Netflix also has hosted some of the best and funniest comedians over the years, including some that are shrouded in controversy. With the sheer amount available it can be difficult to pick out the best one to watch. This list looks to solve that problem, as we have counted down the best of the best for you to watch. Here are thebest comedy specialson Netflix you can watch right now.
Updated June 3rd, 2024, by Soniya Hinduja:This collection of comedy specials has been updated with even more entries to keep the discussion fresh and relevant.
28Jim Jefferies: High n' Dry (2023)
Australian writer and comedian Jim Jefferies returns to the stage with his ninth stand-up special, this one filmed at the Meridian Center in Toronto, Ontario. The rip-roaring set sees him cruising around topics like stoned koalas, Swedish babies, his father’s vasectomy confusion, and his receding hairline using dark humor and signature wit. The first half comprises some really solid punches and the second half is decent enough to make you laugh as well.
Heavy on Satire
Known for his fearless humor and comments on politics, Jefferies delivers a set that is just as scathing and uncensored as his previous specials. He’s at the top of his comedic form in this latest outing, finding absurd humor even in dark subject matters and inducing gleeful escapism for audiences who feel the need to laugh to stay sane.Jim Jefferies: High n' Dryis a testament to comedy’s power toskewer modern lifein clever ways.
27Marc Maron: End Times Fun (2020)
Several comedians have used the current global existential threat for mining snarky and happy-sad humor. A frequent guest on theLate Show with David Letterman, Marc Maron, too has laid his sardonic lens on the same and dissected topics like technology, religion and the filthy “end times fantasy” people continue to live with. He examines the chaotic information landscape with observations that seem familiar to long-time fans and attacking to the new ones.
Reflects on Uncertain Times
Maron has an intensely personal brand of introspective humor where he shines a light on everyday mundane matters. A sharp and soothing special,Marc Maron: End Times Funserves as a funny time capsule to when the days were simpler and cynicism was fun, not real. The set was nominated at the Critics' Choice Television Awards as Best Comedy Special, with Maron earning praise for his energetic storytelling and unique perspective.
26Aziz Ansari: RIGHT NOW (2019)
Aziz Ansari: RIGHT NOWis actor and comedian Aziz Ansari’s fifth stand-up special, and it is directed by Spike Jonze. Following his year-long hiatus, Ansari thoughtfully discusses the complexities of being in the limelight and the effect it has on personal relationships. He also makes remarks on social change and the challenges of living in today’s cultural landscape when “being woke” is as tricky as it is simple.
Ansari Rises From a Hiatus
Known for playing Tom Haverford inParks and Recreationand creating, writing, and starring in Netflix’scritically acclaimed comedy-drama,Master of None, Ansari is often gracious with his humor. This particular special stands out from his other routines because while his perspective is pointy, there is warmth in his humor and undertones of self-reflection in his comedy.RIGHT NOWwas nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album and critics praised him for handling even the serious stuff with care.
25Tom Segura: Sledgehammer (2023)
Tom Segura: Sledgehammeris the comedian’s fifth Netflix special and it sees him return with another hour of hilarious opinions onsubjects of fatherhood(now that he is raising two boys of his own), married life, and lessons he’s learned from his mother. Bold and vulnerable in equal proportions, the special puts to display Segura’s crude human and no-holds-barred jokes.
Segura’s Relatable Rants
Fans of Segura know his best work to be 2018’sDisgraceful, but in the years since, he has perfected his brand of humor into comedy gold, and it is apparent in the way he pushes boundaries in this new special. Shot at a sold-out show in Phoenix. Arizona, the stand-up set sees him walk a thin line between being extremely funny to being downright offensive (to some). That said,Sledgehammeris quintessential Segura – a delightful watch even if you’re new.
24Patton Oswalt: Annihilation (2017)
Expertly and empathetically written and performed in the year after his first wife, crime writer Michelle McNamara, tragically passed away,Annihilationis probablyPatton Oswalt’s best stand-up special to date. In it, he ruminates on the ups and downs of losing a soul mate but not in a way that makes you sad. He also never loses sight of his humor, making ludicrous jokes about politics, the end of the Trump era, and the mundanity of everyday life.
