The best comedies on Netflix right now
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The good news for comedy fans is that Netflix rarely seems to come up empty in this category. For the month of August, Netflix is largely reliant on older comedies like Dumb and Dumber, the Back to the Future trilogy, and The House Bunny, as well as a more recent Kevin Hart flick, Night School.
Earlier this summer, Netflix also released a pair of original comedies, Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F and Hit Man, if you’ve already seen the older flicks too many times. Fortunately, you have a lot of options to pick from in our roundup of the best comedies on Netflix right now.
We’ve also curated guides to the best comedies on Hulu, the best romantic comedies on Netflix, and the best rom-coms on Hulu if you’re looking for additional recommendations.
Dumb and Dumber (1994) [New]
Metacritic: 41%
IMDb: 7.3/10
Rated: PG-13
Duration: 107m
Genre: Comedy
Stars: Jim Carrey, Jeff Daniels, Lauren Holly
Directed by: Peter Farrelly
Although Dumb and Dumber was released when Jim Carrey was still establishing himself as a movie star, this film features the actor near his comedic peak as he inhabits the role of Lloyd Christmas. His co-star, Jeff Daniels, is also hilariously stupid as Harry Dunne. Neither Harry nor Lloyd ever seem to realize how dim they are, and that just makes their antics funnier.
After Lloyd drives Mary Swanson (Lauren Holly) to the airport via his job as a limo driver, he becomes hopelessly infatuated with her. He then convinces Harry to come with him on a cross-country trip to return Mary’s briefcase, which she left at the airport. What they don’t realize is that they’ve stumbled upon a plot to steal the ransom for Mary’s kidnapped husband, and the crooks are willing to kill to get the money in Mary’s briefcase.
Back to the Future (1985) [New]
Metacritic: 87%
IMDb: 8.5/10
Rated: PG
Duration: 116m
Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Science Fiction
Stars: Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Crispin Glover
Directed by: Robert Zemeckis
The reason why Back to the Future has endured for nearly four decades is that it works equally well as a comedy as it does as a sci-fi film. Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox in a career-defining role) is a teenager in 1985 who is friends with the local mad scientist, Emmett “Doc” Brown (Christopher Lloyd). After Doc Brown creates a time travel machine inside of a DeLorean, Marty has to use the car to escape a deadly situation.
Marty emerges in 1955 and quickly threatens his own existence by disrupting the personal history of his parents, Lorraine Baines (Lea Thompson) and George McFly (Crispin Glover). Even if a younger Doc Brown can get Marty back to 1985, he won’t ever have existed if he can’t get George and Lorraine to fall in love.
Night School (2018) [New]
Metacritic: 43%
IMDb: 5.6/10
Rated: PG-13
Duration: 111m
Genre: Comedy
Stars: Kevin Hart, Tiffany Haddish, Rob Riggle
Directed by: Malcolm D. Lee
Borderlands star Kevin Hart headlines Night School as Teddy Walker, a guy who has coasted through life despite never finishing high school. But just when Teddy is on the verge of having everything he ever wanted, his job goes up in flames and his lack of education is keeping him from landing a new gig.
Teddy is also desperate to hold on to his wealthy girlfriend, Lisa King (Megalyn Echikunwoke), and to keep her in the dark about his financial setback. That’s why Teddy goes back to his old high school for night school classes run by Carrie Carter (Tiffany Haddish). Teddy’s very good at making friends with his fellow outcasts in the class, but if he wants to rebuild his life, then he’ll need to get serious about his education.
The House Bunny (2008) [New]
Metacritic: 43%
IMDb: 5.5/10
Rated: PG-13
Duration: 97m
Genre: Romance, Comedy
Stars: Anna Faris, Colin Hanks, Emma Stone
Directed by: Fred Wolf
Anna Faris goes from the Playboy Mansion to a sorority house in the cult comedy The House Bunny. Shelley Darlingson (Faris) doesn’t realize that she’s been tricked into leaving her life of luxury behind, and she just wants to find a place that will accept her. What she finds is Zeta house, a collection of socially awkward college girls including Natalie Sandler (Emma Stone) and Mona Rita (Kat Dennings).
