Summary
- Scarlett Johansson has showcased her incredible comedic talents in a variety of films, from quirky black comedies to light-hearted romantic romps.
- Johansson’s ability to blend humor with emotional depth shines through in roles that range from sarcastic social outcasts to heroic mothers.
- With a diverse filmography that includes animated musicals and satirical WWII comedies, Johansson proves she can excel in any genre.
Over 30 years in show business, Scarlett Johansson has built a reputation as one of the most sought-after actresses working today, although her incredible talent as a comedic performer is sometimes underrated. With so many fantastic roles in dramas, thrillers, and superhero movies, it’s easy to forget just how much Johansson has excelled in out-and-out comedies and subtly hilarious genre films. Through her ability to lose herself in her roles, Johansson has showcased that she can be truly hilarious in almost any cinematic environment.
The best Johansson movies highlighted the depth of emotion she can convey in deeply challenging roles, but these were often paired with equally funny performances and laugh-out-loud moments. While many may recognize Johansson for her major contribution to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, alongside her recurring role as Black Widow, she has continuously taken up comedic parts in movies from some of the greatest directors of modern times. Those who question Johansson’s comedic talents only need to look at her vast and varied body of work that’s packed with hilarious performances.
10 Ghost World (2001)
Scarlett Johansson as Rebecca Doppelmeyer
Although Scarlett Johansson made her acting debut in 1994 at just nine years old, it was her lead role in the graphic novel adaptation Ghost World where she truly started to break through in Hollywood. This hilariously idiosyncratic black comedy starred Johansson opposite Thora Birch as two teenagers who become obsessed with helping the romantic life of a lonely, middle-aged man played by Steve Buscemi. As a social outcast with a sarcastic sense of humor, Johansson’s role in Ghost World was an early indication of her incredible comedic skills.
Ghost World received universal acclaim for its incredible wit and its ability to walk the fine line between intelligent comedy and a sad reflection on humans’ desire for connection. Johansson knew how to lean into the more comedic aspects of the story while not losing sight of the emotions at the heart of its narrative. Johansson’s role in this more thought-provoking and introspective comedy helped showcase that she had what it took to pull off similarly emotionally challenging comedy dramas like Lost in Translation.
Ghost World RComedyDrama Where to Watch
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Ghost World, directed by Terry Zwigoff, follows the lives of two cynical teenage outcasts, Enid and Rebecca, after their high school graduation. Thora Birch and Scarlett Johansson star as the friends navigating the complexities of adulthood while forming an unexpected connection with a lonely, middle-aged man named Seymour, played by Steve Buscemi. The film is based on Daniel Clowes’ graphic novel of the same name.
Director Terry Zwigoff Release Date July 20, 2001 Writers Daniel Clowes , Terry Zwigoff Cast Thora Birch , Scarlett Johansson , Steve Buscemi , Brad Renfro , Illeana Douglas , Bob Balaban Runtime 111 minutes Main Genre Comedy Expand
9 Eight Legged Freaks (2002)
Scarlett Johansson as Ashley Parker
Having started to build up a name for herself in Hollywood, Scarlett Johansson showcased her willingness to accept more tongue-in-cheek roles with the monster comedy horror Eight Legged Freaks. This hilarious callback to B-horror movies of the past did not take itself too seriously and had plenty of laughs and thrills throughout. Johansson played a major role as Ashley Parker in this silly, campy, and over-the-top creature feature.
As the giant monstrous spider concept of Eight Legged Freaks quickly ran out of steam, the ridiculous narrative about a town facing off against giant spiders that had grown in size due to a toxic waste spill felt like a callback to an earlier era of cinema. While Eight Legged Freaks hasn’t exactly stood the test of time, audiences who go back and check it out may be surprised just how wildly funny it was. Johansson’s willingness to commit fully to an over-the-top sci-fi concept would again be seen with her later role in Luc Besson’s wild thriller Lucy.
