The Best Comedy Shows on Netflix Right Now

Created by: Shion Takeuchi

Cast: Lizzy Caplan, Christian Slater, Clark Duke, Tisha Campbell, Andy Daly

At some point in their lives, most people have wondered if there really was a secret organization controlling the world as we know it. In Inside Job (2021-2022), the answer is yes, and the people who work there are all seriously messed up. The show is a workplace sitcom packed with crazy conspiracies, created by Gravity Falls writer Shion Takeuchi. Are lizard people controlling the world’s financial institutions? Yes. Was the moon landing faked? Yes, but not for the reasons you’re thinking of. And is the Earth flat? No, that’s just stupid. The series primarily revolves around Reagan Ridley (Lizzy Caplan), a brilliant inventor who could one day become the head of the company (a position her alcoholic father used to hold). Unfortunately, she has absolutely no social skills, which leads the powers that be to give her a co-captain, the hilariously obtuse Brett Hand (Clark Duke). After the predictable initial tussles, Reagan and Brett join forces to try and make a difference within the shadow government. However, the shadow government isn’t exactly receptive to change, leading to hilarious and often fatal consequences. The series uses its humor to take light-hearted stabs (sometimes literally) at serious issues like childhood trauma, disillusionment, and the innate need of all living things to be accepted by their peers. It’s weird and wacky and oh-so-endearing! Come for the mad scientist shenanigans, stay for the nuanced characters, and then curse Netflix for canceling the series after just two seasons. – Remus Noronha

Creator: Jordon Nardino

Cast: Miss Benny, Kim Cattrall, Zane Phillips, Jade Payton, Michael Hsu Rosen

Kim Cattrall (Sex and the City) and Miss Benny (American Horror Stories) get all dolled up for this queer comedy about seizing every opportunity to be your best self. Glamorous centers around Marco Mejia (Benny), who gets a once-in-a-lifetime chance to be the new assistant of make-up mogul Madolyn Addison, played expertly by Cattrall. We know, how very Devil Wears Prada…but this series is camp at its finest and leans into the themes of queerness that parallel Benny’s own journey of transitioning during the process of creating the show. That authenticity bleeds through as she and Cattrall push their characters to embrace the versions of themselves they keep hidden.

Creator: Nick Santora

Cast: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Monica Barbaro, Jay Baruchel, Fortune Feimster

FUBAR is an action comedy that feels like a mix of Mr. & Mrs. Smith and the Arnold Schwarzenegger classic True Lies. Schwarzenegger plays a retiring CIA agent whose one last job leads him to discover his daughter is also a secret agent. Now they have to work together — and through their issues — to complete this final mission. Monica Barbaro (Top Gun: Maverick) plays the super spy daughter that masquerades as a humble homemaker, and she absolutely nails this role. She and Schwarzenegger play off one another in a way that feels lived in and genuine, which rockets the comedy to explosive heights.

Created by: Mike Myers

Cast: Mike Myers, Lydia West, Ken Jeong, Keegan-Michael Key, Debi Mazar

A conspiracy comedy by Mike Myers? That’s already enough to draw in comedy lovers everywhere. But The Pentaverate (2022) is so much more than just another comedy series, especially for fans of the beloved Canadian comedian’s work. The series revolves around the titular secret society, headed by four people (all played by Myers) who are desperately seeking a fifth member. Meanwhile, a Canadian journalist (also played by Myers) seeks to expose their existence to the world. It’s a wacky premise that leads to some hilarious hijinks but the show also presents some interesting subtext. While yes, it is a comedy, and a murder mystery as well for that matter, The Pentaverate is also a sort of passing of the torch. Throughout the series’ story, there’s a sense of the old world passing on and a new generation taking the reins, but with the best parts of the old preserved as a kindly guiding force. It’s also raunchy as hell, with plenty of digs at conspiracy theorists, the media, and Netflix itself. Plus, the show is peppered with references to Myers’ previous work and appearances by iconic characters he’s played (the Pentaverate itself is a deep call-back to Myers’ underrated 1993 film So I Married an Axe Murderer). – Remus Noronha

