There are tons of streaming platforms to choose from, but Netflix has a reputation for being one of the best. The prices have been fluctuating for a while, but that hasn’t seemed to turn consumers off entirely.
One reason people love Netflix is because it’s full of intriguing entertainment to watch at any given moment. If you’re awake all night with insomnia, you can choose your favorite movies and TV shows to watch at 3 o’clock in the morning. If you’re ready to unwind after a rough day at work, you can pick through incredible movies and TV shows to get you into a more relaxed state of mind.
When hanging out with friends, family members, or your significant other, a fabulous way to pass the time is by turning on great movies and TV shows everyone enjoys. It’s also one of the most common things to do for people who are spending time solo. When it comes to the comedy genre as a whole, people who love to laugh will undoubtedly find what they’re looking for on Netflix. The streaming platform makes it beyond easy to search for comedies without getting distracted by other genres like horror, romance, mystery, or sci-fi.
The comedy genre tab on Netflix is separated by award-winning TV shows, the most popular content on Netflix, the TV shows that are critically acclaimed, adult animation options, and whatever is currently trending. Kid-friendly comedy shows, new releases, and Netflix originals are all listed in an organized manner as well. (While we’re on the topic of comedies, here are the funniest movies and shows that are now streaming on Max.)
To compile this list of the funniest movies and shows now streaming on Netflix, 24/7 Tempo consulted several entertainment sources. These entertainment sources include Rotten Tomatoes, Collider, MovieWeb, Vulture, and IMDb.
The Good Place (2016-2020)
- IMDb Rating: 8.2/10
- Director/Creator: Michael Schur
- Cast: Kristen Bell, William Jackson Harper, Jameel Jamil
“The Good Place” has a reputation for being one of the funniest shows created in recent history. It stars Kristen Bell in the leading role of Eleanor Shellstrop. Before her death, she was recognized for being selfish, entitled, and bratty. In some episodes of the show, she even describes herself as a jerk during her lifetime years.
When Eleanor suddenly dies, she lands in what’s called “The Good Place.” She instantly grows worried that someone’s made a mistake. In other words, she feels like God dropped the ball on her eternity. She doesn’t believe she could end up in a place like heaven after living such a grotesque lifestyle. Eventually, viewers uncover one of the biggest television twists ever around the end of Season 1. “The Good Place” has been described as introspective, quirky, and witty by avid viewers who can’t get enough.
Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022)
- IMDb Rating: 7.1/10
- Director/Creator: Rian Johnson
- Cast: Daniel Craig, Edward Norton, Kate Hudson
There’s a lot to love about “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery” from 2022. Plenty of people might think of Daniel Craig as a serious actor after seeing him play the role of James Bond for years in the early 2000s. He shows up as a playful and far less serious private detective in “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery.”
This movie is a sequel to “Glass Onion,” which premiered in 2019 as the original mystery thriller of its kind. The sequel doesn’t continue telling the first story with the same cast of characters, though. It starts from scratch, focusing on an annual gathering of adult friends vacationing together on an island. When one of them ends up dead, a full-fledged witch hunt to find the murderer ensues. Craig’s character is put to work to track down the merciless killer.
Shameless (2011-2021)
- IMDb Rating: 8.5/10
- Director/Creator: Paul Abbott, John Wells
- Cast: Emmy Rossum, William H. Macy, Ethan Cutkosky
Just about every episode of “Shameless” is edgy and over the top. There’s a reason the show lasted for 11 successful seasons, and the jokes can take a lot of credit. “Shameless” tells the story of a family living in poverty in Chicago. Their lack of money and lack of parental guidance leads them down the path of trouble at every turn. Even though they don’t have any financial comfort to fall back on, the family members are still incredibly scrappy and loyal when it comes to each other.
Emmy Rossum leads the way as the oldest daughter in the family, Fiona Gallagher. She steps up as a mother figure to all her younger siblings since their actual mother dipped out on the family and their dad is a useless alcoholic. William H. Macy is the actor behind the role of Frank Gallagher, arguably the worst fictional father on television. Although the topic of poverty is a heavy-hitting one, this show somehow always keeps audiences laughing.
The Kissing Booth (2018)
- IMDb Rating: 5.9/10
- Director/Creator: Vince Marcello
- Cast: Joey King, Jacob Elordi, Joel Courtney
“The Kissing Booth” from 2018 is a classic example of a hilarious comedy on Netflix that deserves a much higher IMD rating than what it received. It might only have 5.9 out of 10 stars on IMDb, but that doesn’t take away from its pure comedic genius. “The Kissing Booth” focuses on a teenage girl played by Joey King. When she develops a crush on someone who’s seemingly off-limits, it puts a major strain on her long-lasting childhood friendship.
The boy she starts crushing on happens to be her best friend’s older brother. The behind-the-scenes drama attached to “The Kissing Booth” only made the movie more enticing to watch in its time. For context, leading actors King and Jacob Elordi dated and broke up during the filming process while playing on-screen love interests. “The Kissing Booth” got a sequel in 2020 followed by a third movie in 2021 to end the trilogy.