Eight Legged Freaks (2002) PG-13ActionComedyHorrorThriller
Eight Legged Freaks is a horror-comedy film that takes place in the Arizona town of Prosperity, where toxic waste dumping has caused spiders to grow to enormous size and become aggressive. The spiders begin to attack the town’s residents, and a group of survivors, including a spider expert and the local sheriff, must band together to stop the eight-legged menace.
Director Ellory Elkayem Release Date July 17, 2002 Studio(s) Centropolis Entertainment , Village Roadshow Pictures , NPV Entertainment , Electric Entertainment , Warner Bros. Pictures Writers Ellory Elkayem , Jesse Alexander Cast David Arquette , kari wuhrer , Doug E. Doug , Scarlett Johansson , Rick Overton Runtime 99 Minutes Budget 30000000.0 Main Genre Action Expand
Related Every Scarlett Johansson Sci-Fi Movie, Ranked Worst To Best
Across her incredibly diverse filmography, Scarlett Johansson has delivered some truly exceptional science-fiction performances in iconic films.
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8 Scoop (2006)
Scarlett Johansson as Sondra Pransky/Jade Spence
While Scarlett Johansson had the first of several collaborations with director Woody Allen’s morality tale Match Point in 2005, it was not until the following year that she starred in one of his signature comedies with Scoop. As a supernatural murder mystery, Johansson played a journalist guided by a spirit to investigate a potential serial killer, played by Hugh Jackman. Scoop featured plenty of Allen’s signature wit but lacked the bite of his best work. However, Johansson once again proved she was well-suited to Allen’s unique comedic style and made a compelling leading lady for his mid-2000s era.
Scoop boasted an impressive cast that also included Allen himself as the neurotic magician The Great Splendini, Ian McShane as a deceased spirit guiding the investigation from beyond the grave, and Jackson as the man thought to be the notorious Tarot Card Killer. As a mostly forgotten mid-2000s comedy, Scoop was more of a light-hearted romantic romp and not in the same league as earlier Allen classics such as Annie Hall. However, Johansson played her part well and had started to build up an impressive portfolio of comedic film roles by this point in her career.
Scoop (2006) PG-13ComedyCrimeFantasy
Scoop is a 2006 comedy-mystery film directed by Woody Allen, starring Scarlett Johansson as an American journalism student who uncovers a big story with the help of a deceased journalist, played by Ian McShane. Hugh Jackman co-stars as a British aristocrat who becomes linked to the investigation. The film blends elements of humor and suspense as the characters navigate twists and turns in their pursuit of the truth.
Director Woody Allen Release Date July 28, 2006 Writers Woody Allen Cast Scarlett Johansson , Hugh Jackman , Jim Dunk , Robert Bathurst , Geoff Bell , Christopher Fulford , Nigel Lindsay , Ian McShane Runtime 96 Minutes Main Genre Comedy Character(s) Sondra Pransky , Peter Lyman , Funeral Speaker , Strombel’s Co-Worker Expand
7 Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008)
Scarlett Johansson as Cristina
Scarlett Johansson’s third and final collaboration with Woody Allen was also her best, as Vicky Cristina Barcelona signaled a late-career highlight for the iconic director. As the story of two best friends named Vicky (Rebecca Hall) and Cristina (Scarlett Johansson) visiting Barcelona for the summer, their relaxing time was soon turned on its head when they encountered the intriguing artist Juan Antonio (Javier Bardem) and his unpredictable ex-wife, María Elena (Penélope Cruz.) As the romances of all four become entangled, Vicky Cristina Barcelona becomes a hotbed for infidelity, lust, and jealousy.
With a well-matched cast and great chemistry, Vicky Cristina Barcelona was Allen’s best script in years, as the film inspired wanderlust with its exceptional portrayal of the Spanish countryside. Johannson was hilarious as the spontaneous and wayward friend Cristina, whose willingness to take chances and drive for passionate romance drove much of the narrative. Although Johannson excelled in her role, it must be said that it was Cruz who stole the show as the artistic, beautiful, and complex ex-wife.
