The 32 Best Comedies on Netflix Right Now

Run Time: 1 hr 51 min | Director: Aline Brosh McKenna

Cast: Reese Witherspoon, Ashton Kutcher, Zoe Chao, Jesse Williams

Reese Witherspoon (The Morning Show) stars with Ashton Kutcher in the adorably charming rom-com from Aline Brosh McKenna (The Devil Wears Prada), Your Place or Mine. With a refreshingly simple and easygoing plot, Your Place or Mine explores the opposites-attract trope by following a couple of best friends (Witherspoon and Kutcher) who are the antithesis of each other — even going so far as to live on different coasts. Through entertaining shenanigans, Your Place or Mine provides a feel-good comedy with a stellar supporting cast, including Jesse Williams, Gloria Calderón Kellett (Jane the Virgin), Zoe Chao (The Afterparty), and Tig Notaro. – Yael Tygiel

Run Time: 1 hr 29 min | Director: Jeremy Garelick

Cast: Adam Sandler, Jennifer Aniston, Mark Strong, Adeel Akhtar, John Kani

Murder Mystery 2 stars Adam Sandler (Hustle) and Jennifer Aniston (The Morning Show), reprising their roles from the 2019 film Murder Mystery for a delightful sequel directed by Jeremy Garelick. Following the exciting adventure of the first film, Nick and Audrey (Sandler and Aniston) are struggling to keep their private detective agency afloat when they’re invited into a new mystery at the wedding of their friend The Maharajah, played once again by Adeel Akhtar (Sweet Tooth), who is kidnapped. As their third film together, Sandler and Aniston play off each other seamlessly, revealing their hilarious synchronicity in Murder Mystery 2. – Yael Tygiel

Run Time: 2 hrs 16 min | Director: Noah Baumbach

Cast: Adam Driver, Greta Gerwig, Don Cheadle, Raffey Cassidy

One of the weirdest satires, White Noise is an absurdist dramedy adapted from the 1985 novel by author Don DeLillo. Translated for the big screen by writer/director Noah Baumbach, who is not unfamiliar with unconventional premises and scripts, White Noise is hard to define yet easy to enjoy. White Noise shines with beautiful visuals and unique cinematography, as well as the score from icon Danny Elfman, earning praise for the talent behind the camera as well as in front. Starring Adam Driver and Greta Gerwig, White Noise follows as they and their four children survive a disastrous Airborne Toxic Event. – Yael Tygiel

Run Time: 1 hr 56 min | Director: Shane Black

Cast: Russell Crowe, Ryan Gosling, Angourie Rice, Matt Bomer, Margaret Qualley, Keith David, and Kim Basinger

Between Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang and The Nice Guys, writer/director Shane Black has proven himself to be the king of crackling neo-noir. In The Nice Guys, you have private eye Holland March (Ryan Gosling) and fixer Jackson Healy (Russell Crowe) teaming up to investigate the disappearance of a young woman (Margaret Qualley), but it’s all about how Black plays with genre conventions and film tropes to constantly upend expectations. Gosling has never been funnier, and in an alternate, better universe, The Nice Guys would have been a massive hit and we’d have an amazing comic franchise. As it stands, we only have this movie, so at least we can treasure this outing of March and Healy. – Matt Goldberg

Run Time: 1 hr 57 min | Director: Kenya Barris

Cast: Jonah Hill, Lauren London, Eddie Murphy, Julia Louis-Dreyfus

Jonah Hill and Eddie Murphy (Coming 2 America) star in the hilarious family comedy You People, from director Kenya Barris (Black-ish). Co-written by Barris and Hill, You People brings levity to sensitive topics like race and generational clashes. Although centered around a cute romance, the undeniably stellar cast, including Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Black Panther: Wakanda Forever), Nia Long, Lauren London, and David Duchovny, are the true standouts of You People, bringing the humor themselves instead of relying on what can be a cliche script. Regardless of its shortcomings, You People is entertaining and laugh-out-loud funny. – Yael Tygiel

