The best comedies on Netflix right now

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At the end of December, Netflix cut a number of comedies from the site due to expiring agreements. January was a little light on fresh comedies to watch, but February is a different story. There are more options now for comedy fans that aren’t limited to the Netflix originals.

This month’s best new additions to the comedy lineup include Sandra Bullock’s Miss Congeniality, a film celebrating its 25th anniversary later this year. An even older film on the list is Ivan Reitman’s Twins, which features the unlikely pairing of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito. Additionally, Jim Carrey is at the peak of his comedic prowess in Bruce Almighty.

Those are just a few of the films you can find below in the best comedies on Netflix right now. And now that the films from other studios are returning to the streamer, 2025 should be a lot funnier.

We’ve also curated guides to the best comedies on Hulu and the best romantic comedies on Netflix. Need more recommendations? Then check out the best new movies to stream this week, the best movies on Netflix, the best movies on Hulu, the best movies on Amazon Prime Video, the best movies on Max, and the best movies on Disney+.

Miss Congeniality (2000) [New]

• Genre: Comedy, Crime, Action

• Stars: Sandra Bullock, Benjamin Bratt, Michael Caine

• Directed by: Donald Petrie

Miss Congeniality is an action comedy that emphasizes the latter more than the former. Also, Sandra Bullock’s physical attractiveness is a plot point. Bullock plays FBI Special Agent Gracie Hart, a woman who has been demoted and shuffled to desk duty because she tried to save a life.

When a terrorist called The Citizen threatens to bomb a beauty pageant, Gracie’s partner, FBI Agent Eric Matthews (Benjamin Bratt), convinces their superiors that she is the only agent who can convincingly go undercover as one of the contestants. But first, veteran pageant coach Victor Melling (Michael Caine) has to teach Gracie how to look and act “like a lady.” He’s got his work cut out for him.

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Twins (1988) [New]

• Stars: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Danny DeVito, Kelly Preston

• Directed by: Ivan Reitman

Twins was made relatively early in Arnold Schwarzenegger’s career, and it marked a sharp turn into comedy between action flicks. Decades in the past, a science experiment performed on a young mother, Mary Ann (Heather Graham), was meant to create the perfect child. Instead, it resulted in Julius (Schwarzenegger) and Vincent Benedict (Danny DeVito), a pair of drastically different fraternal twins who spent the first 35 years of their lives unaware of the other’s existence.

Once Julius learns the truth, he tracks down Vincent and bonds with him. He also discovers that Vincent is deeply in debt to the criminal underworld. Although Julius is convinced that their mother may still be alive, convincing Vincent to help him search for Mary Ann may be an uphill battle.

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Bruce Almighty (2003) [New]

• Stars: Jim Carrey, Morgan Freeman, Jennifer Aniston

Jim Carrey getting the powers of God is one of the most perfect premises that any movie has ever gotten in Hollywood. In Bruce Almighty, Carrey plays TV journalist Bruce Nolan, a man whose career has stalled. More importantly to God (Morgan Freeman), Bruce’s faith has been seriously damaged. So God gives Bruce a chance to have his powers for a week to help people.

What Bruce fails to realize is that a lot of his desires are inherently selfish and meant to further his relationship with his girlfriend, Grace Connelly (Jennifer Aniston), and fulfill his ambitions. When Bruce finally gets around to answering prayers to God, it’s so overwhelming that even infinite powers can’t contain the mess he leaves in his wake.

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The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent (2022)

• Genre: Action, Comedy, Crime

• Stars: Nicolas Cage, Pedro Pascal, Sharon Horgan

• Directed by: Tom Gormican

The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent features Nicolas Cage in the part he was born to play… himself. And he looks like he’s having a ball poking fun at his own persona. In the film, Cage is on the outs with his ex-wife and daughter and creatively unfulfilled by acting. As he contemplates retirement, Cage accepts an invite to hang out with an eccentric billionaire, Javi Gutiérrez (The Last of Us‘ Pedro Pascal).

Despite his initial misgivings about Javi, Cage comes to enjoy his company and his collaborative spirit. But when the CIA approaches Cage with suspicions that Javi is an international criminal, he agrees to covertly spy on his new pal to determine the truth.

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Cunk on Life (2024)

• Genre: Comedy, Documentary

• Stars: Diane Morgan, Douglas Hedley, Rupert Sheldrake

The only thing you need to know about Philomena Cunk (Diane Morgan) is that she’s a nuclear-grade moron who isn’t smart enough to realize her shortcomings as a documentarian. Morgan has played this character for years, and her latest film, Cunk on Life, finds Philomena trying to answer the biggest questions in the universe about life, religion, the Big Bang, and more.

Since this is a mockumentary, Cunk pairs up with actual experts on the respective subjects, not all of whom are in on the joke. You can always count on Philomena to say the wrong thing or ask the dumbest questions. In some ways, it’s similar to Sacha Baron Cohen’s early work as Borat and Ali G.

