Comedy is one of the most difficult genres to pin down. Every individual has their own sense of humor, which is why no list of the best comedy movies is ever going to align perfectly with everyone. That being said, we’ve gone and attempted to handpick the very best comedies on Netflix right now.
If you’re looking for other Netflix movies to watch, we’ve found those, too. But if you’re simply looking for a cheap laugh, keep scrolling for our top comedy picks for 2021.
Accepted (2006)
A great comedy that slipped under the radar upon release, Accepted is full of raunchy yet clever writing and scenarios that should be viewed at least once. Bartleby Gaines (Justin Long) is a slacker who is about to graduate high school but has been rejected by all the colleges he applied to. When he decides to make up a school (South Harmon Institute of Technology) to show his parents an acceptance letter, his single lie turns into a web that just becomes more and more tangled. Besides being credited as one of the first big movies of Jonah Hill’s, Lewis Black also makes a hilarious appearance as the school’s superintendent.
Director: Steve Pink
Main Cast: Justin Long, Jonah Hill, Blake Lively
Runtime: 93 minutes
IMDb Rating: 6.4
Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (2006)
A fine addition to the collection of comically niche Will Ferrell movies, Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby is a hilariously satirical take on the world of NASCAR. Ricky Bobby (Will Ferrell) is the best NASCAR racer in the country but is challenged when a French Formula One racer sends him down a tunnel of self-doubt.
Director: Adam McKay
Main Cast: Will Ferrell, John C. Reilly, Sacha Baron Cohen
Runtime: 108 minutes
IMDb Rating: 6.6
Not Another Teen Movie (2001)
Absolute, over-the-top ridiculousness with a raunchy layer of absurdity, Not Another Teen Movie is a silly parody of basically every popular movie about high school. Following the basic plot of She’s All That (and a few others), popular jock Jake Wyler (Chris Evans) is dared into asking the weird girl on a date. While this movie sometimes just goes way too far, the lengths they go to in order to make every scene a reference to pop culture is simply impressive. It’s also amazing to see Chris Evans in such a ridiculous movie, especially if you only know him as Captain America.
Director: Joel Gallen
Main Cast: Chyler Leigh, Jaime Pressly, Chris Evans
Runtime: 89 minutes
IMDb Rating: 5.7
Pineapple Express (2008)
In what is one of the best Seth Rogen movies and a big hit with the advocates of the green, Pineapple Express established a new era of stoner comedy mixed with outright violence and absolute hilarity. A process server named Dale Denton (Seth Rogen) witnesses his next “client” brutally murder somebody in his home. When it turns out that “client” is actually the top dog of the local underground marijuana industry, Dale and his regular dealer have to get lost or get angry.
Directors: David Gordon Green
Main Cast: Seth Rogen, James Franco, Gary Cole
Runtime: 111 minutes
IMDb Rating: 6.9
Mr. Right (2015)
This gem shows a penchant for action that collides serendipitously with a romantic comedy. Mr. Right is fun throughout the entire film, and Sam Rockwell is an absolute treasure. The story follows a woman (Anna Kendrick) who is just coming out of a bad break-up. She meets a man who appears to be perfect for her in every way, but as it turns out, he’s a reformed hitman. This action and comedy movie is one of the best on Netflix if you don’t mind some ridiculousness.
Director: Paco Cabezas
Main Cast: Anna Kendrick, Sam Rockwell, Tim Roth
Runtime: 95 minutes
IMDb Rating: 6.3
The Mitchells vs. The Machines (2021)
If you’re looking for a new family comedy on Netflix, The Mitchells vs. The Machines is the movie to stream. The plot follows a quirky and dysfunctional family with some generational communication issues between the father and now college-age daughter. When the father (Danny McBride) decides to take a road trip to reconnect with his daughter (Abbi Jacobson), they find themselves stuck in a car together as the only humans who can stop a sudden robot apocalypse. If you’re a fan of animated series, this is a great film to enjoy with the whole family.
Directors: Michael Rianda, Jeff Rowe
Main Cast: Abbi Jacobson, Danny McBride, Maya Rudolph
Runtime: 113 minutes
IMDb Rating: 7.8
Sex Drive (2008)
This one definitely isn’t for the family. In this raunchy, coming of age, late-2000’s comedy, a young man is driven by his hormones and a mission to finally lose his virginity. When a typical high school virgin, Ian Lafferty (Josh Zuckerman) meets a girl online through an exaggerated online persona, he is shocked to find that she actually wants to meet up. In order for him to do this, he must embark on an adventure against all odds (for a high school senior). With hilariously uncharacteristic moments and vocabulary from James Marsden and a sincerely endearing love story on the side, Sex Drive is definitely one of the most underrated movies on Netflix.
Director: Sean Anders
Main Cast: Josh Zuckerman, Clark Duke, Amanda Crew
Runtime: 109 minutes
IMDb Rating: 6.5
Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975)
This classic British comedy from Monty Python follows King Arthur (Graham Chapman) and his Knights of the Round Table as they embark on a low-budget and absolutely absurd search for the holy grail. Comedy ensues as this medieval group of soldiers encounters a plethora of silly obstacles in their quest for greatness. You can also try our movie drinking game to add to your enjoyment of the film.
Directors: Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones
Main cast: Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Eric Idle
Runtime: 92 minutes
IMDb Rating: 8.2
Dolemite is My Name (2019)
This comedy follows Rudy Ray Moore (Eddie Murphy), a washed-up musician who transforms himself into a cult star. Dolemite is My Name is unlike any Eddie Murphy you may have seen but his top-notch performance will still have you laughing in this true-story dramedy.
Director: Craig Brewer
Main Cast: Eddie Murphy, Wesley Snipes, Keegan-Michael Key
Runtime: 90 minutes
IMDb Rating: 7.3
Always Be My Maybe (2019)
If you’re looking for a good rom-com on Netflix, Always Be My Maybe is a great place to start. The story follows Sasha (Ali Wong) and Marcus (Randall Park), two people who everyone assumed would end up together. After reconnecting after 15 years apart, they begin to think maybe they are meant to be.
Director: Nahnatchka Khan
Main Cast: Ali Wong, Randall Park, James Saito
Runtime: 101 minutes
IMDb Rating: 6.8
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