So you’re browsing through Netflix, looking for something to watch, but you’re in the mood for something light. Netflix’s massive library can be intimidating, especially when you’re looking for a good comedy amidst a sea of subpar entries in the genre. Not to fear, though, because we here at Collider have you covered. Below, we’ve curated a list of the very best comedies on Netflix right now. We’ve got everything from silly buddy comedies, big splashy commercial comedies, more esoteric indies, and even a couple of films that toe the line between comedy and drama. Surely you’ll find something to your liking, so scroll through our list of the best comedies on Netflix below and find that perfect pick.
Editor’s note: This article was last updated on March 11th to add She’s Gotta Have It
Table of Contents
The Addams Family
Director: Barry Sonnenfeld
Writers: Caroline Thompson and Larry Wilson
Cast: Anjelica Huston, Raul Julia, Christopher Lloyd, Christina Ricci, Jimmy Workman, and Judith Malina
While so many adaptations of The Addams Family tend to keep the characters animated—understandable so, given the macabre family’s interests—the best iteration of this morbid family brought Morticia, Gomez, Uncle Fester, Wednesday, and Pugsley into the live-action Barry Sonnenfeld‘s take focuses on the love and bonds of this twisted family, particularly between brothers Gomez (a delightfully dynamic Raul Julia) and Uncle Fester (an almost unrecognizable Christopher Lloyd). Even though they’re creepy and they’re kooky, the Addams Family is always about family first. Even if they try to maim and kill each other, it’s all out of love for one another. — Ross Bonaime
Watch The Addams Family on Netflix
The Babysitter
Director: McG
Writer: Brian Duffield
Cast: Judah Lewis, Samara Weaving, Robbie Amell, Bella Thorne, Hana Mae Lee, Andrew Bachelor
If you want a bit of blood, guts, and gore mixed in with your laughs, look no further than The Babysitter, director McG‘s black comedy-horror from writer Brian Duffield (Spontaneous). Pre-teen misfit Cole (Judah Lewis) is looking forward to a night with his babysitter, Bee (Samara Weaving), but things take a turn for the demonic when Cole accidentally discovers that Bee and the crew of high schoolers she’s invited over—Max (Robbie Amell), Allison (Bella Thorne), Sonya (Hana Mae Lee), and John (Andrew Bachelor)—are, in fact, a devil-worshipping cult hellbent on human sacrifice. This movie is absolute mayhem in its purest form, but there’s actually a really sweet beating heart at its center, even if you have to cut through a few layers of skin to see it. — Vinnie Mancuso
Watch The Babysitter on Netflix
The Other Guys
Director: Adam McKay
Writers: Adam McKay and Chris Henchy
Cast: Will Ferrell, Mark Wahlberg, Eva Mendes, Michael Keaton, Steve Coogan, Ray Stevenson, Samuel L. Jackson, and Dwayne Johnson
Before Adam McKay was focusing primarily on issues like global warming and bad mortgages with films like Don’t Look Up and The Big Short, McKay infused these larger issues within his broader comedies, like The Other Guys. Even if you don’t want to learn about Ponzi schemes, The Other Guys is a hilarious buddy cop film focused on the unlikely duo of Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg. Ferrell is far more low-key than he is usually in McKay comedies, while Wahlberg goes all-in with one of his most over-the-top comedic roles. But The Other Guys is also a fantastic take on the buddy cop film, especially with an incredible opening featuring Samuel L. Jackson and Dwayne Johnson as the typical buddy cop pairing. The Other Guys is a great reminder not only of how much fun Ferrell and Wahlberg can have against each other, but also an excellent example of how McKay used to blend wilder comedies with more important topics. — Ross Bonaime
Watch The Other Guys on Netflix
Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs
Directors: Phil Lord and Christopher Miller
Writers: Phil Lord, Christopher Miller, and Rob Greenberg
Cast: Bill Hader, Anna Faris, James Caan, Andy Samberg, Bruce Campbell, Mr. T, and Neil Patrick Harris
