The 20 best comedy movies on Hulu
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Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures; 20thCentFox/Courtesy Everett Collection; Hulu Jason Bateman in 'Game Night'; Meryl Streep in 'The Devil Wears Prada'; Andy Samberg in 'Palm Springs'
Life is hard, and we could all use a mental vacation sometimes. From the silly shenanigans of Game Night, to the cringe-worthy laughs of Not Okay, we've got your comedy needs covered from coast-to-coast, with a variety of genre destinations in-between. Since we first published this list, Hulu has parted with some stellar comedies, including The Descendants (2011), 10 Things I Hate About You (1999), and Booksmart (2019). But in their place are fun flicks that are on par with their predecessors. As of October 2023, here are the best comedy movies streaming on Hulu.
<i>Dazed and Confused</i> (1993)
Rated by EW as the third-best high school movie of all time, Dazed and Confused is a seminal film, not only for Generation X but for generations to come. Richard Linklater's Texas-set hangout comedy follows various soon-to-be seniors and first year students on the last day of high school in 1976, from hazings to ragers, humiliations to revelations. It also gave rise to future A-lister Matthew McConaughey, cementing his "All right, all right, all right" persona here as a guy who's probably a little too old to be hanging out with teenagers. The cult classic may be light on plot, but the vibes still have us livin', man. L-I-V-I-N. As EW wrote, "Few other films say as much about starting, sticking around in, and leaving high school." —Kevin Jacobsen
Where to watch Dazed and Confused: Hulu
EW grade: N/A (read the review)
Director: Richard Linklater
Cast: Jason London, Joey Lauren Adams, Milla Jovovich, Rory Cochrane, Adam Goldberg, Cole Hauser, Parker Posey, Matthew McConaughey, Ben Affleck
Related content: Richard Linklater says he 'didn't make any money' from directing Dazed and Confused
<i>Little Miss Sunshine</i> (2006)
This little Sundance-darling-that-could is as quirky and charming as the yellow Volkswagon van the Hoovers use for their road trip to California. The film centers on a chaotic family as they drive from New Mexico to bring young Olive (Abigail Breslin) to a child beauty pageant, in which she desperately wishes to compete. Plenty of dysfunction occurs along the way, including persistent van troubles, which only compounds the stress for mother Sheryl (Toni Collette), workaholic father Richard (Greg Kinnear), and Sheryl's depressed brother Frank (Steve Carell). And that's not even taking into account Olive's older brother Dwayne (Paul Dano), who has taken a vow of silence, and Olive's beloved grandpa Edwin (Alan Arkin), who has a heroin addiction. The winning ensemble contributes to hectic yet lovable atmosphere; the film went on to be embraced by critics and audiences, taking home the Oscars for Best Supporting Actor for Arkin and Best Original Screenplay. —K.J.
Where to watch Little Miss Sunshine: Hulu
Director: Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris
Cast: Greg Kinnear, Steve Carell, Toni Collette, Paul Dano, Abigail Breslin, Alan Arkin
Related content: Abigail Breslin remembers Little Miss Sunshine costar Alan Arkin: 'He will always be Grandpa in my heart'
<i>Sleepless in Seattle</i> (1993)
Simultaneously a throwback to the classic swoony rom-coms of Old Hollywood and a modern commentary on such films, Sleepless in Seattle has become a comfort film in the years since its release. The film stars Tom Hanks as Sam, a widower who tells his story of grief to a national radio program, which attracts the attention of Annie (Meg Ryan), a reporter who is unhappily engaged. Through a series of events (mostly put in motion by Sam's plucky young son), Sam and Annie eventually find their way to the top of the Empire State Building. Sleepless in Seattle proved that even when two leads are separated for most of the film, true rom-com magic can still manifest in the right hands. Nora Ephron directed and co-wrote the film, for which she earned a Best Original Screenplay nomination at the Oscars. —K.J.
Where to watch Sleepless in Seattle: Hulu
EW grade: C (read the review)
Director: Nora Ephron
Cast: Tom Hanks, Meg Ryan, Bill Pullman, Ross Malinger, Rob Reiner
Related content: Sleepless in Seattle: Rita Wilson improvised part of her Affair to Remember monologue
<i>Tropic Thunder</i> (2008)
Hollywood skewering Hollywood doesn't always play as intended, but this action comedy is audacious in portraying the pretensions of show business. Ben Stiller (who also directed and co-wrote the film), Jack Black, and Robert Downey Jr. star as actors making a faux-prestigious war movie, with each of them proving demanding for their director. But things go from bad to worse after the director opts for a hidden camera style of filmmaking, and the pampered actors are faced with real-life dangers in the jungle, with no script to guide them. Tropic Thunder lampoons the absurdity of Hollywood and its inherent shallowness, from self-indulgent method actors to ego-driven producers. "With every character, and with every believably outrageous turn of the plot," wrote EW's critic, "Stiller brings real insider knowledge of — and compassion for — the big business of Hollywood make-believe." —K.J.
