Audiences pour out billions for comedy

Comedy always laughs to the bank.

Each year, millions of Americans and billions of dollars are spent on comedy movies.

Whether we go to escape the reality of the cruel world or visit the theaters to change our lousy moods, Hollywood can always count on comedy to rake in the big bucks.

Just recently, 2009 breakout movie "The Hangover" received the distinction of being the top-grossing, R-rated comedy film ever. The movie brought in $277 million and ranks third among all R-rated movies ever.

Movies use the term "gross," which means the total income generated from the movie prior to deducting expenses such as production and actor costs.

Other 2009 movies ranking grossing high include "Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian" with $177 million, "Paul Blart: Mall Cop" with $146 million, "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs" with $122 million and "Couples Retreat with $107 million.

"Julia & Julia," "Tyler Perry's Madea Goes to Jail," "Zombieland," "Hotel for Dogs," and "I Love You, Man" grossing $71 million round out the top ten from last year.

Outside of "The Hangover," 2009 fails in comparison to other comedy movies in years past.

Here is a list of the top-grossing comedies of all time with the figures adjusted for inflation, according to Hollywood.com.

One note of interest: No. 10's "Meet the Fockers" is the only movie in the top 10 from the past decade.

Rank	Title	Gross Domestic Box Office	Adjusted Gross Domestic Box Office1
1	Beverly Hills Cop (Paramount / 1984)	$234,760,478	$433,887,669
2	Home Alone (20th Century Fox / 1990)	$281,493,907	$413,257,012
3	Tootsie (Columbia Pictures / 1982)	$177,200,000	$409,075,093
4	Blazing Saddles (Warner Brothers / 1974)	$119,500,000	$404,656,100
5	National Lampoon's Animal House (Universal Pictures / 1978)	$141,600,000	$383,297,700
6	Mrs. Doubtfire (20th Century Fox / 1993)	$219,194,773	$321,796,582
7	Three Men and a Baby (Touchstone Pictures / 1987)	$167,780,960	$310,095,167
8	Austin Powers 2: The Spy Who Shagged Me (New Line Cinema / 1999)	$205,444,716	$305,218,107
9	Beverly Hills Cop 2 (Paramount Pictures / 1987)	$151,663,265	$280,306,213
10	Meet the Fockers (Universal Pictures / 2004)	$279,167,575	$279,167,575
11	Liar Liar (Universal Pictures / 1997)	$181,395,380	$269,489,309
12	There's Something About Mary (20th Century Fox / 1998)	$176,484,651	$262,193,704
13	My Big Fat Greek Wedding (IFC Films / 2002)	$241,437,427	$258,059,625
14	Porky's (20th Century Fox / 1982)	$111,289,673	$256,917,795
15	Home Alone 2 (20th Century Fox / 1992)	$172,676,450	$253,503,724
16	Look Who's Talking (Tristar Pictures / 1989)	$136,950,770	$253,114,370
17	Bruce Almighty (Universal Pictures / 2003)	$242,589,580	$249,831,060
18	Big Daddy (Columbia Pictures / 1999)	$163,479,795	$242,873,093
19	The Waterboy (Touchstone Pictures / 1998)	$161,487,252	$239,912,879
20	9 to 5 (20th Century Fox / 1980)	$103,290,500	$238,451,303
21	Coming to America (Paramount Pictures / 1988)	$128,113,607	$236,781,399
22	Stir Crazy (Columbia Pictures / 1980)	$101,300,000	$233,856,134
23	Austin Powers in Goldmember (New Line Cinema / 2002)	$213,079,163	$227,748,985
24	Trading Places (Paramount Pictures / 1983)	$90,404,800	$208,704,018
25	Stripes (Columbia Pictures / 1981)	$85,297,000	$196,912,405
	TOTALS	$4,287,081,722	$7,169,107,020

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What I Want in a Comedy Show

If laughter is medicine, then consider me the healthiest person in the world.

Whether the words come from me, a comic or a situation, I am chuckling loudly at anything I consider even moderately funny.

In fact, if you stand outside my apartment or Bowling Green State University's West Hall -- the two places I spend the majority of my time -- five minutes won't go buy without you hearing me chuckling or cackling prolifically.

Even though laughs aren't hard to produce, there is a certain criteria comics must meet in order for me to enjoy.

There is nothing worse than attending a comedy show and sitting without a smile on your face.

So if you are a comic, here are some tips to make sure the performance is top notch:

Talk about real situations
Anecdotal experiences are stories people can relate to, and enjoy with the comic. Chances are, if you have car trouble or wait in long lines and can find a way to relate it to comedy, people will laugh because they can relate.

We are not against you
Unless there is a rude heckler or a severely immature audience member striving for attention, people attend a comedy club to enjoy the performer. While it might seem like a tough crowd, it's because you are making it that way.

Have your own style
Popular topics are great to talk about such as sex, alcohol and any other indulgence. But every comic needs to have their own spin. We already know how Eddie Murphy, Richard Pryor and Chris Rock delivers their material, so don't do the same. The world is accepting of comedic diversity.

Interaction
The audience typically likes being involved in the performance. Even if you are making jokes or slants against them, chances are, they will understand the situation, give you the benefit of the doubt, and laugh along with the audience.

The Jinni Blog posts an insightful blog, detailing who are today's best comics and why they make people laugh.