Run Time: 2 hrs 19 min | Director: Rian Johnson

Cast: Daniel Craig, Edward Norton, Kate Hudson, Kathryn Hahn, Janelle Monáe

Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery is a wonderful second chapter in Rian Johnson’s brilliant collection of modern mystery movies. The director’s true talent is not only in building tension, producing laughs, and capturing interesting visuals but also in his discreet misdirection through uniquely unexpected puzzles and twists. Reprising his role as the clever investigator Benoit Blanc is Daniel Craig (No Time to Die), who heads to Greece with co-stars Edward Norton, Kate Hudson, and Kathryn Hahn (WandaVision). Undeniably captivating in every scene is Janelle Monáe, who pulls double duty in Glass Onion and is ultimately the stand-out of this film. – Yael Tygiel

Run Time: 1 hr 51 min | Director: Amy Poehler

Cast: Amy Poehler, Hadley Robinson, Lauren Tsai, Alycia Pascual-Pena

Based on the novel by Jennifer Mathieu, Moxie is directed by Amy Poehler (Inside Out), who also appears in the film alongside Hadley Robinson, Lauren Tsai, and Alycia Pascual-Pena (Saved by the Bell). Robinson plays Vivian, a shy teenager who, inspired by stories of her mother’s rebellious years, launches an anonymous protest with the support of her friends, confronting her school’s sexism. Poehler’s perspective is clear as a director, allowing the screenplay by Tamara Chestna (Something from Tiffany’s) and Dylan Meyer to speak for itself. Along with a talented young cast and an adorable romantic subplot, Moxie’s empowering message marks the highlight of this film, making it ideal for adolescent audiences. – Yael Tygiel

Run Time: 1 hr 40 min | Director: Pierre Perifel

Cast: Sam Rockwell, Marc Maron, Awkwafina, Craig Robinson, Anthony Ramos, Richard Ayoade, and Zazie Beetz

An animated comedy that also doubles as a heist film, which also features some of the most impressive visuals of the year, The Bad Guys is a lovely surprise that stands out among other animated films. The Bad Guys follows Mr. Wolf (voiced by Sam Rockwell), the leader of “The Bad Guys” robbers, who delight in high-stakes thefts. When the gang gets caught, the group faces rehabilitation, and while they mostly shrug it off, Mr. Wolf considers the possibilities of turning good and how that might be as worthwhile as being bad. The Bad Guys has a style to it that is immediately captivating, and it’s hard to not get caught up in the exciting story of these animal criminals trying to see if they can take a break from being bad. — Ross Bonaime

Run Time: 1 hr 49 min | Director: Phil Lord, Chris Miller

Cast: Channing Tatum, Jonah Hill, Brie Larson, Dave Franco

I’m not sure Phil Lord and Chris Miller ever reached the heights of “well, that shouldn’t have worked but it did” that they reached with their successful animated comedy about Legos. (Also currently on this list!) But wow, they came close with their debut feature, 21 Jump Street, an adaptation that turned the moody late-80s police procedural into a buddy-cop comedy starring Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum. To be clear, this movie should not be this good or this funny, but it just is. Hill and Tatum are Morton Schmidt and Greg Jenko, rookie officers sent undercover at a high school to track down whoever is selling a new drug called HFS. (That’s “Holy Fucking Shit.”) 21 Jump Street is the best modern take on the buddy-cop comedy and not having seen it is a felony in most states [citation needed]. — Vinnie Mancuso

Run Time: 1 hr 58 min | Director: Jennifer Kaytin Robinson

Cast: Camila, Mendes, Maya Hawke, Austin Abrams, Sarah Michelle Gellar

One of Netflix’s newer releases, having just come out on September 16th, Do Revenge brings the black teen comedy of 90s classics like Jawbreaker and Cruel Intentions to a Gen Z audience. When Drea’s (Camila Mendes) boyfriend spreads intimate pictures of her around their elite high school, she swears to wreak havoc on his life. She meets new student Eleanor (Maya Hawke) who has never been able to shed a horrible rumor painting her as a predator, spread by one of their classmates years prior. They take a page from Hitchcock and Highsmith’s book and decide to do each other’s revenge. Do Revenge may not live up to the aforementioned 90s staples, but it does a great job of combining dark humor with valuable life lessons and stars two of Hollywood’s most promising young actresses. – Emma Kiely

