Shawn Levy Says The Pink Panther Shaped His Approach to Film Comedy

Director Shawn Levy says working on the 2006 comedy The Pink Panther changed the way he thinks about filming jokes.

In a recent interview, Levy, 57, shared that the movie helped him understand how camera framing can make a scene funnier. The lesson came while shooting a memorable moment featuring Inspector Clouseau, played by Steve Martin.

In the scene, Clouseau follows pop star Xania, played by Beyoncé, through New York City. When Clouseau thinks he has been spotted, he quickly pulls out a large newspaper to hide his face and shouts, “Newspapers.” Because his face is covered, he does not see a subway entrance ahead of him and falls down the stairs.

Levy said he initially considered filming the fall from several angles, including shots showing a stunt performer tumbling down the stairwell. Instead, he chose to keep the camera steady in one uninterrupted frame.

“That was an epiphany moment,” Levy said. “I realized the camera is a participant in the joke telling. More often than not, the simpler approach is the funnier approach.”

He explained that complex camera movements during a joke can distract audiences and weaken the laugh. In the Clouseau scene, the uninterrupted shot allows viewers to see the stairs approaching while the character cannot, making the punchline land more effectively.

Levy said he learned this lesson “the hard way” on other projects when complicated shots interfered with comedic timing.

After The Pink Panther, Levy went on to direct major films including Night at the Museum and Date Night. He also directed episodes of the Netflix series Stranger Things and is set to helm the upcoming Star Wars: Starfighter.

Years later, Levy applied the same principle while filming 2024’s Deadpool & Wolverine. In one large action sequence, Deadpool, played by Ryan Reynolds, fights more than 60 versions of himself. Levy said the scene also used a single, laterally moving wide shot to keep the action clear and the humor sharp.

“The Pink Panther was where I first started my education in film comedy and how the camera needs to be a participant,” Levy said.

The 2006 film also starred Jean Reno, Kevin Kline, Emily Mortimer and Henry Czerny.

Levy said the cast and crew approached the reboot with respect for the original franchise and for the screenplay written by Martin. He acknowledged that updating a classic comedy carries risks but said the team was committed to creating an enjoyable experience for audiences.

When the film became a commercial success, Levy said it was “really gratifying,” especially given the critical scrutiny that often follows remakes of well-known properties.

Originally released in theaters on Feb. 10, 2006, The Pink Panther is currently available for streaming on Kanopy and Roku TV.