Much of French humour is 'jeux de mots', untranslatable wordplays.In Europe, the theatrical genre-like comedy developed in the Greco-Roman antiquity, much like the tragedy theaters built in the Roman Empire.
In France during the 17th century under Louis XIV, the Italian influence and Molière began to recognize the comedy theater as an art in itself and not as a subgenre compared to the tragedy.
In 1892, before cinema was created, Émile Reynaud recognized several comedy cartoons, including Le Clown et ses chiens.
In his native France and throughout the world, Max Linder was a major comic feature and might qualify as the first true film star.
A number of French comedians were able to find an English speaking audience in this period, including Fernandel, Bourvil, Louis de Funès and Jacques Tati.
Provocation is present in multiple films, such as Going Places, La Grande Bouffe, Les Babas Cool, and Menage.
The 2000s correspond to a transition: indeed, the Splendid troupe generation of the 1970s tends to give over to newcomers (Dany Boon, Jamel Debbouze, Omar Sy) who have become famous with 'one man shows'.