This is the fourth in a series of articles where we’ll be covering the Top Fish Out of Water Comedies by decade. Fish Out of Water is a term used to describe a situation where a person is put in an unfamiliar or unique situation – often to great comedic or dramatic effect. Fish Out of Water films will also usually highlight the absurdity of societal or procedural customs or mannerisms, often with a very satirical tone.
Though most Fish Out of Water films are comedies, there are some films within the subgenre that fall under the drama, sci-fi and fantasy genres. Fish Out of Water comedy is also closely aligned and most often integrated with other subgenres including Action Adventure Films, Films About Spies & Espionage, Body Swap Films, Parodies, Satires, Films About Cops & the FBI, Films About Families, Contemporary & Urban Fantasy Films, Films About the Multiverse, Films About Time Travel, Sports Comedies and Western Comedies.
Fish Out of Water Comedy has been utilized in film since the early 1900’s but emerged as a growing comedy subgenre in the 1970’s, with an increase in popularity in the 1980’s and has been one of the most popular comedy subgenres since. Popular Fish Out of Water Comedies over the decades include The Jerk (1979), Stripes (1981), Trading Places (1983), Beverly Hills Cop (1984), My Cousin Vinny (1992), Lost in Translation (2003), Idiocracy (2006), Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017) and Coming 2 America (2021).
This fourth article will cover the Top Fish Out of Water Comedies You Haven’t Seen from the 2000’s and you can check out additional articles by decade below. We are also going to include a Best Of subgenre article as a grand finale. There are so many great Fish Out of Water Comedies over the last 60 years that we felt it best to break down some of the subgenre’s forgotten and lesser-known gems by decade before we give you the Best Of list which will likely feature many films you’ve already heard of or have seen.
- Top Fish Out of Water Comedies You Haven’t Seen – 1970’s
- Top Fish Out of Water Comedies You Haven’t Seen – 1980’s
- Top Fish Out of Water Comedies You Haven’t Seen – 1990’s
- Top Fish Out of Water Comedies You Haven’t Seen – 2000’s
- Top Fish Out of Water Comedies You Haven’t Seen – 2010’s
- Best Recent Fish Out of Water Comedies
- Best Fish Out of Water Comedies
Fish Out of Water Comedies continued as a major subgenre of Comedy into the 2000’s. In fact, many classic films of the subgenre emerged during this decade including What Women Want (2000), Miss Congeniality (2000), Elf (2003), School of Rock (2003) and Idiocracy (2006). Many of the subgenre’s themes from previous decades extended into the 2000’s with Fish Out of Water Time Travel Films and Satires. But the subgenre also saw the emergence of female-driven Fish Out of Water Comedy and an increase in films with fantasy-based narratives.
Though the subgenre had female-led comedies in prior decades, these films were few and far between. For every Freaky Friday (1976), Private Benjamin (1980) and Pretty Woman (1990), there were at least ten subgenre films with male leads. That all changed in the 2000’s with an increasing number of Fish Out of Water Comedies focused on women. What Women Want (2000), Miss Congeniality (2000), Legally Blonde (2001), Sweet Home Alabama (2002), 13 Going on 30 (2004), Raising Helen (2004), The House Bunny (2008) and Wild Child (2008) were the notable female-focused subgenre films of the decade.
Fantasy-based Fish Out of Water comedy also became more prominent within the subgenre with most films utilizing Contemporary & Urban Fantasy themes. Notable films included The Family Man (2000), What Women Want (2000), Down to Earth (2001), Elf (2003), 13 Goin on 30 (2004), Fat Albert (2004), Fred Claus (2007), Enchanted (2007) and The Invention of Lying (2009).
As with other decades, Time Travel Fish Out of Water Comedy also continued to be a popular theme of the subgenre with Escape to Grizzly Mountain (2000), Just Visiting (2001), Black Knight (2001), Kate & Leopold (2001), Idiocracy (2006) and Land of the Lost (2009).
And finally, Satire continued as the major theme of the subgenre in the 2000’s. Sex, gender and relationships were satirized in films such as What Planet Are You From? (2000), What Women Want (2000) and Knocked Up (2007). Down to Earth (2001), Irish Jam (2006) and Outsourced (2007) would explore racial and cultural issues. And politics and government bureaucracy (always popular subjects of the subgenre) would get skewered in Head of State (2003), The Terminal (2004) and Idiocracy (2006).
Our complete list of Fish Out of Water Comedies features over 188+ films from 1970 – 2024. This collection features almost every film featuring a person placed in an unfamiliar environment. As we’re always updating our collections and will be releasing additional articles of great Fish Out of Water Comedies, subscribe to our newsletter for our latest updates as we post them.
