The best comedies on Max right now

Want something to tickle your funny bone but don’t want to spend hours perusing your options? Picking a comedy to watch can be tricky, because humor is a matter of taste. But worry not, because we cater to all sorts with our watch guides.

Whether you’re hankering for a comedy classic or a modern hit, a feel-good crowd-pleaser or an oddball critical darling, an outrageous musical or a candy-colored fantasy, we’ve got you covered. Giggles to chuckles, guffaws to belly laughs — Max can get you whatever laughs you need.

Here are the best comedy movies now streaming on Max.

20. Home Again

Want a deeply charming comedy about a May-December romance? Then you’ll fall for Home Again.

Hallie Meyers-Shyer’s directorial debut stars Reese Witherspoon as Alice Kinney, a Los Angeles mother of two spirited daughters, who’s staring down her 40th birthday while separated from her husband (Michael Sheen). Her friends are desperate to set her up with an appropriate could-be beau. But then she crosses paths with not one but three fun-loving twentysomethings who’re looking to make it as filmmakers. Only one of them (Pico Alexander) will end up in her bed. But all three become a vibrant and welcomed presence in the life of Alice and her kids. Even if her husband is less than thrilled!

Warm and witty, Home Again is an absolute delight. — Kristy Puchko, Entertainment Editor

How to watch: Home Again is now streaming on Max.

19. Severance

Nope! Not the Apple TV+ hit. Before Adam Scott was splitting himself into innie and outie, this 2006 horror-comedy offered its own cutting commentary on corporate culture.

From writer/director Christopher Smith (Black Death, Triangle) comes a silly slasher set at a company retreat. Employees at a British office travel to the mountains of Hungary, ostensibly to learn how to work better as a team. But paintball and social awkwardness give way to running for their lives when a mysterious killer begins — to use a corporate parlance — cutting heads. If your sense of humor is on the sick side, you’ll appreciate Smith and company’s Severance. — K.P.

How to watch: Severance is now streaming on Max.

18. Y2K

If you love ’90s nostalgia and wacky horror/comedies, you’ll treasure Y2K. Saturday Night Live‘s Kyle Mooney makes his directorial debut with this goofy movie, which imagines that when the clocks clicked over into the year 2000, mankind’s greatest fears were realized. Specifically, all our coolest tech — from Tamagotchis to CD players — would gain artificial intelligence and go on a murderous rampage. 

This AI ambush pitches high school wallflower Eli (Jaeden Martell) and his outgoing goofball bestie Danny (Julian Dennison) into a battle for their lives. And all their classmates at a New Year’s Eve house party become their anxiety-ridden allies as the war between man and machine gets very ridiculous. To Mooney’s credit, he heaps plenty of delicious, era-appropriate details into Y2K, which will give children of the ’90s palpable flashbacks. But the comedy itself gets wobbly as the funniest characters get killed off. In my review out of its SXSW premiere in 2024, I determined, “Y2K is a good time, but falls short of greatness.”* — K.P.

How to watch: Y2K is now streaming on Max.

17. Pee-wee’s Big Adventure

If you’re searching for something off the beaten path, check out Tim Burton’s lively feature directorial debut. The weird but enchanting worlds he’d come to create in films like Edward Scissorhands, Beetlejuice, and Batman Returns got their start in this bombastic road trip movie about a boy in search of his stolen bicycle.

Cheeky comedian Paul Rubens stars as Pee-wee Herman, a live wire (loner and rebel) whose determination to reclaim his beloved bike takes him on a jubilant journey across the nation. At every pit stop, he finds friends, trouble, or both! With this giddily odd movie, grown-ups can revel in the nostalgia of the madcap humor of the “Tequila” dance and the frightful thrill of Large Marge. Kids can freshly enjoy Pee-wee’s wackiness and marvel over what a PG-movie looked like in 1985. — K.P.

How to watch: Pee-wee’s Big Adventure is now streaming on Max.

16. Singin’ in the Rain

Craving something that’ll not only make you laugh but also make you want to get up and dance? Then splash into the stupendous pleasures of this 1952 classic, co-directed by Stanley Donen and Hollywood legend Gene Kelly. The latter stars as a vaudevillian who has worked his way up from stuntman to silent movie star. As the sound era shakes up the film industry, he hopes to make sweet music with an enchanting ingenue (a beaming Debbie Reynolds). However, his cantankerous leading lady (a ruthlessly silly Jean Hagen) won’t be sidelined without a fight! Full of meta jokes, charming banter, hysterical hijinks, and astonishing song numbers, Singin’ in the Rain is one of the best musical comedies that’s ever been made. Come for the jokes. Stay for the signature dance number that’s as astonishing now as it was decades ago. Then, let the romance of this feel-good film sweep you away. — K.P.

