Get ready to guffaw. These are the 31 best standup comedy specials on Netflix.
The best stand-up comedy specials on Netflix right now
Richard Pryor, Live in Concert
Illinois-born Pryor is widely considered one of the best comedians in history, and one of his signature shows holds up like gangbusters, highly relevant over 40 years later. Eddie Murphy has called this 1979 special the best stand-up show of all time, and famous film critic Pauline Kael called it “the greatest of all recorded-performance films.”
Eddie Murphy, Delirious
Iconic. The 1983 predecessor to Raw examines racism, AIDS, Michael Jackson, and the effect ice cream trucks have on rich kids. The album counterpart won a Grammy for Best Comedy Album. In 1996, the comedian apologized for his use of now-dated slurs.
Hannah Gadsby, Nanette
The 70th Primetime Emmys took place in Sept. 2018. Game of Thrones won Best Drama, and some other stuff happened. But all anyone really could talk about after was out Australian comedian Gadsby’s perfection (“I don’t like men”) presentation of Best Drama Director. Her Peabody and Emmy-winning special Nanette is a stand-up masterpiece comparable to any of the greats. There’s laughs, pathos—and it’s a gripping empowerment for all marginalized people.
Dave Chapelle, The Age of Spin
Recently, Netflix—admirably and perhaps rather surprisingly—took down all episodes of Chappelle’s Show after the revered comedian openly criticized the way his content is distributed by corporations. Fortunately, you can still enjoy all his Netflix specials. This one’s the best.
Hasan Minhaj, Homecoming King
In 2017, the same year his White House Correspondents Dinner speech made headlines, Minhaj won his first of two Peabodys for a masterful special focusing largely on growing up in an Indian American Muslim family. Minhaj now hosts Patriot Act on Netflix.
John Mulaney, Kid Gorgeous at Radio City
Few recent comedy bits have seeped into the zeitgeist quite like “There’s a Horse in the Hospital,” the place where absurdist meets political. Perfect.
Michelle Wolf, Joke Show
Wolf received widespread acclaim for her handling of a White House Correspondents dinner gig in 2018. In this Netflix special, she tackles such hot-button issues as childbirth, massages and otters. She later hosted The Break With Michelle Wolf on Netflix.
Sarah Silverman, ASpeck of Dust
One of the best comics in the game takes on family struggles, science, method acting and the death of her beloved dog in Emmy-nominated A Speck of Dust.
Marc Maron, End Times Fun
Gleefully profane and also illuminating, End Times fun sees the actor/comedian/podcaster discuss religion, the environment, Marvel—and yes, the end of the world.
Bo Burnham, Make Happy
Before he directed coming-of-age masterpiece Eighth Grade, the multitalented comedian (who got his start on YouTube), Bo Burnham delivered this laugh-out-loud musical gem.
Donald Glover, Weirdo
About half a decade before Glover’s star shot into the stratosphere in the midst of Atlanta, Solo and The Lion King, Weirdo explored racism, hip-hop, Toys R’ Us and Cocoa Puffs.
Anthony Jeselnik, Thoughts and Prayers
Unbelievably offensive is the jumping-off point for Anthony Jeselnik (one of his signature jokes is a surgically constructed dig at his best friend’s wife). Truth bombs galore, though. Some of the best stuff in Thoughts and Prayers flips the bird to social media narcissism.
Jenny Slate, Stage Fright
Obvious Child helmer Gillian Robespierre directs the SNL alum in a frank and funny show about her childhood home, recreational pot use, Midnight Mass and more.
Nate Bargatze, The Tennessee Kid
The Old Hickory-born actor/comedian who cut his teeth in late night and Comedy Central Presents discusses air travel, his weight, football and chocolate milk in this set filmed in Atlanta.
Eric Andre, Legalize Everything
The unpredictably outrageous and often brilliant Adult Swim personality’s well-received first Netflix standup special challenges systemic racism—and he talks about drugs. Lots and lots of drug jokes.
