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If You Love Movies Like ‘Friendship,’ Check Out These Other Dark Comedies

If You Love Movies Like ‘Friendship,’ Check Out These Other Dark Comedies

A24’s FRIENDSHIP isn’t just funny—it’s the kind of weird, deadpan humor that makes you question whether you’re laughing at the joke or having a mild existential crisis. If Paul Rudd and Tim Robinson’s absurd dynamic hit just right, here are nine other dark comedies—smart, mostly clean and emotionally complicated—that deserve a spot on your watchlist.

1. Rushmore (1998)

Wes Anderson’s breakout film follows Max Fischer (Jason Schwartzman), an overconfident teen at a private school who becomes entangled in a love triangle with his teacher (Olivia Williams) and a disillusioned businessman (Bill Murray). The tone is perfectly offbeat, with stylish visuals and characters that walk the fine line between hilarious and heartbreaking.

2. Napoleon Dynamite (2004)

The ultimate in awkward anti-humor, this cult favorite stars Jon Heder as an aloof high schooler navigating teenage weirdness in rural Idaho. With its unforgettable supporting characters (Uncle Rico, Pedro, Tina the llama) and endlessly quotable lines, Napoleon Dynamite is peak deadpan absurdity—without ever being mean.

3. The Art of Self-Defense (2019)

Starring Jesse Eisenberg, this indie gem is about a meek accountant who joins a karate dojo after a violent mugging, only to be pulled into a bizarre, hypermasculine subculture led by an ultra-serious sensei (Alessandro Nivola). It’s an absurdist take on fear, identity and manhood, with a tone so dry you might forget it’s satire—until it absolutely is.

4. Thunder Road (2018)

Writer-director-star Jim Cummings plays a small-town police officer on the verge of a full emotional collapse following his mother’s death and the unraveling of his personal life. The film opens with an uncomfortable eulogy-slash-dance performance and only gets more unhinged from there. It’s raw, tragic and oddly hilarious—like watching someone try to hold it together with duct tape and forced smiles.

5. The Banshees of Inisherin (2022)

Set on a remote Irish island in the 1920s, this Oscar-nominated film stars Colin Farrell (yes, again) and Brendan Gleeson as longtime friends whose relationship abruptly ends—with escalating consequences. What begins as a petty feud becomes a bleak meditation on pride, loneliness and the human need for connection. Funny, but in the way that makes you think about life for hours afterward.

6. The Terminal (2004)

Tom Hanks stars as Viktor Navorski, a man from a fictional Eastern European country who becomes stranded in JFK Airport when his homeland undergoes a sudden political collapse. Unable to enter the United States or return home, he builds a life inside the terminal. It’s a strange, heartwarming dramedy from Steven Spielberg that manages to find joy and dignity in bureaucracy and liminal spaces.

7. Lars and the Real Girl (2007)

Ryan Gosling delivers one of his most vulnerable performances as Lars, a reclusive man who shocks his small town by introducing his new girlfriend—who happens to be a life-size doll. Instead of mocking him, his community rallies around him, treating the doll as real. It’s an unexpectedly touching story about loneliness, healing and the power of grace in strange circumstances.

8. Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)

This animated Wes Anderson (yes, again) adaptation of Roald Dahl’s book features the voices of George Clooney, Meryl Streep and Jason Schwartzman. Mr. Fox is a retired chicken thief who can’t resist one last heist, dragging his community into chaos. It’s hilarious, stylish and unexpectedly deep—a story about identity, family and the cost of being “fantastic.”

9. In Bruges (2008)

Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson play two hitmen laying low in Belgium after a job goes wrong. While awaiting orders from their unhinged boss (Ralph Fiennes), they explore the ancient city and spiral into guilt, grief and philosophical bickering. It’s equal parts comedy and tragedy, with Irish wit, slow-burn character development and an ending that actually sticks.

Bonus pick: I Love You, Man (2009)

Paul Rudd plays Peter, a guy who realizes he has no close male friends just weeks before his wedding. Enter Sydney (Jason Segel), a laid-back wild card who pulls Peter out of his comfort zone—and straight into bromance chaos. It’s a clean, heartfelt comedy about male friendship, emotional vulnerability and why it’s never too late to find your people.

If Friendship made you laugh and then feel weird about laughing, this list has you covered.

These stories go beyond surface-level comedy—tapping into loneliness, identity, awkward relationships and the deep desire to connect. They’re the kind of films that make you laugh, pause and maybe text that one friend you haven’t talked to in a while.

Editor’s note: While we’ve curated this list with RELEVANT readers in mind, we always recommend checking a film’s rating and content advisories before watching to ensure it aligns with your personal values and comfort level.

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