25 Best Comedies on Netflix to Stream for a Night of Laughs
Updated: Sep. 19, 2023In the mood for a funny flick? Check out the comedies on Netflix that will have you in stitches before the credits roll.
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Stream the best comedies on Netflix for a humor-filled movie marathon
They say laughter is the best medicine for (almost) anything—and luckily for us, there are plenty of funny movies to watch when we need a big ol’ dose of humor. Some of the best movies ever made are comedies; they’re movies that let us escape from the real world for a bit and indulge in a ridiculously fun world where there’s no shortage of laughter. Sounds pretty great, right? If you’re looking for some comical films to stream, consider these funny movies on Netflix.
From classic family movies to new comedy movies to endearing romantic comedies, this list has a little something for everyone. There’s no shortage of slapstick, wit and straight-up goofy stories to indulge in.
How we chose the best comedies on Netflix
We chose the best comedies on Netflix by looking at several factors, including box-office success and critic and audience reception. Some of these movies are comedy classics, whereas others are funny hidden gems. And while Netflix is home to thousands of great titles, when you’ve worked your way through your Netflix queue, there are loads of funny movies on Hulu and funny movies on Amazon Prime you should check out too!
Read on to see which comedies you can start streaming now—and let the hilarity commence!
Always Be My Maybe
Released: 2019
Rated: PG-13
Starring: Ali Wong, Randall Park, Michelle Buteau and Vivian Bang
Sasha (Ali Wong) and Marcus (Randall Park) were childhood best friends who grew up together in San Francisco, but their relationship was ruined after they tried to make things romantic, and as these things often go, they stopped speaking. Fifteen years later, the pair are reunited when Sasha, now a renowned chef, decides to open a restaurant in her hometown, where Marcus still lives. Like every great romantic comedy, there are obstacles that get in the way of these two getting together (including Keanu Reeves, who plays an outlandish version of himself and takes Sasha on a date). Wong and Park are exceptional comedic actors, and the supporting cast, which includes comedian Michelle Buteau and Vivian Bang, make this charming comedy one of the best romantic movies on Netflix.
Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery
Released: 2022
Rated: PG-13
Starring: Daniel Craig, Ed Norton, Dave Bautista, Kate Hudson and Janelle Monae
Filmmaker Rian Johnson and actor Daniel Craig have teamed up for two Knives Out mysteries so far, and we hope they never stop. Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery is the sequel to 2019’s Knives Out, which both star Craig as dandy detective Benoit Blanc. In Glass Onion, detective Benoit is invited to a mysterious private island owned by a tech billionaire (played by Edward Norton, perfect as a deceptive but clueless entrepreneur) to play a murder mystery game. Unfortunately, the game goes awry and someone really dies. The chemistry of the ensemble cast, which includes Dave Bautista, Kate Hudson and Janelle Monae, is stellar.
White Noise
Released: 2022
Rated: R
Starring: Adam Driver and Greta Gerwig
If you’re searching for absurdist, funny movies on Netflix, look no further than White Noise, the 2022 film based on the novel of the same name by Don DeLillo, who is known for his darkly satirical and funny books. The film stars Adam Driver and Greta Gerwig as a married couple whose blended family has to escape their Ohio town when an “airborne toxic event” occurs after a train carrying chemicals crashes nearby. The resulting evacuation is chaotic, and the family, especially Gerwig’s character, Babette, struggles to return to normal when they go back home. Filled with dark humor, the nearly-40-year-old story is worth watching because it is oddly prescient (the film’s chemical disaster was actually filmed in the same town where a real-life train derailment and chemical spill took place earlier this year) and way ahead of its time.
Paddington
Released: 2014
Rated: PG
Starring: Sally Hawkins, Hugh Bonneville, Ben Whishaw and Nicole Kidman
Paddington is one of the best funny kids movies around. Paddington takes inspiration from the original Paddington books, written by Michael Bond, about the little bear who made his way from Peru to Paddington Station in London, where he’s adopted by the Browns. In the film, the Browns, a quirky but loving family, are played by Sally Hawkins and Hugh Bonneville, and Paddington is voiced by Ben Whishaw. After Paddington arrives in London, a cruel curator and taxidermist, Millicent Clyde (played by Nicole Kidman, giving her best Cruella DeVille vibes), tries to hunt down Paddington in order to stuff him and display him at her museum. Though it’s an action-packed family adventure, Kidman’s campy performance injects loads of humor into the film.