Nick Kroll and John Mulaney, Oh, Hello on Broadway
Have you been watching Big Mouth? It might be the funniest thing on TV right now. Big Mouth collaborators Kroll and Mulaney have another treat on Netflix: a filmed performance of a great Broadway show where they played geriatrics with delusions of grandeur.
Jim Gaffigan, Cinco
The father of five and TV Land sitcom creator is known for mostly avoiding super racy or raunchy humor. He nevertheless generates a ton of belly laughs here with observations about parenting, weight gain, morning people and donuts.
Chelsea Peretti, One of the Greats
The title may have been intended as tongue-in-cheek, but there’s no doubt that this seriously sharp and hilarious special makes the Brooklyn Nine-Nine star a great. Some of the funniest stuff is about isolating, and the fragility of social media stars.
Wanda Sykes, Not Normal
The comedy vet and Bad Moms star will have you laughing hysterically as she sharply dissects real issues like the opioid crisis, racial tensions, and her double mastectomy with an unrelenting deadpan delivery.
Chris Rock, Tamborine
After some time away from standup, the superstar SNL alum and director of the vastly underrated rom-com great Top Five is firing on all cylinders here—exploring religion, fatherhood, relationships and politics. This is easily one of the best standup specials of recent years, a must-see.
Maria Bamford, Old Baby
A high-energy, location-jumping set sees the comedian tackle familiar issues like mental health, her dysfunctional family, and putting adulting on hold.
Trevor Noah, Afraid of the Dark
The Daily Show host is funnier on stage than at the news desk. Afraid of the Dark ponders cultural barriers, traffic lights, and drinking in Scotland. Unlike many Netflix comedy specials that lean hard into a TV-MA, Noah keeps things reasonably clean with a TV-14.
Iliza Shlesinger, Elder Millennial
Unapologetic and refreshing, Elder Millennial is an intimate look at dating, independence, and all parts of life at 35.
Tom Segura, Disgraceful
The actor, comedian and c0-host of podcasts 2 Bears, 1 Cave and Your Mom’s House talks about dating, porn, fetishes and parking.
Taylor Tomlinson, Quarter-Life Crisis
In Quarter Life Crisis, the hilarious 27-year-old Last Comic Standing alum laments the foolishness that sometimes comes with youth, but beams about learning from others’ dumb wedding mistakes. She also shares some harrowing tales from the trenches of Tinder! Tomlinson’s first Netflix comedy appearance was a 15-minute set on The Comedy Lineup.
Aziz Ansari, Right Now
Shot on film by none other than Spike Jonze, this is Ansari’s comeback after bad press for alleged ill conduct. Shot mostly on film (Jonze himself operated a camera on stage), the special sees the comedian intimately engage with an audience he nearly lost. He also talks about white people’s obsession with Crazy Rich Asians.
Jim Jefferies, Bare
The edgy Australian comic explores the difference between male and female strip clubs, baby mamas and gun control. Nothing is off limits! Everything is funny!
Leslie Jones, Time Machine
Non-stop physical humor drives the SNL alum’s Netflix debut. Some of the best bits are when she enthusiastically encourages people to enjoy their 20s while they last.
Tig Notaro, Happy to Be Here
The Grammy and Emmy-nominated Mississippi-born comedian (remember when she was Sarah Silverman’s quasi-love interest on TV?) talks marriage, cancer, and being fluent in cat.
Tiffany Haddish, Black Mitzvah
Two years after Girls Trip made her a household name, the Black and Jewish film and television star throws herself a mitzvah—discussing stardom, lazy strippers… and the time she met Beyoncé.
Bo Burnham, Inside
A labor of love (the labor paid off), Burnham’s latest was written and performed in lockdown. A musical satire taking aim at everything from social media to Hollywood culture to #MeToo, it’s been widely hailed as a masterpiece. Looking for more laughs? Check out the best comedies of all time.
