Uplifting Oscar winners and endless time loops are a few of the experiences in store in this list of comedy films that are mustwatch. The 21 best comedy movies

Uplifting Oscar winners and endless time loops are a few of the experiences in store in this list of comedy films that are must-watch.

The 21 best comedy movies on Hulu

Uplifting Oscar winners and endless time loops are a few of the experiences in store in this list of comedy films that are must-watch.

By Kevin Jacobsen

and Andrew Walsh

on September 2, 2025 6:43 a.m. ET

June Squibb as Thelma Post in 'Thelma'; Awkwafina as Anne Yum in 'Quiz Lady'; Andy Samberg as Nyles in 'Palm Springs'. Credit:

Magnolia Pictures; Michele K Short/20th Century Studios; Jessica Perez/Hulu/Courtesy Everett Collection

Life is hard, and we could all use a mental vacation sometimes. From revelling in the raunchy gags of *The 40-Year-Old Virgin* (2005) to enjoying the heartfelt laughs of *Thelma* (2024), we've got your comedy needs covered from coast to coast, with a variety of genre destinations in between.

As of September 2025, here are the best comedy movies streaming on Hulu.

The 40-Year-Old Virgin (2005)

Steve Carell as Andy Stitzer in 'The 40-Year-Old Virgin'. Suzanne Hanover/Universal

There were few things capable of causing more visceral discomfort in 2005 than the sight of Steve Carell having his chest waxed on camera (yes, for real) in the service of filming *The 40-Year-Old Virgin*. Directed by Judd Apatow, the movie is as funny as it is literal: Andy (Carell) is working as an employee at a big box electronics store when his co-workers discover that, at 40 years of age, he is a virgin. Determined to help him out, Andy's situation is used to test their own unique approaches to wooing and bedding a woman. While not always in touch with current culture, *The 40-Year-Old Virgin* is deeply funny — and includes one of the most unexpected final scenes in comedy film history. —*Andrew Walsh*

Where to watch *The 40-Year-Old Virgin*: Hulu

**EW grade:** (Read the review)

**Director:** Judd Apatow

**Cast:** Steve Carell, Catherine Keener, Paul Rudd, Romany Malco, Seth Rogen, Elizabeth Banks, Leslie Mann, Jane Lynch**

Anora (2024)

Mark Eydelshteyn as Ivan 'Vanya' Zakharov and Mikey Madison as Anora 'Ani' Mikheeva in 'Anora'.

Courtesy of Neon

Much like the journey its title character goes on, *Anora* is a wild ride of emotions, part screwball comedy, part meditation on the American class system, and part absorbing character study. Tying it all together is Mikey Madison, who plays a stripper/sex worker living in Brooklyn's Brighton Beach who meets and soon marries the son of a Russian oligarch. Things take a turn for the worse when her new husband's family catches wind of the marriage and takes great pains to tear them apart. Madison is an utter revelation in a role that won her an Oscar — of which the film won four others, including Best Picture. —*Kevin Jacobsen*

Where to watch *Anora*: Hulu

**EW grade:** B+ (read the review)

**Director:** Sean Baker

**Cast:** Mikey Madison, Mark Eydelshteyn, Yura Borisov, Karren Karagulian, Vache Tovmasyan, Darya Ekamasova, Aleksei Serebryakov

Babes (2024)

Ilana Glazer as Eden and Michelle Buteau as Dawn in 'Babes'.

Pamela Adlon tackled the pains of motherhood with refreshing frankness on her FX series *Better Things*, and this laugh-out-loud comedy proves she still has more to say on the subject. Adlon's feature directorial debut stars Ilana Glazer as Eden, a young woman who becomes pregnant from a one-night stand and decides to keep the baby; Michelle Buteau costars as Eden's best friend, Dawn, who struggles with postpartum depression, While they rely on each other for moral support, their bond is soon put to the test.

Offscreen friends for decades, Glazer and Buteau have electric chemistry together, and Adlon's screenplay will certainly ring true for those who have been through the highs and lows of pregnancy. —*K.J.***

Where to watch *Babes*: Hulu

**Director:** Pamela Adlon

**Cast:** Ilana Glazer, Michelle Buteau, John Carroll Lynch, Oliver Platt, Sandra Bernhard, Stephan James, Hasan Minhaj

The Devil Wears Prada (2006)

Anne Hathaway as Andy Sachs, Meryl Streep as Miranda Priestly, and Emily Blunt as Emily Charlton in 'The Devil Wears Prada'.