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The Dead Don’t Die (2019)

• Stars: Bill Murray, Adam Driver, Tom Waits

• Directed by: Jim Jarmusch

The Dead Don’t Die may not match the comedic heights of Zombieland, but Bill Murray is in both, and the former has a truly impressive cast that includes Adam Driver, Selena Gomez, Steve Buscemi, Tilda Swinton, Austin Butler, Chloë Sevigny, Danny Glover, and more. Don’t get too attached to anyone, though. The dead might not be able to die in this farce, but the living frequently do.

Murray plays Cliff Robertson, the police chief of Centerville, who is accompanied by Officer Ronnie Peterson (Driver) and Officer Mindy Morrison (Chloë Sevigny). This trio is vastly unprepared for the zombie apocalypse and realize things are going to Hell in a hurry.

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Barbie (2023)

• Stars: Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, America Ferrera

• Directed by: Greta Gerwig

Margot Robbie is a Barbie among Barbies in the film that shares her character’s name. There are countless Barbies in Barbieland and almost as many Kens. One Ken (Ryan Gosling) can’t get Barbie to commit to a relationship. That’s because of Barbie’s preoccupation with some strange things happening to her.

When Barbie crosses over to reality, Ken tags along for the ride and discovers a world where men are dominant. Meanwhile, Barbie meets her owner, Sasha (Ariana Greenblatt), and Sasha’s mother, Gloria (America Ferrera), both of whom have a lot to teach Barbie about being a woman.

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Bad Boys: Ride or Die (2024)

• Genre: Action, Crime, Thriller, Comedy

• Stars: Will Smith, Martin Lawrence, Vanessa Hudgens

• Directed by: Adil El Arbi, Bilall Fallah

We’re not saying that Will Smith and Martin Lawrence are getting too old for this [bleep], but surely everyone was surprised when Bad Boys: Ride or Die was one of the big hits of summer 2024. Movie lovers just seem to enjoy a well-made action comedy. In the fourth chapter of his franchise, Mike Lowrey (Smith) and Marcus Burnett (Lawrence) have their most personal mission to date.

Their late captain, Conrad Howard (Joe Pantoliano), has been posthumously framed for corruption. Rather than let that stand, Mike and Marcus attempt to clear his name shortly before they’re framed for serious crimes as well. Now, the duo are on the run from the rest of the Miami PD. They must rely on a handful of friends in the department who are willing to risk their own necks to help them.

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Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F (2024)

• Genre: Action, Comedy, Crime

• Stars: Eddie Murphy, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Taylour Paige

It only took 30 years, but the fourth Beverly Hills Cop movie has arrived on Netflix. Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F brings Eddie Murphy back to one of his most iconic roles for the first time since 1994, as his reputation for causing trouble comes back to haunt him. Axel’s daughter, Jane Saunders (Taylour Paige), is estranged from him, but as soon as he hears that she’s in trouble, he’s on the first plane to Beverly Hills.

The actual Beverly Hills cops are less than happy to see Axel back in town. The lone exception is Jane’s ex-boyfriend, Detective Bobby Abbott (Joseph Gordon-Levitt). It’s a good thing too, because Axel needs someone to watch his back as he manages to alienate the city’s other cops in record time.

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Hit Man (2024)

• Genre: Comedy, Romance, Crime

• Stars: Glen Powell, Adria Arjona, Austin Amelio

• Directed by: Richard Linklater

Everyone has a calling in life. In Richard Linklater’s Hit Man, Gary Johnson (Glen Powell) has found his as a fake assassin who is used by the police to nab people who want to hire him to commit murder. Gary uses this gig as an excuse to improv different hit man personas, and profile his would-be clients.

The one client who gives Gary pause is Maddy Masters (Adria Arjona), a woman who wants her husband dead so she can escape her domestic strife. Gary refuses to spring his trap on Maddy, much to the anger and confusion of his police contacts. Gary also has to stay in one of his fake personas as he starts courting Maddy, which is just an invitation for disaster.

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No Hard Feelings (2023)

• Stars: Jennifer Lawrence, Andrew Barth Feldman, Laura Benanti

• Directed by: Gene Stupnitsky

What kind of woman answers a Craigslist ad promising money from wealthy parents in return for dating their awkward son? Why, that would be Jennifer Lawrence’s character in No Hard Feelings. Lawrence plays Maddie Barker, a woman in her early 30s who is on the verge of losing everything she has, including her home and her car.

Unfortunately for Maddie, dating 19-year-old Percy Becker (newcomer Andrew Barth Feldman) may be next to impossible. He seems impervious to her charms and even afraid of intimacy. For Maddie, it’s just a job, but she also hasn’t thought about what will happen if Percy ever learns the reason she pursued him.