Vicky Cristina Barcelona RDramaDocumentaryRomance Where to Watch
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Vicky Cristina Barcelona, directed by Woody Allen, follows friends Vicky and Cristina as they spend a summer in Barcelona. The film explores their differing philosophies on love and relationships as they encounter a charismatic artist and his tempestuous ex-wife. Starring Scarlett Johansson, Rebecca Hall, Javier Bardem, and Penélope Cruz, the film delves into the complexities of passion and self-discovery.
Director Woody Allen Release Date August 15, 2008 Writers Woody Allen Cast Rebecca Hall , Scarlett Johansson , Christopher Evan Welch , Chris Messina , Patricia Clarkson , Kevin Dunn Runtime 96 minutes Main Genre Drama Expand
6 Don Jon (2013)
Scarlett Johansson as Barbara Sugarman
Joseph Gordon-Levitt wrote, directed, and starred in the comedy-drama Don Jon, which was a unique look into modern romance and the false fantasies self-absorbed and selfish people project on one another. Gordon-Levitt played the successful ladies’ man Don Jon who also harbored a crippling addiction to internet pornography, while Scarlett Johansson played his love interest Barbara Sugarman, who holds an overly romanticized view of relationships due to watching too many rom-coms. Together, the wayward couple butted heads as they found it difficult to traverse the false projection they have cultivated regarding romance.
Johansson gave an exceptional performance as Barbara and entirely transformed herself into the New Jersey bombshell who enamored Don. There was plenty of humor in this sex comedy as Gordon-Levitt and Johansson played off one another perfectly. However, behind the humor, at the center of Don Jon lay a critique of the difficulties of modern relationships, the deteriorating effects of widespread access to pornography, and the unrealistic emotional expectations that are often placed on partners.
Don Jon RComedyDocumentaryDramaRomance Where to Watch
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Directed and written by Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Don Jon is a Drama, Comedy, and Romance film released in 2013. Gordon-Levitt himself stars opposite Julianne Moore and Scarlett Johansson as Don Juan of modern times, who spends his days seducing women.
Director Joseph Gordon-Levitt Release Date September 12, 2013 Writers Joseph Gordon-Levitt Cast Joseph Gordon-Levitt , Scarlett Johansson , Julianne Moore , Tony Danza , Glenne Headly , Brie Larson Runtime 90 minutes
5 Sing (2016)
Scarlett Johansson as Ash
Part of the appeal of Scarlett Johansson was the sheer variety in her filmography, which can be perfectly seen through her role in the animated jukebox musical Sing. This star-studded comedy included Johansson as the punk rock porcupine Ash, who, along with her self-absorbed boyfriend Lance, took part in the citywide singing competition staged to save a struggling theater. Set in a world inhabited by anthropomorphic animals, Sing was a major hit at the box office that appealed to kids and adults alike with its cheerfully entertaining concept and toe-tapping musical numbers.
Johansson ironically brought humanity to her role as a prickly and rebellious teenage porcupine whose egotistical, unsupportive jerk of a boyfriend cheated on her during their rehearsals. Sing was a movie full of heart but also had plenty of laughs. Johansson reprised her role as Ash for the sequel Sing 2 in 2021. As a showcase that Johansson has the comedic skills to pull off movies aimed at viewers of all ages, Sing was an enjoyable addition to her diverse body of work.
Sing PGAnimationComedyFamilyMusic Where to Watch
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Sing is an animated musical comedy directed by Garth Jennings. It follows Buster Moon, a koala voiced by Matthew McConaughey, who hosts a singing competition to save his failing theater. The film features an ensemble cast including Reese Witherspoon, Scarlett Johansson, and Taron Egerton, portraying various animal characters with dreams of stardom. Released in 2016, it combines humor and heartfelt moments through its vibrant musical performances.