Run Time: 1 hr 54 min | Director: Mike Rianda

Cast: Abbi Jacobson, Danny McBride, Maya Rudolph, Mike Rianda, Olivia Colman, Fred Armisen, and Beck Bennett

You’ve seen a zillion animated family comedy movies, but The Mitchells vs. the Machines is undoubtedly one of the best. Produced by Phil Lord and Chris Miller and originally made by Sony Pictures Animation – the studio behind Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse – the film finds a father and daughter struggling to connect, and follows the family as the father decides they should take a road trip to send her off to college where she’s studying to be a filmmaker.Along the way, the robot apocalypse occurs, forcing them to work together to make it through. At every turn The Mitchells vs. the Machines is surprising. It puts in the work so that the emotional scenes hit hard, but it’s also wildly colorful and beautifully artistic as Mike Rianda pushes the boundaries of visual expression. On top of all that, the film is hilarious, bringing to mind the colorful comedy of Lord and Miller’s other films – most notably Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. This movie will have you cackling and crying in equal measure, and it’s one of the best films of 2021 full stop. – Adam Chitwood

Run Time: 1 hr 35 min | Director: Paul King

Cast: Ben Whishaw, Hugh Bonneville, Sally Hawkins, Julie Waters, Nicole Kidman, Jim Broadbent, and Peter Capaldi

While Paddington 2 often gets all the attention, 2014’s Paddington is a lovely introduction to the maramalade-loving bear. Voiced by Ben Whishaw, Paddington leaves his home of Darkest Peru and comes to London to find a new family. Once he is taken in by the Brown family, Paddington causes a bit of havoc, but despite this, the family eventually welcomes him in with open arms. Paddington as a franchise is warm and kind, a charming series that is as packed with heart as humanly possible. After watching Paddington, it’s simply impossible not to fall in love with this silly bear. — Ross Bonaime

Run Time: 1 hr 37 min | Director: Kyle Newacheck

Cast: Adam Sandler, Jennifer Aniston, Luke Evans

You could generously call Adam Sandler‘s history with Netflix original films, uh, spotty, but there is one genuinely uber-charming gem on the list in the form of Murder Mystery. Re-teaming the Sandman with Jennifer Aniston after Just Go With It (also pretty good!) the film follows married NYPD officer Nick (Sandler) and hairdresser (Audrey) as they become increasingly entangled in a—you guessed it—murder mystery aboard the yacht of a billionaire they just met. Murder Mystery, like most Netflix comedies, is pretty much designed to be watched in the background with a boisterous bunch of friends, but the sheer professional movie star power of its two leads really does elevate it to that next level.

Run Time: 1 hr 27 min | Director: Michael Showalter

Cast: Kumail Nanjiani, Issa Rae, Paul Sparks, Anna Camp

Man, this movie is just so freaking charming. The Lovebirds stars Kumail Nanjiani and Issa Rae as a couple on brink of breaking up after four years together who suddenly find themselves on the run after witnessing a murder. Director David Showalter eventually settles things into a pretty standard set of action-comedy and rom-com beats, but Nanjiani and Rae are so endlessly entertaining as the film’s two leads, you’ll pretty much follow them anywhere. One of Netflix’s more unfortunately under-the-radar originals, The Lovebirds is absolutely worth hooking up with again.

