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The best comedies on Netflix right now

Glen Powell and Adria Arjona in Hit Man.
Netflix

Netflix is overdue for an influx of classic comedies with Animal House, Repo Man, Blue Streak, Top Secret!, and Beverly Hills Cop all leaving in June. That’s a lot of good or even great comedies to lose in a single month, and not even the imminent arrival of Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F in July can make up for that.

In the meantime, Netflix has debuted Hit Man, a new original movie starring Glen Powell. Additionally, A Million Ways To Die in the West and the 1980s classic The Breakfast Club should keep everyone laughing until our next update of the best comedies on Netflix.

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.

Recently added to Netflix

Hit Man (2024)

Hit Man
83%
7.4/10
r
115m
Genre
Comedy, Romance, Crime
Stars
Glen Powell, Adria Arjona, Austin Amelio
Directed by
Richard Linklater
Watch on Netflix

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)

A Million Ways to Die in the West
44%
6.1/10
r
116m
Genre
Comedy, Western
Stars
Seth MacFarlane, Charlize Theron, Liam Neeson
Directed by
Seth MacFarlane
Watch on Netflix

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)

The Breakfast Club
66%
7.8/10
r
98m
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Stars
Emilio Estevez, Judd Nelson, Molly Ringwald
Directed by
John Hughes
Watch on Netflix

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.

Dumb and Dumber To (2014)

Dumb and Dumber To
36%
5.6/10
r
110m
Genre
Comedy
Stars
Jim Carrey, Jeff Daniels, Laurie Holden
Directed by
Bobby Farrelly, Peter Farrelly
Watch on Netflix

There are idiots and there are complete idiots, but no idiots have ever been more complete than Lloyd Christmas (Jim Carrey) and Harry Dunne (Jeff Daniels) are when they’re together. Plus, it’s hard not to admire the misspelled title of Dumb and Dumber To for its commitment to the bit. It’s also debatable about which of these numbskulls is actually stupider than the other one.

Twenty years after the first film, Lloyd learns that Harry needs a kidney transplant, and he may be able to get one from Penny Pinchelow (Rachel Melvin), a young woman who may be Harry’s daughter. Lloyd accompanies Harry on the trip to find Penny for purely selfish reasons, but even he couldn’t have expected them to stumble upon another murder plot. The target is Penny’s adoptive father, Dr. Bernard Pinchelow (Steve Tom), and if Lloyd and Harry aren’t careful, they’ll wind up dead too.

Liar Liar (1997)

Liar Liar
70%
6.9/10
pg-13
86m
Genre
Comedy
Stars
Jim Carrey, Maura Tierney, Justin Cooper
Directed by
Tom Shadyac
Watch on Netflix

Liar Liar is one of Jim Carrey’s high-concept comedies from the 1990s that let him beat himself up, literally, with his physical comedy. Carrey plays Fletcher Reede, an exceptional lawyer and a pretty terrible ex-husband to Audrey Reede (The Iron Claw‘s Maura Tierney), who keeps letting down their son, Max (Justin Cooper). After Fletcher skips Max’s birthday, his son makes a wish that his father could only tell the truth for 24 hours.

By the time Fletcher realizes that he’s been zapped by his son’s wish, he’s already knee-deep in one of the most important divorce cases of his career. Fletcher’s entire bag of tricks as a lawyer is his ability to bend the truth, and now, he has to win by being completely honest.

Beverly Hills Ninja (1997)

Beverly Hills Ninja
27%
5.6/10
pg-13
88m
Genre
Comedy, Action
Stars
Chris Farley, Nicollette Sheridan, Robin Shou
Directed by
Dennis Dugan
Watch on Netflix

Beverly Hills Ninja was one of the last films made by Saturday Night Live legend Chris Farley, who once again elevated his brand of slapstick comedy in this flick. Farley plays Haru, the adoptive son of a ninja clan who fails to live up to predictions that he would become a great warrior.

