Sometimes we just need to let loose. Whether you’re looking for lowbrow slapstick, wacky sitcoms or award-winning shows, there’s nothing like sitting back and watching a good distraction after a long day.
If you’re a comedy fan interested in a Hulu subscription, the streaming service features endless hours of laughs with shows and movies spanning decades of Hollywood and beyond.
From comedy classics like Seinfeld and Life to contemporary satire like Key and Peele and Bridesmaids, Hulu is home to many, many options for viewers searching for a few chuckles.
So dust off your funny bone and let’s take a look at the best comedy movies and shows on Hulu that are available to stream right now.
How we rate Hulu’s best comedy movies and shows
Picking the best comedy on Hulu isn’t easy. We took our time sorting through hours of content to find the must-watch movies and shows on the platform. The first criteria we used was comedies available on Hulu’s default on-demand library, so you can watch with any of the Hulu bundles or subscriptions.
Next we headed over to Rotten Tomatoes to see what the pros are saying. But we didn’t stop with the critic’s reviews. We also dug into audience scores to find out which comedies Hulu viewers will love to watch.
Bingeability was also important. Whenever life is tough, sometimes watching episode after episode is the only cure. We also stayed away from showcasing comedies like Superbad or South Park. They’re great television—but many of us have already seen the big-name shows and movies. Now, without further ado, let’s get to the comedy!
Best Hulu comedy movies
Palm Springs (2020)
- Average Tomatometer: 94%
- Average Audience Score: 88%
- Notable cast members: Andy Samberg, Cristin Milioti, J. K. Simmons, Peter Gallagher
This Groundhog Day-inspired comedy follows Sarah, played by Cristin Milioti, who must attend her sister’s wedding in sunny Palm Springs. That night, Sara gets stuck in a time loop thanks to a mysterious cave recently exposed from an earthquake. She wakes up the same morning of the wedding again, realizing that another wedding attendee, played by Andy Samberg, has been stuck in the same time loop for quite a while. The two of them must relieve the painful wedding over and over until they figure out a way to escape the endless day. The movie offers a fresh take on the time loop theme that’s been used a few times since it was introduced in Groundhog Day.
Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2016)
- Average Tomatometer: 96%
- Average Audience Score: 91%
- Notable cast members: Sam Neill, Taika Waititi, Rhys Darby
Hunt for the Wilderpeople is an outstanding comedy from New Zealand writer/director Taika Waititi, who’s made a big splash in Hollywood over recent years. The story follows a 13-year-old orphan named Ricky as he’s shuffled into a new foster home in rural New Zealand. His new foster mother and father, Bella and Hec, do their best to make Ricky feel at home. Ricky is overweight, ill-adjusted and hates most things (except for Tupac Shakur) but begins to enjoy his life with them. After Bella dies, Ricky and Hec escape into the forest, where they are pursued by authorities who assume Hec abducted Ricky. The two of them must figure out a way to stay ahead of the authorities who want to take Ricky back.
Sorry to Bother You (2018)
- Average Tomatometer: 93%
- Average Audience Score: 70%
- Notable cast members: Danny Glover, David Cross, Tessa Thompson, Lakeith Stanfield, Armie Hammer
Rapper Boots Reilly’s directorial debut is an acid trip of a movie that shows us a bizarre world closely resembling our own. Lakeith Stanfield stars as a telemarketer with a particular talent that allows him to quickly climb the ranks at his job, where the true function of the company is exposed. The movie examines a collision of race and consumerism through a farcical lens, and this black comedy’s biting criticism might leave some viewers feeling dazed. With the absurdity dial turned up to eleven, Sorry to Bother You will knock your socks off!
Parasite (2019)
- Average Tomatometer: 98%
- Average Audience Score: 90%
- Notable cast members: Song Kang-ho
Here’s another black comedy film that’s not for the faint of heart. Song Kang-ho stars as the father of the poor Kim family who struggle to make ends meet. When the son finds employment as tutor to the wealthy Park family’s daughter, the Kims all start working for the Parks under the guise of being unrelated professionals. When the Parks go out of town, the Kims decide to vacation in their home. And of course, the Parks decide to come home early. Parasite won ‘Best Picture’ at the most recent Academy Awards, the first non-English film to earn the distinction. So not only is Parasite one of the best comedy movies on Hulu, it’s also a good entry point into foreign films.
Best Hulu comedy shows
Brooklyn Nine-Nine (2013-)
- Average Tomatometer: 95%/
- Average Audience Score: 94%
- Notable cast members: Andy Samberg, Terry Crews
For fans of workplace sitcoms, Brooklyn Nine-Nine is definitely one of the best comedy shows on Hulu. This long-running series brings together an ensemble cast to tell the story of the 99th Brooklyn police precinct. When the talented but maverick cop Jake Peralta, played by Andy Samberg, finds himself under the guidance of the precinct’s new buttoned-up Captain, the two of them butt heads and the comedy magic begins. The beloved show has already lasted seven seasons, all available on Hulu, and an eighth season is on the way.
Rick and Morty (2013-)
- Average Tomatometer: 94%
- Average Audience Score: 93%
- Notable cast members: Sarah Chalke (voice), Christina Rene Hendricks (voice), Chris Parnell (voice)
As far as teenagers go, Morty is a pretty normal—but his alcoholic, time-traveling, tortured genius of a grandfather Rick is anything but. Rick drags his unwilling grandson through a dizzying range of reality-spanning adventures that usually get them into trouble on account of Rick’s utter lack of morals. The goofy and often simple animation is starkly contrasted by the complex and hilarious storylines in this cartoon series. The first three seasons are all available to watch on Hulu right now.
Atlanta (2016-)
- Average Tomatometer: 97%
- Average Audience Score: 89%
- Notable cast members: Donald Glover, Zazie Beetz, Lakeith Stanfield
This dramedy series tells the story of an aspiring rapper named Paper Boi and his manager/cousin named Earn, played by Donald Glover, who also wrote and produced the show for FX. The series follows their misadventures and money troubles on the rocky road to fame. Set and filmed in Atlanta, this show never fails to subvert expectations and surprise viewers. Just when it seems like the situation can’t get worse for Paper Boi and Earn, it usually does. There’s two seasons currently available to stream on Hulu.
That’s all folks! We hope you had a good time learning about some of the best comedies on Hulu. Whenever you’ve had a rough day, it’s always nice to forget your troubles and watch a few laughs.
Check out our general list of best movies and shows on Hulu here.
*Current as of October 2020