20th Century Fox

*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**

Easy A (2010)

Emma Stone as Olive Penderghast and Penn Badgley as Todd in 'Easy A'.

Adam Taylor/Screen Gems/Courtesy Everett Collection

Emma Stone achieved full star status with this 2010 teen comedy, which pays homage to *The Scarlet Letter*. She plays Olive, a California high schooler whose lie about losing her virginity spirals out of control and becomes a school-wide scandal as she comes to embrace her newfound status as a "promiscuous" person. While pretending to have sex with fellow students to boost their reputations, she also rekindles her relationship with Todd (Penn Badgley), her childhood crush who sees Olive for the real her, not people's assumptions of who she is. Stone earned huge raves for her performance, with EW's critic stating, "Stone has a speed and sparkle that may remind you of [Lindsay] Lohan in her *Mean Girls* prime." —*K.J.*

Where to watch *Easy A*: Hulu

**EW grade:** B–

**Director:** Will Gluck

**Cast:** Emma Stone, Penn Badgley, Amanda Bynes, Thomas Haden Church, Patricia Clarkson, Cam Gigandet, Lisa Kudrow, Malcolm McDowell, Stanley Tucci

Fire Island (2022)

(From left to right) Bowen Yang as Howie, Joel Kim Booster as Noah (sitting), Tomás Matos as Keegan, Matt Rogers as Luke, Margaret Cho as Erin (sitting), and Torian Miller as Max in 'Fire Island'. Jeong Park/Searchlight Pictures

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 writes, "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: **Joel Kim Booster, Bowen Yang, Conrad Ricamora, James Scully, Margaret Cho, Matt Rogers******

The Full Monty (1997)

Tom Wilkinson as Gerald Arthur Cooper, William Snape as Nathan Schofield, Robert Carlyle as Gaz Schofield, Steve Huison as Lomper, Hugo Speer as Guy, Paul Barber as Horse Mitchell, and Mark Addy as Dave Horsfall in 'The Full Monty'.

Fox Searchlight/Everett Collection

This cheeky British comedy — emphasis on cheeky — is a hilarious yet poignant ode to friendship and brotherhood. Desperate for money, former mill worker Gaz (Robert Carlyle) recruits a group of fellow unemployed men to form a striptease act. While not exactly model material, the men's eagerness to put themselves out there makes them an unexpected sensation. There's plenty of comedy to be found in the premise alone, but *The Full Monty* also wears its heart on its sleeve while resisting being too cutesy. The film also spawned a sequel TV series on Hulu with the original cast, which was released in 2023. *—K.J.*

Where to watch *The Full Monty*: Hulu

**Director:** Peter Cattaneo

**Cast:** Robert Carlyle, Tom Wilkinson, Mark Addy

Happiest Season (2020)

Kristen Stewart as Abby and Mackenzie Davis as Harper in 'Happiest Season'. Lacey Terrell/TriStar Pictures

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." —*A.W.*

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********

The Heat (2013)

Melissa McCarthy as Shannon Mullins and Sandra Bullock as Sarah Ashburn in 'The Heat'.

Gemma La Mana/20thCentFox/Courtesy Everett Collection

*The Heat* features the kind of pairing that makes you wish they starred in a dozen more movies together. Alas, Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy have only teamed up for this riotous crime comedy, starring the former as straitlaced FBI Special Agent Sarah Ashburn and the latter as street-smart Boston detective Shannon Mullins. Ashburn and Mullins partner up to catch a local drug lord, though their differing approaches to the case make things difficult. While its pacing may be familiar to any buddy cop comedy fan, EW's critic praises the film as "a piece of smash-and-grab policier pulp that, through the interplay of Bullock and McCarthy, spins to its own snarly/confessional feminine beat." —*K.J.*

Where to watch *The Heat*: Hulu

**EW grade:** B (read the review)

**Director:** Paul Feig

**Cast:** Sandra Bullock, Melissa McCarthy, Demián Bichir, Marlon Wayans, Michael Rapaport

Juno (2007)

