The various streaming platforms are home to some sidesplitting comedy films, and a good laugh is only a few clicks away. Since the inception of cinema, comedy has been perhaps the most consistent genre of all. From the Silent Era to today, audiences have flocked to cinemas to put away their worries for a while and laugh together.
Though comedy has changed, it remains just as powerful and restorative today as it was in the past. Whether it’s a sincere rom-com or a raunchy stoner flick, every comedy film has its own audience that finds that brand of humor hilarious. The advent of streaming has expanded comedy’s reach, making most movies available at the touch of a button.
All the major streaming services have dozens of comedy films to choose from, but the best of the best stand out. The beauty of streaming is that classics from Hollywood’s Golden Age are available alongside modern films fresh from theaters, so viewers have access to the breadth of comedy history.
Step Brothers (2008) – Paramount+
Adam McKay’s Step Brothers perfectly sums up the low-brow sense of humor that made Will Ferrell a star. Ferrell appears alongside John C. Reilly as a duo of immature unemployed adults who are forced to co-exist when their parents get married. It’s raunchy and silly, and nearly every line has become a beloved quote.
The overt immaturity is itself a joke, with the film spoofing the sort of stunted adults who are represented by Dale and Brennan. The film is a fixture of later days Millennial pop culture, though its critical reception was mixed. Step Brothers is a rare comedy that has the power to unite viewers without sacrificing any of its unique qualities.
10 Things I Hate About You (1999) – Hulu
Romantic comedies never seem to get old, but movies like 10 Things I Hate About You stand above the rest. In order to date his crush, a high school student must set her older sister up with the school’s resident bad boy. A modern retelling of Shakespeare, the film has a magical quality that has rarely been replicated.
The ’90s were known for cynical angst, but 10 Things I Hate About You succeeds because of how sincerely it operates. Stars Heath Ledger and Julia Stiles have amazing chemistry, and the film deftly balances humor with romantic moments certain to make any heart flutter. Thanks to streaming, the classic rom-com is available to rewatch again and again.
Snatch (2000) – Netflix
Director Guy Ritchie is known for combining action and humor together, and Snatch was only his second feature film. Featuring multiple interwoven storylines, the film concerns a pair of boxing promoters who get involved in the criminal underworld. The fast-paced script blows past the audience at blinding speed, and the laughs are almost non-stop.
Brad Pitt steals the show, but the ensemble cast includes stalwarts like Jason Statham and Benicio del Toro. Blending elements of British gangster stories with farcical crime comedies, Snatch was unlike anything American audiences had seen up to that point. 25 years later, it’s just as hilarious as it was at the turn of the new millennium.
The Phoenician Scheme (2025) – Prime Video
Over his 30-plus-year career, Wes Anderson has delivered the most fiercely original films, and 2025’s The Phoenician Scheme is no different. A wealthy developer with a seedy past hopes to pass the family business on to his daughter, who is in training to become a nun. Effortlessly blending style and humor, the film is a joyous feast for the eyes.
Though the film is certainly an acquired taste, The Phoenician Scheme is unlike anything made before (except, of course, for Anderson’s other movies). The globetrotting adventure story is an excellent alternative to most mainstream comedies, but that doesn’t mean it lacks conventional laughs. The Phoenician Scheme is the perfect way to escape the usual.
The Naked Gun (2025) – Paramount+
Rebooting one of the most beloved screwball comedies of all time was a tricky proposition, but The Naked Gun pulled it off. Frank Drebin Jr. (Liam Neeson) must solve his most complex case yet in order to keep the police precinct from shutting down. Unafraid to be absolutely ridiculous, 2025’s The Naked Gun understands the original’s sense of humor.
The original Naked Gun movies are available to stream on Hulu.
The key to the movie’s success is the casting of Neeson, who gives one of the funniest performances in recent memory. The remake never feels unnecessary, because it acts as a natural continuation of the first three films starring Leslie Nielsen. In 2025, a sincere and unabashed comedy is a rare thing, especially one so successful at the box office.
Submarine (2010) – Prime Video
A cornerstone film in the late Aughts and early 2010s hipster cinema boom, Submarine remains one of the most underrated coming-of-age films ever made. A Welsh teen is determined to lose his virginity while also keeping his parents’ marriage intact. Funny in a subtle way, Submarine is a slick and stylish little movie the draws the viewer in.
It uses the usual coming-of-age tropes, but subverts them with darker humor and a very intentional style. Though its quirky exterior may seem like a barrier for many conventional moviegoers, Submarine is jam-packed with rich emotion and heart so that anyone can enjoy it. It’s underrated, but beloved by almost anyone who has seen the film.
Friendship (2025) – HBO Max
2025 was the year that mainstream audiences finally caught up with Tim Robinson thanks to his hit TV series, The Chair Company, but Friendship was just as triumphant. Robinson stars as a mild-mannered suburbanite who befriends his cool new neighbor and takes things way too far. A quintessential cringe comedy, Friendship is hilariously squirm-inducing.
Robinson and Paul Rudd are a match made in comedy heaven, and each scene builds with a hilarious suspense. In its own weird way, the movie analyzes the challenges of adult friendships, but it uses absurdity to make its points. With comedy in limbo in the modern day, Friendship represents the next logical step for the classic genre to take.
Monty Python And The Holy Grail (1975) – Prime Video
The legendary comedy troupe hit their peak when they released the classic film, Monty Python and the Holy Grail in the 1970s. Essentially a spoof of the King Arthur legend, the film grows increasingly bizarre with each new hilarious moment. One of the greatest nerd comedies ever made, the film has transcended cult status to become a bona fide classic.
The movie’s low-budget aesthetic is part of the humor and charm, and it feels like a cobbled-together mess that gets even messier as it goes along. Nearly every scene is a permanent part of popular culture, and Monty Python and the Holy Grail is a must-watch for any kind of movie fan.
City Lights (1931) – HBO Max
Charlie Chaplin helped shape the way comedy was presented on the big screen, and his 1931 film, City Lights, is perhaps the best of his entire career. Chaplin’s beloved Tramp character falls for a beautiful flower seller who is blind, and befriends an eccentric millionaire. Without the use of dialogue, the film tells a compelling and rich narrative.
The Tramp’s antics are hilarious, but the movie’s real power comes from its heart. City Lights is a beautiful display of the artistry of filmmaking, and its impact hasn’t dulled nearly 100 years after its debut. The message of the film remains very pertinent today, and it still has the power to elicit belly laughs and tears in equal measure.
A Real Pain (2024) – Hulu
Though it fits squarely in the dramedy category, A Real Pain is still a funny experience. Following the death of their grandmother, two estranged cousins tour Poland in her honor, but find plenty to clash about in the course of their journey. Kieran Culkin snagged an Oscar for his performance, and it’s one of the best-acted comedies in recent memory.
The humor comes from the disparate personalities of the leads, but therein lies the drama as well. A Real Pain has plenty of very heavy moments, but that helps make the comedy feel all the more joyous in contrast. Comedy movies aren’t always about getting simple laughs, and the 2024 gem shows that they can be a transformative experience too.