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Comedies have come a long way. The genre, once largely dominated by formulaic slapstick tipped in favor of mainstream machismo, has charted not just a new path in recent years, but multiple paths. Welcoming narratives led by women in front of and behind the camera, those told through completely queer lenses, and stories that inject cultural flair into humorous tales, the comedy film genre is living through a colorful, representative, and inclusive renaissance.
Below, some of our favorite comedy films from this year and last, mixed with the best comedies of all time. You’ll have no trouble finding your next fit of giggles in any of these picks, but just to ensure you keep the good times rolling, we’ve also curated the best comedies on Max, the best comedies on Prime Video, and the best standup comedy specials on Netflix.
American Fiction
A sophisticated author with no audience, Thelonious, aka Monk, decides to pen a masterpiece in jest that gives the people exactly what they crave: racial stereotypes, tropes, and shameless pandering. Only problem is, Monk's joke of a novel hits the big time, sucking him into the hypocritical and highly profitable vortex he despises. A 2024 Oscar winner, Cord Jefferson’s debut comedy is a scathing takedown of the establishment, but it’s also a crazy-funny satire full of heart.
Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret.
It’s not often we get a comedy about middle school that has the ability to resonate with every single person in the theater. But that’s exactly what happens with Kelly Fremon Craig’s sophomore film, fueled by the best-selling, same-name Judy Blume book. Moms, daughters, boyfriends, and even little brothers will walk away understanding themselves and the women around a little bit better after cheering on 11-year-old Margaret through the dreaded puberty gauntlet.
Barbie
She’s beautiful. She’s iconic. She’s living the perfect permalife. So then why is Mattel’s dream doll now drumming up deep thoughts on death, cellulite, and purpose? For Greta Gerwig’s brilliant Barbie send-up, of course! An empowering, genre-blending tour-de-force that is not only wildly clever and amusing, Gerwig's comedy is also deeply thoughtful and moving. Do not be surprised when that lump crawls up into your throat and refuses to leave until the credits roll.
Bottoms
Two queer (and virgin) best friends start an after-school fight club as a way to get close to the cheerleaders they are hopelessly in love with (and want to have sex with). Rachel Sennott and Ayo Edebiri play the tragically hilarious former duo, while Kaia Gerber and Havana Rose Liu take on the latter spirit squad members. And the film, written and directed, by Emma Seligman is a complete laugh riot from start to bloody finish.
Joy Ride
In the same raunch-comedy vein as Bridesmaids and Girls Trip, Joy Ride gets its kicks from a group of girls bonding over a boldly explicit good time. Here, you have four Asian American women living it up in China—some are there for business; some are just there for pleasure, lots of pleasure—and along the way, they discover the true meaning of self and friendship. Of course, their journey to such discovery involves tons of drugs, sex, and improvised K-pop that’ll have you rolling.
Música
Rudy Mancuso is tortured by music. Living with a condition called synesthesia, his brain turns everyday sounds into rhythmic distractions that prevent him from making human connections. Until he meets Isabella (Camila Mendes). Set in the Brazilian American community of New Jersey, the film hits all the right notes—romance, humor, heritage—telling a semi-true story personal to its star, who also wrote and directed the film. Ready that standing ovation.
Poor Things
She’s won two Oscars, hosted SNL five times, banged a tambourine for Prince while her foot hemorrhaged. She’s even created life. Is there anything Emma Stone can’t do? Apparently not, because with her latest Yorgos Lanthimos collaboration, she’s ticked off “play sex-positive powerhouse with the curiosity of an infant and the drive of a titan in a movie.” The woman is an anomaly and watching her liberate herself on the screen is a thing of beauty. It’s also an absolute riot.
Problemista
Familiar faces in this inventive and imaginative comedy include Tilda Swinton and Greta Lee, but you won’t be able to take your eyes off Julio Torres. Also the writer and director, Torres boasts SNL and Los Espookys writing on his resume. And though he’s done some acting, Problemista is his first big-screen leading role, and he absolutely kills it as Alejandro, a Salvadoran and aspiring toymaker navigating the U.S. immigration system. It’s weird, witty, and simply wonderful.
The Holdovers
Alexander Payne’s latest comical character study stars his nuanced and rumpled muse, Paul Giamatti, as an educator at a New England prep school who gets assigned to supervising the “holdovers,” the name given to the group of students who have nowhere to go for the holidays and reside on campus over the break. Eventually, the group is whittled to just two, along with Da'Vine Joy Randolph’s Mary Lamb, the head cook whose tender moments might just break you.
