Okay, we all know Netflix has endless cheesy rom-com movie options and a scary (yet completely necessary) amount of true-crime documentaries, but let us not forget about a silly lil genre that deserves just as much love and attention: standup comedy specials. We could honestly all use a 90-minute giggle sesh nowadays to break up our horror podcasts and endless scrolling on social media (what, just me?).
Call me crazy, but my idea of a perfect night *out* is hitting up a late-night comedy show in some dark cellar bar, and my ideal night *in* is watching a new special from one of my favorite comedians while in a pair of comfy jammies. Netflix has a ton of A-list comedians’ standup specials in their library to choose from—I’m talking people like Kevin Hart, Michelle Wolf, Chris Rock, and even the OG of comedy, Richard Pryor.
After devoting way too many hours of my life to streaming, I’ve come up with the 40 funniest standup comedy specials to watch on Netflix right now. They’re listed in no particular order, but of course, some comedy may not be your cup of tea. But no matter what your sense of humor, there’s a special below that’s sure to give you a six-pack of abs from laughing.
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The Standups
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With three seasons packed with original comedy, meet some of the freshest voices in the game as they take the stage for half-hour specials filled with sly jokes, hilarious anecdotes, and definitely some awkward confessions.
Richard Pryor: Live in Concert
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Richard Pryor wasn’t the first standup comedian to have a long-form video, but he was the first to have it released in theaters. Not to be confused with Steve Harvey (sorry, it’s the mustache), Pryor’s material is the epitome of dark humor—it shouldn’t be funny, but his ability to turn hardships, racial tension, and his addictions into comedy is truly one-of-a-kind.
Wanda Sykes: I’m an Entertainer
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Fact: Wanda Sykes is one of the funniest people on Earth. Yea, I said it! And her latest standup covers everything from parenting with her French wife, the perils of public bathrooms (IYKYK), and why she’s tired of going high when others go low (same, Wanda, same).
Bill Burr: Live at Red Rocks
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Cancel culture, feminism, and getting bad reviews from his wife: just another day in the life of Bill Burr. As someone who loves to play devil’s advocate, he comes to a life-changing epiphany during his fiery stand-up set.
Chris Rock: Tamborine
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This is Chris Rock’s first standup special in 10 years, and he freaking nails it. He doles out smart social commentary on everything from race to politics to police brutality to relationships, and while, yes, everything is wickedly funny, he also makes important points along the way.
Michelle Buteau: Welcome to Buteaupia
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The scene-stealing queen herself dazzles with real talk about relationships, parenthood, cultural differences, and the government workers who adore her, which is honestly a major slay.
Theo Von: Regular People
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Comedian and podcaster Theo Von holds court with some w-i-l-d tales about “regular people” back from the small-town he grew up in. Get ready for some interesting tales about his childhood friends, how to effectively avoid work, and the time he tried to play matchmaker for the entire town.
James Acaster: Repertoire
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Offbeat and extremely British comic James Acaster covers the strange, the mundane, and everything in between in this four-episode standup special that’ll have you thinking, “Hey, why haven’t I heard of this guy before?”
Taylor Tomlinson: Quarter-Life Crisis
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Ahh, the quarter-life crisis of a woman—since I’m literally going through that exactly, I could use a good laugh or two. Like me, Taylor is halfway through her twenties and sooo over it. Too old to party yet too young to settle down, she takes aim at her life choices without being too self-deprecating, but also checking her self-confidence at the door.
Gabriel Iglesias: Stadium Fluffy
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Gabriel makes history as the first comedian to perform at Dodger Stadium. As if performing at the Dodgers Stadium wasn’t already a joke enough (GO BRAVES!), he gives hilarious details about growing up in Los Angeles, getting blackmailed, offending a professional boxer, and where he holds the record for receiving the largest fine on stage.
85 South: Ghetto Legends
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Known for their roles on MTV’s Wildin’ Out, DC Young Fly, Karlous Miller, and Chico Bean bring their hit podcast to the stage for a one-of-a-kind comedy event where nothing and no one is off limits.
