Skip to main content

3 underrated comedy movies that are perfect to watch for the winter

It may still be cold outside throughout parts of the country, but that doesn’t mean you should be bored. Laughter is the best medicine for the winter blues, so what better way to pass the time than by watching a few underrated comedies from the last 15 years?

There are plenty of movies to watch, of course, but these three comedies are sure to make you forget the cold with their irreverent humor and memorable performances from such great talents as John Cusack, Rachel McAdams, and Resident Alien‘s Alan Tudyk.

Hot Tub Time Machine (2010)

The cast of Hot Tub Time Machine.
MGM

In this film, three friends — Adam (John Cusack), Lou (Rob Corddry), Nick (Craig Robinson) reconnect and find themselves attempting to relive the glory days after suffering several defeats that life has thrown their way. After heading to a once-beloved ski resort, they find it in shambles. While spending time in the hot tub of their hotel, however, the universe kicks things into high gear and sends them, along with Adam’s nephew, Jacob (Clark Duke), back in time to 1986.

Hilariously, the three middle-aged men attempt to relive their formative years at a ski resort teeming with the teens of the ’80s, while Jacob discovers a strange past he never knew. There are lots of ups and downs for these four male misfits, and plenty of chuckles to be had during their misadventures.

Hot Tub Time Machine streaming on Netflix.

Game Night (2018)

Jason Bateman and Rachel McAdams in Game Night.
Warner Bros. Pictures

This gem hit theaters in 2018 and features the comedic chops of Jason Bateman (Arrested Development), Rachel McAdams (The Notebook), Jesse Plemons (Killers of the Flower Moon), and many others. The story revolves around a couple, Max (Bateman) and Annie (McAdams), and their friends who all share a passion for game nights.

One fateful day, however, Max’s super-successful brother, Brooks (Kyle Chandler), enters the picture and treats the group to a game night they’ll never forget: a mock kidnapping/murder mystery that they have to solve. Brooks’ plan goes awry when he is actually kidnapped by some truly bad guys. However, his brother and friends watch and let it happen, thinking it’s all part of the charade. What follows is a night of hilarious discovery and plenty of slapstick comedy, with a memorable ending involving a bad guy and an airplane engine that someone forgot to turn off.

Game Night can be rented or purchased on YouTube.

Tucker and Dale vs. Evil (2010)

Tyler Labine and Alan Tudyk in Tucker and Dale vs. Evil.
Magnet Releasing

This slapstick-horror hybrid evokes the backwoods dread of Sam Raimi’s Evil Dead and combines it with off-the-wall humor to produce one of the most unusual comedies of the last two decades. The film follows two oblivious friends, Tucker (Alan Tudyk) and Dale (Tyler Labine), who are mistaken as murderous hillbillies by a group of vacationing college kids. I hate it when that happens.

Much to the titular duo’s dismay, and to the audience’s delight, Tucker and Dale must defend themselves from these kids and prove they are totally not evil. Tucker and Dale vs. Evil works mainly due to the great chemistry between Tudyk and Labine, who make their simple-minded hicks unlikely heroes to root for.

Tucker and Dale vs Evil is streaming on Peacock.

Editors' Recommendations

Christopher Hinton
Chris is a passionate and creative writer whose abiding fondness for cinema, video games, television, novels, and comic books…
3 sci-fi movies on Peacock you need to watch in May
Vin Diesel and Karl Urban in Riddick.

Peacock does many things well, but its sci-fi section is sorely lacking. The science fiction films on Peacock are almost entirely comprised of knockoff blockbusters or embarrassingly bad B-movies. And instead of having a permanent library of Universal Pictures' sci-fi hits like E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial or Back to the Future, Peacock's best science fiction movies tend to come and go inside of a month.

So for this month, when we say that these are the three sci-fi movies on Peacock that you need to watch in May, it's because they probably won't be around in June! Our first two picks fall into the realm of sci-fi action, while the third stands as a tribute to the late B-movie king Roger Corman.
Riddick (2013)

Read more
3 underrated Amazon Prime Video movies you should watch this weekend (May 17-19)
A man looks at another man in Panic Room.

The fringe benefits of subscribing to Amazon Prime are many, but one of the best is Amazon Prime Video, which gives you access to a whole library of great movies and TV shows. Finding something to watch on Prime Video can range from pretty easy to remarkably difficult. Because streaming interfaces don't always surface the stuff you're looking for, it can be a slog to actually figure out what you want to watch.

We've taken some of the pain out of the process, though, by selecting three underrated gems available on Prime Video that you should check out this weekend.
Knock at the Cabin (2023)
Knock at the Cabin - Official Trailer

Read more
3 action movies on Netflix you need to watch in May 2024
A man aims his gun in The Old Guard.

May marks the start of the summer blockbuster season. While the theatrical slate includes The Fall Guy, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, and Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, Netflix will release its own action blockbuster, Atlas, on May 24. Similar blockbusters currently available for streaming include The Matrix, The Hunger Games, and Extraction.

These films are just the tip of the iceberg for the streamer's action genre. Netflix boasts an impressive library of action and adventure films ready for consumption. Stream these three action movies in May, including a fantasy saga from Gina Prince-Bythewood, a slick Western, and a stoner comedy.
The Old Guard (2020)

Read more