They Cloned Tyrone
A pimp, a hustler, and a lady of the night become entangled in a government conspiracy that involves mind control and cloning Black people. To say too much more about the pulpy and stylish Netflix Original hit from Juel Taylor would be doing you a disservice; unraveling the oddities of this sci-fi mystery is part of its charm and a lot of the fun. So is laughing at the genius performances from Jamie Foxx, John Boyega, and Teyonah Parris.
His Girl Friday (1940)
The banter, quips, and quick wits volleying back and forth between the leads in Howard Hawks's 1940 film no doubt set this classic atop the primo fast-talking, screwball comedies akin to the '30s and '40s. Starring Carey Grant and Rosalind Russell as Walter and Hildy, the story bounces around a Chicago newsroom with Walter persuading his ex-wife, Hildy, to scoop one last story with him before she gets remarried. Antics, action, and an affable romance story are in store.
Everything Everywhere All at Once
A toque raccoon. Butt plug warfare. Googly eyes galore. Michelle Yeoh is the ultimate ass-kicker, navigating infinite realities, family dysfunction, and financial turmoil with nary a hair out of place. A sublime indie action comedy from the directing pair known affectionately as The Daniels, EEAAO is silly chaos you want to get lost in. Rather than learning more here, just hit play and enjoy the ride.
Ghostbusters
Who you gonna call for a laugh? Pete, Ray, Egon, and Winston! Ivan Reitman’s 1984 classic never gets old and keeps getting funnier. The tale you know: Four parapsychologists come face to slimy face with Manhattan’s motley crew of spectral beings. But the legacy you may not: Not only is this near-perfect comedy a fun watch, but it also set a new standard for visual wizardry on the big screen.
House Party
It’s the movie that introduced a generation to sticky prophylactic syndrome (n., the unfortunate effect of never getting laid). Kid ‘n Play star in this raucous ’90s teen comedy with an incredibly apt title. Unaware of the wild night that awaits them, the two dodge parents, unleash freestyle beats, and score, or try to score, with the hottest girls in school at the mother of all house parties.
Polite Society
An instant classic, Nida Manzoor’s debut feature is a martial arts romp that belongs to Ria Khan and her mission to keep her sister from surrendering to marriage. Enlisting the help of her besties, she concocts the ultimate kicker: a wedding heist. Razor-sharp wit and the same joy on display in Manzoor’s We Are Lady Parts result in a cinematic delight you’ll want to watch again and again.
Pride
The U.K.’s LGBTQ community and fed-up miners unite in this true-story gem from Matthew Warchus. A joy from start to finish, the LOL comedy chronicles the National Union of Mineworkers strike in the summer of 1984. But a boring history lesson this is not. Equipped with a toe-tapping soundtrack and humor as hilarious as it is heartwarming, Pride is a balm that stands tall in the pantheon of comedies.
Some Like It Hot
In 1959, Billy Wilder recruited Jack Lemmon, Tony Curtis, and Marilyn Monroe for a screwball riot that would become one of the best comedies of all time. Hiding out from the mob, the two men take cover in a traveling all-female jazz band called the Syncopators, donning wigs, stockings, lipstick, and all. Elevated with zippy dialogue, madcap adventure, and sexual tension, Some Like It Hot checks all the boxes.
Superbad
Welcome to the male brain, specifically the dominant hemisphere that controls the hormonal response. Writers Seth Rogen and Even Goldberg borrowed from their own high school experience to pen Superbad, an unfiltered, seminal bromance about two best friends (Jonah Hill, Michael Cera) who embark a nightlong odyssey involving cops, girls, and Goldslick. Unlike its title, it’s actually supergood.
The Banshees of Inisherin
The pinnacle of pitch-black comedies from writer/director Martin McDonagh, Banshees stars Colin Ferrell and Brendan Gleeson as Pádraic and Colm, former best friends whose escalating grudge leads to amputations, dead animals, and even more extreme consequences. Dark, yes, but trust us, the tragic journey these two Irish lads are on is paved with comedic gold.
Triangle of Sadness
Swedish extraordinaire Ruben Östlund rarely misses. Force Majeure, The Square, Searching for Ingmar Bergman: all aces in the hole. His latest, a gonzo comedy that boards a luxury yacht before shipwrecking on an island, exposing the hypocrisies of the rich and beautiful, and leaving hierarchy dynamics to drown in the Mediterranean, is rich with deadpan, satire, and even slapstick.
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