I Not Stupid

An alumni of the popular ’90s Singapore sketch show Comedy Night (搞笑行动), Jack Neo made a name for himself with his zany slapstick comedy. When he made the leap from small to big screen, he parlayed his comedic sensibilities into his first films, including Money No Enough and Liang Po Po: The Movie (see rest of the list), which both became huge commercial successes.

His outlandish — sometimes corny — brand of humour is also on display in 2002’s I Not Stupid, which is now recognised as a milestone in Singapore cinema. The film follows three ‘EM3’ (a less academically inclined group) students, who are struggling with their education and personal life. While the film was a comedy through and through, it also delivered trenchant social commentary and critiqued Singapore’s obsession with grades. Twenty years after its release, it remains as astute in its observations as ever.

The film spawned two sequels, 2006’s I Not Stupid Too and, most recently, 2024’s I Not Stupid 3, which follows a new crop of children struggling with their studies.

In 2024, Money No Enough 3, the latest instalment in the iconic Money No Enough franchise, was released — more than a decade after the second part

Money No Enough

Before Jack Neo became a director, he was a fixture on the Singapore Mandarin comedy sketch show Comedy Nite (搞笑行动), a popular programme that propelled him to fame. When he decided to venture into filmmaking, he parlayed his comic talents into box office clout, scoring a series of commercially successful movies that resonated deeply with local audiences. One of these movies is 1998’s Money No Enough, written by and starring Neo.

Money No Enough was followed up with two standalone sequels: 2008’s Money No Enough 2, and, more than a decade after that movie, 2024’s Money No Enough 3.

It follows three lifelong friends: deliveryman Li Qing Huang (Lee), rideshare driver Liang Da Qiang (Neo), and hawker stall owner Zhang Ming Hui (Thia), all of whom grew up in the same kampung (village) as kids. When Qing Huang faces mounting debts, Da Qiang and Ming Hui agree to lend him money. Qing Huang gets greedy, establishing illegal businesses and refusing to repay his friends even after he prospers. When one of his companies fails, Qing Huang’s family is torn apart, and he must rebuild his relationship with them and with his friends.

Phua Chu Kang: The Movie

Contractor Phua Chu Kang, with his permed hairdo, yellow boots, and signature facial mole, is an iconic and instantly recognisable character. Portrayed and created by Gurmit Singh, Phua Chu Kang first appeared on the sketch show Gurmit’s World before getting two TV series, Phua Chu Kang Pte Ltd and the Malaysian spin-off Phua Chu Kang Sdn Bhd. This feature film continues his adventures.

On her way to visit her son Phua Chu Kang and his wife Rosie (Irene Ang) in Kuala Lumpur, Ah Ma (Neo Swee Lin) mysteriously vanishes. Chu Kang and Rosie undertake a desperate search for her, ultimately tracking her down at a retirement home. Lim Lau Pek (Henry Thia), the shady proprietor of the retirement home, has a criminal past, and it turns out the home’s residents have been dying under mysterious circumstances. Chu Kang and his long-time nemesis Frankie Foo (Lim Kay Siu) bid for a job renovating the retirement home so the former can rescue his mother. Chu Kang is caught in a criminal scheme and discovers a shocking secret about his family history.

Liang Po Po: The Movie

As Phua Chu Kang is to Gurmit Singh, so Liang Po Po is to Jack Neo. The bumbling old lady character originated on the sketch comedy show Comedy Nite and got her own film, 1999’s Liang Po Po: The Movie, which sees her escaping from a retirement home and seeking a new life. She gets robbed by the Lotus Gang and meets Ah Beng (Mark Lee) and Ah Seng (Henry Thia), members of the rival Brothers Gang. They induct Liang Po Po into the gang, taking advantage of her naivete to make her run errands. When Big Boss (Cheng Yeow Nam) hires Hong Kong Triad members Wai-gor (Eric Tsang) and Mun-jie (Sheren Tang), they suggest a bank robbery. Liang Po Po is selected to commit the crime, and a large-scale confrontation with the police ensues.

The Noose

Which person who grew up or lived in Singapore during the early 2000s can forget the satirical series The Noose? In Singapore, where comedy concerning possibly sensitive current affairs is not widespread, the show, which parodies TV news programmes and pokes fun at Singapore stereotypes, quickly grew a following, with audiences becoming attached to its quirky, idiosyncratic recurring characters. Some of The Noose’s stars include Michelle Chong, Chua En Lai, Alaric Tay, Suhaimi Yusof, Judee Tan, and Siti Khalijah. Chong’s characters, including news anchor Adrianna Wow, KTV lounge hostess Lulu, and domestic helper Leticia Bongnino, have become especially popular.

Check out our Celebrating Singapore movie collection and Celebrating Singapore TV library for more local content.