The Hangover
Released: 2009
Rated: R
Starring: Bradley Cooper, Zach Galifianakis and Ed Helms
One of the funniest films on Netflix is The Hangover, starring Bradley Cooper, Zach Galifianakis and Ed Helms. In the film, the three men go to Las Vegas with their friend Doug (Justin Bartha) for his bachelor party, and when they wake up, they realize Doug is missing. Frantic to find the groom, the threesome have to contend with a Bengal tiger in their hotel suite, a mysterious baby in their closet and a wildly hilarious visit from boxer Mike Tyson, all in the few short hours leading up to Doug’s wedding. The film was so popular, it became the highest-grossing R-rated comedy in America, a title it still holds today, and it spawned two sequels within five years.
Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga
Released: 2020
Rated: PG-13
Starring: Will Ferrell and Rachel McAdams
In Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga, Will Ferrell teams up with Rachel McAdams to form an Icelandic music duo whose goal in life is to be chosen to represent their country for the Eurovision Song Contest, the annual continent-wide talent search in Europe. The trouble is that despite their passion, the pair are terrible at performing live, and each time they try, it goes disastrously wrong. Filled with physical comedy, running gags about magical trolls and dozens of cameos from real-life Eurovision contestants, the movie is goofy and silly, with clever music and one unforgettable performance from Dan Stevens, who may be best known for his dramatic role on Downton Abbey but is hilarious and almost unrecognizable as a Russian competitor in the song contest.
Do Revenge
Released: 2022
Rated: TV-MA
Starring: Maya Hawke and Camila Mendes
Do Revenge, one of the more recent original comedies on Netflix, owes a lot to both Alfred Hitchcock and teen movies like Clueless and Heathers. Loosely based on the Hitchcock film Strangers on a Train, the film stars Maya Hawke and Camila Mendes as Eleanor and Drea, students at a tony private school in Miami. Each of them is something of an outcast and has a grudge with the popular crowd, so they use one another to get back at those who have wronged them. While the film certainly plays into the revenge-filled scheming—it’s right there in the title—the methods they use, the witty dialogue and the aesthetic of the movie all lighten the tone and make for a funny flick that winks at all the teen movies that came before it.
Jerry Maguire
Released: 1996
Rated: R
Starring: Tom Cruise, Renee Zellweger and Cuba Gooding Jr.
Written and directed by Cameron Crowe, Jerry Maguire is a heartfelt drama movie, a hilarious romantic comedy and a sports movie all rolled into one (not to mention, you can find so many memorable movie quotes in the film, including “You had me at hello” and Cuba Gooding Jr.’s now-legendary “Show me the money!”). Tom Cruise stars as the titular sports agent, Jerry Maguire, who has a crisis of conscience and decides to change the way he does business with his clients. He dramatically announces that he’s leaving his sports agency to start his own company, and the only person who leaves with him is a young employee named Dorothy Boyd (Renee Zellweger in her star-making role) and one client, Rod Tidwell (Gooding). A classic underdog story filled with unforgettable performances, Jerry Maguire was nominated for four Oscars, winning one, Best Supporting Actor for Gooding.
Your Place or Mine
Released: 2023
Rated: PG-13
Starring: Reese Witherspoon and Ashton Kutcher
One of Netflix’s newest romantic comedy movies is the Reese Witherspoon/Ashton Kutcher film Your Place or Mine. The pair star as best friends who live on opposite coasts, but when they decide to do a house swap, they end up learning more about each other than they ever knew before … and as a result, they fall in love. The magnetic charm of both stars is on full display here, and the excellent casting also includes Tig Notaro, Rachel Bloom and Jesse Williams, each of whom brings tons of wit to the rom-com.
