The 20 Best Comedies on Netflix to Watch Now
Have a laugh—you’ve earned it.
Let’s be honest: Life has been, well, weird lately. Inflation is through the roof, climate change is destroying the ecosystem, the political climate is even worse, and—as Jimmy McMillan famously said—the rent is too damn high! Now more than ever, it seems like we could all use a laugh.
That, dear reader, is where Netflix comes in. The streamer has an abundance of hilarious comedies that will make you giggle despite, you know, everything. You can’t spend every waking moment trying to save the world, so take a beat and let the likes of Will Ferrell and Eddie Murphy relieve some stress.
Looking for a dark comedy? Try I Care a Lot. If you’re into comedy specials, we suggest Bo Burnham’s Inside and John Mulaney & the Sack Lunch Bunch. Elsewhere on Netflix, you can’t go wrong with Dolemite is My Name and Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga. Below, you’ll find 20 of the funniest movies on the streamer.
Hustle
Adam Sandler teams up with real-life pro basketball player Juancho Hernangómez for this comedy/drama about a talent scout who works to break an international player out of obscurity and turn him into a star.
Pee-wee’s Big Holiday
Pee-wee Herman, a quirky and eccentric vaudeville-type character created by the late comedian Paul Reubens, goes on vacation in Pee-wee’s Big Holiday. Released on Netflix in 2016, it was the zany character’s first return to film since Tim Burton’s excellent Peewee’s Big Adventure in 1985.
We Have a Ghost
A suburban family becomes an overnight sensation after capturing footage of a ghost in their home. But shit hits the fan when they try to uncover how the spirit died, making them the newest target of the CIA.
Bo Burnham: Inside
Technically, Burnham’s pandemic creation—his personal King Lear—is a stand-up special. But as any fan of the comedian will tell you (and probably already has told you many times), there’s a lot more to it than that. In many ways, the musical-comedy special feels like a feature film, as Burnham muses about our world from the inside out.
I Care a Lot
Rosamund Pike stars in this dark comedy as a professional legal guardian who, unbeknownst to her clients, is legally siphoning off their money for her own use. Her master scheme seems to be going without a hitch—that is, until she learns that her newest client is associated with a gangster (played by Peter Dinklage).
Bad Trip
It’s Eric Andre doing what Eric Andre does best: making unassuming onlookers the audience for his over-the-top antics. Except, this time around, he’s trading in his signature public-access television studio for the real world. In this hidden-camera comedy, Chris and Bud (Andre and actor Lil Rel Howery) are best friends who take a a cross-country trip to help Chris confess his feelings for his high school crush. However, hot on their trail is Chris’s sister (played by Tiffany Haddish), from whom he has “borrowed” the car for their trip.
Always Be My Maybe
Ali Wong and Randall Park are a perfect duo in this heartwarming rom-com about two childhood friends whose awkward fling is reignited by a later-in-life reunion. Back in their hometown digs of San Francisco, the two must face whether their separate worlds can find a way to intersect the way they used to.
Hasan Minhaj: Homecoming King
Before the world knew him from Patriot Act, many knew Hasan Minhaj from his work on The Daily Show and, of course, his debut stand-up special, Homecoming King. The latter is a quintessential preview of Minhaj’s tactful skills as a comedian, as he covers racism, immigration, and his experience as an Indian American in a way that is personal, impactful, and entertaining all at once.
Hunt for the Wilderpeople
Taika Waititi is undoubtedly an “It” director right now, with films like the Oscar-winning Jojo Rabbit, Thor: Love and Thunder, and What We Do in the Shadows under his belt. If you’re a fan of the Kiwi auteur’s work, you should definitely check out 2016’s Hunt for the Wilderpeople. The charming and eccentric adventure comedy, set in the New Zealand wilderness, follows thirteen-year-old Ricky Baker as he flees from the law with his foster father.
Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga
Will Ferrell and Rachel McAdams star in this daffy musical comedy about two small-town Icelandic musicians who travel across the world to chase their dreams of pop stardom at the global phenomenon known as Eurovision. If you’re a Eurovision newbie, the toe-tapping soundtrack and onstage mishaps will enthrall you, while established fans will be delighted by Easter eggs like cameos from favorite contestants.
Between Two Ferns: The Movie
Zach Galifianakis’s offbeat comedy series gets the feature-length treatment here: Between Two Ferns goes on a nationwide redemption tour in the wake of a disastrous near-death incident involving interviewee Matthew McConaughey. Galifianakis’s deadpan, painfully awkward shtick is as appealing as ever in the gut-busting road-trip comedy.
Set It Up
In a twist on the whole setup narrative, two overworked N.Y.C. assistants try to set up their successful yet overbearing bosses—who are played by Lucy Liu and Taye Diggs.
Dolemite Is My Name
This biographical film centers on struggling comedian Rudy Ray Moore in the 1970s as he creates his raunchy alter ego, Dolemite, and risks it all to take his act to the big screen with an anti-establishment kung fu film.
The Lovebirds
On the verge of a breakup, Jibran and Leilani accidentally get mixed up in a murder case. The two have one wild night to clear their names—and potentially salvage their relationship.
The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected)
From Oscar-winning filmmaker Noah Baumbach, The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected) is a dark and dry dramedy with an all-star cast that includes Adam Sandler, Ben Stiller, Dustin Hoffman, Elizabeth Marvel, and Emma Thompson.
John Mulaney & the Sack Lunch Bunch
Just to be clear, John Mulaney & the Sack Lunch Bunch is extremely weird and niche, but its surrealism is a delight to watch. Filmed like an after-school activity, it quickly veers into bizarro territory and never looks back.
The Ballad of Buster Scruggs
The Coen brothers partnered with the streaming service for this Netflix original, an anthology film featuring six stories set in the American west that’s full of outlaws, pioneer women, and double-crossing—plus one singing cowboy.
Life of Brian
Monty Python takes on Christ with this story of Brian of Nazareth, a man who was born on the same night as Jesus—just in the stable next door—and has spent his entire life being mistaken for the messiah.
Monty Python and the Holy Grail
The Arthurian legend is parodied in this absurd—and endlessly quotable—cult classic, featuring the Monty Python players as the Knights of the Roundtable on the search for the legendary treasure.
The Incredible Jessica James
Not to be confused with Netflix’s Jessica Jones, Shrinking’s Jessica Williams stars in The Incredible Jessica James, a romantic comedy about being unapologetic and getting what you deserve. She finds it in an unlikely source: Chris O’Dowd from The IT Crowd.
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