Many black actors are well-known for being made for comedy movies, as names such as Eddie Murphy, Will Smith, Martin Lawrence, Dave Chapelle, and many others have proven to have that special “something” that makes many people laugh. Such actors seem as if they were born to be in comedy movies and make millions of people laugh and forget about their personal problems.
Some of the actors that will be mentioned in this article are also active in the stand-up genre, as their God-given talent of making people laugh definitely deserves to reach as many people as possible. Let’s remind of some of the best comedy movies that had black actors in leading roles:
Nutty Professor (1996)
Eddie Murphy and Dave Chapelle, two of the most famous black actors who seem born for comedy movies, appear together in “Nutty Professor,” a comedy movie released in 1996. This film showcases the versatile performance of Eddie Murphy, as he plays multiple roles.
Barbershop (2002):
Ice Cube, the famous American rapper and songwriter, leads an ensemble cast in “Barbershop,” a movie that showcases a diverse group of barbers and customers as they engage in lively conversations about community, life, and the importance of family.
Bad Boys 2 (2003)
Bad Boys 2 presents the wild adventures of two wacky cops, played by Will Smith and Martin Lawrence, as they try to investigate the flow of Ecstasy into Florida from a Cuban drug cartel. This movie is loaded with funny moments and how the two cops get along with one another, as they often find crazy solutions to practical ideas. Will Smith proves once again in this movie that he can play any kind of role, whether it’s about comedy, action, thriller, crime, drama, and so on. Bad Boys 2 has something for everyone, although it has lots of funny moments.
National Security (2003)
Martin Lawrence is the pride and joy of “National Security,” a comedy movie more than two decades old that presents the wild adventures of a cop who falsely plays the victim as he accuses Steve Zahn’s character of racism. This movie is loaded with funny moments that showcase the ridiculous side of a so-called case of racism while it also focuses on the wild and goofy adventures of the protagonists.
How High (2001)
Method Man and Redman are in the main roles of this movie, as they play college students who ace their entrance exams after smoking something magical. A supernatural encounter allows them to miraculously find out the answers to their exams, even though they are nothing but absolute bums who aren’t interested in learning anything good. At some point, the magical man who was ready to give them the answers to their exams won’t appear anymore, so how will the two wiseguys pull it off?
Coming to America (1988)
“Coming to America” from 1988 is one of those classic comedies, and it was directed by John Landis. This movie stars Eddie Murphy as an African prince who travels to New York to find a wife who will be willing to love him for who he is, rather than his royal status. Eddie Murphy is known as one of the most successful black actors in comedy movies, and he did a great job in “Coming to America” as well!
Think Like a Man (2012)
“Think Like a Man” from 2012 is a comedy movie based on the “Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man” book by Steve Harvey. It’s actually a romantic comedy that has a cast including names like Michael Ealy, Kevin Hart, Gabrielle Union, Taraji P. Henson, and more. The movie explores relationships, as well as dating dynamics.
Surely, there are lots of other comedy movies that would deserve a place on this list, so feel free to mention your own favorites in the comments!
Tim M. Hill helped bring Digital-Overload from a weekly newsletter to a full-fledged news site by creating a new website and branding. He continues to assist in keeping the site responsive and well organized for the readers. As a writer to Digital-Overload, Tim mainly covers mobile news and gadgets.