Created by: Charlie Brooker

Cast: Diane Morgan

From Black Mirror‘s Charlie Brooker, this mockumentary series looks at the history of human civilization… as explored by the hopelessly obtuse Philomena Cunk (Diane Morgan). The show is a brilliant spoof of classic documentaries, peppered with humorous asides, hilariously terrible questions, and a lot of the 1989 Belgian techno-pop anthem “Pump Up the Jam”. Whether you watch it for the historical information or for Morgan’s signature comedy, Cunk on Earth is one of the best mockumentaries we’ve seen in recent times. – Remus Noronha

Creator: Darren Star

Cast: Lily Collins, Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu, Ashley Park, Samuel Arnold, Lucas Bravo

From Darren Star, the man behind some of the most beloved modern women’s television, including Younger and Sex and the City, comes his latest venture into romance: Emily in Paris. An easy-to-binge series, Emily in Paris follows an ambitious twenty-something (Lily Collins) who finds herself whisked away to the city of love for a job opportunity. Through three seasons of missteps, dalliances, and stunning fashion, Emily in Paris explores the personal and professional life of Emily and her friends, including the alluring chef Gabriel (Lucas Bravo), her sexy girlboss Sylvie (Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu), and the best part in the series, Emily’s new friend Mindy (Ashley Park). – Yael Tygiel

Created by: Bonnie Turner, Terry Turner, Lindsey Turner, Gregg Mettler

Cast: Debra Jo Rupp, Kurtwood Smith, Callie Haverda, Ashley Aufderheide, Mace Coronel

For fans of That ’70s Show, it’s been one of the most influential sitcoms of all time. And now we have a sequel. That ’90s Show picks up the story 15 years after the original series, focusing on Eric (Topher Grace) and Donna’s (Laura Prepon) daughter, Leia (Callie Haverda). The series kicks off with Leia arriving at her grandparents’ house in Wisconsin and meeting a new group of fellow teens. After she decides to spend the summer there, Leia gets a rollercoaster coming-of-age ride, with romance, laughter, and, um, Eric’s stash. It’s a fun update to the franchise, with great characters, plenty of 90s references, and a funny and engaging story that’s sure to be a new classic. – Remus Noronha

Created by: Fred Armisen, Bill Hader, Seth Meyers, and Rhys Thomas

Cast: Bill Hader, Fred Armisen, and Helen Mirren

One of the most delightfully pleasant surprises of 2015 was the IFC comedy series Documentary Now!, which is the brainchild of Bill Hader, Fred Armisen, Seth Meyers, and Rhys Thomas. The conceit of the series is something of a mockumentary anthology, in which each half-hour episode takes on the format of a famous or groundbreaking documentary genre and is given the comedy treatment via Hader and Armisen. The result is a series of hilarious installments that tackle everything from Grey Gardens to Wild Wild Country to The Thin Blue Line to Behind the Music, but perhaps the show’s magnum opus (at least thus far), is the tremendous VICE-spoofing installment “DRONEZ: The Hunt for El Chingon.” Documentary Now! is a must-watch, plain and simple, especially if you happen to be of the cinephile persuasion. – Adam Chitwood

Created by: Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld

Cast: Jerry Seinfeld, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Michael Richards, Jason Alexander

What’s it about? The long answer is, well, soup puffy shirts answering machines sandwiches the sponge Festivus a festivus for the rest of us buttons boobs that are real and spectacular parking garages the glue on wedding invitation envelopes pez dispensers junior mints Schindler’s List muffin tops NBC sitcom development Serenity Now…

The short version: Nothing. – Liz Shannon Miller

Created by: Matt Groening

Cast: Abbi Jacobson, Eric André, Nat Faxon, John DiMaggio, Tress MacNeille

Matt Groening is known to audiences primarily (and almost exclusively) for his work on adult animated sitcoms like The Simpsons and Futurama. With Disenchantment, Groening presents something somewhat different. It’s still an animated comedy targeted towards mature audiences with its fair share of satire, crude humor, and zany situations, but it’s also a sequential story without a magic reset button, which is what sets the show apart from the other two mentioned above. Set in a medieval fairytale world, the show pokes fun at the tropes and common aspects of the fantasy genre, with a badass hard-drinking princess who has never been a damsel in distress in her life. Princess Tiabeanie aka Bean (Abbi Jacobson) is the aforementioned princess and the story begins when she meets the naive elf Elfo (Nat Faxon), which is the start of a series of adventures she goes on with her diminutive companion and her “personal demon” Luci (Eric André). Again, unlike Groening’s previous work, there is a rather interesting story that develops over time, involving rival kingdoms, secret cabals, and hidden magical abilities that may be a gift or a curse. Come for the swearing and graphic violence, stay for the mystery, plot, and biting sarcasm.- Remus Noronha