How to watch: Singin’ in the Rain is streaming on Max.

15. Barbie

Frankly, the promotional journey for Barbie was so full of pink, so joyful, so fun, that would have been Kenough. The movie could have been a silly trifle, and we’d likely have been pleased. But writer/director Greta Gerwig brought us the universally heralded coming-of-age comedy Lady Bird and then the rapturous reimagining of Little Women. Her Barbie wasn’t going to stop at playful. Instead, it parodied the patriarchy with horses, Stallone-inspired fashion, and a rousing dream ballet fueled by an actual banger, “I’m Just Ken.”

Margot Robbie was picture-perfect as a Barbie who realizes the world is much bigger than the dreamhouse-dotted Barbie Land. Ryan Gosling snagged the rare comedy Oscar nomination for his delightfully deranged take on the insecure man doll who couldn’t cope, and so turned to conquering. (Napoleon relates!) While detractors have argued the film’s girl-power messaging is simplistic, it’s hard to deny that Gerwig did more with this IP than we could have dreamed. Sure, Barbie is a glossy toy commercial. But it’s a glossy toy commercial that not only has something to say, but does so through spectacular filmmaking that folds in eye-popping practical effects, enthralling details, discontinued dolls, and jokes that were way outside the box. From Weird Barbie to that on-point Pride and Prejudice mini-series namedrop, Barbie had us so giddy that we felt like kids again.* — K.P.

How to watch: Barbie is now streaming on Max.

14. Problemista

Is your favorite brand of comedy the bleak, existential kind? Then Julio Torres’ Problemista is the surreal and fractured fairy tale for you. Torres (who also wrote and directed the film) stars as Alejandro, an imaginative toy designer trying to make it in New York City. But when he’s fired from his job at a cryogenics facility, Alejandro needs to find a new visa sponsor or he’ll be deported. Enter Tilda Swinton as Elizabeth, a temperamental, delusional harridan — and the wife of one of Alejandro’s former frozen clients. Alejandro must figure out how to manage Elizabeth’s ever-changing whims while navigating the labyrinthine U.S. immigration process and keeping his dream alive. — Kristina Grosspietsch, Freelance Contributor

How to watch: Problemista is now streaming on Max.

13. Lady Bird

Saoirse Ronan is completely captivating as the artsy Christine (aka Lady Bird), with dreams bigger than her Sacramento suburb will allow. She’s constantly at odds with her mother (Laurie Metcalf) and is struggling to find her path. Will she get into her dream school on the East Coast? Could her family even afford it if she did? 

A coming-of-age dramedy about a teenager redefining her relationship with her parents and yearning to leave home, Greta Gerwig’s Lady Bird is simply sublime. It’s a fantastic encapsulation of adolescent angst, poking fun at the self-seriousness of 17-year-olds while maintaining empathy for even the moodiest of high school crushes (a perfectly cast Timothée Chalamet). — K.G.

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How to watch: Lady Bird is now streaming on Max.

12. Modern Times

Charlie Chaplin was a king of comedy in the silent film era, rolling his iconic Little Tramp into such side-splitters as City Lights, The Gold Rush, and The Kid. These and many more Chaplin offerings are available on Max. Subscribers can easily look back at how American physical comedy was forged through set pieces both silly and sensational. You really can’t go wrong when it comes to Chaplin, but we’re highlighting Modern Times because even though it’s set in 1936, its humor is truly timeless. Taking on a string of industrial jobs while romancing a charming gamin, Chaplin zips from one zany bit to another with a captivating waddle and a chipper twitch of his mustache, fearlessly throwing himself face-first into the wildest shenanigans. Plus, as this film includes some scenes with sound and dialogue, it’s maybe the most accessible introduction to Chaplin’s works. — K.P.

How to watch: Modern Times is streaming on Max.

11. Unpregnant

Many excellent films about the hardships this country forces women to undergo in order to receive an abortion are fittingly stirring and sobering. 2020’s Unpregnant, on the other hand, is a ridiculous road trip/buddy comedy about abortion that seems like it shouldn’t work, but it does. And we love it! 

Haley Lu Richardson (White Lotus) is Veronica, an over-achieving 17-year-old in Missouri who needs a “procedure.” But the closest place a minor can get an abortion without parental consent (and Veronica’s parents are very religious) is over a thousand miles away in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She seeks the help of her former best friend, high school misfit Bailey (Barbie Ferreira), for a ride. A charming look on modern female friendship, a wacky road trip misadventure, and a thoughtful take on reproductive rights, all wrapped into one! And don’t miss an unexpectedly laugh-out-loud cameo from Giancarlo Esposito. — K.G.

