Comedies are meant to make people laugh out loud, with clever beats and great character journeys that make the story feel layered and uplifting. It's often said that writing a drama is easier than writing comedies because determining what people will find hilarious isn't as easy as digging into the dark parts of the human psyche to make something relatable. Comedy is also subjective when we examine that there are people who have dry humor versus those who appreciate more on-the-nose jokes.
Netflix is especially chock-full of great comedies streaming right now, whether they're now classics or newer gems that'll very likely still hold up years from now.
Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022)
Rian Johnson's Knives Out is good, but Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery is even better. A truly excellent whodunnit and an even better comedy, rich with a time-appropriate story that takes place during the COVID-19 pandemic, the film examines a billionaire's role in our world and explores what happens when people have had enough. Since he's more grounded in the role, Daniel Craig's Benoit Blanc's dry humor shines with more nuance here, and stars like Kate Hudson and Kathryn Hahn portray characters viewers love to hate with hilarious remarks that effectively poke fun at the rich.
Derry Girls (2018)
Lisa McGee's Derry Girls is an unmistakable treasure, and one of the best coming-of-age comedies to have ever graced our TV screens. As a series loosely based on The Troubles, the waging arguments between Protestants and Catholics, as well as the teenage woes, never fail to provide ample entertainment. Brimming with the kind of humor that grumpy people could probably relate to best, Derry Girls mixes various personality types in the most deliciously obscure cocktail that delivers the kind of jabs that are both culturally specific and universally easy to relate to.
Wicked Little Letters (2024)
Olivia Colman's range as an actress is a gift that keeps on giving in Hollywood, and thus far, there's nothing quite like the comedy she plays with in Wicked Little Liars. The role of Edith Swan is so different from anyone Colman has played that the period piece is bound to leave a mark for that reason alone. But there's one scene, in particular, toward the end that involves so much cursing, it gloriously puts a Shakespearean monologue to shame and allows Colman's prowess to glisten in the most hilariously obscure and crude manner.
One Day at a Time (2017)
If any cancellation on Netflix still stings, it's One Day at a Time. The underrated and beautifully thoughtful comedy starring Justina Machado, Rita Moreno, Isabella Gomez, and more became a beacon of hope as a solid representation of Latine homes with unbeatable heart and exceptionally relatable humor in every single episode. The sitcom feels like the kind of classic gem that's both genuinely hilarious and unexpectedly wholesome in a way that proves that the team of writers wanted to do right by every line in a way that would feel organic to everyday households. It's one that holds up today, and it's surely one that people will keep turning to years from now as they discover it for the first time.
Big Daddy (1999)
Adam Sandler's filmography is full of outstanding and uproarious comedies, but the quietly mirthful gem we get with Big Daddy still stands out for the equal amount of heart that blends in with the humor. Sandler and the Sprouse twins are a match made in comedy heaven as Sonny is stuck taking care of his roommate's kid after he unexpectedly shows up at their door. Equal parts adorable and laugh-out-loud funny with crass humor that surprisingly works, everything about Big Daddy shines as the type of comedy that's both of its time and surprisingly feels modern.
Reba (2001)
Whether people watched Reba or not, most pop culture aficionados know about the single mom who worked two jobs, loved her kids, and had the heart of a survivor. Both Reba McEntire and the sitcom are iconic for a reason, providing the kind of honest bit of levity that feels relatable whether viewers share similar experiences or not. From Barbara Jean's antics to every superb eye roll that played on the titular character's face, Reba has a way of being funny in the most indescribable sense of the word. It's proof that, as a comedy, sometimes it's not so much about what's said but how it happens that makes countless scenes pop and stand out.
Hit Man (2024)
Richard Linklater's Hit Man isn't just a delicious showcase of Glen Powell's exceptional range, but it's a wildly uproarious ride that has no business being as funny and as sharp as it is. An undercover hit man thrust into an unexpected situation does indeed have all the markings to be awkwardly funny, but it's everything that comes along with the dark thriller that makes it so well-written. The comedy is subtle, yet it's exactly why it pairs so well with the performances and the off-the-wall narrative.
Brooklyn Nine-Nine (2013)
There will never be another Brooklyn Nine-Nine because there will never be another actor whose unbeatable dry wit hit as hard as the late Andre Braugher's. Sharp, thoughtfully inclusive, and remarkably self-aware, the writing on Brooklyn Nine-Nine consistently sticks the landing because all it tries to do is honor its characters and humanity as a whole. Because of this, the show becomes 10 times funnier, allowing the jokes to turn into memes that hold relevance years after the episode premiered. Plus, Andy Samberg's Jake Peralta breaking into an unplanned jam singing "I Want It That Way" by the Backstreet Boys while trying to identify a murderer is a brilliantly clever inclusion of pop culture jabs that feel acutely well-placed.
White Chicks (2004)
There are undoubtedly parts of White Chicks that don't hold up today, given conversations we have about bodies and women, but for the most part, it's a solid feature that's always worth watching for the unexpected laughs it manages to evoke. Still, to this day, countless people associate Vanessa Carlton's "A Thousand Miles" with the film's characters belting the lyrics at the top of their lungs. With an incredible cast, a solid script, and thoroughly fantastic performances, there's a reason it's one of the easiest movies to rewatch.
The Good Place (2016)
Like all Mike Schur comedies, The Good Place is as wholesome as it is hilarious, but there's something especially wild about this afterlife tale following a group of flawed characters. Like Brooklyn Nine-Nine, The Good Place supplies viewers with iconic moments that become the type of memes that people use for years on end. Specifically, we have Eleanor's declaration of the good place being the bad place that consistently surfaces on the internet when something is amiss. Brimming with accurate millennial humor, a merry cast of complex characters, and wildly hilarious antics, The Good Place is a comedy staple for more reasons than one can list.
Where To Watch The 10 Funniest Comedies On Netflix
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