Developed by: J.C.Staff

Cast: Kenjiro Tsuda, Shizuka Itō, Kazuyuki Okitsu

Most people who aren’t all that familiar with anime tend to think it’s all about action, drama, and magical girls. However, there are a whole lot of great slice-of-life comedy anime out there, quite a few of which are available on Netflix. The Way of the Househusband is easily one of the best. This series is a light, relaxing watch, with humor that touches on the more commonplace and mundane things in life rather than high-stakes conflicts. The series is centered on Tatsu (Kenjiro Tsuda), a former yakuza who now lives as a dedicated househusband, married to a hard-working young woman named Miku (Shizuka Itō). A lot of the comedy comes from the fact that Tatsu approaches household chores with the same mindset that made him the most feared yakuza in the city. This is the perfect show for when you just want to sit back and relax, and it’s also chock-full of useful hacks you could try out around the house. Oh, and there’s also a cute (and mischievous) cat involved.- Remus Noronha

Developed by: Mark Hudis and Barry Sonnenfeld

Cast: Neil Patrick Harris, Patrick Warburton, Malina Weissman, Louis Hynes, K. Todd Freeman

A Series of Unfortunate Events is a show for those who prefer their comedies dry and black. The series isn’t so much funny as it is witty, with the cartoonishly evil Count Olaf (as played by a singing, dancing, and terrible-disguise-wearing Neil Patrick Harris) being a particular standout. The show is based on the novel series of the same name by Lemony Snicket, following the misadventures of the tragically orphaned Baudelaire children. As the title suggests, the story puts the children through a number of terrible scenarios as they are hounded for their fortune by the evil Count Olaf and his cronies. Through it all, the children look to the adults in their life for help, only to be dismissed and condescended to. With great performances, a tightly-written story, and the perfect mix of tragedy and comedy, this is a series that’s a wild ride from start to finish.- Remus Noronha

Created by and Starring: Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Michael Palin and Terry Gilliam

The absurd sketch comedy troupe Monty Python are icons of British comedy. Whether it’s their ridiculous take on the Arthurian legend in Monty Python and the Holy Grail or their epic period story Life of Brian (which just so happens to occur parallelly to the life of Christ), Monty Python’s work is always just as smart as it is silly. And if either of those movies are among your humorous favorites, then Monty Python’s Flying Circus should definitely be on your watchlist. Hilarious, bold, and with a biting sense of satire, the series is a showcase of the group and their best work, both as individuals and as a troupe. When you watch this show, it’s easy to see how Monty Python went on to inspire some the greatest names in comedy, from Douglas Adams to Lorne Michaels. – Remus Noronha

Created By: Rowan Atkinson and William Davies

Cast: Rowan Atkinson, Jing Lusi, Julian Rhind-Tutt, Greg McHugh, India Fowler

Rowan Atkinson is easily one of the world’s most recognizable comedians, and Mr. Bean is a big reason why. Of course, it has been some years since Atkinson last played Bean in live-action but fans of the actor (and the iconic character) have reason to rejoice now. Man vs. Bee captures all the great physical comedy of the Bean franchise and throws in some emotional depth for good measure. Atkinson stars as Trevor Bingley, a divorced house-sitter and father who is assigned to take care of a rich couple’s house for a week. Unfortunately, a bee gets into the home and proceeds to set Trevor off on a mad-cap journey filled with crazy antics. – Remus Noronha

Created By: Marta Kauffman and Howard J. Morris

Cast: Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, Sam Waterston, Martin Sheen

Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin have been icons of the industry since the 60s. Put those two together and you get one of the best Netflix shows ever. Grace and Frankie reunited the 9 to 5 stars as a classic odd couple who are forced to live with each other after their husbands reveal that a) they’re gay, b) they’re divorcing them, and c) they’re getting married. Fonda’s Grace Hanson is a tightly-wound no-nonsense businesswoman with a bit of a drinking problem and Tomlin’s Frankie Bergstein is the direct opposite, a lovable, pot-smoking, bohemian free spirit. The series explores the evolution of their relationship from barely tolerating each other to not being able to imagine a life apart. The show is hilarious and equally emotional, dealing with serious themes like mortality, illness, and finding purpose. No wonder it’s Netflix’s longest show ever. – Remus Noronha

