Laughter with a side of explosions: The top ten action comedies

Jessie Eisenberg is an unlikely action star in this week's American Ultra, which stars the popular actor as a stoner-turned-secret agent. It's not the first film to flip action premises on their heads, and comedic action movies have become a popular sub-genre over the years.

So if you need some more laughs with your explosions after American Ultra, here are the ten best action comedies.

Red

Bruce Willis has a reputation as one of the most iconic action stars in modern cinema thanks to the Die Hard franchise, and 2010's Red starred Willis in a film that parodied this status. The film's plot revolves around a group of aged spies and assassins who not only face the issues of supervillains and staying alive, but also old age. The self-aware film benefits from the great cast and succeeds in being both a send up and love letter to action movies.

Ant-Man

Ant-Man is a highly entertaining comic book adaptation, focusing on a heist-oriented storyline with a comical edge. Paul Rudd gives a fantastic lead performance that combines his comedy background with a redemption storyline and makes for a valuable addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Though the film doesn't delve into parody of the superhero genre, it cleverly mocks many elements found in those films.

Beverly Hills Cop

Eddie Murphy is one of the greatest comedians of his generation, and Beverly Hills Cop is the best example of his comedic work to date, as he plays the hilarious detective Axel Foley. Though it's a comedy first, Beverly Hills Cop doesn't skip out on action, providing many action sequences that are entertaining in their own right but also work as a great satire for action films.

Kindergarten Cop

Similar to Bruce Willis, Arnold Schwarzenegger is one of the most iconic action stars on the planet, and Kindergarten Cop allows Schwarzenegger to show off his comedic chops. The film establishes a standard law enforcement character in Schwarzenegger, but puts him in an unexpected setting as an undercover kindergarten teacher. This setting allows for some great comedic work while still remaining the pace and sensibilities of one of Schwarzenegger's action films.

Raising Arizona

A classic adventure caper and chase film, the Coen Brothers' 1987 classic Raising Arizona is a hilarious chase film filled with ridiculous characters, including a great performance from an early Nicolas Cage. The film's sheer goofiness adds to the comedy of the film, and the nonstop pacing add a surprising tension to the adventure.

Midnight Run

In some of the best comic banter that action comedies have ever seen, Charles Grodin and Robert De Niro are perfectly matched in this cop adventure. The film's plot has plenty of action and suspense from a brilliant train chase to a helicopter action sequences, but the heart of the film lies in the comedic dynamic between Grodin and De Niro, who play off each other perfectly.

Ghostbusters

Sci-Fi and fantasy elements are often found in action films, and are often used as the source of comedy. The 1984 classic Ghostbusters serves as one of the best examples of the matching of fantastical elements to an action comedy, offering over the top special effects and action that are backed by a strong script. The fact that the film works so well is also a testament to the amazing comic work of Bill Murray, Dan Akroyd, Harold Ramis and Ernie Hudson.

The Blues Brothers

The Blues Brothers is a great summation of '70s and '80s culture, combining the cultural and musical elements of the era to create a completely enthralling and utterly hilarious film. Dan Akroyd and John Belushi play off each exceptionally well, and their banter provides the basis for the film's comedy. But The Blues Brothers isn't all laughs; the film also features one of the most memorable car chases in cinematic history, as well as a breakneck action finale.

The World's End

Director Edgar Wright and stars Simon Pegg and Nick Frost have collaborated to create many unique comedies, including Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz, but none have worked quite like 2013's The World's End. The film is built on the premise of five friends returning to their nostalgic home, and expands into a crazy sci-fi disaster film, fueling the situational comedy. There are many innovative action sequences, including a hilarious robotic Kung Fu scene, but it's the incredibly hilarious performances by Pegg and Frost that drive the film.

Grosse Point Blank

Grosse Point Blank is a crushingly dark comedy, revolving around a hired assassin returning to his high school reunion. John Cusack's performance as that assassin manages to make the character likeable despite his less than heroic intentions and adds a self-aware sense of comedy to the dark character. The action of the film only fuels Cusack's hilarious performance, and succeeds in creating a completely hilarious and unique character study.