Modern Comedy Directors: 8 Filmmakers Who Stand Out

Comedy geniuses like Mel Brooks, Harold Ramis, Charlie Chaplain, and Woody Allen will always be held in high regard by those who love comedies, but there are many modern comedy directors that will go down in history for their contributions to the genre.

Here are eight filmmakers who stand out.

1. Edgar Wright: A director with many comedies on his resume, Wright is perhaps best known for "Shaun of the Dead," "The World's End," "Scott Pilgrim Versus the World," and "Hot Fuzz." The first three garnered him several awards in the U.K. and all four were nominated for various awards.

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2. Paul Feig: Known for more than directing movies, Feig also directed episodes of TV comedies like "Parks and Recreation," "The Office," and "Arrested Development." But on the big screen, he produced laughs with "Bridesmaids" and "The Heat."

3. Joel and Ethan Coen: As far as dark comedies are concerned, the Coen brothers have a corner on the market. They directed a plethora of comedies including "Fargo," "The Big Lebowski," "O, Brother Where Art Thou," and "Burn After Reading," among others. Many of their comedies have won or been nominated for everything from BAFTA Awards to Oscars.

4. Todd Phillips: Perhaps the king of the modern screwball comedy, Phillips has directed such popular titles as "Road Trip" and "Due Date," but is best known for "The Hangover" and its two sequels.

5. Greg Mottola: Also credited with directing a few episodes of "Arrested Development," Mottola gave comedy lovers "Superbad," "Adventureland," and "Paul."

6. Adam McKay: Clearly a fan of working with Will Ferrell, this director gave audiences modern comedies "Step Brothers," "Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy," "Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues," and "Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby."

7. Tom Shadyac: If McKay found his muse in Ferrell, then Shadyac found his in Jim Carrey. The director worked with the actor in "Ace Ventura: Pet Detective," "Liar Liar," and "Bruce Almighty." Shadyac also directed "The Nutty Professor," "Patch Adams," and "Evan Almighty."

8. Wes Anderson: Known more for dryer, creative, off-beat comedy-dramas, Anderson directed "The Royal Tenenbaums," "The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou," and "The Grand Budapest Hotel," among others. His style is unique among his peers.

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