Bill Murray Picks the Funniest Film of the Century
Bill Murray hails Stephen Chow’s Kung Fu Hustle as the standout comedy of the 21st century, calling it unmatched and sending a strong message to American comedy creators.
Bill Murray has spent decades making punters laugh, starring in some of the most memorable comedies around. He’s a bloke who knows his way around a good gag, even if his off-screen antics have sometimes rubbed people the wrong way. Whether you reckon he’s a genius or just a bit eccentric, there’s no denying his knack for creating films that stick with audiences for generations.
From classics like Stripes and Caddyshack to the ever-popular Ghostbusters and Groundhog Day, Murray’s work has become a staple for comedy fans. His films are the sort locals keep coming back to, sharing with mates and family. But when it comes to the best laugh-out-loud film of the 21st century, Murray’s got a clear favourite—and it’s not from his own backyard.
Kung Fu Hustle: A Comedy Game-Changer
Looking at the modern comedy landscape, Murray didn’t mince words about where he thinks the bar’s been set. He reckons Stephen Chow’s Kung Fu Hustle is in a league of its own, blending martial arts mayhem with slapstick, wild visual jokes, and a pace that never lets up. The film’s got a bit of everything—over-the-top action, cartoonish humour, and a style that feels like a mash-up of Buster Keaton and Tex Avery.
He called it
“the supreme achievement of the modern age in terms of comedy.”
For Murray, nothing else comes close. He even joked that after seeing Kung Fu Hustle, his own directorial effort, Quick Change, looked like a dodgy home video.
“Quick Change, after it, looked like a home movie. It looked like a fucking high school film. I was like, ‘Oh man, I just saw this thing’, and ‘God, that’s just staggering, just staggering’. When I saw that, I was like: That. Just. Happened.”
A Tough Act to Follow
It might seem odd to compare two films made decades apart, especially when they’re so different, but Murray was clearly blown away by Chow’s work. He didn’t hold back, saying the film set a standard that would be tough for anyone to match, no matter where they’re from.
He even went as far as to say,
“There should have been a day of mourning for American comedy the day that movie came out,”
showing just how much he rates Kung Fu Hustle above anything else in recent memory. It’s a big call, but coming from someone with Murray’s track record, it’s worth a listen.