Laugh Out Loud With The Silent Era

Noura Haddad
Noura HaddadNovember 29, 2025
The 1920s was a transformative period for comedy in film, with the silent era giving way to the talkies and comedians like Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, and Harold Lloyd becoming household names. During this time, comedians had to rely on physical humor, facial expressions, and clever writing to get laughs from their audiences.

Some of the most iconic comedies of all time were made during this period, with films like 'The Gold Rush' and 'The Circus' showcasing Chaplin's unique blend of humor and pathos. Meanwhile, Keaton's deadpan style and impressive stunts made him a fan favorite, with films like 'The General' and 'Steamboat Bill, Jr.' still holding up today.

The 1920s also saw the rise of the 'romantic comedy,' with films like 'The Freshman' and 'It' using humor to explore the ups and downs of love and relationships. These films often featured charming leads, witty dialogue, and hilarious situations, making them beloved by audiences of the time.

In this collection of classic comedies from the 1920s, we've gathered some of the most iconic, influential, and downright funny films of the era. From Chaplin's 'The Kid' to Keaton's 'The Cameraman,' these movies showcase the best of the silent era's comedic talents and continue to entertain audiences today.
The Kid
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The Kid

#1

A tramp cares for a boy after he's abandoned as a newborn by his mother. Later the mother has a change of heart and aches to be reunited with her son.

192168 min
ComedyDrama
8.2
2229 votes
The Gold Rush
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The Gold Rush

#2

A gold prospector in Alaska struggles to survive the elements and win the heart of a dance hall girl.

192595 min
AdventureComedyDrama
8.0
1739 votes
The Circus
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The Circus

#3

Charlie, a wandering tramp, becomes a circus handyman - soon the star of the show - and falls in love with the circus owner's stepdaughter.

192872 min
ComedyRomanceDrama
7.9
838 votes
The Cameraman
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The Cameraman

#4

A photographer takes up newsreel shooting to impress a secretary.

192874 min
ComedyRomance
7.8
412 votes
Safety Last!
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Safety Last!

#5

When a store clerk organizes a contest to climb the outside of a tall building, circumstances force him to make the perilous climb himself.

192373 min
ComedyRomance
7.7
541 votes
Steamboat Bill, Jr.
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Steamboat Bill, Jr.

#6

The just-out-of-college, effete son of a no-nonsense steamboat captain comes to visit his father whom he's not seen since he was a child.

192870 min
ComedyRomance
7.6
363 votes
Our Hospitality
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Our Hospitality

#7

A young man falls for a young woman on his trip home; unbeknownst to him, her family has vowed to kill every member of his family.

192373 min
ComedyRomance
7.5
294 votes
Speedy
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Speedy

#8

Speedy loses his job as a soda jerk, then spends the day with his girl at Coney Island. He then becomes a cab driver and delivers Babe Ruth to Yankee Stadium, where he stays to see the game. When the railroad tries to run the last horse-drawn trolley (operated by his girl's grandfather) out of business, Speedy organizes the neighborhood old-timers to thwart their scheme.

192885 min
Comedy
7.3
100 votes
The Navigator
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The Navigator

#9

The wealthy and impulsive Rollo Treadway decides to propose to his beautiful socialite neighbor, Betsy O'Brien. Although Betsy turns Rollo down, he still opts to go on the cruise that he intended as their honeymoon. When circumstances find both Rollo and Betsy on the wrong ship, they end up having adventures on the high seas.

192465 min
ComedyActionAdventure
7.1
261 votes
Show People
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Show People

#10

Hollywood hopeful Peggy Pepper arrives at a major studio, from Georgia, to become a great dramatic star. Things don't go entirely according to plan.

192879 min
ComedyRomance
7.1
52 votes
Girl Shy
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Girl Shy

#11

Harold Meadows is a shy, stuttering bachelor working in a tailor shop, who is writing a guidebook, The Secret of Making Love, for other bashful young men. Fate has him meet rich girl Mary, and they fall in love. But she is about to wed an already married man, so our hero embarks upon a hair-raising daredevil ride to prevent the wedding.

192480 min
ComedyRomance
7.0
66 votes
The Freshman
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The Freshman

#12

Harold Lamb is so excited about going to college that he has been working to earn spending money, practicing college yells, and learning a special way of introducing himself that he saw in a movie. When he arrives at Tate University, he soon becomes the target of practical jokes and ridicule. With the help of his one real friend Peggy, he resolves to make every possible effort to become popular.

192576 min
ComedyRomance
7.0
121 votes
The Kid Brother
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The Kid Brother

#13

The timid youngest son of the most important family in town must use his wits to win the respect of his strong father and the love of a beautiful new woman in town.

192782 min
ComedyDrama
6.9
95 votes
It
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It

#14

A flapper shopgirl woos her rich boss with animal magnetism -- the captivating personal quality otherwise known as "it."

192772 min
ComedyRomance
6.9
68 votes
Go West
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Go West

#15

With little luck at keeping a job in the city a New Yorker tries work in the country and eventually finds his way leading a herd of cattle to the West Coast.

192569 min
ComedyWestern
6.9
141 votes
Three Ages
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Three Ages

#16

The rituals of courtship, romantic rivalry, and love play out three times as a man vies with a villain for the girl. In the Stone Age, the rivalry is set off by dinosaurs, a turtle used as a ouija board, and a round of golf with stones. In ancient Rome, the men display their brawn through a chariot race, using dogs instead of horses. In contemporary times, the man finds himself overcome by modernity, including a very fragile car.

192364 min
Comedy
6.8
128 votes

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