Director Garth Jennings Release Date November 23, 2016 Studio(s) Illumination , Universal Pictures , Fuji Television Network , dentsu Writers Garth Jennings Cast Matthew McConaughey , Reese Witherspoon , Seth MacFarlane , Scarlett Johansson , John C. Reilly Runtime 108 Minutes Budget 75000000.0 Main Genre Animation Expand
4 Hail, Caesar! (2016)
Scarlett Johansson as DeeAnna Moran
While Hail, Caesar! couldn’t quite live up to the lofty expectations that the Coen brothers had previously set, it still stood as an enjoyable homage to classic Hollywood cinema. As the haphazard story of a 1950s studio fixer, played by Josh Brolin, trying to keep George Clooney as the wayward star of a biblical epic on track for the production, there was a lot to like about this lightweight love letter to post-war Hollywood. One of the most enjoyable aspects of Hail, Caesar! was Scarlett Johansson as DeeAnna Moran, a fantastic addition to the film’s impressive ensemble cast.
Johansson brought humor to her role as an actress modeled after the real 1950s swim star turned actress Esther Williams, who became pregnant during the production of the movie within a movie. While Johansson’s role was relatively small, she certainly made it count, as she hilariously lost her cool when filming her epic synchronized swimming mermaid princess sequence in Hail, Caesar! As yet another varied and unique role for Johansson, she showcased a new side of comedic skills in this Coen brothers movie.
Hail, Caesar! PG-13ComedyDocumentaryMystery Where to Watch
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Set in the 1950s, the Coen Brothers’ Hail, Caesar! is a 2016 comedy that film follows Eddie Mannix (Josh Brolin), a Hollywood fixer tasked with keeping the studio’s stars in line. When the leading man of the studio’s biggest film, Baird Whitlock (George Clooney), is kidnapped, Mannix must rescue him and save the picture’s release.
Director Ethan Coen , Joel Coen Release Date February 5, 2016 Studio(s) Universal Pictures Distributor(s) Universal Pictures Writers Joel Coen , Ethan Coen Cast Josh Brolin , Channing Tatum , Tilda Swinton , George Clooney , Scarlett Johansson , Frances McDormand , Jonah Hill , Ralph Fiennes Runtime 106minutes Budget $22 million Expand
3 Rough Night (2017)
Scarlett Johansson as Jess Thayer
While Scarlett Johansson has had plenty of comedic roles throughout her career, Rough Night was her most out-and-out comedy, as she starred alongside a talented ensemble cast of female comedians. As the story of a bachelorette party gone wrong, four reunited college friends’ night went horribly awry when one of them accidentally killed their stripper. Full of hilarious physical humor and non-stop gags, Rough Night was an enjoyable mainstream comedy from director and co-writer Lucia Aniello, known for her work on Broad City.
As the bride-to-be, Johansson played Jess Thayer, who, along with her best friends, gets embroiled in a night of cocaine-fueled antics, outrageously excessive drinking, and eventually accidental murder. Rough Night was a female-led adult comedy that had many laugh-out-loud moments but still paled in comparison to iconic comedies such as Bridesmaid. While Johansson proved she was hilarious in her role, it would have been better if the characters in Rough Night were more three-dimensional rather than simple archetypical caricature types.
Rough Night RComedy Where to Watch
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Rough Night is a dark comedy film directed by Lucia Aniello. Released in 2017, it stars Scarlett Johansson, Jillian Bell, Ilana Glazer, Zoë Kravitz, and Kate McKinnon as a group of friends who reunite for a bachelorette party in Miami. Their celebration takes a drastic turn when a male stripper accidentally dies, leading them into a series of chaotic and comedic misadventures as they attempt to deal with the situation.
Director Lucia Aniello Release Date June 16, 2017 Writers Paul W. Downs , Lucia Aniello Cast Kate McKinnon , Ilana Glazer , Jillian Bell , Scarlett Johansson , Zoe Kravitz Main Genre Comedy Expand
2 Isle of Dogs (2017)
Scarlett Johansson as Nutmeg
Throughout her career, Scarlett Johansson has worked with many of the greatest directors around, and it was exciting to see her take up a role with one of contemporary cinema’s greatest auteurs, Wes Anderson, for Isle of Dogs. As a stop-motion animated comedy, Isle of Dogs maintained the style of Anderson’s previous Roahl Dahl adaptation, Fantastic Mr. Fox, to tell the story of an ensemble cast of dogs banished by a Japanese mayor to Trash Island. This was due to the dogs being the source of a canine influenza pandemic that spread through Japan in the not-so-distant future.
