Farce is a very broad type of comedy, generally appearing in acted media. It's characterized by {{double entendre}}s, misunderstandings, deceptions, and in general highly contrived and ridiculous situations. ContrivedCoincidence, far from being problematic, is ''required'' in large doses by the RuleOfFunny. Farce is almost never leisurely-paced; "breakneck" is more apt to describe it. Look for a lot of doors opening and shutting and characters stumbling upon other characters when they're in compromising situations/situations that appear compromising.

See the MistakenForIndex for all of the many misunderstandings in the genre. See FawltyTowersPlot for farces specifically based on escalating lies and ArmedFarces for farces specifically about military forces. Compare ScrewballComedy.
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!!Examples:

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[[folder: Theatre ]]

* Farce was popularized by Creator/GeorgesFeydeau, whose ''La puce à l'oreille'' (''A Flea in Her Ear'') was one of the earliest examples of the classic form.
* Creator/OscarWilde's ''Theatre/TheImportanceOfBeingEarnest'' is a very verbal sort of farce.
* Then there was Joe Orton, the 'Oscar Wilde of the Welfare State gentility,' who mixed farce and BlackComedy to hilarious effect.
* ''Theatre/BlackComedy1965''
* ''Theatre/BoeingBoeing''
* ''Theatre/CactusFlower''
* ''Theatre/TheDogInTheManger''
* ''Theatre/HowTheOtherHalfLoves''
* ''Theatre/LaCageAuxFolles''
* ''Theatre/LendMeATenor''
* ''Theatre/TheMatchmaker''
* ''Theatre/NoisesOff''
* ''Theatre/TheNormanConquests''
* ''Theatre/{{Oscar}}''
* ''Theatre/{{Rumors}}''
* ''Charley's Aunt''
* ''The School for Scandal''
* ''No Sex, Please, We're British''
* ''Theatre/TheManWhoCameToDinner''
* ''Theatre/AFunnyThingHappenedOnTheWayToTheForum''
* Pierre Corneille's ''Le Cid'' got the author into trouble with the UsefulNotes/CardinalRichelieu. Apparently mixing tragedy with farce was considered a bad thing in the 1700s, and the argument between the two even got its own cool sounding name, ''La Querelle du Cid''.
* ''Theatre/CyranoDeBergerac'': A similar example to ''La Querelle du Cid'', ''Cyrano De Bergerac'' is a play which mixes {{Tragedy}} with {{Farce}} with great success, and it even presents Cardinal Richelieu... as TheGhost. It's characterized by [[MistakenForIndex misunderstandings]], [[GambitPileup deceptions]], and in general very contrived and ridiculous situations (PlayingCyrano, for instance), or the Gascon Cadets stumbling upon [[HoYay Cyrano and Christian when they're in a situation that appears compromising]] and a FetchQuest... [[{{Tragedy}} in the middle of the death of the protagonist]].
* ''The Bride of Brackenloch''
* Creator/{{Shakespeare}} loved this trope for his comedies, with ''Theatre/TheComedyOfErrors'' probably being the most overblown one of all.
* ''Theatre/AccidentalDeathOfAnAnarchist''
* ''Theatre/ThePlayThatGoesWrong''

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[[folder: Television ]]

