'The Blues Brothers' Ranked Among ‘Greatest Comedy Films of All Time'

As the first Saturday Night Livesketch-turned-movie, with writer Dan Aykroyd having never written a film script before, The Blues Brothers were truly on a mission from God - one that would prove that the weekly sketch show could stretch beyond the small screen and help shape comedy on a larger, even international, scale.

The 1980 musical comedy is now etched into the cultural landscape, with the titular brothers, "Joliet" Jake (John Belushi) and Elwood J. Blues (Aykroyd), and their signature suits-and-sunglasses combo recognized around the world. Ranking #14 on Total Film's 50 Greatest Comedy Films of All Time and having its own place in the United States' Library of Congress' National Film Registry, it's odd to think that the film was once considered a risky bid by director John Landis and Universal Pictures - so much so that it was only permitted to book half the theaters a film of a similar budget and scale would normally be permitted.

Adapted from the SNL sketches of the same name, The Blues Brothers movie followed Jake and Elwood - joined by musical superstars Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, Cab Calloway, and James Brown, to name a few - tasked with saving the Catholic orphanage they grew up in from closure, planning the gig-to-end-all-gigs. One issue, however, stood in their way: getting the band back together, especially after Jake's recent release from prison for armed robbery, is no small task.

The Blues Brothers grossed a commendable $115 million upon its theatrical release, especially impressive given that it opened at the same time as Star Wars' highly anticipated sequel, The Empire Strikes Back. The musical spectacular has only grown in popularity since then, thanks to syndication across the globe, as well as regular impersonator bands and regular returns to the big screen for fan viewings, with audience participation widely encouraged.

Moreover, The Blues Brothers movie proved that Saturday Night Live, still in its infancy with only five years on the air, could make stars of its cast, who in turn could make movies audiences would want to see, and successfully bring the laughs they wanted. Without the success of The Blues Brothers, Wayne's World would likely not have been given a chance. Although SNL-inspired films have been met with a pretty mixed response from audiences (including the widely panned sequel Blues Brothers 2000), many of its former cast members can credit its early cinematic smash as a green light for movie producers to take their ideas to the big screen and beyond.

This story was originally published by Men's Journal on May 12, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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This story was originally published May 12, 2026 at 4:23 PM.