Unreasonably Funny and Touching
Oswalt is beloved by many for his intelligence, quick thinking, and pop culture knowledge. He also sprinkles all his jokes with profound emotion, which makes it impossible for you to not relate to him. Here, his humor acts as catharsis after a personal tragedy. There’s imperfection but there’s affection, jokes that are free-handed but reassuring.Patton Oswalt: Annihilationis basically a reminder that even the darkest periods of our lives have silver linings. And if not, we can always turn to comedy to save the day.
23Vir Das: Landing (2022)
In his fourth Netflix special,Indian actor and comedianVir Das finds humor by returning home to India, where his roots are. Deep-diving into his childhood, he reflects on cultural identity, the perils of outrage, and his journey to America as a first-generation immigrant. Through several counters and comparisons, he navigates the two worlds and how absurd the differences between both seem now that he’s wisened up.
Cultural Comedy
Das is known to have a smooth charisma and impeccable wit. He also possesses the rare gift of mining observations and comedy from crossing cultural boundaries. In the special, he makes the minefield of stereotypes and expectations he inherited as a child of Indian heritage known to the audience. Das even shines in his piercing delivery because of how kind his intent is behind all the jokes. Additionally,Vir Das: Landingwon the comedian an International Emmy Award for Best Comedy Series, and that’s saying something.
22Mike Birbiglia: The Old Man and the Pool (2023)
Barely classified as a stand-up because of how it infuses musical numbers into the span of an hour. Unlike his previous works, this introspective one-man show,Mike Birbiglia: The Old Man and the Pool, touches upon themes of life and death, with the inclusion of medical tests and a specific extremely chlorinated YMCA pool. In the special, Birbiglia manages to deliver his signature brand of charm and humor.
Incredibly Personal Yet Widely Relatable
Few storytellers have the abilityto channel poetryand pathos into good-natured laughs. Mike Birbiglia is one of them. This special, in particular, sees the seasoned comic explore rather unconventional subjects in comedy – like mortality and declining health – and adds vulnerability into life’s painful moments. We’ve somehow all been in the same shoes at some point in life and Birbiglia’s humor serves as a timely reminder of the fact.
21Nate Bargatze: The Greatest Average American (2021)
Nate Bargatze is a laid-back comedian who kick-started the reemergence of stand-up specials after the pandemic. With his second hour-long Netflix special,Nate Bargatze: The Greatest Average American, the everyman shares musings on stuff we can all relate to – never-ending Zoom calls, the new age of mathematics, as well as hotel breakfast fails.
A Warm Stage-Presence and Familiar Stories
Bringing an inviting presence and down-to-earth humor to the stage, Bargatze finds the best jokes in ordinary things. But he is also willing to enter peak madness in the process of making his audiences laugh. Filmed at the peak of isolation, his special managed to become a soothing potion. Overall, with Bargatze’s wry delivery,comments on the pandemic, and deadpan appearance, his self-deprecating humor is sure to bring joy.
20Ali Wong: Baby Cobra (2016)
Filmed when she was in her third trimester, Ali Wong’s physicality is just a warm-up to an hour’s worth of smashing stereotypes and redefining feminism. InAli Wong: Baby Cobra, the comedian gets honest and raw about married life, motherhood, the realities of pregnancy, and how terrible it is to be a woman. Unapologetic and sometimes frantically filthy, Wong delivers a memorable set.
Fierce, Feminist, and Fantastic
Baby Cobra was a sensation when it was released on the streaming platform. It marked Wong’s star-making turn not only in stand-up comedy but also in the Hollywood industry as a whole. Uncensored about who it may offend, she addresses topics of family,empowerment of women, and motherhood so boldly that it makes honest humor cool again. Overall, the special is genuinely entertaining for fans of comedy.
19Katherine Ryan: In Trouble (2017)
Katherine Ryan: In Troubleis the Canadian comedian’s first stand-up special on Netflix. She brings her casual wit and skewers themes of dating and relationships, as well as the realities of romance faced by today’s women. Her little anecdotes about the city she grew up in and, of course, the popularity of Taylor Swift ring particularly true with the audience.
Ryan Makes a Big Impression in a Short Time
Despite having a short-lived career in comedy, Ryan wields enough humor and jabs to not only keep her viewers engaged for sixty minutes but also have them check out her other stand-up specials. This Netflix debut sees her sharpening a killer instinct for tackling both lighter and heavier subjects. She also gifts the audience with that final moment of catharsis by jumping into crowd-pleasing compassion and cements herself as a globally recognized comedian.