Elliot Page as Juno MacGuff in 'Juno'. Doane Gregory/Fox Searchlight

High school problems take on a much rounder shape in *Juno*, the story of 16-year-old Juno MacGuff (Elliot Page) who finds herself accidentally impregnated with her friend Paulie Bleeker's (Michael Cera) baby. With the support of her father (J.K. Simmons) and stepmother (Allison Janney), Juno finds the ideal adoptive candidates in married couple Mark (Jason Bateman) and Vanessa (Jennifer Garner), only to discover there's no such thing as a perfect parental situation.**** Sparkling with Diablo Cody's aggressively verbal, fast-moving dialogue, and brought to life by a cast representing some of the mid-aughts' best comedic and deadpan talents, *Juno* was well-deserving of the four Oscar nominations (and one win!) it received. The key to its success? Underneath all the linguistic acrobatics, Midwestern niceties, and pubescent sarcasm, *Juno* is ultimately a story about family and growing — up, out, and into oneself. —*A.W.*

Where to watch *Juno*: Hulu

**EW grade:** A– (read the review)

**Director:** Jason Reitman

**Cast:** Elliot Page, Michael Cera, Jennifer Garner, Jason Bateman, Allison Janney, J.K. Simmons

Nightbitch (2024)

Amy Adams as Mother in 'Nightbitch'.

Searchlight Pictures

In this dark comedy, an overstressed stay-at-home mom (Amy Adams) fears she may be turning into a dog. Yes, seriously. While the concept makes it sound like a farce directed by the Farrelly brothers in the early-2000s, *Nightbitch* is, in reality, a clever, surprisingly tender examination of motherhood that gives Adams her best role in years. Horrified yet fascinated by her sudden transformation, Adams' character, credited only as "Mother," gradually begins to embrace her new identity. EW's critic calls *Nightbitch* "a frank dissection of female rage and post-pawrtum (sorry, not sorry) fracture." —*K.J.***

Where to watch *Nightbitch*: Hulu

**EW grade:** A– (read the review)

**Director:** Marielle Heller

**Cast:** Amy Adams, Scoot McNairy, Arleigh Snowden, Emmett Snowden, Zoë Chao, Mary Holland, Ella Thomas, Archana Rajan, Jessica Harper

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No Hard Feelings (2023)

Andrew Barth Feldman as Percy Becker and Jennifer Lawrence as Maddie Barker in 'No Hard Feelings'. Macall Polay/Columbia Pictures

While *No Hard Feelings* may have been sold as a raunchy comedy, the film has an underlying sweetness that makes for a well-rounded experience. But don't get us wrong, the film's setup certainly provides plenty of broad, laugh-out-loud humor: Jennifer Lawrence stars as Maddie, a 32-year-old Uber driver desperate for money. She finds a Craigslist ad from a wealthy couple hoping to hire a woman to date (and perhaps do more with) their inexperienced 19-year-old son, Percy (Andrew Barth Feldman), before he goes to college. Maddie's attempts to court Percy lead to hilarious results, though they soon come to appreciate each other over the course of the summer.

The film proves Lawrence's adeptness as a comedic star, fully committing to even the most ludicrous of scenes. "*No Hard Feelings* is a welcome addition to a dwindling genre," writes EW's critic, "and a reminder that Lawrence is one [of] Hollywood's best (and funniest) leads." —*K.J.*

Where to watch *No Hard Feelings*: Hulu

**EW grade:** B (read the review)

**Director:** Gene Stupnitsky

**Cast:** Jennifer Lawrence, Andrew Barth Feldman, Laura Benanti, Natalie Morales, Matthew Broderick**

Not Okay (2022)

Dylan O'Brien as Colin and Zoey Deutch as Danni Sanders in 'Not Okay'. Nicole Rivelli/Searchlight Pictures

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.*

Where to watch *Not Okay*: Hulu

**Director: **Quinn Shephard

**Cast: **Zoey Deutch, Mia Isaac, Dylan O'Brien, Nadia Alexander, Embeth Davidtz, Karan Soni******

On the Count of Three (2022)

Christopher Abbott as Kevin and Jerrod Carmichael as Val in 'On the Count of Three'. United Artists

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 writes in the 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

Palm Springs (2020)

Cristin Milioti as Sarah Wilder and Andy Samberg as Nyles in 'Palm Springs'. Jessica Perez/Hulu

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******

Quiz Lady (2023)

Awkwafina as Anne Yum in 'Quiz Lady'.