Note: We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
Classic Fish Out of Water Comedies from the 2000’s: What Planet Are You From? (2000), The Family Man (2000), What Women Want (2000), Miss Congeniality (2000), Legally Blonde (2001), How High (2001), Kate & Leopold (2001), Lost in Translation (2003), School of Rock (2003), Elf (2003), Shaun of the Dead (2004), The Terminal (2004), The World’s Fastest Indian (2005), The Valet (2006), Idiocracy (2006), Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation Kazakhstan (2006), Knocked Up (2007), The House Bunny (2008), Brüno (2009) and The Invention of Lying (2009).
Fish Out of Water Comedies from the 2000’s that didn’t make our list: Escape to Grizzly Mountain (2000), The Château (2001), Down to Earth (2001), Just Visiting (2001), Crocodile Dundee in Los Angeles (2001), Mr. Bones (2001), Black Knight (2001), Cadet Kelly (2002), Mr. Deeds (2002), Sweet Home Alabama (2002), Drumline (2002), Daddy Day Care (2003), Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde (2003), 13 Going on 30 (2004), Raising Helen (2004), Fat Albert (2004), The Pacifier (2005), Fred Claus (2007), Enchanted (2007), Kickin’ It Old Skool (2007), Wild Child (2008), New In Town (2009), Land of the Lost (2009), Old Dogs (2009) and Did You Hear About the Morgans? (2009).
Here is our list of the Top Fish Out of Water Comedies You Haven’t Seen – 2000’s:
#10
Wooly Boys
Plot: Two ranchers (Peter Fonda, Kris Kristofferson) from North Dakota find adventure in Minneapolis after one goes to visit his only daughter.
KBZ’s Take: As usual, we like to include one very obscure film of the subgenre on our lists and Wooly Boys is our pick here. For a film starring Peter Fonda, Kris Kristofferson and Keith Carradine, you would expect the film to be more well known. However, it’s been lost to time and a forgotten film of the early 2000’s.
As for the film, the Fish Out of Water comedy is related to both A.J.’s (Fonda) visit to the city and his 16-year-old son Charles (Joseph Mazzello) encountering life in rural North Dakota. It’s not a great film but fans of the subgenre should enjoy this lost dramedy.
Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
#9
Irish Jam
Plot: Upon discovering that their town is up for sale, crafty Irish villagers scheme to raise the money to prevent the buy-out. They hold a poetry contest with a tempting grand prize — the deed to their local pub. But what could happen when a duplicitous American rapper emerges as the best poet around?
KBZ’s Take: How much you enjoy this film will be related to your tolerance for Eddie Griffin’s comedy. Griffin often holds nothing back with his controversial and politically incorrect thoughts, but this film is quite different than standard Griffin comedy.
The film is more of a heartfelt, Fish Out of Water Comedy exploring the clash of cultures between Griffin’s rapper and the Irish townspeople. The comedy can be hit or miss at times but does have some very funny moments that fans of the subgenre should enjoy.
Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
Plot: When a presidential candidate dies unexpectedly in the middle of the campaign, the Democratic party unexpectedly picks a Washington, D.C. alderman, Mays Gilliam (Rock) as his replacement.
KBZ’s Take: Chris Rock starred in two subgenre films during the decade with Down to Earth (2001) and this film. While both films explore racial themes through Fish Out of Water comedy, Head of State also skewers politics and is the much funnier (and better) subgenre film.
While this is another film with hit or miss comedy, its satire of politics provides the funniest moments. However, we would only recommend the film for fans of Chris Rock and subgenre fans who enjoy heavy satire with their Fish Out of Water Comedy.
Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
#7
The Valet
Plot: Caught by tabloid paparazzi with his mistress Elena, a famous and beautiful fashion model, billionaire Pierre Levasseur tries to avoid a divorce by inventing a preposterous lie. He uses the presence of a passerby in the photo to claim to his wife that it’s not him Elena is seeing but the other man, one François Pignon. Pignon is a modest little man who works as a parking valet. To make the story convincing, Elena has to move in with Pignon.
KBZ’s Take: Recently remade as The Valet (2022) on Hulu, the original French film is the much better version of the two films featuring a valet out his element in an elaborate scam. Gad Elmaleh (as François) and Alice Taglioni (as Elena) absolutely own their roles with great chemistry and comedic timing. Throw in Daniel Auteuil (as Levasseur the scheming husband) and Kristin Scott Thomas (as Christine his snooping wife) and you have an excellent cast that the remake cannot compete with.
