15 Best Wayans Brothers’ Films, Ranked

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The Wayans Brothers became a comedy force in the 1980s, giving us memorable movies like the Scary Movie series. After over 20 years, they’re finally making a sixth Scary Movie film, having previously lost creative control of the franchise. With fans eagerly anticipating the return of familiar characters like Cindy, Brenda, and the comical Ghostface, it’s a good time to celebrate the brothers’ impressive career.

The Wayans brothers, including Damon Wayans, have been in countless other films, both as a group and individually, beyond the hilarious Scary Movie series. Some of these movies are considered classics, just as funny as Scary Movie itself. Even the less successful ones are usually filled with over-the-top situations guaranteed to make you laugh.

Similar to many films on this list, Senseless doesn’t feature several Wayans brothers. However, it’s significant because it was one of Marlon Wayans’ earliest leading roles in a movie he didn’t write or direct with his brothers. Marlon throws himself into the film’s over-the-top physical comedy, but unfortunately, the rest of the movie doesn’t quite live up to his energy.

In the comedy Senseless, Marlon Wayans plays Darryl Washington, a broke college student eager to make some money. He signs up for a research study led by the quirky Dr. Wheedon, and the experiment unexpectedly supercharges his five senses. The movie then follows Darryl as his increasingly intense senses lead to increasingly ridiculous and often humorous situations.

Before films like Spider-Man, The Dark Knight, and Iron Man revolutionized superhero movies, there was Blankman. Co-written by and starring Damon Wayans, the movie follows Darryl Walker, a nerdy inventor who develops bulletproof clothing. He then decides to use his invention to become a crime-fighting hero named Blankman.

The movie starts strong, but as the main character, Walker, faces more and more intense challenges, the jokes don’t quite land. Damon Wayans tries hard to make the comedy work, but Blankman doesn’t reach the same level as other spoofs from the Wayans family, like Scary Movie. Though it had some interesting ideas for its time, the inconsistent humor ultimately prevents the movie from fully succeeding.

Unlike previous films, Dance Flick wasn’t directed by Keenen Ivory Wayans. His nephew, Damien Dante Wayans, took on the directing role. The movie features a large number of Wayans family members, including Shawn, Keenen Ivory, Damon, and Damon Wayans Jr. However, the humor largely relies on viewers being familiar with the dance styles it’s making fun of, so it will probably only appeal to fans of those dances.

Inspired by popular dance movies from the 2000s like You Got Served and Step Up, Dance Flick also poked fun at classic dance films such as Footloose and Flashdance. While the movie features impressive and over-the-top dance numbers, the humor itself doesn’t quite hit the mark. Compared to other comedies from the same filmmakers, Dance Flick feels like the least successful film in their collection.

The 2007 horror film Paranormal Activity was a huge success despite its small budget, launching a popular movie series and the production company Blumhouse. Six years later, it inspired the comedy A Haunted House, a horror spoof starring and co-written by Marlon Wayans. The film centers on a couple, Malcom (Wayans) and Kisha (Essence Atkins), who are terrorized by a frightening ghost.

While the cast clearly commits to the over-the-top humor of A Haunted House, the movie doesn’t quite reach the high points of the first two Scary Movies. A lot of the jokes also go too far and become offensive. However, there are still a few genuinely funny scenes, making it worth a watch for fans of the Wayans family or those who enjoyed the Scary Movie series. If you’re a fan of horror spoofs and miss that particular brand of comedy, this might be for you.

Okay, so looking back at Keenen Ivory Wayans’ filmography, 2006’s Little Man is…well, let’s just say it didn’t quite hit the mark. The movie centers around this tiny criminal, Calvin Simms – played by Marlon Wayans – who comes up with this crazy plan to disguise himself as a baby to steal a diamond. He gets help from his brother, Shawn, of course. But things get really weird when the family he’s trying to rob actually adopts him! It’s a silly premise, but honestly, even for a comedy, it’s kind of touching to see this guy, who’s always been on the outside, start to feel like he finally belongs somewhere.

