The Fish Out of Water Film subgenre involves a person in unfamiliar surroundings. Though the Fish Out of Water subgenre is utilized in almost every genre, it’s most popular within the Comedy genre. Poking fun at or satirizing well known situations with an unfamiliar variant has been one of the enduring film tropes throughout the years.
The Golden Age of the Fish Out of Water subgenre started in 1979 though most of the 1980’s with many Comedy films reversing societal norms or placing a main character in a new environment. The most popular films of this subgenre (and most popular comedies of this period) included The Jerk (1979), Being There (1979), Stripes (1981), Trading Places (1983), Mr. Mom (1983), Splash (1984), Beverly Hills Cop (1984), Back to the Future (1985), After Hours (1985), Back to School (1986), Crocodile Dundee (1986), Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986), Three Men and a Baby (1987), Big (1988), Coming to America (1988) and Uncle Buck (1989).
The 1990’s saw the subgenre’s popularity continue while also merging the Film Parody subgenre with Fish Out of Water themes. These parodies often included remakes of popular television series from the 1950’s – 1970’s where the characters from these time periods were often placed in an unfamiliar current time period with great comedic effect. Popular Parody and Fish Out of Water hybrids included The Addams Family (1991), Coneheads (1993), The Beverly Hillbillies (1993) and The Brady Bunch Movie (1995). Other notable films of this subgenre included Pretty Woman (1990), Kindergarten Cop (1990), City Slickers (1991), My Cousin Vinny (1992), Groundhog Day (1993), Billy Madison (1995), Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997) and Pleasantville (1998).
The 2000’s also saw a variance of the Fish Out of Water subgenre with a focus on female led and orientated comedies. Some of the more popular films with a female character placed in an unfamiliar environment included Miss Congeniality (2000), Legally Blonde (2001), Sweet Home Alabama (2002), 13 Going on 30 (2004) and Wild Child (2008). The Family Man (2000), What Women Want (2000), Lost in Translation (2003), School of Rock (2003), Elf (2003), Idiocracy (2006) and Borat (2006) were classic subgenre films of both this decade and of all time.
The 2010’s saw a decline in the use of the Fish Out of Water subgenre, but the decade still produced some notable films with A Boy and His Samurai (2010), Hot Tub Time Machine (2010), Gulliver’s Travel (2010), Spy (2015) and The Intern (2015).
Our list of Fish Out of Water Films includes over 142+ movies from this subgenre. Our list mainly focuses on Fish Out of Water Comedies, but there are also a few films listed with Fish Out of Water themes in subgenres such as Contemporary or Urban Fantasy Films, Time Travel Films, and Family Films for Kids. For our list of Top Fish Out of Water Films You Haven’t Seen, there were a few obscure films we couldn’t fit on the list that includes The Coca-Cola Kid (1985), Suburban Commando (1991), Samurai Cowboy (1994) and Malibu’s Most Wanted (2003). All of these films are representative of the Fish Out of Water subgenre and shouldn’t be missed.
We have embedded a compilation video of our Top Fish Out of Water Comedies You Haven’t Seen and more details on these films can be found in the list below. 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.
#10
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. 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 that are taking those new outsourced jobs.
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3UpfCfu
Plot: Washington D.C plastic surgeon leaves for new job in California but after an accident, he’s sentenced to be the new doctor for a rural community.
KBZ’s Take: This film uses one of the most popular Fish Out of Water film tropes – society elite in a rural community – and uses them to great effect. Michael J. Fox was at the peak of his career during this film and it’s one of his best and most overlooked efforts. A great film about rural community life and values and it’s also one of the better Fish Out of Water subgenre films.
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3OTVQYr
Plot: Teenage African American tries to adjust to a new life in Heidelberg, Germany.
KBZ’s Take: One of the more unique Fish Out of Water subgenre films, Morris from America has many layers to enjoy. First, it’s the obvious African American teen trying to fit in with German classmates (while not knowing the German language). Second, it’s a coming-of-age story as Morris begins to fall for one of his older classmates (and eventual friends). Third, its core is the bond between widowed father and son as they both try to navigate a new world. Highly recommended film of the subgenre.