* ''Series/ArrestedDevelopment''.
* ''Series/FawltyTowers'' follows this formula quite closely, most episodes a snowballing sequence of things going from bad to worse via a combination of bad luck and [[UnsympatheticComedyProtagonist Basil Fawlty's]] own magnetism for karmic retribution.
* ''Series/ILoveLucy'' (without the innuendo and {{double entendre}}s)
* Several ''Series/{{Friends}}'' episodes relied on this, particularly ones that advanced the various story arcs.
* Several episodes of ''Series/{{Coupling}}''
* ''Series/{{Frasier}}''. Not an episode goes by without awkwardly hilarious crises opening up as characters frantically rush around and juggle lies as they try to hide their messes from each other at break-neck speeds, often causing waves of misunderstandings. {{Contrived Coincidence}}s also figured prominently into many plots, generally following the format of someone overhearing a conversation or spotting something private, and drawing entirely the wrong conclusion and going hog-wild as a result.
* ''Series/ThreesCompany'' was so archetypal an example of sitcom farce that many later shows [[ShoutOut explicitly refer to it]] when farcical situations are unfolding. It was even the [[Administrivia/RenamedTropes Former Trope Namer]] for ''the entire'' ''MistakenForIndex'', which used to be called simply "ThreeIsCompany".
* ''Series/AlloAllo''.
* In ''Series/TheWorstWeekOfMyLife'' absolutely nothing seems to go right when things are calling for nothing to go wrong.
* The aptly named Radio/RoyalCanadianAirFarce had [[LongRunner several decades]] of breakneck political/cultural comedy under its belt before ending in 2012.
* As might be expected, French sitcom ''Series/LesFillesDaCote'' practically ran on this trope, with many episodes characterised by escalating misunderstandings between cast members.
* ''Series/SchittsCreek'' contains many farcical storylines as formerly wealthy Roses adjust, or in many cases refuse to adjust, to their rural town. An early example would be Johnny (Creator/EugeneLevy) making an awkward disaster of a eulogy and Moira (Creator/CatherineOHara) saving him by singing. A later episode when Johnny finds a positive pregnancy test thinking it is his daughter's and his ensuing talk to her is an excellent example of escalating misunderstanding.
* ''Series/HouseOfTheDragon'': In the episode "King Of The Narrow Sea", Daemon and Rhaenyra watch a night performance of a farce satirizing a SuccessionCrisis between Rhaenyra, Daemon, and baby Aegon.
* ''Series/TheLordOfTheRingsTheRingsOfPower'': In Numenor, the children watch a performance mocking the arrival of Galadriel in Numenor. Galadriel fights Sauron to defend Miriel from him, than she is shown bowing her head to him at the end of the play.

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[[folder: Film ]]

* ''Film/ASlightCaseOfMurder''
* ''Film/BurnAfterReading''
* ''{{Film/Clue}}''
* ''Film/TheDinnerGame''
* ''Film/TheFifthElement'': has various factions in the movie attempting to impersonate "Korben Dallas" in order to get on a cruise ship to get the cosmic trinket. HilarityEnsues. Each faction has absolutely no contingency plan, and they end up interfering with each other to such an extent that Dallas manages to slip away.
* ''Film/ItsAMadMadMadMadWorld''
* ''Noises Off'' and ''The Bird Cage'' were both based on plays.
* The Creator/DannyKaye film ''Film/TheCourtJester'' features double identities, hypnosis, a GambitPileup worthy of ''Manga/DeathNote'', broad comedy, and fast-paced patter.
* ''Franchise/ThePinkPanther'' films: Clouseau is completely unaware of his incompetence. ''A Shot In The Dark'' increases the stakes with the growing pile of bodies apparently murdered by Maria Gambrelli and Clouseau's absurdly steadfast belief in her innocence.
** ''Film/AShotInTheDark'' is also based on a French stage play which [[DolledUpInstallment originally had nothing to do with]] ''Film/ThePinkPanther1963'' and which was not a farce but a murder mystery with some comic elements.
** The Oktoberfest scene in ''Film/ThePinkPantherStrikesAgain'' is especially farcical. [[CarnivalOfKillers Dozens of assassins]] attempt to kill Clouseau and a mix of their competitiveness and the French detective's bumbling lead to them all wiping each other out [[InspectorOblivious without him even noticing]].
* ''Film/TheRulesOfTheGame''
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[[folder: Robert de la Cheyniest ]]
: ''Corneille! Put an end to this farce!''
--> [[/folder]]

[[folder: Corneille ]]
: ''Which one, your lordship?''
* ''Film/TrueLies'' is a farce, when it's not being a kick-ass action flick.
* ''Film/InTheLoop''
* ''Film/ThePalmBeachStory''
* ''Film/{{Oscar|1967}}''
* ''Film/{{Oscar|1991}}''
* The Film/OSS117 films with Creator/JeanDujardin:
** ''Film/OSS117CairoNestOfSpies''
** ''Film/OSS117LostInRio''
** ''Film/OSS117FromAfricaWithLove''
* ''Film/WeekendAtBernies''
* ''Film/ArsenicAndOldLace''
* ''Film/TuckerAndDaleVsEvil'', although the "deception" aspect is largely supplanted by healthy doses of WrongGenreSavvy.
* ''Film/DeathAtAFuneral''

