The Best Comedies On Netflix

In the mood to watch something funny? We've got you covered. From ‘Zombieland’ to ‘The Mitchells vs. The Machines’, here are the best comedies on Netflix.

The Edge of Seventeen
STX Entertainment

Image via STX Productions

The Edge of Seventeen

You've got Netflix pulled up, and you're in the mood to watch something funny. You've worked your way through every show on the streaming platform, and in terms of funny content, you've already exhausted every comedy show Netflix has to offer. You've watched The Office more times than you can count, and you still have to wait another year for the next season of Big Mouth to drop on Netflix. Although you may love every comedic show on the platform, one thing is certain: you need something funny and long.

Don't worry, that's where we come in. Our list of the best comedy films on Netflix is the perfect place to find a film when you're looking to have a laugh. A cast full of veteran comedians, those who have made the comedy genre what it is today; or maybe some newcomers, who are setting an even higher bar for the genre. Look no further, folks. We've scoured Netflix to find every hilarious film and stand up special streaming on the site today that will having you bursting with laughter.

Some are over-the-top, laugh-out-loud material like The Death of Stalin; others are dark comedies like Heathers, or more subtle in their gags. But whatever your taste, there's a comedy available for you. And don't worry, once you've worked through this list, you can go back to re-watching your favorite TV show (don't worry, we're not judging). 

But if you're still looking for more Netflix titles to watch, we've got you covered. Check out the best movies on Netflix or the best action movies on Netflix to get your streaming fix. These are the best comedy movies on Netflix right now. Pick a film and get to giggling. 

The Edge of Seventeen (2016)

The Edge of Seventeen

Director: Kelly Fremon

Cast: Hailee Steinfeld, Haley Lu Richardson, Blake Jenner, Kyra Sedgwick

Genre: Comedy, Drama

Rating: R

Runtime: 1h 45m

Rotten Tomatoes: 94% (Critics) 83% (Audience)

The Edge of Seventeen might look like your average, unassuming teenage comedy-drama, but it’s so much better than that. When her best friend Krista (Haley Lu Richardson) begins dating her brother (Blake Jenner), tempestuous high schooler Nadine (Hailee Steinfeld) feels like her life is falling apart, and lashes out at her loved ones accordingly. The Edge of Seventeen is refreshing in its realism: Nadine feels like a fully realized teenage girl, and the movie isn’t afraid to make her somewhat unlikable, like most real-life teenagers are.  It’s learning how to deal with negative emotions and the sudden downturns life can take that teenagers eventually learn as they mature into adults, and this movie is a refreshingly clear-eyed look at that process. It helps that the movie also stars one of our best young actors in Hailee Steinfeld, who makes Nadine feel all too realistic. The humanity she injects into the role, alongside great supporting performances from Woody Harrelson and Kyra Sedgwick, help make The Edge of Seventeen one of the best recent teen comedy-dramas.

Addams Family Values (1993)

Addam's Family Values

Director: Barry Sonnenfeld

Cast: Angelica Huston, Raul Julia, Christopher Lloyd, Carol Kane

Genre: Comedy

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 1h 33m

Rotten Tomatoes: 77% (Critics) 63% (Audience)

All you need to hear is a couple of snaps to know which classic sitcom centered around a spooky family you’re about to see appear on your screen. While 1991’s The Addams Family is arguably more popular, Addams Family Values is way better, believe it or not. The comedy centers on the arrival of newborn Pubert Addams. Following failed attempts to kill the baby by Pugsley and Wednesday (Christina Ricci), they’re sent to summer camp while the Addams hire nanny Debbie (Joan Cusack), who strikes up a relationship with Uncle Fester. Keeping all of the fantastic casting from the first film, Raul Julia and Anjelica Huston continue to shine, while also giving Christopher Lloyd’s Uncle Fester a gleefully silly subplot with a terrifically deranged Joan Cusack as his fiancee who’s up to no good. The Addams’ children’s adventures at summer camp are also a comedic delight and surprisingly progressive: it turns out Wednesday Addams will not tolerate Thanksgiving plays that try to whitewash colonialist violence. Charmingly quirky with great set design and an enjoyably loopy plot, Addams Family Values is a comedic treat.

