) - Wes Anderson
When a luxury hotel manager in 1930s Europe discovers that his elderly lover has been killed (and he’s being accused of the murder), he and his hotel lobby boy go on a country wide adventure to clear his name and find the real killer. I think it’s safe to say that every cinephile has had this film at their top of their favorites list at some point or another, and for good reason. Wes Anderson delivers an extraordinary unique tale of poverty and wealth that is filled with creative storytelling techniques (a story within a story within a story), whimsical humor, and an ensemble cast of characters that all serve their own important purpose. It’s charming and fun from the very first minute right up until the last. If you’re looking to expand on your narrative structure or write a script with a very specific visual style in mind, The Grand Budapest Hotel is a great place to start.
16. Frances Ha (2012) - Greta Gerwig, Noah Baumbach
A classic “New York” story that follows a struggling dance apprentice in her twenties as she navigates a life of personal confusion, financial instability, and evershifting relationships, Frances Ha is perhaps one of the most charming films on this list. Praised for its authentic dialogue, realistic conflicts, and awkwardly relatable moments, reading this script can help any writer who wants to bring a more realistic style of humor to their writing.
17. The Princess Bride (1987) - William Goldman
A true modern fairytale, The Princess Bride tells the classic story of ancient hero who must go an an extreme adventure to save his one true love, allowing plenty of room for a quirky set of characters to infiltrate the story every step of the way. Constantly aware of its familiar plot, this script makes sure to undermine every stereotype and artictype at every turn, forcing the audience to never be too sure of themselves in regards to predicting what’s going to happen. Perfectly blending comedy, drama, romance, and adventure, this script is a must-read for any writer having trouble effectively combining multiple genres into a single, well-rounded story.
18. Some Like It Hot (1959) - Billy Wilder, I.A.L. Diamond
Perhaps the most famous “farce” in Hollywood history, this classic film tells the story of two musicians who must disguise themselves as women and infiltrate a female Jazz band in order to hide from the mob after witnessing a murder. It’s timeless comedic elements and excellent performances made this film stand out as true comedic masterpiece, and for any screenplay writer wanting to get a history lesson on comedy in the mid-twentieth century, then there’s no better place to start than Wilder and Diamond’s Some Like It Hot.
19. Zombieland (2009) - Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick
Another comedic take on the zombie genre, Zombieland focuses on four nameless strangers from very different backgrounds who decide to take a cross-country roadtrip together in search of refuge. Structured around the dorkiest of our protagonists’ “rules to survival”, this film uses quick wit, physical comedy, and strong character dynamics to bring yet another fresh take on a typically predictable genre. If anything, this film proves that there are no bad ideas, just bad execution. So for any screenplay writer hoping to add layers to their otherwise basic plot idea, this script is a great outline for how truly original characters and well-written dialogue can make anything worth watching.
20. The Way Way Back (2013) - Nat Faxon, Jim Rash
When an awkward teenage boy is forced to spend his summer at a beach house with his mom and her abusive new boyfriend, he ends up finding solace in a part-time job at a local waterpark ran by a charitable, father-like figure. Like all coming-of-age stories, this film utilizes humor to undermine the challenges that typically fall on any lonely teenager. However, its ability to balance lighthearted, awkward fun with serious themes such as abandonment, grief, and helplessness makes it stand out from the rest. Coming in at just over a 100 pages and still managing to make every character successfully achieve their purpose, I would recommend this script to any writer looking to improve their efficiency of character development.
Ready to Laugh? Download These Comedy Scripts and Learn From the Best?
Like I said, all of these scripts come from writers with a diverse background and wide range of senses of humor, so no matter what you’re looking to improve on, I think you’ll be able to find something valuable to learn here. So just download a script, get reading, and learn from the best! Whether you learn anything or not (you will), I can guarantee you’ll at least ding yourself laughing along the way.