Some of the top farces, romcoms, and satires are streaming on the service. Make 'em laugh: The 15 best comedies on Amazon Prime Video Some of the top farces, romcoms, and satires are streaming on the service. By Kevin Jacobsen and Debby Wolfinsohn January 25, 2026 9:00 a.m. ET Leave a Comment :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/electionreesewitherspoonthebirdcagerobinwilliamsthebigsickKumailNanjiani12162530703c029b96437db7f999dccd416d60.jpg) Reese Witherspoon as Tracy Flick in 'Election'; Robin Williams as Armand Goldman in 'The Birdcage'; Kumail Nanjiani as himself in 'The Big Sick'.

Some of the top farces, rom-coms, and satires are streaming on the service.

Make 'em laugh: The 15 best comedies on Amazon Prime Video

Some of the top farces, rom-coms, and satires are streaming on the service.

By Kevin Jacobsen

and Debby Wolfinsohn

January 25, 2026 9:00 a.m. ET

Leave a Comment

Reese Witherspoon as Tracy Flick in 'Election'; Robin Williams as Armand Goldman in 'The Birdcage'; Kumail Nanjiani as himself in 'The Big Sick'. Credit:

Bob Akester/Paramount Pictures; Frank Trapper/Corbis via Getty; Nicole Rivelli/Lionsgate

One of the many great aspects of comedy is that not everything will make you laugh the same way — and that's okay. Comedy is a highly subjective art form, and it can take many shapes, from goofy farces like *The Birdcage* (1995), to charming confections like *Moonstruck* (1987), to dark satires like *Heathers* (1989).

Amazon Prime Video has numerous comedy offerings free to watch with a subscription, including the aforementioned classics and newer genre-bending comedies like *Red, White & Royal Blue* (2023), *Totally Killer* (2023), and *My Old Ass* (2024). Whatever form of comedy you're in the mood for, Amazon likely has something for you.

Here are our picks for the 15 best comedies on Amazon Prime Video.

Afternoon Delight (2013)

Juno Temple as McKenna and Kathryn Hahn as Rachel in 'Afternoon Delight'.

Jim Frohna/Film Arcade

Kathryn Hahn is one of our finest actresses who specializes in stories of modern-day women going through deep internal struggles, and this quirky indie dramedy is no exception. Hahn plays Rachel, a stay-at-home mom growing increasingly frustrated by the monotony of her life. In an effort to spice things up, she goes with her husband to a strip club where she meets McKenna (Juno Temple), a dancer to whom she's drawn. She soon befriends McKenna, though Rachel's insecurities soon come out, leading to tension in their relationship. —*Kevin Jacobsen*

Where to watch *Afternoon Delight*: Amazon Prime Video

**Director:** Joey Soloway

**Cast:** Kathryn Hahn, Juno Temple, Josh Radnor, Jane Lynch

Bernie (2012)

Jack Black as Bernie Tiede in 'Bernie'. Deana Newcomb/Millennium

This engrossing black comedy, based on a wild true story, contains one of Jack Black's best performances. The actor stars as Bernie Tiede, a mortician's assistant who is treasured by his community thanks to his caring nature toward elderly widows. After befriending the irritable Marjorie Nugent (Shirley MacLaine), she persuades him to work for her full-time, where her demanding nature leads to Bernie eventually shooting her. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *Bernie*: Amazon Prime Video

**Director:** Richard Linklater

**Cast:** Jack Black, Shirley MacLaine, Matthew McConaughey

The Birdcage (1996)

Nathan Lane as Albert Goldman and Robin Williams as Armand Goldman in 'The Birdcage'.

