Summary

• Historical dramas can incorporate humor to make characters from the past more relatable and human.
• Some historical dramas, like "The Madness of King George" and "Napoleon," use comedy to explore the quirks and flaws of historical figures.
• Movies like "Marie Antoinette" and "The Favourite" take a modern, satirical approach to historical events, using humor to critique societal norms and behaviors.

Historical dramas are plagued by their reputation as stuffy and somber affairs, but some movies have a surprising funny side to them which proves there is still plenty of vitality in the genre. Since they so often deal with seismic events in global politics or the lives of world leaders, many historical dramas shy away from using humor too much, but it can be a valuable tool to help bridge the gap between the past and the present. Using comedy to its full potential doesn't just make a movie funnier. It can also make characters from hundreds of years ago seem more relatable and more human.

The best historical dramas are able to portray events and people from centuries gone by with sharp clarity. To present a full picture of human life, it's important to the funny moments as well as the serious and dramatic. Comedic attitudes may change over time, but some things can connect people across generations. Not all historical dramas adhere to the trusted playbook of tight corsets and tempered expressions. Some classics of the genre can shake things up with a bit of comedy, even if the movie didn't appear to be a comedy on first glance.

10 The Madness of King George (1995)

King George III's faltering health

A movie about an elderly man's declining mental acuity may seem like a terribly misjudged comedy, but The Madness of King George is brilliantly measured. The movie doesn't make fun of the aging monarch, but it uses his condition to make fun of all those around him who are not prepared to deal with a king in such a state. King George himself even cracks a few jokes, showing that he retains an impressive clarity of mind at times. The Madness of King George is not an outright comedy, but Nigel Hawthorne's humor produces some laugh-out-loud moments in the lead role, toying with his panicked subjects.

9 Napoleon (2023)

Napoleon Bonaparte, revolutionary and Emperor of

Before its release, Ridley Scott's Napoleon looked sure to be a lavish historical epic about a man who shaped the future of Europe like nobody else. As it turns out, Napoleon is strangely hilarious, mocking its authoritarian title character much more than it glorifies him. Joaquin Phoenix's deadpan delivery sells some of the script's funniest moments with ease, including Napoleon's awkward first meeting with Josephine. Scott and Phoenix previously teamed up for another historical drama, Gladiator, but there was very little in that movie to suggest that Napoleon would have such comedic flair. Scott's low opinion of Napoleon could be the reason he gave him such an unkind portrayal.

8 Amadeus (1984)

The rivalry between Antonio Salieri and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Tom Hulce plays Mozart, and together with Abraham he becomes part of a classic straight-man-funny-man duo.

F. Murray Abraham won an Oscar for his portrayal of Antonio Salieri, a somber and hateful composer enraged by the genius of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Tom Hulce plays Mozart, and together with Abraham he becomes part of a classic straight-man-funny-man duo. For all his incredible talent, Mozart is foppish and unserious, with a piercing, high-pitched giggle that bounces around the gilded ballrooms of Salzburg. Salieri sits watching him in silent fury, his face a hilarious picture of envy. Hulce appears to have free rein to act as immaturely as he pleases, and he skips around his stuffy surroundings like a clown.

7 Marie Antoinette (2006)

The last queen of

Sofia Coppola's movies often have a comedic edge to them. Lost in Translation gives Bill Murray a platform as one of his more reserved comedy characters, and The Bling Ring is a typical crime caper. Rather than adopting the conventions of the historical drama genre, Coppola chose to make Marie Antoinette like any of her other movies, but set in 18th Century . Marie Antoinette is boldly modern, featuring a pop soundtrack, casual dialogue, and an infamous shot of a pair of Converse shoes. Coppola uses the story of French aristocratic excess to satirize modern consumer culture, and Kirsten Dunst is pitch-perfect as the out-of-touch ruler.