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3itIBBP
Plot: Mafia informant has trouble adjusting to his new life in the witness protection program.
KBZ’s Take: This film was popular in the 1990’s but, over time, has become one of the lost films of the decade. While Gangster and The Mob Films were all the rage in the early 1990’s, this was one of the only comedies to parody the Mafia lifestyle. It’s still hilarious after all these years and parodies many Mafia film tropes.
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3OTWl4L
#6
The Family
Plot: A mafia family in the witness protection program is relocated to Normandy, France.
KBZ’s Take: How much you like this film will be determined by how much you like Luc Besson films. Besson was writer and director and it’s filled with his usual ‘blink of an eye’ transitions between comedy and extreme violence. While the first two acts are primarily comedic in nature as the family adjusts to their new surroundings, the third act is quite the thrill ride as other members of the mafia descend on the small town. Our suggestion is to watch this not expecting a comedy, but rather for the third act which makes the film worth watching.
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3Bp9FsH
#5
Mr. Baseball
Plot: Former New York Yankees baseball player on the decline, has one last chance to play for a Japanese baseball team.
KBZ’s Take: This film is a ‘by the numbers’ Fish Out of Water film that uses almost every popular subgenre film trope there is. Foreigner in a new land adjusting to unfamiliar customs, clash of personalities with old way vs. new way, and so on. However, it’s still a great film that is unique in it’s setting (Japan) and focus on a familiar sport that’s played in a much different way (Japanese Baseball). Definitely a film to check out for fans of the subgenre.
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3B3LQ9r
#4
Red Heat
Plot: Russian policeman partners with a Chicago cop to track down a drug lord.
KBZ’s Take: One of the lesser-known Arnold Schwarzenegger films, Red Heat takes a typical Action-Comedy film and injects it with the “Russian in Chicago” Fish Out of Water trope. While the film makes the most of Cold War themes and antagonism between the U.S. and Soviet Union, it’s one of the more unique Action Comedy and Buddy Comedy films. This film is also a curiosity to watch as James Belushi was at his career apex while Schwarzenegger’s career was just ascending.
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3B3rf50
#3
The Hard Way
Plot: Hollywood actor partners with a cop to learn how to act like a real cop for his new film.
KBZ’s Take: Another lost gem of the 1990’s, this was one of the first films that had the ‘Hollywood actor in police environment” trope. And it’s still the best one there is. Directed by John Badham, there’s quite a bit of action and suspense in this film as the cops try to catch a serial killer (Stephen Lang). However, it’s a comedy at its core and it’s hilarious. No film of this type does a better job of pitting the unfamiliar (Michael J. Fox) with the familiar (James Woods) for numerous laugh out loud moments.
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3gOAP58
#2
After Hours
Plot: An ordinary man experiences a night of misadventure in Soho.
KBZ’s Take: This film is a bit like a dream – but a dream that slowly turns into a nightmare as things get increasingly crazy. Amplifying Fish Out of Water tropes to the absurd, Martin Scorsese pits the mundane in Griffin Dunne vs. the utterly bizarre with every other character in this film. Only Scorsese could create one of the most unique and best films of the Fish Out of Water subgenre. Though it’s one of Scorsese’s lesser-known films, it’s highly recommended for fans of the subgenre.
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3GXgmpk
Plot: Trust fund kid hires teenage conman to take his place at prep school.
KBZ’s Take: Another lost classic of the early 1980’s, Making the Grade is one of the best Teen & College Comedies and best films of the Fish Out of Water subgenre. We do have some personal bias with this film as its one of our favorites. It’s Judd Nelson’s second-best performance (after The Breakfast Club (1985)), stars an extremely funny Dana Olsen as the real Palmer Woodrow, and even has Andrew Dice Clay in one of his earliest roles. It also has a rather unique setting and theme compared to most other films in the Teen & College Comedy subgenre. As a straight up Fish Out of Water Comedy, it doesn’t create or even reinvent any popular subgenre tropes, but it does use them to great effect repeatedly throughout the film for one of the funniest films of the 80’s.
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3ufab8j
