--- ---  # The 5 Funniest Movies Ever by [Tracy Oliver](https://time.com/author/tracy-oliver/) ## Tracy Oliver Mar 1, 2019 4:17 PM UTC  Photos: Everett (3). Illustration by Matt Herring for TIME by [Tracy Oliver](https://time.com/author/tracy-oliver/) ## Tracy Oliver Mar 1, 2019 4:17 PM UTC _We asked comedy greats to name the five works in their fields that influenced them the most and made them laugh the hardest. Tracy Oliver_ [_made headlines_](https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/23/movies/girls-trip-writers-make-movie-history-and-influence-it-too.html) _as the first black screenwriter to write a film that grossed over $100 million with the uproarious 2017 comedy_ Girls Trip_, which she co-wrote. This year she’ll celebrate the release of_ Little_, a movie she wrote about a woman (Regina Hall) who wakes up as her younger self (Marsai Martin) and her BET reboot of_ The First Wives Club_._ _Also read Tig Notaro’s_ [_favorite stand-up specials_](https://wp.me/p5HMd-nfeq)_, Samantha Irby’s_ [_favorite funny books_](https://wp.me/p5HMd-nfeX) _and Michael Schur’s_ [_favorite funny TV shows_](https://wp.me/p5HMd-nfqW)_._ ## _Coming To America_ (1988) This movie continues to be a classic. Watching it as a kid, I remember thinking all the characters that Eddie Murphy and Arsenio Hall played in the movie were hysterical. But even more than the comedy, I loved the scale of this film — the size of the wedding and the scope of the ceremony with the African dancers. It never feels like a small, cheap movie. ## **_Bridesmaids_** (2011) [_Bridesmaids_](http://entertainment.time.com/2011/05/11/bridesmaids-kristin-wiig-review/) was a huge turning point for me. I remember watching it in the theater and thinking, _This will forever change the face of comedy_. Not only was it about women, they weren’t all gorgeous, unrelatable women. Kristen Wiig as the protagonist was the type of chick I could relate to, and Melissa McCarthy was unbelievably funny. _Bridesmaids_ set the stage for us to pitch _Girls Trip,_ because now we could point to another comedy starring women that was raunchy and successful. ## **_Trading Places_** (1983) I watch _Trading Places_ every time it airs. It also has a lot of social commentary hidden within the movie, which I love; it manages to say a lot about race and class without being overly didactic. ## **_When Harry Met Sally_** (1989) I fell in love with Nora Ephron after watching [this movie](http://time.com/2970018/when-harry-met-sally-25-year-anniversary/). I always go back to it when I write dialogue between two characters who are madly in love with each other, because you’re hard pressed to find dialogue as sharp as this: It’s basically a master class. It’s still my favorite romantic comedy. ## **_Big_** (1988) Tom Hanks is incredible, and there are so many funny, endearing moments in it. My favorite scene is when Tom Hanks and Robert Loggia play “Chopsticks” with their feet using the giant piano at FAO Schwarz. It’s really well-written with lots of laughs, but a lot of heart. 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