Before working on such huge animated hits as The LEGO Movie and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, Lord and Miller directed and co-wrote this incredibly charming tale of inventor Flint Lockwood (Bill Hader), whose latest invention causes food to fall from the skies. Of course, it starts well enough, but when giant food starts raining down, Flint’s invention threatens to ruin the world. Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs has all the heart and odd humor that one comes to expect from later Lord/Miller films, and a hilarious voice cast that makes this great for all ages. A lovely and strange comedy that certainly deserves more attention, Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs is a delight for everyone. — Ross Bonaime
Watch Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs on Netflix
Last Action Hero
Director: John McTiernan
Writer: Shane Black, David Arnott
Cast: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Austin O’Brien, Charles Dance, Robert Prosky
Arnold Schwarzenegger spoofing the excess and explosions of an Arnold Schwarzenegger action movie inside a story that also functions as a pretty incredible Arnold Schwarzenegger action movie? There is simply too much to love about Last Action Hero, director John McTernan‘s send-up and love letter to the over-the-top shoot-em-ups of the 1990s. When a magic ticket sends young cinephile Danny Madigan (Austin O’Brien) through the silver screen, he teams up with his favorite action icon, Jack Slater (Schwarzenegger) to stop the villainous Benedict (Charles Dance) from entering the real world. This movie is an indulgent, wild good time of a romp that includes everything from Robert Patrick cameo-ing as his T2 Terminator to Schwarzenegger playing himself to a brief appearance by Danny DeVito as the voice of a feline police detective named Whiskers. Hell yeah. —Vinnie Mancuso
Watch Last Action Hero on Netflix
The Mitchells vs. the Machines
Director: Mike Rianda
Writers: Mike Rianda and Jeff Rowe
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
Watch The Mitchells vs. the Machines on Netflix
Paddington
Director/Writer: 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
Watch Paddington on Netflix
Murder Mystery
Director: Kyle Newacheck
Writer: James Vanderbilt
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.
Watch Murder Mystery on Netflix
The Lovebirds
Director: Michael Showalter
Writer: Aaron Abrams, Brendan Gall
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.
Watch The Lovebirds on Netflix
Between Two Ferns: The Movie
Director/Writer: Scott Aukerman
Cast: Zach Galifianakis, Lauren Lapkus, Ryan Gaul, and Jiavani Linayao
Turning a beloved online webseries into a film is almost never a good idea, but with Zach Galifianakis and Scott Aukerman teaming up once more for Between Two Ferns: The Movie, the series expands into a hilarious road trip comedy packed with great cameos. Matthew McConaughey drowns, Galifianakis has an affair with Chrissy Teigen, and David Letterman makes one of his rare film appearances. Between Two Ferns works so well because it expands beyond the original conceit, while still delivering on the incredible interviews and weird humor that we’ve grown to love from the series. – Ross Bonaime
Watch Between Two Ferns: The Movie on Netflix
Yucatán
Director: Daniel Monzón
Writers: Jorge Guerricaechevarría and Daniel Monzón
Cast: Luis Tosar, Rodrigo de la Serna, Joan Pera, Stephanie Cayo, Gloria Muñoz, Alicia Fernández, and Txell Aixendri
Since 2019, Rodrigo de la Serna has become quite popular among Netflix audiences worldwide due to his key role as Martín Berrote / Palermo in Money Heist. But irrespective of whether you’re a fan of Money Heist or not, there’s a pretty good chance you’ll love him as the suave conman protagonist of Yucatán. This Spanish comedy film aspires to be nothing more than an entertaining, light-hearted ride and in that, it excels. At the center of the story is Clayderman (de la Serna), a con man who works as a pianist aboard a cruise ship traveling from Spain to Mexico, alongside his partner and wife Verónica (Stephanie Cayo). With the help of a host of accomplices, the couple run scams on their rich passengers, having a jolly good time along the way.
