When we asked, “What was the funniest Black film of the ’80s and ’90s?” on TikTok, the responses came fast—and full of love for the classics. Faves like Harlem Nights, I’m Gonna Get You Sucka, Hollywood Shuffle, Coming to America, Friday, House Party, and The Nutty Professor set the standard for comedy and cultural impact in the 80s and 90s. They weren’t just funny, but for a lot of us Gen Xers—they were formative. They made us laugh until we cried, gave us iconic lines to quote when appropriate (“Bye, Felicia!”), and created characters that feel like family.
So, what made them so funny?
Friday (1995)
Let’s start with Friday. With Ice Cube and Chris Tucker making for unlikely leads at the time, Friday gave us a new type of humor about life in a neighborhood that we hadn’t experienced. It wasn’t just about the jokes—it was the delivery, the timing, and the fact that so many of us could see our cousins, uncles, and neighbors in Smokey and Craig. Who knew Ice Cube could be funny? Even though I had never been to South Central, it felt like an inside joke shared with the culture. And let’s be honest—everybody’s had a “bye, Felicia” moment.
The Nutty Professor (1996)
Then there’s The Nutty Professor, which threw a comedic curveball with Eddie Murphy playing nearly every member of the Klump family. The dinner table scene alone is a masterclass in physical comedy and character work. Watching one actor bounce from a flatulent cousin (or was it an uncle?) to his wild alter ego, Buddy Love? Comedy genius. The fact that Murphy could play all those roles so distinctly—and hilariously—cemented the film as a milestone in cinematic comedy. He showed us he had the range in Coming to America…
Coming to America (1988)
Speaking of Coming to America, Eddie Murphy gave us one of the funniest barbershop scenes ever filmed. The movie was rich with unforgettable side characters, clever satire, and a celebration of Black royalty and excellence—before we even had Black Panther. It made us laugh while telling a fairytale love story that’s stood the test of time.
House Party (1990)
House Party brought the vibe of the ’90s house scene to the screen. The dance-offs, the fashion, the music, Bilal’s breath, John Witherspoon as the complaining neighbor, and the li’l love story they threw in there made it a classic for a generation coming of age.
And I’m Gonna Get You Sucka? That was parody perfection, taking all the Blaxploitation tropes and flipping them upside down with hilarious precision.
What ties all these films together isn’t just comedy—it’s culture. The humor lands because it’s deeply rooted in our shared experiences, language, and rhythm. Whether it’s a family dinner gone off the rails (which we all have experienced at least once) or two friends getting into trouble on a Friday afternoon (I can neither confirm nor deny any shenanigans), the laughs come from a place of recognition.
On the podcast, we revisited this question and found ourselves torn. First, it was Friday. Then the memory of the Klumps at the table had us switching sides to The Nutty Professor. In the end, what really matters is that these films gave us joy, representation, and laughter that still echoes today.
What’s your pick? Let us know what film had you laughing the hardest—and why.