Where to watch Tropic Thunder: Hulu
EW grade: A (read the review)
Director: Ben Stiller
Cast: Ben Stiller, Jack Black, Robert Downey Jr., Steve Coogan, Jay Baruchel, Danny McBride, Brandon T. Jackson, Bill Hader, Nick Nolte
Related content: Ben Stiller still has 'no apologies' for Tropic Thunder: 'Always been a controversial movie'
<i>50 First Dates</i> (2004)
Following the success of 1998's The Wedding Singer, Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore reunited six years later with this date-movie-ready romantic comedy. Sandler plays Henry, a playboy veterinarian who strikes up a connection with Barrymore's Lucy, an art teacher whose amnesia-like condition makes her forget her memories of the previous day. Enamored with Lucy, Henry embarks on several meet-cute "first"dates with her, though things take a turn when she discovers the truth of her condition. Called "agreeably deranged" by EW's critic at the time of its release, 50 First Dates has a goofy quality inherent in its plot, but the chemistry between Sandler and Barrymore is enough to elevate this above other early-2000s comedy fare. —K.J.
Where to watch 50 First Dates: Hulu
EW grade: B (read the review)
Director: Peter Segal
Cast: Adam Sandler, Drew Barrymore, Rob Schneider, Sean Astin, Dan Aykroyd
Related content: Adam Sandler wins Drew Barrymore over again in 50 First Dates reunion
<i>Bend It Like Beckham</i> (2002)
This crowd-pleasing sports comedy tells the story of Jess (Parminder Nagra), a teenage Londoner who idolizes David Beckham and dreams of becoming a footballer, against the wishes of her traditional Indian Punjabi Sikh family. She meets Jules (Keira Knightley), a member of the local women's team, who befriends her and encourages her to sign up to play. Told with humor and heart, Bend It Like Beckham drew heaps of praise when it was released Stateside in 2003, with EW's critic writing at the time, "Bend It Like Beckham is the most exhilarating movie so far this year," praising its "craftsmanship and pizzazz that restores your appreciation for honest commercial moviemaking." —K.J.
Where to watch Bend It Like Beckham: Hulu
EW grade: A (read the review)
Director: Gurinder Chadha
Cast: Parminder Nagra, Keira Knightley, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Anupam Kher, Juliet Stevenson, Shaznay Lewis, Archie Panjabi
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<i>The Devil Wears Prada</i> (2006)
The Devil Wears Prada? On a list of great movie comedies? Groundbreaking. Miranda Priestly may not approve of such a standard choice, but we can't help but return to this 2006 adaptation of Lauren Weisberger's novel again and again. Anne Hathaway stars as Andy, a budding journalist who takes an assistant job working for Meryl Streep's Miranda, a demanding fashion editor who inspires fear without even raising her voice. The film remains endlessly rewatchable, not only for its quotable lines and fun atmosphere but also for its potent themes, from Andy's evolution into a more confident person to its depiction of the fashion industry and its surprising impact on the world. That's all. —K.J.
Where to watch The Devil Wears Prada: Hulu
EW grade: N/A (read the review)
Director: David Frankel
Cast: Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, Stanley Tucci, Simon Baker, Adrian Grenier
Related content: Anne Hathaway teases her 'tempting' idea for Devil Wears Prada sequel, or 'they could relaunch it'
<i>The Death of Stalin</i> (2018)
Armando Iannucci, one of the leading political satirists of our time (Veep, In the Loop), brings his signature wit and farce to 1950s USSR following the titular event. A cavalcade of character actors make up the various cabinet members and advisors who scramble for power and influence in the wake of Joseph Stalin's demise, with memorable turns from Steve Buscemi as Nikita Khrushchev, 1st Secretary Moscow Committee; Simon Russell Beale as NKVD head Lavrenti Beria; and Andrea Riseborough as Stalin's daughter, Svetlana. All are in service of Iannucci's clever script, with EW's critic observing, "Iannucci treats the casual depravity of Stalinism — the mass arrests and gulags and summary executions, the Orwellian double-speak and constant paranoia — with his trademark surrealist wit, and lands a few truly great lines." —K.J.
