W4 Clowns is a 1970 documentary compilation film written and directed by Robert Youngson that studies the golden age of comedy through a compilation of rare silent film footage of the works of Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy, Charley Chase and Buster Keaton. It was the last feature film project of producer, director, and writer Robert Youngson.
WAll Jokes Aside is a 2000 documentary about black comedians performing in the comedy club All Jokes Aside.
WAmerican: The Bill Hicks Story is a 2009 biographical documentary film on the life of comedian Bill Hicks. The film was produced by Matt Harlock and Paul Thomas, and features archival footage and interviews with family and friends, including Kevin Booth.
WThe Aristocrats is a 2005 American documentary comedy film about the famous dirty joke of the same name. It was conceived and produced by comedians Penn Jillette, Paul Provenza, and Peter Adam Golden, and edited by Emery Emery. THINKFilm distributed and released it theatrically. The film is dedicated to Johnny Carson, as "The Aristocrats" was said to be his favorite joke.
WBecoming Mike Nichols is a 2016 documentary film directed by Douglas McGrath about the life of Mike Nichols. It premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on January 29, 2016, and was later broadcast on HBO on February 22, 2016.
WBrand: A Second Coming, also called BRAND: The Film, is a 2015 English documentary film about comedian Russell Brand directed by Ondi Timoner. The film documents Brand's transformation from a comedian to activist over the past five years. It debuted at the 2015 South by Southwest festival in March, but elicited some controversy as Brand declined to attend the premiere and is reportedly unhappy with the film.
WCall Me Lucky is a 2015 American documentary film directed by Bobcat Goldthwait about the life of satirist, author, and performer Barry Crimmins.
WComedian is a 2002 American documentary film focusing on comedian Jerry Seinfeld that explores the other side of stand-up comedy; that is, the preparation, politics, nerves, creativity, and so on. The film also features an up-and-coming comic named Orny Adams as he struggles to make it in show business. Many other recognizable comedians also make at least a cameo, including Colin Quinn, Greg Giraldo, Jim Norton, Ray Romano, Godfrey, Chris Rock, George Wallace, Mario Joyner, Jay Leno, Tom Papa, Bill Cosby, and Robert Klein.
WConan O'Brien Can't Stop is a 2011 documentary film by Rodman Flender featuring Conan O'Brien and focusing on his comedy tour, The Legally Prohibited from Being Funny on Television Tour, which took place in 2010 following his departure from The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien due to the controversial 2010 Tonight Show conflict.
WDerek and Clive Get the Horn is a 1979 British documentary comedy film that chronicles the recording of Peter Cook and Dudley Moore's 1978 comedy album Derek and Clive Ad Nauseam, their third and final outing featuring their controversial alter-egos Derek and Clive, two foul-mouthed lavatory attendants who banter at length about their surreal day-to-day existences. The footage was shot in early September 1978. The film was the directorial debut of Russell Mulcahy, who would go on to direct Highlander.
WDrunk Stoned Brilliant Dead: The Story of the National Lampoon is a 2015 American documentary film directed by Douglas Tirola. The film is about National Lampoon magazine, and how the magazine and its empire of spin-offs changed the course of comedy and humor.
WDying to do Letterman is a 2011 documentary film, directed by Joke Fincioen and Biagio Messina, and produced under their Joke Productions banner. The documentary follows the journey of Steve Mazan, a stand up comedian with the lifelong dream of performing a comedy routine on the Late Show with David Letterman.
WHeckler is a 2007 documentary film about hecklers.
WI Am Chris Farley is a 2015 documentary film based on the life of comedian and actor Chris Farley, co-directed by Brent Hodge of Hodgee Films and Derik Murray, who was also a producer, of Network Entertainment. The production features interviews with numerous actors, comedians and others who worked with Farley during his career.
WI Am Comic is a 2010 documentary about the stand-up comedy world directed by Jordan Brady.
WIt Came from Hollywood is a 1982 American comedy documentary film compiling clips from various B movies. Written by Dana Olsen and directed by Malcolm Leo and Andrew Solt, the film features wraparound segments and narration by several famous comedians, including Dan Aykroyd, John Candy, Gilda Radner, and Cheech and Chong. Sections of It Came from Hollywood focus on gorilla pictures, anti-marijuana films and the works of Ed Wood. The closing signature song was the doo wop hit "What's Your Name" by Don and Juan.