How to watch: Unpregnant is now streaming on Max.

10. Keanu

Long before Jordan Peele became Hollywood’s foremost horror auteur, he was doing ridiculous and boundary-pushing comedy alongside Keegan-Michael Key. Their magnum opus? 2016’s absurd buddy action/adventure Keanu. Rell (Peele) and Clarence (Key) are normal, if somewhat boring, cousins who find themselves embroiled in a drug-smuggling scheme when Rell’s kitten, Keanu, goes missing. When Rell adopted the little ball of fur, he had no idea Keanu previously belonged to a cartel boss. Now that it seems Keanu has been cat-napped, Clarence and Rell will stop at nothing to get him back. Keanu is a fun, fast-paced, and ludicrous ride starring two infectiously watchable comedians at the top of their game — and a criminally cute kitten! — K.G.

How to watch: Keanu is streaming on Max.

9. Tampopo

A spirited spoof tipping its hat to the Spaghetti Western, this 1985 Japanese comedy was promoted as a “ramen Western.” Its central story is about a cowboy hat-wearing truck driver (Tsutomu Yamazaki) who comes across a humble ramen shop where the food is truly “terrible.” Damsel-in-distress Tampopo (Nobuko Miyamoto) begs this hardened hero to save her family’s business by teaching her to do right by ramen. So of course, he rounds up a posse to perfect her recipe. Full of physical comedy, giddy silliness, quirky characters, and charming performances, this film is a delectable delight. But writer/director Jûzô Itami brings even more to the table, spicing up this culinary tale with fantastical vignettes about the love of food. Though often ridiculous — and sometimes salacious — none of the laughs are lost in translation. But be warned: This funny film will make you hungry. The loving shots of ramen and the various speeches about its richness and wonders are ruthlessly mouth-watering. Maybe order dinner before digging in. — K.P.

How to watch: Tampopo is streaming on Max.

8. Mamma Mia!: The Movie

Is there a more fun movie than Mamma Mia!? We’re not sure there is! Adapted in 2008 from the insanely popular jukebox stage musical, Mamma Mia!: The Movie is a bubbly, pre-wedding romp stuffed with ABBA songs and storied actors who may or may not have been drunk throughout the entire course of filming. This is the height of cinema, people!

Amanda Seyfried is enchanting as Sophie, a young bride-to-be who finds her mother’s journal from the year she was conceived and discovers three possible candidates for her birth father. Does she talk to her mom (a glowing Meryl Streep) about this? No! She invites them all to her wedding on the remote Greek island where she and her mom live, in the hopes she’ll figure out which is her biological father before it’s time to walk down the aisle. 

Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, Stellan Skarsgard, Julie Walters, Dominic Cooper, and Christine Baranski fill out the charismatic cast of this most spectacularly cheerful film, which is guaranteed to leave you smiling. — K.G.

How to watch: Mamma Mia!: The Movie is now streaming on Max.

7. Scott Pilgrim vs. the World

A romantic comedy/action/comic book/adventure mashup, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World is a simply fantastic movie through and through. More than a decade after its release, a fun, new rewatching bonus is seeing current Hollywood heavyweights (Chris Evans, Anna Kendrick, Aubrey Plaza, Kieran Culkin, and more) having fun and being silly at the start of their careers. These stars enjoyed working on the film so much, they all agreed to come back for Netflix’s 2023 animated reimagining, Scott Pilgrim Takes Off. 

Michael Cera is iconic as the soft-spoken Scott Pilgrim, a bass player in an unsuccessful indie band who becomes enamored with delivery girl Ramona Flowers (Mary Elizabeth Winstead). Unfortunately for Scott, to date Ramona, he’ll have to defeat her seven evil exes first! Uh oh! Good thing this movie also pulls some of its visual style from video games! That’s right, Scott Pilgrim has it all! — K.G.

How to watch: Scott Pilgrim vs. the World is now streaming on Max.

6. Shazam! 

Billy Batson is a 14-year-old living in a group home who can’t seem to stay out of trouble. But when he’s mysteriously transported to a mythical cave called the Rock of Eternity, a wizard grants him the power to transform into Shazam, an adult superhero. So what would a 14-year-old do if he could instantly look like a grown-up and had super strength? Make viral videos, of course! 

Shazam! is a fun and welcome twist on the classic superhero flick. Zachary Levi is pitch-perfect as a 14-year-old in an adult’s body, and Mark Strong is deliciously evil as the villain trying to steal Shazam’s powers for himself.* — K.G.

How to watch: Shazam! is now streaming on Max.