Jo Koy: Live From the LA Forum
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Jo Koy owns the stage in a rousing standup set where he discusses public sneezing, sleep apnea, and getting lost in the Philippines. Plus, just in case you need a little pick me up, the comedian gets inspirational (if you want to call it that) to top things off.
Leanne Morgan: I’m Every Woman
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Leanne Morgan is a simple lady. She loves Jell-O salad, her kids, and her beefy grandbaby. As a wife, mother, and wearer of big panties, her charming Southern Belle accent just makes the bit even better.
Dave Chappelle: The Closer
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Sometimes the funniest thing to say is mean—Dave’s words not mine. As he closes out his slate of comedy specials, the legendary (and controversial) comedian is ready to set the record straight about some things that he said in the past and get a few things off his chest.
Bert Kreishcher: Razzle Dazzle
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Shameless (and shirtless) Bert Kreischer spills on bodily emissions, being bullied by his own kids, and the explosive end to his family’s escape room experience. Buckle up, y’all.
Kevin Hart: Zero Fucks Given
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Zero filters and zero apologies. That’s how comedian Kevin Hart is serving it up live from his own home. He’s making his own rules while dishing on male group chats, sex after 40, and life during COVID-19—quite the trifecta if you ask me.
Katt Williams: Great America
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The King of underground comedy comes in full throttle with unflinching riffs on America’s political climate, racial tensions, sex, and of course, his disdain for roast beef. It’s just Katt doing what he does best—being Katt Williams.
Nate Bargatze: The Tennessee Kid
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Comic Nate Bargatze finds a way to make the most mundane happenings funny af. He touches on everything from air travel to cheap wedding and the perils of ordering coffee. Okay, and the ordering coffee part is actually extremely relatable.
John Mulaney: New in Town
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Stop whatever ambitious cooking project you’re halfway through and watch ANY John Mulaney special right now if you’ve never seen his stuff. New in Town, his first Netflix special from back in 2012, covers a range of random topics, from the dangers of quicksand to how he once went to the doctor for a Xanax prescription and ended up getting a prostate exam instead.
Iliza Schlesinger: Elder Millennial
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Elder millennial Iliza has a lot of important wisdom to impart. Her hilariously candid truths about women and dating will have you laughing at all the dumb sh*t you know you do, like hitting up every girlfriend to analyze a single text.
Ali Wong: Baby Cobra
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This is the standup special that made Ali Wong famous, in part because the world had never really seen a very pregnant woman telling incredibly raunchy jokes before. She delivers especially biting bits on married life and motherhood that’ll have you laughing so hard you’ll cry.
Hannah Gadsby: Nanette
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If you haven’t yet heard of Australian comedian Hannah Gadsby, today’s your lucky day. Her special is a must-watch for everyone. It’s amazingly written, honest, and perfectly self-deprecating. She addresses sexism, homophobia, and even mansplainers with a sharp sense of humor.
Amy Schumer: Growing
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In this special, Amy Schumer is mid-pregnancy and she’s got jokes on jokes about the experience, including a riff on what it was like to be pregnant at the same time as Meghan Markle.
Trevor Noah: Afraid of the Dark
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If you loved Trevor Noah’s political jokes on The Daily Show, you’re really gonna love his standup. He dives into race in America, immigration, international relations, and so much more—and, yes, you’ll be laughing the whole time.
Sarah Silverman: A Speck of Dust
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Leave it to Sarah Silverman to still have you LOLing over a poop joke. Bold, hysterical, gasp-inducing—this special is everything you’d expect from her work.
Patton Oswalt: Annihilation
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Patton Oswalt somehow manages to take his personal tragedy of unexpectedly becoming a widow and single parent in middle age and turns it into comedy gold.