Even if you are averse to foreign films, this is one film where it’s worth watching the original film first despite its somewhat abrupt ending.
Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
#6
Outsourced
Plot: A US salesman must train new customer service agents in India.
KBZ’s Take: While this is billed as a Romantic Comedy, the romance itself is a bit subdued and feels forced. However, the film excels when it focuses on Indian culture and customs which are foreign to the main character from the U.S. It also has some very funny Fish Out of Water Comedy unique to the subgenre (primarily due to it’s setting in India).
There are many films that focus on the domestic impact of corporate outsourcing, but this is one of the only films that sheds light on the people benefitting from those new outsourced jobs.
Additional Lists: Top Fish Out of Water Films You Haven’t Seen #10
Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
Plot: A senator arranges for his son, a rich white kid who fancies himself black, to be kidnapped by a couple of black actors pretending to be murderers to try and shock him out of his plans to become a rapper.
KBZ’s Take: Like Eddie Griffin and Chris Rock, Jamie Kennedy has a brand of comedy that elicits equal amounts of love and hate. We’re in the love camp as we were huge fans of The Jamie Kennedy Experiment TV series where his character of Brad Gluckman originated from.
As for the film, it will likely be enjoyed much more by Kennedy fans with its absurd premise and its satire on race and politics. But even if you’re not a fan of Kennedy’s, the film is worth checking out for the very funny performances by Taye Diggs and Anthony Anderson as actors hired to play menacing gang members (with often hilarious results).
Finally, if you did enjoy this film, you might also like another Kennedy Fish Out of Water Comedy of the decade with a similar premise, Kickin’ It Old Skool (2007).
Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
Plot: Set in a world where the concept of lying doesn’t exist, a loser changes his lot when he invents lying and uses it to get ahead.
KBZ’s Take: This is a film with such a unique premise within the subgenre, that it could have been one of the funniest overall comedies of the decade. Unfortunately, though the film has some very funny moments, it falls short of reaching classic comedy status.
With that said, it is one of the funniest films of this subgenre with some hilarious moments with the lies of Mark Bellison (Ricky Gervais).
Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
Plot: Playboy Bunny Shelley Darlingson has lived a life of luxury at Hugh Hefner’s mansion. Disaster strikes, however, when Shelley turns 27 and is deemed as too old to be a Bunny. Kicked out into the real world, the girl ambles onto a college campus and tries to join a sorority. Finding a sorority made up of geeky, awkward girls – Zeta Alpha Zeta – Shelley teaches them the art of attracting boys, as only a Playboy Bunny can.
KBZ’s Take: Though The House Bunny is a bit formulaic when compared to other Teen Comedies of the decade, it’s elevated by Anna Faris’ performance as the Fish Out of Water Playboy Bunny in a sorority. Faris owns the film with her hilarious one-liners and physical comedy.
Faris had a great run in the 2000’s with unforgettable characters in Just Friends (2005) and Smiley Face (2007) but The House Bunny is arguably her best and one of the subgenre’s funniest of the decade.
Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
Plot: The life story of New Zealander Burt Munro, who built a 1920 Indian motorcycle and set the land speed world record in 1967.
KBZ’s Take: This film blends Fish out of Water Comedy with exhilarating race sequences for one fantastic experience. It’s a true story that seems almost unbelievable with Burt Munro (Anthony Hopkins) building an older motorcycle that sets the land speed record.
Hopkins is great in his role as the New Zealander out of his element in California and he makes the story of Munro that much more endearing. Highly recommended film of the subgenre.
Additional Lists: Top Inspirational Sports Films You Haven’t Seen #5
Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
Plot: Harold is sent to Earth on a mission to impregnate a woman and have a child. Harold befriends Perry Gordon, a horny, morally challenged specimen of the human male, and together they scope Phoenix for women. On the prowl for the ideal woman with whom he can mate, the alien encounters a wide spectrum of potential candidates.
KBZ’s Take: This one of the few films of the subgenre, but the decade’s best, that utilizes Fish Out of Water Comedy to satirize sex and relationships. Garry Shandling has the best moments in the film as his alien character needs to navigate the rituals of dating to impregnate a woman.
Equally funny is John Goodman as an FAA agent investigating a UFO-type event (and Shandling’s alien) while dealing with his own relationship issues. Though the film does veer into Raunchy Comedy at times, it takes a more adult approach in exploring many of the stereotypes surrounding sex and relationships.
The film might not be for everyone as the humor in the film is an acquired taste, but if you’re looking for a more mature comedy of the subgenre, this is your film.
Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
