The Aristocrats

The Aristocrats showcases the world’s dirtiest joke, featuring over 100 comedians discussing and performing their own versions of this infamous punchline. It brings together a diverse array of comedy talent, including George Carlin, Whoopi Goldberg, Drew Carey, Gilbert Gottfried, Bob Saget, and Sarah Silverman, among others.

The documentary revolves around a joke that has been shared privately among comedians since the Vaudeville era. The basic structure of the joke involves a person pitching a family act to a talent agent, describing increasingly obscene and outrageous acts, before revealing the act’s name as “The Aristocrats”. Each comedian featured in the film puts their own spin on the joke, demonstrating their unique style and pushing the boundaries of taste and shock value.

Throughout the film, comedians analyze the joke’s place in comedy history, dissect its appeal, and share their experiences with it. It highlights the camaraderie within the comedy world and explores the role of obscenity in humor. It also touches on the joke’s status as an inside joke among comedians, rarely performed for public audiences but used as a tool for comedians to challenge and entertain each other backstage.