Good comedy movies can lift your spirits after a rough week, and there’s even scientific evidence to suggest a link between laughter and better health. While I’m not Patch Adams, I’m concerned about the well-being of my readers, which is why I’ve put together this list of 12 good comedy movies that might otherwise go unnoticed. Some modern comedy classics are included, but you’ll also find foreign comedies, cult comedies, and even classic comedies.

Groundhog Day (1993) – Phil Connors (Bill Murray) is a misanthropic television meteorologist who is unhappy about having to cover the annual Groundhog Day ceremonies in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. But imagine his surprise when a snowstorm leaves him stranded in the small town, and Phil suddenly finds himself living the same day over and over again. Murray is perfect as the joking idiot who slowly finds redemption, and Andie MacDowell is a beautiful love interest.

The Princess Bride (1987) – Framed as a fairy tale read by a grandfather (Peter Falk) to his ill grandson (Fred Savage), The Princess Bride tells the story of Westley (Cary Elwes), a pawn trying to reunite with his true love, Buttercup (Robin Wright), after being presumed dead. But Buttercup is in the clutches of the evil prince Humperdinck (Chris Sarandon), so Westley must seek the help of the enormous Fezzik (Andre the Giant) and a Spaniard named Inigo Montoya (Mandy Patinkin). A wonderful comedy for all ages, it also features a lot of romance, fantasy, and action.

Arsenic and Antique Lace (1944) – Cary Grant plays Mortimer Brewster, a newlywed who learns that his aunts and brother are completely insane. The two aunts have been poisoning older singles and burying them in the basement, and Mortimer’s brother is convinced he is Teddy Roosevelt. But things get even more complicated for Mortimer when his other brother, Jonathan (Raymond Massey), arrives. It turns out that Jonathan is completely psychotic and soon plans to kill the only stable member of the family. Despite the gruesome nature of the crimes committed, the movie is a comedy (and very good at it).

The Perfect Crime (2004) – A black comedy from Spain, The Perfect Crime follows Rafael (Guillermo Toledo), a department store salesman seeking a promotion. He has also slept with all the women in his department, except for one: the homebody Lourdes (Monica Cervera). But when an accident suddenly produces a new corpse, Rafael finds himself in debt to Lourdes, and she intends to collect … with a vengeance.

The Big Lebowski (1998) – If you want to experience what has been called “the first cult movie of the internet age,” be sure to check out this lazier comedy from Joel and Ethan Coen. Jeff Bridges plays The Dude, a stoner who is mistaken for a millionaire with the same name and becomes embroiled in a web of intrigue. Hardcore fans attend an annual celebration known as the Lebowski Fest, and the film is packed with quotable dialogue. Also starring John Goodman, Steve Buscemi, Julianne Moore, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Sam Elliott.

The Kentucky Fried Movie (1977) – Before the plane! and the Naked Gun movies, writers Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, and Jerry Zucker created this quirky comedy film that parodies everything from educational movies to kung-fu movies. The unusual cast includes Bill Bixby, Tony Dow, Donald Sutherland, and George Lazenby. Directed by John Landis, who would later direct hit comedies like National Lampoon’s Animal House, Trading Places, and Three Amigos.

Hollywood Shuffle (1987) – Robert Townsend directed, produced, co-wrote and starred in this story of an actor struggling to succeed in Hollywood. Filled with hilarious fantasies and parodies that satirize the stereotypical roles often played by minorities, the film was paid for with Townsend’s credit cards. Several future stars make appearances, including Keenan Ivory Wayans and Damon Wayans.

The Boy (1921) – The tramp (Charlie Chaplin) takes in an abandoned child (Jackie Coogan), takes care of him and teaches him the subtlest aspects of being a con artist. But when social workers try to break up the duo, the hobo is willing to do whatever it takes to reunite. As with most of Chaplin’s classic comedies, the film mixes laughter with moments of sadness and social commentary. It’s a silent movie, by the way, but don’t let that stop you from experiencing the magic of Chaplin.

Cabin Boy (1994) – Former David Letterman writer Chris Elliott plays Nathaniel Mayweather, the arrogant heir to a hotel empire. While trying to board the Queen Catherine for Hawaii, he instead stumbles upon a ruined fishing boat called The Filthy Whore. Now stranded at sea with an unhappy crew (including Brian Doyle-Murray and James Gammon), Nathaniel must earn his livelihood and deal with all the dangers of Hell’s Bucket, including a jealous giant (Mike Starr), an iceberg monster, and a cupcake who likes to spit tobacco. While it is a strange comedy, it should be perfect for those whose taste for humor is unconventional.

EuroTrip (2004) – After discovering that his longtime pen pal is actually a beautiful girl, recent high school graduate Scotty Thomas (Scott Mechlowicz) heads to Germany to make things right. He is joined by three other friends (including Michelle Trachtenberg), and his adventures include soccer hooligans, Italians in love, and a nude beach filled only with men. Watch out for Matt Damon in a cameo as the lead singer of a band.

Soapdish (1991) – Soap opera plots are hilarious enough on their own, but this movie ups the ante by taking a behind-the-scenes look at the fictional The Sun Sets Too. The stellar cast includes Sally Field, Robert Downey Jr., Kevin Kline, Whoopi Goldberg, Teri Hatcher, and Elizabeth Shue.

The Tall Blond Man with a Black Shoe (1972) – Remade in America as The Man with the Red Shoe (starring Tom Hanks), this classic French comedy stars Pierre Richard as Francois Perrin, a hapless violinist who becomes embroiled in a power struggle between two members of the French secret service. Full of comedy, action, and a liberal dash of French eroticism.