Ali Wong: Hard Knock Wife
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Pregnant with her second baby, Ali Wong is now armed with even more hilarious truths about motherhood and marriage. And although she insists that having a baby has changed her comedy, she’s still as bold and raunchy as ever: She may or may not get into her first encounter with a micropenis.
Maria Bamford: Old Baby
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Heads up: Maria Bamford’s eccentric, absurd, and kinda delirious sense of humor may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but if it is, you’re in luck.
Tig Notaro: Happy to Be Here
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For Tig Notaro, being self-deprecating is a professional sport. She talks about how frequently she’s mistaken for a man and even pokes fun at her own comedic delivery and presentation.
Mike Birbiglia: Thank God for Jokes
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Usually I’m not a fan of people who drag out the telling of one single story, but I’m definitely down to listen to Birbiglia recount what happened at the 2012 Gotham Awards, which he teases for the *entire* special—of course, with some expertly crafted jokes inserted along the way.
Iliza Schlesinger: Freezing Hot
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Iliza covers all the sh*t girls do: aggressively Pinteresting, hating the cold (yet loving sweater season), and obsessing over PSLs. Oh, and she’s got a genius plan for plotting the perfect breakup.
Jen Kirkman: I’m Gonna Die Alone (And I Feel Fine)
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For anyone who lives in their own head and routinely takes a thought to its most neurotic conclusion, Jen Kirkman is your girl. Pure shenanigans.
Michelle Wolf: Joke Show
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Michelle Wolf might be known most for hitting so hard at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner that they stopped hiring comedians, and thankfully, she doesn’t pull any punches in her special either. She covers periods, childbirth, and abortions (including her own), and, of course, plenty o’ dick jokes.
Hari Kondabolu: Warn Your Relatives
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His meta comedy and somehow inclusive political jokes make for an all-around delightful show. And yeah, Trump jokes abound.
Bo Burnham: Make Happy
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Bo Burnham lets out a slightly darker side in this special, which is especially enjoyable if you’re already a fan. Ridiculously insightful songs like “Straight White Man” (about all of the, erm, extremely minor problems that come with the territory) will have you cry-laughing.
Anthony Jeselnik: Thoughts and Prayers
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If you’ve got a twisted sense of humor (hey, same), Anthony Jeselnik’s special needs to be your next watch. The topics he covers are anything but light: death, tragedy, animal cruelty, oh, and serial killers—and yet, somehow, he makes it work.
Jerry Seinfeld: Jerry Before Seinfeld
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Part standup special, part walk down memory lane, fans of Seinfeld will eat this special up. The legendary comedian pulls out material he wrote before he ever got famous, which proves he has always had a knack for the lulz.
Jim Gaffigan: Cinco
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If you’re looking for quality standup, you can safely watch with the whole fam, this is it. Gaffigan is known for his sharp yet clean comedy that often revolves around what we all love most: food.
Leslie Jones: Time Machine
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The former Saturday Night Live cast member’s special is an antidote for the blues. She has so much fun onstage, it’s infectious.
Hasan Minhaj: Homecoming King
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You get hilarious comedy mixed with a healthy dose of vulnerability as Minhaj goes through what it was like growing up the child of Indian immigrants.
Laura is a NYC-based freelance writer. When she’s not binging the latest true crime docu-series, she’s obsessing over all things Harry Styles, RHONY, and John Mulaney. You can follow her on Instagram @lauraehanrahan
Associate Editor
Chaise Sanders is an Associate Editor at Cosmopolitan, where she covers anything from lifestyle and beauty to entertainment and style. Wanna upgrade your skincare game? She’s got you covered with the best facial cleansing brushes. Or maybe you’re in need of a new true crime show to binge? Got that covered too! Prior to joining the Cosmo team, Chaise was an editor at Country Living (also part of the Hearst fam) where she interviewed celebs like Dolly Parton, LeAnn Rimes and even Martha Stewart. Now, as one of the Big Apple’s newest residents, there’s a good chance that you can catch her checking out an Insta-worthy cafe or spending way to much $$$ in vintage stores.