When you make a purchase through links on this post, we may earn a commission through Amazon or other retailers. Learn more about our affiliate disclaimer.
Here are the best basketball comedies of all time.
That’s easy to say. But they actually need to be funny. Not, hehe, that’s silly, and it made a ton at the box office, but legitimately laugh worthy.
Who am I to judge funny? I am an American, and I grew up in the nineties. Oh, you need more than that!? Well, I once worked at the Improv Comedy Club in San Jose, California, for several semesters. I was a Food Runner.
Still not enough!? Well I make my wife and my daughter laugh every day. My daughter is 2, but she has discerning taste.
Oh, you want proof? Fine…
This is direct from my own consciousness, and should hopefully prove to you beyond reasonable doubt that I am a naturally and genuinely funny person.
To be delivered in the style of a Father
Hey, did you hear about the campground killer? They booked him on a tented murder.
So now that that’s out of the way, here we go…
And honestly, my sense of humor doesn’t matter because none of these movies are actually all that funny. But they do involve basketball.
Champions (2023)
From 1 half of the Farrelly brothers, we get the story of a group of differently-abled kids in pursuit of basketball glory.
Woody Harrelson plays the misanthropic coach. In classic sports-film style (a la Mighty Ducks) he is ordered by the court to take his skills to an underserved portion of the community.
I am, to be honest, a fan of the Farrelly legacy: Kingpin, There’s Something About Mary, Dumb and Dumber, etc. So it’s no mystery that this one worked for me. But it wasn’t a runaway.
If you go by RottenTomatoes, Champions is a fan favorite. The critics aren’t loving it, but it has held a 95% audience score.
The critics are often wrong.
Peacock has secured the streaming rights for its premium service. You can also stream it on Amazon, but it is a little pricey.
Celtic Pride (1996)
Double Dans, Aykroyd and Stern kidnap their basketball idol, played by Damon Wayans. You also get a brief cameo from Darrell Hammond.
But the unexpected contribution here… This is an early writing dredit for Judd Apatow, in collaboration with Colin Quinn.
No laughs. Literally not a single laugh. I was looking.
The talent is there. It just does not play out on the screen.
But if you must, you’ll have to go the Amazon rent or buy route on Celtic Pride at the moment.
Uncle Drew (2018)
Uncle Drew was created by Kyrie Irving for a series of Pepsi commercials in 2012. Kyrie suits up as an old dude, and hustles basketball.
For basketball fans, and Kyrie fans (if there are any left at this point) it works.
This film also features appearances from Shaq and Nick Kroll. That’s cool I guess.
White Men Can’t Jump (1992)
Harrelson and Snipes team up to compete in a high-stakes basketball tournament. As they hustle each other, they quickly discover that they are only hustling themselves.
I really do enjoy this movie. However, it’s one of those comedy movies that is listed as a comedy movie because it’s got a goofy premise, but is never actually explicitly funny.
Apparently, all the good basketball movies are on Hulu right now.
Semi-Pro (2008)
This may be Will Ferrel’s least beloved film.
Make no mistake, this movie is what you sign up for. It is Taladega Nights on a basketball court, minus some of the larger laughs.
Still, even at a 38% audience rating and a 22% on the tomato-meter, I’ll take the basketball court over driving in circles any day.
You can find this one on HBOMax for the time being.
Forget Paris (1995)
Billy Crystal and Debra Winger meet in Paris and fall in love. Mickey is an NBA ref. Ellen is a business executive.
Forget Paris was released in 1995. It’s fine. As much as I love Billy Crystal, I wouldn’t go too far out of my way for this one.
The Cookout (2004)
Events Transpiring Before, During and After a High School Basketball Game (2021)
The Hot Flashes (2013)
