Finding a great movie on Netflix is hard enough, but it can sometimes feel like finding the best comedy movies on Netflix is nearly impossible. While Netflix certainly makes plenty of comedies of all stripes to choose from, they’re often less than excellent. We’re not here to judge, of course, but if you’re looking for a comedy that has actual production value and some decent jokes, you may need to get just a little bit choosier. Thankfully, we’re around to help you find the best comedy movies that Netflix has to offer.
Of course, Netflix has great movies in a wide variety of other genres, including action, but this list will focus only on what they’ve got to offer in the way of comedy.
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Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022)
You may not immediately think of Rian Johnson’s Knives Out movies as comedies, but they undoubtedly are. Glass Onion has plenty of truly excellent one-liners, including at least a dozen from Daniel Craig’s Benoit Blanc, a character so big he wouldn’t fit into any genre besides comedy. It’s true, of course, that there’s also a mystery pulsing through the heart of Glass Onion. But beneath all of the curiosity around whodunnit, Glass Onion is really about how stupid the ultra-rich can be without anyone ever calling them on all of their crap.
Jerry Maguire (1996)
Tom Cruise is known today as the king of action, but Jerry Maguire is an outstanding reminder that Cruise can really do pretty much anything, even if that means playing a sports agent who grows a conscience and inadvertently throws his entire career away. Jerry Maguire is a sports movie, a romcom, and an outright comedy all rolled into one. There’s plenty of sincerity pulsing underneath the film, and it’s probably the most overtly sentimental movie on this list, but Cruise knows how to get a laugh. Best of all, Cuba Gooding Jr. matches him beat for beat.
Notting Hill (1999)
No romcom lead was ever more charming than Hugh Grant in his prime. Here, Grant stars opposite Julia Roberts in what may be the sweetest, funniest romcom either of them ever made. Roberts plays a genuine A-list movie star who somehow falls for Grant’s small bookstore owner. Grant is charmingly befuddled throughout, and the moments when Roberts’ characters meets and interacts with his friends are deeply endearing. It’s a movie that shouldn’t be nearly as sweet as it is, but it’s all carried off beautifully by the chemistry between its two central performers.
To All the Boys I've Loved Before (2018)
One of the Netflix original romcoms that rises above a lot of its peers, To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before has a pretty high-concept premise. Thanks to its charming leads and some genuinely beautiful shot compositions, it manages to feel much better than its peers. The story of a young romantic whose love letters are leaked to the men she wrote them about, the movie is really just another story about a fake relationship that turns into a real one. While that may not sound like stunning new ground, what elevates To All the Boys is the genuine chemistry its two leads share.
Sleepless in Seattle (1993)
A movie so daring it keeps its leads apart for almost the entire runtime, Sleepless in Seattle features Tom Hanks, Meg Ryan, and Nora Ephron all operating at the peak of their powers. Telling the story of a grieving father who connects with a potential love interest over the radio, the movie nonetheless gives Ryan and Hanks plenty of time to connect and to establish their own rich characters. There are plenty of jokes to be had here too, making this one of the more enduring romantic comedies ever made.
The Mitchells vs. the Machines (2021)
If you’re looking for a family comedy on Netflix, The Mitchells vs. the Machines is the movie to stream. The plot follows a quirky and dysfunctional family, and focuses on a father and his college-age daughter who just can’t find any way to connect. 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.
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. This medieval group of soldiers encounters a plethora of silly obstacles in the quest for greatness, including an impressively persistent knight and — gulp — the French. You can try our movie drinking game if you’d like to add to your enjoyment of the film.
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 movie you may have seen, but his top-notch performance will make you laugh — and maybe cry — in this top-notch dramedy.
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 everyone assumed would end up together. After reconnecting after 15 years apart, they begin to think maybe they are meant to be after all. Also, Keanu Reeves shows up playing himself, and who can say no to a little more Keanu?
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