6 The Favourite (2018)

Queen Anne and her close advisors

Fans of Olivia Colman will know that before her Oscar-winning performance as Queen Anne, she was one of the funniest women on British TV, appearing in Peep Show, Green Wing and Flowers. Colman is hilarious again as the cantankerous Queen Anne, whose unpredictable mood swings cause chaos for her court. Emma Stone and Rachel Weisz make up the other two points in a dangerous love triangle, and they each master Yorgos Lanthimos' deadpan humor with ease. The darkly comic historical drama never lets its humor get in the way of its deep, human tragedy, and its down to the incredible cast to ride out these tonal shifts.

5 Hidden Figures (2017)

NASA's unequal past

Hidden Figures tells the little-known story of NASA's black mathematicians who helped send John Glenn and other astronauts to space. The plot maintains an unflinching focus on the social injustices of the era, detailing NASA's failure to properly recognize the efforts of its black employees, and even enforcing segregated bathrooms. Hidden Figures is packed with inspirational quotes, but it still has plenty of humor. Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer and Janelle Monáe cultivate a delightful chemistry together, and their humorous exchanges show a lighter side to life in the 1960s. Some historical dramas can stray into melodrama, but Hidden Figures uses comedy to make the story more relatable.

4 Victoria & Abdul (2017)

Queen Victoria's time in India

Judi Dench doesn't often get the chance to show off her comedy chops, but as a Shakespearean actor she has developed some refined comedic sensibilities. Victoria & Abdul doesn't attempt to recount the entire span of Queen Victoria's reign over the British Empire, instead focusing on the unlikely friendship she struck up with an Indian servant. It's a distinctly British comedy of manners, with Dench's Victoria baffling her advisors, who deem her conduct improper for a monarch. As they tear their hair out trying to control her, she quietly goes about sharing pleasant afternoons with her new friend, unmoved by the scandal.

3 Shakespeare In Love (1998)

William Shakespeare's life off stage

Shakespeare is one of the greatest comedic writers of all time, and Shakespeare in Love modernizes his farcical, playful humor.

Judi Dench also lends her regal presence to Shakespeare in Love, this time as Queen Elizabeth I rather than Queen Victoria. Colin Firth is wonderfully pompous as William Shakespeare's love rival, and Ben Affleck gives a surprisingly convincing performance as an Elizabethan actor. There have been countless film adaptations of Shakespeare's works, but Shakespeare in Love goes below the surface, humanizing the playwright. In many ways, it's a typical romantic comedy, but with the familiar touchstones of Shakespeare's great plays to offer an added dimension to the romance. Shakespeare is one of the greatest comedic writers of all time, and Shakespeare in Love modernizes his farcical, playful humor.

2 Gangs Of New York (2002)

Violence and warfare in 19th Century New York

Martin Scorsese often wrings a lot of comedy out of brutal, violent crime. Goodfellas and The Wolf of Wall Street are both funnier than many comedies, and Gangs of New York applies the same principles to the real-life story of gang violence in the Five Points neighborhood of Manhattan. John C. Relly, Liam Neeson and Cameron Diaz have all flourished in comedic roles, but the standout of Gangs of New York is Daniel Day-Lewis, whose affable villain takes joy in his barbaric ways. When Bill the Butcher is surrounded by gang , he rises to the occasion like a comedian with an audience, flaunting his flamboyant personality.

Over 20 years later, Martin Scorsese now looks set to produce a Gangs of New York TV series.

1 Topsy-Turvy (1999)

Gilbert and Sullivan's production of The Mikado

Gilbert and Sullivan are the perfect odd couple in Topsy-Turvy, as their strained working relationship pushes each of them to their limit. Jim Broadbent and Allan Corduner are believably tired of each other, and their ing cast are just as dysfunctional as musical theater performers desperate for the spotlight. Topsy-Turvy is a risible satire of the entertainment industry, set in the 1880s but no less relevant today, and the contrast between the turmoil behind the curtain and the glitz and glamour on stage is hilariously pronounced. Beyond pure farce, the story deals stoically with themes of artistic fulfillment, legacy, and male friendship.