She’s Gotta Have It
Released: 1986
Rated: R
Starring: Tracy Camilla Johns, Tommy Redmond Hicks, John Canada Terrell and Spike Lee
In Spike Lee’s debut film, Tracy Camilla Johns stars as Nola Darling, a woman dating three men and relishing the fact that she’s not tied down to any of them. The problem is, each of these men, played by Tommy Redmond Hicks, John Canada Terrell and Spike Lee himself, want to be her one and only boyfriend. Eventually, Nola is confronted by Jamie (Hicks), who forces her to choose what she wants, and ultimately, Nola chooses … herself. The movie, which was shot in black and white, was our first glimpse at Lee’s filmmaking style and sense of humor, and it was eventually turned into a dramedy series for Netflix, which ran from 2017 to 2019.
Monty Python and the Holy Grail
Released: 1975
Rated: PG
Starring: John Cleese, Eric Idle and Graham Chapman
We couldn’t list the best comedies on Netflix without mentioning the beloved comedy classic Monty Python and the Holy Grail. This silly gem features the Monty Python comedy group trudging through the Middle Ages as King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, who are on the hunt for—you guessed it—the Holy Grail. Watch as the group encounters some truly ridiculous (but hysterical) obstacles on their quest. Fair warning: You’ll be quoting this critically acclaimed and fan-favorite flick long after the credits roll.
Monty Python’s Life of Brian
Released: 1979
Rated: R
Starring: John Cleese, Eric Idle and Graham Chapman
Make it a Monty Python night by streaming Monty Python and the Holy Grail and Monty Python’s Life of Brian back-to-back. Watch as the comedy group takes a satirical look at religion by following the life of Brian, a man who experiences some misadventures after being confused for the Messiah. It’s another beloved, albeit controversial (it was banned in several countries), Monty Python flick that spotlights the group’s comedic genius.
Little Evil
Released: 2017
Rated: TV-MA
Starring: Adam Scott, Evangeline Lilly and Owen Atlas
Fans of a good comedy-horror combo will take delight in Little Evil, a film starring Adam Scott as a stepdad trying to connect with his young stepson. The catch? He’s convinced the boy is evil … like, really evil. With funny nods to classic scary movies like The Omen and Poltergeist, Little Evil delivers heartfelt laughs—and the occasional set of goosebumps—as Scott’s character navigates two unknowns: the supernatural and fatherhood.
Bo Burnham: Inside
Released: 2021
Rated: TV-MA
Starring: Bo Burnham
If you’re looking for a clever and wonderfully produced musical-comedy special, add Bo Burnham: Inside to your Netflix streaming list. Watch as comedian Bo Burnham masterfully presents an award-winning special he wrote, produced and performed all on his own over the course of a year during the pandemic—a time when we were all inside and unsure. The laughs feel extra personal and reflective in this one. It’s a hit with audiences and critics, scoring an impressive 95% on the Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer and a 93% audience score on the website.
The Takedown
Released: 2022
Rated: TV-MA
Starring: Omar Sy, Laurent Lafitte and Izïa Higelin
The Takedown is a French buddy-cop action-comedy that will have you hooked from the beginning. Two cops who are complete opposites are reunited to work a case that seems straightforward enough but evolves into something much bigger—and more dangerous—as the audience follows along for laughs and thrills.
Don’t Look Up
Released: 2021
Rated: R
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Lawrence, Jonah Hill and Meryl Streep
Don’t Look Up is a comedy on Netflix with mixed reviews: Some critics and audience members are none too pleased with the film’s satirical tone. But others praise the stellar cast’s performance and commentary on current events—and it was a huge streaming success for Netflix. So really, its comedic value is in the eyes of the beholder. Go ahead and stream the disaster-comedy about astronomers trying to warn a disengaged world about an Earth-ending comet, and see where it ranks on your comedy list.
The Duff
Released: 2015
Rated: PG-13
Starring: Mae Whitman, Robbie Amell and Ken Jeong
Let’s be real: Even the high school years can have their funny moments, as hilariously proven in The Duff. Based on the teen book of the same name, the movie is about a teenager named Bianca (portrayed by Mae Whitman in a seriously funny performance) who enlists the help of her jock neighbor (Robbie Amell) to change her image. Filled with comical awkward antics and charming coming-of-age moments, The Duff is a teen-comedy classic that’s guaranteed to get some laughs.