Regardless, Haru does the best that he can when a woman named Sally Jones (Nicollette Sheridan) comes to the clan seeking help in stopping the illegal activities of Martin Tanley (Nathaniel Parker). Without asking permission, Haru travels to Beverly Hills to assist Sally, where he quickly befriends a local bellhop, Joey Washington (Chris Rock). Yet, Haru is in way over his head, even with his adoptive brother, Gobei (Robin Shou), attempting to watch his back in secret.

No Hard Feelings (2023)

No Hard Feelings
59%
6.4/10
r
104m
Genre
Comedy, Romance
Stars
Jennifer Lawrence, Andrew Barth Feldman, Laura Benanti
Directed by
Gene Stupnitsky
Watch on Netflix

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)

Hot Tub Time Machine
63%
6.4/10
r
101m
Genre
Science Fiction, Comedy, Adventure
Stars
John Cusack, Craig Robinson, Rob Corddry
Directed by
Steve Pink
Watch on Netflix

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)

Fatherhood
53%
6.6/10
pg-13
109m
Genre
Drama, Comedy
Stars
Kevin Hart, Melody Hurd, Alfre Woodard
Directed by
Paul Weitz
Watch on Netflix
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)

The Polka King
65%
5.9/10
pg-13
95m
Genre
Comedy
Stars
Jack Black, Jenny Slate, Jason Schwartzman
Directed by
Maya Forbes
Watch on Netflix
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.
The Polka King | Official Trailer [HD] | Netflix

Between Two Ferns: The Movie (2019)

Between Two Ferns: The Movie
59%
6.1/10
r
82m
Genre
Comedy
Stars
Zach Galifianakis, Lauren Lapkus, Ryan Gaul
Directed by
Scott Aukerman
Watch on Netflix
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)

Metal Lords
r
97m
Genre
Comedy, Drama, Music
Stars
Jaeden Martell, Isis Hainsworth, Adrian Greensmith
Directed by
Peter Sollett
Watch on Netflix
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)

Vampires vs. the Bronx
76%
5.7/10
pg-13
86m
Genre
Comedy, Horror
Stars
Jaden Michael, Gerald W. Jones III, Gregory Diaz IV
Directed by
Oz Rodriguez
Watch on Netflix
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.
VAMPIRES VS THE BRONX | Official Trailer | Netflix

A Futile and Stupid Gesture (2018)

A Futile and Stupid Gesture
55%
6.7/10
tv-ma
Genre
Comedy
Stars
Will Forte, Domhnall Gleeson, Martin Mull
Watch on Netflix
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)

Monty Python and the Holy Grail
91%
8.2/10
pg
91m
Genre
Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy
Stars
Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Eric Idle, Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones, Michael Palin
Directed by
Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones
Watch on Netflix
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 CircusHoly 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)

Dolemite Is My Name
76%
7.2/10
r
118m
Genre
Drama, Comedy, History
Stars
Eddie Murphy, Keegan-Michael Key, Mike Epps
Directed by
Craig Brewer
Watch on Netflix
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.
Dolemite Is My Name | Official Trailer | Netflix

Life of Brian (1979)

Life of Brian
77%
8/10
r
94m
Genre
Comedy
Stars
Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam
Directed by
Terry Jones
Watch on Netflix
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.”

Related Topics: Netflix | Hulu | Amazon Prime | More Streaming Services

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.

Editors' Recommendations

Movie images and data from:
Blair Marnell

Blair Marnell has been an entertainment journalist for over 15 years. His bylines have appeared in Wizard Magazine, Geek Monthly, SYFY Wire, Superhero Hype, Collider, DC Universe, and the official sites for Star Trek and Marvel. He also lends his pop culture expertise to Digital Trends on a variety of TV, movie, and streaming features.

Nick Perry

Nick Perry is a freelance writer who bounced from Hollywood to Silicon Beach to pajama pants. His work has been featured on Digital Trends, Good Morning America, Entrepreneur, Mashable, and more media outlets.

Michael Bizzaco

Michael Bizzaco has been writing about and working with consumer tech for well over a decade, writing about everything from A/V components and smart home devices to encryption software, cloud backup platforms, search engine tools, and more. He has written for Digital Trends for over three years, covering entertainment content, A/V, and smart home devices.

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