United Artists/Courtesy Everett Collection

These birds have got quite a pedigree. Based on the 1978 film *La Cage aux Folles* (and, by proxy, the original 1973 French play), this adaptation was created by one of the greatest comedy teams of all time: director Mike Nichols and writer Elaine May. The story of a son returning to the roost with his fiancée and asking his gay dad (and stepdad) to pretend to be straight may sound a bit dated, but hear us out. Led by the superlative duo of Robin Williams and Nathan Lane, EW's critic points out that the idea of "a grown man asking his parents — a long-term, committed gay couple — to participate in such a self-loathing ruse borders on the fiendish. But that's not to say the couple in question aren't hilarious." —*Debby Wolfinsohn*

Where to watch *The Birdcage*: Amazon Prime Video

**EW grade:** A–

**Director:** Mike Nichols

**Cast:** Robin Williams, Nathan Lane, Gene Hackman, Dianne Wiest

The Big Sick (2017)

Kumail Nanjiani as Kumail and Zoe Kazan as Emily Gardner in 'The Big Sick'.

Sarah Shatz/Lionsgate

If you like your comedy with a side of tragedy, *The Big Sick* has got you covered. This is truly a unique, one-of-a-kind production: stomach-achingly hilarious, mega-touching, and…all true? Yep, written by the couple who went through it IRL (Kumail Nanjiani and Emily V. Gordon) and acted by one (Nanjiani, with Gordon played by Zoe Kazan), the pair deftly turned her shocking diagnosis/near-death experience into true laughs. The best medicine? We think so. *—D.W.*

Where to watch *The Big Sick*: Amazon Prime Video

**Director:** Michael Showalter

**Cast: **Kumail Nanjiani, Zoe Kazan, Ray Romano, Holly Hunter

Borat Subsequent Moviefilm (2020)

Sascha Baron Cohen as Borat Sagdiyev in 'Borat Subsequent Moviefilm'.

Exposing the worst of America in a fearless, laugh-while-you-cringe style is Sacha Baron Cohen's specialty. Disguising himself as a mustachioed, overly-confident Kazakh allowed Cohen a kind of magic access: the ability to travel into the dark corners of the U.S. as an "innocent." This ruse encouraged others to open up in ways they might not have otherwise, creating jaw-dropping moments of comedy (veering into tragedy) you can't look away from.

The setup is simple — Cohen's character Borat returns to the West with his daughter, Tutar (the excellent Maria Bakalova), to win the favor of its leader, "a magnificent new Premier named McDonald Trump." In a kind of bizarro buddy comedy, the two visit synagogues, debutante balls, and freedom rallies, creating moments so indelible they will go down in cinematic history. It's hard to choose just one, so we'll pick two: Rudy Giuliani, and the horrifying father-daughter OB-GYN visit. As EW's critic writes, "his outrageous, uncountable isms — the confident screeds against women and Jew[ish people], the casual endorsements of incest or indentured servitude — are of course satirical, and entirely the point." *—D.W.*

Where to watch *Borat Subsequent Moviefilm*: Amazon Prime Video

**EW grade: **A–

**Director: **Jason Woliner

**Cast: **Sacha Baron Cohen, Maria Bakalova

Brittany Runs a Marathon (2019)

Jillian Bell as Brittany Forgler in 'Brittany Runs a Marathon'.

Jillian Bell stars as Brittany, a New York party girl who decides to change her life the old-fashioned way: jogging! EW's critic says Bell brings a "real, messy humanity to Brittany that comedies hardly ever allow a lead character — let alone a non-impossibly-bodied female — to have." Kept afloat by her running buddies — Michaela Watkins' divorcée with issues and Micah Stock's sardonic gay dad — the movie avoids a simple happy ending but *does* provide a satisfying, uplifting one. It's perfect for watching on the treadmill or stationary bike (or lying in bed eating ice cream). *—D.W.*

Where to watch *Brittany Runs a Marathon*: Amazon Prime Video

**EW grade: **A–

**Director: **Paul Downs Colaizzo

**Cast: **Jillian Bell, Michaela Watkins, Utkarsh Ambudkar

Election (1999)

Reese Witherspoon as Tracy Flick and Matthew Broderick as Jim McAllister in 'Election'.