It turns out that Shelley has a lot that she can teach the girls about attracting men, but she needs some help courting Oliver Hauser (Colin Hanks), a regular guy who isn’t just attracted to Shelley for her beauty. Unfortunately for Shelley, her newfound success with the Zetas earns her a few enemies on campus too, and they want to shut down the sorority for good.
Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F (2024)
Metacritic: 55%
IMDb: 6.5/10
Rated: R
Duration: 118m
Genre: Action, Comedy, Crime
Stars: Eddie Murphy, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Taylour Paige
Directed by: Mark Molloy
It only took 30 years, but the fourth Beverly Hills Cop movie has arrived on Netflix. Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F brings Eddie Murphy back to one of his most iconic roles for the first time since 1994, as his reputation for causing trouble comes back to haunt him. Axel’s daughter, Jane Saunders (Taylour Paige), is estranged from him, but as soon as he hears that she’s in trouble, he’s on the first plane to Beverly Hills.
The actual Beverly Hills cops are less than happy to see Axel back in town. The lone exception is Jane’s ex-boyfriend, Detective Bobby Abbott (Joseph Gordon-Levitt). It’s a good thing too, because Axel needs someone to watch his back as he manages to alienate the city’s other cops in record time.
Uncle Buck (1989)
Metacritic: 51%
IMDb: 7.1/10
Rated: PG
Duration: 100m
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Family
Stars: John Candy, Jean Louisa Kelly, Gaby Hoffmann
Directed by: John Hughes
Uncle Buck is one of director John Hughes’ lesser-known comedies, but it does feature a good showcase for the late comedy legend John Candy in the title role. Candy plays Buck Russell, the unreliable brother of Bob Russell (Garrett M. Brown), who is called upon to watch his children after the latter and his wife, Cindy (Elaine Bromka), have to leave town for a family emergency.
Buck quickly bonds with Miles (Macaulay Culkin) and Maizy (Gaby Hoffmann), but the oldest daughter, Tia (Jean Louisa Kelly), is very resistant to his charms. By looking after his brother’s kids, Buck strains his relationship with his girlfriend, Chanice Kobolowski (Amy Madigan). And now, Buck needs to decide what he really wants out of life.
Serial Mom (1994)
Metacritic: 64%
IMDb: 6.8/10
Rated: R
Duration: 94m
Genre: Comedy, Crime
Stars: Kathleen Turner, Sam Waterston, Ricki Lake
Directed by: John Waters
John Waters’ Serial Mom doesn’t pretend to be anything that it isn’t. The name alone practically guarantees that this will be a campy comedy, and it is. Kathleen Turner stars as Beverly Sutphin, the mother of Chip (Matthew Lillard) and Misty (Ricki Lake), and the wife of Eugene Sutphin (Sam Waterston). Eugene’s not necessarily the brightest guy on the block, but even he’s noticed that anyone who has crossed his family ends up dead.
Beverly is soon the prime suspect in all of the killings, even as Eugene and their kids try to keep her from murdering their family friends. It seems like this town’s not big enough for a prolific serial killer with mental issues, but Beverly is going to fight to keep her family intact.
Easy A (2010)
Metacritic: 73%
IMDb: 7.0/10
Rated: PG-13
Duration: 93m
Genre: Comedy
Stars: Emma Stone, Penn Badgley, Amanda Bynes
Directed by: Will Gluck
Looking back at Easy A, it seems like the most-obvious thing ever that Emma Stone (Poor Things) was going to be a major star. She just effortlessly carries the movie as Olive Penderghast, a high school student who is unjustly maligned for sleeping with a guy in college. The irony is that Olive didn’t sleep with anyone, but she sees a chance to benefit from her new bad girl reputation.
Essentially, Olive accepts bribes in return for letting guys say that they slept with her. At first, it works out really well for her. But as time goes on, Olive’s rep is hurting her friendships and her chance to be with Todd (Penn Badgley). And none of the guys who Olive lied for are willing to admit the truth and help her out in return.
