When the world feels bleak, we could all use a little pick-me-up. Fortunately, laughs are just a few clicks away thanks to your Netflix subscription. With a massive collection of comedy films — both original and from other studios — Netflix is one of the best places to get your comedy fix. But with a library that changes all the time and an overwhelming selection, it can feel like a challenge to get movie night started. To help you out, we’ve gone through all the bits, gimmicks, and gags to bring you the best comedies on Netflix right now.
We’ve also curated a guide 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.
Recently added to Netflix
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Mean Girls2004 -
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Dope2015
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Mean Girls (2004) new
97m
Genre
Comedy
Stars
Lindsay Lohan, Rachel McAdams, Tina Fey
Directed by
Mark Waters
In one of the most quotable comedies of the early 2000s, Lindsay Lohan stars as Cady Heron, a teenager raised in the African bush by her zoologist parents who moves to the U.S. just in time for high school. The formerly home-schooled girl insists — against her parents’ wishes — to go to public school so she can have a normal teenage experience. But Cady finds she’s not remotely cut out for the social rules of teenage girls. At first ridiculed and ostracized, Cady is soon taken under the wing of queen bee Regina George (Rachel McAdams) who proves to be a far more psychologically manipulative mentor than Cady could have imagined.
Bridget Jones's Diary (2001) new
97m
Genre
Comedy, Romance, Drama
Stars
Renée Zellweger, Colin Firth, Hugh Grant
Directed by
Sharon Maguire
Renée Zellweger stars as the titular Bridget Jones, a 32-year-old woman who makes a New Year’s pact to finally take control of her life. To do so, she’ll keep a diary to hold herself accountable. But when Bridget finds herself in the middle of a love triangle, her year of accountability year becomes the most provocative, erotic, and hilarious time of her life.
Dope (2015) new
103m
Genre
Crime, Drama, Comedy
Stars
Shameik Moore, Kiersey Clemons, Tony Revolori
Directed by
Rick Famuyiwa
This thoughtful, compelling comedy is told from the perspective of drug users, sellers, and law enforcement in Inglewood, California. At the center of it all is Malcolm (Shameik Moore), a geek who is determined to get into Harvard despite the tough neighborhood he grew up in. But when Malcolm is invited to a big underground party, he can’t resist the chance to transform from being a geek to being dope. Unfortunately, it’s not that simple.
Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986) new
103m
Genre
Comedy
Stars
Matthew Broderick, Alan Ruck, Mia Sara
Directed by
John Hughes
This classic has never been more timeless. More than ever, we all need to take a page out of Ferris Bueller’s (Matthew Broderick) handbook and stop and look around once in a while so life doesn’t fly by. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off is literally about high school students playing hooky one day at the end of their senior year. Ferris and his friends head to downtown Chicago to see the sights and just experience the joy of being young and wild and free. If you’re looking for pure escapism, it doesn’t get much better than Ferris Bueller.
Fatherhood (2021)
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)
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)
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.
Dumb and Dumber (1994)
107m
Genre
Comedy
Stars
Jim Carrey, Jeff Daniels, Lauren Holly
Directed by
Peter Farrelly
Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels star as lovable idiots Harry and Lloyd in this beloved comedy. Nothing seems to be going right for Harry and Lloyd, so when Mary Swanson (Lauren Holly) — Lloyd’s crush — leaves a briefcase at the airport, the boys pack up their dog car and drive from Providence to Aspen to return it to her. Unfortunately, they soon find themselves fighting each other for Mary’s heart as a pair of killers track their them down.
The Girl Next Door (2004)
110m
Genre
Comedy, Romance
Stars
Emile Hirsch, Elisha Cuthbert, Timothy Olyphant
Directed by
Luke Greenfield
Matthew (Emile Hirsch) is the perfect kid. Ultra-motivated, overachieving, and always staying within the rules, Matthew has set himself up for a successful life once he graduates high school. But when the gorgeous, slightly older Danielle (Elisha Cuthbert) moves in next door, Matthew becomes a little distracted. Especially when he discovers Danielle is a one-time porn star who is in trouble with shady characters.
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989)
97m
Genre
Comedy
Stars
Chevy Chase, Beverly D'Angelo, Juliette Lewis
Directed by
Jeremiah S. Chechik
National Lampoon’s classic vacationing family, the Griswolds, plan for a wonderful holiday celebration. But nothing can ever go smoothly for Clark (Chevy Chase), Ellen (Beverly D’Angelo), and the kids. Clark’s constant bad luck is taken to new levels thanks to his obnoxious family. But Clark keeps on pushing through in the faint hope of seeing his Christmas bonus arrive soon.
Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle (2004)
88m
Genre
Comedy, Adventure
Stars
John Cho, Kal Penn, Paula Garcés
Directed by
Danny Leiner
You can tell it’s been nearly two decades since Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle came out by the fact that marijuana use is largely legalized in many states. But in 2004, Harold Lee (John Cho) and Kumar Patel (Kal Penn) are kind of breaking the law by getting high on marijuana and then going out for some tasty White Castle burgers. It seems like fate throws everything at the two friends to keep them from their goal, including a crazed and very high Neil Patrick Harris (portraying himself). Along the way, Harold has to find the courage to approach his crush, Maria Perez (Paula Garcés), while Kumar has to put his medical knowledge to good use and maybe grow up a little.
Last Action Hero (1993)
130m
Genre
Adventure, Fantasy, Action, Comedy, Family
Stars
Arnold Schwarzenegger, Austin O'Brien, Bridgette Wilson-Sampras
Directed by
John McTiernan
Last Action Hero is an intentionally dumb action flick that makes for a surprisingly fun comedy, especially when it pokes fun at its star, Arnold Schwarzenegger, at the height of his action stardom. The film features Austin O’Brien as Danny Madigan, a kid who comes into possession of a magic movie ticket that takes him into the cinematic world of his hero, Jack Slater (Schwarzenegger). Danny’s unlikely partnership with Jack inadvertently allows a movie villain named Benedict (Charles Dance) to cross over into the real world with other bad guys in order to kill Schwarzenegger and prevent any further Jack Slater films from being made.
You've Got Mail (1998)
119m
Genre
Comedy, Romance
Stars
Tom Hanks, Meg Ryan, Greg Kinnear
Directed by
Nora Ephron
Because societal norms have changed, some of the actions by Joe Fox (Tom Hanks) come off as stalker-ish toward Kathleen Kelly (Meg Ryan). Or, at the very least, borderline immoral. But we prefer to think of You’ve Got Mail in the context of the era in which it was released. Back then, the internet was still largely a novelty, as Kathleen and Joe anonymously exchanged increasingly flirty messages. In their daily lives, Joe and Kathleen are business rivals, and his larger bookstore may soon put her shop out of business. Joe is the first to discover that Kathleen is his pen pal, and he struggles with how to proceed before trying to win her heart both as his alter ego and as himself.
Metal Lords (2022)
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.
Sorry to Bother You (2018)
112m
Genre
Fantasy, Science Fiction, Comedy
Stars
Lakeith Stanfield, Tessa Thompson, Jermaine Fowler
Directed by
Boots Riley
A wacky, modern-day fantasy, LaKeith Stanfield stars as Cassius Green, an Oakland telemarketer who discovers a magical key that leads him to material glory. But as his career takes off, his friends and coworkers begin a simultaneous protest against corporate oppression and make a stand for the value of their labor. Cassius continues to fall under the spell of his company’s hard-partying CEO, who keeps offering him more money and perks just so long as he helps to quell his friends’ unrest.
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Not Another Teen Movie (2001)
89m
Genre
Comedy
Stars
Chyler Leigh, Chris Evans, Jaime Pressly
Directed by
Joel Gallen
A send-up of the teen rom-coms and horror films of the ’90s, Not Another Teen Movie isn’t a classic by any means, but it’s a worthwhile parody for ’90s kids. From She’s All That to Varsity Blues, Not Another Teen Movie takes extremely obvious aim at the movies you’re now embarrassed you loved so much as a teenager. Janey Briggs (Chyler Leigh) is an aspiring artist who, because of her glasses, ponytail, and paint-covered overalls is deemed an outcast at her high school. So much so that football star Jake Wyler (Chris Evans) makes a bet that he can turn Janey into a prom queen, setting off a series of events that exactly mirrors every ’90s teen movie you ever saw.
Vampires vs. the Bronx (2020)
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.
Hail, Caesar! (2016)
106m
Genre
Comedy, Drama, Mystery
Stars
Josh Brolin, George Clooney, Scarlett Johansson, Channing Tatum, Frances McDormand
Directed by
Joel Coen, Ethan Coen
Yes, it’s another Coen brothers movie on the list. That’s because they’re very good at making funny movies, even with a dash of drama. Hail, Caesar! takes place in the ’50s and puts the spotlight on a real Hollywood fixer, Eddie Mannix (Josh Brolin), and puts him through a wild fictionalized story that includes a Communist abduction of movie star Baird Whitlock (George Clooney). There are a lot of familiar faces in this film, including Scarlett Johansson as a starlet, DeeAnna Moran, whose pregnancy causes some potential PR problems. It’s all Eddie can do to keep his head above water during the constant insanity in his life. But you can laugh at him, and with him.
A Futile and Stupid Gesture (2018)
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 (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)
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)
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 and Keegan-Michael Key.
Life of Brian (1979)
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.
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