Paramount/Courtesy Everett Collection

The ruthless nature of high school is as contentious and nasty as real-world politics, as this satirical comedy proves. The film follows a history teacher (Matthew Broderick) who tries to sabotage highly ambitious student Tracy Flick (Reese Witherspoon) — whom he dislikes for various reasons — from winning the upcoming student government presidential election. EW's critic calls *Election* a "scathing tragicomedy" and that "Witherspoon is terrifically steely as the infernally perky candidate." —*K.J.*

Where to watch *Election*: Amazon Prime Video

**Director:** Alexander Payne

**Cast:** Reese Witherspoon, Matthew Broderick, Chris Klein, Jessica Campbell, Mark Harelik

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Heathers (1989)

Christian Slater as Jason 'J.D.' Dean and Winona Ryder as Veronica Sawyer in 'Heathers'.

New World Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection

Veronica (Winona Ryder) is a teen who gets involved with the popular mean-girl clique at her high school, known as the Heathers. She also befriends the mysterious new student, J.D. (Christian Slater), a loner whose idea of revenge involves murder staged as a suicide and orchestrating a disturbing plan to get back at the Heathers for their cruelty. On paper, a plot description for this seminal cult classic sounds far from funny. But the film's heightened tone and memorable one-liners ("Dear diary, my teen angst bulls--- has a body count") make for a darkly entertaining answer to the formulaic '80s teen comedies that came before it, while still holding up today. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *Heathers*: Amazon Prime Video

**Director:** Michael Lehmann

**Cast:** Winona Ryder, Christian Slater, Shannen Doherty

Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975)

(From left to right): Graham Chapman as King Arthur, Eric Idle as Sir Robin, Terry Gilliam as Sir Bors, Michael Palin as Sir Galahad, Terry Jones as Sir Bedevere, and John Cleese as Sir Lancelot in a cast photo for 'Monty Python and the Holy Grail'.

EMI Films/Getty

Amazon Prime has quite a few Monty Python projects to choose from, but *Holy Grail* is, well, the holy grail of the comedy troupe's artistic output. This send-up of Arthurian legend finds King Arthur (Graham Chapman) traversing England in the hope of recruiting knights to his Round Table. After assembling his men, God commands him to find the Holy Grail, leading to a perilous adventure with plenty a memorable sequence (shout out to those pesky knights who say "Ni.") —*K.J.*

Where to watch *Monty Python and the Holy Grail*: Amazon Prime Video

**Directors:** Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones

**Cast:** Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones

Moonstruck (1987)

Cher as Loretta Castorini and Nicolas Cage as Ronny Cammareri in 'Moonstruck'.

Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty

Nearly 40 years later, the idea of Cher and Nicolas Cage starring in a rom-com together may seem wild, but anyone who's actually seen *Moonstruck* will recognize what an oddly perfect pairing they are. Cher stars as Loretta, a widow who develops an unexpected romantic relationship with her new fiancé's brother, Ronny (Cage). Surrounding them is a cast of clutch supporting players, from Vincent Gardenia and Olympia Dukakis as Loretta's hilariously stubborn parents to Danny Aiello as her unlucky fiancé. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *Moonstruck*: Amazon Prime Video

**Director:** Norman Jewison

**Cast:** Cher, Nicolas Cage, Vincent Gardenia, Olympia Dukakis, Danny Aiello

My Old Ass (2024)

Maisy Stella as Elliott LaBrant in 'My Old Ass'.

Marni Grossman/Amazon Content Services LLC

A teenage girl (Maisy Stella) goes on a mushroom trip and sees a vision of her older self (Aubrey Plaza), who tells her all about her future. The premise (and title) of *My Old Ass* may make it seem like a disposable broad comedy, but writer-director Megan Park imbues her film with surprising depth. This is a coming-of-age story, one with valuable lessons to impart about our relationship to ourselves and the value of living in the present. "The pitch-perfect script and impressive acting made for a hilarious, charming, and surprisingly devastating cautionary tale about life, love, and loss," writes EW's critic. *—K.J.*

Where to watch *My Old Ass*: Amazon Prime Video

**Director:** Megan Park

**Cast:** Maisy Stella, Aubrey Plaza, Percy Hynes White, Maddie Ziegler, Kerrice Brooks

The People We Hate at the Wedding (2022)

Ben Platt as Paul Stevenson and Kristen Bell as Alice Stevenson in 'The People We Hate at the Wedding'.