Hit Man (2024)
Metacritic: 83%
IMDb: 7.4/10
Rated: R
Duration: 115m
Genre: Comedy, Romance, Crime
Stars: Glen Powell, Adria Arjona, Austin Amelio
Directed by: Richard Linklater
Everyone has a calling in life. In Richard Linklater’s Hit Man, Gary Johnson (Glen Powell) has found his as a fake assassin who is used by the police to nab people who want to hire him to commit murder. Gary uses this gig as an excuse to improv different hit man personas, and profile his would-be clients.
The one client who gives Gary pause is Maddy Masters (Adria Arjona), a woman who wants her husband dead so she can escape her domestic strife. Gary refuses to spring his trap on Maddy, much to the anger and confusion of his police contacts. Gary also has to stay in one of his fake personas as he starts courting Maddy, which is just an invitation for disaster.
A Million Ways to Die in the West (2014)
Metacritic: 44%
IMDb: 6.1/10
Rated: R
Duration: 116m
Genre: Comedy, Western
Stars: Seth MacFarlane, Charlize Theron, Liam Neeson
Directed by: Seth MacFarlane
Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane directed, co-wrote, and stars in A Million Ways To Die in the West. MacFarlane plays Albert Stark, a sheepherder whose refusal to fight in a duel causes him to lose his girlfriend, Louise (Amanda Seyfried). However, Albert’s good nature soon wins him a new love interest, Anna Barnes-Leatherwood (Charlize Theron).
When Albert is challenged to another duel, Anna takes a week to teach him how to shoot before fixing the contest in his favor. Unfortunately for both Anna and Albert, her husband is a notorious bandit named Clinch Leatherwood (Liam Neeson), who is out to kill any man who dares to get close to his wife. This movie also features comedic cameos featuring characters from other films. We won’t spoil their identities, but trust us, you won’t miss them.
The Breakfast Club (1985)
Metacritic: 66%
IMDb: 7.8/10
Rated: R
Duration: 98m
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Stars: Emilio Estevez, Judd Nelson, Molly Ringwald
Directed by: John Hughes
It’s hard for any movie to be any more ’80s than The Breakfast Club, which was one of the late John Hughes’ signature films. This movie, which helped birth the Brat Pack, focuses on a group of teenagers who are forced to attend Saturday detention. Under the glare of Vice Principal Richard Vernon (Paul Gleason), Andrew Clark (Emilio Estevez), Claire Standish (Molly Ringwald), Brian Johnson (Anthony Michael Hall), Allison Reynolds (Ally Sheedy), and John Bender (Judd Nelson) attempt to pass the time.
As soon as Vernon leaves them alone, this unlikely group of students finds that they have a lot in common as they start to bond. Each of the kids has a coming of age arc over the course of the film. That may be why The Breakfast Club is so beloved nearly four decades after its release.
No Hard Feelings (2023)
Metacritic: 59%
IMDb: 6.4/10
Rated: R
Duration: 104m
Genre: Comedy, Romance
Stars: Jennifer Lawrence, Andrew Barth Feldman, Laura Benanti
Directed by: Gene Stupnitsky
What kind of woman answers a Craigslist ad promising money from wealthy parents in return for dating their awkward son? Why, that would be Jennifer Lawrence’s character in No Hard Feelings. Lawrence plays Maddie Barker, a woman in her early 30s who is on the verge of losing everything she has, including her home and her car.
Unfortunately for Maddie, dating 19-year-old Percy Becker (newcomer Andrew Barth Feldman) may be next to impossible. He seems impervious to her charms and even afraid of intimacy. For Maddie, it’s just a job, but she also hasn’t thought about what will happen if Percy ever learns the reason she pursued him.
Hot Tub Time Machine (2010)
Metacritic: 63%
IMDb: 6.4/10
Rated: R
Duration: 101m
Genre: Science Fiction, Comedy, Adventure
Stars: John Cusack, Craig Robinson, Rob Corddry
Directed by: Steve Pink
It’s a rare movie that has a title that gets right to the point of its high concept. There is indeed a Hot Tub Time Machine in this film, but this is more of a comedy than a sci-fi story. In the aftermath of a suicide attempt by Lou Dorchen (Rob Corddry), his friends Adam Yates (John Cusack) and Nick Webber-Agnew (Craig Robinson), decide to take him to the Colorado resort where they vacationed decades earlier. Adam’s nephew, Jacob Yates (Clark Duke), also accompanies them.