Where to watch The Death of Stalin: Hulu
EW grade: B (read the review)
Director: Armando Iannucci
Cast: Steve Buscemi, Simon Russell Beale, Paddy Considine, Rupert Friend, Jason Isaacs, Michael Palin, Andrea Riseborough, Jeffrey Tambor
Related content: Veep creator tackles a dictatorship in hilarious The Death of Stalin trailer
<i>Game Night</i> (2018)
A night of fun and games escalates quickly into mayhem in this riotous action comedy. Jason Bateman and Rachel McAdams play a couple whose game night is interrupted by a kidnapping, sending them and their friends down a rabbit hole that includes a jealous neighbor, a quest for a Fabergé egg, and a mysterious man known as the Bulgarian. Game Night only gets zanier with each wild plot twist, with EW describing it as "a kooky, vicarious loop of Mad Libs meets Cards Against Humanity." It also provides a great showcase for McAdams' comedic skills, whose line reading on "Oh no, he died" is an all-timer. —K.J.
Where to watch Game Night: Hulu
EW grade: B+ (read the review)
Directors: John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein
Cast: Jason Bateman, Rachel McAdams, Billy Magnussen, Sharon Horgan, Lamorne Morris, Kylie Bunbury, Jesse Plemons, Michael C. Hall, Kyle Chandler
Related content: Kyle Chandler and Jesse Plemons talk Friday Night Lights to Game Night
<i>The Little Hours</i> (2017)
This underrated indie comedy transports Alison Brie, Kate Micucci, and Aubrey Plaza and all their modern comedic sensibilities to 1347 Italy, with the trio playing repressed nuns. Having tortured the convent's gardener into quitting, the trio becomes intrigued by his replacement, Massetto (Dave Franco), who is pretending to be deaf-mute while hiding out after being caught in bed with his former employer's wife. Those looking for 14th-century realistic dialogue should look elsewhere as The Little Hours takes wicked pleasure in its anachronisms, particularly Plaza's sadistic, foul-mouthed Sister Fernanda. As EW's review noted, "The dissonance between the austere setting and the filthy jokes brings to mind some of Mel Brooks' or Monty Python's most famous efforts, and the result is a screwball farce that's heavy on the improv and the creative insults." —K.J.
Where to watch The Little Hours: Hulu
EW grade: B (read the review)
Director: Jeff Baena
Cast: Alison Brie, Dave Franco, Kate Micucci, Aubrey Plaza, John C. Reilly, Molly Shannon
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<i>Rye Lane</i> (2023)
Fresh off a splashy, well-received premiere at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival, this British rom-com centers on Dom (David Jonsson) and Yas (Vivian Oparah), who meet in a gender-neutral bathroom and bond over their recent breakups. Walking around Rye Lane Market in South London, they discuss life and love as their bond grows inevitably closer. While rom-coms of this variety have existed for decades and decades, critics were universal in their praise of Rye Lane as an invigorating addition to the genre. There is a warmth and vibrancy to the film, with first-time feature director Raine Allen-Miller infusing her South London setting with specificity and genuine affection, and Jonsson and Oparah have the kind of complementary energies that make such films so magical. —K.J.
Director: Raine Allen-Miller
Cast: David Jonsson, Vivian Oparah
Related content: Sundance Film Festival wrap-up: The best and worst of 2023
<i>Triangle of Sadness</i> (2022)
Triangle of Sadness comes after a slew of similarly delicious "eat the rich" satires in recent years, from Parasite (2019) to The White Lotus to The Menu (2022). Ruben Östlund, whose previous class commentaries include Force Majeure (2014) and The Square (2017), won the Palme d'Or for writing and directing this audacious comedy about a pair of dating models who set sail on a luxury cruise that ends in disaster. (Think Titanic, but with a lot more bodily fluids.) As EW's critic raved in her review, Triangle of Sadness is "not the funhouse mirror we need for these ridiculous times, maybe, but one we deserve." Östlund's film went on to score Oscar nominations for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Original Screenplay, though curiously not nominated was Dolly de Leon, whose forceful presence in the film's third act makes for a wildly unpredictable ending. —K.J.
