The best comedy movies on Netflix right now (August 2019)

Posted: 08 Aug 2019 08:10 AM PDT

Sabienna Bowman has been covering entertainment news since 2010. She currently writes for Bustle, Reelgood, and PopSugar.

Netflix’s comedy section could overwhelm even the most ardent fans of the genre. There are big blockbuster hits, indie films, and dramedies all jostling for your attention when all you really want to do is settle in with a film that’s sure to make you laugh. That’s why we’ve waded through Netflix’s library to find the best comedies streaming right now. From classics like Groundhog Day to indie gems like The Young Offenders, these are the best comedy movies that Netflix has to offer right now.

Hit that Netflix button on your Roku remote, because these are the best comedy movies on Netflix right now.

Check out our other always-up-to-date guide for the best movies on Netflix:

Groundhog Day

Phil’s neverending day isn’t so fun for him, but it makes for one iconic movie. Groundhog Day is Bill Murray at his sardonic best. As Phil slowly figures out how to escape the time loop he’s stuck in, this exquisitely funny movie also offers up some sobering meditations on what it means to be a good person.

Four Weddings and a Funeral

Hulu recently adapted Four Weddings and a Funeral into a modern rom-com series, which makes now the perfect time to revisit the ’90s original starring Hugh Grant and Andie MacDowell. Delightful British humor aside, it’s Grant’s winning performance that really sets this movie apart. If you want to know why he’s still regarded as the rom-com king, this is a great place to start.

Bachelorette

The dark edge of Bachelorette may feel jarring at first — it does star Kirsten Dunst, Isla Fisher, Lizzy Caplan, and Rebel Wilson, after all — but the movie’s take on three bitter friends who can’t bring themselves to fully support their pal on her wedding day is meant to be a bitter commentary on the expectations placed on women. Go into this one expecting to fully dislike most of the characters, but just because they’re unlikable that doesn’t mean they’re not funny.

Then Came You

This British comedy is just as likely to make you cry as it is to make you laugh. Game of Thrones‘ Maisie Williams stars as a terminally ill teen who refuses to allow her diagnosis to define her. Instead, she faces her situation with humor as she convinces her friend to embark on an adventure with her.

Man Up

A case of mistaken identity leads to an unexpected romance for Simon Pegg’s Jack and Lake Bell’s Nancy. Nancy is in London celebrating her parents’ wedding anniversary when Jack mistakes her for his blind date. She goes with it, leading to a charming and sweetly funny modern rom-com.

Pineapple Express

If you don’t like stoner comedies, then you’ll probably want to skip Pineapple Express. However, if you do enjoy movies about slackers getting caught up in situations they have absolutely no idea how to deal with, then this Seth Rogen comedy is sure to delight you.

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World

The punk rock sensibilities of Scott Pilgrim vs. the World are more than enough to make it a blast to watch. But thankfully, the video game-style plot that finds Scott battling his new love’s exes in order to win her heart has a smart sense of humor and terrific performances from Michael Cera, Kieran Culkin, and Aubrey Plaza, too.

The Ballad of Buster Scruggs

The Coen Brothers’ western anthology is by turns clever, hilarious, and full of irreverent asides. By all accounts it could be Netflix’s best original to date, and it certainly has one of the best casts. Liam Neeson, Zoe Kazan, and Brendan Gleeson all turn in stellar performances.

The Young Offenders

Two pals from Cork ride off on a quest to find a whole lot of cocaine in this bawdy Irish comedy. The movie’s heroes are lay-abouts with hearts of gold (more or less) which makes their less than legal cash grab far more endearing than it should be.

The Man Who Knew Too Little

Murray embraces his silly side in this James Bond sendup. The actor’s Wallace Ritchie thinks he’s simply taking part in a role playing game, but when he’s soon mistaken for a hit man leading to mishaps and plenty of hilarity.

Caddyshack

Come for the gopher, stay for the incomparable Bill Murray. This movie about golf-obsessed rich dudes is every bit as riotous now as it was when it was first released in 1980.

The Hangover

Forget the one note sequels. They shouldn’t be allowed to tarnish the legacy of this wild night out bromance. From Zach Galifianakis’ oblivious, but lovable Alan to Ken Jeong’s constant scene-stealing, the first movie remains a laugh out loud treat.

The One I Love

The One I Love is a horror movie if you tilt your head just right, but the black, comedic heart of this marriage gone wrong story with a sci-fi twist can’t be denied. Mark Duplass and Elisabeth Moss star as a couple whose last ditch attempt to save their relationship leads them to stay in an unusual weekend house recommended by their therapist. And things just get weirder from there.