Seinfeld (1988-1998)
- IMDb Rating: 9.5/10
- Director/Creator: Tom Cherones
- Cast: Jerry Seinfeld, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Michael Richards
While you won’t be able to catch shows like “Friends” or “The Office” on Netflix anymore, you can still catch episodes of “Seinfeld.” From 1989 until 1998, “Seinfeld” dominated television sets as a hit sitcom to laugh at. Over the years, it’s been compared to the likes of “Friends” and “The Office,” but it was definitely around before both of those shows premiered.
It tells the story of a stand-up comedian named Jerry, who’s trying to get by in New York City with his group of neurotic and hilarious best friends. Jerry and his crew always wind up in wacky situations that likely wouldn’t happen in the real world. One of the highest-rated episodes from “Seinfeld” is called “The Contest” from Season 4. It showcases what happens when George’s mother accidentally throws her back out after falling down. Her fall only occurs after she walks in on George pleasuring himself. Talk about awkward!
Set It Up (2018)
- IMDb Rating: 6.5/10
- Director/Creator: Claire Scanlon
- Cast: Zoey Deutch, Glen Powell, Lucy Liu, Taye Diggs
One comedy movie on Netflix worth watching is called “Set it Up” from 2018. It stars Zoey Deutch and Glenn Powell in the leading roles as two hard-working assistants in New York City. They are both overworked and underpaid with disturbing levels of stress in their daily lives. When they realize both of their bosses are single, they decide to hook their bosses up to get their bosses off their backs.
In their minds, having their bosses distracted by the bliss of newfound love will allow them both to have more freedom on the job. They guess that there’s no way their bosses can continue controlling and harassing them if they’re too busy in a whirlwind romance. The aggressive bosses with type-A personalities are played by Taye Diggs and Lucy Liu. Both love stories that unfold “Set it Up” are riddled with moments of hilarious humor.
Jane The Virgin (2014-2019)
- IMDb Rating: 7.9/10
- Director/Creator: Jennie Snyder Urman
- Cast: Gina Rodriguez, Andrea Navedo, Yael Grobglas
Viewers were obsessed with “Jane the Virgin” when new episodes were airing from 2014 until 2019. Now, the show is available for streaming on Netflix with 100 episodes in total to binge-watch. “Jane the Virgin” tells the story of a young Catholic woman with plans to save her virginity for marriage. Things get wonky when she accidentally gets artificially inseminated during a routine doctor’s visit.
It leads to an unplanned pregnancy that comes along before she has ever even hooked up with anyone. The titular character is played by Gina Rodriguez. In all the flashback scenes from the show, the younger version of Jane is played by none other than Jenna Ortega. The highest-rated episode of the show comes in Season 5 when Jane is preparing to marry a man named Rafael following the birth of her unexpected baby.
Do Revenge (2022)
- IMDb Rating: 6.3/10
- Director/Creator: Jennifer Kaytin Robinson
- Cast: Camila Mendes, Maya Hawke, Austin Abrams
Camila Mendes graduated from her days as a “Riverdale” actress to star in a comedy that’s available for streaming now on Netflix. “Do Revenge” premiered in 2022 as a movie about a teenage girl who makes a terrible mistake. She sends a video to her high school boyfriend who leaks it to everyone. After the video gets circulated by her classmates, it ruins her relationship and her reputation.
In the midst of all her stress, she crosses paths with another student who is dealing with some on-campus issues of her own. The two girls decide to team up so they can go after each other’s bullies in a manipulative and secretive manner. This movie might touch on serious topics like gaslighting and bullying, but it’s still filled to the brim with comedic scenes that will make you laugh.
Insecure (2016-2021)
- IMDb Rating: 8.1/10
- Director/Creator: Issa Rae, Larry Wilmore
- Cast: Issa Rae, Yvonne Orji, Jay Ellis
“Insecure” is a funny show to watch on Netflix, but it’s also super relatable for young adults trying to make friends, earn enough money to get by, and meet their future spouses. Issa Rae leads the way in “Insecure” as the main character. This particular role put Rae on the map when it comes to her levels of notoriety and recognition. It focuses on a young woman trying to date the right people in the greater Los Angeles area.
The intricacies of relationships in your 20s are highlighted in every episode. Some of the awkward experiences she goes through are cringeworthy while others are undoubtedly included to make audiences laugh. The highest-rated episode comes from Season 4 titled “Lowkey Happy.” It includes scenes of the main character reflecting on every past mistake and lesson she’s absorbed with one of her boyfriends.
Don’t Look Up (2021)
- IMDb Rating: 7.2/10
- Director/Creator: Adam McKay
- Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Lawrence, Meryl Streep
“Don’t Look Up” is a dark comedy that’s now available for streaming on Netflix. It premiered in 2021 and stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Meryl Streep, and Jennifer Lawrence. It focuses on two astronomers who haven’t established themselves in the science world just yet. They haven’t created reliable reputations to the degree that anyone would take them seriously. When they uncover the truth of a giant comet on its way to crash into Earth, they go on a media press tour to warn mankind about what’s happening.