Isle of Dogs was an excellent addition to Anderson’s unique oeuvre, and Johansson fits in well among the talented voices that included the likes of Bryan Cranston, Edward Norton, Jeff Goldblum, and Bill Murray. Johansson played the quarantined dog Nutmeg, the love interest and later girlfriend of Cranstan’s character Chief. With plenty of humor but also just as much poignant vulnerability, Nutmeg was an important addition to this oddly beautiful and genuinely funny film.
Isle of Dogs PG-13AdventureComedyAnimation Where to Watch
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Island of Dogs is a stop-motion animation film set in a dystopian future in Japan in which dogs have been quarantined on a remote island due to a new virus called “canine flu.” The film follows five local dogs—Chief, Rex, Boss, Duke, and King. They are fed up with their isolated existence until a boy named Atari Kobayashi ventures to the island to search for his dog, Spots. Atari receives their help, and they will protect him from the Japanese authorities who have come to retrieve him.
Director Wes Anderson Release Date March 23, 2018 Studio(s) Searchlight Pictures Distributor(s) Searchlight Pictures Writers Wes Anderson Cast Bill Murray , Tilda Swinton , Kara Hayward , Liev Schreiber , Bob Balaban , Jeff Goldblum , Greta Gerwig , Yoko Ono , Bryan Cranston , Courtney B. Vance , Edward Norton , F. Murray Abraham , Scarlett Johansson , Frances McDormand , Harvey Keitel Runtime 102minutes Budget $35million Expand
1 Jojo Rabbit (2019)
Scarlett Johansson as Rosie Betzler
The World War II comedy Jojo Rabbit could have been a controversial disaster if not for the feel-good vulnerability at the heart of its narrative. Writer and director Taika Waititi plays Adolf Hitler as the imaginary friend of a ten-year-old Hitler Youth member, meaning that Jojo Rabbit may have come across as offensive if its satirical black humor was not so unapologetically funny as it brilliantly mocked Nazis and fascism. In her role as the single mother Rosie Betzler, Scarlett Johansson brought heart and pathos to a character raising a child in a pro-Hitler environment while secretly being sternly anti-Nazi.
Betzler’s primary focus throughout Jojo Rabbit was to protect her son and, in the process, was seen hilariously slapping a Nazi officer and helping Jojo to hide the teenage Jewish girl who sought refuge in their home. As a secret anti-Nazi activist, Johansson was seen leaving pamphlets in public places and doing what she could to stand against the horrific regime. While there was also deep tragedy in her character’s story, Scarlett Johansson’s incredible comedic talent helped make Jojo Rabbit one of the best comedies of the 2010s.
Jojo Rabbit PG-13DramaWarComedy Where to Watch
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Directed by Taika Waititi and featuring his characteristic absurdist humor, Jojo Rabbit stars Roman Griffin Davis as Johannes “Jojo” Betzler, a young German boy during WWII who is a member of the Hitler Youth. When Jojo discovers that his mother Rosie (Scarlett Johansson) is helping a Jewish girl hide from the Nazis in the attic of their home, he must begin to confront his prejudices and what he thought he knew was right head-on. Waititi also stars in the film as a fictionalized version of Hitler who is Jojo’s imaginary friend.
Director Taika Waititi Release Date October 18, 2019 Studio(s) Fox Searchlight Pictures , TSG Entertainment , Defender Films , Piki Films Distributor(s) Fox Searchlight Pictures Writers Taika Waititi Cast Stephen Merchant , Sam Rockwell , Rebel Wilson , Taika Waititi , Alfie Allen , Thomasin McKenzie , Scarlett Johansson , Roman Griffin Davis Runtime 108 minutes Budget $14 million Expand