10 Horror Movies With a Dark Sense of Humour (That Aren’t Comedies)

Welcome to Ranking Horror. Today we are ranking 10 Horror Movies With a Dark Sense of Humour (That Aren’t Comedies).

So that title is a bit of a mouthful but allow me to explain. There is a ton of comedy horror out there. In fact, our last list focused on that subject exactly. But what about when you want a movie that is truly devoted to its horror leanings but has the potential to make you laugh, as well?

These ten movies aren’t strictly comedies. Hell, one of them isn’t even really a horror movie. They are simply dark themed movies that just so happen to have a decent amount of humour. Sometimes the comedy is deliberate or sometimes they just make you laugh out of shock.

Either way, the humour here never gets in the way and the haunting, or shocking, subject matter always takes prime place. Let’s take a look at 10 Horror Movies With a Dark Sense of Humour (That Aren’t Comedies).

10. Final Destination (2000) – Death’s Design

Why it Ranked: When I watched this in the cinema, on its release, people really weren’t sure whether or not they should be gasping or laughing. Although the series leaned into its comedic elements a lot more with the sequels. The original Final Destination is deadly serious for at least half of its length. It isn’t until the silliness of the plot takes hold that the movie really manages to make you chuckle with some genuinely ridiculous moments. Hilarious kills, shocking moments and stupid characters make this a movie that is hard not to laugh at.

Synopsis: After having a premonition that the plane he is about to board will explode, a high school student and several others are removed from the flight. When the plane actually explodes, they realise they have cheated death, but death has a plan and comes for them one by one.

Where to Watch: Streaming on HBO Max.

9. Terrifier 3 (2024) – Killer Clown Chaos

Why it Ranked: Damien Leone’s Terrifier 3 is, for the most part, an utterly brutal movie. The undeniable truth about Terrifier 3 is that it can be an utterly hilarious movie. In much the same way as 80’s slashers, this film will make you laugh consistently through the antics of its antagonist. Art is, often, hilarious and, though the movie is often quite tasteless, it will make you chuckle on a frequent basis. It’s definitely not a comedy, though.

Synopsis: Art the Clown is set to unleash chaos on the unsuspecting residents of Miles County as they peacefully drift off to sleep on Christmas Eve. Sienna and her brother are struggling to rebuild their shattered lives, but Art’s return threatens to destroy everything they have left.

Where to Watch: Streaming on Tubi (free with ads) and Screambox.

8. Barbarian (2022) – Rental Nightmare

Why it Ranked: Zach Cregger’s Barbarian was a bit of a surprise back in 2022. While the movie is, absolutely, not a horror comedy. It has plenty of moments that will leave you feeling tickled. Particularly when Justin Long’s seedy character AJ is on screen. There are a handful of scenes that will really make you giggle, thanks to the witty script. And it’s simply a great horror movie on top of that.

Synopsis: A young woman traveling to Detroit for a job interview books a rental home. But when she arrives late at night, she discovers that the house is double booked, and a strange man is already staying there. Against her better judgement, she decides to spend the evening, but soon discovers that there’s a lot more to fear than just an unexpected house guest.

Where to Watch: Streaming on HBO Max and FuboTV.

7. Creep / Creep 2 (2014) – Awkward Encounter

Why it Ranked: Creep is one of those movies that gets under your skin. It’s the performance of Mark Duplass, as Josef, that makes Creep, and its sequel Creep 2, comical. He is just so damn perfect at portraying a character that feels legitimately weird. Some of the laughs are laughs of discomfort while others are just courtesy of the strange ways he acts. Both movies are utterly brilliant and quite scary, as well, which is a nice bonus.

Synopsis: A young videographer answers an online ad for a one-day job in a remote town to record the last messages of a dying man. When he notices the man’s odd behaviour, he starts to question his intentions.

Where to Watch: Streaming on Netflix.

6. Housebound (2014) – Paranormal Prison

Why it Ranked: This one might be breaking the rules a little bit. There are, probably, enough laughs here to count Housebound as a horror comedy. The thing is, however, the laughs are fairly light and the movie is very committed to its paranormal roots. Meaning you can dismiss some of the comedy elements and just enjoy the horror aspects. Housebound is a fantastic movie that’s a lot of fun and features one of the most creative uses of a toilet break when it comes to building anticipation for a scare.

Synopsis: Kylie Bucknell is forced to return to the house she grew up in when the court places her on home detention. Her punishment is made all the worse by the fact she has to live with her mother Miriam – a well-meaning blabbermouth who’s convinced that the house is haunted.

Where to Watch: Streaming on Tubi TV (free with ads) and Prime Video.