It sounds completely ridiculous, doesn’t it? But surprisingly, Little Man isn’t the strangest idea on this list—it’s just the least successful. The humor based on Calvin’s small size gets old fast, and the special effects haven’t aged well, especially now in 2024. Marlon Wayans is physically capable, but this comedy needs to be taken aside for being poorly executed.

Keenen Ivory Wayans’ film, A Low Down Dirty Shame, is a blend of action and comedy, though it doesn’t fully excel at either. The story follows Shame, a former LAPD detective turned private investigator (played by Wayans), as he struggles to restore his reputation after a failed drug bust years ago led to the deaths of many of his fellow officers.

Critics weren’t kind to A Low Down Dirty Shame, and it’s true the movie doesn’t always live up to expectations. However, it does have some bright spots. The chemistry between Keenen Ivory Wayans and a young Jada Pinkett Smith, who plays his assistant Peaches, is particularly strong. Plus, the film moves at a quick pace, so even if you don’t enjoy it, it won’t overstay its welcome.

Despite featuring Damon Wayans in the title role of Major Benson Payne, none of his brothers were involved in making the film. However, Wayans gives a strong performance that deserves attention. Although the movie didn’t do particularly well in theaters at first, it later gained popularity and became a notable part of the Wayans family’s film work thanks to frequent showings on television.

The movie Major Payne follows a Marine who has trouble adjusting to life after leaving the service. He finds a new purpose leading a JROTC program at a local school, where he works to build confidence in a group of unconventional students. Damon Wayans delivers a standout performance, bringing energy to what is otherwise a predictable story.

Even in the early 2000s, the premise of White Chicks – two Black FBI agents disguising themselves as wealthy, spoiled white women – seemed questionable. Looking back now, it’s hard to believe the movie was actually made. Directed by Keenen Ivory Wayans and starring Shawn and Marlon, the film deliberately pushes boundaries, aiming to both shock and entertain audiences – often at the same time.

Even though the plot is weak, White Chicks is still surprisingly humorous, though many of the jokes rely on tired stereotypes about women. The film’s most lasting impact is arguably launching Terry Crews’s comedy career and creating a truly memorable, feel-good scene that many remember from the 2000s. More than twenty years later, it remains a prime example of the movie’s willingness to be outrageous and challenge norms – though whether that works for viewers is another matter.

Though not directly a “Wayans Brothers” movie – it wasn’t written or directed by any of them – The 6th Man features Damon Wayans as Kenny Tyler, a college basketball player dealing with the recent death of his brother and teammate, Antoine. Antoine died of a heart attack during a game, and soon after, odd things start happening during the team’s matches. Kenny realizes his brother has come back as a ghost, determined to help the team win.

Okay, so I just watched The 6th Man, and honestly, it’s a bit of a mixed bag. It’s trying really hard to be both funny and dramatic, like the basketball game it’s about, but it doesn’t quite hit the mark on either front. It’s got a really creative idea – definitely one of the most original concepts I’ve seen in a Wayans Brothers movie – but sadly, the story is pretty predictable. It’s a fun watch, but don’t expect anything groundbreaking.

Looking back, the first Scary Movie actually feels a little older than the second one. It really captured a specific moment in the late 90s when horror films were already starting to make fun of themselves. So, it’s basically a spoof of a spoof – mainly the Scream movies. But even with all that going on, I think it’s one of the funniest movies Shawn and Marlon Wayans have ever written together, packed with jokes and lines I still remember!

Similar to films like I’m Gonna Git You Sucka and another movie later on this list, Scary Movie relies heavily on the brothers’ signature wild and over-the-top humor. What really makes this film work is Anna Faris, who is absolutely hilarious as the lead and truly became a star thanks to this role. If you enjoy a mix of comedy and horror, especially if you grew up in the 80s or 90s, Scary Movie is still a really funny movie to watch.

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2026-04-09 04:08