Not Another Teen Movie (2001)

not another teen movie

Director: Joel Gallen

Cast: Chyler Leigh, Chris Evans, Jamie Pressley, Eric Christian Olsen

Genre: Comedy

Rating: R

Runtime: 1h 28m

Rotten Tomatoes: 29% (Critics) 55% (Audience)

Parodies don’t have the best track record. Unless they’re Airplane! or the first Scary Movie, they tend to have weak reviews. Among the exceptions, however, is the sorely underrated Not Another Teen Movie. The teen movie parody follows popular jock Jake (Chris Evans) as he takes a bet that he can turn Janey (Chyler Leigh), the “ugly” girl, into the prettiest girl in school. A clear sendup of She’s All That, the movie also mercilessly parodies Bring It On, Pretty in Pink, American Pie, and many other teen comedy classics. What separates Not Another Teen Movie from other subpar parody films is that a lot of the comedy is spot-on, nailing the tired, ridiculous tropes that many teen movies follow, from the stereotypically sexual foreign exchange student to the desperate male teenage virgin to the tendency for teen movies to cast actors that are visibly much older than teenagers. Equal parts ludicrous and charming, with a cast that’s way ahead of its time (this is legitimately one of Chris Evans’ best movies), Not Another Teen Movie is a comedy that holds up today.

Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2016)

hunt for the wilderpeople

Director: Taika Waititi

Cast: Julian Dennison, Sam Neill, Rachel House, Rhys Darby

Genre: Comedy

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 1h 41m

Rotten Tomatoes: 97% (Critics) 91% (Audience)

Thor: Ragnarok and Jojo Rabbit director Taika Waititi started out with decidedly lower budgets before he got to Hollywood, and 2016’s charming Hunt for the Wilderpeople shows that. The New Zealand-set action comedy follows foster child Ricky (Julian Dennison) as he goes on the run after learning he is going to be sent back to child services and ends up the subject of a citywide manhunt alongside his foster father Hector (Sam Neill). Waititi’s writing and direction shines, thanks to his knack for capturing action scenes in fun ways, as well as his charming sense of humor, which also manages to have a cutting, sociopolitical edge, specifically with regards to the treatment of foster children by the New Zealand government. At the time a relative newcomer, Julian Dennison gives Ricky a quirky sense of heart, and has impressive chemistry with Sam Neill, playing against type in a largely comedic role. Hunt for the Wilderpeople is proof that Taika Waititi can craft a small, heartfelt comedy as well as he can craft big budget Hollywood blockbusters.

The Mitchells vs. The Machines (2021)

The Mitchells vs. The Machines

Director: Mike Rianda

Cast: Danny McBride, Maya Rudolph, Abbi Jacobson, Eric Andre

Genre: Sci Fi, Comedy

Rating: PG

Runtime: 1h 54m

Rotten Tomatoes: 96% (Critics)

The latest movie from Sony Pictures Animation (famously behind Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs and Into The Spider-Verse), The Mitchells vs. The Machines, brings the same level of zany family friendly humor you’ve come to know from the studio. The comedy follows the Mitchells as they go on a road trip in an attempt to bond with each other, only to find themselves having to save Earth from a robot uprising. The movie boasts an all-star cast, with the Mitchells themselves voiced by Danny McBride, Maya Rudolph, and Abbi Jacobson, as well as various robots voiced by Fred Armisen, Beck Bennett, and, in probably her strangest role yet, Oscar winner Olivia Colman. The Mitchells vs. The Machines is the perfect type of family comedy since it works on an adult level (with a central story about parents wanting to connect with their child before they go off to college) and a child level (attacking robots are cool and fun), and works in both of those modes in a very charming way. As star-studded as it is a blast to watch, The Mitchells Vs. The Machines is another win for Sony Pictures Animation.

Yes, God, Yes (2020)

yes god yes

Director: Karen Maine

Cast: Natalia Dyer, Susan Blackwell, Alisha Boe, Donna Lynne Champlin

Genre: Comedy

Rating: R

Runtime: 1h 18m

Rotten Tomatoes: 94% (Critics) 67% (Audience)


An adaptation of the 2017 short film of the same name, Yes, God, Yes is a different kind of teen comedy. The film follows Catholic teenager Alice (Natalia Dyer) as she deals with her burgeoning sexuality after an AOL chat turns suddenly sexual in the fall of 2000. A mix of both Greta Gerwig’s Lady Bird and Hulu’s PEN15, Yes, God, Yes finds its own groove in its specificity, nailing the confusing shame and euphoria one can feel when one comes into one’s own sexuality. As expected with the subject matter, the movie is as cringe-inducing as it is hilarious and ultimately warm. Stranger Things’ Natalia Dyer reprises her role from the short film, and she handles it once again with aplomb, effortlessly embodying how uncomfortable it can be to a teenager, especially one raised in a very religious environment. Yes, God, Yes is yet another recent well-made exploration into the lives of teen girls that rings true. 

Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975)

Cast of Monty Python and the Holy Grail

Director: Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones

Cast: Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Eric Idle, Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones, Michael Palin

Genre: Comedy

Rating: PG

Runtime: 1hr 31m

Rotten Tomatoes: 97% (Critics) 95% (Audience)


Monty Python is one of the most influential comedy groups of all time (if not the most influential), and it shows in its largely successful and popular 1975 movie, Monty Python and the Holy Grail. The comedy classic follows King Arthur (Graham Chapman) and his Knights of the Round Table as they go on a journey to find the Holy Grail, encountering a wizard named Tim the Enchanter, killer rabbits, “holy hand grenades,” and other ridiculous obstacles along the way. Monty Python and the Holy Grail is the, well, Holy Grail of absurd comedy, from its opening credits, which quickly become moose-related, to its hysterically sudden ending. Endlessly quotable, and with every member of Monty Python at the height of their comedic powers, Monty Python and the Holy Grail is a rightful classic that never gets old.

The Disaster Artist (2017)

disaster artist

Director: James Franco

Cast: Dave Franco, James Franco, Seth Rogen

Genre: Comedy, Drama

Rating: R

Runtime: 1h 43m

Rotten Tomatoes: 91% (Critics) 85% (Audience)


Tommy Wiseau’s 2003 film The Room, while a box office bomb at the time of release, became a cult classic in the almost two decades since it’s release thanks to its bad acting, camerawork, and general failure as a serious film (which, believe it or not, it was intended to be). 2017 saw the creation of The Room dramatized in The Disaster Artist by director James Franco. Based on the book of the same name by Greg Sestero, The Disaster Artist centers on Greg (Dave Franco), an aspiring actor, as he meets the bizarre Tommy Wiseau (James Franco) and befriends them as they move to Los Angeles and create Wiseau’s supposed masterpiece: The Room. The film is a loving ode to both Wiseau and Sestero that takes their lives seriously, while also acknowledging how truly strange and bad The Room ended up being. Featuring an all star cast including Seth Rogen, Alison Brie, Zac Efron, and many others in bit roles, The Disaster Artist is a loving, satirical look at the film industry and the creative weirdos that make it come to life.

The Other Guys (2010)

will ferrell

Director: Adam McKay

Cast: Will Ferrell, Mark Wahlberg, Michael Keaton

Genre: Action, Comedy

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 1h 47m

Rotten Tomatoes: 78% (Critics) 60% (Audience)


Adam McKay’s filmography can be divided into neat categories: his flat-out comedies, which include Anchorman and Step Brothers, and his political comedy-dramas, which include The Big Short and his latest, Vice. One of the most underrated films of his comedy period is 2010’s The Other Guys, which pairs him once again with good luck charm Will Ferrell. The movie follows Detectives Gamble (Ferrell) and Hoitz (Mark Wahlberg) as they become the top cops in the city when their idols unexpectedly die on the job, and must investigate shady capitalist David Ershon (Steve Coogan). Ferrell and McKay are at their very best when they can achieve a certain flavor of absurdity, and The Other Guys hits the perfect comedic tone, putting it in the same league as comedy classics Anchorman and Step Brothers and pairs it with plenty of fun action setpieces. Endlessly quotable, and boasting a great supporting performance from Michael Keaton, The Other Guys deserves more love among Adam McKay’s filmography, as well as among comedy movie fans.