However, their bliss is interrupted when a former friend and associate, Lucas (Luis Tosar), comes aboard the ship. Soon, they find out that an old baker who recently won 161 million Euros in the lottery is on board with his family. And with tensions running high, the journey quickly transforms into a three-way competition between Clayderman, Verónica, and Lucas to see who can steal the old man’s millions first. Yucatán doesn’t have too many unforeseen twists or turns but what it does have are some great song-and-dance routines, beautiful vistas, and easy-going laugh-out-loud comedy. — Remus Noronha
Watch Yucatán on Netflix
The Edge of Seventeen
Director/Writer: Kelly Fremon Craig
Cast: Hailee Steinfeld, Woody Harrelson, Blake Jenner, Kyra Sedgwick, Haley Lu Richardson, and Hayden Szeto
If you’re in the mood for a sweet coming-of-age comedy with a tremendous lead performance, look no further than the gem that is The Edge of Seventeen. This hilarious and heartfelt R-rated comedy stars Hailee Steinfeld as a high school junior who experiences the ups and downs of teen life in brutally honest fashion. She strikes up a close friendship with a teacher, played by Woody Harrelson, who counsels her through friend, boy, and family troubles. It’s as sweet as it is filthy, but what makes Edge of Seventeen so striking—beyond Steinfeld’s stellar performance—is how true to life it all feels. The anxiety. The self-consciousness. The importance of it all. – Adam Chitwood
Watch The Edge of Seventeen on Netflix
She’s Gotta Have It
Director/Writer: 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
Watch She’s Gotta Have It on Netflix
I Care a Lot
Director/Writer: 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
Watch I Care A Lot on Netflix
Bad Trip
Director: Kitao Sakurai
Writers: Dan Curry, Eric Andre, and 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
Watch Bad Trip on Netflix
Hunt for the Wilderpeople
Director/Writer: 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.
Watch Hunt for the Wilderpeople on Netflix
Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga
Director: David Dobkin
Writers: Will Ferrell and Andrew Steele
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
Watch Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga on Netflix
Lady Bird
Director/Writer: Greta Gerwig
Cast: Saoirse Ronan, Laurie Metcalf, Tracy Letts, Beanie Feldstein, Lucas Hedges, Timothee Chalamet, and Stephen Henderson
Greta Gerwig’s directorial debut Lady Bird rules so incredibly hard, and is so tremendously funny. This is a coming-of-age story with soul, as Saoirse Ronan plays a young girl named Christine who struggles through her senior year at a Catholic high school—struggles with boys, struggles with friendships, struggles with money, and struggles with her parents. At heart this is a mother-daugther story, and while it gets intensely emotional, it’s also incredibly funny. Ronan is tremendous in the Oscar-worthy lead role, Beanie Feldstein is a hoot as her BFF, Timothee Chalamet nails the “pretentious cool guy” role, and Gerwig’s writing and direction are downright masterful. This is one of the best comedies of the last decade. — Adam Chitwood
Watch Lady Bird on Netflix
The Disaster Artist
Director: James Franco
Writers: Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber
Cast: James Franco, Dave Franco, Seth Rogen, Alison Brie, Ari Graynor, Josh Hutcherson, and Jackie Weaver
A film about the making of the infamously terrible movie The Room should not be this good nor this emotional, but here we are. The Disaster Artist is technically a chronicle of how Tommy Wiseau defied pretty much every cinematic convention (for the worst) to make his film The Room, and how the movie became a cult favorite for its absolutely bonkers construction and execution. James Franco is legitimately great both in front of and behind the camera here, as the film hones in on the friendship between Tommy and Greg Sestero (Dave Franco) serves as a surprisingly emotional foundation for this stranger-than-fiction story that is also very, very, very funny. — Adam Chitwood
Watch The Disaster Artist on Netflix
Hail, Caesar!
Directors/Writers: Joel Coen and Ethan Coen
Cast: George Clooney, Josh Brolin, Alden Ehrenreich, Tilda Swinton, Ralph Fiennes, Channing Tatum, Scarlett Johansson, Jonah Hill, and Frances McDormand
This 2016 comedy from the Coen Brothers was a long time in the making, and while it earned solid reviews, it’s still somewhat underrated. Hail, Caesar! takes place in 1951 follows a day in the life of Eddie Mannix (Josh Brolin), a “fixer” for a movie studio called Capital Pictures who spends the day trying to stave off various scandals, put out fires, and track down a missing movie star. Chaos and shenanigans ensue, and George Clooney delivers one of his best comedic performance. This movie will also remind you that, whatever you think of Solo: A Star War Story, that Alden Ehrenreich can sure act. – Adam Chitwood
Watch Hail, Caesar! on Netflix
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