Amazon Prime Video

Question: How are wedding comedies like wedding cakes? Answer: The dysfunction's baked right in! Based on the 2016 Grant Ginder novel and directed by Claire Scanlon (of Netflix's *Set It Up*), the film follows relatably flawed, baggage-laden siblings Ben Platt and Kristen Bell to England, where they must join their mother (the always stellar Allison Janney) at the wedding of their wealthy half-sister (Cynthia Addai-Robinson). The comedic antics flow like champagne in this bride-com with an edge. *—D.W.*

Where to watch* The People We Hate at the Wedding*: Amazon Prime Video

**Director: **Claire Scanlon

**Cast:** Ben Platt, Allison Janney, Kristen Bell

Red, White & Royal Blue (2023)

Nicholas Galitzine as Prince Henry and Taylor Zakhar Perez as Alex Claremont-Diaz in 'Red, White & Royal Blue'. Jonathan Prime/Prime Video

Based on Casey McQuiston's best-selling novel of the same name, *Red, White & Royal Blue* is a charming romantic comedy that charts the unlikely romance between a British prince and the son of the president of the United States. In a classic tale of enemies-to-lovers, American Alex (Taylor Zakhar Perez) has a feud with Prince Henry (Nicholas Galitzine), which escalates to a rather unfortunate cake accident (pictured above). Following the subsequent tabloid scandal, the pair eventually make amends and come to realize their feelings for each other, which blossoms into an affair.

It's a frothy good time with two star-making performances at its center; it also happens to feature Uma Thurman in what may be her campiest performance since 1997's *Batman & Robin*. (Some good news: We're getting a sequel!) —*K.J.*

Where to watch *Red, White & Royal Blue*: Amazon Prime Video

**Director: **Matthew López

**Cast:** Taylor Zakhar Perez, Nicholas Galitzine, Sarah Shahi, Stephen Fry, Uma Thurman

Some Like It Hot (1959)

Tony Curtis as Joe/Josephine, Marilyn Monroe as Sugar Kane Kowalczyk, and Jack Lemmon as Jerry/Daphne in 'Some Like It Hot'.

Silver Screen Collection/Getty

Regarded by the American Film Institute as the best comedy of all time, *Some Like It Hot* has become such a lauded film that it could fall victim to overhype for modern audiences. And yet, when you watch this Billy Wilder farce, its genius instantly reveals itself as it tells the story of two men who witness a mob murder and proceed to disguise themselves as women and flee on a bus to Miami. Along the way, they meet the glamorous Sugar (Marilyn Monroe), who believes them to be women, and a series of misunderstandings and complications ensue from there. It all leads to one of the best punchline endings in film history. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *Some Like it Hot*: Amazon Prime Video

**Director:** Billy Wilder

**Cast:** Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon, George Raft, Joe E. Brown**

Totally Killer (2023)

Kiernan Shipka as Jamie Hughes in 'Totally Killer'.

James Dittiger/Courtesy of Prime Video

*Totally Killer* boasts four major cinematic selling points guaranteed to make a horror fan happy: a 1980s setting, serial killers, a Halloween night theme, and time travel. Not to say *Totally Killer *doesn't take a fresh approach, because it totally does.* *Here, we meet teenage girl Jamie (Kiernan Shipka), who goes back to 1987 to save her mom's friends from being murdered (as you do). Smartly referencing the Best Movies of All Time (*Back to the Future*, *Scream*, etc.), *Totally Killer* joins a long line of genre flicks led by kick-ass heroines. *—D.W.*

Where to watch *Totally Killer*: Amazon Prime Video

**Director: **Nahnatchka Khan

**Cast:** Kiernan Shipka, Julie Bowen, Olivia Holt, Randall Park

- Movie Reviews & Recommendations

Original Article on Source

Source: "EW Movie"

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Source: Movie

Published: January 25, 2026 at 09:38AM on Source: OPERA MAG

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