Once the group accidentally turns a hot tub into a time machine, everyone except Jacob finds themselves back in their 1986 bodies. And while the guys realize that history has to be maintained, the temptation to fix their past mistakes may prove to be too difficult to resist.
Fatherhood (2021)
Metacritic: 53%
IMDb: 6.6/10
Rated: PG-13
Duration: 109m
Genre: Drama, Comedy
Stars: Kevin Hart, Melody Hurd, Alfre Woodard
Directed by: Paul Weitz
In Fatherhood, Kevin Hart ditches the four-letter-word shtick (for the most part) in favor of a role that allows him to deliver some humanity in a warm and embracing way. After the passing of his wife, Matt (Hart) is determined to do everything in his power to give their daughter the life she deserves. As any parent can attest to, raising a child can be the most beautiful adventure of your life … but also a never-ending nightmare, complete with diapers, saving for college, and any number of unexpected, overbearing situations. While not reinventing the wheel by any means, Fatherhood lands its laughs with kindness and compassion for its characters.
The Polka King (2017)
Metacritic: 65%
IMDb: 5.9/10
Rated: PG-13
Duration: 95m
Genre: Comedy
Stars: Jack Black, Jenny Slate, Jason Schwartzman
Directed by: Maya Forbes
The Polka King stars Jack Black as the ever-off-kilter Jan Lewan, a polka band leader who has dreams of making it big in America. Leaning on the love, support, and cold hard cash of his dedicated fans, Jan launches a Ponzi scheme to grow the funding for his polka-flavored empire. But as the government starts closing in on his exploitive financial gains, the figurative walls start closing in too, as thousands of invested dollars evolve into millions. A rags-to-riches narrative with a “fall from grace” backbone, The Polka King leans heavily on the idiosyncratic chops of Jack Black, a calling card talent that does a pretty great job at portraying Jan Lewan, a real-life Ponzi devotee and polka extraordinaire.
Between Two Ferns: The Movie (2019)
Metacritic: 59%
IMDb: 6.1/10
Rated: R
Duration: 82m
Genre: Comedy
Stars: Zach Galifianakis, Lauren Lapkus, Ryan Gaul
Directed by: Scott Aukerman
Between Two Ferns: The Movie goes for a meta approach, treating the Between Two Ferns web series as a cultural sensation that bumbling host Zach Galifianakis has no choice but to rescue. After getting recognition from comedic content host Funny or Die, platform-helmer Will Ferrell pitches Zach the deal of a lifetime: shoot 10 celebrity interviews in two weeks and become president of Funny or Die. Thus, the infamously clueless TV personality hits the road to chase his dreams of true stardom. Leaning on the many awkward strengths of the series it’s based upon, Between Two Ferns: The Movie manages to deliver plenty of laughs and a handful of ultra-cringeworthy moments, too.
Metal Lords (2022)
Rated: R
Duration: 97m
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Music
Stars: Jaeden Martell, Isis Hainsworth, Adrian Greensmith
Directed by: Peter Sollett
Game of Thrones co-creator D.B. Weiss is making his Netflix debut as the writer of a new rock comedy, Metal Lords. Within the film, high school students Kevin Schlieb (Jaeden Martell) and Hunter Sylvester (Adrian Greensmith) form their own heavy metal band even though they don’t quite have the talent to work as a duo. A new student, Emily Spector (Isis Hainsworth), may be just what the band needs. However, personality conflicts between the trio threaten to tear them apart before the big battle of the bands.