5. Ready or Not (2019) – Wedding Day Blues

Why it Ranked: Ready or Not is another movie that might swing towards the horror comedy side just a little. The fact of the matter is, it is action packed and gory enough to entertain fans who prefer that the laughs take a bit of a back seat. Meaning, I think it qualifies for this list. The witty script is a lot of fun but the game of cat and mouse at the movie’s centre is where the real entertainment lies. Awesome stuff.

Synopsis: A bride’s wedding night takes a sinister turn when her eccentric new in-laws force her to take part in a terrifying game. As the night unfolds, she realises she must fight for her survival against a family determined to kill her before dawn.

Where to Watch: Streaming on FuboTV and DIRECTV.

4. Speak No Evil (2024) – Polite Society

Why it Ranked: The subject matter here is far more troubling than comical. It is, however, the performance of James McAvoy that makes this movie darkly funny. His character indulges in the awkwardness of confrontation and absolutely loves to make people uncomfortable. Making for a few moments that are genuinely humorous. I, also, think this movie tops the original thanks to a less ridiculous ending and better performances throughout.

Synopsis: A family is invited to spend a whole weekend in a lonely country house, but as the weekend progresses, they realize that a dark side lies within the family who invited them.

Where to Watch: Streaming on Peacock.

3. The Dirties (2014) – Tragically Funny

Why it Ranked: Full disclosure, this one is cheating a little. The subject matter at hand, here, is most definitely horrifying. But the film, itself, is more of a crime based psychological drama. I apologise but I jump at any opportunity to talk about this movie and I don’t review psychological drama movies so here we are. Gun violence is never really a laughing matter but The Dirties is a movie that is funny, almost, throughout. The influences for Matt Johnson’s The Dirties are obvious. But the way the subject is approached is with a humour that might just catch you off guard. The characters have great chemistry and Johnson’s frequent improvisation is hilarious.

Synopsis: Two best friends are filming a comedy about getting revenge on the bullies at their high school. One of them isn’t joking.

Where to Watch: Streaming on AMC+.

2. Pearl (2022) – Star Quality

Why it Ranked: Pearl is the 2022 follow up to Ti West’s well liked slasher movie X. Full disclosure, I was pretty ambivalent to X and really didn’t like MaXXXine. Pearl, on the other hand, is one of the best horror movies of 2022. Mia Goth’s pitch perfect portrayal of the titular character carries this film throughout. While not the most horror of horror movies. Pearl is such an engaging character that it’s hard to not be captivated. She is also hilarious thanks to her absolute lunacy and out there personality. Awesome stuff.

Synopsis: In 1918, a young woman on the brink of madness pursues stardom in a desperate attempt to escape the drudgery, isolation, and lovelessness of life on her parents’ farm.

Where to Watch: Streaming on HBO Max.

1. Oddity (2024) – Wooden Man

Why it Ranked: Oddity absolutely came out of nowhere in 2024. While director Damian Mc Carthy’s Caveat hinted at his potential for crafting deeply atmospheric horror. Oddity managed to take things to another level. Oddity is tense, compelling, and, actually, quite scary. It’s also extremely funny, in parts, thanks to a great script and the comedy timing of its main character, Darcy, performed by the fantastic Carolyn Bracken. Darcy is a quirky character who immediately says what is on her mind. Making for some legitimately comedic moments. Not the funniest movie on this list but probably the best horror. One of the best in years, in fact.

Synopsis: A blind medium uncovers the truth behind her sister’s death with the help of a frightening wooden mannequin. She goes to the house where her sister died to confront the husband and his new girlfriend.

Where to Watch: Streaming on Shudder and AMC+.

Laughing in the Face of Death

And that’s our list of 10 horror movies that prove you don’t need to be a full-blown comedy to get a laugh. Whether it’s the nervous giggles induced by Speak No Evil‘s social awkwardness, the shock laughter of Terrifier 3‘s brutality, or the dry wit of Oddity, these films masterfully balance the macabre with the mirthful.

Sometimes, a little bit of humour is exactly what you need to make the horror hit even harder. It disarms you just before the knife goes in. If you prefer your horror to be explicitly funny, be sure to check out our previous list on 10 Amazing Comedy Horror Movies. Thanks for reading!

🤡 Quick Picks: Darkly Funny Horror

• 🪵 The Best of 2024: Oddity (2024)
• ⭐ The Character Study: Pearl (2022)
• 🎲 The Action Thriller: Ready or Not (2019)
• 🤐 The Cringe Fest: Speak No Evil (2024)
• 📹 The Found Footage Gem: The Dirties (2014)