Where to watch Triangle of Sadness: Hulu
EW grade: B+ (read the review)
Director: Ruben Östlund
Cast: Harris Dickinson, Charlbi Dean, Dolly de Leon, Woody Harrelson, Zlatko Burić, Iris Berben, Vicki Berlin, Henrik Dorsin, Jean-Christophe Folly, Amanda Walker, Oliver Ford Davies, Sunnyi Melles
Related content: Triangle of Sadness director breaks down the film's class satire and that wild vomiting scene
<i>The Worst Person in the World</i> (2021)
The Worst Person in the World plays like one of those great romantic comedies that charms you to start, only to sneak up on you with the emotional weight and authenticity of its depiction of modern relationships by its conclusion. The Norwegian film unfolds through 12 chapters of med student Julie's (Renate Reinsve) life as she tries to figure out what she wants, falling in and out of love. Her relationship with a comic artist 15 years her senior leaves an indelible mark on her life. Joachim Trier's film may be classified as a rom-com (with admittedly heavy dramatic undertones), but it deftly plays with tropes of the genre to provide a fresh experience for the audience. EW's critic wrote, "It vibrates with real life, a film so fresh and untethered to rom-com cliché it might actually reshape the idea of what movies like this can be." The film received Oscar nominations for Best International Feature and Best Original Screenplay. —K.J.
Where to watch The Worst Person in the World: Hulu
EW grade: A (read the review)
Director: Joachim Trier
Cast: Renate Reinsve, Anders Danielsen Lie, Herbert Nordrum
Related content: The most shocking snubs and surprises of the 2022 Oscar nominations
<i>On the Count of Three</i> (2022)
Jerrod Carmichael made his feature directorial debut with this dark comedy in which he stars alongside Girls alum Christopher Abbott. The duo play friends who make a suicide pact, but decide to spend one last day doing whatever they want and resolving prior issues. Despite its dark premise, Carmichael finds the right tone to deliver an authentic portrait of friendship as his Val and Abbott's Kevin are able to find simple joys in life even through the pain. "The movie settles into the blackest kind of buddy comedy," EW's critic wrote in her review, "a lacerating slice of nihilism rooted in real despair, and real I-love-you-man tenderness, too." Plus, the film's expert use of Papa Roach's "Last Resort" certainly leaves an impact. —K.J.
Where to watch On the Count of Three: Hulu
EW grade: B+ (read the review)
Director: Jerrod Carmichael
Cast: Jerrod Carmichael, Christopher Abbott, Tiffany Haddish, J.B. Smoove, Lavell Crawford, Henry Winkler
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<i>The Bob's Burgers Movie</i> (2022)
In the tradition of animated TV staples like South Park and The Simpsons, the Belcher family hit the big screen with a feature film of their own. Taking place between Bob's Burgers' 12th and 13th seasons, the film follows the sudden appearance of a sinkhole in front of the Belchers' restaurant, which puts a dent in their business. A desperate Bob and Linda appeal to their landlord, Mr. Fischoeder, only for him to be charged with murder. The kids set out to clear his name and determine the true culprit. While the plot may sound inherently dramatic on paper, in true Bob's Burgers fashion, there is much fun to be had along the way. The film retains the Emmy-winning series' wit and heart, with a musical whimsy that should delight its core fanbase as much as newcomers to the franchise. —K.J.
Where to watch The Bob's Burgers Movie: Hulu
Directors: Loren Bouchard, Bernard Derriman
Cast: H. Jon Benjamin, Kristen Schaal, Dan Mintz, John Roberts, Eugene Mirman, David Wain, Zach Galifianakis, Kevin Kline
Related content: Christmas lights and family fights: Ranking Bob's Burgers Christmas episodes
<i>Not Okay</i> (2022)
The perils of internet fame are explored in this satirical cautionary tale. Zoey Deutch plays Danni, a photo editor whose innocent lie about attending a writers' retreat in Paris spirals out of control as she fabricates photos of her trip for online attention. Things are taken to a new level when she claims to have survived a bombing at the Arc de Triomphe, which gains her unearned sympathy as she struggles to maintain the lie. Not Okay made headlines with its tongue-in-cheek trigger warning at the start of the film, claiming some viewers may be turned off by its depiction of an "unlikable female protagonist." With its sharp, provocative edge, it won't be for everyone, but few would disagree with its messaging of the dangers of being Too Online. —K.J.
Director: Quinn Shephard
Cast: Zoey Deutch, Mia Isaac, Dylan O'Brien, Nadia Alexander, Embeth Davidtz, Karan Soni
Related content: Dylan O'Brien talks playing thirst trap influencer in Not Okay: 'The f---boys are everywhere!'