Vampires vs. the Bronx (2020)
Metacritic: 76%
IMDb: 5.7/10
Rated: PG-13
Duration: 86m
Genre: Comedy, Horror
Stars: Jaden Michael, Gerald W. Jones III, Gregory Diaz IV
Directed by: Oz Rodriguez
Vampires vs. the Bronx may have skipped a theatrical release, but this Netflix original has earned its place on this list. As the title implies, gentrification isn’t the only evil thing to worry about, as Miguel Martinez (Jaden Michael) and his friends, Bobby Carter (Gerald W. Jones III) and Luis Acosta (Gregory Diaz IV), discover that the pale Europeans taking over the neighborhood literally want to suck out their blood. Realizing that the vampires are real and proving it are two different matters. The only guide these kids have to fighting vamps is the original Blade movie. But when push comes to shove, the people of the Bronx aren’t going to let some creatures of the night take their blood — or their homes.
A Futile and Stupid Gesture (2018)
Metacritic: 55%
IMDb: 6.7/10
Rated: TV-MA
Genre: Comedy
Cast: Will Forte, Domhnall Gleeson, Martin Mull
This Netflix original movie tends to get buried under more high-profile releases, but A Futile and Stupid Gesture is a strongly constructed comedy biopic about Douglas Kenney (Bodkin‘s Will Forte), the co-founder of National Lampoon. Martin Mull co-stars as an older Doug while looking back at his career with his comedy partner-in-crime, Henry Beard (Domhnall Gleeson). Together, Douglas and Henry helped revolutionize comedy, and also paved the way for Animal House. But Doug’s struggle with addiction destroys nearly all of his relationships in the process. A very talented supporting cast including Joel McHale, Ed Helms, Matt Lucas, Thomas Lennon, Rick Glassman, and more also play some comedy legends who came to prominence thanks to Doug and Henry. This is a story that needed to be told, even though Doug’s legacy has largely been forgotten.
Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975)
Metacritic: 91%
IMDb: 8.2/10
Rated: PG
Duration: 91m
Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy
Stars: Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Eric Idle, Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones, Michael Palin
Directed by: Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones
What is the airspeed of an unladen swallow? How do you tell if someone is a witch? And if you come across a rabbit at the entrance of a cave, how fast do you run and why aren’t you running already? All of these questions and more can be at least partially answered only with the 1975 comedy classic Monty Python and the Holy Grail. The second feature film made by the legendary cast of Monty Python’s Flying Circus, Holy Grail is absolutely mandatory for any fan of swords and sorcery fantasy, comedy, or any kind of movie that keeps you laughing so hard from start to finish that you’ll never stop to consider whether or not it makes any sense (SPOILER: it does not).
Dolemite Is My Name (2019)
Metacritic: 76%
IMDb: 7.2/10
Rated: R
Duration: 118m
Genre: Drama, Comedy, History
Stars: Eddie Murphy, Keegan-Michael Key, Mike Epps
Directed by: Craig Brewer
All hail the return of Eddie Murphy! Murphy plays Rudy Ray Moore in this Netflix original. Moore was a washed-up musician who transformed himself into the 1970’s blaxploitation character named Dolemite, becoming a cult star in the process. An ode to extremely independent filmmaking with a subtler touch than Bowfinger, this film features additional, outstanding performances from Wesley Snipes, The Holdovers star Da’Vine Joy Randolph, and Keegan-Michael Key.
Life of Brian (1979)
Metacritic: 77%
IMDb: 8/10
Rated: R
Duration: 94m
Genre: Comedy
Stars: Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam
Directed by: Terry Jones
A person doesn’t truly love Monty Python unless they love Life of Brian. Well, and Flying Circus. There’s much more to Monty Python than Holy Grail. While Grail is the better-known film, Life of Brian is more ambitious, cynical, and downright crazier for a very simple reason: It parodies Jesus Christ rather than King Arthur. Well, Christ’s neighbor, Brian Cohen, played by Graham Chapman. The film follows a case of mistaken identity as Brian is treated as a prophet, blasphemer, and enemy of the state in a series of events meant to skewer the Bible. It was, needless to say, not popular with the Church upon its release, but it’s still darn funny and encourages everyone to “Always Look On the Bright Side of Life.”
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Can’t find what you want on Netflix? Fortunately, we’ve also rounded up the best comedies on Amazon Prime Video and the best comedies on Hulu.