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Fatherhood (2021)

• Stars: Kevin Hart, Melody Hurd, Alfre Woodard

In Fatherhood, Kevin Hart ditches the four-letter-word shtick (for the most part) in favor of a role that allows him to deliver some humanity in a warm and embracing way. After the passing of his wife, Matt (Hart) is determined to do everything in his power to give their daughter the life she deserves. As any parent can attest to, raising a child can be the most beautiful adventure of your life … but also a never-ending nightmare, complete with diapers, saving for college, and any number of unexpected, overbearing situations. While not reinventing the wheel by any means, Fatherhood lands its laughs with kindness and compassion for its characters.

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The Polka King (2017)

• Stars: Jack Black, Jenny Slate, Jason Schwartzman

The Polka King stars Jack Black as the ever-off-kilter Jan Lewan, a polka band leader who has dreams of making it big in America. Leaning on the love, support, and cold hard cash of his dedicated fans, Jan launches a Ponzi scheme to grow the funding for his polka-flavored empire. But as the government starts closing in on his exploitive financial gains, the figurative walls start closing in too, as thousands of invested dollars evolve into millions. A rags-to-riches narrative with a “fall from grace” backbone, The Polka King leans heavily on the idiosyncratic chops of Jack Black, a calling card talent that does a pretty great job at portraying Jan Lewan, a real-life Ponzi devotee and polka extraordinaire.

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Between Two Ferns: The Movie (2019)

• Stars: Zach Galifianakis, Lauren Lapkus, Ryan Gaul

• Directed by: Scott Aukerman

Between Two Ferns: The Movie goes for a meta approach, treating the Between Two Ferns web series as a cultural sensation that bumbling host Zach Galifianakis has no choice but to rescue. After getting recognition from comedic content host Funny or Die, platform-helmer Will Ferrell pitches Zach the deal of a lifetime: shoot 10 celebrity interviews in two weeks and become president of Funny or Die. Thus, the infamously clueless TV personality hits the road to chase his dreams of true stardom. Leaning on the many awkward strengths of the series it’s based upon, Between Two Ferns: The Movie manages to deliver plenty of laughs and a handful of ultra-cringeworthy moments, too.

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Metal Lords (2022)

• Genre: Comedy, Drama, Music

• Stars: Jaeden Martell, Isis Hainsworth, Adrian Greensmith

• Directed by: Peter Sollett

Game of Thrones co-creator D.B. Weiss is making his Netflix debut as the writer of a new rock comedy, Metal Lords. Within the film, high school students Kevin Schlieb (Jaeden Martell) and Hunter Sylvester (Adrian Greensmith) form their own heavy metal band even though they don’t quite have the talent to work as a duo. A new student, Emily Spector (Isis Hainsworth), may be just what the band needs. However, personality conflicts between the trio threaten to tear them apart before the big battle of the bands.

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Vampires vs. the Bronx (2020)

• Stars: Jaden Michael, Gerald W. Jones III, Gregory Diaz IV

• Directed by: Oz Rodriguez

Vampires vs. the Bronx may have skipped a theatrical release, but this Netflix original has earned its place on this list. As the title implies, gentrification isn’t the only evil thing to worry about, as Miguel Martinez (Jaden Michael) and his friends, Bobby Carter (Gerald W. Jones III) and Luis Acosta (Gregory Diaz IV), discover that the pale Europeans taking over the neighborhood literally want to suck out their blood. Realizing that the vampires are real and proving it are two different matters. The only guide these kids have to fighting vamps is the original Blade movie. But when push comes to shove, the people of the Bronx aren’t going to let some creatures of the night take their blood — or their homes.

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A Futile and Stupid Gesture (2018)

• Cast: Will Forte, Domhnall Gleeson, Martin Mull

This Netflix original movie tends to get buried under more high-profile releases, but A Futile and Stupid Gesture is a strongly constructed comedy biopic about Douglas Kenney (Bodkin‘s Will Forte), the co-founder of National Lampoon. Martin Mull co-stars as an older Doug while looking back at his career with his comedy partner-in-crime, Henry Beard (Domhnall Gleeson). Together, Douglas and Henry helped revolutionize comedy, and also paved the way for Animal House. But Doug’s struggle with addiction destroys nearly all of his relationships in the process. A very talented supporting cast including Joel McHale, Ed Helms, Matt Lucas, Thomas Lennon, Rick Glassman, and more also play some comedy legends who came to prominence thanks to Doug and Henry. This is a story that needed to be told, even though Doug’s legacy has largely been forgotten.

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Dolemite Is My Name (2019)

• Genre: Drama, Comedy, History

• Stars: Eddie Murphy, Keegan-Michael Key, Mike Epps

• Directed by: Craig Brewer

All hail the return of Eddie Murphy! Murphy plays Rudy Ray Moore in this Netflix original. Moore was a washed-up musician who transformed himself into the 1970’s blaxploitation character named Dolemite, becoming a cult star in the process. An ode to extremely independent filmmaking with a subtler touch than Bowfinger, this film features additional, outstanding performances from Wesley Snipes, The Holdovers star Da’Vine Joy Randolph, and Keegan-Michael Key.

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Can’t find what you want on Netflix? Fortunately, we’ve also rounded up the best comedies on Amazon Prime Video and the best comedies on Hulu.