5. The Hangover

If you’re looking for comedy of the dude variety, no film franchise is as bro-y, as raunchy, or as crude as The Hangover. In this archetypal 2000s party flick, Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, and Zach Galifianakis are taking Justin Bartha out for an epic Las Vegas bachelor party two days before his wedding. And when they wake up the next morning in a destroyed hotel room that is missing the groom-to-be but now contains a tiger (!!!), they must piece together the clues of their insane, blacked-out night to find their buddy and save his wedding. The Hangover is an adrenaline comedy, mixing gross-out humor with dumb stunts, car chases, and an excellent Mike Tyson cameo. — K.G.

How to watch: The Hangover is streaming on Max.

4. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice

Coming out more than 30 years after Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice first delighted audiences with his madcap and macabre tale of the “ghost with the most,” this sequel did what seemed impossible: It was a hell of a good time! Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, and Catherine O’Hara reprise their roles as, respectively, Beetlejuice, his could-have-been child bride Lydia Deetz, and her savagely chic stepmother Delia. Jenna Ortega joins the cast as Lydia’s rebellious daughter Astrid, whose surprise trip to the Netherworld sends the Deetzes into an uneasy alliance with their old enemy.

Filled with Burton’s classically creepy yet enchanting character designs, oddball musical numbers, and visual gags that had audiences drop-jawed in demented glee, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is a sequel true to the spirit of the original, while making fresh fun with freaky new characters, played by Willem Dafoe, Monica Bellucci, and Arthur Conti. Don’t miss the fun. — K.P.

How to watch: Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is now streaming on Max.

3. Dicks: The Musical

Sometimes a movie comes along that is so completely outrageous that it feels like a miracle it exists at all. Dicks: The Musical is such a treasure. Writers/actors/homosexuals Josh Sharp and Aaron Jackson translated Fucking Identical Twins, a two-man comedy musical once staged in the basement of a Gristedes, into a movie musical that is not only beyond bonkers but also features such big stars as Nathan Lane, Megan Mullally, and Megan Thee Stallion.

Imagine The Parent Trap as a scorching satire of queer culture and homophobic fears, and you’ll get some idea of what’s in store. It’s not just musical numbers about the joys of putting alpha males in their place, or the madcap chaos of Mullally’s ad-libs, or even national treasure Lane spitting ham at his beloved Sewer Boys. It’s also got Bowen Yang as God, and a finale number that is as joyous as it is absolutely iconoclastic. 2023 was a year peppered with superb comedies, but nothing made us laugh as hard or loud or long as Dicks: The Musical.* — K.P.

How to watch: Dicks: The Musical is now streaming on Max.

2. Bridget Jones’s Diary

Bridget Jones’s Diary is a perfect movie, and we’re not hearing any opinions to the contrary, thank you! Renée Zellweger gained 20 pounds to snag the role of Bridget, already a beloved character in the UK thanks to Helen Fielding’s wildly popular Bridget Jones novels. The Brits were in an uproar about an American being cast as in a role that was archetypally British, but Zellweger’s performance (and accent!) were so spot-on, the complaints quickly gave way to rave reviews.

The start of a film franchise and the best movie of the lot, Bridget Jones’s Diary introduces us to an ordinary woman in London who, after turning 32 alone, vows to lose weight, quit smoking, stop drinking, and find love. Enter Hugh Grant as Bridget’s preternaturally charming boss, and, because this is a Pride and Prejudice adaptation, Colin Firth as the man who couldn’t seem more wrong for Bridget (his name is literally Mr. Darcy!!!). Even if you know where this funny and grounded rom-com is going, you’re sure to have a blast along the way. — K.G.

How to watch: Bridget Jones’s Diary is streaming on Max.

1. Wonka

A prequel to 1971’s Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory seemed an idea so preposterously cash-grabby that fans of the Gene Wilder-fronted original and Roald Dahl’s children’s books scoffed ahead of Wonka‘s release. Even the trailer got naysayers tittering about Timothée Chalamet’s performance. But once this movie musical finally was shown to critics, it was determined sweet, charmingly, and scrumdiddlyumptious!

Chalamet stars as the famous chocolatier years before his factory was built. A pauper with a case of curious ingredients and a dream to make divine candy, Wonka instantly earns the ire of a nefarious chocolate cartel and a ruthless con artist played by Academy Award–winner Olivia Colman. But with a bit of ingenuity, the help of his motley crew of friends, and some pure imagination, Wonka will manifest a sweet life. Watching it happen, and listening to the jaunty tunes along the way, is a pure pleasure. But we’d expect nothing else from Paddington 1 & 2 writers Paul King and Simon Farnaby. — K.P.

How to watch: Wonka is now streaming on Max.

UPDATE: May. 5, 2025, 4:00 p.m. EDT This article was originally published September 3, 2021. It has been updated to reflect the current selection on Max.