Even though they have scientific proof backing up their claims, no one takes them seriously. They spend the bulk of the movie trying to convince people to hear them out. There’s no denying that “Don’t Look Up” has a deeper message to it regarding topics like politics and environmental health. Still, the humorous moments in “Don’t Look Up” are funny enough to classify this movie as a comedy.
Dead to Me (2019-2022)
- IMDb Rating: 7.9/10
- Director/Creator: Liz Feldman
- Cast: Christina Applegate, Linda Cardellini, Sam McCarthy
If dark humor is your cup of tea, then “Dead to Me” is the perfect Netflix show to watch. “Dead to Me” premiered in 2019 and came to an end in 2022 with an IMDb rating of 7.9 out of 10 stars. It tells the story of two women who are bound by a shocking and uncomfortable secret. The first woman, played by Christina Applegate, is a widow who’s always stressed out, tightly wound, and overly critical.
The second woman, played by Linda Cardelli, is a free spirit who wants to relieve herself of the guilty conscience she’s harboring by any means necessary. Although their friendship seems uncanny at first, it starts making more sense over time. This dark comedy covers themes of murder and death, but it’s still funny enough to leave viewers feeling amused and intrigued.
Shrek (2001)
- IMDb Rating: 7.9/10
- Director/Creator: Andrew Adamson, Vicky Jenson
- Cast: Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz
“Shrek” might’ve hit theaters back in 2001, but it’s ready and available for streaming on Netflix today. The animated movie is family-friendly, which means you can watch it with kids of all ages. It tells the story of a grumpy ogre named Shrek who aims to live his life in peace. He strives to keep away from the hustle and bustle of human culture. He loves living in his swamp and he doesn’t want to be bothered by anyone – for anything.
Even though he lives his life alone, he’s far from lonely. He prefers quiet isolation and seclusion because it prevents him from facing the judgment of others. When he’s pushed into a mission to rescue a princess from an evil man named Lord Farquad, his lifestyle of isolation is disrupted beyond repair. Suddenly, Shrek finds himself befriending a talkative donkey who never seems to stop chattering. Mike Myers handles the titular role, Eddie Murphy plays the donkey, and Cameron Diaz lends her voice to the princess character.
Orange Is the New Black (2013-2019)
- IMDb Rating: 8/10
- Director/Creator: Jenji Kohan
- Cast: Taylor Schilling, Danielle Brooks, Taryn Manning
“Orange Is the New Black” is one of the more serious shows on Netflix, but it’s also full of funny moments from start to finish. It focuses on a woman serving time in prison after getting caught for a crime that happened 10 years ago. She did something illegal when she was a college student without thinking of the repercussions. As an adult, Piper Chapman has become a law-abiding citizen who does things by the book. She’s happily engaged to be married and she’s in the process of building a business with her best friend.
When a judge sentences her to 18 months in lockup, everything about her life gets flipped upside down. She loses her engagement, she loses her best friend, and she loses the normal connections she once had with her family members. The feeling of loneliness she experiences in prison pushes her back into the arms of a toxic ex-partner she has no business dealing with. While you might not think a show about prison would have any potential to be funny, the writers behind “Orange Is the New Black” knew how to add hilarious twists to the series.
Girls Trip (2017)
- IMDb Rating: 6.2/10
- Director/Creator: Malcolm D. Lee
- Cast: Regina Hall, Queen Latifah, Jada Pinkett Smith
With big names like Regina Hall, Queen Latifah, and Jada Pinkett Smith on the cast lineup for “Girls Trip,” it was impossible for this comedy movie to be a failure. It hit theaters in 2017 telling the story of four childhood friends, all grown up. They make plans to enjoy a girls’ trip in New Orleans for the weekend. New Orleans is their destination of choice since it’s where the annual Essence Festival is being held.
Since they’ve spent so much time apart, getting back together in one spot rekindles the spark of their fun, exciting, and chaotic energy from their younger days. As lifelong friends, it’s easy for them to understand each other’s cues when it comes to brawling, flirting, drinking, dancing, and everything else. The hilariousness of the events that unfold in “Girls Trip” is definitely worth watching now that it’s available for streaming on Netflix.
Ugly Betty (2006-2010)
- IMDb Rating: 6.7./10
- Director/Creator: Fernando Gaitán, Silvio Horta
- Cast: America Ferrera, Eric Mabius, Tony Plana
“Ugly Betty” stars America Ferrera in the titular role of a young woman living in New York City without a sense of style. Somehow, she gets hired at a fabulous fashion magazine – even though she doesn’t know a thing about fashion. The reason she was chosen? She’s a savvy and hard-working individual. While many people in the show are able to coast off of their good looks, she knows she has to step up to the plate by working harder than most other people to be accepted.
The second reason she was chosen for the job is because her boss knows she won’t be a distraction to his son. He’s well aware that his son won’t try to hook up with someone like her at any point in time, which was an issue his son had a reputation for with other female employees. “Ugly Betty” first premiered in 2006 and came to an end in 2010. (Now that we’ve uncovered the funniest movies and shows streaming on Netflix, check out the most hilarious options you’ll find on Paramount+.)