<i>Another Round</i> (2020)
A potent cocktail of comedy and tragedy, Thomas Vinterberg's Another Round takes place in modern-day Copenhagen as four dissatisfied friends and teachers decide to embark on an experiment: maintain a state of buzz from alcohol to unlock their creative potential. Results are positive to start, with all four finding their moods raised and teaching methods more fruitful for their students. But things take an unfortunate turn as the friends decide to take their alcohol consumption to the next level. Featuring a stunning lead performance by Mads Mikkelsen, the Danish film received widespread critical acclaim for its depiction of men at a certain age as they try to quell their midlife crises. Vinterberg received a Best Director Oscar nomination for the film, which also won the award for Best International Feature. —K.J.
Where to watch Another Round: Hulu
EW grade: B (read the review)
Director: Thomas Vinterberg
Cast: Mads Mikkelsen, Thomas Bo Larsen, Magnus Millang, Lars Ranthe
Related content: Thomas Vinterberg on Another Round and convincing Mads Mikkelsen to dance
<i>Happiest Season</i> (2020)
In 2020, actress, writer, and director Clea DuVall pulled us out of our collective pandemic funk with the gift of Happiest Season, a queer holiday rom-com released on Hulu. Co-written with actress Mary Holland and directed by DuVall, Happiest Season follows Abby (Kristen Stewart) as she goes to meet her girlfriend Harper's (Mackenzie Davis) parents and spend Christmas at their family's home. The visit is only slightly complicated by the fact that Harper's conservative family — including her perfectionistic mother Tipper (Mary Steenburgen) and her mayoral candidate father (Victor Garber) — don't know she's gay...or that she's dating Abby. Hijinks ensue, feelings are hurt, and the city of Pittsburgh has never looked more inviting. With a monster cast that includes Alison Brie and Holland as Harper's eccentric sisters, Aubrey Plaza as her ex, and Dan Levy as Abby's best friend, Happiest Season manages to be, as EW's critic puts it, "a smart, heartfelt comedy whose small flaws are easily blotted out by bigger charms." —Andrew Walsh
Where to watch Happiest Season: Hulu
EW grade: B+ (read the review)
Director: Clea DuVall
Cast: Kristen Stewart, Mackenzie Davis, Alison Brie, Aubrey Plaza, Dan Levy, Mary Holland, Victor Garber, Mary Steenburgen
Related content: Kristen Stewart on making the Yuletide super-gay in Happiest Season
<i>Palm Springs</i> (2020)
Nyles (Andy Samberg) and Sarah (Cristin Milioti) are stuck at a Palm Springs wedding that will literally never end. While Nyles is resigned to his fate, Sarah — the maid of honor — is desperate to escape this desert hell. Directed by Max Barbakow with a script from Andy Siara, Palm Springs adds a trippy time loop twist to the rom-com genre. This existential comedy — which broke Sundance sales records by 69 cents (nice) — uses its sci-fi hook to explore what it really means to forgive yourself and let go of the past. Then there's the standout performance from J.K Simmons as deranged wedding guest Roy, who manages to be inspiring, terrifying, and hilarious all at once. Still, it's the budding romance between Milioti and Samberg that will make you want to revisit Palm Springs again and again. —A.W.
Where to watch Palm Springs: Hulu
EW grade: B+ (read the review)
Director: Max Barbakow
Cast: Andy Samberg, Cristin Milioti, J.K. Simmons
Related content: Watch Palm Springs cast talk twists, 69 jokes, Wild Wild West: 'This is good s---'
<i>Fire Island</i> (2022)
Jane Austen's novel Pride and Prejudice gets a queer, Millennial makeover in Fire Island, the debut film from comedic multihyphenate Joel Kim Booster. Booster stars as Noah, a broke thirtysomething with a longstanding tradition of vacationing with his friends on Fire Island. When the group learns their house mother (Margaret Cho) plans to sell her home, the friends are forced to confront their love lives and class issues during their last week together. Fire Island also stars Saturday Night Live's Bowen Yang as Howie, Noah's neurotic best friend. A clutch casting choice, Yang imbues the film with some of its most memorable comic sequences. EW's critic wrote, "It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a very small swimsuit must be in want of a rom-com to call his own; Fire Island sets the stage, messy and sweet, and lets its freak flag fly." —A.W.
Where to watch Fire Island: Hulu
EW grade: B+ (read the review)
Director: Max Barbakow
Cast: Andy Samberg, Cristin Milioti, J.K. Simmons
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