John Mulaney and the Sack Lunch Bunch (2019)

john mulaney sack lunch bunch

Director: Rhys Thomas

Cast: John Mulaney, Richard Kind, André De Shields

Genre: Action, Comedy

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 1h 47m

Rotten Tomatoes: 78% (Critics) 60% (Audience)

What do you do if you’re John Mulaney and have a successful comedy series (Big Mouth) and are one of the most popular and beloved American comedians? You ask Netflix if you can make a children’s variety special in the vein of Zoom and The Electric Company, of course. A strange beast, John Mulaney and the Sack Lunch Bunch is a collection of sketches, musical numbers, and talking heads that is ostensibly a children’s special, but is mostly just a regular comedy special, albeit one that is clearly from the mind of Mulaney. What makes Sack Lunch Bunch truly special, though, is the talented cast of children performers assembled to dance and sing to absurdly specific comedic musical numbers. Combined with some surprisingly deep interviews from both children and adults, as well as some surprise guest stars, John Mulaney and the Sack Lunch Bunch is one of the best and most interesting recent comedy specials Netflix has to offer.

Between Two Ferns: The Movie (2019)

Between Two Ferns: The Movie

Director: Scott Aukerman

Cast: Zach Galifianakis, Lauren Lapkus, Ryan Gaul

Genre: Comedy

Rating: TV-MA

Runtime: 1h 22m

Rotten Tomatoes: 74% (Critics) 43% (Audience)


It’s likely you’ve seen a clip or two from Between Two Ferns, the breakout series from Funny or Die that’s featured Zach Galifianiakis interviewing (and also insulting) many famous celebrities, from Brad Pitt to Barack Obama, on a hilariously low-budget set featuring two houseplants. Now, almost a decade after the show premiered, we have Between Two Ferns: The Movie, directed by Comedy Bang Bang host Scott Aukerman. The movie takes a more high concept approach, with Galifianakis hitting the road after a disastrous interview with Matthew McConaughey, setting out to find and interview ten celebrities in order to appease boss Will Ferrell and save his job at Funny or Die. If you enjoyed the strange, awkward humor of the webseries, the movie has that in spades, but with much more surreal humor thanks to the presence of Lauren Lapkus and Ryan Gaul, both frequent Comedy Bang Bang guests. The movie also boasts strong star power as well, with McConaughey, Brie Larson, and some surprise celebrities starring as themselves. Between Two Ferns: The Movie is a charming, funny, and more than deserving adaptation of the long-running web series. 

Someone Great (2019)

netflix

John Mulaney: Kid Gorgeous at Radio City (2018)

John Mulaney: Kid Gorgeous at Radio City comedy special on Netflix

Director: Alex Timbers

Cast: John Mulaney

Genre: Comedy

Rating: TV-MA

Runtime: 1h 4m

Rotten Tomatoes: 100% (Critics) 89% (Audience)

Ever since his successful run as a writer for Saturday Night Live, it’s almost impossible to escape John Mulaney— not that you’d ever want to. Post-SNL writers room, Mulaney has gone beyond the pen to act, write, and even produce. Now, Mulaney is back with his third stand-up comedy special for Netflix, along with a certain cynicism that could only be driven by our bizarre political climate and a yearning for the simplicity of youth. Kid Gorgeous serves as a witty ode to strange childhood memories and the multiplex issues that come with growing older.

Oh, Hello on Broadway (2017)

John Mulaney and Nick Kroll 'Oh, Hello! on Broadway'

Director: Alex Timbers

Cast: John Mulaney, Nick Kroll

Genre: Stand-Up Comedy

Rating: TV-MA

Runtime: 1h 42m

Rotten Tomatoes: 88% (Critics) 81% (Audience)

John Mulaney and Nick Kroll established themselves independently from one another as two of the funniest writers, actors, and improvisers in history, but they truly started making comedy gold on Comedy Central’s Kroll Show with their characters George St. Geegland and Gil Faizon. As two elderly men from the Upper West Side who kvetch about just about everything, the sketch was popular enough to spawn an Off-Broadway and then a Broadway show, which ran for 138 performances, one of which, with Steve Martin and Matthew Broderick as the guests, was filmed and edited to be streamed on Netflix.

Richard Pryor Live in Concert (1979)

richard pryor

Director: Jeff Margolis

Cast: Richard Pryor

Genre: Comedy

Rating: R

Runtime: 1h 18m

Rotten Tomatoes: 92% (Critics) 93% (Audience)

She’s Gotta Have It (1986)

Shes Gotta Have It

Director: Spike Lee

Cast: Tracy Camilla Johns, Redmond Hicks, John Canada Terrell, Spike Lee, Raye Dowell

Genre: Romance, Comedy

Rating: R

Runtime: 1h 24m

Rotten Tomatoes: 91% (Critics) 73% (Audience)

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