Mamma Mia!

Look, if Meryl Streep exuberant singing ABBA songs doesn’t make you grin, then nothing will. As rom-coms go, Mamma Mia! Is light on plot, but it more than makes up for that with the boundless energy of the all-star cast.

Operator

Mae Whitman gets the spotlight she deserves in this quiet, biting comedy about a husband and wife whose marriage goes off the rails when they both use each other in their work. Whitman is joined by Martin Starr, who quickly proves that he’s leading man material in a small, but clever indie comedy.

Julie & Julia

Sweet, romantic, and full of funny moments, Julie & Julia is a love letter to the power of food to bring people together. The movie stars Streep as the larger than life Julia Child, and Amy Adams as the modern day blogger who vows to cook her way through the legendary chef’s most famed cookbook.

The Breaker Upperers

The Breaker Upperers is one of those devilishly funny films that you won’t be able to stop talking about once you’ve seen it. The movie follows two cynical women who decide to break-up with other people’s significant others for them — for a praise. They of course find themselves drawn into other people’s personal lives leading to plenty of hilarious and heartfelt moments along the way.

As Good As It Gets

Jack Nicholson and Helen Hunt both took home Oscars for their roles in this biting rom-com, and for good reason: their performances are brilliant. Nicholson plays a prickly man suffering from OCD, and Hunt is the only waitress who is willing to serve him in the local diner. As you might expect, they fall in love, but the take a touching and funny path to get there.

Music and Lyrics

Hugh Grant and Drew Barrymore make a superb team in this mostly forgotten rom-com. He’s a fading rock star and she’s the woman who waters his plants and has a way with words. Together they make awkward, but weirdly addictive pop music together.

The Edge of Seventeen

Coming of age tales are rarely as astute and self-assured as this one. The comedy is quiet, but watching Hailee Steinfeld navigate being 17 is always rewarding. (And there’s bonus Woody Harrelson, and it’s a known fact that he makes everything better.)

Harry and the Hendersons

The ’80s were a gloriously weird time for movies. But the decade gave the world cult classics like Harry and the Hendersons, a movie about a family that inadvertently ends up adopting Bigfoot. John Lithgow stars in this silly, but oh so watchable film that will make you feel like you’re 10 again.

Zack and Miri Make a Porno

Don’t let the salacious title fool you, Zack and Miri Make a Porno isn’t nearly as salacious as it sounds. Seth Rogen and Elizabeth Banks play roommates drowning in debt who decide to make an adult film for extra cash, but in true movie fashion things quickly spiral out of control leading to a funny, but also warm comedy that you’ll want to watch again and again.

Always Be My Maybe

Netflix is almost single-handedly making the rom-com genre relevant again, and it’s all thanks to brilliant little movies like Always Be My Maybe. Starring Ali Wong and Randall Park, the film about estranged high school sweethearts who reconnect as adults is a bit like a modern day When Harry Met Sally. The film finds humor in the yearning for the central characters to find love with one another, even as it suggests that may not be what’s best for either of them. Add in a sublime performance from Keanu Reeves, and you have the recipe for one of the best romantic comedies of the year.

Someone Great

The twin life changes of a breakup and a new job lead to an unexpectedly delightful comedy about female friends indulging in a wild night out. Starring Gina Rodriguez, Brittany Snow, and DeWanda Wise, this Netflix original packs in laughs even as it lingers on the uncomfortable realities of adulthood. Rodriguez is the perfect anchor for this tale of female friendship and new adventures, and you’ll find yourself rooting for her (and relating to her) in no time.

About Time

Released in 2013, About Time appears to be a time travel themed love story about a man who decides to improve his life after his dad reveals that the men in the family can time travel. It’s a bit more complicated than that though. Sure, there’s a love story at the heart of this funny little film, but don’t be surprised when it turns out to be less about romance than it is about the bonds between fathers and sons.

Unicorn Store

Captain Marvel and Nick Fury first united in Brie Larson’s 2017 directorial debut, Unicorn Store. And believe it or not, this movie is exactly what it says on the tin. Larson plays a failed art student whose dream of owning a unicorn comes true thanks to Samuel L. Jackson. It’s an unabashedly weird, but also life-affirming story about chasing your dreams, even the impossible ones.