20th Century Studios/Courtesy Everett Collection

Part of the appeal of this charming, Emmy-winning TV movie from Jessica Yu is in seeing its stars stretch beyond their typical roles. Awkwafina, often cast as the brazen comic relief, plays anxious game-show aficionado Anne, while the typically hyper-competent Sandra Oh plays Anne's messy older sister Jenny. They are reunited after their mother flees the country on a gambling streak, and after a loan shark comes out of the woodwork, the sisters come up with a scheme for Anne to go on her favorite game show to get enough money to pay him back. Awkwafina and especially Oh excel in their against-type roles, creating a believable chemistry that goes beyond silly antics; their bonding allows them to confront old traumas and get to a more hopeful place as sisters. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *Quiz Lady*: Hulu

**Director:** Jessica Yu

**Cast:** Awkwafina, Sandra Oh, Will Ferrell, Jason Schwartzman, Holland Taylor, Tony Hale, Jon "Dumbfoundead" Park

Raising Arizona (1987)

Holly Hunter as Ed McDunnough and Nicolas Cage as Hi McDunnough in 'Raising Arizona'.

20th Century Fox/Courtesy Everett Collection

The Coen brothers have long been lauded for putting their offbeat spin on the plight of working-class characters stumbling their way through crimes and their messy aftermath. *Raising Arizona* is one of their foundational comedies of this variety, centering on ex-convict Hi (Nicolas Cage) and his ex-police officer wife Ed (Holly Hunter) as they try to figure out how to start a family. Unable to conceive or adopt, they resort to kidnapping a newborn baby, leading to a chaotic series of events. Cage and Hunter are perfectly suited for the film's zany energy, with EW ranking *Raising Arizona* as the No. 1 Coen brothers movie, praising it as "a fairy tale that points out that no good guy is ever all good, and the bad guys are just flawed characters who were raised wrong." —*K.J.*

Where to watch *Raising Arizona*: Hulu

**Director:** Joel Coen

**Cast:** Nicolas Cage, Holly Hunter

A Real Pain (2024)

Kieran Culkin as Benji Kaplan and Jesse Eisenberg as David Kaplan in 'A Real Pain'.

Searchlight Pictures

A pair of cousins tour Poland in tribute to their late grandmother in this acclaimed comedy-drama. Jesse Eisenberg stars as the neurotic David, who grows resentful of his erratic, outgoing cousin Benji (Best Supporting Actor Oscar winner Kieran Culkin) as the trip goes on. Eisenberg and Culkin "make for an all-time comedic odd-couple," writes EW's critic, "with both actors showcasing their comedic and dramatic talents." Eisenberg, who also wrote and directed the film, infuses the plot with smart, observational humor and subtle notes of melancholy. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *A Real Pain*: Hulu

**EW grade:** B+ (read the review)

**Director:** Jesse Eisenberg

**Cast:** Jesse Eisenberg, Kieran Culkin, Will Sharpe, Jennifer Grey, Kurt Egyiawan, Liza Sadovy, Daniel Oreskes

Rye Lane (2023)

David Jonsson as Dom and Vivian Oparah as Yas in 'Rye Lane'. Everett Collection

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.*

Where to watch *Rye Lane*: Hulu

**Director: **Raine Allen-Miller

**Cast: **David Jonsson, Vivian Oparah

Thelma (2024)

Richard Roundtree as Ben and June Squibb as Thelma Post in 'Thelma'.

Courtesy of Sundance Institute; Photo by David Bolen

Hell hath no fury like Thelma Post (June Squibb) scorned. After being duped by a phone scam, 93-year-old Thelma goes on the warpath to find those involved and get back her money. Of course, it's not easy for her to navigate the streets of Los Angeles (having lost her driving privileges), so she takes an old pal across town via motor scooter to help her hunt down the culprits. Hilarious and quietly moving in equal measure, *Thelma* provides Squibb with the first leading role of her career and she makes the absolute most of it, delivering a complex performance as a woman who refuses to let age slow her down. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *Thelma*: Hulu

**EW grade:** B+ (read the review)

**Director:** Josh Margolin

**Cast:** June Squibb, Fred Hechinger, Richard Roundtree, Clark Gregg, Parker Posey, Malcolm McDowell

Triangle of Sadness (2022)

Charlbi Dean as Yaya and Harris Dickinson as Carl in 'Triangle of Sadness'. Neon

*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 raves in the 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

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