At a time when the world is dismal, frustration is running high, and no one can seem to get along with one another, why has the "blockbuster comedy" vanished without a trace? Ever since the 1960’s, comedy was practically America’s favorite genre, and through the early 2010’s it remained, when at least once a year, a movie would come out and recharge the cultural lexicon with mainstaying quotes and the conversations that followed. Beverly Hills Cop, Clueless, Talladega Nights… all eras bygone. Even Judd Apatow, the uncontested king of comedies of this ilk, seems to have gravitated more to understated dramedies with Funny People and this year’s The King of Staten Island. Perhaps it was the advent of Marvel, or perhaps it was the move of most films to streaming services, but no must-see comedies seem to have been released since perhaps 2014’s 22 Jump Street. Why do you think this is? Is this something you’ve noticed, and if so, have you missed them? What do you think the solution could be?
I'd recommend changing your title to 'Why Are There No More Hollywood Blockbuster Comedies.' The solution you seek could be to look outside of America and acknowledge that other countries are making highly successful comedies that are breaking domestic box office records and receiving remakes. Here are just three Korean 'blockbuster' comedies from the last decade that are well worth viewing: Kang Hyeong-cheol's 'Sunny' (2011), which has seen Vietnamese, Japanese and Indian remake, plus there's a Hollywood remake in pre-production. Lee Hwan-kyung's 'Miracle in Cell No.7' (2013), has had a Kannadan, Hindi, Turkish, Philippino and Indonesian remake. Hwang Dong-hyuk's 'Miss Granny,'(2014) which has seen a Chinese, Vietnamese, Japanese, Thai, Indonesian, Philippino and Indian remake, plus English and Spanish language remakes presently in pre-production. There are many more I could mention. – Amyus3 years ago