I’d bet a hundred dollars that sometimes you feel like you’re the only person in the world that feels like you do.
However, it’s well known that you’re not alone. Millions of people have problems with anxiety and depression. In fact, almost everyone alive will go through some kind of mental health issue during their lifetime.
That’s why it’s no surprise that Hollywood has produced tons of movies depicting characters with psychological issues. Because on some level we can all relate. We’ve all been there so to speak.
The other thing is, you may have developed the sense that anxiety is all bad. That it’s sad, scary, and only exists to upset you.
And, I’d be the first one to agree that it can do all those things, but it can still be funny as hell. Even if its never had you on the ground rolling with laughter.
Luckily, there are some great comedies that do the seemingly impossible task of turning something as god-awful as anxiety into something you can laugh at.
You’d be surprised how good it feels to laugh at your adversary.
Here are The 7 Best Anxiety Comedies of All Time.
1. High Anxiety (1977)
If you like Mel Brooks movies you’ll love High Anxiety. Brooks plays Dr. Richard Thorndyke a new administrator sent to the Institute for the very, Very Nervous. After being wrongly accused of murder, Thorndyke tries to clear his name and has to confront his own anxiety in the process.
Bill Murray plays a phobic psychiatric patient who can’t be without constant therapy. So much so, that Murray tracks down his psychiatrist while he’s on vacation. He then befriends the entire family and drives his psychiatrist crazy as the shenanigans unfold.
Jack Nicholson plays a misanthropic writer with a severe case of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. The movie follows his attempts to overcome his anxieties while he also tries to win the heart of a local waitress. This movie is a great example of how hard, and rewarding, it is to overcome anxiety.
Robert Dinero and Billy Crystal star in this hilarious comedy about an anxious mafia boss. Crystal tries all he can to make a “Happy well adjusted gangster” out of the troubled Dinero.
Woody Allen plays an anxious comedian that falls in love with his ditsy girlfriend Annie (Diane Keaton). The movie is jammed packed with great dialogue and funny insights about anxiety, relationships, and life in general.
Elling is a Norwegian language film about a 40 yr old man that has problems with anxiety, dizziness, and nervous habits that stop him from living a normal life. After his mother dies Elling has to find a way to lead a normal life with the help of a few friends.
Adam Sandler plays an angry, yet passive, small time business man that struggles with social anxiety. He also tries to find a way around his sisters’ judgment as he seeks true love. This is by far one of Adam Sandler’s best films.
What films do you like that have anxious characters? Comment Below.
Bryan3000 says
Awesome list! Good idea. I just watched As Good as it Gets recently, too. What a tremendous movie. Forgot how funny/moving that movie was. “Great times….noodle-salad!”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAfzMnjMHfc
Tracy says
My favorite anxiety comedy has been Bandits. The review i read described the character of Billy Bob Thorton, Terry Collins, an obsessive-compulsive hypochondriac who entertains with obscure imagined health problems and maladies. He cracked me up when he believed brain tumors give the smell of burning feathers and began to smell it. It was so ridiculous/yet what i go through.
Emily says
I DO need to see the funny side of this. I’ll look these up!
Sarah says
Thank you, you just gave me some Netflix options while home sick and anxiety is at an all time high.
Sarah
Paul Dooley says
You’re welcome Sarah. I hope you feel better soon!
Shell F. says
” High Anxiety” by Mel Brooks. Its been in my video library for decades.
Cloris and Harvey’s characters dissolve me!!