Wine Country

What happens when you put seven of the funniest women in the world together in one film? Nothing but good things. Amy Poehler, Rachel Dratch, Maya Rudolph, Paula Pell, Tina Fey, Emily Spivey, and Ana Gasteyer star in Wine Country, a movie about a group of lifelong friends reckoning with the realities of middle age during a 50th birthday trip. The jokes fly fast in this movie, but expect plenty of truth bombs about adulthood to be dropped by the incredible cast too.

About a Boy

Hugh Grant is finally getting the career recognition he deserves thanks to his roles in A Very English Scandal and Paddington 2, which makes now the perfect time to look back on what may very well be his best performance. About a Boy stars Grant as a man child living off the royalties of a single hit song. He has no responsibilities and no direction, but all of that changes when a strange little boy from his neighborhood forces him to grow up. This is a comedy with a razor sharp dramatic edge that offers both humor and plenty of pathos.

Monty Python and the Holy Grail

Comedies with drama and romance are great. But sometimes you just want to laugh until you cry and your sides hurt. On those days, you need the sublime silliness of Monty Python and the Holy Grail. A three-headed giant, a killer rabbit, and a fearless knight who doesn’t know when to cut his losses are just a few of the delights you’ll find in this classic.

Wet Hot American Summer

Before it was a Netflix series, Wet Hot American Summer was a fearlessly madcap film about a group of teens falling in love, growing up, and also maybe saving the world over the course of the last day of summer camp. Granted those teens were played by adults like Amy Poehler, Paul Rudd, and Bradley Cooper. And the growing up sometimes happened in a single scene. Oh, and did we mention the talking can of beans? You know what, you’re just going to have to watch this one for yourself.

Heathers

Before Mean Girls, there was Heathers. The 1988 dark comedy stars Winona Ryder as a teen navigating the vicious cliques that form in high school. Her objection to the cruelty exhibited by her own clique spirals out of control in record time. Deliciously wicked and an utter blast to watch, this movie’s perfect for a night when you want to laugh at some seriously bad behavior.

In Bruges

Two hit men lie low in a small city in Belgium for what’s meant to be a respite from their bloody work. Instead, they find themselves interacting with locals and tourists who push their lives in an unexpected direction. This comedy definitely falls into the dark category, but while it has its brutal moments, In Bruges is a pleasure to watch.

Empire Records

Empire Records is a true cult classic starring plenty of future famous faces including Liv Tyler, Renée Zellweger, and Tobey Maguire. Set in a failing record store, the movie includes all of the music references and snark that you could ask for, but it also tells the story of a group of young people who aren’t passionate about much except for music. Their quest to save the store is by turns funny and heartfelt.

Swiss Army Man

Daniel Radcliffe’s been determined not to be typecast as Harry Potter since the franchise ended, and Swiss Army Man is a pretty extreme departure for the actor. In the film, he plays a flatulent dead body and a source of endless humor as his corpse becomes the key to Paul Dano’s character Hank’s escape from a deserted island. Fair warning, this movie is weird, but it’s also pretty darn amusing.

Our Idiot Brother

Paul Rudd is a gift from the acting gods, and he proves that once again as the titular “idiot brother” in this indie gem. After selling marijuana to a cop, Rudd’s Ned is sent to jail. When he’s released, he finds himself at the mercy of his three sisters and their messy lives.

Death at a Funeral

Death isn’t the first subject that comes to mind when you think comedy, but this movie makes a good case for why a funeral can be the perfect setting for hilarity to ensue. Chris Rock, Zoe Saldana, and Peter Dinklage star in this film about a family coming together to mourn their patriarch only to find the day marred by mishaps and family secrets.

The Informant

Steven Soderbergh directs this 2009 film about a hapless spy enthusiast who decides to help the FBI bring down a major corporation. Matt Damon stars as the informant, and his wide-eyed enthusiasm is the perfect hook for a comedy of errors inspired by real-life events. Everyone knows Damon can be suave and heroic, but he doesn’t get enough credit for just how hilarious he can be when given the opportunity.

50/50

Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Seth Rogen keep 50/50, the story of a young man’s cancer diagnosis, from becoming too grave. Their combined comedic prowess makes this film’s message about the power of having a good (and irreverent) friend by your side through a difficult time ring true. It also makes it a surprisingly fun watch.

Set It Up

Another inspired Netflix rom-com, Set It Up focuses on two overworked millennials who concoct a plan to get their bosses to hook up in hopes of decreasing their workloads. Of course, their scheme brings them together, but it’s a welcome development in what is a warm and clever film that’s as much about friendship as it is about romance.