Comedy is subjective, to an extent. But sometimes, there are artists who consistently deliver big laughs, while still having a unique tone and style to their work without sacrificing filmmaking quality. That sort of sets the "subjective" bar to "universally great" instead.
Here are 10 fantastic modern comedy directors who have really put forward incredible work in film and television over the past 20 years. Many of the listed creators do more than just direct, so this list will take that into . However, it's not necessarily a definitive 1-10 ranking so much as a listing.
Paul Feig
Paul Feig can be a bit formulaic, but it's better to have structure than lack it. Feig is a pretty wholesome director and has wide appeal for mass audiences. Notably, many of his films are female-led, such as Spy, Heat, Last Christmas, Ghostbusters reboot.
However, he has also dabbled in many TV shows with several great episodes in Nurse Jackie, The Office, Arrested Development, and Weeds, and holds the honor of directing the first bearable episode of Parks And Recreation after its shaky first season.
Mindy Kaling
Mindy Kaling doesn't always get the spotlight she's due, but that doesn't mean people are unfamiliar with her work. As one of the primary producers/writers/directors of The Office, her work on that show is embedded in American pop culture for generations to come.
Her other major TV credit, The Mindy Project was also a great showcase of her talents, and her skills seemed to increase with each season. Her latest show, Never Have I Ever, was also a solid addition to her filmography, and she will likely keep putting forth great work.
Daniel Kwan + Daniel Scheinert
There were a lot of choices for directors with few or mixed credits to their names; Ben Stiller, Olivia Wilde, Michael Showalter, John Daley, Jonathan Goldstein, and so on. However, of all the options, the nicknamed "Daniels" duo are the ones with the most obvious flair and style to their work.
Swiss Army Man is one of the finest absurd comedies of the modern era and is far more gorgeously shot and scored than it needed to be, making for a beautiful tale of friendship. Little known fact: They also directed the silly music video for "Turn Down For What."
Adam McKay
For many people, the Will Ferrell era was a cornerstone of 2000s humor, and Adam McKay was the director for many of his films, including Step Brothers, Anchorman, and Talladega Nights. McKay is completely over the top goofball, and his ridiculous antics make for incredibly memorable jokes and scenes in his films, even if the whole product isn't very solid or meaningful.
Then again, he produced Eastbound and Down, which could be oddly sweet once in a blue moon. That being said, when McKay focuses, he can bring home the message, albeit with no subtlety, as seen in Vice.
Jordan Peele
Jordan Peele is a horror director, but he's simultaneously a comedy director. He blends the two genres in a style similar to Twilight Zone reboot), but with his brand of the iconic "Key and Peele" humor.
As scary as Get Out and Us were, the laughs were as common as the shivers. Each hearty laugh leaves the audience unready for the big gut-punch of fear to come.
Rian Johnson
Rian Johnson is among the most clever directors on this list, lacing his film with so many details that people will likely be discovering new things for years to come. Though he doesn't strictly do comedy, when he does, it's top tier stuff. Johnson directed two of the best episodes of Breaking Bad, which are "Ozymandias," which might be the best episode of TV put to air, and "Fly," one of the most polarizing, but brilliant episodes. The hilarious slapstick and gorgeous cinematography in "Fly" elevate what was intended as a filler episode to be art.
He also recently directed The Last Jedi is arguably the funniest film (and one of the best) in the Star Wars saga, and the only cohesive film in the Sequel Trilogy.
Edgar Wright
Edgar Wright is the most energetic director on this list, and that's saying something. His films run at lightning pace and are filled to the brim with wit, so if one joke doesn't work on someone, one of the next five within the same minute are bound to. Many of his films have garnered mass followings, such as Hot Fuzz, and The World's End.
His tendency to blend action with his comedy has worked to a beyond impressive degree, and he made sure to double down on that skill in films like The Adventures Of Tin Tin and Ant-Man, and though he left the project, much of his influence remains in the first film.
Wes Anderson
The tragedy of Wes Anderson is that he might be the funniest director on this list, but his comedy is a lot more tailored to subtlely; you either get it, or you don't. There's no explaining it. A lot of his humor is hard to interpret with some people, with scenes involving blunt conversation, visual gags, absurdity, and sudden violence.
However, his unique visual style with its obsessive-compulsive symmetry and gorgeous color palettes are impossible to miss, and his dramatic beats hit hard. From The Grand Budapest Hotel to Fantastic Mr. Fox, he is the critical darling of cinephiles and artists everywhere.
Phil Lord + Chris Miller
If Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer are the worst comedy directing duo, then Lord and Miller are their perfect opposites, serving as the best comedy directing duo on the scene right now. In fact, they're one of the best directing duos in cinematic history, up there with the Coen Brothers.
Solo cut, from which they were needlessly fired for going off-script.
Taika Waititi
Taika Waititi is another triple threat talent on this list, serving as a director, writer, and (starring) actor. He is constantly engaging with people online, is very ive of many of the fellow directors listed here (they are as well!), and is extraordinarily original, yet humble about his success. He has directed and written several films with several different setups and genres, but they have all remained primarily as comedies. Horror? Moana.
At this point, following the mass audience recognition with Ragnarok and the Academy Award attention with Jojo Rabbit, Waititi is an unstoppable train. He's currently lined up to do a sequel to Ragnarok, a Star Wars film, an Akira adaptation, and much more. He has likely sured Peter Jackson as the most renowned New Zealand filmmaker and has already sealed himself as a comedy film legend.