Hunt for the Wilderpeople
Released: 2016
Rated: PG-13
Starring: Sam Neill and Julian Dennison
Delightfully hilarious and totally underrated, Hunt for the Wilderpeople is a comedy on Netflix that will get you laughing in no time. You’re in for a comical ride as a young boy and his foster father get lost in the New Zealand woods—and become the targets of a manhunt. Fans and critics adore the title, proven by its stellar score of 97% on the Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer and a 91% audience score on the site. Plus, it’s written and directed by Taika Waititi (who co-directed What We Do in the Shadows), which further cements its status as comedy gold. (P.S. If you’re looking to unlock hidden titles, try using these Netflix codes.)
The Adam Project
Released: 2o22
Rated: PG-13
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Zoe Saldaña, Jennifer Garner and Mark Ruffalo
Sci-fi action-adventure meets some impressive comedic moments in The Adam Project, which stars Ryan Reynolds as a time-traveling pilot named Adam who must partner with his younger self to complete a crucial mission. The snarky comedy flows naturally throughout the film, and the banter between older Adam and younger Adam is both witty and endearing. Add it to your streaming list for a fantastic mix of comedy and adventure.
The Lovebirds
Released: 2020
Rated: R
Starring: Kumail Nanjiani and Issa Rae
The Lovebirds has a little bit of something for everyone: love, laughs and a murder mystery. Kumail Nanjiani and Issa Rae’s chemistry and comedic timing are on point in this film, which follows a couple on the brink of a breakup trying to clear their names in a murder case. Stream it now and strap in for a funny ride.
Dolemite Is My Name
Released: 2019
Rated: R
Starring: Eddie Murphy, Wesley Snipes and Keegan-Michael Key
Scoring an amazing 97% on the Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer and a 91% audience score on the website, Dolemite Is My Name is a must-watch comedy jam-packed with stars like Mike Epps, Craig Robinson, Tituss Burgess and Snoop Dogg. Eddie Murphy stars in the dramatized biopic as Rudy Ray Moore, a comedy pioneer who shot to fame after creating a lewd alter ego named Dolemite. Murphy’s performance is remarkable and heartfelt, with gleaming moments of sentiment woven into the laugh-out-loud comedy.
The Mitchells vs. the Machines
Released: 2021
Rated: PG
Starring: Maya Rudolph, Abbi Jacobson, Danny McBride and Eric André
Those looking for a more family-friendly funny flick should stream The Mitchells vs. the Machines, easily one of the best comedies on Netflix right now. Joyful and wildly entertaining, it tells the story of a family road trip interrupted by the robot apocalypse—and now it’s up to this brood of oddballs to save the world. No biggie. It’s one of the best cartoon movies on Netflix right now, praised by both viewers and critics alike. Start streaming ASAP to see why.
Murder Mystery
Released: 2019
Rated: PG-13
Starring: Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston
Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston bring their comedic chemistry to the screen with Murder Mystery, a movie about a cop and his wife who, while on a European trip, get framed for a billionaire’s murder. Now they have to figure out who the real killer is before they’re hauled away in handcuffs. Sandler and Aniston’s give-and-take is fun to watch as they navigate the twists and turns of solving their case.
Set It Up
Released: 2018
Rated: TV-MA
Starring: Zoey Deutch, Glen Powell, Lucy Liu and Taye Diggs
Set It Up is a Netflix romantic comedy that’s smart, delightful and downright amusing. It’s the story of two overworked assistants (Zoey Deutch and Glen Powell) who set up their bosses with the hope they’ll fall in love—and take it easy on them at the office. As their bosses fall for each other, feelings start brewing between them too—and, well, things get complicated. It’s a great movie for the hopeless romantic who’s looking for some sweet, genuine laughs.
Mindhorn
Released: 2016
Rated: TV-MA
Starring: Julian Barratt and Essie Davis
One of the best comedies on Netflix is also one of the streaming platform’s most underrated. Mindhorn is a ridiculously fun film about a down-on-his-luck actor who reprises his hit role as a 1980s detective to help catch a twisted killer who thinks the fictional detective is real. It’s a trip from beginning to end and won the hearts of many critics, scoring a solid 92% on the Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer. Start streaming now and crack up while Detective Mindhorn cracks the case.
Additional reporting by Kelly Kuehn.
