Comedy, one of the oldest forms of storytelling, is defined by its intent to entertain and provoke laughter. Originating in ancient Greece with Aristophanes’ plays, comedy evolved through the centuries, from Shakespearean wit to the slapstick of silent films. In the film industry, comedy often reflects the zeitgeist, adapting to cultural shifts while maintaining universal themes like love, folly, and social critique.

A comic movie requires a precise balancing act between acting, screenplay, and timing. In order to achieve cutting edge rhetoric situations that elicit laughter, writers create scenarios that are both familiar and exaggerated. These screenplays are then brought to life by directors and actors, who mostly rely on timing, physical humor, and improvisation to deliver jokes well. 

Pacing is greatly influenced by editing, which maintains the humor's rhythm consistently throughout the whole movie. Comedy in movies is a careful craft meant to inspire and amuse, whether it's the visual jokes of a Charlie Chaplin classic or the fast paced banter of screwball comedies.