Created by: Lisa McGee

Cast: Saoirse-Monica Jackson, Louisa Harland, Nicola Coughlan, Jamie-Lee O’Donnell, Dylan Llewellyn

Derry Girls is a delightful comedy about five friends who are finishing up Catholic high school in Derry, Northern Ireland, during the end of the Troubles in the mid-1990s. This intoxicating array of characters finds themselves in insane, hilarious situations — even with turmoil in the background. Their families, who are more aware of the tense situations than they are, and their teacher at school, who is absolutely sick of their shenanigans, round out the cast. It’s a fascinating glimpse of life during this period and shows that, no matter what is going on around them, teenagers are still dealing with teenage problems. The first two seasons are currently available. The third and final season, which was delayed because of the pandemic, will arrive on Netflix later this year. – Jennifer McHugh

Created by: Mindy Kaling, Lang Fisher

Cast: Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, Poorna Jagannathan, Darren Barnet, Jaren Lewison, Richa Moorjani

As an Indian-American girl growing up in Southern California, Devi tries her best to fit in at high school. However, with the sudden death of her father, a whole new layer of trauma enters her quest. Loosely based on creator Mindy Kaling’s high school experience, Never Have I Ever is a hilarious but sentimental story of what happens after the American Dream. Narrated by John McEnroe, who can relate to Devi’s rage issues, this show explores many themes, including grief, public humiliation, culture clashing, as well as good old-fashioned love triangles. The third season will premiere in the summer of 2022. – Jennifer McHugh

Created by: Iris Choi & Kevin White

Cast: Paul Sun-Hyung Lee, Jean Yoon, Andrea Bang, Simu Liu, Andrew Phung

Set in Toronto, the Korean Canadian Kim family run a little convenience store on a neighborhood block. Paul Sun-Hyung Lee and Jean Yoon play Appa and Umma (dad and mom in Korean), the owners of the shop. They keep it stocked for the random passerby and for the local regulars. Helping them run the store is their daughter Janet (Andrea Bang) while their son Jung (Simu Liu) is estranged from the family after a lifetime of disappointments. Kim’s Convenience might have ended with more of a whimper than a bang, but for most of its run, it was beloved for being a comedic and entertaining portrayal of an Asian family. While some of the cast has gone on to appear in larger properties — notably Liu as Marvel’s Shang-Chi and Lee appearing in The Mandalorian — Kim’s Convenience is likely where they first won our hearts. — Therese Lacson

Created By: Greg Daniels and Steve Carell

Cast: Steve Carell, John Malkovich, Ben Schwartz, Diana Silvers, Lisa Kudrow

Steve Carell’s work ought to be considered its own subgenre of comedy. Carell brings his signature brand of comedy to all his projects and this Netflix Original dramedy is one of the best examples. If you loved him as Michael Scott in The Office, you’re probably going to love him as General Mark Naird in Space Force. The show follows the workplace misadventures of the United States Space Force, the sixth branch of the United States Armed Forces. When compared to the goofiness of The Office, Space Force is definitely a more sober show, but don’t let that fool you. The series is full of thinly-veiled satire, a ton of ridiculous situations, and a healthy helping of plain old fun. The show has had two seasons so far, the latest one arriving on the service on February 18, 2022. There’s no word yet on whether Space Force will get a Season 3, but it seems like a really strong possibility. – Remus Noronha

Created By: Chuck Lorre

Cast: Michael Douglas, Alan Arkin, Sarah Baker, Nancy Travis, Paul Reiser

Most people who have watched Chuck Lorre‘s extensive list of hit shows tend to expect a certain kind of story from the producer. However, The Kominsky Method breaks all those expectations into tiny pieces and then proceeds to stomp on them. It’s a genuinely beautiful show with the perfect balance of tragic circumstances and biting humor.

Sandy Kominsky, played by the iconic Michael Douglas, is an aging actor who once had a very promising career that never came to fruition. But as they say, those who can’t do, teach, and Sandy is the best acting coach in the business. The show follows his various misadventures as he deals with life, love, death, and his prostate. The best part of the series is the chemistry between Sandy and his best friend/agent Norman Newlander (Alan Arkin) but the other main characters are also quite endearing. Three seasons of The Kominsky Method have been released on Netflix, starting in 2018 and ending in 2021. – Remus Noronha