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[[folder: Literature ]]

* ''Literature/{{E}}''
* ''Literature/LocklearLetters''
* Creator/LoisMcMasterBujold's ''Literature/ACivilCampaign''.
* Just about everything written by Creator/TomSharpe especially ''Literature/{{Wilt}}''
* Creator/PGWodehouse was the master of the literary farce. Everything flows from one misunderstanding or blunder to another, culminating to a perfect mess and an even more perfect rescue.
* ''Literature/LuckyJim''. Jim's tendency to force himself to do things he doesn't want to do, and tendency to lie to cover up his own mistakes leads to a plot full of hilarity and misunderstanding that pokes fun at the flaws of all the characters.
* ''Literature/Overlord2012'' is a combination of this and BlackComedy. The elder {{Lich}} "Ainz Ooal Gown" may seem to be a classic SorcerousOverlord with godlike power and intelligence, but in truth he's a confused Japanese salaryman trapped in the body of his {{MMORPG}} character, who's [[FeigningIntelligence bluffing desperately]] to stop his minions from realising [[AlmightyIdiot how dumb he actually is]]. The MoodWhiplash sets in when Ainz's lieutenants "decipher" his "intricate plan" to TakeOverTheWorld, and start enacting it for him - as Ainz "reveals the details" of this plan it becomes increasingly clear that the combination of [[WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity unlimited power]], [[LonelyAtTheTop isolation]] and [[TheMindIsAPlaythingOfTheBody an undead body]] is dulling his sense of empathy, causing him to perform horrific actions just to maintain the bluff.

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[[folder: Tabletop Games ]]

* ''TabletopGame/{{Paranoia}}''. [[BlatantLies Friend Computer always gives clear and correct orders]]. [[SuspiciouslySpecificDenial Missions never collapse]] into backstabbing, random events, being hauled off track by the agendas (or garden parties) of random higher-clearance citizens or secret society superiors, or [[EpicFail being assigned to the wrong mission to begin with]]. Any rumors that the game falls into this genre are treason. Have a pleasant daycycle!

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[[folder: Webcomics ]]

* The "Dinner for Six" arc in ''Webcomic/PennyAndAggie'' involves escalating misunderstandings, mistaken identities, compromising situations and contrived, {{Slapstick}} accidents.
* Creator/OyvindThorsby's works often involve farces:
** The premise of ''Webcomic/TheAccidentalSpaceSpy'' is that the protagonist must pretend to be someone else. The protagonist usually also ends up in a farcical situation on each planet he visits, due to misunderstanding the local aliens.
** ''Webcomic/LiesSistersAndWives'' is a 34-page farce about a man with a wife and a mistress.
** ''Webcomic/HitmenForDestiny''

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[[folder: Western Animation ]]

* ''WesternAnimation/AmericanDad'' derives much of its humor from this - many episodes start off with fairly typical sitcom plots and gradually escalate in absurdity until they reach a ridiculous, bizarre, and over-the-top climax.
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Archer}}'': The episode [[Recap/ArcherS4E9TheHoneymooners "The Honeymooners"]] features Archer and Lana undercover as newlyweds while Cyril spies on them as they try and stop a sale of plutonium to some North Koreans. At the end of the episode, Mallory calls the operation a farce and Archer [[LiteralMetaphor notes that this is in fact literally true]], it was a farce.
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'': "Into the Wild Green Yonder" hinges on this, particularly in the third act.
* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic:'' [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS8E13TheMean6 "The Mean 6"]] sees the villain Chrysalis creating evil clones of the main heroes--clones who proceed to bicker between themselves and get mixed up among the heroes, without either side noticing. The heroes have a falling-out and then reconcile, without realizing that the villains were ever there, while Chrysalis's evil plan falls apart without any intervention from the heroes.
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