7 hilarious animated comedies that are definitely not for kids
7 hilarious animated comedies that are definitely not for kids
From puppet explosions to talking hot dogs, these are strictly for grown-up eyes.
I just saw “A Minecraft Movie” and it was everything it’s hyped up to be — funny, entertaining, visually gorgeous, and (most importantly) great for kids and adults. It was a blast, and it got me thinking about the best animated comedy movies for adults like me. Usually, I’m not a massive animation fan, but if I’m being honest, many of the best movies I’ve seen in theaters over the last year have been animated (including “A Minecraft Movie,” which is now my favorite movie of the year). So, it’s time to give animation its due. Here are my top seven animated comedy movies built for adults, ranked.
Top 7 animated comedy movies for adults on streaming right now.
No. 7: ‘America: The Motion Picture’ (2021) | Netflix
“America: The Motion Picture” is what happens when you take a high school history book, toss it in a blender with beer, explosions, and internet memes, and hit purée. Channing Tatum voices George Washington — who’s now a buff, chainsaw-wielding bro out for revenge with a beer-chugging Sam Adams and a werewolf-hunting Paul Revere.
Nothing in this movie is historically accurate, and that’s exactly the point. It’s loud, dumb (in the best way), and fully committed to being as ridiculous as possible. If you like your comedy absurd and your satire completely unhinged, this one delivers in the No. 7 spot.
America: The Motion Picture
A chainsaw-wielding George Washington teams with beer-loving bro Sam Adams to take down the Brits in a tongue-in-cheek riff on the American Revolution.
No. 6: ‘The Lego Movie’ (2014) | Rent with Prime Video
Look, “The Lego Movie” might not technically be an adults-only comedy — but let’s be real, it’s an absolute blast for us “old kids” too. The jokes come fast, the visuals are wild, and the whole thing moves like a sugar rush in movie form. What makes it so good is how clever it is beneath all the chaos — packed with meta humor, pop culture jabs, and that perfect balance of heart and absurdity. Chris Pratt plays Emmet, your average Lego guy who gets thrown into a world-saving mission he is wildly unqualified for, and the supporting cast (including Will Arnett as Batman) brings solid laughs. It’s smart, silly, and weirdly emotional by the end. If you missed this one, definitely check it out.
The Lego Movie
An ordinary Lego mini-figure, mistakenly thought to be the extraordinary MasterBuilder, is recruited to join a quest to stop an evil Lego tyrant from conquering the universe.
No. 5: ‘Beavis and Butt-Head Do America’ (1996) | Paramount+
At No. 6 is “Beavis and Butt-Head Do America,” which takes everything ridiculous and hilarious about the original MTV show and turns it into a full-blown cross-country adventure. The plot? These two morons lose their TV and somehow end up getting mistaken for hitmen, dragged into a mess of government conspiracies, desert hallucinations, and nonstop dumb-guy humor.
It’s juvenile in the best way — pure 90s chaos with just enough actual story to keep things moving. Mike Judge leans all the way into the idiocy, and somehow it still holds up decades later. Whether you grew up watching these guys or you’re just here for a dose of stupid-funny nostalgia, this one still hits.
Beavis and Butt-Head Do America
Slacker duo Beavis and Butt-Head wake to discover their TV has been stolen. Their search for a new one takes them on a clueless adventure across America, during which they manage to accidentally become America’s most wanted.
No. 4: ‘Team America: World Police’ (2004) | Paramount+
I don’t remember exactly when “Team America: World Police” came out when I was in school — but I do know it instantly became the movie everyone quoted for what felt like years. It was just INSANE. I had never seen anything like it: a full-on action movie parody made entirely with puppets, blowing stuff up while delivering some of the most unhinged, over-the-top jokes imaginable.
Yeah, some parts definitely haven’t aged well (and were already pushing it at the time), but it was also hilarious and totally committed to its chaos. The way they shot it — with these stiff little marionettes doing huge action sequences — was weirdly cool and super inventive. It was loud, messy, and unforgettable, and if you were a teenager when it hit, it probably melted your brain in the best way.
Team America: World Police
When North Korean ruler Kim Jong-il orchestrates a global terrorist plot, it’s up to the heavily armed, highly specialized Team America unit to stop his dastardly scheme. The group, which has recruited troubled Broadway actor Gary Johnston, not only has to face off against Jong-il, but they must also contend with the Film Actors Guild, a cadre of Hollywood liberals at odds with Team America’s ‘policing the world’ tactics.
No. 3: ‘South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut’ (1999) | Rent with Prime Video
“South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut” was way more than just a cash-in movie — it was a full-blown musical satire with some of the catchiest (and filthiest) songs ever written for an animated film. Back in ’99, it felt genuinely rebellious, like something you weren’t supposed to be watching, which of course made it even better.
The plot spins out from the kids watching a Canadian movie that teaches them to swear, which somehow leads to war, censorship battles, and Satan dating Saddam Hussein. Totally normal stuff. It’s crude, clever, and surprisingly sharp in how it tackles free speech and moral panic, all while dropping nonstop laughs. Honestly, it still holds up, and the soundtrack alone is worth the rewatch.
South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut
In this feature film based on the hit animated series, the third graders of South Park sneak into an R-rated film by ultra-vulgar Canadian television personalities Terrance and Phillip, and emerge with expanded vocabularies that leave their parents and teachers scandalized. When outraged Americans try to censor the film, the controversy spirals into a call to wage war on Canada and Terrance and Phillip end up on death row, with the kids their only hope of rescue.
No. 2: ‘Sausage Party’ (2016) | Prime Video
At No. 2 is “Sausage Party,” the first R-rated animated movie that somehow managed to be even more unhinged than its premise — a hot dog who dreams of being eaten. The cast is a who’s who of comedy legends: Seth Rogen, Kristen Wiig, Jonah Hill, Bill Hader, Michael Cera, and James Franco all lend their voices to food items caught in an existential crisis.
On paper, it sounds completely ridiculous (and it is), but that’s part of the charm. It’s raunchy, ridiculous, and surprisingly deep at times — like a stoner philosophy class wrapped in supermarket packaging. And if you liked the movie, there’s even more on the shelf with the new TV spinoff, “Sausage Party: Foodtopia” also streaming on Prime Video. It’s not for the faint of heart — or easily offended — but if you’re up for something wild, this one goes all in.
Sausage Party
Hot dog Frank leads a group of supermarket products on a quest to discover the truth about their existence and what really happens when they’re chosen to leave the grocery store.
No. 1: ‘Ted’ (2012) | Netflix
At No. 1 is “Ted,” and yeah, it’s not fully animated — but Ted himself is, and he fully steals the show. This foul-mouthed, beer-guzzling teddy bear (voiced by Seth MacFarlane) brought something totally new to the comedy world when the movie dropped in 2012. Mark Wahlberg plays it perfectly straight as John, a guy whose childhood wish came true… and then never left. Add in Mila Kunis, some genuinely funny writing, and a ton of heart under all the crude jokes, and you’ve got a movie that just works.
It turned into a massive hit, pulling in over $500 million worldwide on a $50 million budget, and it kicked off a whole franchise — including the new TV show “ted” on Peacock. Whether you’re watching it for the first time or rewatching for the hundredth time, “Ted” still hits. No question, it’s the No. 1 animated adult comedy you can stream right now.
Ted
John Bennett, a man whose childhood wish of bringing his teddy bear to life came true, now must decide between keeping the relationship with the bear or his girlfriend, Lori.