Start Laughing Now

Ready to start laughing? Here are suggestions from our comedy consultants. Please send your "family friendly" recommendations to smile@comedycures.org.

Suggestions from AFI's "100 Years... 100 Laughs"

There's nothing like a funny movie to get you laughtng, and The American Film Institute has ranked the top 100. We've listed the top 20, if you'd like the rest of the list, email us at info@comedycures.org, and we'll send it to you! (Not all these films are appropriate for children, so use your discretion)

1. Some Like It Hot (1959) George Cukor

2. Tootsie (1982) Sydney Pollack

3. Dr. Strangelove (1964) Stanley Kubrick

4. Annie Hall (1977) Woody Allen

5. Duck Soup (1933) Leo McCarey

6. Blazing Saddles (1974) Mel Brooks

7. M*A*S*H (1970) Robert Altman

8. It Happened One Night (1934) Frank Capra

9. The Graduate (1967) Mike Nichols

10. Airplane (1980) Jim Abrahams

11. The Producers (1968) Mel Brooks

12. A Night At The Opera (1935) Sam Wood

13. Young Frankenstein (1974) Mel Brooks

14. Bringing Up Baby (1938) Howard Hawks

15. The Philadelphia Story (1940) George Cukor

16. Singin’ In The Rain (1952) Stanley Donen

17. The Odd Couple (1968) Gene Saks

18. The General (1927) Buster Keaton

19. His Girl Friday (1940) Howard Hawks

20. The Apartment (1960) Billy Wilder

Suggestions from Paul E. McGhee, PhD

Paul is a pioneer in humor research and has published over 50 scientific articles and 11 books on humor.

"Health, Healing and the Amuse System: Humor as Survival Training" by Paul McGhee (Kendall/Hunt, 1999, not in bookstores, call 800-228-0810 to order)

Suggestions from Matt Weinstein

"Managing to Have Fun" by Matt Weinstein

"The Craggy Hole in My Heart and the Cat Who Fixed It" by Geneen Roth

"Junkyard Sports" by Bernie Dekoven

Suggestions from Allen Klein

"The Healing Power of Humor" by Allen Klein (Tarcher/Putnam, 1989)

"Anatomy of An Illness" by Norman Cousins

"Laughter and Liberation" by Harvey Mindess

“The Laughter Prescription” by Lawrence Peter & Bill Dana

“Head First” by Norman Cousins

“Good-Hearted Living” or “Eat Dessert First” by Steve Wilson

Suggestions from Patty Wooten, RN BSN

Patty Wooten is a successful nurse, an international speaker, a hilarious clown, and the founder of "Jest for the Health of It!"

"Compassionate Laughter - Jest for Your Health"by Patty Wooten

"The Healing Power of Humor" and "The Courage to Laugh" by Allen Klein

"Making Humor Work" by Terry Paulson

"Humor Works" by John Morreall

"Humor at Work" by Esteher Bluemnfeld