Run Time: 1 hr 28 min | Director: Spike Lee

Cast: Tracy Camilla Johns, Redmond Hicks, John Canada Terrell, Raye Dowell, and Spike Lee

Right away with his debut film, Spike Lee places himself amongst the other iconic New York City directors, like Martin Scorsese and Woody Allen, borrowing from both to make his own presence known as one of the greats, a deserving addition to NYC’s Mount Rushmore of directors. His greatness can already be seen with She’s Gotta Have It, as Lee tells a complicated story of the love and independence of Nola Darling (Tracy Camilla Johns), a woman who doesn’t want to be tied down to any one man, instead seeking her own pleasure. She’s Gotta Have It shows Lee’s charisma as an actor and director, as Lee’s character Mars is hilarious on screen, and behind the camera, Lee shows flair even with a small budget, including a surprising homage to The Wizard of Oz. Right from the beginning, Lee presents in She’s Gotta Have It a strong lead character, proud of who she is, and uncompromising in her desires. Already, Lee makes himself a filmmaker unlike any other. — Ross Bonaime

Run Time: 1 hr 58 min | Director: J Blakeson

Cast: Rosamund Pike, Peter Dinklage, Eiza González, Chris Messina, and Dianne Weist

If you like your comedy dark – and I mean pitch black – you’ll probably love I Care a Lot. The Netflix original stars Rosamund Pike as a savvy, unrelenting, and unapologetic con artist who makes a living by winning guardianship over elders and using their money as her own piggy bank. But when her next target turns out to be the mother of a ruthless criminal (played by Peter Dinklage), she finds she may finally be in over her head. While this film could have gone wrong a number of ways, writer/director J Blakeson plays it perfectly, and the point of this satirical comedy comes into clear focus in the final minutes of the film. Pike is pitch perfect in the lead role, making a despicable character tremendously watchable. – Adam Chitwood

Run Time: 1 hr 24 min | Director: Kitao Sakurai

Cast: Eric Andre, Lil Rel Howery, and Tiffany Haddish

Bad Trip is outrageously juvenile and will make you laugh incredibly hard. The film is a cross between Jackass and a traditional road trip comedy, as Eric Andre and Lil Rel Howery play a pair of friends who drive from Florida to New York so that Andre’s character can track down the girl of his dreams. Hot on their tale is Howery’s characters sister, fresh out of a prison break and played by Tiffany Haddish. But every scene in the film is shot as a prank, with unwitting strangers serving as the background and supporting characters throughout the movie. It’s silly and embarrassing, but also singles out how ridiculous some of the tropes in traditional romcoms are – like when Andre breaks out into song in the middle of a mall, surrounded by strangers with “WTF?” looks on their faces. And be warned, this is insanely R-rated. – Adam Chitwood

Run Time: 1 hr 41 min | Director: Taika Waititi

Cast: Sam Neill, Julian Dennison, Rhys Darby, Rima Te Wiata, and Rachel House

If you’re in the mood for a whimsical comedy from Thor: Ragnarok writer/director Taika Waititi, you absolutely have to see Hunt for the Wilderpeople. Released in 2016, this New Zealand adventure movie follows a grumpy Sam Neill as he’s forced to team up with a foul-mouthed child when the two are the target of a manhunt throughout the New Zealand bush. It’s based on an existing book, but in tone and execution Hunt for the Wilderpeople oftentimes feels like an adaptation of a Roald Dahl book we never knew about. It’s delightful and whimsical and a little terrifying, with Waititi’s playful anarchy filling the whole thing out for good measure. This movie is guaranteed to put you in a good mood.

Run Time: 2 hr 3 min | Director: David Dobkin

Cast: Will Ferrell, Rachel McAdams, Pierce Brosnan, Dan Stevens, and Demi Lovato

If you think Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga is just another “dumb Will Ferrell comedy,” think again. One of 2020’s most pleasant surprises, this musical comedy is surprisingly sweet and genuinely emotional – don’t be surprised if you find yourself welling up with tears by the end. The story follows a pair of lifelong friends and musicians from Iceland who are unexpectedly thrust into the Eurovision Song Contest, which tests their talents and their relationship to one another. Ferrell is hilarious as always, but it’s Rachel McAdams who steals the show here and proves yet again she’s one of the best comedic talents working right now. Oh and the songs? They’re spectacular. – Adam Chitwood