What is Slapstick Comedy — Movie Genres Explained

Slapstick comedy techniques

Slapstick comedy meaning

There is a bit of debate over whether or not the terms ‘slapstick comedy’ and ‘physical comedy’ are synonymous. Some use the terms interchangeably. Others suggest that slapstick is the most exaggerated form of physical comedy.

Others still refer to physical comedy as a broader umbrella term that slapstick falls underneath. Regardless of how you align the terms, if you know what physical comedy is, you are most of the way to understanding slapstick humour as well.

Let’s take a quick look back to the beginning of the history of slapstick comedy. The term ‘slapstick’ comes from a simple wooden device used in theatrical performances since the 1500s known as a ‘slap stick.’

Another massively influential figure of the silent film era was Buster Keaton. The slapstick comedy examples in Keaton’s films frequently pushed the boundaries of what was physically possible. An element of danger played an important role in Keaton’s slapstick movies. Much of the humor and excitement of Keaton’s performances stems from how dangerous and death-defying his stunts were.

Though Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton were the two biggest slapstick stars of the silent film era, they were far from being the only ones. Countless performers explored the slapstick arena in the early days of film such as Harold Lloyd, Larry Semon, Laurel & Hardy, and Harry Langdon, alongside plenty of others. Many of the best slapstick comedies emerged from the silent era.

The advent of sound didn’t erase slapstick comedy movies altogether but it did lead to a decline in the prominence of slapstick in the following decades. Luckily, slapstick proved resilient.

Slapstick Today

Modern slapstick comedy is alive

While no longer the dominant genre it once was, slapstick humour still finds plenty of love in the hands of the right filmmakers. These days, many films incorporate elements of slapstick without making it the primary genre.

Filmmakers like Wes Anderson and Edgar Wright have created some of the best slapstick comedies of the modern era while still leaving room to explore other facets of comedy in their well-rounded films.

They may not focus on slapstick comedy examples solely, but slapstick does play an important role in their films. Here's an example breakdown of Edgar Wright's masterful visual comedy.

While films and television shows built entirely around slapstick may have become far less common than in the early days of cinema, these projects do still exist. Rowan Atkinson’s Mr. Bean character is an example of pure slapstick finding lasting success with modern audiences.

French auteur Jacques Tati built his entire career around a series of near-silent slapstick comedies. These are mostly centered around a recurring character named Monsieur Hulot, much in the same vein of Charlie Chaplin’s recurring Tramp character. Here's a closer look at the work Tati and his superb comedy.

One of the most successful and consistent practitioners of slapstick over the years has been none other than Jackie Chan. The martial arts of Jackie Chan provide a perfect fusion of seriously impressive fight scenes with silly humor. Slapstick is perfectly integrated with action through the majority of Chan’s incredible filmography.

Slapstick is alive and well in the world of modern filmmaking, even if it isn’t the dominant force that it once was. A case can certainly be made that slapstick often goes underutilized in many mainstream comedy films. More filmmakers tapping into the joys of physical humor could lead to a slapstick renaissance.