Comedy drama


Comedy drama, also known by the portmanteau dramedy, is a hybrid genre that combines elements of comedy and drama. In film, as well as scripted television series, serious dramatic subjects are handled with realism and subtlety, while preserving a light or humorous tone.
The term "dramedy" began to be used in the television industry in the 1980s. Modern television comedy dramas tend to have more humour integrated into the story than the comic relief common in drama series, but usually contain a lower joke rate than sitcoms.

History

In Greek theatre, plays were considered comedies or tragedies : the former being light stories with a happy ending, and the latter serious stories with a sad ending. This concept even influenced Roman theatre and theatre of the Hellenistic period. Theatre of that era is thought to have long-lasting influence, even in modern narrative works.
Even today, works are often classified into two broad categories: dramas and comedies. For instance, many awards that recognize achievements in film and television, such as the Primetime Emmy Awards and the Golden Globe Awards, segregate several awards into these two classifications.
The 20th century saw a rise in film and television works that could be described as comedy dramas. In American cinema, The Kid by Charlie Chaplin is acknowledged as the first feature length film to blend comedy and drama.

Characteristics

In January 2022, Rafael Abreu, writing for the StudioBinder filmmaking blog, defined this genre as follows:
Abreu also adds that dramedies often deal with relatable and serious topics such as divorce, illness, hardship, and heartache.

Notable examples

Film

Examples of comedy dramas in film include:
NameYearCountryNotesRefs.
3 Idiots2009India
8½1963Italy
Almost Famous2000United States
American Fiction2023United States
As Good as It Gets1997United States
Asteroid City2023United States
Bardo, False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths2022Mexico
Birdman2014United States
Breakup Season2024United States
Eighth Grade2018United States
Fallen Angels1995Hong Kong
Forrest Gump1994United States
God Is Brazilian2003Brazil
Goodbye, Dragon Inn2003Taiwan
Inside Llewyn Davis2013United Kingdom
United States
France
It's Such a Beautiful Day2012United States
Jerry Maguire1996United States
Juno2007United States
Lady Bird2017United States
Little Miss Sunshine2006United Statesalso considered a tragicomedy
Love Exposure2008Japan
Manhattan1979United States
Moonrise Kingdom2012United States
Mouse2026United States
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood2019United Kingdom
United States
China
That Obscure Object of Desire1977France, Spain
The Banshees of Inisherin2022United States
The Big Short2015United States
The Blossoming of Maximo Oliveros2005Philippines
The Celebration1998Denmark
The Darjeeling Limited2007United States
The Edge of Seventeen2016United States
The Grand Budapest Hotel2014United States, Germany
The Holdovers2023United States
The Illusionist2010United Kingdom
France
The Kid1921United States
The Kids Are All Right2010United States
The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou2004United States
The Man Without a Past2002Finland
The Royal Tenenbaums2001United States
The Rules of the Game1939France
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri2017United States
Trainspotting1996United Kingdom
Triangle of Sadness2022United States
Up in the Air2009United States
Wag the Dog1997United States
You, the Living2007Sweden

Television

Examples of television comedy dramas include:
NameYearCountryNotesRefs.
Ally McBeal1997–2002United States
Andi Mack2017–2019United States
Barry2018–2023United States
Crazy Like a Fox1984-86United States
Desperate Housewives2004–12United States
Doogie Howser, M.D.1989–93United States
Due South1994–99Canada
Eight Is Enough1977–81United States
Elsbeth2024–presentUnited States
Emily in Paris2020–presentUnited States
Entourage2004–2011United States
Fleabag2016–19United Kingdom
Gilmore Girls2000-2007United States
Hacks2021-presentUnited States
Harvey Beaks2015-2017United States
Hooperman1987–89United States
Ludwig2024United Kingdom
Monk2002-09United States
Moonlighting1985–89United States
Northern Exposure1990–95United States
Only Murders in the Building2021-presentUnited States
M*A*S*H1972–1983United States
Sex and the City1998–2004United States
Shrinking2023-presentUnited States
Succession2018–2023United States
Ted Lasso2020-presentUnited States
The Bear2022-presentUnited States
The Big C2010–2013United States
The Love Boat1977–86United States
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel2017–2023United States
The White Lotus2021-presentUnited States
The Wonder Years1988–93United States
You’re the Worst2014–19United States