WJoan Rivers: A Piece of Work is a 2010 documentary film about the life and career of comedian Joan Rivers, also featuring Melissa Rivers, Don Rickles and Kathy Griffin.
WKnock Knock, It's Tig Notaro is a 2015 stand-up comedy tour documentary film starring Tig Notaro and Jon Dore. The film premiered on March 16, 2015 at the South by Southwest Film Festival and aired on Showtime on April 17, 2015.
WThe Last Laugh is a 2016 documentary film about whether jokes about the Holocaust can ever be funny.
WAnd Now for Something Rather Similar is a documentary about the Monty Python team as they prepare for their first live performances in 34 years. Airing on BBC 1 on 29 June 2014 as part of the Imagine series, the programme is presented by Alan Yentob, who tracks down the five surviving Pythons in the months leading up to their Monty Python Live (Mostly) shows at the O2 arena in July 2014.
WMonty Python: The Meaning of Live is a 2014 British documentary telefilm, directed by Roger Graef and James Rogan, about a 10-day series of live performances at London's O2 arena. The film features interviews with Monty Python members John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Michael Palin as they perform on stage together for the first time in 34 years. Also appearing are Carol Cleveland, Prof. Brian Cox, Stephen Hawking and Mike Myers. The documentary is dedicated to Graham Chapman.
WMr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project is a 2007 documentary film about stand-up comedian Don Rickles, which was first screened at the 2007 New York Film Festival and then shown on HBO.
WNo Joke is a Canadian documentary released in 2013.
WPauly Shore Stands Alone is a 2014 comedy documentary film about Pauly Shore. It was produced by Peter Clune and Joey Vigour, edited by Joey Vigour and Troy Takaki, and directed by Shore himself. It premiered at the 2014 Woodstock Film Festival and was later released on Showtime in December 2014. The film follows actor and comedian Pauly Shore on a cold midwestern tour of small comedy venues in Wisconsin and Minnesota as he interacts with fans and deals with health issues and the realities of mortality.
WRichard Pryor: I Ain't Dead Yet, #*%$#@!! is a 2003 American short documentary film about and featuring actor-comedian Richard Pryor. It was produced and aired by Comedy Central. It features commentary from different actors, comedians, and Pryor's own family members on the aspects and influence of his life and work.
WRichard Pryor: Omit the Logic is a 2013 American biographical documentary film directed by Marina Zenovich, who also writing with P.G. Morgan and Chris A. Peterson. The film is about the life of comedian and actor Richard Pryor.
WTickling Giants, directed by Sara Taksler, is a 2017 documentary film about the story of Bassem Youssef. In the midst of the Egyptian revolution of 2011, Bassem Youssef makes a decision to leave his job as a heart surgeon to become a full-time comedian. Dubbed "The Egyptian Jon Stewart," Bassem creates the satirical show "Al Bernameg". Tickling Giants follows the team of Al Bernameg as they endure physical threats, protests, and legal action, all because of jokes.
WTig is a 2015 documentary film directed by Kristina Goolsby and Ashley York with additional directing and writing by Jennifer Arnold and starring Tig Notaro. The film chronicles Notaro's trials dealing with being diagnosed with breast cancer and her attempts to become pregnant with her fiancée Stephanie Allynne.
WWhen Stand Up Stood Out is a documentary film by former Boston comedian Fran Solomita which chronicles the explosive popularity of the Boston Stand-up comedy scene in the 80s and early 90s. It was released on DVD on June 20, 2006 by THINKFilm, the distributor behind the documentary The Aristocrats.
WWild West Comedy Show: 30 Days and 30 Nights – Hollywood to the Heartland is a comedy documentary film directed by Ari Sandel and follows the 30-day comedy tour of several stand up comedians. It premiered September 8, 2006, at the Toronto International Film Festival. It opened in wide release in the United States on February 8, 2008.
WThe Zen Diaries of Garry Shandling is an American documentary film that premiered on HBO in two parts on March 26 and 27, 2018. Directed and produced by Judd Apatow, the film explores the life and legacy of comedian Garry Shandling.